Chapter117
Kaang-! Chaeng!!
Sword and spear clash.
The Golden Lion's Golden Mane Qi flutters like reeds, and Luteon's spear shoots forth.
However, soon.
Tuk, tuduk! Kwajik.
Kwaang-!
"Keuheok...!"
The Golden Mane Qi is pierced by Luteon's powerful explosion. The full-body armor composed of swords collapses, and only half of the Golden Lion's bloodied face is revealed within the half-destroyed helmet.
"Huu, huu... heup!"
Chaeng-!
Hudeudeudeudeudeuk!!
Once again, sword and spear clash.
The desert sand grains scatter explosively, and what is seen again is.
"It's over, brother."
The fallen Golden Lion and Luteon aiming his spear at his neck.
"How did you..."
"I had already devised a means to break through the family's secret technique, the Golden Mane Qi. I understood well the power of my brother who had learned the family's secret technique. However, brother, you do not know what my power is like."
Just that and nothing more.
Combat originally begins with knowing the opponent's strength and preparing countermeasures.
From the moment he neglected that and overestimated his own strength, the Golden Lion's defeat was sealed.
Golden Lion Ruen.
He bit his lips so hard that blood seeped through.
"Originally, brother, you were jealous of my talent. That's why you left me alone even after seeing what happened that day."
"...."
That day.
Something that was taboo in the Ruidren family had erupted.
The crime of killing kin.
And the theft of the enemy family's armaments.
The honor of the Ruidren family that had fought for many long years. Entering the treasure house where the Empire's spears were gathered, the spear that was undoubtedly called the foremost among them and had broken many swords.
Explosive Spear - Ames.
The one who took it was none other than Luteon.
And with it, he harmed the kin who stood in his way.
"I..."
"I thought you were so shocked by your only younger brother betraying the family and the country that you stayed still. But thinking about it, that wasn't it."
Ruen and Luteon.
The brothers of Ruidren.
The relationship between the once-close brothers fell apart after the issue of succession was raised.
Ruen, who overheard his father's conversation with the elders, was greatly shocked.
"They said among the elders that I might become the successor."
Ruen, who had always been proud of his younger brother's talent, thought he might lose everything to that brother.
Genius talent.
His younger brother, born with talent for the martial way, was perfect in everything.
But he himself had only inherited a level of talent that would be considered natural for someone of direct bloodline within the family.
It was inevitable that he would grow envious of his brother.
And when that incident occurred.
Ruen felt surprise and relief.
It was an undeniable fact.
"Were you glad when I disappeared?"
"...."
With his younger brother gone, he was able to learn the Golden Mane Qi and became the sole successor of the family.
"Yes. I was proud of you."
The Golden Lion removed his hand from the half-fallen helmet and slowly stood up.
"But on the other hand, I was envious. I was anxious. It was a ridiculous emotion. It was a childish jealousy. Even though I had preempted many things simply by being born a little earlier, I feared having them taken away."
However, even after taking many things with Luteon's disappearance, he could not be satisfied.
The knot remaining in his chest.
Would not unravel no matter what.
Its name was honor.
"It was a dishonorable act."
Therefore.
The Golden Lion struck away Luteon's spear with his sword. The golden mane that wrapped around again rose within the half-destroyed full-body armor.
"I will defeat you and reclaim my honor!"
"...!"
Kaang-!!
Sparks flew.
"LUTEON!!!"
The Golden Mane Qi surged up like flames.
The golden divine power that had been thought weakened was shining brilliantly as if it had never faltered.
"What..."
Luteon was thrown into confusion.
Could the spirit of someone who had been fallen until just now change this much?
However, it was futile.
He had long since grasped Ruen's swordsmanship.
The same was true for the Golden Mane Qi.
"It's nothing. What's so important about honor that no one acknowledges? Will you cry out for honor even before death! All that returns is emptiness!!"
The moment he was about to thrust his spear again.
Kung! Huaaaaaaaa!!
An intense hegemonic energy swept over the battlefield. Startled, Ruen and Luteon shuddered.
The aura of the Mad Dragon that he had felt before.
But it was more intense than that.
It was a purer energy.
Had a new Master been born?
However, this place was the Great Desert.
There was no way to confirm it.
When he was harboring doubts about how the situation would unfold.
"The sanctuary is..."
Jjeojeojeok.
From the sky, the desert landscape cracked with a jjijeojek sound and then began to shatter like glass fragments with a chaengreureung sound.
Kwachang!
The sanctuary was released.
And what came into view was.
The noble figure of Kallias holding the Mad Dragon Sword.
The fallen Great Lord Chloe.
Kallias looking at that calmly.
And the half-destroyed royal castle.
Most of the Imperial army could not avoid death, and the remaining spear knights and Masters were still struggling.
Amidst that, Kallias's presence, exuding majesty like a dragon, could safely be said to be unrivaled.
'Another failure, huh.'
Luteon's face distorted.
Again.
Again, things were ruined because of Kallias.
Luteon's killing intent deepened.
The object of murder engraved in his blue eyes was none other than Kallias.
Kallias von Zerban.
"Opening."
"?!"
Sasasasak!
Chaengchaengchaengchaengchaengchaeng!!!
No sound was heard.
However, at the chilling killing intent, Luteon hastily swung his spear to block the assassination attempt.
The mysterious man unleashing ten consecutive strikes in an instant.
His identity could be guessed by seeing the scar on the bridge of his nose.
'Gradas... Xenos...!'
Cat-walk Xenos.
With the sword drawn from the back of his hand, he rained down tremendous sword strikes.
His speed was superior to his own.
Since not even sound could be heard, it was extremely difficult to pinpoint his location.
Hundreds of afterimages of Xenos appeared simultaneously around Luteon.
"Tsk!"
Luteon drove his spear into the ground.
Cheolkeok!
Kwaaaaaaang!!
Along with the acrid smoke that billowed up, Luteon escaped from his position.
As the presence began to fade, the Golden Lion erupted in fury.
"LUTEON!! Are you running away!!"
"Let's meet again next time, brother."
Beside Ruen, who was striking the ground in anger, Xenos looked at him and spoke consolingly.
"Fulfill your duty as a knight, Golden Lion. This is not the time to settle grudges."
"...Understood."
The Golden Lion, who was about to ask why he wasn't chasing, closed his mouth when he saw Xenos's condition. Even at a glance, he was covered in wounds as if he had gone through many fierce battles.
Seeing him bloodied as if he had faced quite formidable enemies, Ruen was not stupid enough to say such things.
Originally, his emotions had been too heightened because of Luteon.
"The situation isn't that good. Thanks to that bastard Kallias blocking the main army, Her Majesty the Queen is safe. Many of the Imperial army have died, and the rebellion will be suppressed soon. The important thing is the Masters."
It was a crisis.
However, the situation had changed.
A situation that could become an opportunity.
"If we can take down even one more of the Empire's Masters, this invasion won't have been too bad for us either."
"Even one more?"
If so, did that mean they had already broken one of the Empire's Spears!
"His Holiness the Pope fought hard. It's also the result of many sacrifices."
"!!"
"It seems Sir Gerald isn't in a very good situation, though."
Still, the tide of battle had turned.
Although the royal castle was half-destroyed, the Queen was safe, and the Masters hadn't died.
The Empire had once again failed to bring down Carpe.
Rather, they had lost one Master.
For now, that was enough.
But one thing was concerning.
"I hope the Count hasn't gone mad."
Xenos agreed as well.
They rose from their spots and, together with Helena and Esther who didn't know what to do, and the surrounding knights, began to watch Kallias.
* * *
「Mad Dragon Sword - Balamut」
Imbued Soul: Mad Dragon Balamut
Grade: Phantom
Unique Ability: Mad Dragon's Dance
- A sword made from the flesh and soul of the legendary dragon called the Mad Dragon.
[Mad Dragon's Dance]
- Allows the use of the legendary dragon's power as a sword.
[Dragon's Claw]
- Partially manifests the Mad Dragon's claw.
[Dragon's Roar]
- Partially manifests the Mad Dragon's roar.
[Dragon's Breath]
- Partially manifests the Mad Dragon's breath.
[The Mad Dragon Balamut is trying to possess your body.]
[You resisted.]
[The Mad Dragon Balamut is surprised.]
[It tries again.]
[You resisted!]
[The Mad Dragon Balamut partially acknowledges you.]
"Huu..."
『Dragon Power』
- The power of dragons. Dragon power originates from the heart. They store nature's qi in their hearts, accumulate power, and manifest it.
[Dragon Power is awakened.]
[All physical abilities are awakened.]
[Using Dragon Power as a human. You will experience severe pain after use.]
[Caution]
[The stronger the Dragon Power becomes, the more you will incur the wrath of dragons.]
Power boiling up throughout the entire body.
An immense power.
Originally, physical strength had permanently increased slightly, and upon awakening through Dragon Power, it doubles.
This was power close to that of a Master.
「Kallias von Zerban」
「Class」 - Pilgrim - Inquisitor General
「Holy Rank」 – 3rd Class
「Divine Power」 – 3832/16934
「Talent」 – 【Bard's Blessing】 【Instinctive Intuition】
「Traits」 - [Grace] [Noblesse Oblige] [Count's Rake] [Deathbed Repentance] [Order's Prodigal Son] [Glutton] [Tricolor Eyes] [Pheromone] [Dragon's Wrath] [Dragon Power]
「Constitution」 - 『Fused Bones』
「Stats」
Strength – 87 (30) ▶ 102 (30)
Agility – 60 (30) ▶ 86 (30)
Technique – 17 ▶ 19
Health – 61 (30) ▶ 89 (30)
Faith – 95
'What incredible power.'
As expected of the Mad Dragon's power.
A peculiar sword used while containing it in the heart.
With that, the body underwent an amazing transformation as if reborn.
Even using it in this current state was an enormous power, but to use it properly, ironically, one must not hold the sword.
"Keureuk, kureureuk!"
Kallias, having used the Dragon's Roar, looked at Great Lord Chloe who was still holding on, stored the Mad Dragon Sword back in his heart, and drew the Lightning Heaven Sword from thin air.
"Mad Dragon's Dance."
Pajijijijijik!
If he drew the sword from his heart and used it, the power decreases.
But what if he used another sword while keeping it in his heart?
That power doubles.
Complete Dragon Power.
When that was unleashed through the Lightning Heaven Sword.
Kwajijijijijijijik!!
Kwaaaaaaang!!
It was truly a disaster.
It was no different from a disaster.
"Kuaaaak!!"
Great Lord Chloe was engulfed in blue lightning. He thrashed against the dazzling strands of electricity, but having lost the Mad Dragon Sword, he couldn't endure it.
"Kuaaah...."
The Great Lord rolled his eyes back and fell.
A normal human would have been reduced to charcoal already, but he was not the same.
'He's alive.'
Even without the sword, the remnants of the Mad Dragon left within him kept him breathing.
Completely charred black, Great Lord Chloe was breathing faintly.
【Main Quest】
「The Prince Possessed by Madness」
Status – Completed.
As soon as he saw the quest completion window, Kallias surveyed his surroundings.
"...."
"...."
Helena and Esther, along with the other knights, were looking at him.
What dwelled in their eyes was accompanied by wariness and fear, and their gazes held a kind of resolve.
Kallias's eyes, with vertically slit grey pupils like a dragon's, made them all show clear signs of tension when he looked at them.
"As expected."
One of the royal guards spoke.
What do you mean, as expected?
"It can't be helped."
"We must stop him."
"Protect the Queen."
It seemed they were misunderstanding.
Kallias ignored them as they approached with desperate resolve and advanced toward the still-dangerous opponent.
"Ha!"
"Fast."
Pat.
In an instant, the scenery changed.
The permanently increased stats combined with the power awakened through Dragon Power filled him with a sense of omnipotence he had never felt before.
In a flash.
With a single leap that was almost instantaneous, Kallias closed the distance to his enemy and struck away his spear with his sword.
Huuuuuung!!
Chaeng!
"Keuk...!"
The Monster Spear Paseton staggered as he retrieved his spear from the sudden sword strike.
Beside him lay Gerald, breathing heavily.
"You bastard!"
The Monster Spear Paseton glared.
What he sensed was Dragon Power.
The fact that he possessed the aura of Dragon Power meant he held the Mad Dragon Sword.
The rampage of the Mad Dragon Chloe had failed.
Paseton intuited that.
But that wasn't the important thing.
The new Mad Dragon was emitting an unusual aura and blocking his path.
'This won't do. This is...!'
Vertically slit pupils.
The pressure as if facing a dragon before him.
Paseton erased the thought of cutting off his rival's breath.
What was before him was the Empire's enemy.
He instantly judged it to be a dangerous enemy whose throat he might have to target.
Not forgetting his duty as one of the Empire's Spears, he drew out his full strength, forgetting even the fatigue and pain from his battle with Gerald.
The Monster Spear taking a spear stance.
Confirming that, Kallias checked on Gerald who was breathing heavily behind him.
'Normally, this would be the best outcome.'
A person who should have died originally.
He had saved him.
The opponent was already a wreck.
He was wounded to the point that he would withdraw on his own if they just stood facing each other.
If he acted rashly, this side could die instead.
Normally, he would have been satisfied with this.
However, the boiling power.
The Mad Dragon's power made him greedy.
Kallias immediately thrust his sword forward.
"Dragon's Breath."
Kallias's sword cleaved the Monster Spear.
Puhwak!
"How can this be!!"
Right on this day.
The Empire had lost two Masters.