Chapter 76

Chapter 25. An Unacceptable Forgery (1)

'These lunatics... I never thought they would admit their guilt so brazenly.'

While she was certain that they had kidnapped Latry, she was taken aback by their audacious demeanor.

Moreover, their attitude, which suggested they would eliminate a dragon like Quikantel without hesitation, clearly indicated that the core power of Ziph was involved in matters related to Latry and Enya.

'They even casually demand the return of Enya. These guys are finding and using or eliminating the contractors of gods other than Ziph.'

A battle seemed imminent, but she couldn't act immediately.

'I'll step in when Quikantel is in danger or when there's a clear opportunity for a surprise attack.'

Since Jin and Murakan's existence were still unknown to Andrei and Vuretta, it was better to observe the situation.

[In fact, I've never liked you, Quikantel.]

Vuretta spread her wings and shouted.

The wind stirred by her wings spread magical power, and the swirling vortices began to attack Quikantel.

Whiiii!

The vortices moved like giant snakes. As the sharp wind cut through nearby trees, Quikantel sneered.

[You don't really think you can do anything to me with this childish wind, do you?]

The power was equivalent to an 8th-level spell. While it was certainly not at the level of "child's play," it was insufficient to penetrate Quikantel's outer skin.

She didn't even bother to dodge, taking the full force of the wind, as she genuinely felt there was no need to avoid it.

As the vortices began to scratch Quikantel's silver outer skin, a loud, intense friction sound spread.

But that was all.

The vortices failed to dislodge even a single scale and soon dissipated completely.

The surrounding landscape looked as if it had been hit by a bombardment, with the ground completely overturned, but Quikantel stood in the same position as before.

Vuretta's pupils dilated, seemingly taken aback.

"Oh...! Indeed!"

Andrei let out a slightly trembling voice in admiration.

Quikantel found Andrei's relaxed attitude both unpleasant and subtly annoying.

Andrei Ziph, the 9th-level Grand Mage, 'Wind King.'

As the deputy head of Ziph, everyone knew how strong he was, but very few knew exactly how strong.

Most of those who fought him were dead, so it was natural that the public could only vaguely estimate his combat power.

Quikantel also had limited information about Andrei.

[The title 'Wind King' isn't entirely a joke, it seems. Arrogant human. Show me your skills now. There won't be many opportunities once I start rampaging.]

"This old man hasn't used his full power in a long time. I'll enjoy this, Silver Dragon of Time."

Andrei's staff began to glow.

Magic Power Release, a technique that signals the start of a mage's battle.

'It's been a while since I've seen a 9th-level mage's Magic Power Release.'

Within an instant, the ground within a radius of about 500 meters was dyed blue with magical power. As a 9th-level mage's Magic Power Release, it was not a typical form.

Moreover, as the contractor of the wind god Melzayer, Andrei's magical power was wind itself. The wind on the island could become his weapon without a single point left untouched.

And wind is invisible. While the compression and release of wind can be observed, wind itself has no form.

This means that:

Andrei's wind could become an invisible sword.

It could also become an intangible spear to pierce the opponent.

The space around Andrei began to distort with the flow of wind. However, it was impossible to predict when and what would emerge from the distorted space.

"One thing to note..."

Andrei smiled and extended his finger.

"I am particularly strong against dragons. So be careful."

Siiiiik!

Something shot out from Andrei's finger.

A compressed wind spike. This time, Quikantel seemed to judge it as dangerous and quickly spread her wings. She planned to fly up and counterattack with a breath attack.

However, the claim of being very strong against dragons was not a lie.

'Flight... is blocked!?'

Despite flapping her massive wings with all her might, no wind was generated. Her wings felt much heavier than usual, as if moving through water.

Windless Zone.

A technique that only the contractor of Melzayer can use.

Within the area where Magic Power Release has taken effect, no creature can fly without Andrei's permission.

The loss of the 'flight' privilege was a devastating blow to a dragon's combat power.

Kazhik!

Andrei's wind spike hit Quikantel's chest. A few scales on her chest shattered and fell to the ground, and at the same time, Vuretta flew into the sky.

[These bastards...!]

[You are indeed strong, but you were too complacent.]

Vuretta's breath attack, falling in dozens of curves. Quikantel created a protective barrier with magical power, but in the meantime, Andrei began to cast a new spell.

This time, it was not a spell created by Melzayer's power.

It was Ziph's vision spell, Lightning Storm. Blue lightning gathered in Andrei's hands.

Being the contractor of Melzayer doesn't mean he can only use wind attributes. Just as Jin can use other attribute spells while using spirit energy.

'This is dangerous, damn human...!'

Without being able to launch a single effective attack, Quikantel was cornered.

Should I step in now?

At Jin's nod, Murakan shook his head slightly.

"Quikantel was indeed complacent, but these guys also underestimated her. Let's observe a bit more. If I step in now, her pride will be hurt."

As soon as Murakan finished speaking, Andrei completed his incantation.

Fierce lightning surged toward Quikantel. Hundreds of lightning bolts, bright enough to sting the eyes, mixed with Vuretta's breath attack.

Even Jin, who was quite far away and protected by spirit energy, felt a tingling sensation all over his body.

Indeed, the magical power of the deputy head of Ziph was not lacking.

However, no matter how powerful a spell is, it ultimately has no meaning if it doesn't reach the opponent.

Quikantel had already activated the power of time to stop Andrei's spell.

Just as Andrei, as the contractor of Melzayer, controls the wind, Quikantel, as the Silver Dragon of Time, controls time.

[That was quite a good trick.]

The lightning bolts, crackling as they advanced, piled up in front of Quikantel.

A confrontation of powers was created.

Andrei retracted his staff and descended to the ground. Strangely, his eyes were filled with desire.

"It's a truly desirable power... Heh heh. Seeing it with my own eyes, I feel my old body stirring with excitement for the first time in a long time."

Quikantel did not respond and calmly escaped from the frozen space.

[Now it's my turn.]

She still couldn't fly.

Yet, Quikantel was confident she could dominate the air.

[I can't fly, but you can't even move a finger!]

Kiiiiing!

A sharp resonance sound echoed, and a wave began to spread from Quikantel's forehead.

Like a stone dropped into a lake, the wave spread in a large, circular pattern. Anything it touched lost time.

It became a statue, frozen in time.

"That's why you become a flower if you tangle with the dragons of time, kid. If you get caught in that wave, it's over."

"Isn't that an absurd ability?"

"Well, if you don't get hit, it's fine. You can't maintain it for long either."

Vuretta and Andrei were fighting the dragons of time for the first time. They instinctively avoided the wave, but they overlooked one thing.

If even a toe, a hair, or a single point of the body was hit, the entire body would be frozen.

Andrei, being small, could easily escape, but Vuretta couldn't.

Kazhik! Quikantel kicked off the ground and lunged at the frozen Vuretta in the sky.

"Vuretta!"

At the moment she judged she was close enough, she released her power and bit into Vuretta's neck. Vuretta screamed and fell with Quikantel.

Kung!

Thick blood gushed from Vuretta's long neck, and Quikantel, like a predator that has caught its prey, stubbornly held her jaw in place.

Every time Vuretta struggled, green scales, blood, and flesh splattered.

Andrei, for the first time, looked angry, but he couldn't do anything. Casting a spell carelessly could harm Vuretta as well.

Moreover, if Andrei tried to approach, Quikantel would emit the wave again.

[Kreee!]

[It tastes terrible. You think I was complacent? Say it again!]

Krek! Quikantel spat out a chunk of Vuretta's flesh. The white bone of Vuretta's neck was exposed, and as she tried to escape, Quikantel used the wave to freeze her again.

This process repeated, creating a gruesome scene that made one's eyes squint.

"Ugh, it's creepy. I've been on the receiving end of that before."

"From Quikantel?"

"We often fought when we were lovers."

A few more bites, and Vuretta's neck would be completely severed. Vuretta was already half-conscious and barely twitched when the time was released.

"Stop... Stop it, Silver Dragon!"

[Shut up and watch, Ziph's mage. You're next. But your words are getting shorter. Are you losing your mind as you die?]

However, by then, Quikantel was clearly exhausted.

If the power of time could be used indefinitely, Siron wouldn't be the world's strongest.

'Thanks to Vuretta's complacency, I could easily gain the upper hand. I'll kill this one and deal with the mage with Jin and Murakan's help...!'

Due to the continuous use of her power, Quikantel's magical power was almost depleted.

Huh, huu...

Breathing heavily, just as Quikantel was about to cut off Vuretta's last thread of life, Andrei began to move toward the dragons.

"You've gone too far."

[Who's talking?]

"That is a privilege allowed only to the strong, Silver Dragon. You were born as the Silver Dragon of Time and have always thought of yourself and the god you serve as the rulers of the world..."

But that is a delusion.

Everything will ultimately be placed under the banner of Ziph. Humans and gods alike.

Andrei, continuing his speech, put down his staff and took something out of his pocket.

In Andrei's hand was a round stone emitting a sinister black light. The moment he saw it, Murakan instinctively gasped.

"Origin Stone...!? Impossible!"

Murakan transformed into his true form. His massive body cast a shadow over the ground, making the spirit energy that had been hiding Jin and Murakan seem insignificant.

[Get out of the way, Quikantel!]