Chapter 85

Carl finally realized that Revenant had caused this chaos to lure Idelin here and grimaced.

But Idelin’s approaching speed was too fast to change direction and turn back. Though Idelin, sharing consciousness with Carl, flapped his wings as if perplexed to reduce speed, the massive dragon’s body had instantly crossed more than half the maze garden.

Revenant, who had jumped onto Brita’s back, nocked an arrow made of living dragon bones and aimed at Idelin soaring through the air.

A bloodthirsty smile bloomed on Revenant’s lips as she aimed her bow. The arrow, leaving the bowstring silently amid the surrounding chaos, was heading straight for Idelin’s approaching head.

It was just a moment’s stumble while trying to change direction. Realizing it was impossible to dodge the arrow, Idelin spread silver magic. The seemingly ordinary arrow struck the silver magic wall, swayed greatly from the rebound, and fell to the ground.

—SCREECH!

Idelin’s terrible scream painfully seared the palace garden. Carl, sharing consciousness with Idelin, barely swallowed back a scream that threatened to escape as he collapsed.

A splitting headache tore through her head, accompanied by a terrible ringing in her ears. Though she managed to avoid collapsing by plunging her sword into the ground for support, cold sweat immediately soaked through her back.

Thud!

With her mind blank, Sian could only watch as Idelin crashed to the ground. She saw Carl sink to his knees, sharing Idelin’s pain, but there was nothing she could do.

Sian took a deep breath, momentarily unable to decide whether to approach Carl or the fallen Idelin.

Revenant, who had lowered her stance atop Brita’s back, cackled as she watched Idelin fall. Soon gathering her wits, Sian ran toward Idelin. Revenant was aiming her bow at Idelin.

“You damned thing!”

Since Idelin hadn’t been hit by an arrow, he would soon regain his composure. Trying to buy time, Sian deliberately hurled harsh curses at Revenant.

“Such shallow tricks won’t work.”

But Revenant just laughed it off. Reva drew the bowstring and aimed the arrow’s tip at Idelin’s body.

…Damn it.

There was no way to block an incoming arrow with her bare body. Sian knew she would take the full impact when the arrowhead, imbued with the dragon’s painful magic, collided with her own magic, but she had no choice.

The arrow fell without reaching Idelin’s body, blocked by the dark magic Sian silently deployed. However, the impact from contact with the cursed arrowhead once again forced Sian to face pain that wracked her entire body.

“Brita, grab Idelin’s body.”

Having easily subdued Idelin and the dragon masters, Revenant jumped down to the ground. When she commanded the now-riderless Brita, she twisted her neck with an eerie groan.

“This is the way to save your master. Would you rather watch your master die like a dog at their hands?”

Due to the numbing shock throughout her body, Sian couldn’t utter a word. Through the pain and confusion that made it hard to think clearly, she vaguely understood how Revenant could control Brita despite not being her master.

‘All beings with consciousness must submit to overwhelming force.’

That had always been Revenant’s assertion. She had subjugated Brita through force and turned her into a puppet by threatening her master’s life.

Though Brita was being dragged along unwillingly by Revenant’s will, she seemed to retain her judgment. While she growled at the commanding Revenant like a beast, baring her teeth, she ultimately flew toward Idelin, having no choice due to her master’s life being at stake.

Idelin, who had regained consciousness, raised his head but was soon caught by Brita’s massive body that pounced on his torso. Brita’s sharp claws pierced through Idelin’s scales and hide.

“Kaaak!” Idelin let out a pain-filled scream. Revenant leisurely drew her bowstring while watching the suffering Idelin.

No, Sian furrowed her brow, but she still couldn’t properly control her magic due to the shock from colliding with the living dragon’s bones. Her body wouldn’t move, as if paralyzed.

Meanwhile, Revenant’s arrow, cutting through the air with a chilling sound, flew straight into Idelin’s body.

“Kaaaak!”

“…Kugh!”

Black blood spurted up as screams rose. Carl clutched his chest and swallowed a scream along with Idelin, who was writhing in terrible pain.

“Ahaha!”

Revenant burst into maniacal laughter after embedding the cruel weapon in Idelin’s body. Sian could only watch the scene unfolding before her with a devastating feeling.

Weapons made from living dragon bones were overwhelming against dragons and their masters. Even without direct contact, just the collision of magic felt like being struck by lightning, paralyzing the entire body. Having been wounded by such a terrible thing, Idelin wouldn’t be able to move for a while.

With a feeling of her chest burning black, Sian gritted her teeth and adjusted her grip on her sword.

“…You’re insane.”

“That’s nothing new.”

Revenant, finally finding room to speak, responded to Sian’s curse with a clear laugh.

“See? I told you. Because it has consciousness, I said I could subjugate it.”

Revenant looked at Brita with eyes full of ecstasy. Brita’s eyes, while clutching the convulsing Idelin, contained both killing intent and fear toward her. Revenant shuddered with joy at the dragon’s satisfying gaze.

“Well, I threatened using the master’s life as leverage rather than force, but regardless.”

‘Now save my master.’

Brita spoke to Revenant with a growl. It was a sorrowful voice.

“Not yet. I’ll save your master after you either subjugate or kill Idelin. Until then, I am your master, so be sure to obey.”

Like a leashed dog, Brita cowered.

“You’re really excited. After wanting so desperately to become a dragon master.”

Sian bared her teeth at Reva.

“That’s not what a true dragon master is. Brita could tear out your throat if she just changed her mind – are you really that happy being a half-baked dragon master?”

“…You don’t understand, Sian. You, who just sat there and was chosen by a dragon.”

Reva continued to smile with satisfaction as if she’d received a compliment.

“Dragon, that grand name. That powerful and glorious being is at my feet.”

Revenant swept a satisfied gaze over Brita and Idelin.

“How could you possibly understand this thrilling, prideful feeling?”

Revenant continued speaking while putting away the bow and drawing a sword from its scabbard. A single-edged sword with a curved blade. The sharply forged blade was white.

Though invisible to ordinary people, Sian saw the bright red energy rising from that blade. Her expression twisted involuntarily. She felt her shoulders being pressed down by the pain-filled magic rising from the blade made by carving an entire dragon bone.

“Did you make it from the Dragon King’s bones?”

“As expected, you recognize it well.”

Revenant raised the sword with a slight smile in response to Sian’s question. The blade emanating red energy pointed at Sian’s neck.

“Where did you hide the black dragon? I’ll need to take that one too.”

Though the chilling blade hadn’t even touched her skin, the cursed energy rising from it made her breath catch. However, Sian forced a cold sneer.

“You think I’ll tell you?”

“You should. Unless you want to watch our admired silver dragon have its bones carved out while still alive.”

‘…I’d rather die.’