C57 - 58
Chapter 57: Link (3)
“Hmm?”
On a misty night sky, a silver-haired man soaring through the dark heavens suddenly looked down below.
“Why is that, Lord Lucion?”
A red-haired woman following him asked.
“There’s a foul smell.”
He abruptly halted his flight and began surveying the vast plain spread out beneath his feet.
“Where are we right now?”
“Though we’re a bit off, it seems we’re near the outskirts of Luwen, where the Royal Academy is situated.”
“The Royal Academy…”
The man stroked his chin, maintaining a discerning gaze toward the plain.
“Did you sense something unpleasant?”
“Unpleasant? Well, I can’t exactly say this is a feeling of mere unease.”
A hint of discomfort could be discerned in the man’s faint smile.
In his face, there was an unsettling vibe from some unfamiliar, yet distinctly repulsive sensation lingering in his memory.
“It’s a sensation I, as a dragon living in this world, cannot tolerate, even to encounter.”
A sentiment seemed to gradually emerge within the man’s heart, indicating that he couldn’t just leave this place regarding that sensation, as if it was something he couldn’t simply overlook.
“I must postpone my return for a while.”
A splendid aura emanated from his fully spread silver wings.
In contrast to the brilliance that beautifully illuminated the dark night sky, the man’s eyes were filled with an indiscernible murderous intent, one that couldn’t be understood.
* * *
“Papa!”
Standing tall on the vast plain, Nana waved her hand towards me.
“It’s so wide here! Except for us, there’s nobody else, right? Nana’s so excited!”
Seemingly to release built-up stress, Nana spread her wings and flew around in all directions.
“Hey, wait, Nana, that area might be dangerous!”
Brian followed behind, anxiously trying to keep up.
They seem to be having a good time.
A secluded plain, about 10km away from Luwen.
Upon Brian’s suggestion to show Nana around, we ventured here with them in the dead of night.
Since Luwen was situated at the border of the Three Kingdoms, the vicinity of the city had been a battleground for centuries.
Thus, it meant the land had been devoid of human presence.
Here, there would be no problem even if Nana ran, flew, and even transformed into a dragon.
[You are a very merciful father, right?]
Kaeram, who materialized, said sarcastically.
Kaeram, now manifested, sneered.
She lay comfortably on the grass, supporting her head with one hand, observing them.
At this point, denying the title of father seems impossible.
[Why don’t you create a mother for her while you’re at it? The young princess would be perfect, wouldn’t she? She’d probably agree, right?]
“What nonsense…”
I shivered at the thought of it being implausible.
[Trying to deny it. Didn’t you say that even the room you live in now was given by the emperor? Don’t you know what that means? It might not be long before…]
There was much I could say, but I felt no urge to respond directly to that question, so I maintained silence.
Instead, I chuckled and continued the conversation.
“Do you know what I’ve realized in my past lives, Kaeram?”
[Why, planning to confess again?]
Kaeram replied with a seductive smile.
“No matter how hard I try to live peacefully, it seems I can’t. This peaceful time we have now is just a brief respite. I guarantee it won’t last long.”
[Of course! It won’t last long. You surely didn’t think of living peacefully, even with someone like me, did you? For the sake of my fair skin, you should at least show me the taste of blood regularly! Otherwise, I’ll…]
*Boom*
“Whoa!”
Mana of white radiance flashed in the sky for a moment.
Then, it descended to the ground, surrounding the area as if to prevent anyone from leaving.
“See, I told you it wouldn’t last long, didn’t I?”
*Thunk*
“Ouch!”
Nana, who had been frolicking around, bumped into something and fell backward.
“Are you okay, Nana?”
Brian hurriedly approached and gently stroked her head.
Nana, with a bewildered expression, seemed to be fascinated by the colorless barrier in front of her.
“W-what is this?”
It’s a containment barrier.
And not just any, it possesses tremendous magical power.
I won’t venture to evaluate it, but this isn’t something an ordinary apprentice mage would possess.
At the very least, it’s on par with the magical power of a Grand Magus like Kundel.
Moreover, the eerie aura emanating from within the barrier… It’s definitely not something a human would possess.
*Humming*
Beneath the colorless walls enveloping them, an unknown reddish hue flickered.
It was a boundary that not only prevented entry from the outside but also blocked us inside, unable to escape.
“Brian, bring Nana over here.”
“Yes!”
Brian hurriedly brought Nana towards me.
*Thud*
As if a grand entity had appeared, thunder roared through the black sky.
*Swish*
Perhaps feeling the fear, Nana, who had approached cautiously, wrapped her arms around one of my legs.
“…”
She’s trembling.
——————
——————
It’s not from the thunder, but from sensing the ominous aura within that raging storm.
It’s the unsettling presence lurking within that thunderous chaos that’s causing her fear.
I silently stroked Nana’s head as the lightning struck down at the center of the containment barrier with vibrations.
A white smoke rose, accompanied by a familiar energy within it.
It’s the energy only those of the lineage of the gods can emit, known as divine energy.
It’s a force not typically associated with benevolent beings, more akin to creatures of a sinister nature.
“Disgusting.”
The entity within the smoke spat out words of disdain from the moment of its appearance.
A figure over 2 meters tall, with gleaming silver locks and a horn protruding from the center of his forehead.
Behind him, large wings exuded abundant divine energy, folding inward slowly.
A dragon.
Not like Nana, a half-breed, but a pure-blooded dragon of ancient lineage, far beyond the growth stage Demonic Dragon encountered in the Lemia Valley.
Behind him stood a female dragon emitting a similar aura.
They were both dragons.
The silver dragon furrowed his brows as he caught sight of Nana hiding behind my leg.
“So that’s it. The source of the foul odor…”
That?
In an instant, anger surged within me along with a crackling sound.
“Dragonoids… the offspring of dragons and humans… How can such abominations exist in this world?”
The bitch behind him took it a step further, openly referring to Nana as an abomination.
When something is beyond comprehension, the mind tends to momentarily freeze.
That’s exactly the state I found myself in.
“Are you the master of that half-breed, human?”
I didn’t feel like dignifying the question with a response, so I simply pierced them with my gaze.
Seemingly discomforted by my stare, the dragoness spat out words of hostility.
“How dare you, a lowly human subject, glare at us!”
In response, the silver-haired dragon raised her hand to dissuade her.
“You’re half-hearted, but your energy is also unusual. human…….”
His gaze passed me and went to Kaeram next to me.
“Right. I thought I could sense an unusual energy in the foul smell, but it turned out to be none other than a demonic sword.”
At this, a pleasant groan came out of Kaeram’s mouth.
[oh? I guess my popularity hasn’t died yet? There are still people who recognize me, how can I even get an autograph?]
“Stop joking. You’re trying to match me in that you possess the power of a god but have been reduced to a mere servant of a lesser human being. Or are you still not awake enough to judge the situation?”
It only took a moment for her face to distort.
[Do you want to die?]
“…”
[Where are these insolent beings coming from all of a sudden? Shall I rip out that tongue of yours? Or should I block your mouth with it?!]
“Who do you think you’re speaking to in such an insolent manner!”
A fierce roar accompanied by a strong gust of wind surged forth.
Unmoved, I continued to stare at their faces relentlessly.
“You’ve been silent from the start, human. I suppose merely seeing noble beings like us with your own eyes must be an honor for creatures like you. Becoming momentarily dumbfounded isn’t unreasonable for your kind.”
The nonsensical words no longer elicited even a chuckle.
“However, rest assured, human. We have no interest in creatures as lowly as you. But that half-breed seems to be of interest to me…”
“…”
“Though considered abominations, hybrids of dragon and human blood… It’s worth considering for research. If you hand her over, I’ll personally spare your lives…”
“Shut your mouth.”
A chilling silence spread, and the atmosphere became intensely turbulent. My gaze remained fixed on the silver dragon.
“What did you just say?”
“I said shut your mouth. Are your big ears just for show? If you don’t want your mouth torn apart, shut up, punk.”
Dragons, like humans, also have their minds pause when things become too absurd.
The dragon seemed at a loss for words, his pupils trembling.
“Hahaha…!”
A maniacal laughter resonated through the barrier.
The aggressiveness towards me emanated from his gaze once again.
“This is why inferior creatures like you shouldn’t exist. Unable to even judge the given situation, inviting unhappiness upon yourselves…”
As the figure reached out his hand, a considerable amount of mana condensed.
“First, I’ll pluck out those disgusting eyes of yours…”
*Squeeze!*
As he clenched his hand tightly, the condensed mana rushed towards me.
“…?”
However, nothing changed.
My gaze remained fixed on him, and nothing around me, including myself, was affected.
Only a black spherical aura formed around my feet.
“A containment barrier?”
The silver dragon’s forehead furrowed like a valley.
“Did you just deploy another barrier within mine?”
I’m not in a state to kindly answer such questions right now. Why?
Because, what was just trembling a moment ago, our little one, now had a face on the verge of tears, trembling in fear.
“…”
I’ve seen that expression many times before.
Regardless of age or gender, all the humans I’ve killed have always shown faces consumed by fear and terror at the end.
But now, this little one, instead, is showing the exact same expression.
Feeling the fear of death because of beings like me, not because of me.
“Brian.”
“Yes, my lord…!”
“I just cover my eyes and stay back. Keep her away from me at all costs.”
“I will heed your command, my lord!”
Brian removed his cloak and wrapped Nana in it.
Nana quietly accepted Brian’s touch, and until the moment she left my side, her trembling did not cease.
“What are you? Even if you possess the demonic sword, how can a mere human wield such power within my barrier…”
Ignoring the words of the silver dragon, I closed my eyes quietly.
A brief moment of peace.
During this short time of respite, I exhaled the breath I had been holding and quietly uttered,
“Shadow 9th Form: Manifestation of the Demonic Sword.”
——————
Chapter 58: Link (4)
The amalgamation of the demonic sword and cyan was no longer human in appearance.
It was a black mist itself, a semblance of artificial nature, not of primordial origin but crafted by him.
It emitted a negative aura that evoked various emotions just by being observed.
“Lu-Lucion, is that power…?”
“It’s the power of an exile chased from the divine realm.”
Lucion Kalonis Aron Moarlian Charlotte, a pure-blooded silver dragon untouched by crossbreeding.
He gazed at the transformed cyan with great interest.
“I see. You also have some belief in it, so it seems it’s showing those disgusting fangs…”
Cyan remained silent, confidently striding out of the containment barrier he had created.
“However tough the vessel might be, it cannot contain overflowing torrents. Even if you possess the infinite power of a god, there are limits to what a fragile human body can handle. As I’ve said before, understanding one’s limits is crucial for creatures like you, primitive beings.”
With an odd smile, Lucion concentrated the mana he manifested in his hand.
*Crackle*
Like colliding electricity, a strong spark ignited.
The condensed mana gradually took shape, transforming into the form of a long spear.
“You should consider it an honor to see my Radiant Spear, human. Push yourself to your limits wherever possible. Perhaps if you please me, you too will become a subject of my research like that half-breed…”
“You’re talking too much…”
At a speed leaving no room for response, Cyan, in the form of black mist, swiftly approached Lucion and delivered a rapid strike.
*Clang!*
It was as if instinct rather than intellect blocked the blow.
Lucion, who barely managed to block the sword with his raised spear, did not exhibit the same composure as before.
“What kind of movement is this…?”
*Swoosh*
The scarlet blade slid down the shaft of the spear, and in that moment, Cyan’s body rotated dynamically, delivering an attack twice, if not thrice as fast as the previous strike.
*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!*
Rather than counterattack, Lucion was forced into a defensive stance.
Even the slightest distraction could lead to the grim sword piercing his noble body.
Desperate, Lucion had to block it at all costs.
“How dare you challenge a mere human…!”
As Lucion’s anger manifested divine energy, a blue magic circle appeared above Cyan’s head, along with lightning bolts.
*Zap*
Cyan swiftly retreated after deflecting the sword. In its place, white lightning struck, and the ground beneath charred black.
“Urgh…”
Thinking he bought some time, Lucion looked back at Cyan.
But between 0 and 1 seconds.
In a breathless moment, the eyes, brighter than blood, full of murderous rage, once again gazed down at Lucion from close range.
At that moment, Lucion thought, there was no way to avoid this attack…
“Lucion, Lucion!”
*Bam!*
A transparent colorless barrier clashed with the crimson demonic sword.
It was a protective shield formed by the fusion of divine power and mana, a dragon’s innate defense that even ordinary humans couldn’t breach.
“C-Cadelina…!”
“Step back and regroup! I’ll handle this insignificant human!”
Having blocked the blow, the red dragon spread her large wings, emanating the power of her noble lineage.
“Hah!”
*Thunk!*
As her mana spread through the barrier, Cyan, unable to withstand the shockwave, was repelled.
“Step back, Cadelina! He’s not an opponent you can face…!”
“Don’t worry, Lucion! This insignificant human won’t penetrate my barrier…!”
In a moment, she saw it.
In the space illuminated by Lucion’s lightning, within the brilliance filling the dragon’s vast vision, she saw the black mist of ignorance…
In that darkness, she met the scarlet gaze, and fear overwhelmed her entire being.
Her hands holding the barrier began to tremble.
Cyan addressed her with a whisper.
“Dance of Blades: Scattering of 8 Petals…!”
With each blade dance, the floating sword performed acrobatics.
Its speed was unmatched even by the dragon’s senses.
Before she could react, eight sword slashes were drawn.
Unable to cope, she could do nothing as the blades pierced through her barrier and into her body.
*Zap!*
“Kyaaah…!”
Cadelina’s body, shattered into eight pieces, scattered in all directions.
Thick blood gushed, staining the black mist crimson.
Lucion observed it all.
The racing heart, the frantic blood flow.
The emotion he felt could be summed up in one word: fear.
The greatest race on earth, descended from the blood of gods, was in fear of the insignificant humans.
“W-what the hell are you……?”
Lucion’s words no longer contained arrogance.
Just a question.
He just wanted to know how on earth the being in front of him was showing such strange power.
“…….”
The hands holding the spear were trembling endlessly.
* * *
A red-haired dragon that has been torn to pieces to the extent that its original appearance is no longer known.
Was your name Cardelina or something?
Next time you are born, I hope you don’t say or do anything ugly or anything like that when you first meet people.
My gaze naturally turned to the target I was originally aiming for.
“……!”
Doubt, denial, vigilance, and the fear that encompasses all of those emotions.
The supreme race, heirs to the divine blood, feared a mere human.
How amusing!
*Drip*
A trickle of blood ran down his cheek.
Perhaps grazed by the lightning moments ago.
“This scent… You’ve tasted the blood of a Demonic Dragon from the Lemea Valley!”
A keen sense of smell indeed.
I didn’t bother to respond.
“But that alone doesn’t explain it! You may have drunk the blood of the demonic dragon and inherited the divine, but you’re not another god, are you? A god of the black mist, an exile, yet you exhibit such power! Tell me, just who are you!”
[Isn’t it about time you shut that mouth of yours?]
Kaeram, who couldn’t bear it anymore, interjected.
I agreed with Kaeram on that point.
Always demanding explanations whenever something incomprehensible happens, charging in like an enraged bull demanding answers.
They seem to lack any sense of dignity.
I approached the silver-haired old dragon without a word, grabbing Kaeram and turning him around slowly.
Sometimes, you have to experience and endure things firsthand to understand.
That’s true not only for humans but also for dragons.
Look at the face of the one who was so arrogant and mocking earlier.
Look at how all that bravado vanished from his face.
——————
——————
His comrade threw herself to protect him, only to be torn apart.
Even if he shed blood and tears and rushed in, it wouldn’t be enough.
Yet, he still arrogantly runs his mouth…
To such a contemptible fellow, I have nothing to say.
“All right, since you have no intention of talking till the end. Fine! I’ll personally cut off your head and plunder every memory from that hollow brain of yours! All of this is your own doing!”
*Hummm*
A massive magic circle formed beneath his feet, accompanied by an enormous amount of mana and divine energy.
He wasn’t trying to cast high-level magic.
He simply wanted to abandon his feeble imitation of humans and return to his true form.
*Whoosh*
As a fierce gust swept through, the dense mist around dispersed.
Within the magic circle, the silver dragon, now gradually reverting to his true form, stood.
How others perceived him didn’t matter.
Right now, he was the most vulnerable he’d been throughout all his displays.
No defense whatsoever, just waiting to be struck down.
Would I marvel, “Wow! A dragon transforming before my eyes!” or something similar?
Wherever I heard it, I remember the rule: during transformation, it’s customary not to attack.
Wasn’t there some sort of etiquette in battle?
If we follow that logic, do I have to tolerate and observe this guy’s ridiculous transformation?
Is there any need for that?
I’m an assassin.
I simply assess the best angle and dive in to kill, regardless of courtesy or formality.
That’s the bare minimum rule for an assassin.
It should apply to that basta*d over there as well.
As mist enveloped Kaeram, I propelled forward.
Ever seen the root of a tree?
All plants rely on roots buried in the soil, spreading out to support the stem.
From small sprouts to towering trees with thousands of leaves, they grow.
Even the tiny tendrils of external roots grow into countless roots over time.
Such a rich network of roots, unsure of where to go or how far they’ll extend.
This small strike I’m about to deliver to his colossal body will become the root of a resilient tree, enduring through countless ages, eventually becoming the core of the forest.
“Dance of Blades: Resilient Tree’s Roots!”
*Slice!*
At the moment the dragon fully manifested.
Leaping lightly from the ground, I plunged Kaeram right into his center.
*Sizzle*
The fog surrounded by the sword penetrated into the creature’s body, splitting into hundreds of paths and spreading throughout the body, like the roots of a tree.
“You, you! What did you do to me……!”
It’s nice to have an exciting transformation, but now it’s time to leave.
I looked into his eyes and smiled softly.
“In your next life, be born with flexibility rather than nobility.”
“Kwaaaaaak!”
The guy responded with a bloody scream.
As mist engulfed him and pierced through his body like hundreds of branches spreading out, I separated his massive body with cracks, scattering him into pieces.
*Thud thud*
I killed him.
Two of the supreme dragons of the earth, each in just five minutes.
The torn and shredded dragon’s corpse scattered in all directions.
This situation might not fit the following phrase, but why does this scene seem like… a feast of victory?
“Brian!”
“Yes, my lord!”
To him, who rushed over briskly, I handed him a suitable piece of flesh.
Blood was dripping from it.
“M-My lord, w-what’s this for…?”
“Eat it.”
“Huh?”
Maybe he misunderstood, as his eyes widened as if they were about to burst.
“It’s a delicacy of life that you won’t have a chance to taste again if you don’t eat it now. There is no better healthy food to strengthen your body, so if possible, pour as much as you can into your stomach.”
As I spoke, I too picked up a piece of flesh and swallowed it along with the blood inside.
Ugh…
A sensation spread deeply within my body, the sacred dragon’s energy filling me up.
He might have been a bit foolish, but indeed, the blood of the earth’s mightiest race is different!
[…]
Beside me, Kaeram shook her head as if she were fed up.
“Papa, is it tasty? Can I have some too?!”
Somehow, an energized Nana approached me and said.
“You can’t. Go back, and I’ll give you something else! Eat it.”
“No! I want to taste it too! I want to eat it!”
Stubborn kid.
No matter how she insists, I don’t want to make her a cannibal.
I gently held Nana back as she ran towards the corpse.
It was amusing to see her whine and fidget, unable to go forward.
——————