No part of Layla's body did not burn when she was held up like this. Even her legs felt the strain when her core decided to power up and shock the hand holding her neck tightly.

The stinging sensation Layla's body unconsciously produced caused the attacker to let go of her and drop her.

Layla coughed as soon as she was free. The hand mark against her neck burned, and it still felt like someone was strangling her neck harshly.

"Tsk, I did not like your trick. It won't work on me a second time."

The attacker confirmed before he reached out to grab Layla once more. And Layla panicked enough to use her magic.

Unbearable pain erupted across her body as soon as she did that. The hurt core was a source of power, but it also tormented Layla.

'At this rate, I might die because of my core before I die at this man's hand. What tough luck. I guess this is the price I must pay for being careless.'

Layla gritted her teeth as she pushed herself to stand on her shaky feet. She was going to face her opponent head-on if she could.

The man looked back at Layla blankly, and she knew she needed to be prepared for the coming attack.

The knife collided with Layla's shield, and she felt the crack in her core getting actively bigger.

Her body was signaling her to stop and faint. A little more, and she won't be able to use magic ever again.

[Host is exceeding the physical limits of her body. Dangerous territory is being approached. The host is asked to stop]

The system failed to warn Layla, but she could not take that advice. There was no time for her to stop and take a deep breath.

'If I stop, I will die. Even if I have to live in pain and without magic, I will do my best to keep surviving.'

Layla sometimes hated the strong willpower that kept her going. She wouldn't have to feel all this pain and suffering if she dared to give up. She could finally relax and enjoy her time.

'But I am stuck here and must use it to my advantage. I need to keep going, even if it breaks my body-'

Layla pushed, not stopping until she felt the cracks getting bigger and could not hold up physically.

Finally, her body collapsed, and Layla's limbs shivered at the pain and agitation she felt.

'This feels like the end. Will I finally die? Is this the end of my life?'

Layla's eyes closed on their own, and before she knew it, her body relaxed. Pain jolted her from the sudden sleep she had fallen into, and Layla forced herself to wake up and face reality.

If she were going to die, she would do it when she was alive and within her right mind.

"Looks like this is the end for you. Minister Calam said you were a strong target for us to go after, but I did not believe him. It turns out that you are not the troublesome one; it is the company you keep.

Once I get rid of you, that will be the end of this mission. So, do you have any last words?"

The imperial shadow asked with a satisfied grin. He looked happy that Layla was finally dying and that he would be free of his mission.

Layla felt her heart finally slow down. Although she did not want to admit it, she felt peaceful in her last moments.

She had tried her best and gotten this far-

'Fuck! Who am I kidding? I do not want to die! I will do anything to live, even if I have to sell my soul to the devil!'

Layla's drive to live was incredibly powerful. Her desperation foiled the latent magic inside her, reaching her system and inventory.

It all gathered inside the dragon egg she kept, and the creature finally opened its eyes for the first time inside the egg.

/Are you dying? Do you need me to lend you strength? I will save you, but you must give me your core. /

The voice suddenly asked Layla, and she instinctively knew it was the dragon egg she was fostering in her inventory.

It had regained consciousness for a short period oI do not mind if I need to give it up physicallyf time as soon as it felt that its partner had been threatened to the brink of death.

Dragons were one of the highest authorities of magic and power, so the egg might have sensed that it would never see the light of day if Layla died.

'My core, huh? That is a huge price for being saved… but I do not have time to be picky. I already gave up on magic a long time ago. If I need to give it up physically, I do not mind it.'

"Y-You can t-take it."

Layla spoke, but blood blocked her pathway. She was hurt internally, and these injuries would take years to heal, even if she survived.

She only had one objective - to ensure she could survive this encounter somehow.

"Hey, have you lost your mind? You have begun to talk to yourself now. Let me see what else you have in store-"

The attacker mocked, but he only had seconds to notice the sudden blare of heat that erupted across Layla's body.

Layla felt her core being devoured. It made her feel like molten magma was flowing through her veins for a minute, and the sensation jolted her awake.

And then…nothing. Layla could not feel anything inside her. The magic and any feeling of power and hunger were gone.

She was in a state where she could not feel anything, and no thoughts came to her.

Somewhere near her, Layla heard the sound of an egg cracking. The dragon egg she had been caring for finally hatched, but she could not turn her head to look at it.

Finally, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.