Chapter 240


    [Trantor – Peptobismol]


    【Capture the intruders!】


    The Dragon King’s voice shook the tower. As the beam of light subsided, the world that had brightened for a moment was once again engulfed in darkness. Ronan cursed under his breath, roughly sweeping his hair back.


    “Damn it, just my luck.”


    The worst possible situation had urred. He never thought he would be caught by the Dragon King himself. Panting heavily, Aselle spoke up.


    “Wh-what do we do now?”


    “First, we need to get out of this damn tower.”


    “Where to?”


    “He said the sewers would be safe, so let’s head there. For now… shit!”Sensing danger, Ronan rolled to the side with Aselle in his arms. The ceiling above them shattered, and a massive sword shot down. Crash! The weapon, capable of beheading an elephant, pierced the exact spot where the two had been standing. Aselle screamed at the sight of the sword de glinting next to his ear.


    “Kyaaah!”


    “You have good instincts. I thought I was good at catching rats.”


    A voice came from above. Looking up, Ronan saw a girl through the gap in the broken ceiling. Her white hair marked her as a Lycopos. How could she be so fast?


    “But can you stop this?”


    Smiling, she gripped the sword hilt. The engravings on the sword began to glow.


    Ronan didn’t know what it was, but it didn’t feel good. Instinctively, he grabbed his sword and thrust it toward the ceiling. Thwack! The sword energy shot through the gap, striking the girl. The small shard of energy that pierced her chin shattered her skull as it exited.


    “Argh…!”


    Thud. The girl copsed. Blood and brain matter trickled down from the gap in the broken ceiling. To be a Lycopos at her age meant she was quite strong, but this was a stark reminder that no one was invincible against surprise andcency. Ronan turned to Aselle.


    “Can you walk now?”


    “Y-yes


    Aselle nodded quickly, strength returning to his legs as the shock wore off. Ronan shook his head.


    “No, on second thought, your legs are too short. It’s better if I carry you.”


    “What?!”


    “It doesn’t affect your magic, does it? Let’s move before moree.”


    Ronan picked Aselle up again. He remembered the examiner’s advice to escape through the sewers if things went wrong. He wasn’t sure where they were, but they had to get out of this cursed tower to have any chance of survival.


    They were just about to leave when Aselle suddenly reached out and started chanting a spell. Crash! An ice barrier rose from the floor, blocking the stairs leading down from the upper floor. He stammered.


    “Th-this should help.”


    “Good job.”


    Ronan smiled. He recalled that Naransonia had also blocked escape routes like this. They hurriedly descended the stairs, nearly tumbling down. They had to escape before more people arrived.


    “That’s more like it.”


    Ronan exulted as they reached the lower floor. It was still empty, likely because little time had passed. Through therge window, the night sky was filled with a river of stars.


    “Great. I’m counting on you, Aselle!”


    “Y-yes!”


    Ronan shouted as he and Shullifen kicked through the window and jumped. Crash! Shattered ss fragments sparkled in the moonlight.


    The night wind roared past their ears. As they began to fall, Aselle, on the verge of tears, started to cast a telekinesis spell. Whoosh! A massive shadow rose from below, stopping right in front of them.


    “What?!”


    【You were here.】


    Ronan gasped. A familiar woman’s voice echoed. His eyes widened in disbelief. The three of them were buffeted by a fierce wind. A silver dragon hovered in ce before them.


    “You


    It was a dragon so beautiful it made Ronan momentarily forget the dire situation. Covered in sleek, metallic scales that resembled steel, it exuded a formidable presence. A sigh escaped Ronan’s parted lips.


    “Naransonia.”


    【To repay His Majesty’s grace like this. You must have made up your mind.】


    Naransonia spoke, her body beginning to be d in steel armor. Realizing what was about to happen, Ronan cursed.


    “Damn it


    Ronan took a defensive stance. Naransonia, having retreated with a wide turn, charged towards them. Her speed was incredible for such a massive creature. Boom! The dyed sonic boom exploded through the night sky.


    “M-Mana shield!”


    Aselle hastily chanted a defensive spell. Severalyers of translucent barriers formed between them and Naransonia. The barriers looked sturdy and well-crafted.


    But the dragon’s charge was far stronger than they anticipated. Crash! The barriers shattered like brittle wooden boards upon contact with Naransonia’s forehead. Ronan shouted.


    “Shullifen!”


    “Hmm.”


    Ronan swiftly switched his core. Shullifen grabbed the hilt of his sword. Boom! Naransonia, colliding with them, crashed into the wall of the Sky Tower.


    Thud. Polymorphing to her human form, she set her feet on the ground. Dust filled the devastated 42nd floor. Feeling a sudden pain, Naransonia frowned.


    “Ugh


    A thin sh ran across her shoulder de. Blood dripped from her arm and gathered at her fingertips before falling. It was the work of the human named Shullifen.


    “To think you’d counterattack in that situation


    Naransonia muttered in disbelief. Even though it was an unprotected spot, it was still impressive that he had managed to target it, and regardless, he had managed to tear through a dragon’s scales.


    ‘He was of the Garcia bloodline.’


    Had he lived, he would have be a formidable swordsman. What a waste. As she searched for his body, her gaze fixed on a certain spot.


    “Hmm?”


    Through the dust, the shadow of a human figure appeared. Swoosh! A crescent-shaped sh tore through the smoke, grazing her right cheek. Blood trickled from the cut. Her usually emotionless face twisted slightly.


    “I didn’t expect you to still be alive.”


    [Trantor – Peptobismol]


    Whoosh…! The night wind blowing through the broken wall scattered the smoke. In the moonlight, the silhouettes of three humans and a dragon emerged. Of the humans, only Ronan was standing.


    “You bitch. You almost… killed me.”


    “What did you do? It seemed like the trajectory twisted a bit at thest moment.”


    “Hah… that’s not something you need to know.”


    Ronan raised his middle finger. His overloaded heart was pounding like crazy. At the moment of impact, he had switched cores, activating the auras of Varen and Teranill simultaneously.


    By enhancing his strength and generating a shockwave, he managed to partially mitigate the impact. Of course, he couldn’t prevent a couple of ribs from breaking. He pointed at Aselle and Shullifen, who were lying on the ground.


    “What are you going to do about them? They’re my few friends.”


    “This wouldn’t have happened if you had stayed put. Or if you were stronger.”


    “How could we stand by and do nothing when you were doing that at the top of the tower… Lady, your king is insane.”


    【How dare you say such a thing…!】


    Naransonia’s face twisted with fury. Such intense loyalty. Ronan responded indifferently.


    “Why are you so mad? Is it normal for your king to team up with fanatics to defeat Navardose? Fanatic bastards who aim to destroy the world?”


    【If that is His Majesty’s will, we will follow it. Outsider. It is not for a mere mortal to interfere.】


    “You’re talking about mortals while nning to destroy the world. You don’t get it.”


    Ronan wiped the blood from his mouth. There was no escaping this ce without defeating that dragon. He raised his sword and pointed it at Naransonia.


    “Bring it on, pretty dragon.”


    【What


    Naransonia flinched as her eyes met Ronan’s. The killing intent emanating from him was hard to believeing from a human.


    How arrogant.】


    And Naransonia felt an extreme rage at that. She, even for a brief moment, had been intimidated by a human. She shouted angrily.


    【You didn’t even inflict the wound yourself!】


    ng! Hundreds of steel spikes erupted from the ground at her feet, surging towards Ronan. The spikes, infused and strengthened with mana, glowed with a bluish hue. Unlike the restraining technique used on Orsay, this was a killing move.


    Despite the torrent of steel, Ronan neither panicked nor fled. He merely waited for them toe closer. When the distance narrowed to ten steps, he vanished from sight. Naransonia’s eyebrows shot up.


    【What?】


    She couldn’t see the movement itself. It was like watching a candle suddenly snuff out. In that instant, the advancing steel spikes halted abruptly.


    ‘What is this?’


    With her keen eyesight, she noticed a white line drawn across the surface of each spike. What is that? As the question rose in her mind, Ronan reappeared beside her.


    “Hah.”


    Naransonia involuntarily gasped. Ronan, appearing suddenly, was crouched as if he hadnded from a great height. Just as she regained herposure to strike. ng! The lines on the spikes split open, causing them to explode.


    【What…!】


    Naransonia was shocked. The menacing spikes had turned into helpless fragments, dancing in the air. She hesitated as her gaze fell on Ronan’s pure white sword, now covered in fresh blood. Ronan spoke.


    “I can certainly inflict a much worse wound.”


    【You


    Naransonia’s eyes widened. As she realized whose blood it was. Swoosh! A red line appeared on her chest, and blood spurted out.


    【Argh!】


    Blood gushed like a fountain, drenching the floor and ceiling. Thud! Staggering, Naransonia fell to her knees and copsed. Her vision blurred and then was consumed by darkness. Ronan sighed in relief, confirming she wouldn’t rise again.


    Thank you, Lynn.”


    [You’re wee.]


    Lynn’s voice echoed in his mind. The de of the awakened Holy Sword Lamancha glowed faintly white. The exhaustion from resonating with the Holy Sword was overwhelming.


    Naransonia was a formidable opponent. The title Empress of Steel was well deserved. If Lynn hadn’t awakened at the scent of blood, he couldn’t have guaranteed victory.


    [What will you do now? The situation doesn’t look good.]


    “Keep going. We need to find a ce to hide.”


    Ronan replied in a voice heavy with fatigue. Though he wanted to copse and sleep, there was no time for that.


    “Get up… you bastards.”


    Ronan staggered over to Aselle and Shullifen. Shullifen, who hade to his senses, was sitting up and panting. He spoke.


    “Did we win…?”


    “Yes.”


    “To have been unconscious for so long… it’s disgraceful.”


    Shullifen gritted his teeth. It was the most frustrated expression Ronan had ever seen him wear.


    “At least you didn’t die or shit yourself. We were in a collision with a dragon.”


    Ronan chuckled and extended a hand. Silently, Shullifen epted the support and stood up. He knew there was no time to waste.


    “Let’s go then. Aselle, get up.”


    “Ugh… R-Ronan?”


    “Looks like you’re not hurt, so that’s good.”


    Fortunately, Aselle woke up before Ronan had to p him. Ronan hoisted him onto his shoulder again.


    They were much lower down now, so it looked like they could get out quickly. After a brief regroup, they were about to start moving.


    “My God! Lady Naransonia!”


    “There they are! Everyone, halt!”


    A loudmotion erupted from behind. All three of them turned their heads simultaneously, feeling a sense of foreboding. Guards were rushing down the stairs.


    Damn it.”


    Ronan put a hand to his forehead. Despite finishing quickly, it seemed the guards were well-trained. They had already activated their dragonoid transformation. Given the direct orders, they were taking no chances.


    ‘If it’s just the guards


    Ronan silently ced his hand on his sword hilt. If it was only them, they could quickly break through. Then, the guard squad split to the sides, and two men walked out.


    【It’s true. Naransonia has fallen.】


    【What? The Empress of Steel really lost to a human?】


    The two men, impably dressed, were identical twins. The guards chanted their five-letter names. Unable to hold back, Ronan swore.


    “Why the hell is this happening to me, damn it.”


    It was obvious even without effort that the two men were dragons,parable to Naransonia.


    Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of the misfortune. Through the stairs and the wall Naransonia had smashed, people in white robes started entering one by one.


    “What, you haven’t gone farther yet?”


    “You’re slower than I thought.”


    They were all followers of Neb zier. There were no bishops among them, but one Lukopos was present. A boy with white hair growled at Ronan.


    “You, you killed my sister.”


    His crimson eyes burned fiercely. Apparently, the girl with the greatsword whom Ronan had killed earlier was his sister. Ronan bit his lip.


    ‘This is really too much.’


    Dozens of dragonoid guards and Neb zier followers, plus two dragons. Even when they fought Orsay, it wasn’t this bad.


    “Life really is


    It was a situation of utter desperation. No matter how he racked his brain, there was no usible escape.


    The forces of evil were slowly closing in, tightening their encirclement. Ronan and Shullifen stood side by side, backs against the wall, preparing for battle. Shullifen spoke.


    “Ronan.”


    “What is it, man?”


    Ronan answered without turning his head. Suddenly, Shullifen put something in Ronan’s coat pocket. What was this? When he reached in, he felt a pocket watch. Shullifen continued.


    “When you get back, give this to Miss Iril.”


    [Trantor – Peptobismol]