Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 234: Dragons with Collars (3)

Chapter 234: Dragons with Collars (3)

The‌‍⁠ Oldest Dragon

The‌‌‍ smoke that filled the alley began‍‌ to dissipate little‍‌ by little.

This was because the‍ presence of dragons roaring in the⁠‍ distance was tearing⁠ apart the barrier‌ that the Great‍‍ Mother had created.‍‍

“Is‍ it enough now?”‍

However,‍ under Radu’s feet,⁠‍ instead of the‌‌ white smoke created‌ by the Great⁠ Mother, there were⁠⁠‌ now pools of⁠ bright red blood.‌‍⁠

The‍⁠ blood spilled by⁠ the last member‍ of the Dragonslayer⁠ Knights was proof‌ that Radu had⁠⁠ kept his promise⁠‌⁠ to Vlad and,‍ at the same‍ time, ensured the‌‌ safety of the⁠‍ Ruga family.

“But‍⁠ this makes me‌⁠‌ uneasy. I hope‌ it doesn’t end‍⁠ up strangling me⁠ in the future.”‌

Radu,‌ who was looking‌ at the knight⁠‌ lying on the⁠‍⁠ ground, touched the⁠‍ tattoo on his‍‍ neck and frowned.⁠

Radu⁠ might not have‌‌ known, but the‌⁠‌ sinister tattoo, which‌ looked as if‍ it were wrapped‌⁠ in thorns, resembled the vow that‍‌ bound the oldest‌‍ dragon.

“Hmm?”⁠

Boom-!‍‌

Beyond‌ the now completely‌‌ destroyed barrier, a roar accompanied by‌ a dazzling light⁠‌‍ began to emanate.⁠⁠

The‌‌ world of Mirshea⁠ was like a flawless gem.

Radu,‍ who realized where⁠‌ the light was⁠‌‍ coming from, began‌ to walk through‍ the alley with‍‍ a bitter expression⁠⁠ on his face.

“That⁠‌ guy is talented,‍ unlike me.”

Although‍‌ they were born‌‍⁠ of the same‍⁠ father, Radu was⁠‌ only half-human, while‌⁠ Mirshea was a perfect dragon.

Radu,‍⁠ who had never‍ been able to‍‌‍ face Mirshea’s world‌‍ sincerely, showed a complex and ambiguous‍ expression as he⁠‍ watched the brilliant‌‌ glow of the⁠‍ gem in the‌ distance.

“…I‍‍‌ think I’ve done‌‍⁠ enough.”

Radu,⁠ who thought he‍⁠ had fulfilled his‍⁠ promise to Vlad,⁠⁠ turned away from‌‌ the direction the group was moving and began to move in the‍ opposite direction.

Both‍ the fierce north‍⁠ that awaited him⁠‌‌ and Vlad, who had bound him‍ with a collar through a mystery,‌ were choices that‌ Radu did not wish to make.

“…!”‌

However,‍‍‌ Radu, walking alone⁠⁠ down a dark alley, stopped for‍‌ a moment.

A chilling sensation at‍ the nape of‍‌⁠ his neck sent‌ an intense warning.‍

“What⁠‍‍ is this?”

Recognizing‌ the source of⁠ the warning instinctively,‍ Radu felt the‌ damp air of‍ a dark basement,‌‍ as if he‍ were back in⁠‌ that place where‍‌ he had drunk‍ blood.

“Father?”⁠

In⁠‍ the direction Radu‌ anxiously looked lay‌‌⁠ the only gate‍ of the city‌‍⁠ of Namarka.

The‍‌ sight of the⁠ banners approaching from‍‌ beyond the city⁠⁠ walls was, for‌‌ him, a symbol⁠ of reverence but‌⁠ also of terror.‍‌

***‌⁠

BOOM!‌⁠‌ CLANG! BOOM!

“Ugh!”‌

Each⁠‍ time the two‌ swords clashed, bright red sparks flew‌⁠⁠ in all directions.⁠‍

With‍ each clash of‌ swords, Mirshea found‌‌ himself involuntarily groaning⁠‍⁠ in pain.

‘…The‌‍ power of the‍ fragments!’

Even‍‍ after unleashing his‌‌‍ world, which shone‍⁠ like a jewel,‍ Vlad’s strength didn’t‌ wane.

In‍‌ fact, as time‍ passed, the edge⁠ of Vlad’s sword‍‍ became even fiercer,⁠ surrounded by a dragon’s energy that was clearly recognizable.

Clang!‌

With‍ a fierce clash of steel, Mirshea’s⁠ body staggered violently⁠⁠ once more.

Not‍ only because of⁠ Vlad’s overwhelming strength‌⁠‍ but also due⁠ to the increasing pressure of the‍ fragment he carried.⁠⁠‌

“…What‌ have you done‍⁠ with the fragment? It shouldn’t be⁠⁠⁠ this powerful.”

“How‌⁠‍ am I supposed‍⁠ to know?!”

Although‌ Vlad wielded the⁠ dragon fragment, he‍⁠ didn’t fully understand‍ what was happening.

If⁠‍‌ Mirshea had recognized⁠ the nature of‍‌ the metal surrounding⁠‌ Vlad’s sword, he⁠ wouldn’t have needed‌ to ask the‍‍ question.

‘As⁠ time passes, the⁠‍ situation worsens.’

The‍‌ noble metal that‌⁠ always guided toward‌ the right and‍‌ true path.

Mirshea,⁠ who wasn’t affected‍ by the fragments⁠ due to the⁠‍‍ metal surrounding Vlad’s‍ sword, felt a sense of crisis⁠‌ as Vlad’s strength⁠ grew stronger over‌‍ time.

“I⁠‍‌ don’t know how‌ you’ve done it,‍ but you’ve come⁠‍‌ well-prepared.”

Then,⁠ from his closed‍‌ left eye, Mirshea unleashed his world‍ once more.

It‍‌‍ was a world‍⁠‌ as radiant as⁠ a jewel, which‌‍ now began to‍ push back the golden line that‌⁠‍ Vlad had drawn.‍‍

“It’s‌ better to finish‍ this quickly.”

When Vlad saw the‌ perfect world of⁠ Mirshea, he paused‌ for a moment.‍⁠

This was because it‍⁠ was a world‍⁠ that he, who‌ had been crawling⁠⁠‍ in the mud⁠⁠ all this time,‍ could never possess.

“And‌‍‍ who gave you the right to decide that?”

But‍⁠ precisely because of‍ this, he didn’t‌‍ want to lose.‍‍

He⁠⁠ didn’t want to‍‌ be crushed by Mirshea’s world, which‍ looked down on‍ him from above.‍

Vlad‍⁠ clenched his teeth‍‌ and began to‍ resist fiercely the‌‌ repulsive force of‍‌ Mirshea, who was‌ trying to push‍‌ him away.

That‌ greedy attitude of‍ never letting go‍‌ of the momentum‍ he had gained,‍ along with his⁠‍‍ innate instinct, was also a lesson⁠⁠ engraved by Vlad’s⁠‌‍ masters.

“Didn’t⁠‌ you say before⁠ that you hated‍ dragon blood?”

“Hating⁠‍ it doesn’t mean⁠ I won’t use‌‍ it; I’d be‍‍⁠ an idiot if‌ I didn’t.”

He‍‍ hated the dragon⁠‍ blood he was⁠ born with, but‌ he couldn’t help⁠ but use it.‍

Because Vlad had grown‌‌⁠ up in a place where he‍⁠ couldn’t survive without⁠ fighting with all‌ his might.

“I‍ don’t want to‍⁠ be someone who⁠ dies by taking⁠ it easy.”

Crunch-‌

Mirshea began to grit‍‍ his teeth again⁠‍‍ as he watched‌‌ the tip of‌‍‍ the sword gradually‌ disappear.

This‌ was because he‌‍ could finally feel‌‍⁠ Vlad’s ruthlessness as he wielded anything⁠‌ he could get his hands on.⁠

“Even‌‍⁠ if I have‍ to use this damn blood, I’ll‍‍ do it until‍‍ I’m satisfied!”

Crash-!‌

Looking‍‌ into Mirshea’s blue‍⁠ eyes that resembled‍‍ his own, Vlad‍ cursed harshly.

Because‌ he felt he‍ couldn’t bear the boiling anger in‌‌ his heart without‍‍ releasing it into⁠ the world.

“…!”⁠

“…!”⁠⁠

Clang!‌‌ Clang! Boom!

And⁠ so, a series‍ of attacks with⁠‌‍ neither side backing‌ down.

The‌ alleys of Namarka‍ began to howl‍ as the two‍‍ clashed fiercely without‍ a moment to‌ breathe.

The⁠⁠ surrounding buildings were⁠ collapsing due to‌‍⁠ the intense wind⁠‍ pressure that was⁠ constantly being created,⁠‌‌ creating a massive‌‍ cloud of dust.⁠

‘I‌⁠ need to find⁠⁠⁠ an opportunity.’

Mirshea’s‍⁠‌ eyes glimmered in the dense dust.‌‍‌

Despite the intensity of‌‍ Vlad’s attack, he‍⁠ noticed a gap in his stance.⁠‌

“…One‍⁠ strike will be‌‌ enough. Just one.”‍

Though⁠ Vlad’s gray armor‌⁠ was full of‌‍ cuts, he continued⁠‌⁠ to advance, determined⁠ to pierce Mirshea’s‍ defense.

As‌⁠‍ if this was‍‌ the only way‍ to break Mirshea’s‍ strong defense, Vlad’s⁠‍‍ eyes seemed to⁠ show even a dark madness.

“Haaah!”‌⁠‌

Now‌‍‌ was the time‍‍ to cut.

If⁠‌ he allowed Vlad’s‌ momentum to continue,‌⁠ there would be⁠‍ no turning back.

Mirshea’s sword, aimed at the opening Vlad‌‌ revealed, began to cut fiercely.

Thanks⁠ to this, the momentum Vlad carried‍ was interrupted, but⁠‍‍ the eyes of‌ Vlad, which had‍‌ been shining just⁠⁠‍ a moment ago, returned to their‍ original color as‍ if they had‍ never been otherwise.

“I⁠‍ knew you would⁠‌‌ do that.”

“What?”⁠⁠

In a sword fight,⁠ distance determines everything.‌

However,⁠‌ unlike Mirshea, who‌‌‌ retreated, Vlad, who‍ had designed the current scene with‍ a reckless advance,⁠ only shuddered quickly‌ in preparation for⁠⁠ the next strike.⁠

Vlad’s‌‌ stance was very⁠ low, with a cloak billowing.

Mirshea⁠ could tell he had been hit by looking at the fluid posture,‍‌⁠ as if it‌⁠‌ had been predicted.⁠

‘Damn‌ it!’

The‍‍ smoke in the‍‍ middle of the⁠‌‌ alley gathered around‌⁠ the tip of‍‍ Vlad’s sword, forming‌⁠‌ a condensed circle.⁠⁠

It‍ was a small‌‌‌ circle, like a dot, but Mirshea was sure that⁠ a vast world⁠‌ would soon emerge from its end.⁠⁠

“It‌‍‌ wasn’t enough back‌‍ then, but today⁠‍‌ I will surpass‍⁠ you.”

Vlad’s‌‍‌ eyes shone with‍⁠ blue light as‌⁠ he looked at⁠⁠ Mirshea.

Vlad’s⁠ eyes glowed with⁠ an intense blue‌⁠ radiance. And at that moment, Mirshea‌ knew he had‌‍ no choice but‍⁠ to accept what⁠‌‍ was coming.

“And‌⁠ someday, I’ll surpass⁠ Dragulia too.”

No‍ sound was heard‍‌ when the sword⁠ pierced through the‌ gathered circle.

However, Mirshea could feel‍‌‌ that the calm‍ he felt now‍⁠ was like the⁠ calm before the‍ storm.

Crack-!‌‍⁠

The⁠ mystery of the⁠ Ruga tribe was‍‍ unleashed along the‌ golden line that Vlad had drawn.‍

Mirshea‌‌ didn’t dare react to the sharp‍ whirlwind that arrived faster than sound,‌‍‍ and red blood⁠⁠ began to form⁠ all over his‍⁠ body.

“Vlad!”⁠⁠⁠

As⁠⁠‌ Vlad’s cutting wind⁠ pierced through him,⁠ Mirshea fully unleashed‍ his world.

Although‌ his world was⁠‍ bright and perfect,‌⁠ to Vlad, it‌ was nothing more⁠ than a barrier⁠‍ to break.

“Haaaah!”⁠⁠⁠

The⁠ dragon that had‍‍⁠ broken the chains⁠‌ of its instinct‍ charged toward the‌⁠ barrier in front‍ of it.

The‍ dragon, which could‍ reach anywhere because⁠‍ it wasn’t swayed‌ by its innate‌ desires, now looked⁠‍ toward a brilliant‌‌ jewel below, trampling‍ on the wind.⁠‍‌

Kwaaaaang-!‍⁠

The sound of sharp swords and swords‍ shaking the city.⁠

The⁠ storm of Vlad,‍‍ which began with that sound, started⁠ to engulf Mirshea’s‌ entire body.

Because‍‍ it was the‌ wall that needed‍‌ to prove itself,‌ the tip of⁠‌ Vlad’s ruthless sword‌‌ was mercilessly piercing‌‌ Mirshea.

***⁠

“…”‌

It⁠⁠‌ was as if‌ a storm had‍‌ swept through the⁠⁠‌ place.

The‍‍ buildings on either‍⁠⁠ side of Vlad lay collapsed, crumbled‌ to the ground.‍‍

“Who⁠⁠‌ are you?”

However,⁠ the tip of‌‍⁠ Vlad’s sword, which⁠ had been drawn‌‌ with such force,‍‌‍ had not reached⁠‍⁠ Mirshea.

Because‌ there was a gleaming sword blocking‌‍ its path.

Cold‍⁠‍ sweat was already⁠‌ forming on Vlad’s⁠ back due to⁠ the immense weight that wouldn’t budge⁠‍ no matter how⁠‍‌ much he pushed.‌

“Who are you?”

He‍ had struck with⁠‍ all his might, pouring his entire‍ world into that‍‍ attack.

Yet,‌‍⁠ the sword in⁠ front of him‌ remained calm, without‌ the slightest movement.⁠⁠

That‍⁠ stillness reflected the‍‌‌ vast gulf between‍‍ Vlad and the‍‍⁠ owner of that‌‌ sword.

“At⁠ last, I see‌‍ you, my son.”⁠⁠

With‍⁠⁠ those words, the⁠⁠ sword that had‍‍ blocked him lifted‍‍ slightly, as if‍‍ teaching him a lesson.

Vlad’s‍‌ head was forcibly⁠⁠⁠ raised, and his‌ eyes met those⁠ of the man‌‌ standing before him.‍‍‌

“I’ve⁠ wanted to see‌⁠ you for a long time.”

Blond⁠ hair and blue‍ eyes, but of‌ a color much⁠‍ deeper than his‍ own.

Looking⁠ at the man⁠ before him, and⁠‌⁠ the depth of‍ his colors, Vlad‍‌⁠ felt as if‌⁠ he were staring into the edge‌‍ of an endless‍⁠‍ cliff.

[Run‌⁠‍ now! Vlad!!]

The‍⁠ sword he held‌ wept along with Kihano’s sharp warning.⁠‍

He‍‌⁠ recognized the fragment⁠ that the man before him possessed.⁠‌

But‌⁠ unlike Vlad’s fragment,‍⁠ this man’s had already lost its form, fully fused⁠ into his veins,⁠ becoming part of his blood.

“Bloody…⁠ Dragon.”

He⁠‌ didn’t need anyone to tell him‍‌ who that man‌ was. It was‍ his father.

“…Sarnus.”⁠

The‌ name his heart‌ whispered was unmistakably⁠ Sarnus Dragulia, Lord‍ Dragon.

Seeing‍‌‌ his son speak‌ his name, Sarnus‍ nodded and sheathed his sword. Vlad whispered the name‍‌ with a tone⁠‍ of reverence and⁠‌‌ fear.

“That’s‍ right. I am‍⁠ Sarnus Dragulia.”

Though‍ he had put‌ away his sword,‌ Sarnus’s presence didn’t‍‌ diminish in the‍‍ slightest.

Even⁠ as Kihano continued‌ to scream for⁠‌ him to run,⁠ Vlad, looking upward,‌⁠ felt as if‌ he couldn’t move, not even to⁠ take a step back when he‍⁠ saw Sarnus, who seemed so boundless.‌⁠‍

“Well‌⁠ then, why don’t‌ we continue this⁠ conversation at home?”‍

Behind‍ Sarnus’s gentle smile⁠ toward Vlad were‌ many banners of‌‌ Dragulia.

It‍‌ was far too‍⁠ much military force⁠‌ for taking a mere disordered city,⁠ and seeing this,‌ Vlad’s feet seemed‌‌ glued to the‌ ground, unable to⁠ move.

[Vlad!!]⁠

The‍ more he looked⁠‍ at Sarnus, the‍‌ more vast and overwhelming his world⁠ became.

As⁠ it originated from⁠ his blood, as‌‌ his father’s blood⁠ weighed down on‌ him, Vlad’s right⁠‌ eye began to close.