Chapter 189
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: Heir of the Light Dragon Emperor (4)
[Congratulations! You have successfully completed Scenario Quest #9 by blocking the family traitor and preventing the resurrection of the [Nameless Lord].]
[Evaluation: SS]
[As a reward, you have acquired ownership of the Orb of Shame.]
[As an additional reward based on the evaluation, your held skill ‘Lesser Drake Fear’ has been upgraded to a new skill.]
[Level up.]
[Level up.]
.
.
Tssstsss!
I could see the madness and demonic energy that Torkel had absorbed all this time gushing out like a fountain of blood.
According to the quest, that orb was now Theo's possession, so absorption should be possible.
—Take it. Take it. Isn’t this the perfect timing? The amount has decreased. The concentration has thinned.
Sure enough.
The sword's orb began emitting a stronger pull.
Strong enough to momentarily shake Theo's spirit, now fortified by Nirvana.
—Please……!
—Don’t you crave it? If you have that, you can see the ‘world’ that I see too.
It was an impulse even Theo couldn’t resist.
If he could possess the inspiration the sword's orb had provided all this time.
If he could behold the Light Dragon Emperor's world as he wished, there would be nothing left to fear.
—Won’t you make that ‘world’ your own?
At that moment, Theo made his decision.
To truly claim that madness and demonic energy as his own.
As the sword's orb whispered, most of the demonic energy and madness had been consumed along with the Wish Bead Sun, leaving only the filtered essence, the purest distillate.
He spread his right hand wide open.
Theo activated the new skill he had gained as an additional reward.
[‘Skill: Drake Fear’ has been created.]
+
[Drake Fear]
· Rank: B+
· Proficiency: 5%
· Effect: Emits the murderous intent harbored by a drake to overwhelm the opponent. At higher proficiency, it can be used by materializing mana.
+
Materialization of mana.
If he could wield mana directly like hands and feet, it would enhance the control of the telekinesis Theo wielded.
[‘Skill: Drake Fear’ and ‘Hatchling Synchro’ synergize. Nirvana's effects are added, maximizing telekinesis output.]
Whooooosh!
A massive vortex formed at Theo's palm, beginning to suck in the essence of madness and demonic energy.
The moment the draconic mana flowing through his body mingled with the orb's energy.
Boom!
A massive explosion erupted from one side of his body.
It was the repulsive reaction from two incompatible manas mixing.
Theo's body jolted for an instant, but he endured and continued the absorption.
[‘Skill: Fairy Buff’ is applied, attempting mana neutralization.]
[‘Skill: Worm Eater’ activates, forcibly subjugating unneutralized foreign energies.]
Grrrrrind!
Veins bulged fiercely on his forearm from the rough friction between the two energies, but after some time, they began to subside.
[Mana capacity greatly increases.]
It was then, as a smile formed at the corner of Theo's mouth.
“Why so late, I wondered. This is why. You fools. Couldn’t handle a single unit. Tsk!”
Chills!
A voice sent shivers down Theo's spine.
The sword's orb, more active than ever, cried out.
And on instinct, he urgently twisted his head to the side.
Swoooosh!
Sword energy sharply grazed the spot where Theo's head had been moments ago.
Strands of severed hair fluttered into the sky.
“……!”
“You dodged that? Impressive. Now I see why Arnold and Harke met such miserable ends.”
In an instant, an old man appeared before Theo and sneered coldly.
‘Granada!’
The head of the Troyvan family had appeared in person!
The Ragnar stronghold should have pinned him down—how did he get here?
But Theo had no time for questions.
He had to raise Drake's blades while simultaneously summoning Wall White, Dragon Slayer, and Spirit Charm.
Four swords crossed at one point.
Granada's downward slash struck down upon them.
KABOOOM!
Rumble rumble—
“Guh!”
Theo spat blood arrows and was pushed back far.
Whoooosh!
A long furrow gouged the ground where he had been shoved, smoke rising from friction heat.
‘Damn…… this guy.’
Theo forcibly swallowed the blood surging back up his throat.
He had been in the midst of refining an enormous amount of mana when ambushed.
The barely stabilized mana rampaged again, wreaking havoc through his mana circuits.
One wrong move, and even Nirvana might shatter.
But,
‘That sword……!’
Theo's gaze was fixed elsewhere entirely.
The sword Granada wielded looked familiar.
No, precisely, its energy felt familiar.
Hummm! Hum!
Suddenly, Dragon Slayer trembled violently.
As if reuniting with a long-lost sibling.
The twin sword to Dragon Slayer ‘Baldung’.
The demonic sword of Dragon Vitality ‘Hrunting’, without a doubt.
“From the look on your face, it seems you inherited Master’s sword from Kyle.”
Granada chuckled lightly, amused by Theo staring fixedly at his sword.
Master.
He was surely referring to the Light Dragon Emperor.
“Using the pull emanating from Master’s sword to draw in his energy for the eventual reunion…… A trap laid knowing we’d pay attention to the Chosen One? Truly befitting of Kyle. Even viewing his own son as a tool.”
Theo's mind flashed.
Those words meant his father had foreseen a clash with the Light Dragon Emperor someday.
‘Bait.’
A means to lure out the Light Dragon Emperor, hidden behind massive groups like Troyvan and the Holy Demon Church.
Indeed, no one else fit the role better than him.
‘But Father’s aim wasn’t just that…….’
Perhaps, as compensation for abandoning a new regression, he intended to gift him ‘insight’.
Theo had that thought for a moment but refocused on Granada.
His opponent was one of the empire's top powerhouses, alongside Kyle.
One misstep, and his head could roll.
Moreover, the bigger problem was.
[00:01:58]
[00:01:57]
.
All buffs were nearly expired.
‘With damaged mana circuits, even voluntarily activating [Array of Clockwork] is difficult.’
He glanced at Julius, but that side still seemed preoccupied with Ed.
“Theo! You okay, nya?”
“Yes. I’m fine…….”
At that moment, Squad 1 members surrounded Theo protectively.
Amore checked Theo's condition and hardened her expression.
“This is early symptoms of mana poisoning? You!”
“I’m really fine. For now, let’s think about dealing with Granada. If not now, no chance to draw him out.”
Amore looked like she had much to say, but unable to treat Theo here, she nodded and turned toward Granada.
But their momentum alone couldn’t overwhelm Granada's presence.
One corner of Granada's mouth curled up.
“Our forces have been greatly reduced too, so it’s only fair to thin yours out as well?”
Swoooosh!
Granada moved.
「Squad 5! Protect your squad leader however you can!!」
Amore sent a separate telepathic message to Squad 5, then moved without waiting for a reply.
* * *
‘It’s over.’
Ed smirked while glancing at Granada.
Losing key forces like Torkel was a major blunder, but nearly capturing Theo alive as desired made it worthwhile.
‘No, it might even be better. We can just seize the Chosen One’s mana wholesale.’
The mana of the Chosen One who swallowed the intact Orb of Shame…… Might be even better for the Light Dragon Emperor seeking godhood.
Who knows. He might even restore his regression ability now that the limit is reached.
Just then, he saw Squad 5 and the Dragon Legion moving to protect Theo.
Well?
How long could they hold out?
* * *
Unexpected betrayal from Torkel.
Emergence of the new White Dragon Knights and Black Iron Cavalry.
And now Granada's appearance.
Holcus's hands trembled from the chain of emergencies.
He had become a combat swordsman barely a year ago—a rookie—yet why did only such perilous events befall him?
Even unit life, which he thought romantic, was anything but.
Nothing but death, death, death.
‘But Theo…… crossed that line multiple times.’
During his spar with Ray, she had said.
—Don’t judge by appearances. Theo suffered. Far more than you see.
Back then, he thought she was just boasting because of her closeness to Theo.
Now Holcus finally understood.
Theo's flashy exterior was mere facade.
He felt ashamed recalling himself boldly declaring before his sister that he’d be Theo's sword.
‘What kind of world are you living in?’
I’m terrified just standing beside you. But you…… not at all.
Holcus admired Theo even more.
And doubted if he truly qualified to stand by Theo's side, to even dream of it.
But one thing was certain.
‘I won’t let Theo die like this!’
He saw Granada charging.
Swiftly crossing the forest of weapons formed by Squad 1, aiming to subdue Theo.
It evoked the sight of Theo traversing Troyvan woods to capture Torkel.
Now even all of White Dragon Knights beyond Squad 5 clung to protect Theo, but before the superhuman Granada, they were helpless.
Still, Holcus stood before Theo without retreating.
And faced Granada head-on.
Even if it meant dying here.
A sense of duty to protect Theo filled his mind.
“Fuuuuck! Troyvan or whatever, screw ‘em all! Come at meee!”
Stepping up wouldn’t last even a second against Granada.
Binding his feet would be but an instant, but if that instant let Theo escape safely, it was worth throwing his life.
So he roared and moved, and Granada's sword indifferently swung to sever Holcus's neck.
Claaang!
As expected.
The sword Holcus held snapped too easily.
The tip of Dragon Vitality sword dug into his throat.
Yet until then, Holcus didn’t flinch, keeping his eyes locked on Granada.
“Worthy of Ragnar. And of Ranke spirit.”
Right then, a voice tinged with amusement whispered in Holcus's ear—
Clang!
Dragon Vitality sword was violently flung upward.
And a figure appeared before Holcus.
“Family Head……!!”
It was Kyle's arrival.