Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: To Protect Everyone (4)
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In a world that has now vanished, there was a region called Zhark.
A massive canyon, several kilometers wide.
It was a place where thunder, lightning, wind, rain, and storms raged ceaselessly, year-round.
Naturally, it was a harsh environment where no ordinary being could survive.
The metahumans born in Zhark were exceptionally powerful and adaptable.
-A dragon born from the great storm... Yes, my child. From now on, your name shall be Tempest.
And the same was true for dragons, known as the apex of all living creatures.
In their youth, before their hearts had fully developed, dragons absorbed mana from nature.
In other words, the terrifying and perilous environment of Zhark served to draw out their potential.
Of course, Tempest's innate talent was also exceptionally greater than that of other dragons...
But it was an undeniable fact that he had grown stronger by enduring life-threatening storms since his youth.
Therefore, before becoming the Dragon King, back in his prime, Tempest's title was none other than the Storm Dragon!
His ability to freely command lightning and storms made him seem like a walking tempest.
“Kuh… This is Lord Tempest's true power!”
“I-I can't believe it... Just by releasing his mana, the surrounding climate...!”
As Tempest simply walked forward, a current of air strong enough to make giant trees sway flowed around him.
This wasn't intentional; it was merely the result of his very essence, deeply steeped in mana, leaking out.
Just how long must he have lived with the storm for such a phenomenon to occur?
For a skilled mage like Mira Valentia, it was enough to inspire a feeling akin to awe.
But perhaps he was so accustomed to such gazes that he no longer paid them any mind.
Tempest glanced around and, spotting a blood-soaked Peacekeeper lying not far away, spoke.
“Hmm... You've been through a lot, Peacekeeper Examiner. Examiner Mira, please guide him and all the examinees here to the Leviathan. I've cleared out all the nuisances on the way, so you needn't worry too much.”
He had cleared out all the nuisances. Those words were no empty boast.
The path Tempest had taken was utterly devastated, as if a typhoon had swept through.
It was no exaggeration to say that he had neatly cleaned the path back.
Mira stared blankly at the scene before asking with trembling eyes.
“Lord Tempest...?”
“Well, it seems some bothersome guests have arrived. I'm going to have a little chat with them. And don't worry about me. They may be fearsome enemies to you... but before me, they're all just insignificant brats.”
She immediately understood the meaning behind Tempest's confident reply.
Bothersome guests—he must have been referring to the Seven Extremes, the top commanders of the Metahuman Liberation Army.
The direction Tempest was heading was toward the center of the Sky Garden.
He seemed convinced that the Seven Extremes responsible for this incident were there.
She didn't know why, but if it was Tempest, he surely had his reasons.
So, Mira stopped thinking further and nodded vigorously.
“Understood. We will ensure these examinees are safely protected on the Leviathan.”
“Good. Thank you for your efforts, Examiner Mira.”
“I'll help you too, Examiner Mira!”
“Thank you, Miss Alice. Then, Lord Tempest, we'll be going...”
“Mm. Try not to get hurt.”
With steady steps.
Tempest gave Mira, who had calmed her confusion, a smile filled with trust.
Then, his expression turning deadly serious once more, he strode toward the center of the Sky Garden.
“Ge-gek… Tempest! Squeak!”
“D-damn it! Lady Olviiiiis!”
Crunch. Crack.
How far had he gone, lightly trampling the modified humans and undead in his path?
By the time he had reached the center of the Sky Garden, a good distance from the Leviathan.
A sharp killing intent that felt like it was slicing his skin and a nauseating feeling that muddled his mind washed over him.
“So this is the place. The source of that rather unpleasant sensation I've been feeling.”
Following the unpleasant sensation, Tempest emerged from the forest into a wide, open clearing.
In the middle of the space, which looked unnaturally carved out as if by scissors, stood three figures.
The swordsman clad in black from head to toe, Edmont the Sword Fiend.
The alchemist in white robes that seemed unsuited for battle, Olvis the Griever.
The necromancer covered in bandages, as if his previous wounds hadn't healed, Morte the Plague.
The Seven Extremes were strategic weapons capable of easily wiping out a major city, and at the same time, commanders who led their own forces.
Losing even one of them was a colossal blow, meaning the Liberation Army had resolved to risk an immense loss to face Tempest.
“You're here already. I thought you wouldn't show up until at least half of this large island had collapsed...”
“Oh my, this is a bit outside my calculations... No, perhaps if we eliminate Tempest quickly, things will go more smoothly?”
Edmont and Olvis couldn't help but show their surprise as Tempest strode confidently into the trap they had set.
After all, Tempest's position and presence were crucial not just to the Fixer Association, but to all of humanity.
They had expected him to assess the situation as much as possible and only come when he was certain he could wait no longer...
To think he would make his move just a few dozen minutes after the situation began.
If he were to be defeated here, it could be seen as the worst possible judgment call.
‘We brought thirteen artifacts that are fatal to dragons. The moment he stepped into this clearing, a dragon's strength is limited to, at best, sixty percent of its full power!’
It was an unexpected situation, but the two were still filled with confidence.
For one, they had faith in their own abilities, and they had also mobilized every possible means for this operation.
The source of that confidence was none other than the artifacts.
Curses specialized against dragons, collected over a long time to eliminate the troublesome Tempest.
If they could diminish their opponent's power and fight cooperatively, they were certain they had a chance of victory.
Of course, a single artifact would do little more than make him feel unwell, far from breaking his power.
But what if there were two, three... or even more than ten such curses?
Even someone like Tempest would inevitably be unable to exert his full strength!
‘If he had learned of the curses by sacrificing another Fixer, he might have been able to counter them somehow... Hmph, no matter how skilled a mage is, they can't perform at their best if their mana is disrupted. That arrogant decision was his fatal mistake.’
Olvis smiled, her expression brimming with confidence.
Her personally crafted children would roam the Sky Garden searching for the World Tree Seed, while she herself would prevent Tempest from interfering with the search.
The remaining Fixers were, after all, at a level that could be easily crushed by the Seven Extremes' Royal Guard.
As far as she was concerned, the plan was already ninety percent complete.
However, amidst all this, the necromancer Morte seemed to have a different opinion.
He spoke, his eyes etched with dark circles as if full of fatigue.
“Like I said... I'm not getting involved in the fight... That was the promise, wasn't it...”
“Hmph, just try not to get in the way. If I can't defeat a weakened dragon, the name of Sword Saint will weep.”
Shing.
A long sword was drawn from Edmont's waist.
Its blade glinted with an extremely ominous brass color.
It was coated with molten Dragon Slayer, a substance that inflicts unhealable wounds upon dragons.
It might be dangerous if he allowed a clean hit.
Having made that judgment, Tempest drew upon the mana within his body without hesitation.
But the mana, which had previously flowed as naturally as water, now seemed to clump together, obstructing its own progress.
The curses aimed at dragons that filled the space were impeding the flow like filth.
So these are the dragon-slaying curses. Quite annoying.
Forcing the awkwardly moving mana, he spoke in an irritated voice.
“Hmph, such clumsy tricks...! Annoying pests. I'll finish this quickly.”
Crackle!
Despite the interference with his mana, a lightning bolt of vicious size writhed in Tempest's grasp as if it were alive.
It was an expression of confidence, as if to say that this level of suppression was not enough to contain his power.
In response, the three members of the Seven Extremes finished their preparations and charged at him, as if challenging him to try.
It was the beginning of a fierce battle, one that could very well obliterate the Sky Garden itself.
***
Around the time Tempest and the three Seven Extremes were about to clash fatally.
A certain purple-haired fairy let out a sigh of relief, as if glad things weren't worse, and said.
“Phew, this place should be safe enough. Now I just need to bring the other fairies here.”
The fairy's name was Murmur.
He was an outstanding mage who had rescued over ten fairies while roaming the Sky Garden.
However, moving in a large group would inevitably attract attention and make them a target.
Thus, after searching far and wide for a safe place for the fairies to stay, he finally found a cave with only one entrance.
Murmur decided that he would gather the fairies here from now on, and glanced at the human who had been helping him.
“Wow... This human's skin is so soft! It's just like ours!”
“Her hair is so silky and shiny... I want to use it as a blanket...”
“Hey, are you sure you're a human and not a giant fairy?”
“...”
Near the cave entrance was Yuria, the pure white girl, surrounded by countless fairies.
It seemed that after traveling with her, they had completely realized she was a good human.
The fairies' affection for Yuria was practically skyrocketing.
Moreover, fairies generally have a preference for cute and pretty things.
They couldn't see her face because of her mask, but they couldn't help but adore her, with her pleasant scent and soft skin.
“Enyak! All of you! Get away from Whitey!”
“Aww, Chiriru, that's not fair! You're hogging her all to yourself!”
“Suspicious, isn't it? Chiriru, who shares everything, is being this greedy? This human might have something amazing about her!”
A war was practically breaking out outside, yet what were they doing so peacefully?
Murmur watched the fairies clinging to Yuria with a look of disbelief.
He soon approached her and firmly shooed them away, saying.
“The white human is our benefactor. Don't bother her too much. Watching from a distance so as not to disturb her is the quickest way to repay her kindness.”
“Huh? Is that so?”
“Right, humans are busy. It would be troublesome if we clung to her too much.”
Was this the influence of Murmur, who, despite his constant nagging, cared deeply for the fairies?
As soon as he finished speaking, the fairies who had been showing affection for Yuria cautiously moved away from her.
Of course, Chiriru was still carefully clutching her clothes, on the verge of tears, not wanting to let go.
But when he said he needed to talk, she had no choice but to create some distance.
Finally, we can talk.
Murmur, having broken the mood that was so out of place with the current situation, finally spoke to Yuria.
“Hey, human. Could I ask you for a favor?”
“...?”
His face, as he spoke, looked extremely serious.