Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Chapter 36 - Dragon Burst #2
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The Hecatoncheires attacked the Divine Beasts to bolster the Wild Hunt.
They struck almost simultaneously, committing full force so that none of them had time to warn the others.
For the Eastern Azure Dragon Yerang, who was not yet a proper Divine Beast, they sent only a few lesser dragonkin along with a low-tier dragonkin. But for the fully mature Northern Black Tortoise, they dispatched mid-tier dragonkin skilled in combat.
"Indeed, it seems we were right."
Mid-tier dragonkin Anes narrowed her eyes as she spoke.
She had originally been assigned to eliminate the Southern Vermilion Bird and had already completed her mission, but she was still wandering the ocean depths because of the mid-tier dragonkin right beside her.
Mid-tier dragonkin Kaliot.
He had been sent into the Sea God Cave to eliminate the Northern Black Tortoise. With his shark-like serrated teeth, he giggled as he spoke.
"I told you we wouldn't be wrong. How honest they are. They're still happy to help, aren't they?"
Kaliot's massive left arm, covered in rock-like muscles, had several human faces embedded in it.
They were all the retainers who had served the Northern Black Tortoise.
"Doesn't it sound like they're begging to be killed?"
Though only faces remained, the Northern Black Tortoise's retainers were all still alive.
Anes furrowed her brow in horror, and Kaliot giggled again.
"That's exactly why we have to keep them alive. They can't even scream without lungs, but isn't it fun just looking at their faces?"
"You mad bastard."
Contempt flickered in Anes's eyes, and Kaliot shuddered with ecstasy, delighted.
"Anes, one day I'll embed your face in my right hand. So I can see that look in your eyes whenever I want."
There was sincerity in Kaliot's voice.
Among the dragonkin who inherited the blood of the demon dragon Helcanes, some occasionally failed to suppress their lineage's madness and became berserk dragons—and Kaliot was one such case.
"If not for Lord Ixion's orders, you'd be dead by now, Kaliot."
"I know. That's why I like you even more. Do you know what your eyes look like when you're forcibly holding back the urge to kill me?"
-Boom!
Anes's fist slammed into Kaliot's face.
The size difference between Kaliot, who stood nearly three meters tall, and Anes was several times over, but even among mid-tier dragonkin, there was a clear gap between them.
Anes was a seventh-generation dragonkin, while Kaliot was eighth-generation.
Though Kaliot possessed the berserk dragons' unique "berserk transformation" ability, it wasn't enough to fully bridge the innate power gap.
If Anes had gone all out, Kaliot's head wouldn't have merely snapped back with blood pouring from his nose and mouth.
And that fact delighted Kaliot once more.
"You're so diligent, Anes."
Even when angry, you hold yourself back.
Anes ignored Kaliot's words and said nothing more.
She only hoped to finish this task quickly and part ways with him.
'Northern Black Tortoise Chaldea.'
The Divine Beasts' combat prowess varied wildly.
Some, like the Western White Tiger, rivaled high-tier dragonkin in strength, while others, like the Eastern Azure Dragon's child, were mere weaklings.
The Northern Black Tortoise Chaldea was a versatile Divine Beast skilled in various divine arts, but its raw combat power wasn't particularly high.
Yet Kaliot had let the Northern Black Tortoise escape.
Perhaps he had deliberately let it go to create a situation like this?
The possibility made Anes feel even more displeased.
Instead of dwelling on it further, she glared straight ahead.
Her eyes, piercing the ocean depths, locked onto the Crystal Palace.
* * *
"We have to escape."
The already pale Northern Black Tortoise's face turned ashen.
The massacre in her home, the Sea God Cave, flashed through her mind.
Her retainers screaming as they were eaten alive, and the massive dragonkin looking down at her with a smile plastered across its face.
The faces embedded in its body, silently wailing.
Just imagining it made her want to vomit.
Suppressing her nausea, the Northern Black Tortoise steadied her breathing.
There was no time for this.
She had to flee as soon as possible.
[Master, two mid-tier dragonkin will arrive at the Crystal Palace in 1 minute and 41 seconds.]
Dozens of red dots swarmed toward the Crystal Palace on the map projected before Luther.
They were the small lesser dragonkin following behind the mid-tier dragonkin.
"Northern Black Tortoise, is there somewhere we can escape to?"
The Northern Black Tortoise wasn't in any condition to fight now.
Even Luther alone couldn't take on two mid-tier dragonkin, so evasion was the best option here.
At Luther's question, the Northern Black Tortoise brushed back her sweat-matted hair and replied.
"There's a heavenly waterway not far from here. We can shake them off through there."
Her original plan had been to flee with Rang-i using the heavenly waterway.
The Crystal Palace was merely a temporary stop.
[If it's the heavenly waterway, are you referring to the Submarine Tunnel?]
Probably so.
But it wasn't important right now.
"Let's hurry."
Without warning, Luther reached out and scooped up the wheezing Northern Black Tortoise.
"W-What are you doing?!"
"We need to move fast!"
At Luther's sharp command, the Northern Black Tortoise flinched, bit her lip slightly, and nodded.
[Her blushing face is a bit irritating, but let's get going!]
[1 minute 13 seconds until arrival!]
"Schwarz!"
At Luther's call, Schwarz came running.
Mina, with Rang-i strapped to her back in a cloth carrier, also rushed to Luther. The Northern Black Tortoise spoke again.
"To the jade throne. I'll open the door to the outside."
Luther nodded and headed straight for the crystal throne.
[The mid-tier dragonkin's movements have stopped.]
[They seem to be examining the Crystal Palace from outside for the moment.]
It was at that moment that Integra spoke.
"Put me down. I'll take Rang-i and Mina and flee to the white sands."
Luther couldn't immediately grasp what the Northern Black Tortoise meant, but he set her down as requested.
The white sands wrapped around the Northern Black Tortoise's neck and waist then leaped into the air, instantly transforming into a massive twin-headed serpent dozens of meters long.
[The law of mass conservation is missing again today, as always...]
As Integra muttered unwittingly, the twin-headed serpent opened its maw wide and swallowed not only the seated Northern Black Tortoise but also Mina with Rang-i on her back.
"Hurry."
The Northern Black Tortoise's voice emanated from the right head of the serpent that had swallowed her.
Amid the surreal scene, Luther felt a slight dizziness but explained the outside situation.
"If we go out like this, we'll run into them. Is there a back door or something?"
"I already opened the door leading to the floor. Moreover, the Crystal Palace's spirit servants will attack them right after we leave."
She had her own escape plan, it seemed.
Luther nodded once and mounted Schwarz.
"Just in case, I'll go first."
"Make haste."
[Aqua Beetle! Launching!]
As soon as Schwarz carrying Luther passed through the hole, it shifted into Aqua Beetle form.
As the Northern Black Tortoise had said, it was a door leading to the base of the Crystal Palace—underwater cliffs flanked both sides, and an endless black abyss yawned below.
And it was right then.
"Guaaaaa!"
Turtle-shaped spirit servants poured out from the sunken-ship-shaped Crystal Palace.
Integra, observing from another angle via drone, spoke quickly.
[The mid-tier dragonkin have spotted the spirit servants.]
[Combat will begin soon—]
-Boom!
A massive explosion that shook the surrounding area cut off Integra's words.
The startled Luther looked up just as the twin-headed serpent emerging from the hole spoke again in the Northern Black Tortoise's voice.
[We'll use suicide attacks to buy time.]
[Flee while they're distracted by the explosions.]
Before Luther could respond to the voice in his head, another explosion rang out.
All the dispatched turtle spirit servants were essentially living bombs.
[Octopuses and baros around the Crystal Palace are thrashing in panic from the explosions.]
[This is our chance to slip away.]
The plan seemed to be working, so Luther accelerated the Aqua Beetle in sync with the explosions, descending toward the floor. The Northern Black Tortoise's twin-headed serpent followed behind him.
If they kept going just a bit further like this, they could shake off the mid-tier dragonkin.
But it was too soon for relief.
"You're there."
It was a voice that shouldn't have been audible, but Luther heard it clearly.
Moreover, when he instinctively turned his head, he even felt their eyes meet.
Mid-tier dragonkin Anes.
Her demonic eyes, piercing even the abyss, had locked onto Luther.
[Master! Incoming!]
-Boom! Boom! Boom!
The turtle spirit servants exploded in succession, forming a barrage of fire, but it was futile.
Kaliot used his massive arms as shields to plow through the explosions, while Anes's magic unleashed a powerful shockwave that not only neutralized the blasts but hurled the spirit servants back toward the Crystal Palace.
The lesser dragonkin behind them also hurled themselves not at the Crystal Palace but toward the area below it.
[Urk?!]
Feeling Anes's demonic eyes as well, the Northern Black Tortoise accelerated the twin-headed serpent, but there was a limit.
At this rate, they'd be caught from behind soon enough.
"Go on ahead!"
Thus, Luther made his decision.
If they fled together, they'd both be caught in the end.
Better for one to stay and buy time.
[Master?!]
As Luther turned Schwarz around, Integra cried out almost like a scream, but he didn't stop.
Staring straight at the incoming mid-tier dragonkin—Anes and Kaliot—he spoke quickly.
"We need to buy time."
Simply drawing their attention wasn't enough.
He had to ensure none of them could pursue the Northern Black Tortoise.
At Luther's declaration, Integra swallowed a gasp.
She wanted to yell at him not to talk nonsense and just run, but there was no time for that.
[Master is such an idiot!]
[Firing 60mm cannon!]
Integra carried out the resentful order and command in succession. At the end of her shout, a massive shell launched from the cannon mounted on the Aqua Beetle's underside.
[Brace for impact!]
Luther pulled the control stick to raise the Aqua Beetle's nose while flooring the accelerator to boost speed.
Meanwhile, the straight-flying shell streaked like an arrow and exploded right in front of Kaliot's eyes.
-Kwahaa!
Even underwater, an enormous boom erupted.
With seven embedded scrolls, a ferocious magical storm engulfed the mid-tier dragonkin and lesser dragonkin.
But he couldn't let his guard down.
Riding out the relentless shockwaves on the Aqua Beetle, Luther drew Clairheim Morr and turned toward the epicenter.
[Life signs detected— Master!]
At the same moment as Integra's scream, something sharp hurtled toward Luther's face.
At a speed unimaginable underwater, Luther chose counterattack over evasion.
"Integra!"
[Star Blade!]
Luther and Integra's voices overlapped, and the ultra-vibrating blade sharply sliced the incoming object.
Only then did Luther clearly identify what it was.
A claw.
A blade at the end of a tentacle as thick as an arm.
Even shattered by Clairheim Morr, the claw's momentum kept it advancing. Luther took it in and immediately looked ahead again.
A massive fist was incoming.
"Kahaha!"
It was Kaliot's fist.
Luther wrenched the control stick and tilted his body sharply, toppling the Aqua Beetle. It was to dive under Kaliot, who was flying like a living cannonball while swinging his fist.
-Shweee!
And so it did.
Barely dodging Kaliot's fist, Luther and the Aqua Beetle slid past in a crossing path, and at that instant, Integra shouted.
[Micro missiles, firing!]
-Kwagaga!
Micro missiles launched from the Aqua Beetle pummeled Kaliot at point-blank range.
All underwater missiles were depleted, so only land-based ones remained, but the extreme proximity ensured perfect hits.
-Boom! Boom! Boom!
The scrolls inside the micro missiles detonated, blanketing Kaliot in cold, explosions, and flames.
The momentary flames engulfing him underwater created a fantastical sight, but Luther had no time to admire it.
Because in Luther's eyes, as he righted the tilted Aqua Beetle, appeared the golden-haired dragonkin—Anes.
"Luther Lightseeker!"
Even underwater, Anes's voice rang clear.
Luther knew her.
The Golden Witch he would encounter not only in the eastern but also the northern sectors!
"Integra!"
Just a call, but Integra grasped what Luther wanted.
Without hesitation, she activated Star Blade once more.
[Countdown!]
[8!]
[7!]
As the timer ticked down, Luther yanked the control stick with his left hand while swinging Clairheim Morr with his right.
His target wasn't the Golden Witch.
It was the remote weapons she controlled.
Anes preferred fighting with numerous remote weapons rather than direct combat, especially underwater where they could strike from unknown angles at any moment, wearing down foes over time.
But Luther had already memorized her general patterns.
With Integra's assistance, he didn't just see the surroundings—he captured them perfectly.
-Boom! Boom! Boom!
Clairheim Morr smashed the remote weapons in succession.
Anes's eyes widened in surprise at Luther's lightning-fast maneuvers—performed while riding a mount, no less. After cleaving the third remote weapon, Luther spun his body sharply once more.
[2!]
[1!]
[0!]
As Star Blade's duration ended, the six tentacles Kaliot had sent from behind to strike Luther were all severed.
But this time, they didn't just sever cleanly.
Red blood erupted from the cross-sections like explosions, obscuring Luther's vision.
So Luther immediately closed his eyes.
To detect the enemy using the nanosuit and Aqua Beetle's sensors instead of sight.
But switching consciousness took just a fraction of a second.
And Kaliot exploited that fleeting gap.
-Boom!
A massive fist smashed into the Aqua Beetle.
Luther sensed the blood-mist-shattering punch at the last instant and pulled the stick to raise the nose, blocking it with the floor—but it wasn't enough.
Under Kaliot's immense strength, Luther and the Aqua Beetle were hurled backward at terrifying speed.
"Urk!"
[Aqua Beetle damage is severe!]
[Activating self-repair!]
[Master! Watch out!]
The moment Luther stowed Clairheim Morr and gripped the controls with both hands to right the spinning Aqua Beetle.
Anes's remote weapon plummeted like lightning toward Luther's head.
"Argh!"
Luther twisted desperately, but he couldn't fully evade the remote weapon.
The blade-like remote weapon sliced through his right shoulder.
A normal sword would have bounced off the nanosuit, but the intensely heated blade tore through the suit and half-severed Luther's right arm.
[Administering painkillers!]
[Starting self-healing!]
The extreme heat cauterized the wound—no blood flowed.
But with the flesh seared, recovery would be difficult.
He'd likely have to forgo using his right arm for a while.
[We need to buy time!]
[Detonating auxiliary parts!]
It was extreme, but there was no choice.
To gain even a moment from the remote weapons and Kaliot's tentacles about to pounce, Integra detached about half the parts attached to the Aqua Beetle and detonated them in a bullet-hell barrage.
[The lesser dragonkin are moving toward the direction the Northern Black Tortoise fled.]
[Kaliot is heading toward the Northern Black Tortoise—]
That was it.
Luther maneuvered the Aqua Beetle straight toward the lesser dragonkin and Kaliot.
It wasn't reckless.
Luther still had one final plan.
"I knew you'd come!"
Kaliot spun around and thrust his tentacles at Luther.
Over ten tentacles sprouting from his back surged toward Luther, who dodged them with acrobatic high-speed maneuvers.
"Integra! Get ready! Diving in!"
Luther plunged the Aqua Beetle into the swarm of small lesser dragonkin heading toward the Northern Black Tortoise's direction.
Anes immediately ordered the lesser dragonkin to scatter, while Kaliot lashed out with tentacles regardless.
And in that instant.
Before the lesser dragonkin could fully react, Luther gripped the controls and shouted.
"Integra! Now!"
[Pikapika!]
An enormous bolt of electricity discharged from the Aqua Beetle.
The lightning from all three of Luther's dragon hearts conducted through the water, engulfing the entire swarm of lesser dragonkin.
[Output reduced to 20%.]
[Aqua Beetle damage is severe.]
[Right arm repair remaining: 1 hour, 20 minutes, 12 seconds.]
Bad news, but the results were ample.
Nearly the entire swarm of lesser dragonkin floated belly-up, and even Kaliot and Anes at some distance took damage.
Luther caught his breath behind his visor and assessed the situation.
He checked the Northern Black Tortoise's no-longer-visible position via the pre-attached drone and immediately turned the controls.
"Let's bounce!"
[Finally!]
Integra let out a cry mixed with relief, cheers, and anxiety as Luther and the Aqua Beetle pooled all remaining power for an emergency escape.
-Kwagaga!
It was a terrifying speed hard to imagine underwater.
The Aqua Beetle shot past the lesser dragonkin swarm and even Anes in an instant, charging in the exact opposite direction of the Northern Black Tortoise.
Anes turned to look at Luther.
Her limbs tingled, but she could pursue.
However, her original order from Ixion was to track the Northern Black Tortoise.
"Luther, Luther Lightseeker."
She had confirmed it upon seeing him wield Clairheim Morr—one of the seven apocalyptic deities from beyond the stars.
She couldn't let the one with a critical injury to his right arm escape like this.
"Kaliot!"
At Anes's call, Kaliot cackled maniacally and sprang into motion.
As if he already knew what she wanted, he rocketed toward Luther's direction.
Kaliot would pursue the injured Luther.
Anes herself would track the Northern Black Tortoise.
With her mind set, Anes gave Luther and Kaliot's retreating figures one last glance before charging south after the fleeing Northern Black Tortoise.