Chapter 70: Twisting Two Fates (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 70: Twisting Two Fates (2)
How on earth was he supposed to stab her?
Just clinging to the scales was a struggle amidst their frenzied flight. With every collision of their massive bodies, Jin felt as if every bone in his body was rattling.
They’re acting like sworn enemies.
Quicantel was truly fighting to kill. Her Breath crackled with murderous intent, and she lunged for Murakan’s vitals without hesitation whenever she went to bite.
Fweeeet!
Quicantel’s Breath streaked past, nearly grazing Murakan’s back. As Jin watched the scorched path the beam left behind, a cold sweat broke out on his skin.
Though Murakan was currently being pushed back, he had no intention of simply taking the beating.
[Calm down and let’s talk, Quicantel!]
Whoosh!
Black clouds—a massive manifestation of Murakan’s Spirit Energy—suddenly gathered in the sky. As Murakan soared upward to hide within the darkness, Quicantel let out a frustrated roar.
To Jin, the sound was a deafening explosion that threatened to burst his eardrums. He felt the noise reverberate through his skull, making his very brain vibrate.
Just as humans were ranked from 1-star to the Realm of Creation, dragons had their own hierarchy. Among all living dragons, Quicantel possessed some of the greatest combat power.
If Jin hadn't been properly trained, he would have lost consciousness from the roar alone.
Amidst the pitch-black surroundings, Jin caught his breath.
“I need to keep my wits about me. I’m glad I came along. If you had been killed by that Silver Dragon here, no one would have even known.”
[I won’t die. No matter how strong Quicantel is, she can’t enter this space. Let’s take a moment to think here—how should I go about persuading her?]
However, that was Murakan’s misconception.
[Did you think I wouldn't be able to follow you just because you hid in there?]
Quicantel’s wings let out a sharp screech as they cut through the air. A moment later, her massive frame dove through the cloud of Spirit Energy and into the darkness.
[Quicantel! How?]
[It seems you still don’t realize how weak you’ve become. You call this pathetic display a Spirit Energy Release? Murakan, I am beyond disappointed.]
[Ahem, Quicantel. For the sake of our old feelings, why don't we stop here? I only came to ask you something.]
[If I were to consider our old feelings, tearing you into ten thousand pieces wouldn't be enough!]
[Well, fine. So be it. Do it if you can. You were always this way. We already went our separate ways, did we not?]
Crunch!
Quicantel bit down on the joint of Murakan’s wing. A sickening sound of breaking and crushing echoed through the air, and Jin reflexively drew Bradamante.
Murakan bit Quicantel’s wing in return. Even though they had stopped flapping, the two dragons did not fall, held aloft by the swirling Spirit Energy.
They had attacked the same spot, but Murakan took the brunt of the damage. Chunks of flesh and blood rained down from his wing, while Quicantel’s only showed cracks, as if glass had been struck.
Jin had to swing his sword before the two dragons moved again. From the moment Murakan was bitten, the cloud of Spirit Energy began to dissipate rapidly.
Her hide is too tough for even Murakan’s teeth to pierce. That means a normal strike from me won't even leave a scratch.
Therefore, the target Jin chose was Quicantel’s already-cracked wing. It was a shame it wasn't a vital spot, but it was better than wasting his one and only chance.
Wuuuung!
Aura coated Bradamante. The light glowed brilliantly, a stark contrast to the darkness of the Spirit Energy.
[What?!]
Surprisingly, Quicantel had been completely unaware that a human was riding on Murakan’s back. She had only just realized Jin was there.
Leaping like an arrow, Jin held his sword in a reverse grip and plummeted toward Quicantel’s wing.
It was a strike delivered with all his might. Fortunately, the blade sank deep into the cracks, and Jin had no intention of stopping there.
Sword Liberation.
It was the technique Murakan had urged him to keep sealed until his Spirit Energy reached 5-star. However, now was not the time to be picky.
If he couldn't land a fatal blow with this attack, his only remaining option was to break Orgal’s Pendant and summon Luna.
Jin had absolutely no desire to do that, so he planned to reveal every card he had first.
Above all, there was no shortage of Spirit Energy to trigger a complete Sword Liberation. Jin was instinctively absorbing the Spirit Energy Murakan had released into the air.
[Well done, kid! Cut off her wing so this woman comes to her senses!]
Jin didn't hear Murakan’s voice.
As the Sword Liberation began, time seemed to stop, just as it had when he killed the members of the White Wolf Tribe.
The scattered Spirit Energy was sucked into Bradamante like a whirlpool. As the energy surged into the blade, the wound on Quicantel’s wing joint widened.
She let out a scream of agony, but it was already too late to dodge the liberated Bradamante.
She had been careless. Blinded by rage, she hadn't even noticed a human on Murakan’s back, and she had ignored all attempts at conversation.
The Spirit Energy, surging along the blade, now completely pierced through Quicantel’s left wing.
Jin twisted his entire body, throwing his weight into the hilt. Screeeech! A hideous grinding sound erupted, followed by the sight of Quicantel’s wing being torn wide open.
As the sword dug deeper, the surrounding Spirit Energy cleared away. Since he was exerting dozens of times the power he could normally produce, the Spirit Energy was being consumed inefficiently.
This was only natural, as Quicantel’s wings were so durable that even a 7-star knight putting their full strength into a strike wouldn't be able to cut them.
Slice—!
The moment the black blade passed through the wing and Jin began to fall, Murakan lifted his tail and caught him.
Having suddenly poured out an immense amount of power, Jin was drenched in cold sweat. But as he watched the heavy wing fall into the sea, he realized just how incredible a feat he had accomplished.
A beat later, Quicantel also began to plummet, her remaining wing flapping uselessly.
Did I just become a Dragon Slayer out of nowhere?
The sea swallowed Quicantel. A magnificent spray of water rose into the air, as if symbolizing the death of a dragon.
“Haa, haa!”
Jin had to endure the surging aftereffects. Handling power beyond one's capacity always came with a price.
Fortunately, it doesn't involve the same excruciating pain as when I fought the White Wolf Tribe. It must be because my stage has reached a higher level since then.
Still, his limbs trembled, and intermittent waves of pain washed over him. Just as he felt like collapsing onto Murakan’s back…
[Now, what you and I have to do is pray that Quicantel has regained her senses.]
“What do you mean? It’s not over?”
[Dragons that control time don't die easily. Just watch.]
Jin looked down and gasped.
A massive, dark shadow was stirring on the surface of the sea. In the next moment, Jin witnessed the unique power possessed by a being that governed 'Time.'
Rewind.
The severed wing and the submerged body were slowly rising back into the sky. Quicantel’s time was being reversed.
She wasn't even vulnerable during the process. The space around her was strangely distorted; even if one were to swing a sword at it, there would be no sensation, as if cutting through an illusion.
Watching this gave Jin goosebumps all over his body.
[This is why there’s a distinction between Authorities and magic. But don't worry too much. As much as it’s a cheat ability, it consumes a terrifying amount of power. And you, act like you’re still perfectly fine.]
A moment later, Quicantel had risen completely back to her original position in the sky, her severed wing perfectly reattached.
As the distorted space snapped back to normal, Quicantel began to move again.
Just as Murakan had said, she looked quite exhausted. Her breathing was ragged, and her wingbeats had slowed significantly.
It seemed she wouldn't be able to attack again immediately.
[Seeing as you aren't lunging at me right away, I suppose you’re finally in the mood to talk.]
[...What happened, Murakan? Don't tell me the human on your back is Solderet’s contractor?]
[He is. Are you done venting your anger? I didn't know you still held such a grudge after we broke up. Didn't we end things on good terms?]
[Good terms? You dumped me unilaterally! Back then, you didn't even give me a chance to speak—the same way I just ignored you!]
[Is that the same thing? Every time I even brought up the subject of breaking up, you’d flip your lid and attack me. How was I supposed to give you a chance? To be blunt, it’s not like I cheated! What was I supposed to do when our personalities didn't match?]
Was this truly a conversation between dragons who had existed for thousands of years?
Jin couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
I didn't expect dragons to be all noble and dignified, but... they’re excessively human. No, you mean to tell me she’s been trying to kill us this whole time just because she was bitter about being dumped?
The bickering between the two dragons continued for a while. They simply repeated the same points, and the conversation didn't make much progress.
[Anyway, let’s stop talking about this, Quicantel. I didn't come here because I wanted to fight you. I came because I have something to ask. The life of one of our kin is at stake.]
[Ha! To think the arrogant Murakan would worry about his own kind. After all the kin you’ve killed, what a hypocritical thing to say.]
At the mention of 'the kin you’ve killed,' Murakan flinched. It was a very sensitive topic, and Quicantel seemed to realize her mistake, pointedly avoiding Murakan’s gaze.
[...Fine, among the kin I killed was your brother’s enemy. I killed that guy, who had nothing to do with me, simply because you hated him. Is that what you wanted to hear?]
Murakan let out a sigh and continued.
[Forget it. It was my mistake trying to ask you. I’ll find another dragon to solve this.]
[Just tell me. Damn it, I just keep getting emotional whenever I see you. I apologize for what I just said.]
[Why are you leaving out the part where you tried to kill me?]
[I had a good reason for that.]
[I’m sure you did. Anyway... one of Az Mil’s guardian dragons went missing recently. Do you know anything about it? Az Mil’s contractor is searching for him desperately.]
[Missing? Are you talking about 'Latri'?]
[Yeah, that’s right. Latri. He’s a young dragon whose name I’d never even heard of.]
At that, Quicantel blinked her eyes slowly.
[That’s strange. The Wind Dragon, Buretta, took that child away not long ago.]
The Wind Dragon, Buretta.
The dragon associated with Andrei Zipple. As soon as that name was mentioned, Jin and Murakan were overcome by a dark premonition.
[Why did Buretta take him?]
[I heard that since none of Az Mil’s other guardian dragons are active lately, he was going to teach him Dragon Language Magic instead.]
It was the moment the culprit who kidnapped Yuria’s guardian dragon was revealed.