The morning light had just started to peek through when the sounds of fighting outside the camp finally stopped.
But the air still carried a lingering, cloying smell of blood and scorched mud that just wouldn’t dissipate.
Seraphina stepped into the camp.
On the ground, the remains of the purified magical beasts lay scattered in every direction.
Charred craters from magic spells could be seen everywhere.
The originally sturdy wooden fence, having been slammed into by something with tremendous force, was shattered beyond recognition.
Seraphina’s heart clenched instantly. She felt sick.
Even though she could still sense that familiar Dragon God bloodline aura,
the sight of such devastation made it impossible for her to calm down.
She searched frantically through the wreckage for that silver figure.
After weaving around a pile of still-smoldering debris, she finally spotted many people inside the light circle of the magic array at the camp’s center.
And in the middle of the crowd, Yisela was currently sitting on a rock.
Her little legs were crossed, and her small tail was wagging proudly back and forth as she bragged in front of a group of villagers and children who still hadn’t snapped out of their shock.
“You should have seen what just happened!”
The little one was holding half a loaf of bread in her hand, flailing her arms around as she gestured, her face full of smug satisfaction.
“Those monsters were just a bunch of small fries! I was just about to show them Princess’s real skills, and then they fell apart like pieces of paper! Fwoosh! Just like that! I didn’t even get a chance to warm up before the fight was over!”
She patted her flat little chest, sighing deeply with a look of false humility as she kept her “achievements” hidden.
“Sigh… it’s lonely at the top…!”
The gathered villagers listened dumbfounded, their eyes full of awe as they stared at the little one.
“By the gods, this little girl is amazing!” someone couldn’t help but say.
“Yeah, we owe her our lives,” another person chimed in.
Lina, hiding behind Yisela, finally had a bit of color back on her small face, her hands clutching tightly at the corner of Yisela’s clothes.
Seraphina stood at the edge of the crowd, watching that arrogant little silver-haired dumpling bragging loudly amidst the corpses and ruins. The tension that had gripped her all night finally eased.
The corners of her mouth involuntarily curved upward, and a gentle, almost impossibly tender smile appeared on her face.
‘This little one… her hands are probably still damp with cold sweat from fear, yet she still puts on a brave face to comfort others.’
‘What a little fool.’
As if sensing that familiar aura, Yisela’s bragging screeched to a halt.
She whirled around abruptly, and those ruby-red eyes instantly found the white figure in the crowd.
“SAINT SISTER!!!”
A shriek tinged with tears.
The brat who had been boasting about shattering stars with a single punch instantly broke character.
She shot off the rock like a little cannonball and dove straight into Seraphina’s arms.
“Boo-hoo! You’re finally back!”
That little silver dragon, who had been gesturing on the rock and bragging about how amazing she was, was now rubbing her snot and tears all over the Saint Sister’s robe.
Seraphina just let her hold on, gently stroking Yisela’s hair. She could feel the small body trembling slightly.
Her tears soaked Seraphina’s robe.
She patted Yisela’s back gently, her voice soft and soothing.
“There, there, don’t cry. Sister’s back now, isn’t she?”
“And I heard that our little hero just defeated a whole bunch of magical beasts?”
“Of course…!”
“Of course I did!”
Yisela looked up, sniffling, tears still brimming in her eyes, but she stubbornly raised her little chin with tsundere pride.
“Those small fries? I could squish every single one of them with one hand!”
“What about you, Saint Sister? How did it go?”
“Did you run into any really strong monsters?”
Seraphina’s gaze fell on Yisela’s bare arm. The black curse patterns, agitated by Yisela’s emotional state, were writhing slowly under her skin like a poisonous snake.
“Don’t move yet.”
Seraphina gently interrupted her. A faint golden light flickered at the tip of her finger.
Even though she had just used a forbidden art and her magic power was running low, she forcefully channeled what little she had left, letting holy light gently cover Yisela’s arm.
Sssssssss— The holy light and the curse met, producing a faint hissing sound.
Yisela flinched from the pain, but when she saw Seraphina’s frighteningly pale face, she held still and endured it.
“Sister, don’t use any more magic power!”
Yisela grabbed her hand frantically.
“Your face is so pale! Are you hurt?”
“It’s fine. Just a little tired.”
Seraphina smiled and withdrew her hand. Watching the black markings on Yisela’s skin slowly calm and fade, she hugged the little one close to her affectionately.
“As long as my silly little dragon is safe, that’s all that matters.”
Yisela nuzzled into her arms and sniffled.
“Then tell me all about your fight!”
“Was it as exciting as mine?”
Seraphina looked into those bright, sparkling eyes and knew that if she didn’t explain this world’s battle ranking system to her, this spoiled little one—raised in an environment where she was invincible—would end up in serious trouble someday.
So, she pulled Yisela over to sit on a clean rock and her expression turned serious.
“Alright, I’ll tell you then,” Seraphina said.
“Uh-huh! I’m listening!” Yisela sat up straight.
“What I ran into were three high-rank magical beasts.”
Seraphina raised three fingers.
“A three-headed hellhound, a shadow demon, and a nightmare.”
“Their strength, translated into this world’s battle rankings, puts them at platinum-rank magical beasts. Some were even at high platinum.”
“Platinum rank? Diamond rank?”
Yisela tilted her head, completely lost.
“What’s that? Is it as strong as I used to be?”
Seraphina took a deep breath and began explaining this world’s power system.
[Continent Battle Rank System]
“Yisela, listen carefully. In this world, fighting isn’t about who shouts the loudest. There are very strict ranks.”
Seraphina picked up a stick and drew a pyramid in the sandy ground.
“First tier: Mortal Rank.”
“Like the infected villagers from last night, or ordinary knight soldiers.”
“They rely on their bodies and basic Battle Qi.”
“The physical strength you released is actually higher than the peak of this rank, so you could punch them away with one hit.”
“Second tier: Transcendent Rank (Silver to Gold).”
“Like Captain Lei Meng, or slightly stronger magical beasts.”
“They can use area-of-effect magic or Battle Qi.”
“Third tier: Legendary Rank (Platinum to Diamond).”
“That’s the three I just fought.”
Seraphina’s eyes grew heavy.
“Platinum-rank magical beasts have special magic defense. Normal attacks can’t even scratch them.”
“Diamond rank can even alter the rules of a small area.”
“If I weren’t a Diamond (Low Rank), I wouldn’t have come back from that fight.”
“Fourth tier: Saint Rank (Epic Hero, Demi-God).”
She paused, looking at Yisela’s confused expression, and spoke more heavily.
“Before you were cursed, you were an Epic Hero, even at the threshold of Demi-God.”
“But now…”
“What rank am I now?” Yisela asked carefully.
“Now…”
Seraphina looked at her with the most serious face she could muster.
“Now you are: No Rank · Crispy Baby.”
“Huh?!”
Yisela’s fur immediately stood on end. “What ‘Crispy Baby’?!”
She flailed her little fists against the Saint Sister’s chest.
“Let me finish.”
Seraphina caught her flailing hands and spoke firmly.
“Right now, your physical body is still strong, but you have no magic power protecting your body. If you run into a Silver-rank or higher opponent, you’ll have to run.”
“If you run into a Gold-rank, you won’t even be able to escape.”
She watched Yisela’s eyes grow wider and wider, then concluded.
“So, from now on, if you ever see a monster that feels off, whether I’m beside you or not, your first reaction should be to run!”
“Forget about face or pride. Staying alive is the most important thing. Do you understand?”
After hearing this, Yisela’s little face went from red to pale.
She looked down at her own hands, which had just been propping up broken stones a moment ago, and then recalled the Saint Sister’s words about Platinum rank and magic defense.
She finally understood… that her one-against-many victory just now only worked because the opponents were too weak?
This huge gap between what she thought and reality made her little head spin.
“S-So… that means I’ve turned into a cripple?”
Yisela’s voice sounded like she was about to cry.
“Then how am I supposed to protect Sister in the future?”
Seeing her so dejected, Seraphina’s heart instantly softened. She immediately pulled her into a hug and gently tapped her little nose.
“Silly. Aren’t I still here?”
Seraphina smiled very gently. “You’re my No Rank · Limited Edition Little Evil Dragon.”
“Leave all the dirty work of fighting to your sister. You just need to…”
She drew out her words deliberately, watching Yisela’s anxious little face.
“You just need to…”
“Eat all the leftover fried chicken and grow up peaceful and healthy!”
Yisela was coaxed into a smile by her words. Though she still felt a little sore about being weaker, being so sheltered under the Saint Sister’s wings…it felt pretty good.
“Hmph!”
“Then I’ll—”
“Barely allow myself to be a Limited Edition for now!”
Yisela lifted her chin with tsundere pride, then remembering something, she shook her little fist menacingly.
“But you remember this, Sister!”
“Wait till I train up, I’m gonna reach that Platinum or Diamond rank!”
“When that happens, I won’t just fight ten—I’ll take on thirty!”
“And I’ll flatten every monster that dares to bully you!”
“Alright. Sister will be waiting for that day to come.”