". . ." Ren didn't comment at first, thinking about Isolde's offer.

She had changed. If before she couldn't look at him straight in the eyes and somehow stuttered while talking to him . . . Now she was more confident and able to meet his gaze.

Ren ponders why but found no answer.

Anyway, having Isolde wander in this realm alone wouldn't sit well with him. And if she herself offered help with just EXP in return, that would be more than enough.

"Alright," Ren agreed and asked Isolde to join his group.

"Egh? Are you sure?" Isolde knew the reason why Ren didn't want to form a group in the first place. And she totally understood. That's why she didn't care about items and gil. She really just wanted the EXP and to have the chance to explore the Fey Realm some more.

"It's easier to retrieve the gil and items later," Ren simply said. It was true because a [Group Inventory] would be formed. He didn't care about EXP anyway since he got little of it because of his high stat.

Isolde beamed and pressed the [ACCEPT] button. "Thank you, Ren. I owe you one."

"Don't worry about it. Rather I'm sorry that you'll only really going to get EXP in the end."

Isolde laughed. "I'm rich. So I don't need those, gil. Anyway, I can just have my father buy what items you have that I want. It's still a win-win situation."

Ren smiled behind his hood. "That would be great."

Isolde's company was greatly welcomed, and her strength would be an added boon to their fight.

A loud blast drew Ren and Isolde's attention. Looking over, the hall was near empty, the soldiers were beaten, and Elena and Prince Zeroth were now fighting Russet.

"Tsk! Useless idiots! Couldn't even kill a single player!" Russet growled and took a leap back. "Do I have to do everything myself?!"

Russet's body convulsed with power, and a surge of crimson energy swirled around her form. The air crackled, and a large portion of the castle was destroyed as the transformation took hold, morphing her into a fearsome creature of legend – a majestic red dragon.

Her once fierce features became adorned with sharp scales, glinting in the light. Her eyes burned with an intense, fiery gaze, radiating an aura of raw power and dominance. Massive wings stretched out from her back, their span casting a shadow over the battlefield.

The ground trembled beneath her as she unleashed a mighty roar, the sound reverberating through the air like thunder. Flames erupted from her jaws, casting an eerie glow upon the surrounding. The air grew thick with heat as if the very essence of fire had come to life.

With a single powerful beat of her wings, Russet took to the sky, soaring above the castle. Her massive form casted a menacing silhouette against the moonlit sky, striking fear into the hearts of those who beheld her.

The ground beneath Ren and the others quaked as Russet descended, landing with a resounding thud. They quickly evaded the attack. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the earth, causing Ren and the others to stumble and lose their footing.

"Pesky things! I'll burn you all to ashes!"

[WARNING! You have engaged the Red Dragon Queen, Russet!]

Ren was happy that the final boss finally showed up. But he wasn't happy with the stat of the boss.

When she turned into a dragon, Russet's spell and skills were reduced to only, Multiattack, Bite, Breath, Claw, Tail, and her legendary actions, Power Dive and Deep Breath.

However, her stat tripled, and her two passives were a pain in the ass.

Her [Heavy Armor] reduced damage taken from weapon attacks by up to 10%.

And her [Spell Resistance] allowed her to take half damage from spells.

This would be a long fight. Ren thought.

"I'll keep it distracted while you guys attack it from a safe distance," Princes Zeroth said. "This is no time to be playing games."

Without hesitation, the prince bit his thumb, drawing a thin trail of blood. With swift and precise movements, he traced intricate symbols in the air, forming a pentagram that glowed in the darkness. Shadows began to gather around him, swirling and coalescing into a dark, ethereal aura.

A palpable tension filled the air as the shadows wrapped around the prince, obscuring his figure from view.

When the shadows dissipated, a figure emerged, revealing the transformed Prince Zeroth. His once regal attire had been replaced with a dark, ominous armor that seemed to meld seamlessly with his form.

Prince Zeroth stood tall and imposing, his features partially obscured by a shadowy helmet adorned with menacing spikes. His eyes burned with an intensity that matched the flames of the battlefield. He became taller and buffed like a giant wrapped in black armor.

Prince Zeroth's stats surged, his abilities doubling in strength for the duration of ten minutes. His once formidable presence had now intensified, making him an even greater force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.

"That's one of the royal drow's skills, [Shadows Embrace]. It allowed Prince Zeroth to tap into the depths of darkness, channeling the power of shadows to enhance his combat abilities. The shadows envelop him, granting him heightened strength, agility, and magical prowess for a limited duration," Elena explained, her face serious like she wasn't glad about the prince's transformation.

Elena captured Ren's gaze. "We only have ten minutes to defeat Russet. Prince Zeroth could only activate that skill once a day. It's not exactly omnipotent. Once it reach its duration, he would turn back into his former form, but all his stat would decrease in half for an hour.

"Ren. Are you ready?"

Ren only nodded his head.

"Good. Let's finish this and get my sister back!"

The prince's transformation served as a turning point in the battle, shifting the tides in their favor. With his newfound strength, Prince Zeroth unleashed devastating attacks, combining his enhanced physical prowess with potent dark magic. He fought with unparalleled precision and ferocity, striking at Russet with relentless determination.

The clash between the transformed prince and the fearsome dragon intensified, each blow resonating with the force of two combined. The ground shook, and the air crackled with the clash of powers as they engaged in a fierce fight of strength and magic.