Chapter 232: Dragons with Collars (1)
xAVUnder the World Tree with its fluttering red maple leaves, Kihano silently watched Vlad, who sat with his head buried in his knees.WLCW
mZbLThis was because Vlad’s image in that posture reminded Kihano of his own past when he had also sought refuge in another’s world, silent and full of despair.YRgQJzo
kdV[…It seems there is a dragon fragment embedded in Frausen’s heart.]onTwx
o5B9rIt wasn’t easy for Kihano to start speaking, but seeing Vlad in a condition that didn’t seem to improve soon, he decided to do so.GXZ8yS
cIxi6BAlthough it wasn’t the right path, he understood the weight of the worries Vlad carried with him.pYGCPEl
lORd[If you manage to stop that fragment, even for a moment, Frausen will also close his eyes.]SQOA6
fFFNInnThe founding king and master of swords.AdM
ZBlAlthough Frausen returned to life in a pitiful manner, he was like an insurmountable wall for Vlad.02e
KN6Kihano knew that to overcome Frausen, Vlad would have to stop following only the conventional path.Y6K
cAA“How do I do that?”7ZDctOb
MbZ[You must fracture your own world.]yLkgIev
yujTNot the revived Master of the Sword, but the dragon fragment he carries.uI2el9
3XsUQIt was also a method that only Kihano, who had already experienced destructive perfection, could suggest.ncet2
6NFkhv[Use the fractures in your world to create a crack in the perfection of the fragment.]ZZ8Ic
oQjVlad slowly lifted his head when he heard Kihano’s voice sound different than usual.tyfm5
mwXfVWfKihano was like a beacon for Vlad, always showing him the right path, but today he shone fiercely.4s27Gn
JtoA[…To harm another’s world, you must also be prepared to be hurt.]Nfe40
Y7SgKihano’s eyes, when they met Vlad’s, reflected a deep sadness.OyL7Hd
k6UbThe depth of the sadness that Vlad could not dare to understand came from memories of long ago and was also directed at the young knight who now had to navigate the harsh reality.v9XuCH
YkSV[Knight Vlad, are you prepared to endure wounds to do what you must?]Onp
J2nAlThe most wounded being in the world was asking the question, addressing the one who would succeed him in that pain.9k28F
sxTj‘How do you see me now?’3vyxjUk
BQeXC4gIn Vlad’s long silence, Kihano remembered the most perfect of the dragons he had faced in the past.mlFRm
EmyWoqMThe most perfect dragon, who could become anything because he was a brilliant possibility, was a being who didn’t know what he wanted to become until the moment of his death.t7bp1
CmG6“…You don’t need to worry so much about me, Kihano.”DPi
4gmJVdBut Vlad’s response, after that silence, was different from back then.AH9
UL3KuN“I already swore I would do whatever it takes.”1PuhS4N
8atoaAlthough born from the same origin, Vlad’s answer was entirely different.WaJEkz
du0dHearing it, Kihano could confirm that the choice he had made in the past had not been wrong.1oB
7ZsdeA7Unlike the most perfect dragon from back then, Vlad, who was now in front of Kihano, was a man who clearly knew who he was.yGA
fA6***Mo8Z
UQao6“Get out of the way!”Y7j7U
q4T1f2“Guards, open the gates!”h3W4Zo
XMXiWhile Vlad and the Great Mother were facing off, the walls of the city of Namarka resounded with the deafening sound of hooves.2Admr
JxUTV8MIt was the sound of what seemed to be about fifteen galloping horses.T8vb9
XNN8rFHowever, the guards who were supposed to guard the gate did not stop the running horses but hurriedly took cover when they saw the flag ahead of them.GzrUX
mjEtH“Dragonslayer knights?”dNU7
qjWHivh“Why are they here…?”pbXnH3v
MOjVgVWA city without a proper owner and, therefore, without anyone to take responsibility.OUiz
I15AAKThere were flags running toward the city without hesitation.X7m9
VMjbbThe flag, which was hoisted with a fierce force that seemed as if it would cut anyone in front of it, had a long line drawn dividing the dragon’s neck.oVnK
QP0“Where are you, Vlad?”LHCX
z3s6yvMirshea’s blue eyes shone as he looked at the city he had just entered.Kqp
dlrThis was because the presence of Vlad, whom he could feel clearly because he was close, made his heart race.smc
BELLqnC“…Over there.”XAcj7
hynAZfAlthough not as powerful as his father, the dragon duke, Mirshea had inherited the Dragulia blood and had been trained as the legitimate heir.xqw0lHW
4CcyKMirshea, who was exploring the dragon’s world with his left eye closed, could see a golden world waving from the end of an alley in the distance.UnvchPx
kX69Jt“You keep staying in places you don’t belong, Vlad.”0Wj
Amu8Ef1Although his blood was noble and the light he emitted was bright, his younger brother was still trapped in a pitiful place.5zO
Rip0Although Vlad was an opponent he had to face, Mirshea disliked seeing him in those places and frowned as he took the reins of his horse.SzY8hz
gZqyb0“Let’s go.”6yA0e
xb2Ph66“Yes, commander.”osabQ
bEx714PThe last refuge of the Ruga tribe, which had wandered restlessly for so long, was now under the shadow of a dragon flag, ominously waving as they advanced.QVLMn
1sBE5Like the eyes of Mirshea, who now leads the Dragonslayer Knights and moves forward.nCdCp
N6fD6qH***Rp5XPwY
SUuADL“Great Mother!”am1nM
cxMThere was an urgent voice that broke the cold air in the room.UMh6
K3zi3SThe atmosphere in the open room was not friendly enough for anyone to be easily disturbed, but it didn’t matter to the beastman who had just entered.JT0XuyL
OduYUA“It’s the Dragonslayer Knights! They’re coming this way!”z3OP9e
npZ0L“…”bSmXK1
84mzcThe Great Mother of the Ruga tribe, who had discovered the nature of Vlad and the spirit of Kihano he harbored, lowered her pipe upon hearing the ominous news.xiW
a1J“In the end, it has happened.”y35v6
auROb7The Great Mother’s eyes were calm as she looked at Vlad.M7m6iT
9XsJAlthough she had recognized Vlad’s strange nature, dragons had always been harbingers of destruction for them.5WdQS9C
oUu30r“They always end up trampling our home. In the old days, and now too.”oIu1Li
kwWQD“…”vsTcY
1rfNHJiAlthough there are countless possibilities of having been trampled by dragons, probably no one has suffered as cruelly as the beastmen who lost their home and were forced to sink into the sea.dwSgW
X5qVcPerhaps it was that grudge that led them to deliver that curse to a master swordsman.K4uuZ
kNzGU“I am not like those outside. I…”3zzPfLE
mURnqfb“No matter how much you explain, I don’t know you.”C5U
uw8The cries outside grew louder.aN2e
6fcH7aoThe shouts from outside increased in volume. They were the cries of the beastmen, confused and terrified by the sudden incursion of an unstoppable force.QjV6SKY
7fc“Give me your dagger.”yef
Ls6rqwh“My dagger? Why all of a sudden…?”nqcB
FQ7YvNo matter how different he was, to the Great Mother of the Ruga family, Vlad’s face in front of her was just a dragon.gcfcV
dRB2LYHe wasn’t an ordinary dragon but a remnant of innate blood, and the remnant of the most perfect dragon was the Vlad that the Great Mother identified.EASkX
qlngHowever, the situation they found themselves in was urgent, and there was nowhere to ask for help, so the Great Mother of the Ruga family had to make a decision.kjMUp
2k3ZmUU“If you want to prove to me that you are different and obtain the dragon-slaying engraving, you must do it quickly.”V9gJwFU
ljqgWith those words, the Great Mother of the Ruga tribe pulled a large feather from her headdress and began to dip it into the bucket of black dye beside her.Rnf
REsIt seemed to be some kind of mystical technique that made the once beautiful feathers turn completely black despite only being lightly dipped.GCta4
8YiomIO“Dragons are greedy creatures who never let go of what they take. Because through what they accumulate, they try to reach perfection.”GRIC
m0gvDThe Great Mother began to draw something on Vlad’s dagger with the feather dyed black.ZTU5yqD
C77qjAlthough it was only an image painted with ink, on Jorge’s dagger, the image was marked as a solid engraving.Jhpfox
uRA“But if you say you are different, prove it to me with this.”5BJuVG
cjTmA black-toned engraving was already inscribed on Jorge’s dagger, which was finally drawn in the midst of the urgent shouts coming from outside.YqrWZU
gOCyW9rAlthough it was only drawn on the surface, the engraving was firmly established as if hammered in and took the form of a jagged rope.2FC
izyeoNw“Let’s see if you really are different from the other dragons.”NmjGZ
qTV“…”YmsMNxD
6uklPVlad, who received the dagger, didn’t say much, but he seemed to know what the Great Mother of the Ruga family wanted from him.qCmG
j51x2JDragons are beings who only possess and never share.YwiR
88L8cv3But the Great Mother was telling him that to prove his sincerity, he had to suppress even his dragon instincts.mfH
H8q37***NnPC5As
85K“Ugh…”fwhhtkx
hWdBtrRadu, sitting in the prison cell, shivered from the sudden chill he felt.uhEItY
m6QrEven his face was turning completely white, making it clear to anyone that his condition was unusual.cXuY7
l7fbY“What’s wrong with you? Have you caught a cold?”fzZO
WQgoiw“He’s here… He’s here.”dbGd
CcDZjuHPedro, who was next to him, approached Radu, who was trembling, but the source of his chills wasn’t illness but pure fear.NvWU0nW
675n“He’s close, Mirshea, Mirshea has arrived.”72Jsm
wgRW“…!”TC9rI54
V49mbIyThe son of Dragulia, the one closest to the dragon duke in blood purity.K8h1UtQ
wiKNo matter how weakened he was, Radu could feel Mirshea’s presence because he too was a dragon.LCnH
J04Ln4However, his ever-imminent presence was like a death sentence for Radu.DRmy9uc
JFJP“We need to get out of here, right now…”6pQpO
3ciDGf“Guards!”FOR
lEYORecognizing the gravity of the situation, Pedro called out to the guards outside the prison, but all he received was an empty silence.Y5QCJw
ZcEY72The guards were so desperate that they ran away without leaving a single person behind, so the only ones left in the prison now were Pedro and Radu, who were separated from each other.kiU
jwHgqtP“Vlad! We’re here!”Ijt
3xlHowever, as if Pedro’s shout hadn’t been in vain, there were people running from the darkness beyond the torchlight.fNkAzGv
r7aSWGSeeing those familiar shadows, Pedro waved his hand, signaling, “We’re here.”awowjC
IaFTsr7“Do you have the key?”WSOQ
878FLa6“If we had it, do you think we’d be locked up in here?”8WLM
YJ6AQ“Then step back.”oBgJ
AhCCrack!hXI
VMN3Pedro was annoyed by Vlad’s stupid question, but when he saw the bars fall away due to the rainwater, he had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.xT7J9Q
3v0vNo matter how rusty the bars were, facing Vlad’s sword, which was being swung, seemed like a piece of cake.1BeN1T
E4lZByf“Get up.”tpCqL
57ts“Argh!”HJEUmej
6rnXJkhVlad entered the prison and firmly grabbed Radu, who was still trembling, saying that Mirshea had arrived.yfFsO
1PjRadu, who was old and weakened, had no choice but to be dragged by Vlad’s brute strength.AQv
Eq5“You said this happened because your blood was drained, right?”vkdhq9e
MTkn“Yes, that’s true.”amh
gnH1Vlad’s blue eyes glowed as he looked at Radu.QeE2
dJ31tKThe look in Vlad’s eyes, which Radu could feel as if he were a dragon, slowly began to push away the shards of fear that had settled in Radu’s soul.ZoYUC
DnzFvUr“Then how can you rejuvenate?”ZvkiPp
svTO“What?”a1QOG
gUEbnHc“Get them into the alleys!”09u7NHW
gyizQ“First secure the Great Mother!”GGw1Fq1
Bf8The shouts coming from outside the prison were growing louder.72a
6rhIt meant that the Dragonslayer Knights were now close enough to be recognized just by the sound they made, and it also meant that Vlad didn’t have much time left.9DQW
dGPhYUT“Do you just need more blood to rejuvenate? Could you then face the other knights?”rQY
vfuG“…”QPFzOu
HCfGtrM“Then, even if you face Mirshea, can you stop the other knights?”0jt
pWsYGgRadu Dragullia.Mus2u
MUOhTaA half-bastard who inherited blue eyes but not the bright blond hair.4u0z
PYhgk9CAlthough he has now lost all his potential to his father, he also had a brilliant time as a knight.AOlLjO
k5h“Of course. In my day, only my father and Mirshea could stop me within the Dragonslayer Knights!”MblWQpQ
DAzmDTEven though he was arrogant, Radu seemed to have returned to his normal state. Seeing Vlad’s provocation, a smile appeared on Vlad’s face for a moment.G1Qz
tQ3AX79However, despite the smile, a deep wound opened on Vlad’s hand.Mlc
K2bb“Don’t forget why I’m giving you this blood.”3zf
ul0oS“…!”845LLG0
32r8XDrops of blood fell along the dagger with a strange engraving onto the prison floor.gaxF6mP
LtXWyr0Radu’s eyes began to turn red as he recognized the potential of the dragon shining brightly within him.NZCcb
ZK7IThick dragon blood that you can’t obtain even if you kill dozens of dragons.1EoB5s
6EITThe blood now dripped slowly, tempting Radu.xWfre
4x11“You will help me stop the Dragonslayer Knights.”765LW4
BQe5ZN“Ugh! Slurp!”i4D5ZH
XbP0VDesperate for every drop, Radu opened his mouth and drank.FM15xO2
mkO4MHXWith each gulp, he felt his power and potential as a dragon return, reminding him of his true nature.wLTlpwo
A0Pu8“Graah!”X2kOp
Cgg0dAs he swallowed the blood, his fangs lengthened, and his muscles began to swell.olvGky
Iw2aAdditionally, strange marks started to appear around his neck, slowly spreading as he drank Vlad’s blood.4dv
Jkpa“Wow.”d5GffT
4oBOPedro was speechless for a moment as he watched Vlad share his potential and Radu receive it eagerly.VGJRVEQ
FJ4DJ4And through his vision, he began to see strange engravings slowly spreading around Radu’s neck.SsFEt
HmpSI66The marks were slowly extending in black around Radu’s neck, like a collar of thorns.czO
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