Episode 1269
Episode 1269
Huh?!
Uman was equally startled.
Why was there another Black Dragon?
"He's my student. Prepare your breath."
Fortunately, Professor Voladi was assisting Uman from above. Following the advice of the experienced combat mage, Uman shook his head and focused his mind.
Dragons were a perfect species, but that didn't mean they were without weaknesses. Having almost no experience being attacked, they were particularly vulnerable to pain.
Just taking a few hits from that monster had already shaken Uman's concentration—something he needed to reflect on.
'Ordinary magic won't work.'
Professor Voladi quickly finished his calculations.
The most troublesome aspect of the monsters crawling in from beyond the dimension was that they existed outside the conventional magic system.
Curses, poisons, and seals—all calculated based on the mortal beings of the continent—were drastically less effective against such enemies.
Over time, as the enemies adapted to this dimension, their effectiveness would rise again, but in the current situation, they couldn't afford to wait that leisurely.
In that case, no matter how alien the opponent was, as long as they had descended into this dimension, they had to obey its physical laws. They had to attack using those laws.
...P-Professor. Aren't you going to help?
Uman panicked when he saw Professor Voladi preparing a grand spell with full determination. The mana radiating from above was unmistakably that of a grand spell.
Was this really the time to be so leisurely?
"Prepare your breath."
Instead of explaining, Professor Voladi gave an order.
As if he couldn't see his student, transformed into a Black Dragon, clashing with the slimy monster from beyond the dimension right before his eyes.
'This is too much!'
Uman unconsciously screamed inside.
Being a strict and righteous dragon, Uman was deeply shocked.
When he had heard that Professor Voladi had an unusually small number of disciples among the Einrogard faction, Uman had accepted it with a kind heart, thinking, 'Well, that's just his personality.' But the ruthlessness Professor Voladi had just shown was truly excessive.
No wonder he has no students!
Though Uman seethed inwardly, Professor Voladi paid no heed and sharply kicked his scales with the heel of his boot.
There was no more reason to talk—just prepare the breath.
Understood! I'll prepare it now!
Swallowing his anger, Uman gathered strength throughout his entire body.
A dragon's breath could be considered a kind of signature technique. By observing the nature of the breath, one could discern what kind of breath it was.
If Jowurin's breath was like a dazzling golden sun, Uman's breath resembled an inky torrent that judged evil.
'I have to attack quickly...'
Uman tried to unleash his breath even though its power wasn't fully accumulated yet.
Seeing the contracted partner of his elder sister—now transformed into a dragon—getting brutally beaten by the monster from beyond the dimension made him impatient.
Thud!
Professor Voladi kicked the royal dragon again. Somehow, there seemed to be a hint of irritation in that kick, but the message was clear enough.
Wait until it's fully prepared!
...Grrrr...
Uman burned with the wild instincts of the dragonkin as he gathered power before his maw.
Please, let the contracted partner of my elder sister be safe!
Contrary to Uman's worries, Lee Han was in a remarkably stable condition.
Stable enough to be thinking this:
'His Highness Uman might die after this is over.'
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud—
Though the dull sound of the opponent shaking its entire body to pummel him echoed, Lee Han curled his wings and forelegs to deflect the attacks.
A dragon's body was truly overpowered. Even the wing joints, typically vulnerable spots, boasted tremendous defensive power due to their unique scales.
Moreover, the opponent lacked intelligence. It seemed to have only the desire to inflate its body and swallow its prey.
As a result, Lee Han was able to stall for time quite stably.
Having endured against multiple strong opponents, including knights and even Professor Vol, these simple attacks were merely flashy on the surface—something Lee Han could withstand purely through sheer size and durability.
'What should I do? Should I say that I originally transformed into a Gold Dragon but lost control and suddenly became a Black Dragon?'
-■■■■■! ■■■!
The opponent let out an incomprehensible shriek and spewed out a viscous substance as if bursting with slime.
Lee Han swiftly descended, dodging the attack before pouncing back to harass the creature.
Every time he provoked it, the opponent's reactions grew increasingly violent, confirming that his tactic was working.
'No. Let's not lie. I'll trust His Highness.'
Come to think of it, Jowurin had matured quite a bit and grown more level-headed.
Even now, right before this incident, hadn't he heard about Uman's struggles and offered his support?
If that was the case, then Jowurin would likely take Lee Han's transformation into a Black Dragon relatively calmly.
...Probably!
'If it doesn't work, I'll just tell him to run.'
Lee Han had already decided that, in the worst-case scenario, he'd tell Uman to flee.
Surely His Highness Jowurin wouldn't chase him down and unleash his breath attack. At most, it'd just be a single strike from Jowurin.
-■■■■■■■!
'More importantly, this bastard... Is it structured to absorb mana and inflate its body?'
Only then did Lee Han focus properly on his enemy.
The creature's size had swollen hundreds of times larger than when it first appeared—despite not having consumed any prey or sacrifices.
There was only one thing that came to mind.
Mana.
If it was structured to absorb mana and inflate itself, then it was an incredibly simple yet powerful ability.
Theoretically, that meant it could grow stronger just by breathing, didn't it?
Other monsters on the continent had to consume suitable prey and digest it through complex organs just to slightly increase their size. This thing's efficiency was downright absurd.
'And it's suspicious how fixated it is on trying to swallow me whole.'
At first, he had assumed it was just a basic instinctive reaction, but seeing how persistently it attacked despite being irritated made him suspicious.
It was almost as if it coveted Lee Han's mana.
Every time they clashed, it tried to absorb his mana...
Lee Han focused and tightened his control over his mana. Even if his mana overflowed, there was no reason to let the enemy feed on it.
'Good. Let's provoke it this way.'
Thud!
The monster, having finally ensnared one of Lee Han's front legs with its slimy tentacles, began eagerly absorbing mana as if it had seized its chance.
But surprisingly, the mana didn't budge. It was like trying to shake a boulder with a twig—the mana remained utterly still.
'It works!'
Lee Han realized his gamble had paid off.
If the opponent was fixated on absorbing mana, then exposing this weakness would surely provoke it—and his prediction had been spot on.
And what followed, too.
Based on his past experiences, Lee Han had calculated that no matter how much of a void-spawned abomination this thing was, it wouldn't be able to easily steal his mana.
Considering his own mana control, breaking through and absorbing his mana wouldn't be easy at all.
If his calculations had been wrong, he'd been prepared to sever his own front leg—but luck was on his side.
-■■■■■■...
The enemy, obsessed with the slight advantage it had just gained, desperately tried to absorb mana.
It would've had a better chance if it had stuck to its original method—continuing to inflate its body and ramming into him physically.
Right now, its lack of skill meant Lee Han was toying with it, but if its size crossed a certain threshold, it could've crushed him outright.
"Now!"
The moment Professor Voladi's command rang out, Lee Han twisted his body, pinning the creature down so it couldn't move.
Having been on the defensive the entire time, Lee Han's sudden offensive caught the slimy monstrosity off-guard. It swelled its body in retaliation, trying to swallow him whole.
But the attack couldn't be sustained.
Thunk!
One after another, the swords Professor Voladi threw struck the massive lump with pinpoint accuracy.
They might have looked no different from before, but the results were worlds apart.
With each sword that embedded itself, the compressed mass exploded violently, forcing the enemy downward.
'So that's it!'
Lee Han realized what magic Professor Voladi had prepared in the meantime and marveled.
Since conventional sealing or elemental magic wasn't dealing much damage, he'd opted to physically push the enemy back with sheer mass.
No matter how much the creature resisted sealing, it couldn't evade being crushed by overwhelming weight from above.
By the fifth sword, even Lee Han—who'd been holding the creature down—was staggering. After exchanging a glance with Professor Voladi, he quickly let go and shot upward.
And simultaneously, a dragon's roar echoed across the sky.
--------!!!!!
Uman, who had been patiently biding his time, finally unleashed his breath attack, incinerating the enemy in a torrent of dark flames.
Against such primal, overwhelming power, all tricks and evasions felt meaningless.
No matter how stubbornly it had split and regenerated before...
...within the pillar of dragonfire, the creature couldn't escape and burned to ashes. Lee Han was genuinely impressed and praised sincerely.
"Your Highness, that was magnificent!"
"Nay! You were far more impressive. Please forgive this Uman's misjudgment."
Even while panting exhaustedly, Uman apologized with utmost sincerity.
Having witnessed the battle, he belatedly realized he'd misunderstood Professor Voladi.
Looking at the contractor's condition, it was clear he'd emerged from that fierce assault without a single notable injury.
Professor Voladi must have known his student would focus solely on defense and evasion like that.
Such precise judgment couldn't have been made without absolute trust between master and disciple—especially in such a short timeframe.
(Of course, if Lee Han had heard this, he'd have retorted in bafflement, 'Professor attacked me mercilessly even when we had no trust!')
"Forgive you for what?"
"It's a long story, but—"
"Wait, Your Highness! There's something more urgent!"
Lee Han cut off Uman's explanation. There were more pressing matters now.
Uman nodded as if he understood.
"Of course! Let's examine the creature's remains. Any lingering traces could still pose a threat."
"No, that's already thoroughly handled thanks to you. It's just..."
"?"
As Lee Han hesitated, Uman tilted his head in confusion.
What could this valiant contractor be worrying about?
"Wouldn't it be best for you to flee now? To the imperial palace, or perhaps some remote oceanic region where no one could pursue...?"
"???"
Unfortunately, Lee Han had no time to properly explain to Uman.
His transformation had worn off, reverting him to human form—and every single person below had witnessed it.
Worse, he wasn't even wearing his mask, exposing his true face as Lee Han, not 'Stedal Nago'!
"Wa... Wardanaz!"
"Lord Wardanaz! You're Lee Han of the Wardanaz family, aren't you?!"
"That dragon just now—! Did... did you form a contract with a dragon?!"
A Black Dragon and a mage.
To ordinary onlookers who'd witnessed their joint battle, only one ancient legend came to mind.
A Dragon Pact!
"No, I've never contracted with a dragon—well, technically it's complicated, but... anyway, I never contracted with that Black Dragon!"
"Then who was that Black Dragon?!"
"I can't tell you. More importantly, my presence here must remain secr—"
"Of course! We'll keep it secret!"
"Let's all swear an oath! We'll keep silent about witnessing Lee Han of the Wardanaz family!"
"......"
Faced with the fervent reactions of the swarming crowd, Lee Han came to a grim realization.
'This is hopeless.'
Even if just one in ten people whispered 'This is a secret, just between us,' the news would spread to the farthest corners of the empire.
Under these circumstances, only one option remained for Lee Han.
Escape!
"—Everyone, just get out of the way! We're fleeing to Einrogard!"