Chapter 76: The Forbidden Imitation (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 76: The Forbidden Imitation (1)
These lunatics… I didn’t expect them to admit to the charges so brazenly.
Jin had been certain they were the ones who kidnapped Latri, but seeing them act with such audacity was absurd.
Furthermore, their readiness to eliminate a dragon of Quicantel’s stature without hesitation made one thing clear: the incidents involving Latri and Enya were undoubtedly orchestrated by the Zipple Clan’s core leadership.
To think they’d demand Enya so casually. They’re hunting down the contractees of other gods to either exploit or eliminate them.
The atmosphere was thick with tension, ripe for battle, but Jin couldn’t make his move just yet.
I’ll act when Quicantel is in real danger or when a clear opening for a surprise attack presents itself.
Since Andrei and Buretta were still unaware of his and Murakan’s presence, observing the situation remained the best choice.
[To be honest, I haven’t been fond of you for a while either, Quicantel.]
Buretta spread its wings and roared.
Mana surged through the wind generated by its massive wings, and the tornadoes encroaching from all directions began to converge on Quicantel.
Whirrrrrrr—!
The tornadoes moved like giant serpents. As the nearby trees were shredded by the razor-sharp winds, Quicantel merely snorted in derision.
[Surely you don’t expect to harm me with this child’s play?]
The attack held the power of an 8-star spell. It certainly wasn't weak enough to be dismissed as "child's play" by normal standards, but it was insufficient to pierce Quicantel’s hide. She didn't even bother to dodge, taking the wind head-on—not out of bravado, but because she truly felt no need to move.
As the tornadoes scraped against Quicantel’s silver scales, a screeching friction filled the air, intense enough to make one’s ears ring.
But that was all.
The tornadoes failed to dislodge even a single scale before completely dissipating.
The surrounding landscape looked as if it had been hit by a heavy bombardment, the earth torn asunder, yet Quicantel remained standing tall in her original position.
Buretta’s pupils dilated in shock.
“Ooh…! Impressive indeed!”
Andrei let out an exclamation of admiration, his voice trembling slightly.
Quicantel found Andrei’s relaxed demeanor unpleasant and strangely unsettling.
The 9-star Great Mage, ‘Wind King’ Andrei Zipple.
As the Vice Patriarch of the Zipple Clan, the entire world knew he was powerful, but very few knew exactly how strong.
It was only natural, as most who fought him ended up dead. Consequently, the public could only vaguely speculate about Andrei’s true combat prowess.
Quicantel, too, lacked detailed information on him.
[It seems the title of Wind King isn’t just for show. You arrogant human. Now, show me your true skill. Once I start rampaging, you won’t have many opportunities left.]
“It has been a long time since this old man has been able to pour out his full strength. I shall enjoy this, Silver Dragon of Time.”
Andrei’s staff began to glow.
Mana Release—the technique that signaled a mage’s entry into true battle.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a 9-star mage’s Mana Release in person.
In an instant, the ground within a 500-meter radius was dyed in blue mana. This was no common Mana Release; as the contractee of Melzaier, the God of Wind, Andrei’s mana was the wind itself. Every gust blowing across the island could become his weapon.
And wind is invisible. While one could see the distortion of space as it was artificially compressed and fired, the wind itself had no inherent form.
This meant that Andrei’s wind could become an invisible blade or an intangible spear to pierce his opponent.
The space surrounding Andrei began to warp with the flow of the wind. It was impossible to tell when or what would emerge from that distorted space.
“If I may say one thing…” Andrei smiled thinly and pointed a finger. “I happen to be quite adept at dealing with dragons. So, do be careful.”
Screeeech!
Something shot out from Andrei’s finger.
It was wind compressed into the shape of an awl. This time, Quicantel judged it to be dangerous and hastily spread her wings. Her plan was to fly up to dodge and then counterattack with her Breath.
However, his claim of being strong against dragons was no empty boast.
My flight… is blocked!?
Even as she flapped her massive wings with all her might, no wind was generated. Her wings felt far heavier than usual, as if she were moving through water.
Windless Zone.
An ultimate technique that only a contractee of Melzaier could use.
Within the land touched by his Mana Release, no creature could fly without Andrei’s permission.
And for a dragon, losing the ability to fly was a devastating blow to its combat effectiveness.
Crunch!
Andrei’s wind awl struck Quicantel’s chest. Several scales shattered and fell to the ground. Simultaneously, Buretta soared into the air.
[You bastards…!]
[You are certainly strong, but you were too complacent.]
Buretta’s Breath rained down in dozens of curving arcs. Quicantel raised a mana shield, but in the meantime, Andrei was already chanting a new spell.
This time, it wasn't a spell derived from Melzaier’s authority.
It was a Zipple secret magic: Lightning Storm. Fiercely glowing currents of electricity were gathering in Andrei’s grasp.
Being Melzaier’s contractee didn't mean he could only use wind magic. Much like Jin could use other elemental spells while drawing on spirit energy, Andrei was not so limited.
This is going to be dangerous, you damn human…!
Without having landed a single significant blow, Quicantel was being driven into a corner.
Should I step in now?
The moment Jin glanced at him, Murakan shook his head slightly.
“It’s true Quicantel was complacent, but those guys are underestimating her, too. Let’s watch a bit longer. If we go out now, it’ll just bruise her pride.”
As soon as Murakan finished speaking, Andrei’s incantation ended.
Violently surging currents of electricity poured toward Quicantel. Hundreds of lightning bolts, bright enough to sting the eyes, mingled with Buretta’s Breath.
Even Jin, who was a considerable distance away and protecting himself with spirit energy, felt his entire body tingle.
It was mana worthy of the Zipple Clan’s Vice Patriarch.
However, no matter how powerful the magic, it was meaningless if it failed to reach its target.
Quicantel had already activated her Authority of Time. Andrei’s magic froze in place.
Just as Andrei ruled the wind as Melzaier’s contractee, Quicantel ruled time as the Silver Dragon of Olta.
[That was a decent trick.]
The crackling bolts of lightning hung suspended in front of Quicantel, frozen in mid-air.
It had become a confrontation between two divine authorities.
Andrei lowered his staff, his eyes shimmering with intense greed.
“What a truly covetous power… Heh heh. Seeing it with my own eyes makes the blood in this old body stir for the first time in ages.”
Quicantel didn't bother responding and leisurely stepped out of the frozen space.
[Now, it’s my turn.]
She still couldn't fly.
Nevertheless, Quicantel was confident she could dominate the battlefield.
[I may not be able to fly, but you won't be able to move so much as a finger!]
Kiiiiiiing!
As a sharp resonant sound rang out, ripples began to spread from Quicantel’s forehead.
Like a stone dropped into a lake, the ripples expanded in a massive circle, and anything they touched was frozen in time.
“That right there is why you end up as a decoration if you mess with time dragons, kid,” Murakan muttered. “If you get caught in those ripples, it’s over.”
“Isn't that ability completely broken?”
“Well, it’s fine as long as it doesn't touch you. She can’t maintain it for long, either.”
Buretta and Andrei were fighting a time dragon for the first time. They instinctively dodged the ripples, but they overlooked one crucial fact.
If even a toe, a single strand of hair, or any part of the body was caught, the entire being would be frozen.
Andrei, being small, could easily escape. Buretta could not.
Thud! Quicantel kicked off the ground with her hind legs and lunged at Buretta, who was now frozen mid-air.
“Buretta!”
The moment she judged she was close enough, Quicantel released her authority and tore into its neck. Buretta fell with Quicantel, letting out a delayed scream of agony.
Boom!
A thick stream of blood poured from Buretta’s long neck as Quicantel locked her jaws with the tenacity of a predator that had caught its prey.
With every struggle, green scales, blood, and flesh splattered across the ground.
For the first time, Andrei’s face twisted in fury, caught in a dilemma. If he cast magic recklessly, Buretta would be caught in the crossfire.
Furthermore, whenever Andrei tried to approach, Quicantel would release those ripples again.
[Aaaargh!]
[You taste terrible. I was complacent? Say it again!]
Crunch! Quicantel shouted as she spat out a chunk of Buretta’s flesh. White bone was exposed on Buretta’s neck, and the moment it tried to struggle free—
Quicantel used her ripples to freeze Buretta once more.
As this process repeated, she tore away at the other dragon piece by piece.
“Ugh, that gives me the creeps. I’ve been on the receiving end of that before.”
“From Lady Quicantel?”
“We fought a lot when we were dating.”
A few more bites and Buretta’s head would be completely severed. The green dragon was already half-unconscious, barely twitching even when time resumed.
“Stop… Stop this at once, Silver Dragon!”
[Shut up and keep watching, Zipple mage. You’re next. Your tone has certainly changed, hasn't it? Have you lost your nerve now that death is near?]
By then, however, Quicantel was also showing clear signs of exhaustion.
If the Authority of Time could be used indefinitely, Cyron wouldn't be the strongest in the world.
I seized victory thanks to Buretta’s carelessness. I’ll kill this one, then deal with the mage with help from Jin and Murakan…!
Having spammed her authority, Quicantel’s mana was nearly depleted.
Huff, huff…
As Quicantel exhaled ragged breaths, preparing to snuff out Buretta’s final thread of life, Andrei made his decision. He began to walk toward the dragons.
“You have gone too far.”
[Look who’s talking.]
“Such behavior is a privilege reserved only for the strong, Silver Dragon. You were born a Silver Dragon of Time, and I suppose you’ve spent your whole life believing that you and the god you serve are the strong ones… the ones who command the world.”
“But that is a delusion. Everything will eventually be placed under the banner of Zipple. Humans and gods alike.”
As he finished speaking, Andrei set down his staff and pulled something from his robes.
It was a round stone radiating an ominous black light. The moment he saw it, Murakan instinctively cried out in horror.
“An Origin Stone…!? That’s impossible!”
Simultaneously, Murakan transformed into his true form. His massive body cast a shadow over the ground, so large it made the spirit energy hiding them completely irrelevant.
[Get away, Quicantel!]