Chapter 119
Chapter 119
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Chapter 39 - Night #3
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The night was never short.
Luther, racing toward the east, lifted his head to gaze at the night sky.
The two moons that had risen in the west seemed like they would need far too much time to set.
[Master, we've put some distance between us and the dark blue monsters, but it looks like they're still pursuing.]
Luther nodded at Integra's report, relayed through the drone he'd left behind.
Vallian.
It was the name of the black-haired dragonkin holding the mirror.
In the original game, Dragon Hunter Origin, he was a low-tier dragonkin who appeared in the northern arc, tormenting the northern arc's protagonist, Reinhardt, throughout the early stages as a formidable foe.
‘And now that guy shows up in the eastern arc.’
Moreover, events like the dark blue monsters raiding the plains didn't exist in the original eastern arc.
That left only one conclusion.
‘They're deploying more forces than in the original.’
The consecutive failures in the west and south had clearly compelled the Hecatoncheires to pour even more resources into the east.
In the original story, the Hecatoncheires didn't step in fully until the latter half of the northern arc.
But at this rate, their forces might reveal themselves even before the northern arc began.
‘The difficulty is ramping up.’
Truth be told, he'd been prepared for it.
He'd never expected the Hecatoncheires to stick to the original script despite their string of failures.
Luther continued running while piecing his thoughts together.
Focusing not on the distant future but on the immediate events, he spoke to himself and Integra.
‘Vallian.’
A Dragon Tamer who fought using his tamed hatchling dragons rather than his own power.
As a low-tier dragonkin, he was no match for Luther one-on-one.
But right now, the bastard was commanding those dark blue monsters.
Night beasts immune to physical attacks that drained the life force of the living.
‘Their origin is probably the Illusion Mirror.’
The mirror Vallian held was identical to the image of the Illusion Mirror shown by the Northern Xuanwu.
So if it truly was the Illusion Mirror, its power went beyond merely opening a gate to the Land of the Yellow Dragon.
[A mirror that reflects other worlds... no, one that creates a pathway to them?]
That seemed likely.
And if so, another question arose.
‘Why did Vallian secure the Illusion Mirror?’
Pathetically, if it was just to control the dark blue monsters, that would be fortunate.
Because if their goal was the Land of the Yellow Dragon, then the Yellow Dragon's Shrine Maiden was in danger.
[Master, for the time being, I think the Illusion Mirror itself is likely their primary target.]
The wild elves had learned of the dark blue monsters just three days ago.
Factoring in the time it took for an exhausted centaur to reach their territory, the centaurs had probably fallen under the monsters' control at least five days prior—and at that point, even the Sacred Beasts hadn't been attacked yet.
Of course, it was only a day or two's difference, but given how the Hecatoncheires had deliberately struck the Sacred Beasts simultaneously, it was unlikely they'd targeted only the Yellow Dragon's Shrine Maiden early.
“Hoo.”
Luther closed his eyes briefly and caught his breath.
It was urgent, but for now, finding a way to repel Vallian and his pursuers took priority.
Enemies immune to physical attacks.
Foes that could only be countered by the power of the sun.
He couldn't strike them directly, but he could induce them to clash among themselves.
Having sorted the conditions, Luther checked his distance from Vallian via drone once more, then slightly slowed his pace.
It was because of the centaur running alongside him.
[Planning to talk it out?]
He had to.
The centaur might hold information Luther didn't.
‘I can shake off Vallian easily enough. But with him holding the Illusion Mirror, just running away blindly isn't the best move.’
He needed to strike at Vallian and seize the Illusion Mirror.
And for that, he required more intel.
As Luther slowed, the centaur naturally matched his speed.
[He looks utterly exhausted.]
[Estimated he's been running for hours even before linking up with Master.]
Even a sturdy centaur would tire.
Drenched in sweat from head to hoof, he glanced back once, then pointed to a ruined stone building far ahead.
“Shall we... ha... rest... heh... for a bit?”
Nodding at the centaur's gasp, on the verge of collapse, Luther headed to the stone building first.
No life signs detected, but given the enemy, he didn't skip preemptive drone scouting.
“Haa... ha...”
Entering the stone building, the centaur emptied his waterskin in seconds before collapsing in place.
Luther took a seat facing him and waited for him to recover.
“Allow me to reintroduce myself. You are Archangel Luther Lightseeker, Executor Rank 12 of the Holy Knight Order, Steel Knight Arus.”
Luther pondered correcting him on the “Archangel” bit but decided it wasn't the time and focused elsewhere.
Steel Knight Arus.
An executor mentioned by name in the original but never appearing, presumed to shine in the central arc's finale.
Executors were meant to hide their identities, but he apparently saw no need with an angel like Luther.
“I'm Luther Lightseeker. And this is the spirit, Integra.”
[Hello, Arus.]
Integra activated her hologram in sync with Luther's intro, giving a slight curtsy. Arus nodded in admiration.
“Just as the rumors say. It's truly an honor to meet you.”
Noel, the Sky Knight from Malkuth Kingdom, had called Luther an ‘angel’ but without much reverence. Arus was different.
His eyes sparkled with awe, every word and gesture laced with respect.
[This is probably the normal reaction, right?]
[Ash treats Master similarly to Arus.]
Luther agreed.
Even if he wasn't an angel of the Seven Great Gods forming the Sword Angels and the bedrock of the Holy Knight Order, he was still an angel from the heavens.
So why had Noel acted that way?
Was it just her prickly personality, or something else?
‘Not the time.’
Luther shook his head to clear it and refocused on Arus.
“Arus, can you explain what happened?”
At Luther's question, Arus furrowed his brow.
“Truthfully, I don't know the exact details. I was on leave visiting home when it had already happened.”
Slumping his shoulders, he listed what he knew, and Integra organized it.
[Suspected origin: Windmane Tribe village.]
[Not just nocturnal—they vanish completely by day and only appear at night. Captivated centaurs behave the same.]
[One dark blue monster late to return inside, exposed to sunlight, turned to stone.]
[They don't stay in one place, roaming the Wind Plains.]
Weak to the sun, yet they don't appear at all during daylight when it rises.
“They seem affected by magic or holy power... but unfortunately, I'm not a divine magic specialist. This holy relic that amplifies light was my only counter.”
What Arus pulled from his chest was a fist-sized faceted gem, used to amplify holy power or light, as described.
[Master, if Arus is an executor, isn't he a high priest?]
Integra knew high priests like Ash and High Priest Matriel wielded immense holy power.
Even if not a divine magic expert, being this helpless seemed odd.
But Luther shook his head and explained quickly.
‘Arus's stigmata, the Steel Seal, turns its bearer's body to steel. So the Holy Knight Order trained him as a pure physical combatant.’
That was why his name came up so often despite never appearing in the original.
Arus was one of the top executors in raw hand-to-hand combat.
[Then he's useless for now.]
Against dark blue monsters immune to all physical attacks.
Harsh, but true.
“I've requested reinforcements from the Holy Knight Order, but... the entire plains might be swallowed before they arrive. Or the monsters might leave for elsewhere.”
Luther nodded gravely at Arus's worried tone, sorting his thoughts once more.
Then, as if on cue, Integra turned west.
[Master, they're approaching.]
The night beasts led by Vallian.
Dawn still far off.
The Illusion Mirror and the Land of the Yellow Dragon.
Steel in his resolve, Luther stood.
* * *
Vallian was a low-tier dragonkin.
But among them, he was a ninth-generation with the thickest Helcanes bloodline, and he possessed a special ability others lacked.
Overwhelming control over hatchling dragons.
The reason he'd been chosen for this mission.
The night beasts summoned by the Illusion Mirror weren't hatchling dragons, but through a special contract spell and a magic tool crafted by the second-generation high-tier dragonkin Ixion himself, he could exert some dominance.
‘I am special.’
Not an ordinary low-tier dragonkin.
Born with rare talent, acknowledged by none other than Lord Ixion.
This very power was proof of his uniqueness.
Vallian looked around.
The dark blue monsters surrounding and advancing with him looked like thick, massive fog.
A horde that was one and many.
Otherworldly beasts immune to physical attacks, draining the living's vitality, capable of bewitching minds.
Clutching the Illusion Mirror, Vallian thought of one man.
Luther Lightseeker.
The one who foiled upper-tier dragonkin Jenadu's plan in the west, then crushed upper-tier Iclusia's in the south.
Lowliest like Valboa or Astra weren't worth mentioning, but already two mid-tier dragonkin had fallen to him.
‘But I'm different.’
A low-tier who could defeat what even mid-tiers couldn't.
If he subdued the one who'd bested upper-tiers repeatedly and offered him to Ixion, what might happen?
No—what reward?
Elevation of bloodline to mid-tier... or even upper-tier?
Smiling as he hugged the Illusion Mirror, Vallian couldn't stop grinning at the prey in his grasp.
‘Report Luther Lightseeker's location immediately.’
Mid-tier Anes's order, ignored.
He'd report after subduing him.
If Anes interfered now, his achievement might vanish.
‘Where are you, where?’
His sinister smile turned to impatience.
Thus, he recalled the method from the centaurs' village.
An easy way to halt fleeing centaurs.
Force bewitchered centaurs to suicide horrifically.
Threaten that more would die if they didn't stop.
Incredible.
Knowing they'd end the same if they stopped, yet when women, children, loved ones were made to kill themselves, they halted anyway.
Begging idiotically not to.
Luther Lightseeker was an angel, like that loathsome Sword Angel.
He couldn't ignore centaurs and elves.
Satisfied with his scheme, Vallian smirked and gestured.
To put the bewitchered centaurs and elves at the front.
But then—
Luther came into view.
In the wide plains' center, astride his steel black horse, staring straight at Vallian.
“You mad bastard.”
It was deep night.
To dragonkin eyes, Luther used only the most basic spells.
What madness made him step out like this?
‘Ah, could it be?’
One action from the wild elves' village.
His one way to fight the night beasts.
“Fool, come try if you dare.”
Grinning nonstop, Vallian thrust the mirror forward with both hands.
The night beasts surged toward Luther.
No sound.
But the dark blue fog blanketing the plains like a storm was chilling.
Arus, watching from afar as night beasts and Luther clashed, clasped his hands in prayer.
Luther drew breath.
When the night beasts reached a set distance, he launched Schwarz, transformed into Sky Beetle.
“Go!”
Luther acted as Vallian predicted.
Luring the night beasts at a razor-thin distance to follow him.
‘Collision.’
What Luther aimed for.
Lead a swarm of night beasts, then barrel-roll to crash them into Vallian.
Vallian laughed, playing along with the idiotic plan.
Hundreds of night beasts chased Luther into the sky.
[Master!]
Luther yanked the controls.
Soaring high with the beasts in tow, he abruptly dove toward the ground, hurtling at Vallian.
“Kiyaaaaaaa!”
Hundreds of night beasts pursued.
Vallian laughed again.
Bellowed in hysteria.
Luther, Luther Lightseeker.
An angel with a pure, empty head?
Hoping to fall for such an obvious trap—utter fool.
Charge at Vallian, swerve skyward sharply, momentum carries beasts into him.
“Khukukuku... Kahahaha!”
Idiot. Fool.
That would never happen!
Vallian aimed the mirror at Luther.
New night beasts erupted from it like geysers.
Those chasing Luther spread wide, enveloping the area and encircling him.
Beasts charging head-on.
All sides, including behind, packed with them.
Luther's plan failed utterly.
But in that instant, just before colliding with the oncoming beasts, Luther smiled.
Integra beamed brightly too.
Low-tier dragonkin Vallian.
Vainglorious and vile.
Loved turning others' plans against them.
Thus, this strategy.
[Master!]
As Integra shouted, Luther thrust his left hand forward.
Arus's holy relic.
But different now.
The light-amplifying relic contained golden solar power.
“Light!”
At Luther's shout, light exploded.
Exposed to the immense brilliance, night beasts screamed and recoiled; those charging head-on scattered like mist.
The Sunstone stored in Clairheim Morr.
The most valuable treasure from Baros Auction House!
“Kraaak!”
Blinded by the frontal light burst, Vallian reflexively shut his eyes and turned away.
Unimaginable from his perspective.
But the cost was immense.
Trying to counter Luther's plan had drawn him right into close range.
“Kraaak, kuh...”
After the solar flash.
Vallian forced his eyes open and looked ahead.
But no light, no beasts, not even Luther.
Only a massive fist.
Luther's right hand, fitted with the Power Fist, smashed into Vallian's face.