Weapons stayed raised. Guns trembled in angry hands. The soldiers kept their eyes locked on Fiona as if her one choice could change the fate of the entire crowd.
"Fiona!" one man shouted from the front lines. "Why are you taking the side of Nova World?"
Another soldier stepped forward, veins bulging in his neck.
"You're the hero of the nation! Why aren't you fighting for us? Why aren't you ending this Nova era once and for all?"
Dozens of others echoed, demanding answers, their voices laced with betrayal and fear.
To them, Fiona was a symbol of purity, loyalty, and duty.
A tool shaped to serve.
Elga and the other Libeus members looked at Fiona uncertainly, wondering if she would speak or crumble under the weight of the expectations thrown at her.
But Fiona didn't falter.
She slowly lifted her hand and clenched it, her knuckles turning white. Then she raised her voice—a sharp, ringing voice that sliced through the chaos like a blade.
"What," she asked, "is a hero to you?"
Her question froze the courtyard.
For the first time in recorded human history, Fiona released aura.
It wasn't massive.
It wasn't overwhelming.
But it was real—and enough to make every human present feel a pressure no human had ever generated.
The soldiers stiffened.
The crowd went silent.
Even Sara blinked in surprise.
Fiona continued, stepping forward as her aura rippled subtly across the ground like a rising tide.
"Tell me," she said, her voice trembling with anger that had been locked inside her for years, "what is a hero to you?"
No one answered.
Because for the first time, they had no rehearsed words.
No pretty speeches.
No patriotic slogans.
Her voice grew sharper as she continued.
"Just because I killed a demon using a weapon someone handed to me… just because I succeeded because others supported me… you called me a hero."
She took another step forward.
"And because you gave me that title, you expected me to stay loyal. To be chained to your expectations. To never betray your faith. To obey… forever."
Her words hit the crowd like a hammer.
The truth was too clean.
Too simple.
Too brutal.
Everyone knew it, even if no one wanted to say it out loud.
Humans gave titles to bind.
Titles to control.
Titles to shape others into weapons disguised as symbols.
Just like dogs were called "man's best friend" to justify loyalty.
Just like horses were called "war companions" to justify using them in battles.
Humans had always used words as chains.
Fiona inhaled slowly, steadying her breath.
"I was tired of being your puppet. I'm done being your weapon."
Her gaze softened as she looked back at Sara, then hardened when she turned to the crowd.
"You expect me to kill my own people?" she demanded. "You want me to kill my chief—the woman who raised armies to fight demons, the woman who risked her life so that your children could sleep safely?"
She pointed her sword toward them—not threateningly, but accusingly.
"She sacrificed everything so your future could exist. And now you want me to kill her?"
A man from the crowd shouted back, frustration breaking through his fear.
"So what about the demon that came from Nova? That wasn't our fault! Why should we suffer?"
Fiona exhaled sharply and answered without hesitation.
"Just because someone accidentally came into our world does not give us the right to blame an entire realm."
Her voice softened, but her eyes grew sharper.
"Imagine, for one moment, that the one who fell into our world wasn't a demon… but another Advance human."
She took a slow step closer.
"Wouldn't our world celebrate? Wouldn't we steal their technology, their knowledge, their science, and claim we achieved it ourselves?"
The soldiers flinched.
The truth was unmistakable.
"But because the one who came was a demon, and because tragedy happened, you want someone to blame."
Her words fell like cold rain.
"That is hypocrisy. That is fear. And that is your ugliness laid bare."
She pointed her sword at the ground, the metal humming with her aura.
"If that same accident had brought us miracles, you would have worshipped Nova.
But because it brought misfortune, you want to burn them."
She shook her head.
"That's not justice.
That's convenience."
Silence spread across the courtyard like a slow death.
And at its center, Fiona stood unmoving—no longer their hero.
The courtyard trembled at her words.
Her aura flickered stronger—hot, fierce, emotional.
"I won't kill innocent people just because your fear demands it.
I won't slaughter my comrades to satisfy your hatred.
If being your hero means betraying my own humanity…"
She exhaled slowly.
"Then I refuse to be your hero."
A woman from the crowd suddenly stepped forward, rage twisting her features.
"You talk like Nova people have hearts like us!" she shouted.
"They're monsters! Overpowered creatures who can destroy cities! Have you seen even one of them claim they're not our enemy? Not one!"
Her words struck the crowd like sparks on dry leaves.
People tightened their grips on their guns.
Some nodded. Some trembled.
Fear and anger swirled like a storm desperate to justify itself.
Fiona did not flinch.
Instead, she whispered—soft but clear:
"I did see someone."
The Agency froze.
Confusion rippled through the soldiers.
"What do you mean… you saw someone?"
"Who are you talking about?"
Fiona looked down for a moment, her lashes trembling.
When she spoke again, her voice carried pain, admiration… and longing.
"I saw someone who was stronger than any of us.
Someone whose power could tear earth apart."
She breathed deeply, steadying herself.
"But her heart… was purer than any human I've ever met.
She loved the weakest man—
protected him, cherished him—
while giving up her entire legacy for him."
A hush spread through the courtyard.
Fiona's voice softened.
"I met her once.
And in front of her love…
my love looked small.
Insignificant.
A burden.
Because she loved in ways I never thought possible."
Her eyes glimmered.
"She is a disaster to her enemies.
But to the ones she loves…
she is the gentlest being I've ever seen."
Murmurs exploded across the crowd.
"Is she talking about Sara?"
"No… maybe Allen?"
"Or is there someone else hiding here?"
"Don't tell me… there are more Nova people living among us!"
Fear and imagination twisted together, creating new monsters in their minds.
---
Fiona raised her hand, stopping the panic before it spread too far.
"Before you judge, answer me this—
Did any of you ever feel fear… when Sara led you?
Were you ever uncomfortable when she commanded the army?"
Silence.
Not one person dared lie.
Because the truth was simple:
Sara made them feel safe.
Protected.
Unshakeable.
Their Chief had trained under Sara's guidance.
Many of the soldiers had survived wars because of her decisions.
They were secure because of her.
Only when they learned she wasn't human…
only then did they panic.
Guilt slowly replaced fear in their eyes.
---
Sara finally stepped forward.
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
"Enough, Fiona.
I have seen enough."
"Chief—" Fiona began, but Sara gently took the microphone from her hand.
She looked at the crowd, the people she had protected for years without ever revealing her identity.
And she bowed her head.
"I am deeply sorry for hiding the truth from you."
Her tone held no pride—only sincerity.
"But do not worry about Nova World.
They will not invade this realm.
Your world's mana is too low—too weak for them to survive or wage war here."
Whispers again.
Relief began to settle on their shoulders.
Sara continued:
"As for the demons you faced…
they were weak.
So weak they surrendered themselves to Sin to survive.
In the end, True God protected this world from the real monsters.
Not me."
A wave of relief washed through the courtyard, almost visible.
But then someone shouted from the back:
"What about you?
Will you stay?"
"Are you… leaving us?"
The entire courtyard held its breath.
Sara closed her eyes for a moment.
When she opened them, they carried centuries of loneliness and resolve.
"I will return to my world.
It is where I belong."
Her voice didn't shake.
But Fiona felt something inside her break.
The room fell silent the moment Sara's words slipped out.
For a heartbeat, no one moved. Then, all at once, voices erupted.
"Chief, what do you mean you're leaving Lebius Agency?"
Every member spoke in perfect sync—shock, panic, and disbelief mixing in their voices.
Sara lowered her gaze.
She couldn't look at them; their faces were the very reason her chest felt tight.
She had made her decision long ago, but she had hoped… foolishly… that this moment would never come.
Chief Erika stepped forward, her voice trembling with frustration.
"Chief. Answer us. What does that mean? Why are you silent?"
Elga's eyes widened, her voice cracking as she clutched her own sleeves.
"Chief… is it true? Are you really going to leave me behind?"
And then Rika, whose intuition was sharper than anyone's, whispered with dread.
"She's not lying… Chief is really telling the truth."
A wave of panic washed through the courtyard.
Not chaos from outside enemies—no.
This time the chaos bloomed inside their hearts.
The one who had stood as their shield, their unwavering guardian, their silent wall of safety…
was now saying goodbye.
Sara finally lifted her head. Her eyes shimmered—not with tears, but with the weight of what she could never say fully.
"I'm sorry."
Her voice cracked, the apology heavier than any order she had ever given.
"It was already decided long ago. I… have to leave this world for the sake of peace."
Fiona's heart dropped. She stepped forward, anger and confusion battling within her.
"Sake of peace? Chief, you are the foundation of peace! Without you—this city, this agency—everything relies on you, would have gone.!"
Sara smiled faintly, a fragile, sorrowful smile.
"I know, Fiona. I know better than anyone."
She took a steady breath.
"But she doesn't want to take any risk. Not even the smallest one. So she… helped me. To remove all threats around human. And now I must return to the world where I actually belong."
Fiona blinked, stunned.
"Who are you talking about? Who is she?"
The entire team followed with the same question.
"Yes, Sara—who?"
"What woman holds such authority over you?"
"Tell us!"
For the first time, Sara saw it clearly—their fear, their warmth, their loyalty.
Humans, who she once believed were fragile and detached…
were now staring at her with hearts wide open.
It hurt.
It hurt far more than she expected.
Her voice trembled.
"Thank you… for everything."
Before anyone could step closer, before anyone could stop her—
Blood rippled from her feet, rising like living crimson threads.
They wrapped around her body, weaving into a cocoon of glimmering red light.
"Mom!"
"Chief!"
"Stop—please!"
Their shouts were drowned under the hum of ancient magic.
In the blink of an eye, the cocoon collapsed inward—
and Sara vanished.
The courtyard fell into stunned silence.
All that remained was the echo of her final apology
and the hollow ache of a protector who chose to disappear
for a fate none of them could yet understand.
The courtyard, which moments ago had been roaring with hatred and tension, suddenly fell into an eerie quiet. It wasn't peaceful silence—no, it was the silence that follows a sudden disappearance, a silence that chokes everyone with unanswered fear. One second Sara was standing at the center of her people's protection, surrounded by agents ready to defend her. The next moment, she simply vanished. No sound, no trace, no farewell. Just gone.
Elga froze in disbelief, her breath catching painfully in her throat as she stared at the empty space where her mother had been standing. The shock hit her like a blade to the heart. She stumbled forward instinctively, her feet moving before her mind could catch up, trying to chase an image that was no longer there. But Sara's presence had evaporated completely, leaving only emptiness.
"Mom…? Mom, where are you?!" Elga's voice cracked as she sprinted toward the courtyard's edge, desperately searching for even a shadow that resembled Sara. Her scream echoed painfully throughout the underground city, bouncing off stone walls and descending into the deepest tunnels like a child pleading for her mother in the dark.
The other chiefs, including Erika Hemut and Rika, stood frozen at the stage. They didn't even attempt to pursue; they were too stunned, too shaken by the sudden decision that shattered everything they believed was stable. Their expressions reflected heartbreak, fear, and confusion. Fiona watched them quietly, her heart sinking as she realized the truth—she was losing everything again. First love, then trust, and now the one woman who had saved her life when she was only eight years old… the woman she had come to see as family.
Fiona whispered, barely able to push the words out.
"Chief… are you really going to leave us too?"
Libesus Agency, despite being shaken, moved immediately. The courtyard they stood in wasn't on the surface; it was located deep inside an underground city built under Lebius—a hidden fortress carved by Sara's orders to protect humanity from unseen threats. Losing her meant losing the very shield that kept their world safe. Soldiers, high-ranking elites, and specialized units spread throughout the enormous labyrinth of tunnels and chambers.
"Search every corridor! Every room! Do not let the Chief leave the base!"
"AI system, lock down all exits! Full seal mode!"
The digital voice of the AI echoed through the complex structure, confirming the lockdown. Doors shut with metallic thuds, hallways sealed, and elevators froze in place. They were trying everything—but deep inside, every agent knew Sara could slip through any barrier if she truly desired to leave.
Elga choked back a sob as she ran through another corridor.
"Mom! MOM! Please answer me!"
To everyone in Libesus, Sara wasn't merely a leader. She was the foundation—the one who built their defenses, trained them, guided them, protected them from monsters humanity never knew existed. Even if Sara never fully accepted humans, they trusted her more than anyone. Her absence meant collapse.
But Fiona… Fiona knew something others didn't. A memory, a whisper, a moment years ago that only she and Sara shared. There was one place Sara always went when she didn't want to be found—one place tied to her deepest origins. A place she once called her "last weakness."
The Vampire Lab.
Fiona took a deep breath and turned quickly, ignoring the calls behind her as she sprinted through dim corridors. The lab was buried far beneath the other facilities, in a restricted zone only a handful of people had clearance for. When she reached the entrance, the door was already open—forcefully.
Inside, the room was in ruins. Broken glass covered the floor like scattered ice. The containment pod that housed a strange, unknown spider species lay shattered, its metal frame warped as if torn by claws. The faint scent of old dried blood lingered in the air, mixed with chemicals and dust. It looked like a battle had happened here—but not recently. This destruction was from long ago, maybe from a time Sara never talked about.
Fiona's heart pounded harder as she stepped over the broken remains of the lab equipment. The lights flickered weakly, casting long shaky shadows across the walls. And then, in the corner, she saw her.
Sara was sitting quietly in a steel chair, legs crossed, her posture relaxed as though she had been waiting for someone. Her face was turned slightly, illuminated by a small emergency light above. Fiona froze when Sara slowly lifted her gaze.
Her eyes weren't human.
They glowed with an unnatural crimson luminescence, a predator's stare that chilled the air around her. And when Sara shifted her jaw slightly, Fiona saw elongated fangs—a reminder of the bloodline Sara had tried to bury for so many years. She wasn't hiding anymore. No mask. No restraint. No human act.
Sara Venom had returned to being what she truly was.
Fiona approached her cautiously, her heartbeat loud in her ears.
"Chief… are you okay? Why did you leave the courtyard? What's happening to you?"
Sara didn't answer at first.
She simply stared at Fiona, unable to understand how the girl had managed to find this place—the one corner of the base she believed was completely hidden. The old agency Vampire Lab was her sanctuary, a place soaked in memories she didn't want anyone touching. Yet Fiona stood there, breathing hard, eyes fixed on the glowing phone in Sara's trembling hand.
From the speaker came a voice.
A calm, ancient, commanding voice filled with authority and something far older than humanity itself.
---
Unknown Voice:
"Sara Venom, daughter of Saida Venom… you did well. As promised, I will take you to Atlantis—under dragon protection."
---
Fiona froze.
Her heart dropped to her stomach, and she whispered in shock as the familiarity hit her.
"Erza's… Grandpa…?"
The moment the words left her mouth, everything inside the lab seemed to grow colder.
Fiona had heard this voice once before—soft yet powerful, gentle yet demanding obedience from everyone who listened. A voice belonging to a being so ancient that human history could barely contain the legends written about him.
The voice hummed thoughtfully.
---
Grandpa:
"Ah… you're that black-haired human, aren't you?"
---
Fiona swallowed hard, trying to understand the situation.
"What… is this? Why are you here? Why is Chief talking to you?"
At her boldness, Sara's eyes widened with pure terror.
Confronting a human Captain was one thing.
But speaking casually to the Great Sage of the Dragon Continent—Erza's grandfather—was something even she would not dare.
Sara whispered urgently.
Fiona frowned, genuinely confused.
"He's Erza's grandpa, right? What's wrong with that?"
She said it casually, without the slightest understanding of the weight behind that title.
Neither Erza nor her grandfather had ever shown Fiona even a fragment of their true power—not even ten percent.
Because of that, Fiona had never felt the instinctive fear that should come from standing before a dragon of their lineage.
Sara's expression darkened as she slowly shook her head.
"No, Fiona… he isn't just her grandfather. He is the Great Sage."
Her voice carried the kind of dread that came from knowledge, from witnessing things no human should ever see.
"Among the dragons, that title belongs only to the strongest. He has lived for thousands of years, and his power is known across continents for one thing—destruction. Speaking with him is like speaking with a god. If he dislikes your tone, your posture, even your outfit… he can erase you without blinking."
Fiona's eyes widened as the meaning finally began to sink in.
"The… Great Sage…?"
As the realization surfaced, fear tightened her throat. She had forgotten—forgotten that Erza's lineage was not just royal but divine. Forgotten that the one speaking from the phone had lived centuries upon centuries, watching empires rise and crumble with the patience of a drifting mountain.
Fiona lowered her head quickly and spoke with trembling respect.
"I… I apologize for my rudeness, great being. I did not recognize you."
A deep, amused laugh echoed from the phone—so powerful it vibrated the air.
---
Grandpa:
"Oh my… you took quite long to recognize my authority. It is fine."
"I like bold women. After all, you were part of Erza's script, were you not? At the very least, you should be strong enough to guard her mate."
---
The words struck Fiona so hard she almost forgot how to breathe.
"Script…? What script?" Sara whispered, turning toward her, confused and afraid.
Fiona's face darkened.
Because now she understood.
She had just stepped into the world of dragons—creatures who didn't think like humans, who didn't understand morality or consequence. They only understood instinct, pride, and absolute certainty in their decisions.
And worst of all…
Erza herself had written this "script."
A series of plans, movements, and orders placed long ago—decisions meant to protect only one person.
Yuuta.
Sara clenched her fists as the truth slowly unfolded.
She wasn't leaving Earth because she wanted to.
She wasn't being hunted.
She wasn't running.
She was being removed.
By Erza.
Because the Dragon Queen could not risk any threat reaching her beloved husband. She couldn't allow the Nova world to learn of him. She couldn't even allow Sara's existence to remain on Earth, not when Sara knew too much, not when Sara herself could become a target or a clue.
Fiona stood in the center of this realization, her breath heavy, her thoughts unraveling.
Erza had orchestrated everything.
She had placed Fiona into Yuuta's life.
She had controlled Sara's path.
She had manipulated worlds without blinking.
Fiona felt the weight of it pressing down on her spine as she whispered bitterly to herself.
"So now… I have to act according to her script too? Even if I never asked for this?"
The Great Sage chuckled softly, as though amused by Fiona's fear and frustration.
The call continued humming with ancient authority.
And the fate of multiple worlds shifted in that quiet, broken laboratory.
---
To be continued…