Dragon Heart
Kadan's room. As the window flew open, a blast of biting cold poured in. Rowen felt a welcoming familiarity in the sharp sting against his skin. At the same time, unease gnawed at him.
The harsh cold has grown even stronger.
The demon cult of the Harsh Cold—whose faces they hadn't even glimpsed yet—must have corrupted Kael, who had been sent to scout the northern fringes. Did that mean their base was near where the King of Harsh Cold lay sealed?
Rowen pondered briefly as the wind whipped at him. But he couldn't dwell on it long. A beautiful woman with long brown hair stood before him, hands on her hips, glaring daggers.
"...Sirayunsul."
"What do you plan to do now that the meeting's fallen apart?"
"Hm... We'll have to wait for the scouts to return first."
"We don't have time."
"I know that. But there's nothing we can do about it. I didn't cause this."
It really was unavoidable. Above all, they knew nothing about Arkanthia's current state. Holding a meeting or devising strategies wouldn't secure any real advantages. That's why they'd sent out scouts in the first place. Rushing blindly could mean missing something crucial.
But thinking of Cain made him want to hurry.
"We can see Arkanthia's terrain on maps, but we don't know what buildings are there, how many troops they have, or the distribution of their magitech."
"Haa... True, but if we're going by what you say, Cain's heading straight to the Demon King right now."
"Yeah. That's the problem. If that maggot Cain hadn't fallen for the whispers..."
Rowen sighed. To punch that face even a second sooner, they needed a swift victory in this war. Shattering Arkanthia wasn't the issue. The Prophets were.
The existence Tesiah had mentioned. The First Seat of the Fallen Demon Cult, Nom. He'd never laid eyes on the bastard, but just hearing the name sent chills down his spine.
Still, he wasn't without confidence. Rowen made a vow and turned to Sirayunsul.
"But one thing I can say for sure."
"What?"
"I'll kill the Prophets."
"What about me? You ignoring me now?"
Ignoring her? No. They were just his targets for revenge. He wasn't arrogant, but there was no one here who surpassed him. At the very least, Rowen would be the only one to cross blades with that Nom guy.
Above all, he was the only one who'd fought a Prophet. Tesiah hadn't been strong—just inherited a Four Heavenly Kings' authority for overwhelming regeneration. Mio had been too busy defending the Magic Tower to use her full magic.
That's why he could say it. Even that powerhouse Mio found them troublesome: the Prophets, the strongest of those contracted to the Demon King.
He spoke to Sirayunsul. "Ignoring you, my ass. I'm the only one here who's actually fought a Prophet. And those bastards—they're the reason Father died. I want to settle it with my own hands."
"Kadan was my master and savior. I'll fight too. Like I said earlier, I traded blows with the Fallen Demon Cult's leader, even if briefly. I won't go down easy."
She suddenly let out a groan. "Ha! Thinking about it pisses me off. Some punk whose blood hasn't even dried yet giving orders?"
"Not orders. A request."
"Same difference."
"Plus, I'm the king here. You're in the North—follow the king's command, yeah?"
"Hopeless. This is why kids..."
"Says the one who acts like one."
Then curiosity struck Rowen, thanks to something Sirayunsul had said moments ago.
"Oh, right—Father was your savior? Did he save your life or something?"
"Pretty much. He picked me up when I was crawling the dirt, begging, and fed me for a while after. I was almost adopted, but then I awakened to yin-yang, so that fell through."
In Kalia Rune, those who awakened to yin-yang had to become exorcists—no exceptions. Shortest term: three years. Longest: ten. Forced to defend the nation.
Before adulthood, if you awakened to holy power or yin-yang, you couldn't be adopted into another family. It was an eastern custom valuing true bloodlines.
That's why Sirayunsul missed Kadan and grieved him more than anyone. She'd felt the warmth of family for the first time, her emotions having dried up before.
"So you stayed in Kalia Rune?"
"Yeah. If things had gone differently, you'd be calling me sis. How about it, bastard? Wanna try 'sis' now?"
"...Pass."
"Puhaha! What’s with that face? Blushing?"
"...Shut up. And quit with the bastard talk. Heard it enough growing up."
"It's true."
"Might not be."
"What bullshit. Bastard label doesn't vanish. I've heard 'parentless bitch' my whole life. If you shake yours off, I feel cheated."
"Fuck."
Sirayunsul laughed heartily, pleased by Rowen's reaction. She hated stiff relationships. This candid talk, laced with profanity, felt more real.
Others said it was poor upbringing. Not wrong, but her mouth was filthy from the start.
Rowen had spent just three hours with her, yet realized her foul mouth in under one. Impressive woman, all around.
"Tell me about Father."
"Curious?"
"Yeah."
Sirayunsul grinned slyly. "Call me sis once if you're curious."
"Tch."
"Hey, fuck, did you just click your tongue at me?"
"Gotta?"
"Heh~ Don't wanna hear it? Fine. You're better than Cain since you listen, but if you don't want his stories..."
Rowen felt a twinge of embarrassment. Past life or now—no sister. He had brothers, but sisters were different. To others, same thing, but to him, sisters held a touch of fantasy.
...Compared to that, Sirayunsul's mouth was foul. Fantasy shattered.
If she'd been Kadan's adopted daughter, would he have called her sis? His body shuddered at the thought. Dizzying.
"Ugh."
"...What? Hate it that much?"
"Not hate, exactly... yeah, hate it."
"Really loathe it, huh. Hurts my feelings."
Sirayunsul shrugged helplessly. Rowen rubbed his stinging cheek and closed the window.
"Eh, I'll tell you someday."
"Oh, for real?"
"Think I'd lie?"
"...Gotta end every sentence with a jab?"
"Hmph. One 'sis' and I'd be thrilled."
Rowen could only chuckle dryly.
"Guhk...!"
Lucius's body rippled with a circular shockwave from the impact. He hurtled through the air with unstoppable pressure and speed. Hard to believe it was pure muscle power.
"Boy. Get up!"
"...Yes!"
Solid red rock shattered into fragments. On the cliff scarred by the shockwave, Lucius activated his pure white sword. Flying debris dissolved into particles. The air hummed with his mana.
Holy power fused with mana attuned to the sacred weapon. Double imbuement. Mimicking Rowen's technique, he poured everything in.
His opponent: the great Uba Kaliarun. The world's top warrior! No chance of winning—he knew that. But pushing his screaming muscles to the limit and landing one hit would be his victory.
I'll make you the greatest exorcist!
Uba's sudden yell from last night flashed in his mind. Heading to the Demon King's castle, tracing demon traces, Lucius had been stunned. Uba was dead serious.
You have talent. Talent. That word—aptitude for excellence—had always felt distant. He'd thought true talent belonged to the Valenos family.
Living beside genius monsters his whole life, he'd never noticed his own. So Uba declared him successor, citing that 'talent.'
Really?
I hate lies!
Why me?
We fight demons together from now on. Not low demons—magitech users to Demon Kings. All evil infused with demonic seed.
Lucius understood. To save the two great mages' corrupted disciples and Cain from evil's abyss.
Plus, you're Dragnik.
Dragon descendants are dragons.
Awaken your Dragon Heart under me.
Max out your holy power too.
No refusal. Block my fists now.
"Guhk...!"
"Get up!"
"Haa... haa..."
"Land one on me."
And so it was. Lucius reeled under Uba's relentless barrage, mind blank.
Absurd, idiotic way to awaken the Dragon Heart. Classic Uba—or just a muscle-brained fool?
Uba was a great warrior, all-weapon all-rounder. Yet here, only fists. Holding back, obviously.
...Rowen would've blocked it nine times outta ten!
His benefactor's son, comrade. 'Talent realm' fit him—explosive genius flickering before his eyes.
"At least!"
He had to reach a level to fight beside Rowen. Two years passed equally, yet the gap yawned wide. To close it. Even if late, to face Cain's wrong choice without shame—with power unashamed!
Kwaaa!
In Pandemonium, with two moons, a third rose. Massive yin-yang energy materialized. A black-white orb cloaked Lucius.
Beyond double: triple imbuement. All-out to counter that fist.
Supersonic speed. But Uba matched it instantly, snatching his arm and hurling him far.
Surroundings blurred. Red air, dark trees shredded like debris. Not cool breeze—crushing wind pressure.
Lucius twisted his axis, spinning wildly. A fierce tornado erupted. He pierced its wake, kicked air as footing, and shot forward.
Pang!
In rippling midair, a gray young dragon smashed the mighty warrior's fist with his sword.
"Good! But weak."
"Krrgh... Then what?!"
"Think and move yourself. Don't see me—see a demon."
"Such blasphemy...!"
"I allow it. Not saying I'm fallen. Focus! No distractions—or your head might explode."
Paak!
His sword-struck shoulder cracked in Uba's iron grip. As advised, he ditched thoughts, trusted instinct. Endured pain. This much wouldn't land a hit on the great warrior.
Thump thump thump!
Heart pounded. Dragon heart stirring faintly.
"Shed hatchling skin. Become a dragon, Lucius Dragnik!"
No more 'boy.' Fully role-playing 'enemy' to boost morale. Uba's best training method.
Relentless strikes. Until the target blocked. Life-threatened, humans transcend. Uba aimed for that.
Like Valenos blooming mana flowers at 18, Dragniks awakened Dragon Hearts. Tradition faded over generations, but Uba remembered a millennium ago. Met emperors, recalled imperial house. Lived in dragons' glorious era!
Thus, he sensed Lucius's Dragon Heart intact.
"That all?!"
"Not yet...!"
"Endure pain! Explode your heart! Shed skin—become adult form!"
"Don't need to tell me..."
Kwang!
Full power at Uba. "I'll handle it!"
Uba clasped hands, slamming down. Pure muscle, no holy power. Yet cratered the ground—remap required.
Swiftness
"Uhahaha! Good! Perfect!"
Uba strode forward. Each step cratered rock. Climbed sheer cliff. Dug foot into earth. Ignored gravity, closed on Swiftness-boosted Lucius.
Overwhelming presence. The great warrior stronger than a millennium ago.
Lucius's pure white sword streaked down like lightning. Uba hurled a pre-tossed one back. Air roared from the motion. Waves rippled. Like grasping air itself.
Lucius's Rosmerta whistled—saeak!—flying. He twisted direction sharply, trampling Uba's air pressure. Swiftness saved him before Uba's fist connected.
To the sword he went—like teleporting. Then threw it again. Repeat: throw, shift, toy with the 'warrior' playing 'demon.'
"...Om Garaji Ya Sabaha."
"Om Garaji Ya Sabaha"
⟨ True Word of Exorcism ⟩
Uba had told him: think of me as demon. Etched deep. He deceived himself. That monster was a demon. No blasphemy—Uba Kaliarun's lion commanded it. Just acting, projecting contradiction onto himself.
Demons die. Demons die. Demons die. Demons die. Demons die. Demons die. Demons die. Demons die. Demons die.
Finally, solemn true word from Lucius's lips. For exorcising evil spirits, yin entities. Normally prays souls don't go to hell. Also for possessed, repelling demons.
Air thick with demonic energy. Thin holy barrier blocks it. Crushing wind overwhelms. Body surpassed sound, neared time—supersonic anomaly.
Uba watched all. Time-transcending vision tracked him.
Paak!
Lucius twisted axis, charged Uba. Uba chuckled, swung lightly. Heart burst.
"Still slow."
"...Huh?"
"Young dragon. Transcend limits. Seize this moment."
Waluk! Blood gushed. Head spun, vision whirled. Yet strange, potent heat surged.
"Unconsciousness is fleeting."
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
Burst heart heated fiercely, regenerating. Red scales cloaked skin, dragon-shaped. Flame dragon roared. Human form, but wings, reverse scale, tail, arms mutated for battle.
Hatchling molt. Uba awaited this. Grinned in ecstasy, arms wide in welcome.
Lucius's eyes lifeless. Unconscious, yet moved. Uba's words echoed:
Land one on me.
Unconscious maxed dragon power. Thrilling the great warrior!
"First in a millennium."
Lucius gazed low-lidded at Uba. Emotionless. Just Dragnik imperial gold eyes gleaming. Gray hair sprouted dragon horns. Rosmerta eroded by dragon scales.
...Thump thump thump!
Dragon Heart unleashed its power.