Chapter 240
Chapter 240
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 240
Chapter Title: Alibrije (1)
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The Dragon King's voice shook the tower. As the beam of light faded, darkness fell once more over the world that had briefly lit up. Ronan raked a hand through his disheveled hair and spat out a curse.
"Goddamn it, talk about shitty luck."
The worst possible scenario had come to pass. Of all things, he'd been caught by the Dragon King himself. Asel, panting heavily, finally spoke up.
"W-What do we do now?"
"First, we gotta get the hell out of this fucking tower."
"W-Where to?"
"You said the sewers were fine, so let's head there. For now... shit!"
Sensing the threat, Ronan scooped Asel into his arms and rolled to the side. The ceiling above their heads shattered, and a massive greatsword burst through. Kwajik! The monstrous blade, capable of decapitating an elephant, pierced right through where the two had been standing moments before. Asel screamed at the sight of the gleaming sword blade right next to his ear.
"Gyaaaah!"
"Good instincts. I always thought rats were pretty good at catching themselves."
The voice came from directly above. Looking up, Ronan saw a girl peering through the gap in the broken ceiling. Her snow-white hair marked her as a Lycophos. How the hell was this crazy bitch so fast?
"But can you block this too?"
She smirked and gripped the hilt of her sword. The runes engraved on the greatsword began to glow.
Whatever it was, it didn't feel good. Reflexively yanking his sword hilt, Ronan thrust upward toward the ceiling. Peok! A blade aura shot from the tip of his sword, slipping through the gap and striking the girl. The small mass of energy burrowed under her chin, shattering her skull as it exited.
"Gahk...!"
Thud. The girl collapsed. Blood and brains trickled down through the gap in the ceiling. For a Lycophos at her age, she was no doubt formidable, but the lesson that no one was immune to ambush and carelessness rang true once more. Ronan turned to Asel.
"Can you walk now?"
"Y-Yeah...!"
Asel nodded vigorously. Strength was returning to his legs now that the shock had passed. Ronan stared at him blankly, then shook his head.
"Nah. On second thought, your legs are too short. Better if I just carry you."
"W-Wait!"
"You can still cast spells like this. Let's move before more show up."
Ronan hoisted Asel onto his back again. He remembered the examiner's words about fleeing to the sewers if things went south. He had no idea where they were, but getting out of this damn tower was the first step to survival.
They were just about to set off when Asel suddenly reached out and chanted a spell. Kwajajak! An ice barrier erupted from the floor, sealing off the stairs leading down from the floor above. He stammered,
"I-I thought this might help."
"Good job."
Ronan grinned. Come to think of it, Naransonia had climbed up while blocking escape routes just like this. They tumbled down the stairs like they were falling. They had to escape before more people arrived.
"That's more like it."
Reaching the lower floor, Ronan let out a cheer. It was still empty, probably because not much time had passed. Beyond the large window stretched the night sky, embroidered with the Milky Way.
"Perfect. Do your thing, Asel!"
"O-Okay!"
Ronan shouted. He and Schlieffen sprinted full tilt and kicked out the window, leaping through. Crash! Shards of glass shattered, sparkling as they caught the moonlight.
The night wind roared past their ears. Their airborne bodies began to plummet. As Asel started chanting a telekinesis spell in a trembling voice, a massive shadow surged up from below, halting right in front of them.
"What?!"
Ronan gasped. A familiar woman's voice echoed. His eyes widened in shock. A ferocious gust flipped back the hair of all three. A silver dragon hovered in place, beating its wings.
"You're...!"
She was a dragon so beautiful she made him forget their dire straits for a moment. Her slender, elegant body was covered in scales of steel-gray sheen. A sigh escaped Ronan's gaping mouth.
"Naransonia."
Naransonia spoke. Steel armor began forming over her body. Realizing what came next, Ronan cursed.
"Fuck...!"
Ronan assumed a defensive stance. Naransonia, having wheeled around like a massive swallow, charged at them. Her speed from that enormous frame was unbelievable. Boom! A delayed sonic boom exploded in the night sky.
"M-Mana Shield!"
Asel urgently chanted a defensive spell. Several layers of translucent barriers sprang up between them and her. They looked taut and expertly crafted.
But the dragon's body slam was far more powerful than they'd imagined. Kwajangchang! The shields shattered like cracked porcelain the instant Naransonia's forehead touched them. Ronan yelled,
"Schlieffen!"
"Mm."
Ronan frantically switched cores. Schlieffen gripped his sword hilt. Kwaaaaang! They collided head-on, and Naransonia smashed into the tower wall along with them.
Thud. She polymorphed into human form and stepped forward. Thick dust blanketed the completely demolished 42nd floor. Suddenly feeling pain, Naransonia winced.
"Ugh... ."
A thin gash ran across her shoulder blade. Blood trickled down her arm, dripping from her fingertips. It was the work of that human, Schlieffen.
"A counterattack even in that moment... ."
Naransonia muttered in disbelief. Even if it was an unarmored spot, spotting it was impressive—and he'd torn a dragon's scale regardless.
Grancia bloodline, was it?
What a shame; he could've been a great swordsman if he'd lived. As she scanned for the bodies, her gaze locked onto one spot.
"Hm?"
A human shadow loomed in the dust. Shwaak! A crescent-shaped blade aura tore through the smoke, grazing her right cheek. Blood flowed from the cut. Her usually impassive face twisted slightly.
"To think you'd still be alive."
Whoooong...! The night wind through the broken wall blew away the smoke. The silhouettes of three humans and one dragon emerged under the moonlight. Of the humans, only Ronan stood.
"You bitch. You nearly fucking killed us... ."
"How did you do that? The trajectory seemed to twist a bit at the end."
"Hoo... that's none of your business."
Ronan flipped her the bird. His overloaded heart pounded wildly. At the last moment before impact, he'd switched cores, activating Baren and Teranil's auras simultaneously.
The enhanced strength and shockwave had offset some of the impact. Of course, it couldn't prevent a couple of cracked ribs. He pointed at the downed Asel and Schlieffen.
"What now? These are my few precious friends."
"None of this would've happened if you'd stayed put. Or if you'd been stronger."
"Doing that shit at the top of the tower—how could we ignore it? Miss, your king's insane."
Naransonia's face twisted in fury. Her loyalty was immense. Ronan replied indifferently.
"Why get so worked up? If allying with fanatics who want to end the world—just to beat Navardoje—is normal, then what?"
"The world's ending, and you're all 'mere mortals.' You're hopeless."
Ronan wiped the blood from his mouth. They couldn't escape until this dragon was down. He raised his sword, pointing at Naransonia.
"Come at me, pretty-faced dragon."
Naransonia flinched as their eyes met. Killing intent rose from him, unbelievable for a human.
She felt intense rage at that. Even briefly cowed by a human? She roared in anger,
Kwagagagak! Hundreds of steel spikes erupted from the ground at her feet, surging toward Ronan. Infused with mana and reinforced, they glowed bluish. Not the restraining kind used on Orse—this was meant to kill.
Even facing the torrent of steel, Ronan didn't panic or flee. He simply waited for them to close in. The moment the gap narrowed to ten steps. Pop! His form, sword gripped in perfect stance, vanished from sight. Naransonia raised an eyebrow.
She hadn't seen the movement at all. Like a candle snuffed out. In an instant, the relentlessly advancing spikes halted.
What?
Her keen eyes spotted thin white lines etched across every spike's surface. What were those? As the question arose, Ronan reappeared at her side.
"Hoo."
Naransonia gasped involuntarily. He'd appeared with one knee bent, as if landing from a great height. As she regained composure to swing her fist, Kaaang! The lines on the spikes split open simultaneously, exploding.
Naransonia gasped in shock. The menacing spikes danced harmlessly in the air as scrap metal. Her gaze caught Ronan's sword, and she froze. The pristine white blade was now drenched in fresh blood. Ronan said,
"That wound's nothing I can't make."
Naransonia's eyes widened as she realized whose blood it was. Shwaaaak! A red line slashed across her chest, blood spurting out.
Blood fountained out, splattering floor and ceiling. Thud! Naransonia staggered to her knees and collapsed. Her blurring vision was swallowed by darkness. Confirming she wasn't getting up, Ronan sighed in relief.
"...Thanks, Lin."
Lin's voice echoed in his mind. The awakened holy sword spirit made Ramancha's blade glow with a soft white light. Exhaustion from resonating with the holy sword washed over him.
Naransonia had been a formidable foe. Her title "Steel Empress" was well-earned. Without Lin awakening to the scent of blood, victory wasn't guaranteed.
"Gotta keep going. Need to hide first."
Ronan replied in a fatigue-laden voice. He wanted to collapse and sleep, but there was no time.
"Get up... you bastards."
Ronan staggered over to Asel and Schlieffen. Schlieffen had come to and was propped up on his elbows, breathing heavily. He said,
"...Did we win?"
"Yeah."
"To lose consciousness for so long... my shame."
Schlieffen gritted his teeth. It was the most frustrated expression Ronan had ever seen on him.
"Not dying or shitting yourself is victory enough. We got hit by a goddamn dragon."
Ronan chuckled and offered a hand. Schlieffen silently took it and stood. He knew they couldn't dawdle.
"Let's go. Asel, up."
"Ugh... Ro-Ronan?"
"No visible injuries. Good."
Thankfully, Asel opened his eyes before a slap was needed. Ronan hoisted him up again.
They'd dropped quite a few floors, so the ground wasn't far. After a quick regroup, they were about to move when—
"Oh my god! Lady Naransonia!"
"There they are! Everyone, halt them!"
A clamor erupted behind them. Sensing ill omen, all three turned. Sentries poured down the stairs.
"...Damn it."
Ronan rubbed his forehead. They'd finished quick, but the sentries were well-trained. They'd already activated their brands, transforming into half-dragons. With a direct imperial order, they were going all out.
Just sentries, though... .
Ronan wordlessly placed a hand on his hilt. He could shake them off if that was all. But then the sentry group parted, and two men stepped forward.
The two sharply dressed men were identical twins. The sentries chanted their five-syllable names. Losing patience, Ronan cursed.
"What the fuck is with all this against me?"
He could tell they were dragons without effort. On par with Naransonia.
And misfortune didn't end there. Through the stairs and the wall Naransonia had smashed, white-robed figures began filing in.
"What, you only made it this far?"
"Slower than expected."
All Nebula Klazie's followers. No bishops, but one Lycophos among them. A white-haired boy glared at Ronan, growling.
"You... you killed my little sister good."
His crimson eyes blazed. The greatsword girl from earlier must've been his sister. Ronan bit his lip.
This is too much.
Dozens of half-dragon sentries, Nebula Klazie. Plus two dragons. Even taking down Orse wasn't this bad.
"Life really... ."
It was a do-or-die crisis. No matter how he racked his brain, no good plan emerged.
The forces of evil slowly tightened the encirclement. Ronan and Schlieffen stood back-to-back against the wall, readying for battle. Schlieffen spoke.
"Ronan."
"What?"
Ronan replied without turning. Suddenly, Schlieffen slipped something into his coat pocket. What now? Fishing it out, Ronan felt a pocket watch. Schlieffen continued,
"When you get back, give this to Iril."