Chapter 999
“Thunder Bird, Ice Fog: Enhancement, neutralization: Alkaline, absolute Barrier.”
The turquoise mana swirling around Blaugrunn’s body erupted wildly. Leeha found it difficult to discern exactly what skills Blaugrunn had employed due to the rapid casting.
The bird-shaped electric charge lured the Blue Dragon’s breath.
The movement of electricity using the potential difference was challenging even for first-class electricians to materialize, yet the Bronze Dragon, sharing the same electric attribute, accomplished it with ease.
The same was true for the two Black Dragons’ breaths.
Compared to Bahamut transforming the Onyx’s breath into a gas with the scent of acacia, it was of a lower level, but Blaugrunn was an academic dragon.
While flying, it neutralized the formidable breath of the Black Dragon, which could corrode the fortress walls, through an alkaline substance.
“The Black Dragon’s breath—”
“It disappeared. No, rather than disappeared, the color…?”
It was an event that left the guild members of Hwahong, masters of analysis, with their eyes wide open in surprise.
The red dragon’s breath lost some speed while piercing through the frozen moisture in the air, and by the time it reached the shield created by Blaugrunn, it had already lost significant piercing power and heat.
Woosh!
Observing the flames that vanished upon hitting the barrier, Leeha also stood with a dazed expression.
It was a similar reaction to Hwahong’s surprise, but Leeha was more impressed by a finer aspect.
‘It’s adult-class over there. Not just magic, but how it’s handling the breath…’
Blaugrunn’s specialty was nullifying other magic with his own, which was understandable. However, this was the breath, one of the ultimate techniques of dragons!
Neutralizing the breath of four adult-class dragons with just a few spells?
‘Isn’t this challenging even for ancient-grade dragons? It’s not feasible with just a typical ancient-grade dragon. It would take a dragon with strength like Bailephus.’
“Ha Leeha, I suggest we move now rather than later.”
“What? Oh, yes.”
Blaugrunn turned to look at Leeha.
Leeha, standing awkwardly, felt assured. It was all the more amazing.
Blaugrunn’s expression, his awkward yet embarrassed smile.
“Blaugrunn! How did you manage to exhibit the power of an ancient-grade—”
“It wouldn’t have been possible without Ha Leeha’s Dragon Slayer buff. It seems you’ve been cursed by Tiamat as well… Will you be able to fight?”
“Uh, ah?”
Not only his expressions and demeanor, but also the unique thought process and tone of an AI belonged to Blaugrunn.
Speaking with an awkward humility, he communicated to Leeha not to be under any illusion.
When adult-class chromatic dragons engage in combat near Leeha, their stats decrease by 40%.
Although Leeha experienced a significant penalty of -60%, making it difficult for either to distinctly notice, Blaugrunn had no debuff effects, allowing him to display remarkable abilities!
“Haha! Indeed, Blaugrunn-ssi! I didn’t realize it at first, but after going through so much till now? Now I understand why you were such an arrogant little brat even after growing up!”
“Is that so? Haha, I’ll take it as a compliment. Then for the battle—”
“Just restrain! No killing! Jellypong!”
As the bewildered chromatic dragons attempted to use follow-up magic, Leeha soared into the sky using Jellypong.
What is the best method to avoid fighting dragons?
If dragons whose breaths were blocked were gathered in clusters, this would indeed be the optimal attack.
“Mana Vaporizing Shot!”
Ka-boom────────!
The mana evaporation bomb detonated on the ground between the dragons standing at intervals, instantly showing its effectiveness.
As the chromatic dragons, whose skills were cancelled mid-casting, panicked, Leeha glanced back at Ram Hwayeon and Hwahong.
“Ram Hwayeon! And everyone, close your eyes!”
“What? Suddenly―”
“Oh no, the director is about to do something again!”
The members of Hwahong’s guild were momentarily confused. However, when they saw that Director Ram Hwayeon had closed her eyes without a moment’s hesitation, they also promptly followed suit.
Once Leeha confirmed this, he felt reassured and could use his skill.
『Queen’s Vengeance!』
『Ha Leeha―!』
『By the command of my clan, I shall execute you!』
The dragons, unable to use mana, charged in for hand-to-hand combat.
The best method to subdue them!
Leeha quietly activated his skill towards the dragons who could no longer be protected by dark spirits due to the absence of Tiamat.
“〈Familiar Fear: Reveal〉.”
* * *
As soon as Leeha summoned the supreme fear spirit, Uncanny, he also closed his eyes. Anticipating Leeha’s skill, Blaugrunn did the same.
The chromatic dragons locked eyes with Uncanny.
And at that moment, their rush came to a complete halt.
Each of the four chromatic dragons encountered a warm, familiar figure in Uncanny. Yet, this lasted only a matter of seconds.
Once Uncanny transformed into their most terrifying figure, the inevitable despairing cries reached Leeha as well.
『No, you― how could it be!』
『Why― why is the elder here…….』
『Oh, Onyx Great Elder!』
『Grandfather― urgh!』
Leeha could easily guess that all four adult chromatic dragons saw the same entity.
Facing not the leader of the rival Metal Dragons, but the elder of their own kind, the Chromatic Dragons.
‘Indeed… It makes sense to rise to such an achievement as granting freedom to dragons.’
Even after death, could Onyx remain a symbol of fear?
Even a third party like Leeha could speculate Onyx’s harsh and ruthless reign of terror.
Boom…
Leeha opened his eyes after hearing a powerful crash.
Even adult dragons couldn’t withstand fainting from fear.
“Phew… There are many things I’d like to ask, but business first, right? Should I refer to you as Blaugrunn―?”
Leeha asked as he lightly kicked the tail of the sprawled chromatic dragons.
Blaugrunn, despite being in human form, softly sliced through the air and stood beside Leeha.
“If you call me that, it’ll be too awkward. Call me like before.”
“Well, even if you say to call you like before… It’s awkward for me. Your tone is strangely scholarly too.”
Seeing Blaugrunn’s gentle smile, Leeha somehow found it difficult to meet his eyes.
Certainly, Blaugrunn had shed his childish image, now presenting the demeanor of an adult. It was an unfamiliar sight for Leeha.
Moreover, Leeha hadn’t had many conversations with Blaugrunn in the past.
Not long after meeting, they had fought Kuzgunak’sh, and wasn’t it there that Blaugrunn had been killed?
After Leeha used the “Easter Egg” to resurrect him, the time spent together during his adult phase was fleeting compared to the years from his hatchling stage until now.
“What a mysterious situation. Leeha, who stood proudly before any ancient dragon of our kin, is deferential to me….”
“That’s because… well, we’re not just anyone to each other, right? My words aren’t quite right. Ahem, let’s postpone this conversation for now! Please subdue them first. Can you do it?”
“Are you asking if I can?”
Leeha found it difficult to continue the conversation any further and changed the topic. Blaugrunn did not erase his smile while looking at Leeha.
Four chromatic dragons were scattered irregularly, but Blaugrunn gathered them all. Without even using a skill, he only used mana to move their massive bodies, completing the task of bringing them together. Only then did teal particles begin to surge around his body.
“Even if Onyx returned alive, it wouldn’t be able to break this barrier. ‘Electric Jail’.”
A skill he had once intended for use against Kaztor. Unlike the strength of his juvenile days, the electric prison, possessing a different level of power, bound the bodies of the chromatic dragons.
Seeing this scene, paleo and Hwahong rekindled their respect for Leeha.
It was almost impossible for just two humans to subdue four adult-level dragons so quickly, let alone capture them alive, across all of Middle Earth.
Without noticing the gazes directed at him, Leeha searched for a way to awaken the dragons.
“Let’s see, how shall I wake these guys… Ah! ‘Perfect Storm’.”
Using the coat of Drake, the prince of mermaids, a tiny scale rain cloud dripped rain over the heads of the chromatic dragons.
『Ooh, ugh…』
『This is―.』
“Have you all opened your eyes?”
Leeha smirked and squatted near them. The chromatic dragons stood up as if they were about to tear Leeha apart.
『Ha Leeha!』
『Do you dare to insult us!』
『W-wait! Everyone―.』
Pachachachak!
『Aaaagh―!』
The blue dragon tried to stop them, but the impatient black dragons had already thrown themselves against the electrified walls surrounding them.
“Ugh, the smell of burning dragon scales isn’t pleasant. I thought it would smell like grilled meat.”
Leeha fanned himself with his hand, looking at the two sprawled black dragons. The red dragon, failing to grasp the situation, remained totally alert, while the blue dragon showed more interest in the surrounding magic than in Leeha.
『Electric Jail? Who could create such a powerful Electric Jail in such a space?』
The blue dragon glanced momentarily toward Leeha before looking away.
The chromatic dragons already understood well that Leeha could not have created such magic. The blue dragon glared at Blaugrunn as if it intended to devour him with its eyes.
“Didn’t we meet before by Queen Tiamat’s side, blue Dragon? I am Blaugrunn of the Bronze clan.”
Blaugrunn introduced himself, bowing his head toward the blue dragon with his usual gentle smile.
『Bronze Dragon Blaugrunn. Yes, I remember. You! Back then, you were definitely a juvenile―.』
“Something significant happened to us metal dragons… unintentionally, it turned out like this.”
『No, no, it couldn’t be! Such magic, even for an adult-level like you! This degree of Electric Jail requires mana that only a great elder among our clan might wield!』
The blue dragon jumped up and down in disbelief. However, the initial fury in its gaze had long vanished.
Its trembling pupils reflected an evident mixture of confusion, unease, and fear—something even Leeha could recognize.
Blaugrunn looked straight into those eyes.
“Probably so.”
He nodded quietly.