Danmachi: Strongest Familia

Eina struggled to her feet, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, her movements shaky from the intense pain radiating through her back.

Suddenly, a strange sound echoed in her mind, like the snapping of an invisible cord tethering her reason. In an instant, the panic vanished from her expression, leaving her standing motionless, like a lifeless doll.

Unnoticed by Goliath, Eina's injuries began healing before their eyes, her wounds closing at an unnatural speed. Goliath, oblivious to this change, lifted his massive hand for another crushing blow—only to feel his strike hit nothing.

Puzzled, he looked up to see Eina's hands transformed into razor-sharp dragon claws.

"Back off!" Eina's voice dropped to a commanding tone, carrying a powerful authority that brought the floor boss to a halt.

Her eyes shifted into reptilian slits, and an overwhelming aura radiated from her small frame in waves. It was the presence of a dragon—the pure dragon blood in Eina's veins stirring to life.

Her staff lay abandoned as a low growl escaped her throat. She hunched over slightly, her body seemingly preparing for a surge of power.

With a deep, resounding snap, two bulges formed on her back, and in a moment, scarlet dragon wings unfurled. This newfound power, a primal force, even made the normally unintelligent Goliath experience fear.

Riveria, watching from afar, was struck speechless. She knew that Eina, born from Aurelion and Aina, carried the dragon god's blood, but wings were unexpected. Had her dragon lineage awakened a deeper power?

With a mighty sweep of her wings, Eina launched herself into the air, her line of sight now level with Goliath's. Her slit pupils gleamed with ferocity, and flames wreathed her dragon claws as she prepared to strike.

"Blazing Fire—!" Eina roared. Flames spun around her body in a circle, radiating intense heat that made even Goliath hesitate.

Before he could react, she unleashed a searing blast at close range, targeting his eyes. As her body adapted to this newfound power, Eina felt herself growing more attuned to the force within her, her pupils gradually returning to their original hue.

The searing flames scorched Goliath, leaving his face a bloodied mess as the flesh burned away.

Without a hint of mercy, Eina hurled another fireball directly at Goliath's head. Unlike before, her wings now allowed her to maintain a stable position in the air, enabling a more controlled assault.

Goliath's form erupted in flames, his entire body consumed as a sickening crackling sound echoed around them.

"Although I don't know what's going on, goodbye, Mr. Goliath—"

The flames spread across Goliath's body, feeding on his flesh as though it were fuel, burning from his head down to his feet.

Goliath staggered, retreating instinctively to create distance from her, his movements sluggish and his vitality draining.

Another fireball materialized in Eina's palm as she prepared to strike. Though unaccustomed to this new power, her dragon blood flowed fiercely, pushing her beyond her usual limits as a mage defender into something far closer to a mage warrior.

Goliath's roars dwindled as his regeneration failed to keep pace with the burning flames. Meanwhile, Eina's body began developing a fine layer of dragon scales, protecting her from the rocks that Goliath desperately hurled her way.

Seizing a rare opening, Goliath managed to swat Eina, sending her flying. But she quickly steadied herself with a beat of her wings, closing in on him once more as his strength waned.

By now, the giant was powerless to resist.

With a piercing sound, her sharp claws tore through the flames guarding his chest, slicing through flesh and blood until they struck the hard magic stone at his core.

A shattering sound echoed as the magic stone cracked, and Goliath's suffering came to an end.

The massive stone fell to the ground with a heavy thud. Standing atop it, Aegina gasped for breath, her figure steady yet trembling with exhaustion.

Though she had defeated Goliath through sheer determination and strength, the moment she allowed herself to relax, an overwhelming wave of fatigue crashed over her.