Sparks flashed in the wind as steel met steel in a deadly embrace. Surrounding the vicious onslaught, the monstrous audience of Kagerou could do nothing but gaze in awe at the intense duel that took place before them.

Blaster Blade detached himself slightly from the metal deadlock, whirling rapidly as he slipped into a side opening and thrusted his sword at the oncoming figure of the Dragonic Overlord.

The tyrant smiled.

With a sudden flap of his leathery wings, he purged the momentum of his earlier strike and pullef himself away from the lethal edge of the holy weapon.

But Blaster Blade was not to be foiled that easily.

Allowing himself to be carried forward by the force of his strike, he burst towards his target.

CLANG!

A huge claw swung in at the last moment, bending the blade off its intended course.

Blaster Blade frowned.

Immediately after, Overlord unleashed a torrent of searing flames from his gaping maw, catching the unsuspecting hero in a powerful blaze.

The Kagerou troops cheered.

But with a sweep of his sword, the grand knight dispelled the conflagration and emerged unharmed into the battlefield once more.

…

Llew knew exactly who the man standing before him was. Everyone in the Sanctuary knew his face.

The face of the hero.. Blaster Blade.

Having spotted the hordes of dragons around the city center, Alfred had hurriedly ushered his companions into a nearby wooden structure.

The trio now sought refuge in the second storey of the building where they gazed out of a window at the unbelievable scene unfolding before their very eyes.

"Blaster Blade," Alfred whispered.

Salome was at a loss for words, gripped by a mixture of fear and excitement.

Llew too was silent. But his eyes were fixed upon the sight of the legendary warrior. And at that very moment, something stirred in the depths of his heart.

Something awakened.

…

An ivory dragon cast in glorious battle armor stormed into the town center, sending sand and stone flying with the sheer gravity of its immense bulk. Upon his back stood none other than the King of the Knights.

"Dragonic Overlord! You shall not be forgiven for this transgression against the United Sanctuary!" Pendragon bellowed.

The Kagerou leader snorted. "Foolish. It is the ultimate law of this world that only the strong may survive. And you knights are weak. Much too weak. You should all be eradicated from the surface of Cray!"

"It's meaningless trying to talk sense into that reptile, milord," Blaster Blade commented. "Words won't get through that thick skull of his. Only blades will."

Pendragon punched his fist into the sky. "Then blades it shall be."

Somewhere in the distance, a trumpet echoed.

The sound of boots and hooves against the ground rose like a mighty typhoon, and as the Kagerou forces turned, the armies of the United Sanctuary flooded the war zone.

The mega corporation that dealt with magical affairs: Oracle Think Tank. The emergency medical aid and assault squad: Angel Feather. And last but not the least, the hallowed defenders of the Sanctuary itself: the Royal Paladins.

Against the dark sky, an emblem of the Sun rose against a backdrop of blue, green and white stripes, proclaiming freedom and justice for all. The flag of the United Sanctuary.

All around, the Kagerou forces were cut down where they stood, severely outnumbered by the gargantuan force that had only managed to make the great journey from the Capital with the assistance of the Think Tank's magic.

The company's boss of sorts, CEO Amaterasu, floated beside Pendragon. "The forces you requisitioned have arrived."

The King nodded. "Indeed. You have my gratitude. All that's left is to rid our land of these vermin."

"Allow me."

Rising further into the air, Amaterasu stretched her arms wide and her robe began to billow in an invisible gale. A scarlet orb blazed into existence behind her, slowly growing in size until, without warning, it exploded into a rain of fearsome fireballs that dived mercilessly into the Kagerou forces.

Dragonic Overlord rose his blade into the air. "Retreat!"

And with the Wyvern Guards deflecting the bombardment of magical projectiles, the dragonic soldiers raced to leave. To survive. And to fight another day.

Eventually, the dust settled and all was quiet as evening approached.

"You alright?" Pendragon asked, wiping some blood off his face.

"But of course," was Blaster Blade's reply.

"LLEW!"

The two warriors turned. Walking slowly towards them was a young boy with blonde hair, chased after by two other children. But there was something strange and mechanical about the way he was moving, as if he was under the control of some sort of spell.

A glowing ball floated between his eyes, from one iris to the next.

Blaster Blade shuddered. He felt something. Something stirred in the depths of his heart.

Something awakened.