Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Dragon's Authority
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"Your Excellency, Lord Altros has arrived!"
"Again?"
Valtre startled in the middle of reviewing documents in his office.
Was he still uneasy even after taking his son as a hostage?
Or perhaps he had another message to deliver.
"Where is he?"
"W-Well..."
The knight's hesitant response sparked an ominous premonition of unexpected trouble.
"Speak up!"
"He went straight down to the family crypt."
"What did you say!"
Valtre shot up from his seat and stormed out of the office.
"You mustn't do this!"
"Get out of my way!"
Altros swung his hand.
Each time he did, the knights blocking his path collapsed under assault magic.
The knights swung their swords at him, but they were repelled by the barrier surrounding his body, and they fell powerlessly to Altros's counterattack.
"You pathetic worms dare block my path? You deserve death."
He spread his arms wide.
Black aura rose from his palms, and red threads like spider silk flowed from the hearts of the fallen knights, sucked into his hands.
"Kukuku."
Altros stood before the passage from three days ago, his face twisted in mad glee.
Passing through here would bring him face-to-face with that thing.
Even from afar, he could feel its presence growing stronger, as if it sensed his arrival.
"Your fight with me ends today."
As Altros moved forward with lips curled in resolve and mockery—
"Long time no see."
A small shadow appeared from the passage, and someone approached.
It was Notiang, Valtre's wet nurse.
She had moved her quarters here after Altros's last visit.
To prevent the Tomoya family's secrets from leaking and to protect the relic.
"Old, but just as I remember."
"Young Master, you haven't changed a bit. What on earth happened to you?"
Notiang was visibly shocked that Altros retained his youthful appearance.
"Why so surprised?"
As Altros approached with a sinister smile, she flinched and stepped back.
"Heh heh, still hung up on that day, I see."
"How could I forget what happened?"
"If you'd kept your mouth shut, nothing would have happened."
Notiang erased her surprise and asked coldly.
"Have you forgotten the Count's words? Never return."
"I told you, I'd come back for what's mine when the time came."
"That belongs only to the family head."
"Then why leave it sealed in the wall for decades?"
"Th-That's..."
"What kind of master is something that can't even communicate with its owner? Step aside while I'm asking nicely. For old times' sake, I won't kill you."
"No."
Notiang refused firmly and pulled something from her pocket, holding it out.
It was a fragment shining with blinding brilliance.
The moment Altros faced the light, strength drained from his body.
"Wh-What is that?"
"The family head said the source of your power is darkness. That it would one day bring ruin to the family, and gave me this."
"Put that away."
Altros grimaced and advanced on her.
At that moment, killing intent flared from both sides.
Altros swiftly cast Fly and retreated.
Swish, swish—
Two white-haired elders appeared before Notiang amid the sound of slicing air.
"You!"
Altros's eyes widened.
They were the previous family head's guardian knights.
"Leave."
"And never show your face here again."
They stared at Altros with cold eyes and spat their words.
"Ha, ha, how..."
Altros was visibly flustered.
His father had foreseen this day and prepared countermeasures.
It also meant he'd been that wary of him.
"Was I that frightening to you?"
Rage boiled up, stirring the power of darkness alongside resentment in his chest.
Pitch-black energy gathered in his palm.
"I won't say it twice. Those who block my path only face death."
"We merely fulfill our duty. Harbor no grudge."
As their words ended, they vanished.
"Fools. Think such attacks work on me?"
As Altros clenched his fist, swords thrust from both sides.
Boom! Boom!
His barrier had already formed, blocking all attacks.
"Impossible!"
"Aura strikes..."
The two were deeply shocked.
"Begone!"
Altros swung his arms at them.
Dark energy shot forth like arrows, striking them.
Thud!
They flew back, crashed into the wall, tumbled forward, and vomited blood.
"Kuak!"
"Cough!"
"Since you were once loyal to the family, I'll grant you a special gift."
Black aura rose from his fingertips, forming spears that pierced their skulls.
"How could you!"
As Notiang glared at Altros in fury—
Footsteps rushed down the underground stairs, and Valtre appeared.
He exploded in rage at the scene before him.
"You bastard!"
"No one appreciates my attempt to settle this quietly. This dump was always like that."
Notiang said to Valtre.
"Family head, you must protect this place at all costs."
"You'll tell me everything about him, without omission."
Valtre replied coldly and drew his sword.
A powerful aura rose from him like a heat haze.
Altros smirked at the sight.
"Hiding your strength, eh?"
"You've changed completely in just days. What the hell are you? And what's your connection to the Tomoya family?"
"Still haven't told him?"
Altros glanced at Notiang, then back to Valtre.
"Listen well. I, Altros Tomoya, am the firstborn son of Arjan Tomoya and the family's true heir."
"Wh-What...?"
Valtre's eyes shook violently at the thunderbolt words.
His mother's child was only him, born from the Emperor Timore.
Firstborn?
"Notiang, what nonsense is this fool spouting!"
"Family head, don't let his words sway you. I'll explain everything."
"Shut up!"
Valtre bellowed.
A heavy silence fell, and Notiang's face hardened as she saw red aura emanating from him.
Once he'd decided to fight, she couldn't stop him.
Valtre aimed his sword at Altros.
"What's inside there that drives you to this madness?"
"Skazana's Spear."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"You don't even know its master."
"Don't change the subject!"
Valtre swung his sword.
Whoosh!
A red aura blade shot from it, embedding deeply into the floor beside Altros.
Boom!
"Getting too excited?"
"Shut up and answer!"
"Fair enough. You should know, if anyone. Skazana's Spear is the Tomoya family's treasure."
"What!"
"No one received its call, so it had no choice but to accept an outsider. A family scandal, or rather, a disgrace."
"Bullshit!"
Valtre thrust his sword.
Bang!
The red aura blade flew with terrifying power amid the air-ripping sound.
"What?"
Altros hardened his expression and thrust both arms forward.
"Absolute Shield!"
A black barrier unfolded, blocking the incoming aura blade.
Boom!
A massive shockwave scattered outward.
Notiang and the knights nearby were swept back by it.
Altros's face stiffened at the unexpectedly potent force.
"Sword Master?"
"Power I hid to face Ruan... Who knew it'd come out against you."
"His Majesty would be shocked. But that's all you have. You can never surpass him."
"That's not for you to decide!"
Valtre charged at Altros, thrusting like lightning.
But Altros retreated as if anticipating it, twisting aside. Then he swung at Valtre's back.
"Dark Spear!"
A black spear materialized in the air and shot forth.
"No chance."
Valtre spun and swung his sword.
Boom!
He parried the spear and closed in on Altros's chest.
Altros frowned at the sudden exchange.
"Damn!"
"You never belonged here."
Just before Valtre's fist slammed into his side, a black barrier blocked it.
Boom!
He followed with a knee to the other side.
Again, the black barrier appeared.
Boom!
But Valtre didn't blink, pressing with close-quarters combat to overwhelm Altros.
'Is he really this strong?'
Altros was inwardly shocked by Valtre's prowess.
At minimum, mid-level Sword Master.
And Valtre hadn't shown his full power yet.
For him, empowered by that one's strength, to be pushed back...!
'I overlooked that.'
Intoxicated by great power, he'd forgotten something.
Skazana's Spear had the ability to suppress the Demon King's power.
In its domain, he couldn't wield that power fully.
'To make such a mistake.'
He decided to escape now that the goal was achieved.
He could handle Valtre without borrowing that power.
"You brought this on yourself."
Altros unleashed all his power.
The black aura from him grew denser and fiercer.
It bore down on Valtre.
"......!"
A sinister, ominous energy.
Something utterly alien coiled around him like chains.
The more he resisted, the stronger it grew, bringing increasing pain.
"Damn it!"
"Did I look that weak to you?"
Altros grinned wickedly, gripping a black-aura-formed spear called 'Dark Spear' in one hand.
"That's what I should say..."
Valtre drew up all his power.
Altros's power crushed down just as fiercely in response.
"Fool."
Stab—
"Cough!"
Dark Spear pierced Valtre's chest.
Altros slowly thrust another into the falling man.
Notiang screamed desperately at the sight.
"No!"
"You, begone."
Altros hurled Dark Spear at Notiang.
Thud!
She clutched her pierced chest.
"Can destiny... not be changed...?"
"That one's master is only me, Altros Tomoya."
Altros reached toward the wall where Skazana's Spear lay dormant.
Cracks spiderwebbed across it, shattering to deliver the spear into his grasp.
-You bastard!
As the furious voice rang in his ears, fierce resistance surged from his hand.
Zzzzt—
Lightning crackled from the spear like a thunderbolt.
The shock coursed through his arm, nearly forcing him to drop it.
"Such resistance!"
Altros gathered dark power into his grip.
Black aura enveloped the spear.
The intense lightning weakened and faded.
"See this! This is my power! Uahaha!"
Altros laughed maniacally.
-I'll never serve you!
"I told you, you'll submit eventually."
-Shut up!
"Now, time to prove your worth."
Altros aimed the spear tip at Valtre.
"Starting with that fool. Dark Spear!"
Bang!
Dark Spear launched from Skazana's Spear.
It flew with immense power.
The knights who'd come down with Valtre were all unconscious, unable to help.
A moment of life-or-death crisis!
Then, something shot forth and deflected the Dark Spear.
Boom!
A golden dagger embedded deeply into the floor.
"Who the hell are you!"
Altros shouted, gripping Skazana's Spear.
A low voice echoed from the darkness.
"Were you after that spear, Altros?"
"You dare challenge me knowing who I am? Fool."
Altros sneered and swung Skazana's Spear.
"To hell with you."
Bang!
Dark Spear raced through the darkness.
Boom!
'Dodged?'
As Altros's brow furrowed at the unexpectedly swift movement—
Bang!
Crack! Craaaack!
"......!"
Something from the darkness struck the Absolute Shield he'd just cast.
Altros's face hardened at the cracked barrier.
'What magic is this?'
As he panicked at the unknown assault—
The foe emerged from the darkness.
A man in black armor, wearing a helmet shaped like a dragon's maw.
Cold golden eyes glared from within the helmet at Altros.
"You... Arthur Julius?"
"You know me. Now leave."
Arthur spat coldly and opened fire with the K1.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat—