Chapter 48 : Your Timing Was Perfect

In the blink Milly hesitated, the battle below turned fierce.

Joseph’s heavy axe crashed again and again into the Horned Lizard’s skull—sparks flying as metal scraped obsidian-like scales. But not a single crack formed.

“Damn, this thing’s hide is thick.”

Swinging until his palms bled, Joseph couldn’t break through. Meanwhile, that girl Tifna had picked up—her lightning strikes had shattered several scales. Idis wasn’t strong in lightning magic. Those bolts? Definitely her.

He’d underestimated her.

That kid was stronger than he thought. The scorched stench of burnt flesh rose from the struck areas.

Enraged, the lizard went berserk. As its claw lashed toward Joseph, Alva stepped in—shield raised.

CRACK!

The clash screeched like grinding teeth.

For a moment, they held—then the lizard shoved, sending Alva flying. His shield—now webbed with fractures—barely hung together.

Balance broken.

As the beast lunged for Joseph—

A clear voice cut through:

“Fall back.”

Tifna moved like silver lightning—dodging the lunge, blade flashing. In one motion, she sliced off the horn atop the lizard’s head.

ROAR!

Previous attacks did little. But the moment Tifna joined, the tide turned.

The lizard stared at her—its yellow eyes trembling.

It feared her sword.

Yet it charged.

Too slow.

Tifna slipped past—blade sliding beneath its jaw, slipping between the cracked scales Joseph had weakened.

The thick neck armor split open.

But Tifna didn’t press the attack.

“Idis! Layn! Ready!”

She vanished.

The lizard slammed its tail into the ground—trying to sense her—

Then—flash!

Her blade plunged into the exposed neck.

Dark purple blood erupted—froze midair—crystallizing into falling ice.

The pain drove the lizard into a second frenzy. It had to kill her now.

It reared back—gulping poison from swollen glands—then blasted toxic mist forward.

But before it reached Tifna—

SHINK!

An ice barrier bloomed—blocking the full force. Corrosive fog ate through it fast—but Tifna didn’t retreat.

Holy light flared around her—purifying the poison. Unharmed, she danced across the lizard’s body, carving deeper wounds.

Finally, wounded and desperate, the beast tried to flee—back into its lair, down into the earth.

But Tifna saw it coming.

“Sion! Seven o’clock crevice!” She dodged a sweeping tail, flicking another scale loose. “Poison arrow. Seal the path.”

The arrow left Sion’s bow with the command.

THWIP!

It struck—bursting into purple gas. Then more arrows followed—steel cords weaving a net, sealing the escape route.

Trapped.

The lizard realized: only by killing her could it survive.

It reared up—glands pulsing, gurgling with venom—

But Tifna charged—into the stench.

Her blade flared with light.

“Joseph—underbite! Alva—control!”

In an instant—Joseph roared, driving his axe upward—wedging it into the gap beneath the jaw.

At the same time, Alva discarded his broken shield. Now Milly understood why iron chains coiled his arm.

The massive man moved with shocking speed—landing on the ridge of the lizard’s spine. In one fluid motion, he wrapped the chains around its neck.

CLANK!

Metal shrieked as the links tightened—digging into soft flesh beneath the scales.

The lizard thrashed—each struggle making the chains cinch tighter.

“Now you can’t move.”

Tifna’s blade darted in—precise as a scalpel—stabbing the venom gland’s root. The erupting poison froze instantly—trapped by Idis’s ice.

Milly rubbed the stone in her hand—stunned.

From Tifna’s entrance to now—less than five minutes.

The Silver Falcon Squad’s coordination was perfect.

Like a well-oiled machine, they dismantled the monster.

She’d only thrown two stones. Her contribution? Barely more than decoration.

With one final thrust—Tifna pierced the lizard’s throat.

Its last roar faded.

The massive body collapsed—lifeless.

Seeing it fall, Idis dropped her staff, collapsing onto the frost-covered ground. “I’m exhausted… You could’ve soloed it, nee-chan. Why wait?”

“Don’t say that. Teamwork means efficiency—and fewer injuries.”

Layn cast healing magic on Joseph and Alva. Minor scrapes only. Nothing serious.

Tifna sheathed her sword—walked over—gave Idis a light boop on the forehead.

“Ow! I didn’t mess up this time—why punish me?!”

“For talking nonsense. Without any of us, this wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.”

Brushing dust from her armor, Tifna turned—eyes landing on Milly, who was about to toss away her stone.

“Those two lightning strikes…” She smiled. “Your timing was perfect.”

“Huh?”