Chapter 253: Night at Argon Port (1)
Chapter 253: Night at Argon Port (1)
Hype, hype, hype~
The following episodes after this are quite long, so expect some delays in their releases.
Anyway, some of you wanted a picture of the kitten, but getting a kitten to stop moving when taking a picture wasn’t easy, hahaha…
It still has no name since my family originally thought it was a girl and named it Candy. But I only found out today that it was a boy, so we’re trying to come up with a new name.
Terms used in this episode:
Magic words – Also known as ‘kotodama.’ It refers to the Japanese belief that mystical powers dwell in words and names. In Japanese fiction, it’s mostly a special ability to influence someone or something through the power of words. Characters that have a similar ability to this are Toge Inumaki from Jujutsu Kaisen, and Kudou Asuka from Mondaiji.
Ancient Dragons were special beings.
Even if one looked at the entire history of Pleiades, the number of Ancient Dragons could be counted on one’s fingers.
What was the reason for that?
Why were the number of dragons who reached the level of an Ancient Dragon so small?
It was strange if one thought about it a bit deeply.
No one could deny that dragons were the strongest race when viewed as a single entity.
They had no such thing as a natural enemy, and were a long-lived race that lived longer than dwarves and elves. The mortality rate of adults was also low because they became stronger as they grew older.
In other words, they were a race that had little chance of dying once they became an adult as long as they did not go crazy.
But despite this, the number of Ancient Dragons was small.
They were such a rare existence that it would not be an exaggeration to say that there was only one in several generations.
‘Because it wasn’t just about getting older.’
An Ancient Dragon was not just an old dragon.
A dragon couldn’t reach the level of an Ancient Dragon by just getting old.
In terms of human beings, they were like the Ten Great Swordmasters – no, they were like the Sword Saints who had reached a level that transcended the limits of their race.
Most dragons stopped growing at the level of a common old dragon, an Adult Dragon, when they got older.
But few of them could be more than that.
Ancient Dragons were chosen beings even among dragons.
They were monsters that transcended the limits of the dragon race and reached the realm of a god.
That was the Ancient Dragon.
***
Kajsa gulped as she stared at the tokens of Carlos that had been gathered into one.
Dragon Slayer Carlos.
The great hero of the south who defeated Black Dragon Malekith.
But he was a different being from other dragon slayers.
Most dragon slayers who left their names in history had only slayed Adult Dragons.
However, Carlos was different.
What he killed was an Ancient Dragon, an existence that was like a god among dragons.
‘A true great hero.’
The only person acknowledged as his lifelong rival was Lion D. S?len, who founded the S?len Kingdom and subdued countless monsters.
Kajsa could not calm her pounding heart.
How in the world could she not get excited and nervous now?
‘Carlos’ legacy’
It was the first time in nearly 300 years since Carlos passed away that the tokens he left behind were gathered in one place.
Kajsa moved her hands while listening to the beating of her pounding heart, and combined the seven tokens into one without difficulty.
It became a sculpture that had some angles in it, but was overall round and had a diameter of around 15 cm.
Having completed the token, Kajsa unknowingly released mana from her fingertips.
Somehow, she felt like she had to do that.
And it was at that moment.
“It’s shining?”
Carlos’ tokens began to shine.
The emblems of each family began to shine until the entire token intensely shone.
“Pink Bomb?!”
Scarlet’s voice was heard from the far side of the mansion.
But Cordelia did not look back.
Because she instinctively turned her gaze to a distant place the moment a strong light arose from the token in Kajsa’s hand.
Kwagaaaaaang-!
A roar was heard from the distance.
But it wasn’t the sound of an explosion.
The light from the token weakened, so Jude and Cordelia were able to see more clearly.
At a distance.
Something split the night sky.
A pillar of light soared high and pierced the sky, giving off a subtle glow.
“The port?”
Broadly speaking, Count Kagehama’s mansion was also located at Argon Port.
But if one had to pinpoint the exact location, it would be misleading to say that it was in the port. Because it was located outside the city of Argon.
“It’s on the port side! If it’s that far…”
“Central square!”
Jude added after Kajsa.
In the realm of calculation, Jude was unparalleled.
The moment he saw the pillar of light, he unfolded the map of Argon Port in his mind and calculated the exact location.
“That’s where the dwarves’ workshop is.”
To be exact, it was next to it.
At the place where a giant statue of Carlos was erected.
“Then let’s go!”
Jude nodded as Cordelia jumped and spoke. He naturally offered his back and she jumped again as she got on his back.
“Pink Bomb? Black Cloak?”
Scarlet came running just then and called the two.
She did not know of the current situation because she was looking for the token in the mansion.
But she was quick-witted like a Rogue Master.
As soon as she saw the token in Kajsa’s hand and the pillar of light soaring from afar, she roughly understood the situation.
“Have you sensed it? Then let’s go!”
When Cordelia urged them again, Kajsa grinned and turned around, but not Scarlet.
Unlike the two beast girls, she spoke like a rational person.
“W-wait! What about Count Kagehama? Is he dead already?”
Scarlet pointed to Count Kagehama who was lying on the floor with his tongue sticking out.
He seemed to have fainted when Kajsa threw him in the midst of the fight.
“He’s not dead. So let’s hurry up.”
Kajsa beckoned and urged her to hurry as if he was insignificant, and Scarlet unconsciously narrowed her brows and sighed.
Because the current situation was unlike a Rogue Master’s work.
A garden that had become a sea of fire, and a destroyed mansion.
Even the owner of the mansion had fainted with his tongue sticking out.
‘Is this even a robbery?’
No, this isn’t even a robbery.
It’s more appropriate to call it terrorism.
“Anyway, let’s go!”
Scarlet nodded as Cordelia urged her while on Jude’s back.
After all, a huge pillar of light suddenly appearing was bound to attract attention.
“Okay, let’s go.”
Scarlet replied with a displeased expression, while Cordelia tightly hugged the neck of Jude who kicked the ground.
He raced towards the pillar of light.
***
Scarlet wasn’t wrong.
The pillar of light that rose up with a roaring sound had attracted a lot of people’s attention.
And among them was Sicilia who was watching the situation from afar.
Dark Elf Sicilia.
The descendant of the high elf royal family who lived in the Forest of Eternity then furrowed her brows.
‘Madhur.’
She somehow knew on what happened to him because she was also one of the Three Knights of Malekith.
Madhur had failed.
He not only lost all of Carlos’ tokens, but also lost his own life.
‘That stupid b*stard.’
She didn’t cry but her heart ached.
Because they had been working together for a long time.
But now was not the time to indulge in her thoughts.
Sicilia gritted her teeth and thought.
‘Our plan has failed.’
Their plan to collect all seven tokens by attacking Count Kagehama and Marquis Ophand at the same time had failed.
Madhur who attacked Count Kagehama’s mansion had died, and the battle at Marquis Ophand’s mansion had lost its significance.
All seven tokens had already been gathered.
‘Is it time to make a decision?’
After all, the seven tokens had all been gathered, and the location of Carlos’ legacy in the south had been revealed.
The reason they attacked the 7 southern families in the first place was to secure his legacy, so it was only natural for her to make a move now.
But she needed to make a decision.
Because most of the available troops she had were gone or busy.
Gamorr Khan strangely disappeared somewhere, while Madhur died in his mission.
The troops attacking Marquis Ophand’s mansion were being used to bind the marquis’ feet, so in the end, she had to release all the troops she had saved so far in order to take Carlos’ legacy.
‘Someone who’s strong enough to defeat Madhur.’
She made up her mind. She would only fail again if she held back their forces.
Sicilia took a deep breath.
She closed her eyes and gave a command.
“Go.”
Go and take Carlos’ legacy.
The necromancer’s command soon became magic words and crossed the sea. Those who were hiding in the darkness of the night began to move at once.
***
‘F*ck! They’re so fast!’
Kajsa swore as they raced under the moonlit night.
Because she couldn’t keep up with Jude even with her speed that was the fastest among the Ophands. She could only strive hard to chase after him.
Moreover, Jude was carrying Cordelia.
No matter how light Cordelia was or how strong Jude was, there should have been a significant difference between running alone and running while carrying someone.
‘But I still can’t catch up, huh?’
The unyielding Kajsa mustered all her strength to increase her speed, so Scarlet who was running behind a little further ended up swearing.
‘Hey, you beast b*tches! Wait for me!’
She knew that they were in a hurry, but was still confused with the situation.
And frankly, her pride was hurt.
She was the Rogue Master’s descendant, yet she was the one lagging behind the most. It didn’t make any sense to her.
‘Haaaa!’
Scarlet shouted out in her mind before adding one more spell on herself. She clenched her teeth at the pain that inflicted her entire body as she sped up.
And it was at that moment.
“Stop!”
When Cordelia yelled in a hurry, Kajsa stretched out her hand and grabbed the waist of Scarlet who couldn’t stop on time, forcing her to stop.
And Jude moved his hand. Instead of evading, he opted for a head-on fight to protect Kajsa and Scarlet.
Baaang!
The energy of the black dragon burst and shook the atmosphere, and the sharp sword flying towards them was pulverized and scattered.
To their side.
Above the roof.
Jude and Cordelia stopped on the roof of a residential house close to the port, and simultaneously looked at the same place.
And Cordelia cursed from the bottom of her heart.
“F*ck! As I thought, it’s one of the Ten Great Swordmasters!”
I knew it! I knew there was a traitor among the Ten Great Swordmasters!
Standing on the roof was a tall man with a fine beard.
Matteo Luculia.
The head of the Luculia family and one of the two members of the Ten Great Swordmasters who lived in the south.
In fact, this had already been foreseen.
There were only three families that had not been attacked before today, and after excluding the Kagehamas and the Ophands, only the Luculias remained.
Matteo frowned at Cordelia’s explicit swearing, but he did not refute it at all.
It was true that he, who was called the Sword of Heavy Pressure, had betrayed the other southern families and joined hands with Malekith.
“Kajsa Ophand, surrender quietly. I don’t want to be rough on you.”
As soon as Matteo’s words were over, unidentified men appeared on the roof.
They seemed to be in the dozens at first glance, but that wasn’t all. Because swordsmen belonging to Count Luculia showed up everywhere too.
“You really betrayed us.”
Matteo’s betrayal was already confirmed when he appeared here, but Kajsa couldn’t help but say it.
The fact that Count Luculia’s swordsmen were here meant that Matteo had indeed completely betrayed them.
What is it?
What on earth was promised that he, one of the family heads of the 7 southern families, joined hands with Malekith who had tried to destroy the south in the past?
Kajsa didn’t think much about it any longer.
He was a traitor anyway, so finding out why he did so didn’t matter to her.
‘I’ve never liked him even in the past.’
Furthermore, based on what he said, he wasn’t being brainwashed like Sebastian.
If so, she just had to knock him down.
As Kajsa clenched her fists and growled, Matteo sighed, shaking his head as he drew his sword.
“Then it can’t be helped. I’ll have to subdue you by force.”
Matteo Luculia, the Sword of Heavy Pressure.
He was not weak.
He was considered to be stronger than Sebastian, the Sword of Swiftness.
Therefore, Kajsa broke into a cold sweat as she instinctively felt the difference in power.
But not for Scarlet.
Her body was sweating, but this was because of her exhaustion from chasing after Jude and Cordelia, and not because she was afraid of Matteo.
There was a reason why she was not afraid.
It wasn’t because she believed in the strength of Jude and Cordelia.
She had never seen Jude and Cordelia fight with their full power in the first place.
There was a reason why she believed in them.
A reason why she did not lose her composure even when one of the Ten Great Swordmasters became an enemy.
“Aren’t you going to use it?”
At Scarlet’s question, Cordelia nodded and pulled out an item from the space expansion pocket at her waist.
“Kajsa!”
“Huh?”
Jude grabbed the wrist of Kajsa who reflexively turned her head, while Scarlet placed her hand on Cordelia’s shoulder.
Matteo felt that something was wrong and hurriedly sprinted forward, but what Cordelia held in her hand and raised was the Moon Crystal, one of the Rogue Master’s treasures.
“F*ck bang.”
As she said that with a wink, moonlight poured down from the sky.
Instead of an explosion, a faint light covered the surrounding area.
“No way?!”
Matteo understood what was happening and hurriedly shot his sword forward.
But Jude had no intention of blocking or avoiding it this time. He and Cordelia just smiled.
Slaaaaash-!
Matteo’s sword pierced the air.
It was after Jude, Cordelia, Kajsa, and Scarlet had leapt through space with the moonlight and disappeared.
“Damn it!”
They leapt across space.
Matteo quickly closed his eyes and spread out his senses.
Because he thought that they couldn’t have gone far since there were many people who leapt through space, and not just one.
But it wasn’t.
He couldn’t find any traces of them, as they had gone a distance far from what he thought.
“Master Matteo?!”
The swordsmen of Count Luculia approached with bewildered faces, and Matteo raised his head at that moment.
He shouted as he pointed to the pillar of light still soaring high in the distance.
“Let’s move!”
If they had taken a long-distance space leap from here, they could only go to one place.
Matteo sprinted on the roof again. But it was then. Something moved past Matteo’s head.
It seemed to blend into the night sky because of its dark blue scales, but Matteo and everyone present could clearly discern the being crossing above their heads.
Black Dragon.
Dragons belonging to Malekith’s Dragonflights!
There were only two, but their greatness was beyond imagination.
Gigantic beings whose body length reached up to 30 meters were flying through the sky, making the sight quite unrealistic.
“Rooooooar!”
One of the dragons roared, and the demons Sicilia gave to Matteo also howled together and revealed their true forms. They followed the dragons and rushed towards the pillar of light.
***
The group who appeared with the moonlight then raised their heads as soon as they landed.
Because the roars of the dragons and demons shook the entire port.
“Crazy.”
At the sight of dragons flying towards them, Kajsa cursed while Scarlet swallowed her breath.
She had already heard the situation from Jude and Cordelia, so she believed them to some extent. But after seeing the dragons, she realized that Malekith truly existed.
“Hurry up!”
The dragons were flying straight towards them, so they couldn’t just watch.
When Cordelia shouted, Kajsa and Scarlet came to their senses and quickly ran towards the stone statue located in the center of the pillar of light, while Jude hurriedly narrowed the distance from the statue by using Hyper-Fast Thunderbolt.
“Kajsa!”
As Cordelia jumped off Jude’s back and shouted, Kajsa threw the token of Carlos in her hand.
Cordelia caught the token with her telekinetic power instead of using her own hands, and looked back at the statue.
The moment she faced the huge statue of Carlos that was around 5 meters tall, she instinctively knew where the token should be placed.
“There!”
The sword worn on Carlos’ waist.
The token flew towards a hollow spot on the end of the sword handle, and the stone statue reacted.
As if it was attracted by a magnet, the token settled on the end of the handle.
“Roooooooar!”
The roars of the dragons grew closer.
Kajsa and Scarlet shrank back at the Dragon Fear that put the beings around them in a panicked state. And among those present here, Scarlet was the only one ordinary human, so she trembled involuntarily.
Kajsa hugged Scarlet’s shoulder.
She glared at the dragons, growling as if the blood of the divine creature made her do so.
And the pillar of light disappeared.
The magic circle that glowed under the statue disappeared, and a line was drawn in the middle of the statue. It split open, revealing what was hidden inside, and Jude clenched his fist.
“Bingo.”
Carlos’ legacy.
A symbol of domination that allowed all the 7 southern families to be under one’s rule.
It was a item that did not even appear in the game since it was only a background setting.
But on the way here, Jude had already guessed on what Carlos’ legacy might be.
‘What they were trying to stop was not the forces of the 7 southern families becoming into one.’
It definitely wasn’t because they didn’t care about it that much.
They did care about it to some extent.
But that wasn’t the true reason.
‘It’s too rough.’
Even though two of the seven families remained, their means of attacking from the front was too rough.
If the tokens were truly their goal, it would have been better if they dealt with it secretly like they had previously done.
If they had handed over Carlos’ tokens to Count Luculia who was on their side, they would have been able to prevent the union of the 7 southern families, and also prevented it from being used.
But the situation changed when they openly attacked with demons and demonic humans now.
Even if Count Luculia presented the completed Carlos’ tokens, it was obvious that he had colluded with the demons to collect it, so the 6 southern families would not have followed his words.
‘After all, their purpose was not the 7 southern families.’
Their purpose was the legacy itself that could be found through Carlos’ tokens.
And if it was something they covet.
Especially if it was something Sicilia might be aiming for.
“Roooooooar!”
The Black Dragons roared again.
Kajsa yelled at them while Scarlet clenched her teeth to overcome the Dragon Fear.
And Cordelia glanced at Jude.
Instead of getting it for herself, she gave way to Jude.
To begin with, it was something that suited the swordsman Jude more than her who was a wizard.
“Kuooo!”
The two Black Dragons swallowed their breaths at the same time. They opened their mouth to fire their Dragon Breaths, but at that moment, Jude reached inside the statue and grabbed Carlos’ legacy.
Fuaaaaaaa!
They fired their Dragon Breaths.
Dark blue beams shot down with a momentum that could swallow the entire central square.
But it did not serve its purpose.
The Dragon Breaths that they had shot into one were split into two, crushing only the left and right sides of the statue.
Kajsa who was hugging Scarlet tightly then opened her eyes.
Scarlet panted since her face was buried in Kajsa’s chest, and she looked up at Jude who was standing in front of them.
And they both remembered at the same time.
The legend of the south.
The story of the great hero Carlos.
“Ascalon.”
Ultimate Three.
The Dragon Sword that fatally wounded Black Dragon Malekith and sent him into a deep sleep.
Jude gripped Ascalon.
He glared at the Black Dragons with a bitter smile as he heard Valencia complaining from the depths of his mind.