Chapter 49: Unleashed in the Dark Zone

Of course, it wasn’t just pure darkness.

Though shrouded in darkness, the structure remained intact.

At that moment, the surrounding darkness surged toward Gaon like spikes.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Naturally, they didn’t touch Gaon’s body—his protective barrier blocked them.

The dark spikes scattered, seeping back into the floor and walls.

If I were below 5th Circle, I’d be dead.

The dark spikes weren’t weak; Gaon’s barrier was simply exceptionally strong.

Just then—

Krung!

Kring, invisible on Gaon’s shoulder, revealed itself and roared.

Swish!

The darkness receded, revealing the original structure.

But only briefly—the darkness began creeping back.

Kr?

Kring tilted its head, looking at Gaon.

Gaon sensed its emotions—it was deeply displeased with the darkness.

“Hold on a bit,” Gaon said, patting Kring’s head.

Kring’s beam could evaporate the darkness, but it would also destroy the building and everyone inside.

While those inside were likely Abyss, it wasn’t certain—Max, the steward, wasn’t, so others might not be either.

Besides, Gaon hadn’t extracted information from Parn yet.

Evaporating the darkness by destroying the building wasn’t an option.

Kr!

Kring settled back on Gaon’s shoulder.

Gaon moved forward, undeterred by the darkness, his senses clearly perceiving the structure.

He soon reached his destination, spotting Parn and a hedgehog-like spirit beast.

That must be Aslin.

Aslin, the 7th-grade beast guarding the Bretan royal family, matched the energy Gaon sensed.

At that moment—

“Tch.”

Parn let out a scoff, his eyes filled with disbelief.

“Not Taylor. Judging by your appearance, you’re Gaon?”

“You thought I was Taylor?”

Gaon replied, thinking, He knows about me, so the information’s been passed on.

There was said to be more conflict than cooperation, but it seemed basic exchanges occurred.

“I was looking for you, so this is convenient,” Parn said with a grin.

“But to enter the Dark Zone so fearlessly… aren’t you overconfident after crossing the wall?”

Parn’s words confirmed Gaon’s suspicion.

They haven’t fully grasped me yet.

The Abyss didn’t know Gaon’s true strength, likely assuming he was an ordinary Archmage.

And another thing—

They don’t know about Kring either.

Parn paid no attention to Kring, clearly unaware of its significance.

Having resolved his questions, Gaon spoke.

“First, use the Painless Secret Art. You don’t want your seals to burst and kill you, do you?”

Not all his questions were answered—plenty remained.

But he could ask after subduing Parn.

Parn frowned silently at Gaon’s words.

What followed surprised Gaon slightly.

Swish!

An unidentified pattern appeared on Parn’s face—the Painless Secret Art, activated without piercing his chest.

He activated it without stabbing?

Parn was the 2nd Division’s 1st Branch Leader, initially considered on par with Galico, the 3rd Division’s 2nd Branch Leader Gaon had defeated.

But this suggested Parn was stronger.

Makes sense, his energy’s greater.

Initially, Gaon thought Parn’s energy was weaker than Galico’s, but up close, he realized Parn was hiding his strength—definitely surpassing Galico.

Nice.

Gaon smiled.

Stronger than Galico? No problem.

Neither was a threat to him.

What mattered was that Parn likely knew more than Galico.

“Your smile won’t last long,” Parn said coldly.

“I won’t kill you right away. I need to know how you know about the Painless Secret Art and where you came from.”

Parn had planned to kill Gaon, as it was easier than capture.

But Gaon’s knowledge of forbidden things changed his mind, especially since they were in the Dark Zone, where Parn was confident he could subdue even a wall-crossing Archmage.

“Aslin,” Parn called softly.

Aslin’s energy exploded, and the surrounding darkness turned into spikes, hurtling toward Gaon.

So that wasn’t their full power earlier.

Gaon recalled the previous spikes—these were over twice as strong.

Still, they couldn’t breach his barrier.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The spikes shattered upon impact.

Swish!

A magic circle appeared above Parn and Aslin—Gaon’s creation.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Lightning bolts rained down, striking instantly.

Parn and Aslin couldn’t raise barriers in time and were hit.

Eek!

Aslin screamed, writhing in pain.

But Parn, immune to pain via the Secret Art, trembled but managed to create a barrier.

Crack!

The barrier formed but instantly cracked under the lightning.

Shatter!

It broke, and the lightning struck again.

“How…?”

Parn, trembling, spoke in a bewildered voice.

He hadn’t expected his barrier to shatter so easily.

The magic’s power was beyond imagination, cast almost instantly.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Countless magical crystals materialized around Gaon.

Parn realized—

He’s not 7th Circle!

Gaon’s casting speed was too fast for a 7th Circle mage, and the crystals’ energy was formidable, suggesting at least 8th Circle.

How?

No 8th Circle mages existed in the human faction.

Parn’s curiosity about Gaon’s identity deepened.

…Wait, a dragon?

A dragon in human guise could explain this.

But he dismissed it.

No way.

Dragons were busy with internal conflicts, unlikely to be out playing.

Besides, if a dragon breached the barrier, the higher-ups would’ve been notified—no such report came.

The chance was zero.

The crystals began flying toward Parn.

He stopped thinking—his body, weakened by the lightning, barely moved.

If he took the crystals’ attack, he’d lose all control.

This isn’t what I saved it for…

Parn decided to use his trump card, reserved for the future.

Grind!

Condensed energy within his body awakened, restoring full control.

He raised another barrier.

Crack! Crack!

Unlike before, it didn’t break immediately, though cracks formed with each lightning and crystal strike.

Thirty years of gathering…

Parn gave a bitter smile.

This was energy amassed since Bretan’s founding, yet it couldn’t fully block Gaon’s attack.

He glanced at Aslin, exposed to the onslaught and dying.

No choice.

Parn decided to use another trump card—not to kill Gaon, as he’d realized that was impossible, but to buy time to escape.

He expanded his barrier to protect Aslin and reached back.

A massive mana stone—a 7-star one—flew to him.

“Aslin,” Parn said, offering it to the staggering beast.

Aslin swallowed it whole.

Eek…!

It trembled, roaring as its body began to grow.

Parn prepared to flee.

Once Aslin’s growth stopped, it would rampage.

Even an 8th Circle mage would struggle against a rampaging 7th-grade beast, giving Parn time to escape.

But then—

Perhaps due to Aslin’s surging energy, Gaon halted his attack.

Parn looked at him.

…Why?

Gaon wore a radiant, excited smile, staring at Aslin.

Why that expression?

Parn felt uneasy.

Aslin’s growth stopped, its eyes glowing red—rampage mode, unrecognizing even Parn.

He stepped back—it was dangerous to stay close.

Eeeeek!

Aslin roared, the surrounding darkness roiling.

Parn glanced at Gaon one last time.

…What?

Gaon’s expression remained bright and excited.

“Kring, take it,” Gaon shouted.

…?

Parn was baffled.

Kring was the beast on Gaon’s shoulder—what was it to take?

Kring leapt down, reverting to its true form, and reached Aslin in an instant, swiping its paw.

Aslin attacked with darkness, but—

Whoosh!

Kring’s paw struck first.

Boom!

An explosion echoed as the darkness advancing toward Kring dissipated.

Parn was stunned.

This is insane!

The darkness dispersing meant Aslin’s focus broke—a single swipe caused that much shock?

Unbelievable.

Kring’s attack wasn’t over.

It swung its paw upward, flipping Aslin into the air.

Boom!

Another explosion, and Kring struck Aslin’s vulnerable underbelly.

Boom!

A final explosion, and—

Pop.

The mana stone flew out of Aslin’s mouth.

Its enlarged body rapidly shrank.

Kring didn’t pursue further, instead retrieving the mana stone and returning to Gaon.

Parn realized—

Take it… meant the mana stone?

He was dumbfounded.

Targeting the mana stone in this situation?