Chapter 263
Chapter 263
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 263
Chapter Title: Aftermath (3)
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“Ronan. Let me finish this.”
Their eyes met. His hand, reaching out to grab Asel, froze in midair.
“You...”
“Please.”
Asel wasn't sniffling or pleading like usual. Blood trickled down from under his small nose.
“You know it too, Ronan. Adren is a key stronghold... To fight enemies wielding such terrifying power, we absolutely need the dragons' strength. And if we can save thousands, tens of thousands of people but don't... I'll live with regret for the rest of my life.”
Ronan knew that blood would soon spill from his mouth, ears, and eyes too. Even setting aside the bleeding, his condition was dire. His breaths were so shallow they were barely audible, his face deathly pale, and his body convulsing like someone gripped by a vicious fever.
But Ronan couldn't reach out any further. He wanted to knock him out and sling him over his shoulder right then, but he couldn't.
Asel's eyes, bloodshot yet beautiful, burned with unyielding resolve. No one could stop that gaze—no one should stop it. After a moment of silence, Asel continued.
“...Ronan. Remember that phrase you always used to say?”
“What?”
“When someone asked why you did something like that... You always answered the same way. Just, 'I had to.' I thought that was so cool...”
Asel grinned broadly. Blood streamed down his curved eyes. Ronan couldn't respond.
“This is that moment, Ronan. This is the time for me to do what I have to do. It's like roles are assigned in a play—in life, everyone has their own role too.”
“Asel.”
“The last three years were the best days of my life. Every day felt like a dream. Without you, I'd probably still be dragged around by Hans's gang, picking pockets with magic. That miraculous time existed for today.”
Asel didn't stutter once as he spoke. He drew a deep breath, and the sparkling mana drifting around him began to swirl and gather in earnest.
Asel's body slowly rose into the air. He smiled once more and closed his eyes.
“So, I have no regrets.”
Ronan opened his mouth to speak. At that instant, as Asel focused his mind, the stagnant mana erupted into turmoil.
The flickering magic circles and chains sharpened into clarity, and the sound of crumbling rock echoed loudly. Kagagak! Adren's descent halted once more.
“This little runt...”
The vibrations quickly subsided. Ronan bit his lower lip. For some reason, his vision blurred. Sweat? Or had a single raindrop fallen on his face?
【Stop him right now! What are you doing?!】
Orse streaked through the air and halted before Ronan, snarling fiercely. Just as he reached for Asel—Shing! Ronan drew his sword and aimed it at Orse's throat.
“Don't touch him.”
【Have you lost your mind?!】
Orse's face twisted. He couldn't understand why this human was suddenly acting like this. A pair of curved horns sprouted above his head. Crushing killing intent radiated from him, making it hard to even breathe.
【Move.】
“Won't say it twice. Don't lay a hand on my friend.”
But Ronan didn't blink. The blade aimed at Orse's throat was steady enough to balance an egg on.
【You dare...!】
Orse ground his teeth. Normally, he'd rip him apart on the spot, but he couldn't. The pressure emanating from Ronan now rivaled that of the founding emperor who had once crushed him.
Charging recklessly could cost him his head. He remembered Ronan slicing through Duaru in a single stroke. Cold sweat beaded on Orse's palms. Hearing their voices, Asel murmured softly.
“...Thank you.”
It was to everyone. He was endlessly grateful to Ronan for respecting his will and to Orse for his concern. He could feel the power he'd drawn earlier starting to fade. It was time to go.
Farewell, everyone.
Asel chanted in his mind and closed his eyes. Just as his consciousness began drifting far away—
Hwaaaaaak—!! Crimson light exploded overhead, evoking the end of the world.
“What the—?!”
【What...?!】
Heat like the midday desert poured down. Everyone except Asel looked up simultaneously. Ronan and Orse's eyes widened in shock. Far above, a sea of flames churned in the sky.
“...!”
“...G-Guok!”
The light giants were engulfed in flames without a single survivor. Not even death cries remained.
The intense blaze, vivid enough to make one doubt the sky's original color, convected and burned without fading. Amid the blinding light and heat, the giants vanished completely.
“Agh!”
Asel, floating in the air, tumbled down onto his rear. The immense light and heat shattered his concentration entirely. The sparkling mana dispersed like mist.
“Th-this means Adren will...!”
Asel, barely clinging to consciousness, shouted urgently. In his shock, even the spells he'd cast unraveled completely. The massive magic circles and chains dissolved like scattered ash.
“...Huh?”
But something was off. Despite all magic releasing, Adren didn't plummet. Instead, it floated serenely in the air like a toy boat on a calm lake.
“Damn it... What the hell is going on?”
The confused survivors began murmuring. No one could grasp what had happened. Ronan, staring blankly at the sky, suddenly frowned.
“Wait, fuck, why is that coming down?”
The sea of flames that incinerated the giants poured toward them. The roar of fire devouring the air echoed fiercely. Spanning nearly to the horizon, there was no escaping it.
【E-everyone, stay calm!】
【Wh-where are the captains?!】
【Take the citizens on your backs!】
Shouts of dismay erupted everywhere. Some dragons hastily fired breaths skyward, but nothing changed. The flames consumed everything as they descended.
This was hopeless. They'd have to slash through the inferno or burrow underground. Gripping his sword hilt, Ronan hoisted Asel over his other shoulder.
“Fuck. Hold on tight.”
“Ack!”
Asel yelped, sticking out his tongue in pain. As they prepared to move—Flash! The space before them warped, and a boy popped out.
The boy, seemingly around thirteen, wore robes far too flashy for his age. His cute features looked familiar. Locking eyes with him, Ronan and Asel gasped.
“You're...!”
“Long time no see, everyone.”
The boy smiled—a smile blending innocence and gravitas, unmistakably from memory. Ronan recalled instantly.
“Rorhon?”
“Sorry I'm late. The cleanup took forever... You're safe now.”
The boy didn't deny it. He was Rorhon, the grand archmage who sealed Giant Nirvana in his past life and lord of the Twilight Tower.
Ronan had heard updates occasionally, but this was their first meeting since Rodolan. Asel, snapping out of his daze, spoke.
“Gr-grand Archmage, how did you...?”
“Big trouble beyond the sky. Various issues. Let's block that first.”
Suddenly, Rorhon thrust his arms skyward. Vast mana churned around him, warping space visibly.
Dozens of layered barriers soon enveloped Adren. Paaah—! The translucent fields shattered and melted, blocking most of the ferocious flames.
Where flames leaked through, every ice spell imaginable poured out—all at least 7th circle high magic. The sky-scorching heat finally yielded to the indiscriminate cold barrage, clashing before fading.
“In-incredible...!”
Asel gaped in awe. He'd seen it before, but the title of grand archmage was no exaggeration. Rorhon turned to Asel with a gentle smile.
“Great performance, Asel.”
“P-performance? I... I couldn't even finish it properly...”
“No. Sorry to Principal Kratir, but you're next after me. You'll have to play a big role in this incident.”
“A b-big role?”
Asel was stuttering again. Ronan finally exhaled in relief. He'd been terribly worried Asel might lose himself from contact with the baldheads.
Kugugugu... Adren began shaking again. But this time, it was from ascent, not fall.
Adren soared upward as if lifted by giant hands. The ruined city rose toward the dawn sky. Ronan asked.
“You do this too?”
“No. Even I couldn't lift this.”
“Then who?”
“Someone you know well. Adren hasn't greeted a former king in ages.”
Rorhon chuckled like an old soul. At "former king," Ronan's eyes widened. Why hadn't he thought of it sooner? Only one being wielded such fire. Suddenly, a woman's majestic voice boomed overhead.
【This voice...!】
Orse's scales bristled. Faces like Naransonia's lit up. Every dragon in Adren knew her voice. Hwaak! A massive shadow appeared before the rapidly rising Adren.
“Saved it by a hair. Truly by a hair.”
Rorhon bowed politely. Ronan slowly looked up. A colossal red dragon, filling his vision and more, hovered in place, gazing down at Adren with wingbeats.
The Dragon King, once thought huge, looked like a child by comparison. Why had he ever thought they were similar? Each flap shook Rorhon's barriers to the brink.
The overwhelming bulk gleamed scarlet in the dawn light. Smaller—but still gigantic by absolute standards—red dragons flew around her. Meeting her eyes, Ronan spoke.
“Navardoje.”