LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 121
In the artificially recreated Dragon’s Pier, those who recovered their movements were the close allies of the dragon. The Nightmare, having consumed the hearts of the Red Wind, Blue Calm, and Wyvern. They were quite far from the two Dragon’s Bloods, so I couldn’t check the surroundings, but the hot flames and cold chills spreading from afar confirmed their vitality.
Shhiiiiing-!
The Nightmare rampaged even more fiercely. As it dashed through the black darkness, scattering Crystal Stones, the nearby Beastmen were swept away in an instant.
“Th-there…”
I approached the pale Snake Beastman who was moaning. In that moment, [Crack!] the Snake Beastman swung his sword. Thick red blood streamed down from his lips. It seemed to cover the horror of the Dragon’s Pier in the tremendous pain.
After that, we exchanged light blows. There was no sharpness in the Snake Beastman’s attack anymore.
It was only natural. The Dragon’s Pier is designed to stimulate the instinctual fear embedded in living creatures. Even if they managed to move using pain, the muscles that had shrunk in shock couldn’t muster any real strength.
“SSsssss!”
The Snake Beastman rushed at me, spitting out red blood as if making a final struggle. I waited for him to come closer and exhaled softly. Starlight intermingled with my breath, and when he entered my range, the sword in my hand moved smoothly, tracing the path of seven stars.
Swoosh!
What remained after the stars passed was only the corpse of the Snake Beastman who had lost both arms. He fell with a pale expression, seemingly unaware that his arms had been sliced off.
I announced my presence through the Dragon’s Pier. Sooner or later, the attention of those recovering from the Pier’s influence would be focused on me. Red Wind and Blue Calm, who are sensitive to the dragon’s aura, were the same. I could feel the two approaching from this way.
At that moment, a black shadow began to sprint rapidly from the entrance. Its hazy, flickering shape resembled the movements of the recently felled Snake Beastman. However, it was faster and more stealthy. It meant a higher-tier opponent.
The shadow’s goal was clear. I widened the distance and pointed my sword into the darkness.
Hsss-! Hsss-!
As the distance closed, the sound of a snake’s cry grew louder. In the moment the faintly flickering shadow blinked, it leaped toward me as if to overcome the great distance.
Kaaang-!
I swung my sword to block an attack, but it was I who was outmatched in strength. In the moment I was slightly pushed on the icy surface, my opponent’s figure melted smoothly into the darkness.
-Not the Red Gate…
The voice echoed from all directions. It was clear that they were intentionally controlling the direction of the sound by mixing in Mana.
“Do you know the Red House Lord?”
I asked out of curiosity, but no answer came. Their ability to conceal their presence was extraordinary. Even though they must have greatly enhanced their physical abilities and senses due to the Dragonization, I couldn’t easily guess their location.
At that moment, flames fell from the sky. It looked as if the sun were plunging down.
Fwoosh-!
“Lanah!”
Descending in flames was Red Wind. Following closely, Blue Calm landed, scattering cold chills. He looked at me, surprised, and spoke.
“Lan… How did you end up here…? Could it be you’re also after Dragon’s Blood…?”
In the air, complicated glances intermixed. I frowned and said to the two.
“A snake-like guy is hiding. He seemed to know the Red House Lord…”
“It’s the gatekeeper of the Blood Dragon Gate. He possesses an extraordinary ability to hide his presence.”
Just as Red Wind finished speaking, a hazy shadow revealed itself from the darkness and swung a sword at me.
Kaaang-!
Since I had my senses heightened, I wasn’t slow to react. As I swiftly swung to block the sword, Red Wind and Blue Calm unleashed fierce flames and frigid winds toward the gatekeeper of the Blood Dragon Gate.
However, before their attacks could reach, the gatekeeper disappeared again.
Upon closer inspection, I noticed that Red Wind and Blue Calm were bloodied. Their clothes were in tatters, indicating they must have undergone a fierce battle at the entrance.
-So, there are two junior Blood Dragon heirs and one young heir… Today, I will take your hearts and Dragon Stones and truly become a dragon.
“The junior heir of the Blood Dragon House is no longer me. It’s Redlin.”
Ssshh- Ssshh- A dark voice blended with the sound of a snake echoed from all directions.
“Your hearts…?”
“Just a common myth… that by consuming the hearts of Blood Dragons, one can gain the power of a dragon…”
-Myth, is it? I have indeed devoured your Blood Dragon hearts and gained this power. Do not deny the truth.
“Nonsense.”
What should I do when facing an unseen enemy? Their ability to conceal their presence made it impossible to guess their location.
I glanced down at the bow slung at my shoulder. I could only shoot a tracking arrow when aware of the opponent, but without being able to confirm their position, I couldn’t fire a tracking arrow.
In that moment, I recalled a spell I had forgotten. The small starlight that sparkled in the desolate desert. I immediately flicked my fingers.
Twang-!
With a small noise, as a light flickered and made a star in mid-air, the small star shot off like a bolt. The Guiding Star dispels the darkness. It illuminates the path where the user needs to go, revealing a way through the obscured road. That spell was the Guiding Star.
“That way!”
As the sparkling small star cleared the darkness, the outline of a blurry shadow appeared. It was the gatekeeper of the Blood Dragon Gate. I charged towards it with the two Blood Dragons.
-Oh no…!
With a panicked voice, it began to flee again. Just as it seemed to blur its body and might vanish again, the small star followed closely behind. As long as the Guiding Star was on its trail, it could not hide.
-You…!
Seemingly realizing that it was I who created the star, the gatekeeper of the Blood Dragon Gate sent a chilling gaze. Yet, all it could do was desperately flee amidst the three of us’ collaboration.
Its footwork was quite impressive. Despite our combined assault, it managed to evade without sustaining significant injuries, suggesting it wouldn’t be an easy end. I quickly drew the bow from my shoulder and sent the sword I was holding flying.
Fwoosh-!
If Nightmare had been nearby, I would have been resupplied with arrows, but now the distance had stretched too far. I slung the bow on my shoulder and dove toward the gatekeeper of the Blood Dragon Gate.
The gatekeeper’s resistance was rather fierce, but it couldn’t withstand the three of us’ combined assault. The sword I sent pierced the gatekeeper’s thigh from the side, while Red Wind’s sword pierced the gatekeeper’s lower abdomen and Blue Calm’s pierced its chest.
-Hah… HAH…
An instant kill that was hardly worth noting. Vitality drained from its eyes as its body began to grow cold. I approached the gatekeeper and withdrew my sword.
Swish-
Swish…? The sensation catching on the hand gripping the sword was too light. When I pulled out the sword, not a drop of blood flowed out. As I frowned in confusion, the gatekeeper of the Blood Dragon Gate’s body sagged downwards.
“A shell…?”
“A molted skin…”
Could it have shed its skin like a snake?
What lay sprawled on the cold ice was an empty shell.
“Lanah! Could you use that light again from earlier?”
Red Wind’s urgent voice broke out. I immediately used a new Guiding Star. As a small star rose up, it quickly shot towards the fleeting gatekeeper of the Blood Dragon Gate.
Following the light with my gaze, I spotted the long, black tail extending. It was the gatekeeper of the Blood Dragon Gate.
“Oh no…!”
I took off running, as Nightmare and Wendy were in the direction the creature was fleeing.
The circle spun rapidly, and mana erupted like an explosion. The red cloak I wore fluttered as if caught in a storm.
Swoosh-!
As the widely spread mana began to envelop the area, a large spurt of blood erupted from Wendy’s chest due to a sword swung by the gatekeeper of the Blood Dragon Gate. Wendy stood there, mouth agape, as if unable to scream.
The Nightmare, startled by the sudden attack, caused Crystal Stones to rise around it, but the gatekeeper of the Blood Dragon Gate was already gone. As the black shadow faded away, only the small star remained in pursuit.
I immediately used Blink to reach Wendy’s side.
“Keh…”
Slowly oozing out red blood, Wendy fell to the ground. I supported her body and began to push mana inside her. The wound was deep but manageable by my standards. As the rapidly spinning circle changed the attributes of the mana, a mix of golden and green mana enveloped Wendy’s body.
“Se… Seris…”
“You’ll be okay soon, so just relax.”
“I… I lost the bag… Our Dragon Stone…”
“The bag…?”
I frowned and looked behind Nightmare. The box I had found in the ice statue and my bag were nowhere to be seen.
“Could it be…?”
“Urgh…”
Frowning, I followed the Guiding Star with my eyes. Next to the sparkling Guiding Star was a naked man holding a white box while raising a mountain goat’s horn high into the sky.
“I’ll come back quickly. Just rest here.”
“I’m sorry…”
Wendy gave a forced smile and let out a groan. I stood up and readjusted my grip on the sword. I had provided some emergency care, so she should be out of danger.
As the widely spread mana began to assert control over the surroundings, the weapons scattered across the ground began to rise into the air. I charged toward the gatekeeper of the Blood Dragon Gate, accompanied by dozens of weapons.
At that moment, the one gripping the mountain goat’s horn thrust it down toward the white box. The horn slid smoothly into place, and at that moment, a massive storm of cold burst forth from inside the box.
Swoosh-!
“Ugh…!”
The cold began to freeze the air. I frowned and summoned Kalbain’s flame.
Fwoosh-!
-HA HA HA! The Ice Stone is in my hand! The strength of a dragon is now mine…!
Amidst the storm of cold, a mix of triumphant voices erupted. I immediately unleashed all the weapons I had gathered. The sword I was holding did the same.
The sword that left my hand became a red flash filled with mana. However, in the next moment.
BOOM-!
With a loud explosion, the cold dispersed, and all the flying weapons shattered. The pieces of weapon merged with mana sparkled like starlight.
-This power… I have truly become a dragon.
Emerging from the storm of cold was the gatekeeper of the Blood Dragon Gate, a blend of black and blue. Long horns grew, sharpened claws, and a tail sprouted from its back. It was unmistakably the form of a Blood Dragon.
Red Wind and Blue Calm rushed at it, spewing raw mana, but the gatekeeper of the Blood Dragon Gate poured out a storm of cold, sending them flying backwards.
-First, I’ll devour your hearts.
I twitched my eyebrows and concentrated on the wide-spread mana. The mana that had been held with the weapons still lingered around. As I gestured towards that place, thousands of metallic fragments rushed toward it like a river of stars.
CRASH-!
-Crck, crrk…!
As the river of starlight scratched its body, numerous lacerations began to appear. Red blood flowed from it, carried away by the river made of metallic fragments that tore away scales.
Devouring my heart?
Its claims of having become a dragon irritated me immensely. Currently, it was merely intoxicated by the dragon’s mana, swinging around that immense power. It didn’t differ much from the half-baked Blood Dragons.
-I’ll show you my true power as a dragon!
In that moment, it retreated significantly, drawing forth a massive amount of mana. The area around reacted to its mana as cold chills began to gather toward its maw.
With a puffed chest and an arrogant gaze, I felt I understood what emotions it might be experiencing. Drunk on the omnipotence the dragon’s mana provided, it must see everything as beneath its feet.
Immediately, I gathered the wandering mana around me. Thousands of metal fragments flowed in, forming a massive circle behind me.
Creating an External Circle that allowed me to manage two properties of mana simultaneously. As the circle behind began to spin, it started to absorb the cold around me.
Kiiiiiing-!
At the same time, the heart’s circle began to spin, igniting fierce flames.
As Kalbain and Kashpa’s mana enveloped my entire being, the dragon’s arrogance consumed my head. My blood heated up, yet my mind cooled down.
“Ugh…”
A deep breath gathered both types of mana beneath my chest. The flame of destruction that burns everything wrapped around the blue chill.
I crouched low, firmly embedding my sharp claws into the ice beneath me. Immediately after, I stretched out my thick tail to balance myself.
CRACK-!
At that moment, icy breaths erupted from the mouth of the confused hybrid that couldn’t transform into a dragon. Without focusing its breath in one spot, it enveloped a wide area in ice.
What an amusing sight. With a frown, I expelled the breath that had gathered beneath my chest.
Kiiiiiing-!
The blue-tinged flames shot straight, exploding through the encroaching cold.
Fwooosh-!
The straight shot of the dragon’s breath didn’t stop. It blasted through the massive chill, obliterating the hybrid’s upper body, then collided with the thick ice wall behind it, creating an explosion.
KAAAAANG-!
Parts of the thick ice wall and mountain were blown away. Brilliant sunlight poured through the clear hole, accompanied by a hazy snow mist.