Translator: FenrirTL
Editor: Doodle
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< Chapter 189: Heir of the Mad Dragon Emperor (4) >
[Congratulations! You have blocked the traitor of your family and successfully prevented the revival of the <Nameless Sovereign>, completing Scenario Quest #9.]
[Rating: SS]
[As a reward, you have obtained ownership of the Deluded God’s Orb.]
[As an additional reward based on your evaluation, the skill ‘Lesser Drake Fear’ has been promoted to a new skill.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Your level has increased.]
* * *
Zztzzztzzzt!
The madness and demonic energy that Torkel had absorbed until now spewed out like a gushing fountain.
According to the quest, the orb now belonged to Theo, meaning he could absorb it.
-Take it. Take it now. Isn’t this the perfect moment? The amount has decreased, and the concentration has thinned.
As expected.
The flames emitted by the Sword Sphere were growing stronger.
Even Theo’s mental strength, fortified through Nirvana, wavered momentarily.
-Please...!
-Don’t you crave it? With that, you too could see the ‘world’ that I am witnessing.
It was an impulse that Theo could not help but be drawn to.
If he could only possess the inspirations brought by the Sword Sphere until now.
If he could view the world of the Mad Dragon Emperor as he desired, there would be nothing left to fear.
-Why not make that ‘world’ your own?
In that instant, Theo made his decision.
He would truly claim that madness and demonic energy as his own.
As the Sword Sphere whispered, most of the demonic energy and madness were consumed along with the Dragon Pearl Sun, leaving only the purest essence after repeated filtering.
He stretched out his right hand wide.
Theo activated the new skill he received as an additional reward.
[‘Skill: Drake Fear’ has been created.]
+
[Drake Fear]
· Rank: B+
· Proficiency: 5%
· Effect: Releases the killing intent of a drake to overwhelm opponents. As proficiency increases, the magical energy can also be materialized for use.
+
Materialization of magical energy.
If magical energy could be wielded directly as an extension of his limbs, it would enhance Theo’s already precise control over telekinesis.
[‘Skill: Drake Fear’ and ‘Hatchling Synchronization’ generate a symbiotic effect. The effect of <Nirvana> has been added, raising the level of telekinesis to its maximum potential.]
Goooooo!
A massive vortex formed in Theo’s palm as the essence of madness and demonic energy began to be drawn in.
The moment the dragon’s magical energy flowing through his body merged with the energy of the orb—
Boom!
A huge explosion erupted from one side of his body.
A repulsion reaction occurred as the two incompatible types of magical energy intertwined.
Theo flinched momentarily from the shock but quickly endured and continued the absorption process.
[‘Skill: Fairy Buff’ has been applied to attempt magical energy neutralization.]
[‘Skill: Worm Eater’ has been activated to forcibly subjugate the unneutralized foreign energy.]
Drrrkkk!
The intense friction between the two energies caused veins to bulge heavily across his forearm, but the turbulence began to subside after a while.
[Your magical energy has greatly increased.]
A smile began to form on Theo’s lips when suddenly—
「So this was the cause of the delay. Foolish imbeciles, unable to handle even a single squad. Tsk!」
Chill!
A voice so chilling it froze Theo’s spine echoed.
The Sword Sphere, operating more actively than ever, screamed in alarm.
Reacting instinctively, Theo jerked his head to the side in haste.
Swooosh!
A sharp blade of energy narrowly grazed past where Theo’s head had been moments ago.
Strands of severed hair fluttered in the air.
“……!”
“You dodged that? Impressive. I see now why Arnold and Harke met such untimely deaths.”
In an instant, an elderly man appeared before Theo, smiling coldly.
‘Granada!’
The head of the Troyban family had arrived in person!
But how? The main forces of Ragnar should have been keeping him occupied.
Theo had no time to ponder the question.
He had to simultaneously raise the Drake’s Blade, call upon the Moon-White Sword, the Dragon Slayer Sword, and the Spirit Mausoleum Blade, and prepare for an onslaught.
The four swords converged on a single point.
Granada’s descending slash struck them fiercely.
KWA-BOOOM!
Rumble—
“Guh!”
Theo was blasted backward, spewing blood.
Swooosh!
The ground where he was flung bore a deep trench, with steam rising from the frictional heat.
‘This is... insane.’
Theo forcibly swallowed the blood rising his throat.
He was already in the process of refining an immense amount of magical energy when this ambush occurred.
The magical energy that had barely been stabilized began to rampage again, wreaking havoc on his magical circuits.
Nirvana had come dangerously close to breaking.
Yet—
‘That sword...!’
Theo’s gaze was fixated elsewhere.
Granada’s sword looked strangely familiar.
No, to be precise, its energy felt familiar.
Vvmm! Vvmm!
At that moment, the Dragon Slayer Sword trembled violently.
As if it had just encountered a long-lost sibling.
The twin sword of the Dragon Slayer Sword, Balmung.
It was unmistakably the cursed blade of Dragon Spirit, Hrunti.
“By the looks of it, you inherited master’s sword from Kyle, didn’t you?”
Granada smirked lightly, seemingly entertained by Theo’s intense focus on his sword.
Master.
He must be referring to the Mad Dragon Emperor.
“Using the flames emitted by the master’s sword as a medium to eventually reclaim the master’s energy... Was this a trap Kyle set, knowing we’d pay attention to the Chosen? Truly, that’s just like Kyle, treating even his own son as a mere tool.”
Theo’s mind snapped to clarity.
Granada’s words implied that his father foresaw he would eventually confront the Mad Dragon Emperor.
‘A bait.’
A means to lure out the Mad Dragon Emperor, who was hiding within the enormous factions of Troyban and the Sacred Demon Church.
Indeed, Theo had to admit there was likely no one better suited for such a role than himself.
‘But I doubt that was the only strategy my father envisioned...’
Perhaps, in exchange for Theo abandoning the path of regression, his father intended to grant him the “Insight” as a gift.
Theo entertained that thought briefly but quickly refocused his attention on Granada.
His opponent was one of the empire’s greatest swordsmen, standing alongside Kyle in reputation.
One wrong move, and he could lose his head.
What made matters worse was—
[00:01:58]
[00:01:57]
—
The All Buff timer was nearing its end.
‘With my magical circuits damaged, I can’t even activate <Clockwork Array> at will anymore.’
Theo glanced toward Julius, but he seemed wholly preoccupied battling Ed.
“Theo! Are you okay, nya?”
“Yes. I am... fine.”
At that moment, Squad 1 members encircled Theo to protect him.
Amore checked his condition, her expression hardening.
“This is the onset of Qi Deviation symptoms, isn’t it? You—!”
“I’m really fine. Right now, focus on dealing with Granada. If we don’t act now, we won’t have another chance to draw him out.”
Amore looked like she had a lot to say, but knowing she couldn’t treat Theo here and now, she nodded and turned her gaze toward Granada.
But their combined presence alone was insufficient to overpower Granada’s overwhelming aura.
Granada’s lips curled into a smirk.
“Our forces have been significantly reduced, so it’s only fair I trim down yours as well.”
Swooosh!
Granada made his move.
「Squad 5! No matter what, protect your squad leader!!」
After sending a private telepathic message to Squad 5, Amore acted without waiting for their reply.
* * *
‘It’s over.’
Ed glanced toward Granada’s direction and let out a faint chuckle.
Losing key forces like Torkel had been a severe misstep, but the fact that Theo was nearly captured alive as planned was enough.
‘No, perhaps this worked out even better. I just need to take all the magical energy possessed by the Chosen.’
If the Mad Dragon Emperor could absorb the energy of the Chosen, who had consumed the Deluded God’s Orb, instead of the intact orb itself... it might prove even more beneficial.
There was even a chance. With this, the Emperor might restore the regression ability, which had reached its final use.
Just then, he saw Squad 5 and the Dragon Corps moving to protect Theo.
But really?
How long could they hold out with just those forces?
* * *
Torkel’s unexpected betrayal.
The emergence of the new White Armored Dragon Cavalry and Black Iron Cavalry.
And now Granada’s appearance.
The succession of emergencies left Holcus trembling uncontrollably.
He had only been a Practical Swordsman for barely a year. Why did he have to endure such perilous incidents one after another?
He had expected squad life to hold some romantic notion, but it wasn’t that at all.
It was nothing but death, death, and more death.
‘But Theo... he’s crossed that line many times.’
He recalled something Ray had said during their sparring session.
-Don’t judge based on appearances. Theo’s been through a lot. Much more than you realize.
At the time, Holcus had dismissed it as arrogance, thinking she was boasting because she was close to Theo.
But now, Holcus finally understood.
The brilliant image of Theo he had admired was merely a façade.
The memory of himself declaring boldly in front of his sister that he would become Theo’s sword felt deeply embarrassing now.
‘What kind of world have you been living in?’
Even standing by your side terrifies me. Yet you show no fear at all.
Holcus found Theo even more admirable.
At the same time, he couldn’t be certain whether he was truly worthy of standing by Theo’s side, let alone dreaming of it.
But there was one thing he knew for sure.
‘I can’t let Theo die like this!’
Granada charged forward.
He was rapidly crossing the forest of siege weaponry created by Squad 1, aiming to subdue Theo.
The sight reminded Holcus of Theo racing through Troyban’s forest in pursuit of Torkel.
Now, even beyond Squad 5, the entire White Armored Dragon Cavalry was fighting to protect Theo, but they were utterly powerless against the overwhelming force that was Granada.
Still, Holcus refused to retreat. He stood his ground in front of Theo.
And he confronted Granada head-on.
Even if it meant dying here and now.
The determination to protect Theo at all costs filled every corner of his mind.
“Daaaamn iiiit! Screw Troyban and everything else! Bring it oooon!”
Even if his interference would only delay Granada for a single second.
Even if it was nothing but a fleeting moment, if that moment allowed Theo to escape safely, Holcus believed his life was a worthy price to pay.
So, he screamed at the top of his lungs and charged. Granada’s sword moved casually to slice through Holcus’s neck.
Clang!
As expected.
The sword in Holcus’s grip shattered far too easily.
The tip of the cursed blade, Hrunti, drove toward his throat.
Even then, Holcus showed no fear. Until the very last moment, he didn’t take his eyes off Granada.
“Truly, you have the spirit befitting Ragnar. And of Ranke.”
At that moment, just as Granada’s amused voice reached Holcus’s ears—
Clang!
Hrunti was suddenly knocked violently upward.
And before Holcus’s eyes, a figure appeared.
“Lord Kyle...!!”
It was Kyle’s arrival.