Chapter 221.1

Chapter 221 : The Royal Dragon

In the underground limestone cave of the royal castle, a telepathic message echoed.

『Devout follower Lycius.』(Ahid)

“Ooh…!” (Lycius)

Taking the voice as a divine message, King Lycius knelt down in respect and prayed.

『The time has come to fulfill the divine message. You must reclaim your deity, the Sword of Three Races, from the Hero who has lost himself over its divine power.』(Ahid)

These were Ahid’s words.

“It will be done as the Almighty Radiance Equis wills. I shall recover the Sword of Three Races, and offer it to our deity Arcana without fail.” (Lycius)

Lycius stood up and glared at Lay, who was bound in dragon mucus, and Misa, who was stuck to the mist.

“Hero Kanon, have you made up your mind?” (Lycius)

He held up his Pledge Jewel ring, and the mist clinging to Misa glowed faintly.

The Keeper of Emotion Enes Ne Mes had inserted most of his divine body into Misa’s head.

Only about ten percent of it remained.

“This girl seems to have resisted for a long time, but she is no match for a god’s order. Once Enes Ne Mes completely enters her body, her heart will be completely lost. I suggest you draw the Sword of Three Races before that happens.” (Lycius)

Lay looked at Misa for a moment.

She was desperately fighting against the control of the Keeper of Emotion.

“O Hero. You have long served your purpose. The Sword of Three Races now seeks a new master. Obey the will of god. You know what will happen if you don’t, right?” Lycius said threateningly, but Lay gave him a refreshing smile.

“I’ve told you once and I’ll tell you twice. Even if we’re faced with the Keeper of Emotion, he can never take away our love.” (Lay)

“Kanon.” (Lycius)

Lycius spoke in a cold tone.

His anger at his god being insulted was evident in his expression.

“Your love, you say? That’s enough of your arrogance! All of our hearts belong to the gods! And it was the Keeper of Emotion Enes Ne Mes who gave you this love!” (Lycius)

Lycius filled his Pledge Jewel ring with magic power, and gave an order to the Keeper.

“Ugh…! Ah…!” (Misa)

“O my deity. Reclaim the love you have granted to these conceited fellows.” (Lycius)

When the mist seemed to glow strongly, it then disappeared into Misa’s head.

Then a gauntlet made of mist appeared on Misa’s right arm, Next, another gauntlet manifested on her left arm, along with a helmet, a breastplate, and shin pads.

She was clad in the keeper’s mist armor, as if he had taken over her body.

“Now, my deity Enes Ne Mes. By your power, bring judgment on Kanon, the Hero who betrayed the gods.” (Lycius)

Misa, clad in her full-body mist armor, turned to face Lay, who was bound in dragon mucus.

“The only fool here is you, Kanon. You lost your lover’s heart because you stubbornly refused to return the Sword of Three Races. Your own karma has brought retribution upon her. You must now atone for your sins.” (Lycius)

Misa walked slowly, as if she were being manipulated, and gently placed her hand on Lay’s cheek.

“Tell me, Lay. Now that I have changed, do you still love me?” (Misa)

“…Mi… sa ……?” (Lay)

Lay’s expression turned to one of surprise.

“Hehehe! Do you finally understand, Kanon? Even if you were the Hero two thousand years ago, without the guidance of the Sword of Three Races, you would have been nothing more than a good-for-nothing.” (Lycius)

Misa brought her face close to his and raised the visor of her helmet.

“Come on, answer me. I am not Misa anymore. Can you still love me in spite of this?” (Misa)

Lycius nodded, satisfied with Misa’s words.

“Such is reality, Hero Kanon. Attempting to go against a god’s will with the power of love is like an ant challenging an elephant. Accept it all, and return the Sword of Three Races to the gods.” (Lycius)

“No.” Lay said.

“You are Misa. I‘ve said it before. My feelings won’t change no matter how you look or what you say. As long as you are you, I won’t stop loving you.” (Lay)

Lay looked into Misa’s eyes through the gap in her helmet and spoke.

“This is the first time you’ve shown me your true form, isn’t it? You look very lovely like that as well.” (Lay)

King Lycius frowned suspiciously at Lay’s words.

“What are you talking about? It seems you have finally lost your mind…” (Lycius)

“You pass.” (Misa)

“Indeed, you—… pass…? What…?” (Lycius)

Black lightning shot up from the palm of Misa’s hand, and tore the dragon’s mucus that bound Lay into shreds.

Her origin spell <Magic Black Thunder Emperor Jirasd> completely set him free.

“O-O my deity…! Enes Ne Mes the Keeper of Emotion! What on earth are you doing?!” (Lycius)

Misa turned around and shot a glance at Lycius.

She gracefully placed her fingertips on her own chest.

“If you’re wondering about the keeper, know that he has fallen under my control. Even if he is the Keeper of Emotion, there is no way he could stand a chance against me in my own body, now is there?” (Misa)

With an expression of disbelief, Lycius stared at Misa.

“…But Enes Ne Mes…. is the god who governs… the Order of Emotion…!” (Lycius)

“It is strange, indeed. This god certainly does rule over anger, sorrow, joy, and pleasure. However, only his grasp on kindness and love seems to be weak.” (Misa)

“This is preposterous…! Enes Ne Mes is the god who governs all emotions… How could his control over any of them be weak…?” (Lycius)

“Even if that were true, what does it matter?” (Misa)

She smiled softly, causing Lycius to shudder in confusion.

“King Lycius. Did you not witness the ceremony of the second coming of the Demon King? Or did you think that my presence was just a way to benefit Dilhade?” (Misa)

Misa grabbed her helmet and removed it.

Her long, navy blue hair swung in the air.

“I am Avos Dilhevia, the false demon king who destroys gods.” (Misa)

She let her helmet drop and roll on the ground, then stomped on it with her foot as hard as she could.

It crumbled easily and dissipated into the air.

“But now that I’ve been reincarnated, I’m just a maiden in love.” (Misa)

Lycius jumped back in fear.

“Kh! R-Return, Enes Ne Mes! Get away from that monster!” (Lycius)

The armor Misa was wearing turned into mist and moved away from her, revealing her black dress.

Six spirit wings appeared on her back along with it, as if they were released from their shackles.

The mist that moved away gathered in front of Lycius and took on the shape of a full-body armor again.

Even his destroyed helmet was restored.

“It appears a much steeper punishment is required.” (Lycius)

Holding up his Pledge Jewel, Lycius chanted.

“O my deity Ened Ne Mes. Grant me now the power of the dragons.” (Lycius)

The Keeper of Emotion turned into a glowing mist and clung to Lycius.

The full-body armor was now attached to him.

“As the Almighty Radiance wills!” (Lycius)

“GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!” (White dragon)

The moment he prayed, the variant dragon let out a cry and sunk its fangs into him.

“Gah…! Ack…!” (Lycius)

Dripping with blood, his eyes were filled with madness, and his lips curled into a smile.

“… O gods… Soon… I will come to you…” he muttered.

At that same time, the variant devoured Lycius and his mist armor, and swallowed him whole.

“GROOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRR…!!” (White dragon)

Its loud, piercing roar filled Lay and Misa’s ears, then the white dragon’s body overflowed with divine magic power.

Mist appeared on its huge body, and turned into a suit of armor.

“Huh.” (Lay)

“So that’s how it is.” (Misa)

The white dragon’s Magic Eyes glittered with madness.

A telepathic message echoed in the cave.

“…Hehehe! Bow down to my godliness, Kanon. This is divine guidance. My source was swallowed by a dragon. But with the power of Enes Ne Mes, I became one with the dragon. This is the miracle of the gods. This form is called a Royal Dragon! I’m going to use this body to devour the people of Azesion, and invite them to join the gods. And soon, the accumulation of their sources will give birth to a new life: a single dragonborn.” (Lycius)

When the Royal Dragon spread its wings wide, the holy water that filled the limestone cave gathered around its gigantic body and was sucked in.

In no time, the underground lake of the cave dried up.

“That dragonborn will become the great king approved by the gods. In other words, me: Lycius Engelo Gairadite.” (Lycius)

Clad in an armor of mist, the Royal Dragon Lycius glared at Lay and Misa.

However, neither of them was even the slightest bit afraid of him.

But then–

『…Help…』(???)

A voice echoed.

『…Please save us… Great Hero… Father has… lost his mind…』(???)

A telepathic message was emitted from inside the variant dragon.

“Do you hear this, Kanon? This voice belongs to my daughter, a member of the royal family who offered herself to the variant dragon.” (Lycius)

Lay turned his grim eyes towards the Royal Dragon.

“When one’s source is eaten by a dragon, not a single trace of their consciousness remains. However, using the power of Enes Ne Mes, I spared the consciousness of only one person on purpose. Why do you think I did that?” (Lycius)

“…Because if I want to save her, I’ll have no choice but to cut off her fate with the Sword of Three Races.” (Lay)

Those devoured by dragons would never return to normal.

However, if their consciousness remained, Lay might be able to end their fate with the Sword of Three Races.

“Precisely. Now, what will you do, Hero Kanon? Will you abandon this poor girl by leaving your Sword of Three Races untouched like you did earlier? Just so you know, this girl isn’t as strong as that monster woman.” (Lycius)

Lay sighed.