Chapter 98
Chapter 98
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Island Yaksha (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A massive shock, as if his hand were about to tear off.
The griffin dwelling within the Moonshade Sword seemed eager to rampage right then and there.
Thud thud thud thud thud!
Mana was sucked in madly from the Dragon's Heart and dantian as well.
But the Moonshade Sword deemed even that insufficient and pulled in the moonlight crashing down from the sky.
Just then, as the two dungeons collided, day and night intertwined, crumbling the moon—and the leaking moonlight was wholly absorbed by the Moonshade Sword, forming a massive vortex.
Hwaaaaaak!
Ziiiiiing—
It looked as though the moon wheel encircling the round moon had descended wholly upon the earth.
In that instant,
Theo vaguely realized why this sword bore the name "Moonshade."
[Successfully glimpsed a portion of the myth hidden within the Moonshade Sword.]
[The Guardian Griffin's temperament is further strengthened.]
Immense power began surging into the Moonshade Sword.
Rattle, rattle!
'No. Not yet.'
Theo pressed down the Moonshade Sword, which was on the verge of leaping from its scabbard.
His eyes remained calmly tracking the Fairy Dragon and Desert Worm.
'Just a bit more...!'
Rattle rattle rattle!
'More!'
Ziiiiiing!
As the clash of wills over timing intensified.
Theo noticed that the Fairy Dragon and Desert Worm's collisions had grown far looser than at the start.
Their energies were depleting.
'Now!'
Theo slashed the Moonshade Sword upward with all his might.
Puhwaaaak!
From below to above. A massive beam of light soared across the sky.
The entire moon wheel followed, amplifying the beam's radiance to its utmost.
Even the moonlight pouring down to the earth illuminated it, making it seem as if the moon embedded in the heavens were shielding the Moonshade Sword.
Shwaak, shwaak, shwaaaak—
The beam sliced clean through the head of a Desert Worm not far from Theo.
It had already sustained heavy injuries from the fierce clashes with the Fairy Dragon, leaving it no chance to resist.
Thud...!
The decapitated corpse weakly struck the ground.
The cut surface was so pristine that scarcely any blood seeped out.
Kyaaaak!
The other Desert Worms finally sensed the beam and assumed alert postures, but
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The Moonshade Sword seemed to mock them as it swiftly severed their heads.
Griffin phantoms appeared in the beam's wake.
The monster—with a lion's body, dragon tail, and eagle wings—leaped and soared leisurely through the moonlight, biting and clawing at the Desert Worms' napes.
Was it enjoying the hunt after so long?
Or relishing the feast?
The griffin even let out a long roar toward the shattered moon.
Kroooooar!
As if proclaiming this land its territory.
Once most of the Desert Worms were gone, the griffin's gaze turned to the Fairy Dragon.
「Human. I came to aid you. Why resort to such deeds.」
The Fairy Dragon read the gaze and turned toward Theo, firing a thought into his mind.
It feigned utmost calm with a scolding tone.
But Theo could not miss the impatience beneath it.
The creature too was gravely injured and fatigued from the prolonged clashes.
'Help? Please.'
Theo sneered, letting the Moonshade Sword's trajectory serve as his reply.
His mana was depleting at a rapid rate.
「Humaannn!」
The Fairy Dragon bellowed wildly and unleashed all its winds toward the griffin, but
Pababak!
The griffin instead used the winds as footholds, surging into the sky and clamping onto the Fairy Dragon's nape in a single breath.
Crunch!
「Human. As the selector, you know my value well. Judge wisely, then. Among the many guardians arranged by the Ancient Dragon, I was renowned for the sharpest mind. Profound in magic, I can assist you in emergencies...!」
"Sorry, but the order seems off."
Though the Fairy Dragon desperately tried to persuade Theo in a frantic voice, he cut it off with a scoff.
"I am the sole companion of the Guardian Dragon. And the heir to the Ancient Dragon's will, destined to become king of Ragnar."
A gaze far fiercer than the griffin's pierced the Fairy Dragon's wavering pupils.
"So if you wish to live, you should have spoken of submission first."
「……!」
"Yet you dared to bargain with the king—a sin of irreverence."
「Ah, no...!」
"Repay it with death."
The Fairy Dragon's plea did not last long.
Kwaduduk—
The griffin tore away the naped flesh it had bitten.
Wadduk! Wadduk!
As it chewed and swallowed the Fairy Dragon with relish, a grin even crept across the griffin's face.
[The Fairy Dragon has died.]
[All Desert Worms are now incapacitated.]
[Accomplished a feat beyond your current capabilities. Gain a substantial amount of experience.]
[Level up.]
[Level up.]
[Congratulations! Safely completed Scenario Quest #3 with a score far exceeding the presented dungeon mission.]
[Rating: S+]
[Reward: Ownership of two relics.]
[Additional reward for rating: 50 coins.]
[The number of coins you possess unlocks a previously closed category. New functions have been updated alongside it. Please check.]
.
.
* * *
Theo snapped awake with the sensation of his body being flung back.
Zing, ziiiiiing!
The Moonshade Sword gripped in his hand was vibrating wildly.
And an eerie yin energy leaking profusely from its pitch-black blade.
Tstsutsu—
The yin energy ominously enveloped Theo's right hand.
"Theo?"
Evelyn cried out with a startled face.
She had sensed something ominous in Theo's abrupt shift in aura.
"Stop!"
Forgetting he should use honorifics with Evelyn, Theo forced her to halt.
His consciousness was entirely focused on the Moonshade Sword.
Cold sweat trickled down his cheek.
"Got a full belly and now wanna act up, huh?"
Theo stared down the yin energy racing toward his dantian and heart with a gaze infused with spirit.
The Moonshade Sword was originally a demon sword boasting innate ferocity.
It possessed a perverse nature that instinctively coveted its master and yearned to be wielded freely on its own whim.
Thus, even in his past life, only the Black Dragon could barely handle it.
-You.
-Want to eat you.
-I.
-I will chase the moonlight once more.
Now, at last, it had sated its ravenous hunger and reclaimed its instincts.
It was only natural for it to target Theo immediately.
But,
"Are you stupid, or just testing me?"
Theo knew the natures of both the Moonshade Sword and the griffin all too well.
He had never trusted them from the start.
"I clearly told you to submit if you want to live?"
Thud thud thud thud thud!
Theo's heart pounded faster than ever, circulating blood throughout his body.
Thanks to the blood-washing ritual's effects, mana supply was effortless.
Paaaa!
At the same time, the earring and ring emitted brilliant lights in unison.
-When you killed us.
-Need us now, so you seek us again?
The thoughts of the Fairy Dragon and Desert Worm rang wildly in his head.
['Skill: Hatchling Synchro' is fiercely activated, awakening the guardians slumbering in the Ancient Dragon's relics.]
Theo's brain gate opened far wider than ever before.
Gooo!
And a fiercely burning white-hot blaze.
[All additional stats are invested into Intelligence.]
[Intelligence: 42 → 57]
[The domain of consciousness expands.]
Assimilation with the Fairy Dragon and Desert Worm's consciousnesses was achieved.
'Speak properly. I'm not seeking you out. You're being given the chance to serve me.'
With his [Intelligence] stat raised, their thoughts rang far more clearly.
-What...?
-To beat us with tricks, and you say...!
'I told you: I am the sole companion of Lodbroke. And the successor to your creator, Fafnir. How I handle you is entirely my prerogative. Isn't it?'
-……!
-……!
As the number of relics in his possession continued to grow, Theo felt the need to firmly establish the hierarchy.
Otherwise, chaos would reign later on.
Just as the Moonshade Sword was plotting rebellion now.
Lord and vassal.
Master and tool.
Such relations had to be set from the very beginning.
'If you don't like me, refuse by all means. I have no intention of forcing the unwilling into servitude. And of course, no plans to seek you out again.'
-…….
-…….
'Decide. What's it to be?'
Will you fully submit to me?
Or refuse and return to slumber within the relic?
Theo forced the binary choice upon them, and
-……We obey.
-We have no desire to sleep those endless ages again.
The Fairy Dragon and Desert Worm's replies came simply.
They had tried resisting, but they had acknowledged his strength from the moment of their defeat.
Even if it involved using the griffin, the victory was Theo's merit.
They had no intention of denying that fact.
They deemed him worthy enough to lend their full power.
['Guardian: Fairy Dragon' acknowledges you as its true master.]
[Reward: Acquired 'Skill: Fairy Buff.']
['Guardian: Desert Worm' swears obedience to you.]
[Reward: Acquired 'Skill: Worm Eater.']
Ding!
Ding!
+
[Fairy Buff]
· Rank: C
· Proficiency: 1%
· Effect: Receiving the fairy's blessing, immunity and resistance develop, and magical talent flourishes.
+
+
[Worm Eater]
· Rank: C+
· Proficiency: 1%
· Effect: Attack power increases in inverse proportion to the opponent's remaining health.
+
'Good.'
Skills corresponding to buff and attack types, respectively.
Theo actively activated both skills to subdue the Moonshade Sword.
Paaa—
The earring and ring simultaneously spat forth a chilling light.
A light icier than the Moonshade Sword's.
['Skill: Fairy Buff' activates, repelling the yin energy with enhanced immunity.]
['Skill: Worm Eater' activates, increasing attack power.]
Kwaduduk—
The combined assault of the two relics rapidly pushed the Moonshade Sword's yin energy outward.
Blue light soon dyed even the Moonshade Sword.
-This...!
Kiririk—
The griffin began sinking into the depths of the unconscious realm with a voice of regret.
The boiling thoughts fell silent.
['Guardian: Griffin' bows its head in full submission once more.]
Wung! Woooung!
The three relics trembled faintly, having completed their total subjugation.
A balance of mutual deterrence.
Even if one grew far stronger, it could no longer threaten Theo alone.
The other two would tear into it.
Wooooung....
"Huu...!"
Theo let out a sigh of relief while flashing a satisfied smile at having fully claimed the relics.
"What in the world?"
Evelyn alone stared at him with a somewhat dazed expression.
* * *
Half-Sword Mausoleum.
Kyle, hands clasped behind his back, wove between the not-quite-tombs and suddenly turned with a light laugh.
"Not like you to take a hit like that."
Horrr...!
A black magpie perched atop one of the swords.
With a distinctly pouty expression.
"You seem thoroughly displeased by this affair. Well, understandably so. For you, Ed's collar was all but secured—only to slip away right before your eyes. Hahaha!"
Kyle burst into a hearty laugh rare for him.
The black magpie's blunder amused him that much.
The black magpie, meanwhile, was fit to burst with frustration.
Hor! Horrr!
Pounding the ground with its small wings in protest, it seemed utterly furious.
"But do you really need to see it that way? You know better than anyone who's behind Ed, don't you?"
Ed Troyvan.
Behind him stood the great eastern house of Troyvan. And beside them, the Demon Church.
But they knew all too well of an even greater existence lurking there.
The very reason Kyle was bound to this Winterer.
Horrrr!
"You knew that, so why leave them be all this time?"
Hor!
"Hm... Are you asking despite knowing? Or just pretending ignorance?"
Horrr! Horrrrr!
Kyle stroked his chin.
The mischievous teasing of the black magpie had vanished in an instant.
"Berry."
A solemn voice.
The black magpie's frantic flapping ceased abruptly.
Berry.
A childhood nickname known to scarcely anyone anymore.
"As you know... I wish for this Ragnar to endure eternally. And to shine brilliantly henceforth, just as it has until now. That day beneath the peach tree—you, I, Julius, and Osa—we swore an oath that still drives me to this day."
Kyle clasped his hands behind his back once more and strolled amid the Half-Sword Mausoleum.
"So aren't those elements crucial for Ragnar's continuation and brilliance? A being without crises is doomed to inevitable decline."
The black magpie kept silent.
This man's perspective truly differed from ordinary folk.
A fact known for ages, yet it struck especially hard today.
"Moreover, don't you know? Their strengthening is, in the long term, tantamount to Ragnar's own growth."
....
The black magpie chirped no more.
"Thus, while I may stand in opposition to them, I could not cast out what once rested in my bosom. To do so would betray the <Geas> I swore long ago—nothing more."
Kyle gazed at the black magpie with a faint smile tugging at his lips once more.
"So do not resent me for not heeding your will or for leaving them be thus far. I have no desire for your resentment as well."
The black magpie could not hold Kyle's gaze and abruptly turned its head aside.
Horrr, hor.
The sight resembled nothing so much as quiet grumbling, forcing Kyle to chuckle.
"Anyway, enough of this headache. Let's speak of Theo instead. It seems your lingering worries have utterly vanished. Julius was grumbling about it. Said you've been bewitched far too thoroughly—not at all like you."
Horrr...!
The black magpie snorted lightly at the name "Julius" and chirped something in retort,
allowing Kyle to laugh heartily at the delightful tidings after so long.
The fact that the boy who had so thoroughly enchanted his sworn brothers was his own son brought unparalleled joy.
'For now... yes. He passes muster.'
He hoped the boy would maintain this disposition.
Of course, he knew full well it would not be so simple.
With the splendid card of regression in hand, anyone would wish to wield it freely.
Naturally, the moment that happened, the hard-won trust between him and the Black Dragon would shatter utterly.
'Now that I think of it, it's been a while since I've seen his face.'
Perhaps another meeting for a talk would be in order.
So long as he did not abuse the regression.
'It would be the perfect weapon for Ragnar—peerless.'
Kyle stroked his chin with an intrigued expression.
Thus, he remained unaware.
Of the faint smile gracing his lips.
The Way the Regressed Sword Clan's Illegitimate Son Survives