Todd, lying on the ground panting heavily, looked at the wound on the dragon's wing, his eyes filled with anger and confusion.

Commanding the griffin to land beside the black dragon, Ivy, bow and arrow in hand, quickly walked to Todd's side and asked with concern, "Are you injured?"

“The wound has stopped spreading, but it feels like I’m poisoned; the pain and weakness can’t be relieved.” Todd struggled to fold his dragon wings. “There must be something wrong with that crimson spear. Even the Tyrant’s enhanced ‘Regeneration’ ability can’t work.”

Looking up at her sisters circling and scouting in the sky, Ivy gripped the bow tightly: "It's not safe here. We must leave immediately."

Todd tried to flap his dragon wings, but the immense pain made it impossible for him to maintain his balance, and he involuntarily let out a low growl.

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to fly anymore,” Todd said to Evie. “Using my ‘Plasticity’ ability, I can compress the dark matter in my body and return to human form, but this process will take some time.”

Ivy nodded: "I will have the warband from the Junka Fortress take charge of the escort."

Todd sat firmly on the ground, his body radiating a pale blue light, and scorching steam billowed out from the gaps in his dragon scales, instantly filling the entire forest.

An hour later, Todd, now back in human form, sat up naked from the ground and stumbled toward the edge of the forest.

Evie, who had been staying by Todd's side, quickly draped the blanket she had prepared over him and helped him climb onto the griffin.

Todd moved his arm in pain, and from behind, a shocking wound remained on his back.

With a pale face, Todd said to Ivy, "Tell the Froststone chapter commanders that preserving their strength is the top priority. I allow them to consolidate their forces and abandon some outlying strongholds."

Evie nodded, relayed the order to her subordinates, then mounted her griffin and flew swiftly towards Froststone City with Todd in her arms.

Upon returning to Froststone City, the first thing Evie did after disembarking from the griffin was to have the Valkyries carry Todd back to his bedroom on the second floor of the small building. After instructing Deirdre to take good care of him, she hurriedly went to the temple to find Minnie, a shaman who was skilled in herbal medicine.

Gently stroking Deirdre's tear-streaked cheek with his fingers, Todd, lying on his side on the bed, whispered, "I'm fine."

Hearing the hurried footsteps of several people coming from the stairs, Todd gently squeezed Deirdre's hand and said, "Help me sit up."

With red eyes, Deirdre asked, "Are you sure? But about your wound?"

Todd shook his head slightly, signaling to Deirdre to help him.

Just as Todd sat up, he saw three people walk into the bedroom.

Two of them are Evie and Minnie.

The remaining person, however, surprised Todd greatly.

Wearing a coat made of raven feathers, the woman's smile was like a ray of bright sunshine, but her voice was as cold as a snowy day's wind.

"It's been a long time since I've seen you in human form. It takes a little getting used to," Meredith said with a slight smile to Todd. "How about it? Didn't expect it to be me?"

Todd shook his head helplessly, the pain from the wound on his back causing him to frown slightly.

Minnie said to Todd, "She arrived at the temple when you set off for the north and has been waiting ever since."

Todd sighed: "When Scáthach gave me this kind of task, you really should have warned me about the potential dangers."

Meredith smiled and said, "Didn't my master send me here? I just didn't expect you to set off so soon."

Ivy placed her right hand on the hilt of her sword, her eyes fixed on Meredith's every move, and asked warily, "When we were downstairs, you told me you had a way to treat this kind of wound?"

Meredith pointed to the wound on Todd's back and made a pleading gesture.

Todd gestured to Evie to calm down, then nodded to Meredith.

The latter slowly walked to the bedside, and under the gaze of everyone in the room, extended his right hand, palm up, and said to Todd, "Put your hand in my palm."

Todd did as he was told.

In an instant, Todd's consciousness was sucked into an unknown space.

A vast and magnificent crystal city stands in the sky, shimmering in the sunlight.

Dozens of kilometers away from the city, nearly a hundred steam-powered steel warships, arranged in an assault formation, sped toward the city.

As the warship approached the city, it emitted a piercing whistle and slowly turned, its side facing the city. With the dark cannon doors opened, thousands of blazing beams of light shot out from the muzzles, striking the aquamarine shield above the city and creating ripples.

Under constant attacks, the city in the sky emitted deafening sounds of earth and rocks collapsing. Large chunks of rock and buildings crumbled and fell off the edge of the city.

Finally, unable to withstand the attack any longer, the aerial city's protective shield shattered in an instant. The beams of light from the steam warships struck the city's streets, gardens, and sculptures directly. Amidst the explosions and flames, the magnificent city slowly tilted and plummeted towards the earth.

Just as Todd was stunned by what he saw, a familiar voice rang out behind him.

“Building a civilization may take thousands or even tens of thousands of years. But destroying it only takes a day.”

Todd turned his head and saw Scáthach hovering in mid-air, staring intently at the city falling to the ground.

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