Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Party Dissolution (1)
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A dragon's corpse was a treasure trove in its own right, with not a single part that could be thrown away.
Its materials were of the highest quality, infused with immense mystical power, making them ideal for all sorts of spells and rituals.
Moreover, dragons were on the brink of extinction these days.
Given their immense value, it was only natural to meticulously collect every last scrap of flesh.
'Not that I plan to sell any of it.'
He wasn't desperate for cash right now, and rare items like these always found a use sooner or later if you held onto them.
Storage was no issue either, with Hans around to push the limits of magic.
Of course, not all the materials were simply stored away.
Anything needed immediately was used on the spot...
Like the dragon's blood.
Dragon blood.
"Hmm... It's definitely effective. I've been feeling a bit stagnant lately."
Heinz 2nd, having nourished himself with fine blood for the first time in ages, clenched and unclenched his fist repeatedly as he murmured softly.
⚙ ENTITY INFORMATION ⚙ - Entity Name: Harley - Race: Dragonkin (Hybrid) - Common Traits: 「Mind Hub」, 「Persona」, 「Clear Mirror Still Water」 - Entity Traits: 「Mutant」, 「Flesh Alteration」, 「Bio-Aura」, 「Frenzied Beast」, 「Gluttony」, 「Mad Dragon’s Heart」, 「Madness Control」, 「Jewel Eye: Coercion」, 「Super Regeneration」, 「Calcos Combat Engraving」 - Special Notes: Absorbed the 'Mad Dragon’s Heart' infused with immense genetic information, replacing most of its body with dragon materials to become a dragonkin. Controls internal madness centered on the heart and absorbs surrounding madness. The 'Jewel Eye' fused with the dragon eye, enabling more effective imposition of its will. "Krgh..."
In one corner of the site where the dragon was being dismantled, Harley huddled like a wounded beast, struggling to fully control his body.
'A change drastic enough to alter its very race... That means this transformation was on another level.'
Harley had never been a pure human to begin with.
Born from biological experiments, its body was a mishmash of genes from all sorts of magical beasts and monsters.
Unable to define it as any specific race, it hadn't shown up in the status window—but if pressed, 'Mutant' fit best.
Now, most of its parts had been replaced with superior dragon genes, even affecting its fundamental identity.
The 'Hybrid' label probably lingered due to remnants of the old.
Crunch— Crunch—!
Its frame, which had exceeded three meters after devouring the 'Heart of Madness,' began compressing and shrinking bit by bit.
Fangs, claws, scales—all slowly receded into its body, the process continuing until it fully reverted to its previous form as Harley.
By the time the dragon dismantling was wrapping up...
"Hoo..."
Finally mastering full control, he slowly rose, exhaling deeply.
Whoosh—
A gentle breeze stirred the bushes in front of him.
'Huh?'
It was the result of his overwhelming lung capacity syncing with the 「Mad Dragon’s Heart」.
Not particularly fast, but impressive for a mere deep breath.
'The dragon heart, huh. Not only internal energy, but even ambient mana moves in tandem with my actions. Gonna take time to get used to this.'
The Mad Dragon had specialized in primal mana use despite losing magical abilities entirely, and Harley inherited that trait fully.
As a dragonkin, he couldn't cast spells, but ambient mana now amplified his actions powerfully.
'Gonna need to allocate more mental focus for a while. Can't afford to slip up, or accidents will happen.'
It was a new challenge atop handling his explosively grown strength.
"Heave-ho! Man, I'm stiff! Gotta stretch on the way back! Haha!"
Having roughly sorted things out, Harley stretched vigorously, bursting into lively laughter.
'Who'd have thought the journey for Zionic's pickaxe would lead here.'
From Twin Head Ogres to rampaging through the northern mountains and slaying a dragon—it had been a rollercoaster of an adventure.
'No complaints, though. Plenty of gains.'
Not only had Heinz's stalled growth resumed, but Harley had become a true monster.
Even after minimizing his body with 「Flesh Alteration」 to defy physics, the hyper-compressed density put his weight in the tons.
Absurd for his mere 2.3-meter height.
'Need to train controlling ambient energy to lighten the load. Can't even enter buildings like this.'
Weak ground might collapse under him now—he had to be cautious.
At least the 「Mad Dragon’s Heart」 drawing in ambient energy improved efficiency somewhat.
Otherwise, he'd have to eat nonstop to sustain this body.
"Munch munch... Still peckish, though. Time to fill up."
A bold claim from someone who'd been eating nonstop moments ago, but unavoidable.
Flesh alteration consumed vast energy, and with his body nearly remade, reserves were low.
Time to replenish.
'Tons of food around—no need to hold back. All of it super nourishing anyway!'
His gaze turned to the mountain of butchered dragon meat piled nearby.
"Slurp, gulp."
Swallowing his saliva, Harley headed straight there, stockpiling energy like a bear prepping for hibernation.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ With countless undead mobilized, dismantling the dragon didn't take long.
[Well done, Malcolm.]
Hans nodded in satisfaction at the neatly sorted materials—meat, bones, organs, and more.
[No need to thank me...]
Malcolm, the Death Wizard who had directed the undead through the butchering, bowed politely and stepped back.
Hans naturally moved to the pile of dragon bones, circling it appraisingly.
[Oh-ho— Impressive indeed.]
Even just stacked bones exuded an overwhelming presence.
Traces of madness-overdriven cells made them thick and sturdy—prime material in themselves.
'Normally, a dragon's strong lingering will would make this tricky.'
A dragon's noble spirit resisted undeath even after death.
Corrupting it required complex rituals over long periods...
'But already corrupted by madness, no prep needed. Saved some trouble.'
The most tedious part was already handled—like pre-prepped ingredients ready to cook.
'Of course, tainted by abyssal madness, other black mages would struggle...'
But for Hans, who wielded 'death' from the same abyss, it was no issue.
'No need to delay. Let's begin.'
Preparations proceeded smoothly.
Using 「Forbidden Knowledge」, he set up a black mana ritual barrier, positioned undead for a simple altar, and processed dragon organs as offerings.
Adequately simple for the Immortal King—why settle for ordinary black mage standards?
With all set, the ritual began.
At the altar's center, surrounded by undead in precise formation...
Hans faced the dragon remains and slowly extended his hand.
[Come now—what is your name? Tell me.]
As Hans lightly stroked the bone pile, death energy slowly rose from the Immortal King's heart fragment in his chest.
Spreading quietly, it withered plants around him; temperature plummeted, frost forming everywhere.
[So, Herathos, is it.]
Wooong—!
Vast black mana flooded the area, resonating with the altar undead.
It seeped into the dragon bones.
[I am the king of the dead, ruler of death. I grant you a second life.]
Impossible for a living dragon.
Who would choose undeath, especially enslavement by their killer?
[You shall walk this world again. For a small price, of course.]
But for fragmented thoughts from a corrupted corpse, Hans made it easy.
[...Now, I am your master.]
He was the Immortal King, pinnacle of necromancy.
Whoooong—!
Death and black mana surged into the remains in an instant.
Space trembled from the energy flux; some altar undead shattered.
Within the roiling barrier,
Amid grass and trees killed by the ritual's aftermath,
[———!]
A new undead opened its eyes.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Haha! Time to head out then!"
Harley, pocketing his subspace magic tool stuffed with dragon meat, turned south toward the group.
"Been a while—time to check on Heterosis."
Heinz 2nd glanced around casually before vanishing from the spot.
After they left, the ruined forest—scarred by battle—held only...
[Krkh— Since we're here, might as well scout around. Hope there are some worthwhile ones nearby.]
The Immortal King Hans, surrounded by hordes of undead,
And
[Groooar——!]
[Kyaaaa——!]
Two pure dragons.