Chapter 100. Ignirn's Sanctuary (2)

Most dragons symbolize attributes, but there are exceptions like Mirtus.

Mirtus's epithet is Storm Dragon.

Just as the name implies—pure battle and combat.

His mana shreds, crushes, and explodes the opponent's mana.

The Jo family martial art known as Storm Dragon Fist was designed to capitalize on that exact property.

The flames of Ignirn's unquenchable fire contained within Nus's mana orb clashed with Mirtus's nature, ripping and shattering everything around it as it spread.

"Graaaah!!"

"Damn it! My body... my body...!"

The massive blaze turned the surroundings into a hellscape in an instant.

"Kyakyakya! Beg for your pathetic lives like the worms you are beneath my feet, you worthless trash!!"

Nus cackled with delight, hurling mana orb after mana orb.

Anyone could see that Nus was buzzing with excitement, like a kid ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on a high.

Perfect. Nus is the best for showing off.

This should get the message across to Ignirn loud and clear.

'The treasure you've been searching for so desperately? It's in my hands now.'

"Get ready to fight."

With Nus rampaging like a madman, seizing the moment, it was time to prepare for the real battle.

"Isn't this gonna wipe out their main force?"

"These aren't the main force. Now we fight the humans. Did you see them holed up in the sanctuary?"

"...I've never even seen this sanctuary before."

"Oh, right."

As Jeonghyeon and the group geared up for combat, a familiar presence stirred behind them.

"You... humans...?"

A familiar language.

The first human they'd encountered since arriving in Afraksas, Ignirn's awakener.

And the high-rank hunter who'd turned this sanctuary into a strategic stronghold.

It was Garibaldi.

"Ha... Of all people, I had to run into you."

Jeonghyeon's face twisted in frustration.

Of all people, Garibaldi.

Ignirn's awakener was the last person anyone would suspect—cold, rational, righteous, and deeply respected.

Jeonghyeon, Serin, and countless other ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hunters had grown stronger under his guidance.

Forgotten in his memories, but the man who'd trusted and supported him the most: Garibaldi. His eyes blazed with crimson fire, as if receiving a revelation from Ignirn.

"Traitors to humanity... Demon King's minions... Die!!"

He charged at Jeonghyeon, radiating pure hostility.

***

"To betray humanity like this! And you call yourselves...! Do you even know how many humans have died because of you?!"

Garibaldi swung his greatsword at Philip and Jeonghu, his words dripping with righteous fury.

Extinction Greatsword Garibaldi.

Each swing of the massive blade—fitting his epithet—sent Ignirn's flames sparking through the air.

"Nngh...!"

Even with resistance to Ignirn's mana, the density of his power was enough to inflict real damage.

On top of that, Philip and Jeonghu, synced with Jeonghyeon's inner turmoil, couldn't fight back properly.

They merely blocked Garibaldi's advancing strikes.

Spotting their hesitation, Garibaldi scowled deeply.

"You bastards... Can't bring yourselves to kill a fellow human even now?! After siding with the Demon King and betraying us?! It's an insult to true warriors!"

"Th-that's not...!"

Philip was losing ground in raw strength.

Garibaldi's weapon wasn't a mana stone weapon or an Epic Weapon.

Yet Philip was being overpowered purely on physical might—a testament to the gap in their skills.

The caliber of a powerhouse who'd climbed the Tower on his own and crossed into Afraksas was simply too high.

"Jeonghyeon-nim! What do we do?!"

Jeonghu, still clinging to reason, glanced at Jeonghyeon, but he remained lost in thought.

Do I... really have to kill Garibaldi and move on...?

He couldn't kill him.

No—he didn't want to.

Considering the influence he'd have on countless hunters ahead, it made strategic sense to keep him alive.

Damn it...!

"What the hell am I supposed to do...?"

His mind was a mess.

If only someone would show up and give him the answer.

If being the Demon King meant slaughtering even his former comrades, what meaning was there in killing Malekith afterward?

Flowers blooming from sacrifices soaked in blood always took on that same crimson hue.

How the hell do I...!

In that moment, something flashed through Jeonghyeon's mind.

"Quest...!"

Main quest. He hadn't received one yet.

Quests adjusted to his level, so if killing Garibaldi was truly necessary, one would appear.

If there was a way to spare him, he'd abandon the sub-quest in a heartbeat.

With that resolve, Jeonghyeon unlocked the quest.

"Quest. Complete."

Good... Hurry...!

Furious Garibaldi closed in on Jeonghyeon, greatsword raised.

Even Philip and Jeonghu's defenses had limits.

Give me an answer, fast!

But as if Malekith were mocking him—"Have I been too lenient?"—a new set of choices appeared before Jeonghyeon.

It felt like a push toward the tyrant path.

The rewards were overwhelmingly tempting.

80,000 Demon King Points, plus mana stone comprehension and Epic Weapon stat boosts.

This would undoubtedly apply to his dominated subordinates who shared his mana.

And above all...

Malekith's stats sharply decline...?

Words that struck right at Jeonghyeon's core goal.

Anyone would pick the latter. For the sake of revenge.

The Jo family had been purged despite being human. Surely Ignirn's awakeners had done evil too?

No—in his previous life, none of the dragon awakeners were innocent.

Just close his eyes, make one different choice, and he'd become an unprecedented powerhouse.

That fucking bastard...

But Jeonghyeon didn't waver.

Instead, a deep-seated loathing for Malekith boiled up from his chest.

Did you think my revenge against you was that cheap?

This was the root of Jeonghyeon's hatred for Malekith—the reason he'd crawl back to life and walk the Demon King's path just to kill him.

A war for mutual survival? He could stomach that.

Like humans invading and devouring other creatures—a natural cycle.

But Malekith always saw lives beneath him, delighting in their desperate struggles, just like this choice.

Humans begging pathetically for life, dying in agony. Even forcing the last survivor, Jeonghyeon, to witness their fates.

And now, he was probably watching from behind, savoring Jeonghyeon's decision.

Go on, with this immense power, will you kill me? What'll you choose?

But those words reignited his long-forgotten enmity toward Malekith.

I'll never compromise, you piece of shit.

Without hesitation, Jeonghyeon chose the first option.

"Hey, Garibaldi!!"

His voice, empowered by the fresh surge ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of Demon King mana from the quest, boomed unintentionally.

"?!"

Garibaldi paused, stunned—not just by how Jeonghyeon knew his name, but by the sheer authority in his tone. He halted his sword.

"We come on behalf of the Rock Dwarves and Uldran's awakeners to clear up this misunderstanding."

Garibaldi snorted derisively.

"And that's why you invade a sacred dragon's sanctuary and slaughter its minions?"

"Didn't you do the same? Hunted Uldran's awakeners to the end, kept trying to wipe out his cherished Rock Dwarves."

"..."

Garibaldi's mouth clamped shut.

It was true, after all.

"You gain one, you lose one. Isn't that one of your favorite sayings?"

Jeonghyeon took a step toward Garibaldi.

He neither raised his sword nor showed any sign of fleeing.

"We want just one thing."

Jeonghyeon's finger pointed to the ceiling of Ignirn's sanctuary.

"Tell ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ignirn: Never attack the Rock Dwarves again."

"Why should I?"

"Because I've got Elkalabi's treasure that Ignirn wanted."

To prove it, flames of Ignirn's mana erupted from Jeonghyeon's hand—pure, vivid, though not as refined as Garibaldi's.

"My God... You actually consumed it...?"

"Yeah."

"What were you thinking?"

"To show Ignirn he has nothing left to want."

"Do you even know what that means?"

"At least that I've gained power all dragons would envy."

In their tense back-and-forth, Garibaldi let out a hollow laugh, shaking his head with wide eyes.

"No. That's not it."

Then, approaching Jeonghyeon slowly, he grimaced and spoke.

"It means Uldran will brainwash you soon."

"...What?"

Garibaldi continued, calm yet sharp.

"Uldran killed Elkalabi out of his own greed. Then he manipulated Elkalabi's minions, the Rock Dwarves, to pass that power to his awakeners."

"Uldran isn't a Flame Dragon (Yeongryong) who wields fire. He's a Mind Dragon (Nyeongryong) who controls thoughts and brainwashing."