Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Flower Language of the Winter Flower is Salvation (5)
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The closer we got to Frost Dragon Pers's lair, the more an intense chill seemed to envelop my entire body.
Even with my frost resistance, it felt inexplicably cold.
"Everyone okay? Not too cold?"
Karin, Lucas, and Bergil, who were following behind, all nodded to show they were fine.
Of course. Bergil and Lucas were mages, so they could block out the cold with magic.
The real concern was Karin, who hadn't yet reached frost resistance.
Though... Bergil doted on his granddaughter so much that he'd naturally cast a temperature regulation spell on her.
"That said, the atmosphere has changed quite a bit. It's very different from the last time I was here."
Bergil stepped up beside me, looking around curiously.
"Looks like the Frost Dragon redecorated or something."
"...You think so? I don't sense any mana."
Bergil stroked the ice crystals embedded in the cave walls, sounding puzzled.
Well, dragons were creatures that cared a lot about appearances, so it wasn't that strange.
"...We're getting close now."
The deeper we ventured into the cave, the more powerful the mana emanating from within became.
Now that we were nearly there, it rivaled Bergil's own. A dragon was a dragon, even if decayed.
"Insolent humans. You dare set foot in a dragon's lair."
Just as the Frost Dragon's mana intensified...
A massive roar that shook the entire cave echoed through.
The voice carried an overwhelming dignity that could force humans to their knees on sight alone, laced with arrogance that looked down on all existence.
"An ice lizard that can talk... How fascinating."
The easiest way to provoke a dragon was simple.
Crush that feeble pride of theirs.
Do that, and dragons would lose control in a fit of rage.
The Dragon Lord among the ones I'd hunted before was the same.
"Kieeeek!!! Blasphemous wretch! How dare you mock with that pathetic voice!!!"
⚔ DRAGON ROAR ⚔ A deafening boom assaulted our ears, and countless sky-blue magic circles materialized in the air ahead in the cave.
From the feel of it, dragon magic equivalent to about 8th circle.
Neither I nor Bergil would have trouble with it, but it was plenty threatening to Lucas or Karin.
"Oh ho. Freezing magic, eh? Fitting for a Frost Dragon."
In that brief moment, Bergil smirked as if he'd already analyzed it just from the circles.
True to his even worse taste in mischief than mine, he extended a hand toward Pers in the distance.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Dispel Mana dispersion - All enemy spells nullified
The moment Bergil uttered the word, the countless strands of mana in the cave converged on his hand.
—Kagagagang!!!!
And in an instant.
The numerous blue magic circles unfolding ahead shattered into countless fragments with a sound like breaking glass.
Just like glass crumbling under physical force.
"...Bergil!!"
Whether because his magic had been dispelled, fury and murderous intent poured from the voice.
Well, having your spell read and dismantled was the greatest shame for any mage.
Even for a Frost Dragon wielding freezing magic.
"To think a dragon uses such shoddy magic. Allow me to show you what true magic is."
Ignoring the Curse of the Useless Flesh, Bergil nonchalantly drew a magic circle in the air.
It resembled the Frost Dragon's in color and shape, but the aura was utterly different.
The previous one hadn't triggered my instincts as dangerous, but the circle manifesting behind Bergil now felt entirely otherwise.
A sensation that even I would take damage if I let it hit.
A moment where I truly felt Bergil was one of the Seven Stars, like me.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Ice Thunder Freezing lightning barrage - 9th Circle equivalent
The moment Bergil swung his hand down, ice lightning formed from the circle.
And just as it was about to crash toward Pers in the distance...
—Puk.
An ominous sound came from right behind.
"Guhk!? Lu... cas..."
Turning around revealed Bergil, stabbed in the back while defenseless mid-cast, and Lucas smirking as he drove the blade deeper.
And Karin watching them both with expressionless eyes.
"Please die, Bergil."
Lucas bid farewell in a voice utterly unlike his usual fake high tone, then kicked the impaled Bergil away.
As the blade pulled free from his body, fresh red blood sprayed, and Bergil thudded to the ground.
A pathetic sight utterly unworthy of one of the Seven Stars, the Archmage of Extremes.
"This is what happens because you sent Karin to be Yuri's disciple. You know that, right?"
Showing the ultimate filial impiety to his own grandfather, Lucas swept Karin into a tight embrace.
A distance far too close for mere blood kin.
Gazing at the utterly lifeless Karin, Lucas grinned wickedly.
A smile far from his usual fake one—purely demonic, utterly evil.
"And Yuri? If you hadn't insisted on coming to subjugate the Frost Dragon, none of this would have happened."
"What bullshit."
"I assume you've realized by now, but even you can't handle both the Frost Dragon and me at once, right?"
Lucas turned the blade he'd used on Bergil toward me, and countless black magic circles bloomed behind him.
Decidedly different from Bergil's or the Frost Dragon's—ominous ones.
Magic circles composed of black symbolizing demons.
"No matter that you're a former Sword Saint, you're still just human. Do struggle desperately."
—Wuuung!!
Behind, Pers's dragon word magic unfolded, while ahead, Lucas deployed demonic magic.
A dire pinch, surrounded on all sides.
But I wasn't particularly scared or tense.
This was exactly why I'd come north, why I'd come all this way.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Black chains from Lucas's magic circle and ice spikes from Pers's surged toward Yuri, who held only a single sword.
—Fwoooong!!
Even for a Seven Star like Yuri, it was an attack plenty threatening enough.
Yet Yuri merely curled the corner of his mouth.
"You expect me to just take this? It's slow as hell."
Yuri swung his sword.
—Seogeok!
The blade cleaved the air, and the heavy sword strike infused with its profound principles erased the chains and spikes.
As if they'd never existed.
"...As expected of the Sword Saint. Brushing off 5th hierarchy black magic like it's nothing."
"Well, former Sword Saint."
Mid-exchange, Yuri leaped toward Lucas.
Despite the distance, it closed as if by shrinking the earth.
Lucas maintained his composure as best he could, deploying more magic.
'Still just human... Surely stamina has limits.'
Indeed, in a battle of attrition, the demon Lucas would surely win against a human.
It was just that Yuri transcended human limits, rendering the strategy meaningless.
"Here, take this."
Yuri brought his sword down on Lucas.
A swift, powerful strike that seemed to bisect the air.
If it landed properly, even a demon would be cleaved in half.
"Foolish...!!"
A black curtain unfurled wickedly before Lucas.
A translucent barrier exuding a sinister aura.
Enough to block not just sword strikes but even standard 10th circle mage spells.
High-level defense at the 8th hierarchy of black magic—but still, mere untranscendent magic.
—Seogeok!!
"Wha...!?"
Yuri's blade sliced through the translucent curtain like tofu, then neatly severed Lucas's body from left shoulder to right waist.
"Guaaaaaah!!!!"
Letting out an inhuman scream, Lucas rolled on the ground, abandoning any shred of dignity as the great noble's son.
Yuri sheathed his sword at his waist, his face a mask of bland disappointment.
"What kind of demon is this weak?"
Yuri's assessment of Lucas was brutally harsh.
And rightly so—the demons he and Bergil recalled were those from the Empire's war.
In other words, demons at the Archduke level of the demon realm.
A mere demon baron like Lucas naturally fell short in his eyes.
"By the way, Bergil... If you're watching, how about helping out?"
Yuri's gaze, fixed on Lucas, suddenly whipped toward the man rolling on the ground.
"...Well, you seemed to be enjoying yourself. Though I didn't expect him to be this weak."
His evaluation of Lucas was equally harsh.
Bergil rose to his feet, then lifted the bisected Lucas with gravity magic.
"Anyway, thanks to you, I got my revenge... Appreciate it."
"No big deal between us. If you're grateful, help me out next time I screw up."
"...Deal. I'll look into this guy then."
He presented the floating Lucas's corpse toward me.
Bergil picked up Lucas and headed out of the cave.
Soon, all that remained in the cave were Yuri, Karin, and Frost Dragon Pers.