Chapter 33 - Dragon Awakening Part 2

Inwardly, Mistglan was shocked. Had he not paid close attention to the green panther, he might have missed that critical moment, even if he had been on the field. Claire was confident in her abilities, which is why she had entrusted him with Athena's cadets. Who would have guessed that the Crimson Empire still had such a card up its sleeve?

If Vorst hadn’t warned him beforehand, the Elven Queen would now be critically injured—or even dead.

On the other side, Magnes silently cursed his bad luck. He thought it was a stroke of misfortune. If Mistglan hadn’t shown up, he would have ended the war with a single strike!

Over the past hundred years, he had meticulously studied the Elven Queen's habits. How strange that, according to his predictions, he was 99% certain she would have arrogantly left the Silver Liger in the back to deal with the children.

He had trained the green panther in both (Photon Nova Overcharge) and (Instant Blitz) skills specifically for this battle, and now decades of preparation were undone.

[Claire: To execute this kind of plan... I guess two hundred years have made you more crafty, Magnes-chan.]

[Magnes: ... Charge.]

With that, he launched an attack alongside the other M-Gods. If a surprise attack failed, he would win the battle the usual way!

As the events unfolded on the holo-monitor, Nova was incredibly impressed. It was exactly as Vorst had said! He had predicted the green panther would be a threat, and now his prediction had come true. Unlike Mersa, the 19-year-old witch who had been personally trained by Claire for several years, Nova understood the implications of such an ability. The power to see through an opponent's true strength was immensely advantageous on the battlefield.

No wonder she had lost to him. Nova became even more fascinated with the green-eyed boy.

On the screen, Mistglan and Claire were battling against nine other M-Gods and were essentially winning. Their opponents were fighting two monsters after all. After the initial exchange, Magnes understood the full extent of the Silver Liger's power. It was on a level even higher than his!

Claire felt uneasy. One of the enemy’s M-Gods was already incapacitated, but the remaining opponents showed no hesitation and engaged again. What was their goal?

Mersa was clinging to Vorst the entire time. Since the moment the Headmistress was in danger, she had instinctively clung to him. Even after realizing it, she only blushed but didn’t let go.

Suddenly, his aura changed.

The relaxed atmosphere around him turned razor-sharp, as if just his gaze alone could cut through an opponent.

[--Lily--: They’re making a move, huh?]

[--Marc--: Right. Have you found anything?]

[--Lily--: I’m sorry, Marc, but there was nothing out of the ordinary. If I had a body, I could conduct a thorough investigation, but right now...]

[--Marc--: No worries. They’ll reveal themselves soon.]

[Mersa: Vor-chan?]

[Vorst: Mer-chan, please stand back. Also, Nova-senpai and Celina-senpai, please take Mer-chan and head towards the emergency exit...]

Although she didn’t know the full situation, the blue-haired girl reacted immediately.

[Nova: What’s going on?]

[Vorst: The enemy is coming.]

[Nova: ... I understand, but what will you do?]

[Vorst: I’ll fight them.]

[Nova: Then I will too!]

[Mersa: Me too! I won’t leave Vor-chan.]

[Celina: I will try as well.]

The young boy shook his head.

[Vorst: Two of them are Upper Circle Tier.]

Hearing this, Nova turned completely pale. What could an HST do against them? It was like sending a mouse to fight a lion.

[Nova: Vorst, we need to run.]

A smile appeared on his lips.

[Vorst: Circle Tier can fly; their speed completely surpasses us... One of us...]

[Mersa: No! No! I definitely won’t allow this! NO!]

As soon as she understood his intentions, tears streamed from her eyes as she clung to him desperately.

[Vorst: I’m sorry, Mer-chan. I’m making you cry again... (Sleep)]

A bright rune appeared in front of the White Wolf Princess’s eyes. With that, an extreme drowsiness fell upon her.

[Mersa: No! No... Vor... chan... N...]

Seeing this, Nova was completely shocked. The Neo-Aris used a ‘Rune’! Apart from her, no other witches in the universe could do this! What’s more, the rune he used was several times more complicated than the hardest one she could utilize.

[Vorst: Aria. I’m entrusting Mer-chan to you.]

His crystal-clear jade eyes smiled as he used her private name for the first time. Seeing the resolve in his eyes, the blue-haired girl could only swallow her tears and take Mersa from him. With that, they departed.

The boy stood in the middle of the room with his hands behind his back, waiting patiently. He exuded a mature aura, showing no sign of discomfort.

[--Marc--: Hmm...]

[--Lily--: ...]

[--Calla--: ...]

[--Marc--: I guess my luck is quite harsh this time.]

[--Lily--: Your luck was always terrible.]

[--Calla--: There is nothing wrong with m'lord’s choice.]

[--Marc--: Mhm, I’m sorry, you two.]

[--Calla--: No need. If m'lord is going to depart, I’ll follow you even to the afterlife.]

[--Lily--: Definitely.]

[--Marc--: You girls only make this harder on me.]

[--Calla--: *snicker*]

[--Lily--: That’s our job.]

[--Marc--: Heh.]

With a swoosh, the doors to the shelter room opened.

[Vorst: Welcome, Belien. To be honest, it’s not surprising to see you as a traitor. I see you’ve also brought a companion. I don’t believe we’ve met before.]

The young child in the middle of the room snickered as he saw the two adults enter.

Belien was shocked. As a hunter, his ability to conceal his killing intent was top-class! At first, he thought they would be able to ambush the children and finish this in one swoop. How unexpected...

[Belien: ‘Powerless’... Where are Mersa and Nova, Aria?]

That’s right; his mission was to assassinate Mersa and Nova! This was the Crimson Empire's backup plan. There was a chance—one in a hundred—that Mistglan would stop the green panther’s blow. In that case, the children inside the station would be completely vulnerable. If they couldn’t eliminate the Elven Queen, they would deal with the next generation!

That was where these two came in. Just slaughter some HSTs and flee to the Crimson Empire to live a life of luxury and pleasure. In their sphere of influence, they could abuse their power without consequences, especially if they did something this significant for the Emperor!

[Vorst: Who knows.]

His completely indifferent attitude infuriated the two. A mere HST in front of them should beg for his life instead!

BAM.

The Black Wolf immediately summoned his M-Collos and clawed towards the unarmed child. Vorst responded by summoning his Golden Knight to block the blow, but the difference between the two was overwhelming.

The Golden M-Armor crashed into the wall. The two men tilted their heads. How was it still in one piece? For an M-Armor to survive a hit from an Upper Circle M-Collos was a miracle. Vorst had to admit it, even with Barrier Psychic and Runes, his M-Armor was rendered completely unusable after one hit.

[--Marc--: Damn, I knew the difference was too great, but seriously... It hurts. It seems I have no other choice...]

[--Calla--: Don’t worry, m'lord. If it’s about the other girl’s links, we’ll take the damage in their stead.]

[--Lily--: That’s right, just rest assured and fight to win.]

[--Marc--: I’m sorry... and thank you.]

The M-Armor dissipated as the young boy appeared in front of the two men again. Once more, he stood with his head held high. A small line of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth; despite all his effort, he had still sustained damage from a previous blow. But he didn’t care.

Because what he was about to do...

His body wouldn’t be able to handle it anyway...

He closed his eyes...

---

[Time: Back to present.]

Full synchronization of his soul into the small body of the Neo-Aris!

When he spoke, foreign words came out.

[Vorst: (We, Marcdrak Euharm Maxkael Adajax Emerald Vegyla, by the authority of the Dragon Monarchs, invoke the sacred awakening. May the World be honored to witness the rise of the Adamantine Dragon. Dragon Awakening)]

A violet aura poured from his crystal core, enveloping his body completely. His pupils dilated and changed shape; what was once a black circle turned into a vertical slit.

Marc immediately felt the familiar limitless power fill

his body. However, this time it came with countless miniature ruptures throughout his frame. Performing the (Dragon Awakening) in a non-dragon body was certain suicide, especially at the Dragon Monarch’s scale...

If you ever have to go, then go with a bang!