Chapter 132 The Dragon King of Disaster has a plan?
Chapter 132 The Dragon King of Disaster has a plan?
Black Dragon Gate Arc
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(POV: Akashic Records)
After a two-hour flight to Zarbon city, Skum landed in a secluded forest south of the city.
His arrival was marked by the fading mist of his black, dragon-like wings, which disappeared into thin air.
Skum contently stretched of his arms and gave a wide yawn
Then, he reached into his pouch filled with rejuvenation pills.
With each pill pulsating with a vibrant blue glow, he swiftly tossed twelve into his mouth and chewed. As the pills were consumed, a surge of energy rippled through his body, revitalizing his weary soul.
Skum\'s aura intensified.
From the palm of his hand, tendrils of inky blackness curled and twisted, forming a dense mist that enveloped the Holy Sword, Devaniel. The mist swirled and danced, revealing the gleaming golden blade adorned with intricate engravings. Grasping the handle of the legendary weapon firmly, Skum swung it in a wide arc.
"Devaniel, a sword made by Aurelia, gifted to Melcius to slay the Black Dragon of Destruction, Valtara," Skum whispered with a hint of melancholy. "It\'s ironic, isn\'t it? The very instrument that once saved humanity from the brink of annihilation will now be the catalyst for their downfall." He chuckled softly.
With Devaniel in hand, Skum embarked on a brisk walk through the forest. The foliage around him seemed to part, acknowledging his presence.
After a few minutes, he arrived at a seemingly forgotten structure: the Black Dragon\'s Gate.
Veils of thick vines and undergrowth entangled the ancient gate, almost concealing it from view.
It was a small gate engraved with formidable dragon statues.
Skum raised Devaniel high above his head.
He swung Devaniel down upon the gate, but nothing happened.
The blade, once said to possess awe-inspiring sharpness, turned dull against the sturdy gate. Skum\'s expression remained unchanged, his crimson eyes burning.
"The Holy Sword, a blade unrivaled in power, but its true strength lies dormant, waiting for a worthy master," Skum spoke softly, his voice carrying an undeniable air of arrogance. "It shan\'t cut paper, nor wood, nor steel, unless wielded by one whose will rivals the very gods themselves."
His grip on Devaniel tightened, and with unwavering resolve, Skum raised the sword once more.
He looked at the blade, his gaze piercing its very essence, and uttered words that resonated with profound authority.
"You should consider yourself privileged, Holy Sword, for today you shall witness the sight of a true king."
In that moment, Skum\'s Unique Skill, 『Monarch?s Will』, surged to life.
The Holy Sword, obedient to his command, shimmered with an intensified radiance, bending to his indomitable will.
He flung the sword skyward effortlessly, catching it with a graceful ease.
With a calm swing of his arm, Skum unleashed the full force of his might. The ground beneath the gate trembled as if quaking with fear, and a thunderous roar reverberated through the forest. In an instant, more than half of the surrounding trees, once towering and proud, snapped like twigs, their destruction instant and total.
Skum\'s eyes glimmered with satisfaction as the debris settled around him.
"Excellent," he murmured.
With one strike he destroyed the gate.
It now lay in ruins.
As the gate dissolved into nothingness, the fabric of space itself seemed to ripple and distort, revealing a point of dense darkness. From within this void, two figures emerged. Barin, with his solemn face adorned by intricate tattoos, and Draknis, her flowing ivory hair cascading down her shoulders, stood before Skum.
Their astonishment was evident as they took in the shattered gate and the figure before them.
"Who are you, human?" Barin inquired authoritatively.
Skum clicked his tongue in mild annoyance, his crimson eyes flashing with an air of superiority. "I\'m surprised, Barin. You truly do not recognize me in this form?" he asked, a smug smirk gracing his lips. "But then again, my power hasn\'t yet fully manifested."
As if to prove his point, a dense black mist enveloped Skum, shrouding him from view. Slowly, the mist dissipated, revealing his true form: Barodius, the Dragon King of Disaster. His short golden hair framed his face, his bright red eyes burning. His pale skin contrasted against his golden earrings that glimmered. He wore a light white shirt, the fabric seemingly untouched by the chaos that surrounded him, and black pants that flowed effortlessly into simple sandals.
Barodius raised an eyebrow, his regal demeanor radiating an aura of power. "Recognize me now?" he asked with a haughty tone.
Instantly, both Barin and Draknis dropped to their knees, their heads bowing in deep respect. "Your Majesty," they whispered in unison.
"You may rise," Barodius commanded.
"How did you manage to do this?" asked Barin.
"Ah, my bloodbound subordinate, it was all a part of the plan. While I resided in the Duchy of Drakoria." Barodius answered.
Barodius reached into his pouch and produced twenty-four small, glowing pills, shimmering with untapped power. He handed twelve each to Barin and Draknis. "Behold," he exclaimed, "these are the rejuvenation pills. They\'ll awaken your dormant magic powers."
Draknis, her eyes wide with anticipation, questioned Barodius, "Are you certain they\'ll work?"
Barodius nodded confidently. "These pills have been infused with potent magic herbs. Once consumed, they\'ll channel mana through your bodies, revitalizing your dormant abilities."
Following his instructions, Barin and Draknis obediently ingested the pills. Almost instantly, a surge of mana rippled through their veins, igniting a fiery passion within them. The sensation was euphoric, as if dormant powers were awakening from a deep slumber.
"Barodius, my king, I understand that you have plans here in the kingdom. But what exactly have you done to bring us all back?"
Barodius\' gaze met their intense gazes as he lifted a finger to his eyes. "As you know, my integral skill, known as [Dragon Foresight], allows me to peer into the future."
It was like a microscope, the more mana you poured into it, the deeper into the future you could see.
Barin and Draknis nodded in understanding.
"Knowing that Aurelia\'s seal held us captive," Barodius continued, "I deduced that our only means of escape would be her demise or the use of her power."
Barodius pointed his finger towards Devaniel. "That sword," he declared, "was instrumental in bringing us out of our confinement. It holds the some of Aurelia\'s power and hence was needed to break through the barriers she had placed upon us."
"Oh, I see." Draknis rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
"Apparently, that was also the same sword used by Melcius to kill one of my descendants." Barodius spoke casually.
"Melcius?" (Barin)
"Indeed. He was the one who killed Valtara." (Barodius)
Barin\'s disbelief turned to shock. "I never thought someone would be able to defeat Valtara."
Draknis, her voice tinged with sorrow, added, "Valtara was almost as strong as you, King Barodius."
"True, Valtara possessed great power, but now, his strength is of no consequence. He\'s dead." (Barodius)
"I agree," Draknis nodded.
"Our dragon souls and my Destruction Core, however, still remain trapped on the other side. It may take a few months for me to acquire them." (Barodius)
Barin furrowed his brows. "Why can\'t you do it now?"
Barodius\'s lips curled into a knowing smile. "Patience, Barin. The use of [Monarch\'s Will] drained a considerable portion of the mana I\'d been storing for nearly forty years."
Draknis collapsed onto the cold, stone floor, her eyes filled with frustration. "So we\'ll have to wait another forty years for you to be able to wield the sword again?"
Barodius chuckled darkly, amused. "Oh, ye of little faith. My [Dragon Foresight] has already accounted for this setback."
Draknis looked up at Barodius.
"Have either of you heard of [Samekh\'s Law] ?" (Barodius)
"I believe [Samekh\'s Law] postulates that the more descendants a higher level being possesses, the more power they gain from them." (Barin)
"But your only capable descendant is dead," Draknis stated.
Barodius nodded solemnly, his gaze distant. "Indeed, Valtara was my most powerful descendant, so much so that he had Destruction Core, like me."
Barin and Draknis exchanged surprised glances, partly hopeful.
"So, although Valtara\'s gone, his Destruction Core remains?" Barin asked.
"Yes, that core is currently active within someone\'s body. In just a few months, the Destruction Core will be fully restored, and I\'ll be able to use that vessel as a conduit to restore my full power," Barodius explained.
Draknis rose from the ground with a glimmer of hope.
"So, there\'s a chance for us to regain our true strength?" she asked.
"But, will this vessel be able to survive holding a Destruction Core in their body for that long?" (Barin)
Barodius nodded with certainty, his gaze unwavering.
"Apparently, the one who absorbed the core is an energy being. They are naturally resistant to the destructive energy it emits, meaning they won\'t be killed by it." (Barodius)
In summary, Barodius knew most of what would happen up until now, and planned to consume Serena?s body when the core fully matured again.