Chapter 230
Chapter 230
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 230
Chapter Title: Sea Road, to the Dragon's City (3)
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A massive shadow suddenly rose high above the jungle canopy of the distant Pashaanti Archipelago. Whether by sheer size or overwhelming presence, it was on an entirely different level from the idiots moments before. Sensing they were screwed, Ronan spat out a curse.
"Fuck."
"Wh-what the...!"
The young men whipped their heads around in unison as they sensed the killing intent. But the shadow had already vanished from sight. Only the chilling presence rapidly closing in remained palpable.
"Hmph."
Suddenly, Schlieffen swung his sword overhead, following the presence. Shwaaack! Low-hanging clouds split open, revealing the blue sky beyond. The jet-black shadow that had briefly peeked through vanished back into the clouds.
"Missed."
Schlieffen clicked his tongue. The other two scanned around for an intercept, but the presence was gone.
Just as they wondered if it had passed by, a thick shadow fell over the deck. Asel's face drained of color.
"Hiiik...!"
Fierce wingbeats echoed rhythmically. The killing intent, now incomparably denser than before, stabbed at their bodies like needles. It felt like rolling through a cactus farm. So it comes to this, Ronan sighed inwardly as he spoke up.
"Drahavie?"
Judging by the mention of "father," it seemed to be the son of the venom dragon Drahavie. Ronan continued.
"...Looks like there's some misunderstanding, but you struck first with the ambush."
Only then did Ronan turn his head. The other two did the same. A massive green dragon hovered in the sky above them, beating its wings.
Its pointed, flattened head evoked images of a serpent—specifically, a venomous jungle snake. The long, sinuous neck writhed about. Its scales gleamed with an unpleasant dark green hue, making it a thoroughly grotesque dragon. Asel, barely avoiding fainting, let out a gasp.
"D-dr-dragon...!"
"...Strong."
Schlieffen murmured softly. This was the first time any of the three had faced a hostile dragon. Though still young, it was smaller than expected, but the pressure was immense. It had clearly lived longer than Itargand.
Around the sinking, split-open galleon, survivors still screamed. With every crashing wave, one or two vanished. Landohaidel glanced between them and Ronan's group before speaking.
"And if it is?"
Ronan retorted, hand on his sword hilt. Landohaidel fell silent. Ronan raised an eyebrow as he scrutinized it.
This could work if played right...
He quickly exchanged glances with his friends. Asel and Schlieffen's faces hardened as they grasped his intent.
For real? Is that really the call?
The world's quietest strategy meeting unfolded. At last, Landohaidel's maw slowly opened.
The young men's eyes widened. An unexpected offer. Despite sinking three galleons, it might let it slide if they had talent. Not a bad company after all, they thought.
"For real?"
"What if we refuse?"
Landohaidel nodded toward the old man's corpse floating on the water. Thoroughly tainted by venom, it resembled seaweed more than a person.
"...Mind if I consult with my friends first, oh merciful Landohaidel?"
"Gracious as ever. Thanks."
They now had official time to talk. Ronan turned away, arm-in-arm with the other two.
Silent glances exchanged the plan's details. After about a minute of whispering, Ronan looked up.
"We talked it over, and they're all against it. Sorry, can't join you."
"Eat shit."
Ronan yanked his sword hilt. Simultaneously, Landohaidel's maw gaped wide. From its near-vertically split jaws poured a venomous breath. Kwaaaa! The purple-tinged poison breath completely engulfed Ronan’s group and their sloop.
Landohaidel smacked its lips at the anticlimactic end. No mortal had ever survived its venom. They must have hemorrhaged and died on contact.
The ship could be salvaged for rescuing idiots once the poison cleared. As the toxic mist settled, a presence stirred within the purple cloud.
Landohaidel tilted its head. No instant death? It craned its long neck, shoving its head into the cloud. The fully intact sloop emerged.
Landohaidel's eyes widened. Impossible. On closer look, a transparent barrier enveloped the ship. A mortal blocked my breath with a shield? Its gaze swept around, landing on the redheaded boy. Asel, chanting a desperate defense spell, leaped in place.
"Gaaah! W-we're made!"
Landohaidel's maw opened again. Sensing he couldn't block this, Asel gulped. Then Ronan burst from the dragon's blind spot. The mask neutralizing even deadly poisons had been looted from Arondale, a Caribolo poacher, previously.
Landohaidel roared in shock. Too sudden to react. It whipped its head around, but Ronan was faster. Reaching under the jaw in an instant, he slashed. A red line diagonally scored the long neck. Shwaaack! Purple blood fountained into the sky.
"Damn."
Landohaidel staggered. Noticing it wasn't fatal, Ronan grimaced. The sudden movement limited the cut to about 20% of the neck.
The ambush succeeded regardless. Schlieffen, hidden in the blind spot like Ronan, swung his sword. Whooosh! A fierce gust from beyond the sea blew away the useless poison mist.
"Ha, it's really improved."
Ronan muttered in disbelief. He could see why blacksmith Katan had been so proud. Lamancha, honed at Aurora Skal, was incomparably sharper and faster than before.
The bloodied blade radiated savage sharpness. The subtle hues flowing along the blade mimicked the aurora burning the northern skies.
Landohaidel still reeled in pain, unable to recover. As it tried to take flight, Ronan leaped from the ship, slashing at its wing.
"Where you going?"
Ronan was faster again. The bat-like membrane tore long, blood spurting once more. Landohaidel's massive body plummeted into the sea.
"Asel!"
"Y-yeah!"
At Ronan's shout, Asel chanted. Invisible hands yanked the falling Ronan back to the deck. Sploosh! As Landohaidel hit the water, waves taller than the mast crashed over the ship.
Shwaaack! The White Sea's waters washed the bloodied deck and youths clean. Soon, Landohaidel raised its head, bellowing in rage.
Its roar shook the hull. As it spread its wings to rise, a chill wind from somewhere grazed its retina. Slice! Blood sprayed over the gleaming eyeball.
Schlieffen's storm sword. It would regenerate soon, but enough to blind temporarily. Feeling the feedback, he muttered dissatisfied.
"...Tough."
Couldn't even fully slice the eye—dragons were dragons. Ronan wondered what treatment his sword had undergone to be that sharp.
Thwack! Asel, eyes closed chanting, suddenly slammed his palm on the deck. Plan B's highlight. A spell for high mages slipped from his lips.
"F-Frozen Field!"
Shwaaa! Chill erupted from his small hand, surging forward. The advancing white grasp enveloped Landohaidel. Kwajik! Surrounding seawater froze solid, binding the thrashing dragon. Massive ice spikes erupted, striking it.
Landohaidel screamed in agony. Most failed to pierce scales, but thinner membrane tore on the spikes.
More critically, white ice crept up its body. At this rate, it'd freeze solid to the bone. Ronan leaped onto the ice, charging.
"Stick your neck out!"
Landohaidel's eyes bulged. That sword was the only weapon to rend scales and claim its life. Distance closed instantly. As the oilflower-hued blade dug into the prior wound—
Boom! Wings buried in ice exploded outward. Shattered ice shards flew everywhere. Blasted by wind pressure, Ronan slammed into the bow.
"Pointless struggling...!"
Ronan gritted his teeth. Fully freed, Landohaidel soared skyward. Membrane in tatters, but it could still fly somehow.
Seawater, ice chunks, and venomous blood cascaded like a waterfall. Focusing on his core, Ronan bellowed.
"Get down here!"
Paa... Lamancha's blade took on sunset hues. As the attracting light reached it— Landohaidel whipped its neck down, spewing breath. Dark purple haze blanketed the sky.
"Tch."
Vision obscured, Ronan loosed his strongest sword beam by estimate. A red crescent tore through the mist. A short scream echoed from beyond.
It hit. Asel desperately shielded the sloop. Schlieffen's swing unleashed a gale that cleared the poison. Ronan cursed, scanning for Landohaidel.
"Shit."
Landohaidel was now a green speck, drunkenly fleeing north.
A large chunk of flesh—likely its tail—bobbed on the sea, severed by the beam. Ronan dashed to the wheel.
"We're chasing! Help out!"
"Ch-chase?!"
"Looks like it won't last long. Better kill it here."
Hostility locked in a clash with the venom dragon inevitable. Better finish one now than face it recovered with its father later. Convinced, Asel nodded.
"Y-yeah, makes sense..."
"Then help quick. Catch it before it calls friends."
Ronan spun the wheel; the bow veered. First manual sail, but it'd work. Propelled by Schlieffen's wind and Asel's telekinesis, the sloop surged like a marlin.
Clear skies make it visible. Follow the blood.
Tracking went smoothly. Landohaidel's blood trail streaked the sea.
Three hours later, the gap narrowed. As the dot became a dragon— Boom! A beam from the sea pierced Landohaidel.
"Fuck, what?!"
Ronan bit his tongue in shock. Like a black lightning bolt from the sea. Frozen momentarily, Landohaidel plummeted like a bird into a window. No splash, crashing onto a small island below.
"...Hurry."
Something felt off. They pushed the ship faster, arriving thirty minutes later at the crash site.
The nearby sea was vivid purple. Countless fish floated belly-up. Their eyes bulged.
"Wh-what the hell...!"
"...My god."
Asel clamped his mouth. Schlieffen hid his shock poorly. The "island" wasn't land—it was a massive dragon corpse, three times Landohaidel's size, floating on the sea. Stunned, Ronan murmured.
"...Drahavie?"
The elder dragon's sleek scales shimmered dark green like a night rainforest. Long neck and serpentine head hinted at its relation to Landohaidel, whose body lay atop its wing.
"Who did this...?"
Boiling venom warped the air. Unmistakably the venom dragon Drahavie.
Wearing the bear mask flipped, Ronan approached the bow. Both corpses had massive holes like skewered by ancient trees. Sensing a familiar aura, Ronan raised his brows.
"This...!"
Black mana simmered along the hole edges like will-o'-wisps. The indescribably vicious presence was unforgettable. The black man's face from Aurora Skal flashed in his mind.