Chapter 446: Zephyrin (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 446: Zephyrin (2)
Dark, long claws sprouted from Zephyrin’s fingers the moment she threw her axe-sword. These were the same claws that had pierced the Black Knight, and they were her primary means of attack.
A fierce, purple demonic energy glowed from them. As Zephyrin shot forward, a sharp whistle tore through the air. Her claws, swung in a cross-cut, raked through the void and toward the group.
Jin blocked her attack with his sword, Valkas with his fists. As sword, fist, and claw became entangled, sparks, aura, and fragments of demonic energy flew in a frantic blur.
Discarding the axe-sword had made all the difference. Her posture and balance improved, and her movements became noticeably lighter.
An opponent who already felt impossibly strong had become even more formidable. The problem was the intense conviction that this wasn't even the end of it.
She was a dragon.
She had yet to reveal her true form, and it was impossible to know what abilities she possessed as a ‘Demon Dragon.’
‘Even based on the martial power she’s shown so far, she’s at least 10-star or higher by human standards.’
The thought occurred to him that she might be a powerhouse rivaling his father, Cyron Runcandel.
Fortunately, he didn't feel the aura of an absolute ruler from her—the kind he had only sensed from his father and the Fighting God Ban. Though, he couldn't be sure if she truly lacked it or if he simply couldn't perceive it yet.
Screech!
Zephyrin forced Jin and Valkas apart and lunged at Murakan. Her purple claws swept through, appearing to sever one of his wings entirely.
However, what the claws cut through was a wing made of spirit energy. It merely wavered like smoke, and Murakan didn't miss the opening she had created.
In an instant, Murakan’s entire body dissolved into black smoke and enveloped Zephyrin. When the smoke reformed into his shape, she found herself trapped within his folded wings.
Though invisible from the outside, a torrent of spirit energy spikes rained down furiously inside the wing-prison. The spikes pierced flesh and bone, creating a gruesome, bone-chilling noise.
But just as Murakan had transformed his body into spirit energy to evade her attack, Zephyrin used her demonic energy to evade the brunt of the assault.
Regardless of their martial prowess, the battles between dragons possessed a dimension that set them apart from human combat.
[Well, you seem to be the best among the Demon Dragons I’ve met so far. Did you spend the last thousand years hiding in fear of me? I’m curious where a wretch like you crawled out from.]
Zephyrin, who had scattered into purple mist, reappeared a good distance away from Murakan.
“Haha, how cute. How could you dare to judge me? It seems you still haven't grasped the situation, Lord Murakan.”
Swish!
Sharp demonic energy extending from Zephyrin’s claws sliced through Murakan’s torso.
Again, thanks to his spirit energy transformation, he didn't take critical damage. But if his spirit energy continued to be consumed like this, Murakan would inevitably tire before long.
“I wouldn't have been particularly afraid of you even if I were facing you in your absolute prime. The only reason you don't know me well is because the 'me' of that time couldn't fight you.”
[Couldn't fight me?]
“There were some circumstances. Ones you might know of. Or rather, is it that you have no choice but to be ignorant of them?”
Cr-cr-crack!
The Pluto Sword Ultimate Technique: Waterfall descended upon Zephyrin’s head. Simultaneously, Valkas threw a punch with all his might.
The void of the subspace distorted under their combined lightning energy and aura. Waterfall slammed into the ground, and the punch made the air explode.
As Zephyrin threw herself aside to dodge, Murakan dove at her like a hawk and unleashed his breath. The black breath completely covered Zephyrin, but even after the blast subsided, she seemed largely unharmed.
However, before she could recover, Jin’s pre-deployed Pluto Sword Ultimate Technique: Thunder Blade and Valkas’s Black King Secret Technique found their mark.
Dozens of lightning blades erupted from the ground, and the massive aura spreading from Valkas’s fist ensnared the falling Zephyrin.
This time, she failed to transform her body into demonic energy in time. Her body was slashed in various places by the Thunder Blades, and Valkas’s fist struck her squarely in the center of her back.
“Ack!”
With a deafening thud, Zephyrin coughed up a mouthful of blood and was sent flying across the area.
If she were human, it would have been a fatal injury, every bone and organ shattered. But the group instinctively felt that she hadn't taken much damage, despite being slammed into the subspace wall. Even her scream sounded almost playful.
Murakan transformed back into his human form and stood beside Jin.
“Murakan.”
“Yeah.”
“That Demon Dragon… do you really not know who she is?”
“I don't. I thought she might be one of the guardian dragons of the Rontelgius demons you killed, but she seems to be far beyond that level.”
“Any guesses?”
“A dragon directly serving a being on the level of a Demon God. That much is certain.”
Can we win?
Jin didn't voice the question. It had been a long time since he had seen Murakan with such a serious expression.
An unexpected disaster. In a word, that was what Zephyrin was. It was baffling to think what kind of connection could exist between her and the weakened demons he had so easily killed at Joshua’s villa.
‘Is it really true that she holds a grudge against me because of the grimoire I obtained back then?’
When he first suspected Zephyrin of being a Demon Dragon at the Sword Emperor Castle banquet, Jin and his companions had naturally assumed that she had approached them intentionally because of the grimoire. After all, they shouldn't have any other reason to cross paths with beings like demons or Demon Dragons.
However, Zephyrin was currently acting as if she didn't care about the grimoire at all.
‘Or perhaps she thinks she can find out whatever she wants about the grimoire once she puts Murakan to sleep, kills the Black King Commander, and I’m the only one left… No, wait.’
The moment his thoughts reached that point, he realized that the only person Zephyrin had explicitly expressed an intent to ‘kill’ was the Black King Commander.
‘She said she would put Murakan to sleep, and given the circumstances, it feels like she doesn't intend to kill me.’
What could be the reason for that?
Within seconds, Jin recalled a specific instance.
—I shall praise this ambush. However, you and your god shall become the most important ingredients for the Demon God Stone, Jin Runcandel…!
Those were the words Andrei Zipple had spoken while using the Demon God Stone, back when Jin was a reserve flagbearer.
‘Back then, Andrei spoke as if Solderet’s power was the core of the Demon God Stone.’
Looking back, those who sought the Demon God Stone, or a strange power equivalent to it, tended to be oddly obsessed with the ‘Contract of Solderet.’
Andrei was the prime example in the Zipple family, and Joshua in the Runcandel family.
Furthermore, considering that the creator of the ‘Demon God Stone’ was Bubar Gaston, Solderet’s power would likely hold very special value for Kinzelo’s grand ambitions as well.
‘That might be why those Kinzelo bastards kept trying to recruit me.’
Crack, snap!
Zephyrin stood up, her grotesquely twisted and slashed body recovering. In an instant, her joints snapped back into place, and her torn wounds closed.
It seemed she would regenerate even if her entire body were torn apart and crushed, just like the Leader of Kinzelo had done during the terror attack on the Sword Emperor Castle.
Kinzelo.
Jin soon had a strong hunch that Zephyrin likely belonged to that insane group.
‘If it were the Zipples, she would have moved with the Wraith Squad. However, if she belongs to Kinzelo, one thing doesn't quite make sense. Zephyrin is acting completely differently from the attitude Kinzelo has shown me so far.’
Jin loathed Kinzelo, but the organization had always shown a degree of leniency toward him. Attacking him unexpectedly like this was clearly inconsistent with their previous behavior.
“I suspect she might be the dragon of the Kinzelo Leader.”
“That disgusting bastard? It’s possible. The authority he showed during the Sword Emperor Castle attack was practically divine.”
“…Lord Murakan, 12th Flagbearer. It seems we won't find a path to victory if this fight drags on.”
As Valkas spoke, Jin nodded.
Behind them, a Black Knight was dying, and Zephyrin was displaying monstrous strength, regenerating instantly even when her body was crushed. She didn't even show signs of fatigue.
“No path if it drags on? It’s more than that. We absolutely cannot win against her.”
Jin and Valkas’s eyes widened at Murakan’s words.
Jin, in particular, couldn't help but be shocked. He had never imagined a scenario where the prideful Murakan would accept defeat so easily.
Regardless, if Murakan was saying this, there was no need to hesitate. There was only one answer.
“We have to run.”
When Jin spoke, Murakan nodded, while Valkas’s eyes wavered for a moment.
This was the Black King Mountain Fortress, and to Valkas, nothing was more precious than the lives of his subordinates. Abandoning them and fleeing was unthinkable. He believed that if they fled, Zephyrin possessed enough power to destroy the entire fortress by herself in a short time.
The numerous defensive armaments and traps in the fortress would be meaningless before that terrifying Demon Dragon.
“I cannot run, Lord Murakan.”
“I know, you brat. Who said anything about abandoning the kids and running?”
“Then…?”
“I’ll hold that thing back somehow, so you take the kid and lead your subordinates out. I’ll shake her off and join you afterward.”
“Murakan.”
“What.”
“Will you be okay alone?”
Of course, Jin, Valkas, and Murakan had not yet used their full power. Even so, she was an opponent they struggled against even when fighting together. It was only natural to worry if Murakan could shake Zephyrin off on his own.
Khahaha!
Suddenly, Murakan burst into laughter.
“Even so, I’ve regained about forty percent of my original power, kid. Even if it weren't a Demon Dragon but someone like the Beast Demon King Orgal, I could shake them off easily enough.”
“I don't really trust that.”
“Don't worry, I won't die and leave you behind. Besides, this is the best way, and you know it.”
Murakan pointed to one side of the subspace and continued.
“First, break this subspace. You’ve done this plenty of times, so you know how, right?”
Spirit Sword Form 1: Soul Slash and the power of Tess. When it came to cutting through unwanted otherworldly spaces, they had never once disappointed Jin.
Vroooooom…!
A massive amount of spirit energy began to gather around Murakan. Spirit Energy Release—the entire purple subspace was rapidly being dyed black, as if black ink were being poured into a tank of water.
The full power of the current Murakan was being unleashed.
[Hey, Zephyrin. Let’s have a proper playdate between dragons. I’ll personally judge whether your claim of being able to face me in my prime was true or not.]