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After several Eagle Guards were mercilessly shot down by the players, they finally closed in to a suitable range and began to counterattack.

Unfortunately, their accuracy in high-speed flight was poor, and even when they did hit, the feeble arrows couldn’t penetrate the tough scales of the dragons.

On the other hand, the players fought fiercely, picking off eagles at close range with precision. Some players who specialized in throwing weapons hurled spears that pierced both rider and eagle.

"Hell yeah, this is amazing!"

The player with the ID "Big Sword" cheered.

With a strength score of 17, he was the group’s powerhouse, even specializing in the 【Tavern Brawl】 skill for the thrill of high-altitude throws.

Unlike the dragons, the eagles had only soft feathers for flight and no hard scales for protection.

"Damn it…"

Nelly bit her lip, her gaze heavy.

She watched as her Eagle Guards fell one by one, having lost ten without making a dent in the enemy.

Even she had narrowly dodged an arrow in a daring side-roll, barely avoiding the attack.

"This can’t go on."

She made a quick decision, raising her sword and shouting, "Northwind Eagle Guard, listen up! Close in and form a circle formation!"

Sharp eagle cries echoed across the sky.

The Eagle Guards ceased their futile archery and accelerated toward the enemy, aiming to form a tight circle of three or four around each Crimson Scaled Conqueror, using agility and numbers to take them down one by one.

This was a textbook maneuver from the Eagle Guard’s tactical training.

But they had come up against their former commander—

—Alger.

As the close-quarters battle approached, Alger noticed the Eagle Guards grouping to encircle him, led by none other than Nelly.

"Looks like she learned well."

"Nelly."

He recognized the familiar tactics immediately.

But from his time with the players, he had learned much, including the "energy maneuver" tactics—turning kinetic and potential energy into effective aerial combat responses, maximizing combat efficiency.

The eagles, smaller and faster than the dragon-blooded eagles, had superior agility.

Five Eagle Guards circled Alger, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

"Igor."

Alger remained calm, urging his dragon-blooded eagle to ascend, converting kinetic energy to potential energy, executing a powerful aerial turn to slip out of the encirclement with ease.

Nelly glared at the half-dragon knight, her brow furrowed.

"Keep surrounding him! Don’t give him any chance to counter!"

She shouted.

Eagles weaved, banked, and rolled through the air.

Recognizing the half-dragon knight as the leader, Nelly led five Eagle Guards to confront him directly, yet they were toyed with in the sky.

For some reason, she found his movements eerily familiar.

"Why is that…"

Alger reached the highest point of his ascent, flipping over and diving back down.

"Danger!"

Nelly shouted.

The dragon-blooded eagle dove in a graceful arc, charging one of the Eagle Guards in the circle with unstoppable speed.

The Eagle Guard didn’t even realize the danger until it was too late.

"Swish—"

With the terrifying speed of the dive, Alger’s flaming greatsword cleanly decapitated the eagle, sending its rider screaming down to his death.

Alger ascended once more, moving slowly as he prepared for the next devastating strike.

"Damn you, dragon’s minion!"

Nelly gritted her teeth, wishing she could slash that dragon’s face to pieces.

But she forced herself to stay calm, ordering, "Attack while he’s ascending! Watch for his next dive!"

The Eagle Guards quickly drew their bows, firing arrows.

Alger, however, performed fluid flips, turns, and sidesteps, gliding through the sky with the grace of a waltz, effortlessly dodging the arrows.

"Igor."

Alger whispered.

The dragon-blooded eagle understood and dove down again.

Feathers flew, blood sprayed, and another Eagle Guard fell, life taken with ease.

Against the half-dragon knight on his dragon-blooded eagle, the Eagle Guards seemed like mere playthings in his hands.

Nelly remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly,

"Everyone, fall back. I’ll handle him."

"I won’t lose again."

Determination flickered in her deep brown eyes.

This rare female Eagle Guard had endured grueling training and relentless drills, carrying the will of her fallen comrades after that harrowing battle, eventually becoming the first female captain in a century.

She would never allow what happened five years ago to repeat.

Even if it cost her life!

"Turner."

She whispered her eagle’s name, her voice steeling.

"This time, I won’t—"

"—flee in haste again!"

Clenching her legs, she spurred her eagle forward, lifting her silver sword, charging directly at her formidable foe.

"Die, dragon’s minion!"

Alger watched Nelly’s head-on charge, murmuring to himself,

"Is this a challenge?"

"Then bring it on."

Alger’s gaze sharpened.

Leaning forward, he gripped his Everflame Greatsword, guiding his dragon-blooded eagle into a diving charge.

The two closed the hundred-meter distance between them.

At flight speed, they would clash in mere moments.

Nelly’s heart pounded as she watched her opponent’s charge, sweat dripping from her grip on the sword, close enough now to see every scale on the enemy’s face.

The half-dragon knight dove, brandishing his flaming sword.

In that split second,

Nelly hesitated.

The motions—the dive, the slash, even his posture—felt so familiar.

A horrifying possibility flashed in her mind: this half-dragon monstrosity might be the commander she once admired.

No, it couldn’t be!

No, I’m still in battle!

Shaking off the thought, Nelly gripped her silver sword tightly.

But in that moment of hesitation, she had lost her final chance.

"Swish—"

Flames filled her vision as the sharp blade sliced mercilessly across her vulnerable neck.

As her head fell from the sky, her beautiful and resolute face remained etched with a look of confusion and disbelief.

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