Chapter 198
Chapter 198
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 198
Chapter Title: Sudden Fire in the Black Market
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Sudden flames erupted in the black market.
The Bloodless Sovereign hurried outside to investigate.
"Fire!"
"Call the mages, get the mages!"
"You idiots, don't run—put out the fire first!"
Shouts from black market enforcers echoed from all directions.
But those who gathered in the black market had their reasons.
These amoral scum weren't about to cooperate.
The vendors scrambled to grab their goods and flee.
"Hah, it's barely summer, and already this hot."
The Bloodless Sovereign grumbled irritably as she strode forward.
Her attendant hurried after her, draping an overcoat over her shoulders.
It was a custom coat made from priceless materials and furs, tailored exclusively for the Bloodless Sovereign.
With it, her boots transformed, and her height began to rise.
Scales emerged on her face, and massive horns sprouted from her head.
The towering Bloodless Sovereign's red hair whipped in the wind.
The queen of the underworld.
Her attendants bowed their heads in haste at her appearance.
"Enough. Go put out the fire."
Dismissing pointless formalities, the Bloodless Sovereign pressed on.
A fierce crimson blaze roared before her.
She raised a finger and yanked it back sharply.
The flames crumbled instantly, the fire dying away.
The Bloodless Sovereign was of the Crimson Flame lineage.
Her skill, Crimson Flame Scorch [SS].
To her, fire was like an extension of her own limbs.
Crimson Flame Scorch [SS]
Flames extinguished instantly
As the Bloodless Sovereign turned to leave, her eyes widened slowly, tracing the flames once more.
"...Crimson Flame?"
She recognized the power behind this blaze.
It matched the crimson flames she wielded.
'What the hell is going on.'
Her eyes narrowed sharply in that instant.
WHOOOOSH!
A sudden gale whipped through the area.
"Gwahhh!"
"Grab something, anything!"
Everyone around the Bloodless Sovereign was hurled to the ground by the wind.
Only one of her hero-rank attendants barely held his ground.
The Bloodless Sovereign slowly furrowed her brow.
She knew this wind too.
"Dragon Tempest."
The signature wind of the dragonkin.
Realization dawned—and then.
Thud—
Someone landed before her.
A robed man stood there.
Bright yellow eyes gleamed from beneath the hood.
"You..."
The Bloodless Sovereign recognized him.
He made no effort to hide, pulling back his hood.
Red braided hair cascaded out.
A boyish young face appeared.
Horns protruding from his head betrayed his youth.
But his lower jaw was different now.
It wasn't human.
Dog? Wolf?
An unidentified jaw had been crudely stitched onto him.
The young dragon, Nermakadia.
The Bloodless Sovereign's eyes widened slowly at the sight.
"What happened to you?"
"Bloodless Sovereign."
His maw opened, growling like a hound.
"Or should I call you auntie?"
Her eyes narrowed.
Nermakadia was of the Crimson Flame lineage, like her.
That made him a relative, her nephew.
She had several cousins.
Back when the Evil Dragon devoured all dragonkin.
She recalled one sister on the verge of laying eggs.
That egg was surely hers.
A faint memory from long ago.
The hatched egg had been raised by an ancient dragon and sent into the world.
"Sorry, but I've never had a nephew like you."
Blood tied them, yes.
But that didn't mean she'd welcome a stranger nephew with open arms.
Not when blatant killing intent radiated from him.
"Good thing you're treating me like this."
Nermakadia grinned at her words.
"You're going to bear my child anyway."
The Bloodless Sovereign's face hardened.
She looked as if she'd misheard.
"Grandfather always worried about the dragonkin's future. He was the type to sacrifice for the greater good."
Crimson flames began blooming from Nermakadia.
The Bloodless Sovereign sensed something ominous in those flames.
Far too potent for a young dragon.
"I must carry on his will."
"So you'll make heirs with me for the dragonkin's bloodline?"
She reacted with incredulity.
The old dragon's spawn—thoroughly brainwashed.
"If we increase our numbers, we can fulfill the dragonkin prophecy. You're dragonkin too, so you must want our prosperity?"
"Sure, fellow dragonkin. Sane ones."
ROOOARRR!
Crimson flames erupted from her body as well.
"This is why kids need proper upbringing. Too bad you got raised by the wrong geezer."
Her eyes gleamed viciously.
The flames surging with her pressured Nermakadia.
"I'll teach you what real education is."
The Bloodless Sovereign kicked off the ground, launching skyward.
Crimson flames trailed long from where her foot struck, scarring the earth.
"Milady! The fire will spread!"
"Handle it!"
Her attendant cried out in alarm, but she ignored him.
She was dead set on disciplining Nermakadia right now.
Her flame-wreathed leg shot upward.
At the same time, metallic clanks rang from her boots.
CLAAANG!
Nermakadia blocked, staggering back.
She pressed relentlessly, swinging her leg again.
Her strikes whirled like a windmill.
Each one amplified her kicking power further.
Unique equipment, [Conqueror's Boots].
Effect: 'Conqueror'.
Each successful hit stacks 'Conqueror' on the target.
Additional attack power rises with the target's stacks.
The Bloodless Sovereign's special class: Crimson Flame Brawler.
Infinite combos defined her style.
The boots synergized perfectly with her.
But her gear didn't end there.
Her coat billowed.
Auras flowing from it layered onto her flames.
Her crimson blaze roared fiercer.
The swirling currents dazed Nermakadia's vision.
Suddenly, multiple Sovereigns appeared before him.
Legendary equipment [Wind and Cloud Phantom].
Special effect: 'Phantom Symptoms'.
Makes the enemy perceive multiples of you.
It amplified the boots' synergy.
KABOOOM!
Her heel smashed the rocky ground to rubble.
Phantom-boosted stacks piled faster.
Her kicks could shatter steel.
BOOM! BOOM!
Each strike devastated the surroundings.
As she rampaged wildly, even her attendants fled.
"You were talking big a minute ago!"
Her lips curled to her ears.
She wasn't called Sovereign for nothing.
"Try talking now!"
Her leg lashed out once more.
Nermakadia crossed his arms to block, shoved back far.
The area was a crimson inferno.
Slowly, he lowered his arms.
They were charred black, ruined.
But Nermakadia didn't care a bit.
"Fine."
In that moment, a wolf's howl echoed from somewhere.
The Bloodless Sovereign's eyes narrowed slowly.
The sound rang not in her ears, but her mind.
Strength drained from her body, slamming her forehead to the ground.
THUD!
Blood trickled from her brow.
Her eyes bulged wide.
She couldn't comprehend what was happening.
By then, Nermakadia loomed before her.
She tried to move desperately, but her body wouldn't budge.
"What's wrong? Feeling wronged?"
As she glared, Nermakadia chuckled hollowly.
"Grandfather must've felt the same injustice. Now do you get it?"
"You spout off without knowing shit!"
She ground her teeth and shouted.
"Jeromakira—that ghost killed your parents too! And you cause this mess to inherit his will?!"
CRUNCH!
Nermakadia stomped her head.
"Say that right."
His eyes burned with ferocity.
"It was an unavoidable choice to save the dragonkin."
"Ge... get off."
"You know nothing."
He seized her head and hoisted her up.
Her face twisted, but he ignored it.
"About how this world is ending."
Nermakadia began dragging her along.
"Or what it takes to survive it."
Squeak!
A hatchling's cry came from her bosom.
He lowered his head.
In that instant, her leg shot toward his head.
Caught off guard that she'd move, he jerked back.
WHOOSH!
Crimson flames surged to the ceiling.
Nermakadia's face twisted sharply.
"...How?"
She'd clearly been hit by the command.
Why could she move?
The Bloodless Sovereign, equally surprised, clutched her chest.
Then, realization dawned—her eyes widened.
She pulled back.
A hint of concealment emanated from her.
She froze in place.
"What are you hiding?"
She tried moving again, to no avail.
The compulsion worked perfectly.
Nermakadia approached her side.
As he reached for her bosom, something bit his finger.
Wincing, he yanked it free.
A tiny bite mark—and a small hatchling dragon.
He stared at it, baffled.
All dragonkin save him and the Sovereign were dead.
Why was there a dragon?
"Don't bully the baby."
In that instant, a voice echoed in his ears.
As he whipped his head toward it—
Black light filled his vision.
A surging red shadow swallowed the Bloodless Sovereign.
"What."
KABOOOOOM!
Nermakadia tumbled across the floor in the explosion.
He kicked up, rising after rolling far.
Clack—
Men's dress shoes clicked through the black smoke.
He looked up.
A man with black hair streaked blue stood there.
Half Dark Elf.
His eyes widened slowly at the sight.
"Abyss!"
The one who, with the Judgment Sovereign, slew the ancient dragon.
Rage poured from him at last facing this foe.
Leyzon just grinned.
"Kids shouldn't call adults by name."
Crystals hurled from his grip ignited in unison, gleaming.
"You'll get punished."
Another explosion engulfed the black market.