Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Hilda Ragnar (1)
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White Dragon Knights' underground prison.
Evelyn was cloaked in stealth magic, moving along the corridor bustling with busy guards.
‘They said the enemy would move to cut off their tail... Is that really true?’
It had been four hours since Evelyn began this endless wait.
Though she was here on Theo's orders, even she was starting to doubt if this was the right call.
This was the underground prison of the prestigious White Dragon Knights, after all.
No matter how bold the spies, would they really attempt a reckless assault here?
Still, nothing to lose by digging a trap—it was worth a shot—so she waited.
‘At least I discovered a new way to use the Wind Thunder God technique.’
Wind Thunder God encompassed every kind of divine art.
By erasing her presence and scent with the wind... she could completely vanish from the world.
All thanks to the application methods Theo had taught her.
‘My lord's insight pierces to the core of secret arts—it's beyond doubt. So I must strive endlessly to rise higher. To become a blade worthy of wielding when he fully stands tall.’
That was when Evelyn thought this.
Hwaaa—
A faint, cool breeze, as if blowing in from outside.
A wind utterly impossible in an underground prison.
‘They’re coming.’
In the darkness,
Evelyn's eyes gleamed coldly.
* * *
‘[Triple Instant Abyss]... That was the name.’
Theo swallowed dryly as he stared into the surrounding darkness.
Or at least, he thought he did.
A glass realm was a space where the caster's imagery and intent manifested into the outer world.
Hilda's glass realm was her infamous trademark, once earning her the moniker "Demon Abyss Ghost."
In just three seconds, it trapped foes in "abyss (hell)," stripping all senses and binding them in eternal torment.
No senses meant no proper cognition.
Deprived of external stimuli, the mind looped only on imagination.
That imagination summoned fear and dread, birthing delusions that devoured consciousness...
Hilda was saying it plainly.
Become my disciple if you want out.
She'd even hand over her sword and Garuda's Heart.
Of course, Theo had no intention of falling for her scheme.
[‘Skill: Hatchling Synchro’ activates, shielding your mind with a mental barrier.]
[Severed senses return, allowing perception of bodily functions.]
‘It works.’
Theo cheered inwardly as the darkness receded and his hands became clearly visible.
He had already forged a sturdy mental barrier during his third Awakening Ceremony, overcoming Kyle's mind sword—one that repelled most mental assaults with ease.
That's why he hadn't resisted much when Hilda hinted at deploying her glass realm.
‘From the start, when I came to the Ghost Castle myself, I didn't expect only her goodwill.’
If she had placed the previous generation of Ragnars on solid ground, it was no surprise if she harbored all sorts of schemes.
So he'd prepared a few insurances just in case... and they'd hit the mark perfectly.
First insurance: Hatchling Synchro.
Second:
“<Inventory>, summon Balmun.”
The Dragon Slayer Sword.
Flash!
Light gathered at Theo's fingertips, and Balmun soon appeared.
Perhaps due to the dragon-slaying legend, his fingertip stung like a needle prick.
‘[Triple Instant Abyss] may be impressive, but it's ultimately a Ragnar secret art space. Its laws are woven from draconic mana. In that case.’
Theo squeezed every drop of mana from his Dragon's Heart and dantian, pouring it into Balmun.
At the same time, he activated Hatchling Synchro, trying to awaken part of the latent intent within Balmun.
‘Balmun, the Dragon Slayer Sword, can't help but be weak against dragon-slaying.’
[Stimulating the intent of ‘Dragon Slayer Sword: Balmun.’ Insufficient qualifications. Cannot awaken intent.]
[Cannot awaken intent.]
[Must fulfill specific conditions to gain qualifications and awaken intent.]
.
[Immense mana boosts skill effect.]
[Part of the latent intent forcibly awakens briefly.]
[Effect: Dragon Slayer Slash]
Ziiiiiing!
Balmun trembled wildly as a beam of light rose along the blade.
The power was too weak for the mana poured in.
But Theo found it sufficient.
[Dragon's Five Claws – Demon Slayer Slash]
Shwaaaak!
Theo swung Balmun downward with all his might.
Something snagged between the voids of darkness, then shattered in chains.
Like snapping shackles.
Tadadadang—
Kwajik!
A crack formed where the chains broke,
And Theo unleashed all his remaining intent through the gap.
* * *
“...What have you done?”
Hilda narrowed her eyes at Theo, trapped in the pitch-black sphere.
She'd thought a full day inside would make him a bit more pliant.
Yet barely any time had passed, and anomalies already began.
Some of the abyss chains binding the pitch-black sphere had snapped, creating a crack at the top.
A mere scratch compared to the true power of Triple Instant Abyss,
But the very fact it existed was the problem!
Right then,
Hwaaaaa!
“No way...!?”
Hilda's eyes widened at the haze rising from the crack.
She knew instantly what it was.
‘Intent? A mere trainee swordsman already handles intent? How did he open the mind gate?’
To Hilda, ignorant of Theo's secrets, this was an utter miscalculation.
And the purpose of that intent—or intent—was simple.
SOS.
A call for rescue.
Before Hilda could block it, the ceiling collapsed, and the pitch-black sphere exploded with it.
Puuuung—
Kwarurung, urur!
Psssh...
The table laden with delicacies shattered entirely, dust billowing in waves.
And amid it, a black-clad, white-haired masked figure appeared.
Step!
“Robert!”
“Long time no see, Supreme Family Head.”
The Black Dragon nodded lightly to the irritated Hilda in greeting, then glanced back.
Theo panted with an exhausted face.
He'd wounded the Triple Instant Abyss, expending mana and stamina in one go—leaving him drained.
“Haa... haa...! Thankfully... the rescue signal... haa... got through... properly...”
“How did you know I was outside?”
The Black Dragon's eyes sharpened behind the mask.
In truth, he'd been secretly tailing Theo.
With transformation and stealth arts that could fool even Kyle if he willed it—no way to get caught.
If intel had leaked somehow?
He had to cut that route.
“The Black Nightingale... is you, Black Dragon... sir... right?”
“Answer the question. How did you know I was there?”
The Black Dragon's killing intent seemed ready to slice Theo's nape.
Huu—
Theo steadied his breath, straightening his back rigidly.
His eyes gleamed with resolve.
“Wasn't it you who gave the hint from the beginning, Black Dragon sir?”
“I gave you a hint?”
“Yes. I had no real connection to you or Black Snow. Yet at the naming ceremony, you made an unprecedented offer. Said I was talent fitting for Black Snow. Doesn't that mean you'd been observing me long before?”
“You're not claiming certainty of me tailing you based on that alone?”
“There was the Family Head's reactions too.”
“Hmm?”
“The Family Head acted as if he knew my every move multiple times. Not just through eyes and ears in Winter, but like he'd placed eyes right beside me.”
“Hah!”
“And since you knew I was a Selector from the start... considering the intel's value, I figured you'd check me personally. Above all.”
Theo's eyes curved in a smile.
“Didn't you put your name on my promotion exam recommendation yourself? If I still didn't know after that, I'd be an idiot.”
“...Hah! You read us completely.”
The Black Dragon muttered in exasperation, but somehow his eyes behind the mask seemed amused.
“Talent in swordsmanship aside, your insight and judgment—connecting fragments into the full picture—make you perfect for Black Snow. Indeed, you must join our Black Snow.”
“You flatter me.”
“Excessive humility is mere deception.”
The Black Dragon gave Theo a pleased assessment, then turned.
It was certain now.
Theo wasn't a vessel merely for the White Dragon Knights or Plum Palace.
The regressor thing was a snag, but
‘I can watch that closer. Now I truly understand why Brother Family Head wanted to observe this child so much.’
That was overshadowed by his other merits.
“Can you walk on your own?”
The Black Dragon asked, keeping Hilda in check.
Theo smiled.
“I'm grateful just for the help. If I can't even manage that, how could I claim to sit on Ragnar's throne?”
“Fine words. Show me.”
At that moment, Hilda unleashed her mana massively.
“These fools dare speak freely before me—!”
Kwarurung!
The overwhelming pressure swept everywhere.
[‘Skill: Lesser Drake Fear’ activates, partially dispelling the intimidation.]
Theo secured freedom of movement with dragon slayer energy, like in his third Awakening Ceremony.
‘Everything Father taught is proving useful.’
Inwardly admiring Kyle's insight, he shouted.
“Umbra!”
Shadows writhed, and Umbra appeared, carrying Theo and soaring powerfully into the sky.
Keeeek!
“Where do you...!”
Hilda tried to intercept the escaping Theo but had to deflect the Black Dragon's intervention.
Chaaaang!
Kwarung—
Sword ki clashed, shattered fragments pounding the floor and collapsing the remaining restaurant.
“Won't the Supreme Family Head hold back this time? Failing to catch a child after pursuing him would only stain your face.”
The eyes behind the mask gleamed politely yet sharply.
Ready to strike lethally if needed.
That wounded Hilda's pride deeply.
Kkadeuk!
Madness gleamed between her grinding teeth.
“You dare!”
“Dare? You dare, you say?”
Chaaang!
The Black Dragon shoved Hilda back hard, bringing his left hand to his mask.
“Strange. Even Brother Family Head wouldn't say such to me.”
Click—
The Black Dragon adjusted his slightly crooked mask with a chillingly sunken voice.
In that instant,
Goooooo!
The aura around the Black Dragon changed utterly.
Black energy took form.
Like a masked monster bursting from the darkness.
“Let's see if you qualify to say that, old ghost of Ragnar.”
Kwarurung!
Flash, flash—
The two absolutes' auras repelled each other, spawning disasters... turning Ghost Castle into a wasteland.