The only sounds that Destrian could make were squeals of unbearable pain that lined up quite well with what he was experiencing right now. The sudden mutilation of his proud dragon wing and the bones being crushed in the other, it was indeed a terrifying turn of events that unfolded within mere seconds.

One moment he was aiming towards the arrogant king of Wolfenstein, but in the next he was barely hanging on to his dear life, as he was carried like a ragged doll by this damnable lady knight.

Carrying the amputated Destrian back to the balcony of the fortress, Lucy nonchalantly threw his body down. Destrian spat a mouthful of reddish-green blood as he slammed on the railing of the platform.

Peeking through a tiny hole in the cellar room, which was near the balcony, Adrian shuddered in fear as he witnessed the gruesome state that Destrian was in currently.

They have known each other for quite some time now. Although they were not that close, they had made 'transactions' quite a few times already. In fact, the 14 Night Crows could be considered one of the main factors as to why the New Dragon Empire is now being ruled by a mere regent and not the Dragon Empress herself.

The misogynistic tendencies of those people that have a patriarchal mindset had led to the opposition of the factions inside the empire, which had led to the fall of the empress's power. Although all this was a mere illusion planted by the people within the empire that were puppets of the 14 Night Crows...

People were indeed gullible as they rode the bandwagon of the hate towards their own government. Even the Imperial Senate fell for this trick. It could be said that both Destrian and Adrian were the key players in 'reforming' the New Dragon Empire to something even 'newer'.

"Now, all I need you to do is surrender that pesky 'mouse' that has infested your little ride. Oh, and don't try feigning ignorance about it, it is a little too late for that. Besides, I'll let you go off after you give him up."

Lucy asked with a mockingly sweet tone while caressing her longsword on Destrian's flabby chin.

"Pft, you think you're scaring anyone, woman? You've got to be missing something in your head to think that you have cornered me just because I've lost my wings…"

Spitting the rest of the blood from his mouth, Destrian rose up as he nimbly moved to the side, trying his best to avoid the blade of the sword that was pointing towards him

His flabby body began emitting a mysterious aura. Gradually, his figure started to grow leaner as the fat he was 'shedding' off began to regenerate his pair of wings.

"Hmmm… Ah! The sacred arts of the Ancient Dragons. Yes, it seems that you are familiar with it too…"

Lucy slowly walked towards the Destrian,

"The problem with it is… It's useless when doing it in front of the enemy. You'll be too weak to fight back..."

Sheathing her sword as she placed the gigantic aegis behind her closed wings, Lucy gutted Destrian with a kick while he was still regenerating.

"Now where is he?"

"I think that is enough, Lucy…"

Feihren flew closer to where Lucy was situated. The soldiers had stopped rushing towards them. Instead, they were all starting to retreat by themselves, abandoning the unmoving fortress as they ran away from this 'bullying' party of two for their own safety. What were left were the civilians working inside the fortress, Destrian, and Adrian, who was still silently hiding.

Floating towards the fortress, Feihren kicked one of its walls. It shattered into tiny debris, exposing the figure of Adrian, who was still peeking. His surprised figure immediately ran towards the door, hurriedly scurrying down the stairs of the fortress…

'Go chase after him… Don't kill him, I'll have something to ask about the Bainzen Empire'.

Feihren instructed Lucy as she leapt towards the only exit of the fortress, greeting the panicking figure of Adrian.

...

"It seems that she can handle it on her own… Now…" Feihren directed his gaze towards Destrian. "What's with all this…? Why are you here in the first place? He coldly asked as he hopped off of the Titan Slate, landing on the balcony. Changing his equipment back to the [Hades Armor], Feihren walked closer to Destrian, who was eagerly smiling.

Looking towards Lucy and Adrian's confrontation, Destrian gained a boost of confidence as he could clearly see that this was going to be a one versus one between him and Feihren. He should have the advantage as he had now fully regained his health thanks to his True Dragon bloodline. He expected that Feihren had tanked every attack of the draconian Imperial soldiers back then and should have sustained considerable damage from all of it.

'Pshh… Still, have the guts to act tough eh. You're obviously just bluffing'

Destrian thought to himself as he opened his wings wide, as his buff new body emitted a terrifying aura. He threw a devastating punch towards Feihren as the impact kicked out a sonic boom in the surroundings, breaking some of the walls of the fortress as the balcony shook from the tremendous force of the impact.

...

Destrian stopped in his tracks as the daunting figure of Lucy landed in front of him. Although she was still a few meters away, knowing what this crazy lady knight could do, Adrian did not dare lower his guard.

Silently casting a spell, a blue magic circle rotated around Adrian's hands as an icicle spear appeared between them. The spear glowed with a mystical aura as it emitted frosty smoke. Aiming it at the motionless Lucy, Adrian threw it with all his might, gaining more power from all the momentum as the spear spiraled its way towards its target.

Lucy calmly raised her hands as she opened her palm, catching the speeding spear between her fingers. The spear slowed down by the second as Lucy flipped it, pointing the spearhead towards Adrian and threw it back towards him.

Adrian hurriedly chanted a defensive spell, partially blocking the speeding spear, and shattering it upon impact. But it seems that the barrier he formed was incomplete as the shattered icicle still made its way unto Adrian, causing a few cuts here and there on his yellow robes, slowly staining it with blood.

Lucy's wings opened as she rushed towards the now flustered Adrian, who was trying to put up a fight, "Not bad, it seems that we can have a little fun before my king arrives here to deal with you."