Chapter 153: The Dragon’s Sacred Barrier

The aura emanating from the barrier was extraordinary.

It was so powerful that even Gaon would need considerable effort to destroy it.

Moreover, it wasn’t just the aura that concerned him.

Gaon approached the barrier closely and examined its structure in detail.

“Whoa…….”

Having finished examining the structure, Gaon let out another exclamation.

That was because the barrier’s structure was incredibly intricate.

From the aura alone, it seemed like he could destroy it with some effort, but after checking the structure, his thoughts changed.

It looked like he’d need to go all out to make a hole.

And it wouldn’t be a permanent hole.

Even if he made one, it would restore itself over time.

So that’s why they can’t escape?

He could now understand why the dragons, with their immense power, couldn’t escape.

While staring at the barrier and thinking, Gaon put his hand in his pocket.

He then pulled out the silver dagger.

To think this would just let me pass through the barrier.

Askra had said it.

That with the silver dagger, he could pass through the barrier.

But surely passing through isn’t the end?

He had known from the start.

That the silver dagger was the key to passing the barrier.

However, he thought there would be other effects as well.

If passing the barrier was all, Askra wouldn’t have asked him to bring just the silver dagger.

But after seeing the barrier, his thoughts changed.

It was a powerful barrier capable of trapping even dragons.

Just passing through seemed sufficient.

Swish.

Gaon brought the silver dagger to the barrier.

The silver dagger touched the barrier.

Whoosh!

At that moment, a hole appeared in the barrier.

The hole began to shrink gradually.

Before the hole closed, Gaon quickly passed through it and entered the interior.

“……!”

His eyes flashed.

The moment he entered, a change occurred in the silver dagger.

What is this aura?

The silver dagger began emitting an aura.

The problem was that it was emitting it very subtly.

If Gaon hadn’t obtained completeness?

It was so subtle he wouldn’t have noticed.

Watching the subtle aura the silver dagger was emitting, Gaon thought.

It seems like only specific beings can sense it—perhaps Askra? Or the silver clan?

It was Askra who had asked him to bring the silver dagger.

It could be an aura only Askra could sense, or perhaps only the silver dragons.

Whatever.

Gaon withdrew his interest in the aura.

If it was an aura only specific beings could sense, then those beings would appear.

He could get information from them.

Gaon focused on his senses.

The demonic energy is no joke.

Dragonia was the dragons’ sacred land.

It was a place denser with mana than others.

However, some dragons had abandoned mana.

So he had expected demonic energy to exist alongside mana.

But it was denser than he had thought.

At this level, it was fair to say demonic energy was dominant.

Hmm, what to do.

Gaon pondered briefly.

Whether to stay here and wait for someone to appear.

Or to wander and search.

Just then, while pondering.

His senses detected a presence.

It was incredibly strong.

Being a dragon, strength was natural, but it was strong even for a dragon.

Seems like a silver dragon.

Dragons had unique traits depending on their clan.

The approaching dragon emanated the trait of the silver clan.

But it wasn’t Askra.

It harbored demonic energy.

Is it that guy?

Soon, Gaon recalled a certain dragon.

No matter how I look at it, it’s that guy.

There had been a dragon who vied with Askra for the silver clan’s leadership position.

The approaching dragon seemed exactly like that one, no matter how he looked.

Shortly after, a dragon appeared before Gaon.

And Gaon could tell.

As he thought, it was Mayporin, the silver clan’s second-in-command who had clashed with Askra.

He’s changed a lot.

Was it because he had accepted demonic energy?

Mayporin was very different from the appearance in Gaon’s memory.

In the past, he had pure white skin, silver hair, and silver eyes.

But now?

His skin was still white, but his hair and eyes had turned black.

If not for the unique silver dragon trait?

He would have thought it was a black dragon.

That wasn’t all.

Even in human form, horns protruded from his head.

And they were vicious-looking ones made of demonic energy.

“……Gaon?”

And just as Gaon recognized Mayporin, Mayporin also recognized Gaon.

“It’s been a while.”

“……”

Gaon greeted him, and Mayporin remained silent.

He kept his mouth shut tight, wearing a flustered expression.

There were three reasons for Mayporin’s fluster.

First, Gaon’s sudden appearance.

Second, the aura of the clan’s divine artifact emanating from Gaon.

However, in terms of weight, the first two reasons weren’t that significant.

The third and final reason was the biggest.

H-how does he have completeness…….

Completeness was emanating from Gaon.

How had Gaon, a human, obtained completeness?

“Why so quiet?”

Gaon said.

Then Mayporin swallowed hard and opened his mouth.

“H-how did you get here, no, how did you get that..”

Mayporin trailed off, looking at the silver dagger.

Gaon glanced at the silver dagger in response to Mayporin’s question and answered.

“Askra asked me to bring it.”

“I see.”

Mayporin nodded as if understanding.

“Then I’ll be going.”

Mayporin stopped nodding and awkwardly greeted him before starting to back away.

Far from taking the divine artifact, I’ll die.

Originally, Mayporin had come here to obtain the divine artifact.

But after facing Gaon, his thoughts changed.

Gaon had obtained completeness.

Mayporin knew well what completeness meant.

Clashing with Gaon now?

He wouldn’t last long.

And he would definitely die.

In other words, he needed to leave this place as soon as possible.

And devise countermeasures.

What to do about Gaon, who had obtained completeness.

But had he noticed Mayporin’s thoughts?

Or was it the most natural course?

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Gaon stopped Mayporin.

“Ahem, do you perhaps have something to say……?”

“Plenty.”

Mayporin cleared his throat and asked, and Gaon smiled brightly in response.

At the same time, Mayporin released his polymorph and returned to his true form.

He immediately turned and swung his tail toward Gaon.

The tail was fast and carried tremendous physical force.

Boom!

Soon, the tail struck Gaon.

And Mayporin frowned.

It had been a surprise attack.

He had naturally assumed the attack would succeed.

But it didn’t.

In that short time, Gaon had created a barrier, and the tail struck the barrier.

The problem was the barrier’s condition.

It had been his best attack in the current situation.

Yet there wasn’t even a tiny scratch on the barrier.

And Gaon’s expression was incredibly calm.

As if nothing had happened.

From Gaon’s reaction, Mayporin was certain.

As expected, I can’t do it……!

He was no match for Gaon, who had obtained completeness.

“……!”

Askra’s eyes flashed as he rose from his seat.

“……?”

“……?”

At Askra’s sudden reaction, Perbeng, the gold clan’s leader, and Tron, the blue clan’s leader, wore puzzled expressions.

But Askra showed no response to the two dragons’ gazes.

That was because something extremely important had just occurred.

He had sensed the divine artifact’s aura moments ago.

Sensing the divine artifact’s aura meant the divine artifact had entered the barrier.

How already……?

He had sent the coordinates and key to Alter Tower.

But he thought it would take quite some time to bring the divine artifact.

Yet how had it arrived already?

This isn’t the time.

The current conversation was important.

But securing the divine artifact was more important.

Askra ended his thoughts and spoke to Perbeng and Tron.

“The divine artifact has arrived.”

“The divine artifact?”

“What?”

Perbeng and Tron asked back with surprised expressions.

“I’ll go right away. Just in case, please prepare for battle.”

Without waiting for the two dragons’ responses, Askra immediately went outside.

He flew straight into the sky and shouted.

“Hakuzan! Bretto! Maskalion!”

At Askra’s shout, the three dragons waiting nearby immediately flew up and approached.

“Follow me.”

After speaking to the three dragons, Askra began flying toward the divine artifact at full speed.

I hope I’m not too late……?

Askra wasn’t the only one who could sense the divine artifact.

Within the silver clan, there was one more besides Askra who could sense it.

It was Mayporin.

Moreover, the location where the divine artifact appeared was in the neutral zone where mana and demonic energy coexisted, but it was a bit closer to the traitors’ stronghold.

In other words, there was a high chance Mayporin arrived first.

If the divine artifact was taken by Mayporin?

Of course, since he had abandoned mana, he couldn’t use the divine artifact.

The situation wouldn’t worsen further.

But the situation was already bad.

The lack of any change itself was problematic.

Please…….

Askra desperately wished to arrive before Mayporin and focused on flying.

The distance to the divine artifact closed rapidly.

And Askra frowned.

It was because Mayporin’s aura was detected at the divine artifact’s location.

I’m late.

He had thought Mayporin might arrive first.

But Askra, who had hoped that wouldn’t happen, quickly racked his brain.

How many came?

Being late didn’t mean it was over.

Mayporin had just arrived first.

He could seize it before Mayporin took the divine artifact and left.

He wouldn’t have come alone…….

Mayporin wouldn’t have come alone.

Just like Askra, he would have come with kin.

Just then.

Mayporin’s aura vanished.

“……?”

Askra couldn’t help but be puzzled.

Why suddenly hide his aura?

Because he knows I’m coming?

Just as Askra had sensed Mayporin, Mayporin had likely sensed Askra.

But because of the divine artifact, it’s meaningless……?

The divine artifact’s aura couldn’t be hidden.

In other words, even if Mayporin hid his aura, his position could always be tracked through the divine artifact.

Surely!

A sudden thought made Askra’s eyes flash.

Is he setting a trap?

If the reason Mayporin hid his aura was to use the divine artifact as bait and set a trap to attack?

It wasn’t an impossible story.

Askra spoke to the three dragons following behind.

“It could be a trap. Hide your auras and prepare to enter battle. I’ll go first, so follow stealthily.”

As Askra said, the three dragons hid their auras, increased the distance, and followed stealthily.

And Askra continued advancing toward the divine artifact.

……Huh?

Shortly after, Askra arrived at the destination.

And he couldn’t help but be flustered.

Mayporin was sprawled on the ground.

There was no movement at all.

No matter how he looked, he seemed dead.

Of course, Askra’s fluster wasn’t just because of Mayporin’s condition.

Mayporin’s condition was bewildering, but there was something even more bewildering.

It was the divine artifact’s location.

Astonishingly, the divine artifact was inside Mayporin’s body.

Did he swallow it?

Why was the divine artifact inside Mayporin’s body?

There was only one answer.

He had swallowed the divine artifact.

Such nonsense?

Just then.

Mayporin’s back split open.

And something rose up.

Askra reflexively examined it closely.

And he could tell.

A human.