Chapter 212
Chapter 212
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 212
Chapter Title: Tower of the Gods (13)
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Pssshhhh!
Smoke billowed from every inch of Ataraxia's body as his skin began to swell.
Mana poured out in a relentless torrent.
A transformation so overwhelming it stole the breath from one's lungs.
'Mysterious.'
Park Chan-woo was witnessing a dragon's transformation for the first time.
He had seen their true forms plenty of times before.
But he'd never had the chance to watch one shift from human shape into its real body.
He might be the first human ever to see it.
'A powerful barrier forms during the change.'
For starters, the mana waves had shifted entirely.
The intensity, the density—everything.
A massive defensive barrier enveloped Ataraxia, as if shielding him.
'I see. It's a pre-engraved spell.'
All these changes stemmed from the dragon's heart.
It seemed dragons inscribed barrier formulas directly into their hearts for protection during transformation.
Thirteen layers of them, no less.
They were utterly defenseless mid-change.
The process took about three seconds.
They needed ironclad defense for that window!
Gurgle! Gurrrgle!
The Kirin Clan was doing the same.
Breaking through that barrier in their current state was a pipe dream.
In the end, whoever transformed and struck first would decide the fight.
Transform faster and overwhelm them.
But Ataraxia wasn't the only problem.
That human. No... the one wielding 'absolute magic.' He could be a dragon too. He stuck in their minds.
If he truly was one of the 'primordial dragons,' they had no chance.
Running wasn't an option either.
'He doesn't seem interested in joining the fight.'
'Kill Ataraxia first.'
'If he has no intent to fight... we still have a shot.'
The three reached a consensus.
Take out Ataraxia first.
Worry about the rest later.
They barely had time to think anyway.
Even handling just Ataraxia demanded their full focus.
...Soon enough.
They all completed their transformations.
"Ready, you Kirin whelps?"
A colossal body covered in gleaming black scales.
An 8-meter black dragon loomed there.
'So this is the Dragon of Despair...'
Park Chan-woo couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
Its majesty and pressure sent shivers through the air just by standing there.
True to its name, its mana was thick and cloying, binding everything.
The mana itself restrained all it touched.
If Ataraxia's mana and will had turned toward him...
'...I'd be dead.'
His resistances only applied to 'Demon Lords.'
Thanks to the 'Lord Slayer' title, he could inflict 'fear' on all Abyss lords.
But against other races? No resistances or immunities at all.
If Ataraxia had targeted him in true form, he'd be drenched in cold sweat, on the brink of death.
But Ataraxia's mana didn't aim at Park Chan-woo.
All its power and killing intent locked solely on the Kirin Clan.
"...It's been ages since we clashed with dragonkin."
"A dragon heart makes for a fine delicacy."
"Surrender now, and we might let you live."
The Kirin Clan had finished transforming too.
Lion faces, long horns sprouting from foreheads, ox torsos, and horse legs—an otherworldly sight.
Half the size of a dragon, and each one's mana paled compared to Ataraxia's.
Yet their combined power linked as one, overpowering even his.
'As expected.'
'Even transformed, his heart's mana is over half depleted.'
'No matter how skilled, he can't handle linked Kirin.'
The Kirin Clan's mystery: 'Connection.'
The deeper their bond over the ages, the stronger the link.
Born together, theirs was unbreakable.
The Kirin Clan was confident.
This fight was theirs.
...But.
Whoooosh!
Whooooom!
The heavens trembled.
The world shifted around Ataraxia.
...Before they knew it.
They were no longer inside the tower.
Twilight.
A dusky crimson sky welcomed them all.
The Kirin Clan could only gape in horror.
"Domain Declaration...!"
"Ataraxia. You had a 'domain'?"
"I've never even heard of...!!"
......No.
No one had ever seen Ataraxia reveal his 'domain.'
Not even in interspecies wars.
Not every dragon had a unique 'domain.'
If he did, he should've shown it long ago.
No one had ever witnessed it.
Flap!
Ataraxia rose into the air.
"Do you know why they call me the Despair Dragon?"
Ataraxia laughed.
Because he was a high dragon of the Despair lineage?
Hardly.
That wasn't it.
Not some trivial reason.
"Everyone who's faced me, everyone who's endured my domain, deemed me 'Despair'."
The twilight sky brimmed with 'despair.'
Countless weapons infused with the grudging souls of the dead.
Innumerable, packed tight.
All bared their fangs at the Kirin Clan.
...No wonder no one had seen it.
No wonder no tales of Ataraxia's 'domain' existed.
All who entered it died.
Not a single survivor.
Interspecies wars were public spectacles.
Can't reveal your 'domain' there.
And certainly not against mere Kirin Clan.
......But before his eyes stood the greatest god.
The Dragon God's dignity.
The lord of dragons.
With Sepiro's permission granted.
'I'll show them.'
Etch the dragons' majesty into their souls.
"Despair, descend."
The Kirin Clan instantly huddled their horns, invoking their mystery.
A massive serpent soon summoned, coiling tightly around them.
The Ouroboros, the snake devouring its own tail.
This was their true power.
They could summon and wield the forms of ancient gods.
Not true gods, but infused with divine form and will—their mystery was no trifling matter.
Groooar!
Kraaaash!
Ouroboros blocked the downpour of vengeful weapons.
But this was the domain of Despair.
If it could be blocked so easily, the 'domain' wouldn't exist.
"Wh-what is this...!"
"Gahk!"
"It pierced the power of a god?"
Unbelievable.
It pierced Ouroboros's 'absolute defense.'
And now it shredded their mystery-infused flesh.
How?
'This is Ataraxia's true power.'
Park Chan-woo quietly watched the slaughter.
He understood why the Despair High Dragon never revealed his domain lightly.
Once grasped, it could be countered.
First-timers would be crushed outright.
But survivors could handle it easily next time.
Despair's power reset all resistances and immunities to zero.
Forced them down.
Countering it was simple, though.
Stay out of range from the start, or escape quickly.
The domain spanned about a 1km radius.
'Resets all resistances to zero. But only once, the moment you enter.'
Another way: stockpile resistance potions beforehand.
Key point: the effect applied only once.
Boost resistances after, and you're fine.
Park Chan-woo nodded inwardly.
Safely watching from afar let him figure it out.
If he'd been caught in it, he might not have.
Now that he knew, he'd never fall to Ataraxia's 'domain.'
"Aaaagh!"
"T-to end so meaninglessly...!"
"A... ta... rak... si... a!!"
Park Chan-woo eyed the severed Kirin horn lying apart.
Deaths in the Abyss left no corpses.
But the Twelve Tribes often left vital parts behind.
Dragons their hearts, Kirin their horns.
"......My apologies."
Yet Ataraxia bowed his head.
Back in human form, his face and eyes brimmed with regret.
"I let one escape."
Two Kirin horns on the ground.
He'd killed two of three.
The problem was the survivor.
Sensing death, they'd sacrificed to save one.
And succeeded.
"It's fine."
Park Chan-woo didn't mind.
The real issue was Ataraxia's.
Killing all three kept the 'domain' secret.
Though the escapee likely hadn't grasped it anyway.
Things moved too fast.
'Two Kirin horns.'
He smiled inwardly.
One would've been jackpot enough.
And more.
'Ancient Bengalodon King.'
The beast's carcass lay nearby too.
Caught in Ataraxia's domain, resistances zeroed, dead.
A pathetic end.
Ding!