Book 10 Chapter 4
제229화
「A dragon can choose between two fighting styles. Fighting in Dragon (龍) form and fighting in Dragonkin (龍人) form.」
When in a dragon's body, one can exert overwhelming physique and strength, but being large makes it prone to weakness, and it cannot apply techniques to its movements.
「On the other hand, in Dragonkin form, one can move their physical body with skill; while unable to wield absolute power, one can instead create countless variables.」
Both possess advantages and disadvantages; always remember this.
* * *
Akirea miraculously appeared and defused the precarious situation, but if that act held much meaning, well…
"Aki, we have already failed."
The hourglass of the apocalypse has already begun to flow. Sooner or later, the kingdom will face its end.
"It's all over!"
And this wave of disaster will spread across the entire continent…
"It's all my fault."
If it were Rain Ludwig, he would have understood what Valencidis was trying to say.
Even his right hand, which had been relatively intact, was melted by black flames, save for his thumb and index finger.
He had meant that he no longer had any value, so at least Ovin and Obira should be taken away from here, but…
"It's not over."
At that, Ovin shook his head vigorously.
The legacy of Ligwinde shone in his hands. Yulgwangseok, which converts light into sound, and Cheonpasikjeok, said to contain the voices of the gods.
"It's not over yet!"
Is there some way?
Had he not simply caved in to Ellamas's threats, but instead thought of a separate plan?
"Do you think I'd just let that happen?"
Without any warning, an enormous mass surged in.
The true dragon's tail was a weapon by its sheer size; the tail, flying in and tearing up the earth from which grudges seeped, bounced off in front of Ovin and Valencidis.
With a fierce explosion of flames, Aki's martial arts uniform, which caused the shockwave, fluttered beautifully like fire.
"Aki will take care of Sister Sachin."
Aki, who gave a thumbs-up to those she had protected, disappeared, creating a hot gust of wind.
"Dragon Combat Style, Rage of Fire and Wind."
Suddenly appearing next to Ellamas, she landed a flaming punch.
"!"
That surprise attack was blocked by the true dragon's outstretched foreleg, but…
"Aki Marking."
What was carved onto its foreleg, scattering sparks, was not the fire emblem of the Cheonhwa Sect.
It was Dragon Speech (龍言).
The language of dragons, famous for having mystical power imbued within the language itself: Batukira, meaning 'destruction'.
"Dragon Speech Carving…?!"
The moment her fist struck the Dragon Speech, the power that should have originally exploded widely was concentrated and released at a single point.
"The true dragon's scales…?!"
It was a destructive power that made Valencidis's jaw drop, as he was being practically dragged out of the palace by Ovin.
The true dragon's scales, said to be harder and more robust than any metal in this world, could not withstand the flame's impact.
Several pieces of scale from its foreleg shattered, burned, and scattered into the air. The true dragon's massive body even swayed slightly.
'That, oh…?'
Ellamas felt both a sense of incongruity and displeasure in this situation.
I've definitely seen it somewhere, but when and where was it?
He felt the abyssal chains wrapped around the depths of his memory squirming, and the sense of incongruity disappeared, leaving only displeasure.
"You, of all people, dare to stop me?"
He was momentarily flustered by the overwhelming innate presence, but this level of destructive power was within expectations.
If he had allowed Sniehr such a vulnerability just now…
The speed isn't overwhelming either. He was able to react even to the first move that aimed for a weakness, so the next attack would be a counterattack to cut off its breath—
- Elsara.
—he could not.
The moment he saw the young dragon rushing towards him, he heard a voice that seemed to directly resonate in his mind.
'Who is it?'
He reached out to control the true dragon, but felt a sensation as if someone had gripped his shoulder.
Is that an illusion?
Had he been ambushed from behind?
He withdrew his hand and hastily looked back, but there was nothing there. Only primitives crawling out of the rift were visible.
"Dragon Combat Style—!"
That momentary sensory confusion acted as a massive vulnerability.
With a mighty roar, a part of the power inherited from the greatest mother among the red true dragons was unleashed.
The firepower of explosive heat instantly concentrated into the form of a flower, and six flames surged up as if to encircle the true dragon.
- Wow, looking at this, I think I understand why flames are called fireworks (火花)!
As the still-unopened flower buds began to emit heat and blossom, an intense headache overwhelmed Ellamas.
What's going on?
Why do I hear my own voice?
Did I ever say something like that?
His memory was sealed in some box. It was bound by chains and locks, so he dared not try to open it.
"—Fire Pine Lotus (火松蓮花)!"
The blossoming of flames, the rampage of fire.
As each flower fully bloomed, a flash, a roar, and a scorching blaze that could only be described as transcendental engulfed the heavens and earth.
Within those flames, said to save the living and kill the dead, the guards suffered no harm.
Only the primitives who had tried to overwhelm those guards were turned to ashes with a short scream.
An explosion powerful enough to erase light and shadow from the world; had the true dragon not moved its wings to shield its body.
"This insolent brat…"
The next moment, the true dragon spewed black flames from its maw at an absurd speed.
"Don't interfere…!"
As Akirea threw herself into the sky to evade the attack, the black flames pursued her trajectory but were far slower than the young dragon's speed.
"It was just about to get interesting!"
The battle, where black flames swept the ground and fire whirled, endlessly clashing, had reached a stalemate.
This wasn't because Ellamas couldn't keep up with Akirea's speed.
If he had made up his mind, no, if he had put all his power into it, killing her would have been a matter of time.
But every time he tried, something unknown kept interfering.
'It's not just me; this brat is the same. Is she looking down on me?'
I don't feel any fighting spirit or killing intent. Why isn't she attacking with the intent to kill?
When their eyes met, the young dragon tilted her head.
"But why are you crying?"
Crying? Me?
Stop talking nonsense.
I had just taken the first step toward a long-cherished desire spanning decades, even centuries, and was just getting into the swing of things.
- Why did Father have to go to such a place and die?!
Disgusting.
That creature's eyes are utterly unpleasant.
I've definitely seen them before. Those eyes looking at me with pity.
- All of this was decided from the time I was in the womb.
The eyes he had seen before were also golden, like the inside of a flame, just like those. His hair was red like fire.
'And also disgusting.'
The eyes of those garbage-like guards, looking at those eyes with anticipation.
Don't you have hands?
Don't you have feet?
Don't you even have the strength to wield a weapon? Why don't you think of fighting yourselves?
- That's because the demon race's power is too strong…
Always just spouting excuses.
It is my fervent wish to kill all of you who are not even worth living.
It is only natural that you be culled, and my eternal desire is to end the lives that have prolonged themselves by sucking the life out of others.
"First, I'll kill you all."
The true dragon turned its maw towards the guards.
Towards the humans who, with bodies tangled in blood and dust, were supporting each other, trying to escape this pandemonium.
As heat began to explosively concentrate in the dragon's maw, Akirea's eyes widened, understanding the situation.
- Aki, are you hurt?
Guidelines for such a situation were not among the combat methods taught by Shalessaroom. Only what she had seen and learned from Rain Ludwig.
How had he acted back then?
Fire Wave Step (火浪踏步); she moved her body without even considering what repercussions this action would bring.
"………………!"
A massive crater had formed on the ground.
In the place that had been the royal palace's central courtyard, only sediments of melted stone, iron, and gold remained.
Graceful arches, spires, and statues all lost their form. They were twisted, burned to ash, or melted within the black flames.
"Ah…"
Dazed voices escaped the palace guards' mouths.
In the midst of this surreal destruction, in a situation where only death seemed visible, they had survived.
Thanks to the red-haired girl who stood protecting them from that wave of black flames.
"Heh, are you all right…?"
Akirea looked back at them and smiled brightly, but staggered weakly and finally fell on her bottom.
She had drawn out firepower beyond her limits, impossible for her current physical body.
The backlash of that power was overwhelming her entire body. And even if she drew out her full power like that, it was impossible to completely block the adult's power.
"How pathetic…"
Ellamas's eyes narrowed as he watched the young dragon trying desperately to get her broken body up.
Ah, now I get it.
It wasn't displeasure.
It's because she's similar.
That pathetic one who fought pathetically for humans and died pathetically…
…Who?
He knew that he had called that person 'father' and followed them. But what kind of being he was, his memory was hazy.
Disgusting.
Today should have been the best day of my life, the day I should have smiled most happily.
"Now, what are you going to do about this irritating feeling?!"
Just as Ellamas raised his hand, lightning surged from all directions.
Truly at the speed of light.
One of the 5-star spells created by the great mage Lynn in the past.
Jeseoseollanyeon: Lightning Style.
"Hmph."
The chains of lightning, spreading like a spiderweb in an instant, were all shattered into particles of light by the true dragon's violently unleashed Lion's Roar (獅子吼).
But they shattered.
By the time Ellamas effortlessly dealt with that surprise attack, the war situation had entered a new phase.
"Aki."
The red hair fluttering beneath the old straw hat gave off an artificial feeling, unlike that of a dragon race.
But the soul within that body clearly held immense power, comparable to a true dragon's Yeouiju (Dragon Pearl).
The young man who appeared in the space between Ellamas and the young dragon looked at Akirea and smiled gently.
"Well done."
The moment he encountered Valencidis and Ovin and hastily ascended the palace stairs, he could gauge the situation. He could understand everything.
[Arooo!]
The moment he understood the situation, he wondered how to express this overwhelming feeling; she was admirable and lovely, and perhaps inexpressible in words.
So, simply, briefly, and concisely.
He conveyed his true feelings.
There's no need to mock yourself for being powerless. You are still young. And yet, to be able to do such a thing at such a young age.
'You will grow more and more, and someday you'll effortlessly accomplish things I can't even imagine.'
And so, you will warmly embrace the final era that will someday arrive. Just as Alakish did.
So now.
What I, as a guardian, must do now is…
"Now, shouldn't adults fight among themselves?"
My age is approximately 317.
While it might be far less than Ellamas, who is said to have lived 500 years, it's not the age to be called a child.
"Unless tormenting children is your hobby."