A dragon? Ren was baffled, and he looked over at the Princess. "Are there dragons here?"

Elena shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe?"

Ren didn't move yet and continued to eavesdrop on the conversation. It looked like Fate Alliance had shifted fate to Black Lion and had slain a dragon, apparently.

"Do you know how many EXP and gil we'll get at the end of the day if we stick to them?" Dimitri asked; his smile was cocksure.

"Large enough to catapult our ATP to three hundred," finished Hugo.

So Black Lion even temporarily took in numerous guilds into their ranks. Ren observed. And he had to wonder what the price was. Maybe items and being a dog to Black Lion. He was sure of it.

"If I were you, I should join Black Lion, too," Rayna said with a passion. "It would do your guild good."

"And be what? Dogs for them? I think not," Lucia spat it out like a venom.

Silvia gave them a long chilling look. "I don't want to give up whatever you guys give up to join their guild. And I'm speaking items and honor here," she said in words that would brook no argument.

Dimitri's face darkened, a look of wry contempt on his face. "How unfortunate. Then you shall die here."

The opposing side took arms, and Roni had the audacity to shake his head in sympathy. "If you girls had just obeyed, you might have lived another day. Now it's the end of the line for you."

Silvia twirled her rapier, her eyes shining with determination. Pamela stood tall with her staff, emanating an aura of healing energy. Lucia crackled with magical energy, flames dancing around her fingertips. Ruru, cowering but still standing at the ready, her loyal companion, a giant bunny and fluffy pink spider, by her side.

Ren couldn't help but sighed a wryly smile. Watching Ruru reminded him that this was still just a game meant to enjoy. Where everyone could pet whatever they wanted and not face scrutiny and judgment.

Sadly, he wasn't like that. The game was his life, and he couldn't afford to slack off or think of having a rabbit as a pet.

On the other side, Roni clenched his massive fists, a sinister grin spreading across his face. Hugo brandished his gleaming blade with expert precision. Fern emanated an aura of shadowy power. Dimitri had acquired [Dual Wield] and prioritized damage with two weapons in hands rather than an extra DEF with a shield. He exuded confidence, ready to strike with lethal speed. Rayna formed an alluring smile, scepter in hand, dancing in flames.

The clash began when Roni charged forward, his fists crashing toward Silvia. With nimble footwork, Silvia gracefully dodged his attacks, parrying with her rapier, aiming for his vulnerable spots. Her strikes were precise, quick as lightning, and each movement was executed with grace and precision.

She improved a lot. Ren thought. She must be training in the real world. Compared to when he first met her, she was sloppy and looked like she would trip on her own foot.

Meanwhile, Pamela focused her attention on healing her allies, her hands glowing with a warm, restorative light. She chanted soothing incantations, mending the wounds and revitalizing her teammates with her benevolent magic.

Golden Phoenix fought with renewed vigor, bolstered by Pamela's healing prowess.

Ren was surprised that she was already a [Radiant], a class that could heal multiple targets at once and had a wide range of supportive and healing spells, covering multiple creatures at a single cast. She also had [Movement Cast] and [Multicast].

One more level and she would evolve into a [Priestess] and be eligible to acquire a hidden class [Battle Priestess] that could wield weapons increasing her STR or [Troubadour] that could have her own mount greatly increasing her AGI.

Maybe Golden Phoenix invested a lot in Pamela. Ren thought. And they had invested in her good for Pamela kept them alive despite their disadvantage in numbers. She had the most map awareness, and her positioning and gaming sense were on point.

It was the best decision for the girls. If it wasn't for her, Golden Phoenix would have been wiped out. It was a wise choice to groom her first. Ren thought.

But the disadvantage was . . . everyone would aim at her, and it was Ruru and Silvia's job to hold the frontlines while Lucia stayed at the back to protect their rear while Pamela was in the center.

Lucia conjured swirling flames that danced around her in a mesmerizing display. She hurled fire beams at Fern and Dimitri, forcing them to dodge and defend against the searing projectiles. Lucia's fiery spells created chaos among their ranks, making it harder for the opposing mages and swordsmen to find their footing.

Lucia was already a [Flame User], giving her access to high-level fire spells. But it looked like her spells were lacking or that there was no [Spell Book] to give her. Ren observed.

In the midst of the chaos, Ruru commanded her loyal beasts into action. Her loyal Bunny lunged at Hugo while her swift spider soared overhead, targeting Rayna with razor-sharp talons. The beasts fought with ferocity, their primal instincts honed by Ruru's unwavering bond.

Ren wanted to laugh at the cute display if not that the beast was losing. Their level and kind weren't simply fighting material.

As the battle intensified, spells clashed with sword strikes, each side struggling for dominance. Dimitri engaged in a fierce dual-wielding assault against Silvia, their blades clashing in a dazzling display of skill and strength. Hugo parried the Bunny's swipes, retaliating with precise strikes of his own.

Fern, the dark mage, summoned shadowy tendrils that ensnared Lucia, attempting to drain her magical energy. But Lucia quickly burned it and broke free. She retaliated with an explosive burst of fire, forcing Fern to retreat momentarily.

Rayna cast [Dark Grip], attempting to distract and manipulate Golden Phoenix, but Pamela's healing powers shielded her allies from Rayna's deceptive dark magic.

Golden Phoenix remained focused and determined, their unity serving as their greatest strength.

The clash continued with a symphony of clashing swords, magical explosions, and the roar of cute little beasts. The battlefield became a swirling whirlwind of steel and magic.

The adversaries, recognizing the pivotal role Pamela played in holding Golden Phoenix together with her healing magic, devised a cunning plan to strike at the heart of the group. Roni, Hugo, Fern, Dimitri, Rayna converged on Pamela, determined to eliminate her and shatter the foundation of Golden Phoenix.