Zich knew this was a matter of life and death. He had never liked associating with others, and more importantly, he had never agreed to hide his summons for anyone. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

As his words fell, three spectral figures rose from the ground, immediately drawing the attention of Cole and the Player Association members nearby.

Cole’s eyes flashed with both excitement and shock at the sight.

The aura radiating from the three summons, especially the Silverback Grunt and Blood Leech, carried a heavy, foreboding presence.

"He got another one again," Helen gasped, her eyes shining as she muttered under her breath. "They even look more powerful."

Noticing the unfamiliar energy, several Association members glanced toward the summons, their expressions tightening.

The Silverback Grunt stood firm with its club raised, Blood Leech crouched low with its proboscis twitching, while Slimy wobbled at the back, the poison inside its body bubbling more violently than before.

However, aside from that, thin strands of silk-like threads formed and dissolved across its surface for a few seconds before settling.

This was because earlier, Zich had taught it the Silk Barrier skill. Now, that unstable energy was starting to show.

"What are those things?" one of the shield users asked, shifting his stance.

"Summons... but not normal ones," another replied quietly.

Cole observed them for a brief moment before giving a sharp order. "Reposition. Circle around him. Do not let the dragon flank that spot."

At once, the team moved. Two shield users rushed to Zich’s left while a chain user slid to the right, and the ranged group spread out behind them, adjusting their aim without hesitation.

Zich barely spared them a glance.

Instead, his hand moved toward his storage as a faint glow appeared in his palm.

The soul stone pulsed softly.

The moment it appeared, the undead dragon’s head snapped toward him again. Flames flared within its skull, and its movement shifted as it angled directly toward Zich instead of continuing its pressure on the Association line.

Raising the shard slightly, Zich smirked. "Yeah. Look here."

The dragon slowed for a brief moment as it adjusted, and that small delay pulled its attention away from the injured Association members, allowing several of them to exhale in relief.

"What is he doing?" one player snapped. "Is he trying to get himself killed?"

"That idiot is baiting it!" another cursed.

Cole tightened his grip on his spear, his gaze flicking between Zich and the dragon. "...He’s pulling it away," he muttered.

The shield user beside him frowned. "What?"

Without looking away, Cole continued, "He’s buying us time. If the dragon keeps chasing him, we can stabilize the formation."

As soon as those words left his mouth, the dragon lunged.

Zich did not react immediately. His fingers tightened around the soul stone before he stored it away, lowering his stance as a faint shift passed through his body.

[Super Soldier Activated]

His breathing steadied, his grip adjusted on the sword, and his eyes sharpened.

The dragon closed the distance.

And then Zich moved.

His footwork shifted, mirroring something he had observed moments earlier, his body leaning forward slightly as his sword angled just like Cole’s earlier thrust.

The dragon’s claw slammed down.

At the last moment, Zich twisted, slipping past the strike with a cleaner motion than before, his sword rising in a fast, direct line that closely matched Cole’s earlier movement.

"Slimy!" Zich shouted.

Slimy reacted instantly.

A thick glob of poison shot out and struck the dragon’s leg joint, the exact same spot the Association had been targeting. The acid splashed across the cracked bone and began eating into it slowly, producing a faint sizzling sound.

The dragon roared as its movement faltered slightly in that leg.

From the side, Blood Leech dashed in, its claws digging into the dragon’s lower body while its proboscis stabbed toward the weakened joint. Right after, the Silverback Grunt followed, raising its club and slamming it down.

BANG!

At the same time, Cole stepped in, shouting to his subordinates, "Push now!"

His spear struck the same leg from the opposite side, and two more Association members followed immediately, their weapons crashing into the joint.

The dragon’s stance broke.

It thrashed violently, sending a wave of force outward.

One Association player reacted too slowly.

Blue fire burst from the dragon’s mouth and struck him directly, lifting his body into the air before it fell in a broken heap.

"Damn it!" someone shouted.

"Focus!" Cole snapped, refusing to let the team lose momentum.

The formation adjusted again as chains wrapped around the dragon’s torso, shields pressed forward, and ranged attacks hammered its head and wings.

Zich did not fall back. Instead, he moved in again, his sword glowing faintly as mana gathered.

’This is it.’

Blood Leech held its ground despite the pressure, the Silverback Grunt swung again to force the dragon to shift its weight, and Slimy continued spitting poison, each shot landing near the same weakened joint.

Cole glanced at Zich for a split second.

Their movements aligned.

"Now!" Cole shouted.

Zich dashed forward.

Mana surged into his blade as he adjusted his swing, his posture and timing matching the veterans.

Overcharged Blood Arc!

The pulsing red slash cut across the dragon’s leg joint while Cole’s spear pierced from the opposite side, followed by two more attacks.

Crack!

The damaged bone gave way and the dragon staggered, releasing a loud roar.

Zich’s eyes burned with excitement. ’It’s working.’

His breathing quickened, his grip tightening as the once untouchable monster began to break.

Sensing the shift, Cole’s team pressed harder.

Chains tightened, attacks landed faster, and the dragon’s movements grew unstable as its damaged leg struggled to support its weight.

Zich stepped back slightly, watching closely. ’Just a bit more.’

His eyes remained locked on the dragon, waiting for the moment it weakened enough for him to strike.

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!

Another roar erupted, but this time it sounded different.

The dragon’s entire body froze for a brief second as a strange milky glow spread across its bones, and the blue flames shifted unnaturally.

Cole’s expression changed instantly. "Back! Everyone pull back!"

The Association members reacted without hesitation.

"What is it?" one asked urgently.

Cole’s voice tightened. "It’s entering berserk mode."