Ashen Dragon

After being shot down unreasonably by the players, the Eagle Guards finally approached a suitable distance and began to retaliate.

Unfortunately, their archery accuracy during high-speed flight was worrisome, and even if they hit, the soft and powerless arrows couldn't penetrate the tough scales on the Wyvern's bodies.

On the contrary, the players were more heroic, shooting a Giant Eagle down with one arrow at close range. Some who specialized in throwing methods even threw short spears forcefully, piercing both the rider and the eagle simultaneously.

"Damn, it feels great!"

The player with the ID "Big Blade" cheered.

His strength was as high as 17 points, earning him the nickname Strong Brother among players. He had even specialized in the [Tavern Brawl] skill just to enjoy high-altitude throwing.

It should be noted that Giant Eagles only had soft, flight-adapted feathers without any hard scales.

"Damn it..."

Nelly bit her lip, her expression grave.

She witnessed the Eagle Guards falling one after another without causing any effective damage to the enemy, already losing ten people.

Even Nelly herself had made a dangerously sharp turn, barely dodging an incoming arrow.

"This can't go on."

She made a quick decision, raised her Eagle Howl Longsword, and commanded loudly: "Northwind Eagle Guards, listen! Close in on the enemy, form a circular formation!"

The sky resounded with the sharp cries of eagles.

The Northwind Eagle Guards decisively abandoned their futile mounted archery retaliations, at all costs closing in rapidly, intending to form small circular formations where three to four Eagle Guards surrounded one Red Scale Conqueror. They planned to use their maneuverability and numerical superiority to defeat these tricky enemies one by one.

This was part of the Northwind Eagle Guards' tactical training manual, entirely appropriate.

Unfortunately, they encountered their former commander.

—Alger.

As the melee approached, Alger looked up at the groups of Eagle Guards encircling him—the leader being his former subordinate, Nelly.

"Seems like you've learned well."

"Nelly..."

He recognized this all-too-familiar tactic at a glance.

But in his days with the players, he had not only been teaching them but had also learned many novel strategies from them, such as the so-called "Energy Maneuver" tactics, where kinetic and potential energy were mutually transformed to flexibly respond to different aerial combat situations for maximum combat efficiency.

The giant eagles were much smaller than the Dragon Vein Giant Eagles, faster, and more agile.

As many as five Eagle Guards circled around Alger, waiting for an opportunity to harass and attack.

"Eagle."

Faced with the encirclement, Alger remained calm, maneuvering his Giant Eagle to climb instantly, turning kinetic energy into potential energy, executing a high-powered aerial loop to easily escape the Eagle Guards' tight encirclement.

Nelly watched the Half-Dragon Half-Human Knight, her brows tightly furrowed.

"Continue to surround him, don't give him a chance to counterattack!"

She shouted.

The Giant Eagles weaved, turned sharply, and rolled in the air.

Nelly recognized the leader of these half-dragons, so she brought along a full five Eagle Guards to coordinate combat, yet they could gain no advantage and were even being toyed with in the air by the opponent.

For some reason, she always felt that this enemy's movements had a familiar touch.

"Why exactly..."

Alger looped up to the highest point, his whole body inverted but still decisively piloting his Giant Eagle in a diving attack.

"Danger!"

Nelly shouted loudly.

The Dragon Vein Giant Eagle traced a beautiful arc in the sky, diving with unstoppable momentum and striking an Eagle Guard in the encirclement from the side.

The speed was so fast that the Eagle Guard didn't even realize the danger's arrival.

"Shu—"

With the terrifying speed of the dive, the blazing Everburning Greatsword cleanly beheaded the Giant Eagle, and the Eagle Guard on its back plummeted down, wailing.

Alger ascended once more. His speed appeared relatively slow but was building up for the next thrilling attack.

"Damn evil dragon minion!"

Nelly gritted her teeth, wishing she could hack the menacing dragon's face into pieces.

But she forced herself to stay calm, commanding: "Attack while he is ascending! Pay attention to his next dive path!"

The Eagle Guards quickly drew their bows and arrows, releasing volleys of arrows.

However, Alger, who was ascending, calmly flipped, changed directions, and rolled sideways in the air, performing a fluent aerial waltz. Though it looked breathtaking, the arrows always lagged behind by a step.

"Eagle."

Alger whispered.

The Dragon Vein Giant Eagle instantly understood and once again dived from high altitude.

Feathers flurried, blood splattered, and yet another Eagle Guard was effortlessly harvested.

In front of this Half-Dragon Half-Human Dragon Vein Giant Eagle Knight, the Eagle Guards seemed to be mere playthings, manipulated at will.

Nelly stayed silent for a while before slowly speaking:

"Disperse, all of you. Let me handle him."

"I won't lose again…"

Nelly's dark brown pupils gleamed with unwavering determination.

This rare female Eagle Guard, instead of succumbing to despair after that heart-wrenching battle, carried the will of her fallen comrades, training tirelessly, diving, and slashing repeatedly. She underwent extraordinary trials to finally become the first female commander of the Northwind Eagle Guard in a century.

She absolutely couldn't allow the events of five years ago to happen to her again.

Even at the cost of her life!

"Terna..."

She softly called her Giant Eagle companion's name, then her tone brightened.

"This time I won't—"

"—flee hastily!"

Nelly squeezed her legs, driving the Giant Eagle to take flight with a scream, raising the Silver Sword in her hand and launching a direct frontal charge at the fearsome enemy.

"Die, evil dragon minion!"

Alger, watching Nelly rushing straight at him, murmured:

"Is this a challenge to a duel...?"

"Then so be it."

Alger's eyes turned serious.

He bent his body slightly, gripped the Everburning Greatsword tightly, and piloted the massive Dragon Vein Giant Eagle into a diving charge.

The distance between them was a hundred meters.
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But in flight, it would pass in an instant.

Nelly fixed her gaze on the charging figure, her heart pounding, sweat trickling down her hand gripping the sword. The distance was so close now that she could see every scale on the enemy's face.

That Half-Dragon Knight began a diving attack, wielding the flaming Great Sword.

In that instant.

Nelly suddenly hesitated slightly.

This movement was too familiar, whether it was the dive, the sword strike, or even the crouching posture.

A terrifying possibility flashed through her mind—the evil monster before her, Half-Dragon Half-Person, was in fact her once-admired commander.

This can't be!

No, I am still fighting!

Nelly quickly regained her senses, gripping the Silver Sword tightly.

But the brief moment of distraction cost her the final chance of victory.

"Shu—"

Flames filled her vision, and the sharp longsword mercilessly sliced through her vulnerable neck.

As her head plummeted from the sky, the beautiful and resilient face still bore a trace of bewilderment and helplessness.