Raon trembled as he gripped the Heavenly Drive, looking at the seagull.
"Is it really you?"
"I've missed you."
Though the response didn't directly answer the question, the simple statement of having missed him was enough to confirm who it was. It was Merlin, who had gone beyond being just a lunatic and had become a full-fledged stalker.
-Kuh, kuh!
Wrath curled up like a turtle hiding in its shell.
-Why is that lunatic here!
His sky-blue eyes quivered as if he couldn't understand the situation.
-We parted ways in the central continent, so how are we meeting in this coastal village!
'I don't know either….'
Raon shook his head. He genuinely had no idea and had nothing to say.
"You… ah."
Just as Raon was about to ask Merlin a question, he sensed a battle happening to his right. It felt similar to the presence of the Fog Tribe he had encountered earlier.
"Let's put out the immediate fire and then talk."
"I'll wait as long as needed."
Merlin nodded, indicating he could take his time, and perched on his shoulder.
"Hoo."
Raon sighed briefly and stepped towards the right using the Supreme Harmony Steps. The energy from the Fog Tribe was much stronger than the ones he fought earlier. This seemed to be the real deal.
Turning into an alley that seemed covered in gray dust, he saw three Fog Tribe members gathered next to a large fountain. A massive fog was rising above the fountain, seemingly trapping the city.
"Burn the fog first!"
"It doesn't burn, nor does it freeze!"
"Damn it! It won't break through with Aura either."
"Defense is one thing, but their attacks are too fierce. Eight have already fallen!"
The martial artists and magicians in the city tried to attack the Fog Tribe, but the fog was too thick, and they couldn't break through because of the surrounding monsters.
Instead, those who tried to attack were pierced by the Fog Tribe's mist and died one by one.
Ssshh.
Raon readjusted his grip on the Heavenly Drive and assessed the Fog Tribe's state. The young ones on either side were at a similar level to the ones he had fought earlier, but the middle-aged Fog Tribe member manipulating the fog in the center seemed much stronger. He appeared to be the leader.
Boom!
Raon targeted the central one, deploying the Supreme Harmony Steps. As he tried to break through the Fog Tribe's mist, the surrounding sea monsters started to swarm.
'Can they control monsters too?'
He had never heard that the Fog Tribe could control monsters. It seemed they were moving together due to the dragon's command.
"Well then…."
Raon drew back the Heavenly Drive over his shoulder and channeled the Aura from his energy center into the sword. The heat surged through the mana circuits, forming a dragon's shape over the sword.
Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.
Flame Dragon Strike.
The breath of the flame dragon extending from the sword engulfed all the monsters in its path.
Rumble!
Although the precision of his swordsmanship had fallen due to issues with his upper dantian, the power itself seemed to have increased thanks to enhanced abilities.
Whoosh!
The monsters didn't survive even a single breath of the Flame Dragon Strike, but the Fog Tribe condensed their fog into a barrier that perfectly blocked the flames.
"You're annoying."
Raon stamped towards the fog over the scorched ground.
Ssshhh!
The gray fog manipulated by the Fog Tribe ground itself like a sharp blade, aiming for his vital points.
'I can see it.'
Perhaps because he was simultaneously using the Ring of Fire and the Evil Eye of Wrath, he could feel the flow of the fog with delicate clarity.
Clang!
He stepped forward with River Footwork, following the fog's movement smoothly, like a salmon swimming upstream.
"Kill him."
The middle-aged Fog Tribe member gestured, and the younger ones on either side thrust spears and swords made of fog. They aimed not just for vital points but to skewer his entire body.
Ssshhh!
Raon didn't retreat; he advanced faster, slicing with the Frost Snap. The silver and frosty blades connected like shadows.
Crash!
The sharply ground blades shattered the Fog Tribe's weapons and pushed forward.
"Block it!"
The two younger Fog Tribe members belatedly tried to form a fog barrier, but it was too late. The two blades were already at their foreheads.
Slash!
The Fog Tribe members stabbed by Frost Snap couldn't stand and fell backward. It was an instant kill. No matter how strong their vitality, enduring Frost Snap was impossible.
'Now, one left… hmm?'
As he swung the Heavenly Drive, raising flames, a wave of gray energy surged towards him. The remaining middle-aged Fog Tribe member had used the others as bait and prepared an unavoidable attack.
Boom!
Raon firmly planted his feet and swung the Heavenly Drive. The flames around the blade flickered white, enveloping the descending fog wave.
Raon Zieghart Swordsmanship.
Form Five: White Flame Cut.
The white-bladed sword erased the fog wave that reached the sky. Within the dissipating mist, he saw the startled eyes of the Fog Tribe.
Boom!
Raon didn't miss the middle-aged Fog Tribe member's moment of confusion and broke into his space.
"Ugh!"
The middle-aged Fog Tribe member wrapped himself in the city-covering fog, creating a gray tornado.
Raon paused, then gently swung the Heavenly Drive. The red petals that blossomed along the blade began to dance elegantly, following the fog whirlwind.
Flash!
The Fire Spirit, which he had slightly comprehended thanks to Wrath, ruthlessly tore apart the fog whirlwind surrounding the Fog Tribe member.
"Ah…."
The middle-aged Fog Tribe member trembled as he saw the dissipating fog in disbelief.
Step.
Raon calmly approached the Fog Tribe member. As the member gritted his teeth and prepared for one last desperate attack, Raon brought down the Heavenly Drive.
Slash!
The middle-aged Fog Tribe member was split in half along with the hand he was raising to attack.
A momentary silence fell over the blood-soaked fountain.
"Wow…."
"To take down three Fog Tribe members alone…."
"And without swinging his sword that many times."
"How could someone so young have such power…."
The martial artists and magicians who had been fighting the Fog Tribe exhaled in disbelief. They couldn't believe that the fog barrier, which they couldn't break through even by risking their lives, had been shattered so easily.
Rumble!
The fog covering the coastal city of Aikar began to dissipate. However, only a quarter of it cleared away.
It seemed that they would have to repeat this process three more times to completely clear the fog from the area.
'I need to move faster.'
As Raon sent the injured to the port and tried to sense the presence of other Fog Tribe members, a powerful energy surged from the city's sky. The massive energy wave was so intimidating that it made his fingertips tremble.
Though the fog obscured the view, it was obvious who was there.
'Alice Zieghart.'
The self-proclaimed Pirate King, who lived freely after abandoning her title to her subordinates, floated above.
Raon used the Evil Eye of Wrath to pierce through the fog and see Alice within it.
Alice, with her eyes closed, bent her upper body forward and placed her hand on the sword hilt. It was the drawing technique posture, with an incredible level of focus and energy fluctuations.
At the moment her eyes flashed red, the air split open. It was an ultra-high-speed drawing technique, almost invisible to the naked eye. But the important thing wasn't the speed.
Slash!
Alice's sword strike severed the throats of all the monsters and Fog Tribe members in the city, transcending space.
Screech.
Entering the alley where he heard screams, Raon saw the sea monsters that had been alive moments ago convulsing, cut in half.
Boom!
The fog that had enveloped Aikar burst all at once, letting in the clear sunlight.
"Wow…."
Raon looked up at the blue sky, trembling his lips slightly.
'Is this swordsmanship?'
He had seen countless sword techniques, but this was the first time he saw one that transcended space. It felt more like magic than swordsmanship.
-It's space.
Wrath twisted his lips, looking at the bodies of the monsters.
'Space?'
-That thieving woman cut the space where the monsters' presences were. In your terms, it would be called a spatial sword.
'Spatial sword….'
He swallowed dryly at the term spatial sword. It seemed incredibly difficult to use, but his chest burned with excitement. He definitely wanted to learn it at least once.
Rumble!
A ship's horn sounded from the port. The Pirate King's ship, Cheongpoong, seemed to have arrived in the city. He could sense the sailors moving. It seemed to be over now.
Shhh.
Raon sheathed the Heavenly Drive and looked to his right. The seagull possessed by Merlin was still there.
-Ah! Right! That lunatic!
Wrath trembled, recalling Merlin.
"Why are you here?"
Raon sighed, looking at Merlin with a similar expression to Wrath.
"I was looking for you."
"Until now?"
"Yes. Continuously."
Merlin nodded with a bright smile. He never thought he would see a seagull smile.
"Your luck is incredible."
Meeting at the end of the continent, it was truly amazing. It made him wonder if it was destiny.
"Luck? No."
Merlin shook his head gently.
"Not luck?"
"I'm moving over a thousand animals right now"
"Over a thousand, you say?"
"Not just here, but spread across the entire continent. They're still moving around."
Merlin chuckled, saying it wasn't luck but inevitability.
-Over a thousand
Wrath began to foam at the mouth.
-Didn't I tell you she's the most dangerous of them all! She's more dangerous than anyone we've met recently!
He patted Raon's shoulder, urging him to run away quickly.
"Hmm…."
Raon groaned, tilting his head.
"Is it really possible to control a thousand animals?"
No matter how skilled Merlin was, it seemed impossible to control over a thousand animals across the entire continent.
"I developed a new magic. My main body is in a semi-sleep state, and I've split my mind to inhabit the animals."
"Haa…."
Raon sighed deeply.
'What is she?'
She developed a new magic just to find me?
Merlin casually mentioned creating new spells, making it sound as easy as cooking a meal.
"I thought I wouldn't lose to anyone with this, and I'm glad it worked out."
"Not lose to anyone?"
"In finding you."
Merlin twisted her wings, looking embarrassed.
"Hmm…."
Raon closed his eyes tightly and asked the question he initially had.
"Isn't that magic dangerous?"
If she was in a semi-sleep state, she would be defenseless. He was worried about her safety.
"Uhuhu."
Merlin covered her beak with her wing.
"Are you worried about me?"
"It's not that…."
"I'm happy, but you don't need to worry. I'm hidden well. Besides…."
Her eyes glimmered with a peculiar intensity.
"Even if I die, I must find you. I'm really glad you're alive!"
Merlin spread her wings wide, as if nothing else mattered.
-Ugh….
Wrath shivered and whimpered.
-She's a complete madwoman
'I can't argue with that.'
-Why is my life like this! I came here to enjoy delicious food, but the city is ruined, and now this stalker lunatic is following us!
'Life is unpredictable.'
Raon patted Wrath's shoulder, comforting him. Honestly, Merlin was scary, but he couldn't be entirely fearful since he owed her so much.
"How's your injury?"
"My body?"
"You were stabbed by the apostle's spear."
"Oh, right."
Merlin nodded slightly, as if she had forgotten she was injured.
'Really….'
No matter how often they met, he could never get used to her madness.
"Receiving your concern twice in one day, I might not be able to sleep from happiness."
Merlin touched her cheek with her wing, looking embarrassed.
"Oh…."
She suddenly trembled.
"What's wrong?"
"My emotions are getting intense, and I might lose control of the magic."
"What do you mean…."
"I've been maintaining this magic for over two weeks, and I'm running out of mana."
"Over two weeks?"
If that were true, it meant she had been using the magic without stopping since he went missing.
"You're really…."
"For Raon Zieghart…."
Merlin's beak twitched suddenly. Her eyes changed. She disappeared without being able to finish her sentence about what she wanted.
"Squawk."
The seagull approached Raon with a single leap.
"Squawk!"
It flapped its wings as if demanding something from him.
"What is it?"
Raon swallowed dryly as the seagull approached.
"I don't know what you want…."
Since the seagull didn't get what it wanted, it perched on his shoulder without leaving.
Raon, unable to shake it off, inspected the city. The once well-maintained roads and buildings were now in ruins, with black smoke rising into the sky, making it look like hell itself. Just a few days ago, the coastal city was proud of its beauty, but now it was a port of death.
It wasn't just the city that was destroyed. Turning his eyes even slightly revealed countless unrecognizable corpses. Men, women, and children—all lay dead in uncountable numbers.
'Hardly anyone survived.'
There was no sign of human life in the vicinity.
'It must be due to the dragon's magic.'
The city's defenses crumbled under the successive 9th-circle spells of Kaivar, leaving the guards unable to lift a finger before dying. Even the martial artists who survived the magic were wiped out by the monsters and Fog Tribe in their desperate attempts to protect the city.
Raon clenched his teeth as he turned toward the harbor. Under the rubble of a collapsed building, he saw a red-stained rabbit doll and the small hand of its owner. Seeing the small, young hand made his heart feel like it was being crushed by iron wires.
'Damn it….'
Originally, he thought this fight wasn't his. He planned to help Alice, gain benefits, and then return to his family.
But seeing this ruined city and the innocent people who had died, he felt a sharp reality like cold water being poured over his head.
"All this just because they hate humans?"
Fueled by the emotions from Wrath and his own hatred for dragons, the anger boiled like a wildfire in his soul.
-Dragons have always been hypocrites.
Wrath sneered, watching the smoke rise over the city.
'Hypocrites?'
-They claim not to interfere with each other, letting dragons slaughter humans and other races without any consequences. But when a dragon dies, they act.
He mocked the unchanging nature of dragons.
-Guardians of the continent, my foot. They're just a filthy race.
'You're right.'
Raon nodded heavily. Dragons, who claimed to protect the continent, seemed more like demons compared to Wrath, who cared for his subordinates, or Sloth, who just wanted to sleep.
'I've made up my mind.'
From now on, this fight is mine. I will kill the dragons slaughtering humans, raise the realm of my soul, and secure the Sea Serpent Heart to create Sylvia's energy center.
With his mind made up, the turbulent anger inside him subsided.
"I couldn't save you, but I'll avenge you."
Raon placed the blood-stained rabbit doll in the small hand and left the street marked with crimson stains.
When he finally reached the harbor, he saw Alice, Lawaine, and the sailors standing there.
"The monsters and Fog Tribe that invaded the city have all been eliminated. However, the damage is too great…."
Lawaine bit his lip as he looked at the devastated city.
"What about the remaining personnel?"
Alice clicked her tongue briefly and asked.
"The city's defense force is annihilated, and only a third of the personnel we planned to move with are left. Moreover…."
Lawaine lowered his head, continuing.
"The fleet from Ucal Village that was supposed to come also got attacked by the Fog Tribe and monsters."
He sighed deeply, saying that hunting Kaivar had become much more difficult.
"Hmm…."
Raon frowned as he looked at Lawaine.
'Half are dead?'
Originally, Alice had planned to gather her fleet and pirates here in Aikar to hunt the dragon.
But with the two cities full of supplies and personnel both attacked, it was unclear how they would proceed.
"This place is opposite the dragon's nest. The fact that it was attacked means…."
Alice stared at the sea with a frown.
"It means they knew our movements."
She was right. The nest of Kaivar and this city were quite far apart in both distance and direction. The fact that both Aikar and the supporting fleet from Ucal were attacked meant that Kaivar was aware of their movements.
"What will you do? The plan has changed, making it a tough fight."
Lawaine sighed, looking around at the sailors. Worry was evident in everyone's eyes.
"Why worry so much? The reason that mad dragon attacked this city is clear."
Alice smiled faintly, spreading her arms wide.
"Because it fears us. It fears our determination to hunt it. It's afraid of humans."
"Hmm…."
Her confident proclamation brought a glimmer of hope to the martial artists' eyes.
"There's no need to avoid a lizard that fears humans. The plan remains unchanged."
Alice smiled faintly, looking out to sea.
"We will depart as soon as we are ready. Raon and I will cut off the head of Kaivar."