NOVEL NEXT Chapter 160
Looking at Eliaernes, who began to accept mana, Leona narrowed her brows.
‘Genius… No, with talent like this… Should I even call it genius?’
The spiritual vein created by the Dragon Heart carries the pressure emitted by dragons and the unique overwhelming aura of their roar.
And on top of that, the power of demon suppression is imbued within.
Inside that, Eliaernes manipulated mana in just 10 minutes. Not only that, she pulled it into an observable range and wrapped it around both hands.
‘Is the word genius even enough to describe Eliaernes’s talent?’
Eliaernes’s ability reached the edge of the 5th Rank.
Still, she had not exceeded the bounds of humanity.
But that doesn’t mean Eliaernes’s talent was lacking. She was just 17 years old. How long had she been practicing? I heard it was about 6 years. And in that time, she reached the 5th Rank.
A broken genius. The eldest son of the Van Chaser family.
Hurd Van Chaser had released a blade power in his fifth year of wielding a sword. Eliaernes rose to the 5th Rank at a similar pace.
But that doesn’t mean she was on the same level as him.
The binding strength of the mana Eliaernes holds, her manipulation method, usage, and output. All of it is fundamentally different from Hurd’s, who the whole world claimed was a genius.
This was not simply the achievement of a girl who had trained for 7 years.
It was the essence of a warrior who had rolled through the unending battles for decades.
However, that being said.
Overcoming the pressure of a dragon and shaking off the power of demon suppression is impossible.
No matter how much of a genius she may be, she cannot overcome the fear embedded in the genes of the human race. It is a realm that lies dormant in the unconscious and is, quite literally, instinct.
Yet Eliaernes effortlessly shook it off, treating it as if it were nothing.
‘This is insane…’
It was insane. There was no other way to explain Eliaernes’s talent.
Even the demon race, which had become the natural enemy of dragons, could not surpass Eliaernes now. No being in this world could surpass the power of a dragon.
No.
‘That’s not quite right…’
A bitter smile spread across Leona’s face.
There was one being who surpassed the power of dragons.
One person, to be precise.
The one with the least talent, the fiercest temperament, the worst disposition, and the most vulgar speech among them.
Yet, paradoxically, the one filled with affection, unable to disregard the weak, and who would sacrifice herself even at a loss.
The one who instilled fear in all demons, considered a calamity by the legion commanders, counted among the stars.
And, the one who came to find her when she was dying in the demon race’s human experimentation facility.
Ronan Luzarack.
He too was like Eliaernes.
He adapted to dragon mana in an unusually rapid manner.
While his comrades were adjusting to the dragon’s mana, he slaughtered demons beside dragons.
Carving the light of the fortress into the blood-red skies of the Demon Realm, he butchered the demons on the battlefield where the Dragon Extermination War began.
‘To say it’s coincidence… is quite curious.’
The deity that bestowed the name ‘Fortress’ upon Ronan.
Eliaernes uses it too.
Vulgar, low-class, and filthy words.
Yet at times childish, other times indifferent, and dependable.
Eliaernes was the same.
She resembled him too closely.
When looking at Eliaernes, memories of 400 years ago came flooding back.
The happiest moment of my life, an unforgettable memory. Even when buried deep within my unconscious, it rises continuously—the memories shared with him and those around him.
But does that mean Eliaernes is Ronan?
Rebirth? That can’t be. It’s impossible.
That’s the order of the world, the regulation set by the heavens.
Even if it were so… that Ronan.
The Ronan who was more manly than anyone and often more beastly than beastmen, could not possibly have reincarnated as this… this cute girl.
Being able to use the deity… it’s highly probable that someone in the Eustetia Duchy left something behind.
Her personality and mannerisms might simply have grown that way.
She may have been born like this from the start…
No.
‘She’s not a bad-natured child from the get-go… Maybe, that’s how it is… It has to be…’
I didn’t want to think that within that small, lovely appearance lurked such a violent and twisted disposition…
Leona, who was unaware that she was holding the answer before her eyes, sighed softly and observed Eliaernes closely.
There was no time to drown in admiration over her talent. If anything went wrong, she would have to forcefully extract the mana she had accepted.
With that thought, she concentrated her mind.
And Eliaernes reflected.
‘Is this… really okay?’
She marveled at her own body in horror.
Does it hurt? Of course, it’s natural to feel pain during the process of the Blood Path and Dantian tearing and widening.
So, does it hurt? Yes, it does. But not excessively. It’s bearable.
Moreover, the dragon’s mana flows in smoothly.
It’s even easier than accepting nature’s mana. It doesn’t just enter. The Blood Path and Dantian are being enhanced, widened, and made comfortable.
Innate talent? No… This is a newly opened Blood Path.
That Blood Path is more widely open than before. It pulses as if it wants to devour all the mana of this spiritual vein.
The Blood Path, opened following Arisa’s book, is doing its job here. Was that the plan? Had the cheerful Arisa drawn a grand picture up to this point?
I don’t know. There’s no time to think about such things.
Right now, I need to figure out how to utilize this mana more efficiently.
So, can I use it?
Without interrupting my breathing, I tried to operate the mana piled up in my Dantian. There are signs of movement. I can operate it. But I don’t do it. The outcome is all too obvious if I move.
‘I’m seriously going to wet myself…’
Just a slight glance sends chills down my spine. Nausea rises within me, and my lower abdomen feels numb.
Knowing that I can operate it is enough.
Even if I can’t do it right now, there are plenty of opportunities ahead.
Purgatory.
The doors from the first to the fifth.
Where should I shove it in?
The first—too… excessive. The first must always be ready to open. So, I have to minimize the recoil.
And this dragon’s mana.
I know I can operate it, but I don’t know the outcome. My body, born sturdy as a beastman, was already trembling at the thought of what Leona had gone through.
My frail human body might shatter completely.
Then the second? No, even the second and third would be risky to gamble my life on.
So, the fourth.
It’s suitable before going to the fifth, anyway.
And, let’s shove a bunch in the fifth, which will definitely backfire.
Conclusion reached, Eliaernes opened her eyes slightly. Leona’s shining vertical-slitted pupils were staring directly at her.
Leona’s predator-like gaze catches mana flow disturbingly well.
Thankfully, the existence of Purgatory has been well-hidden, but if I were to stuff dragon mana inside Purgatory in this situation, the chance of being caught is high.
Then I need to distract Leona’s attention…
About 2 seconds, no, 1 second would be sufficient.
‘Should I gouge her eye out?’
Impossible. Eliaernes had never once been able to poke Leona’s eyes.
‘But if I use the deity with all my might…?’
Poking may still be impossible.
But there is a possible method.
I could just slap her forehead with my palm.
Is that possible?
My mana, the tiny bit left in my possession.
With that, I can probably use the deity just once. If I snap my elbow while focusing mana into my fingers, I might be able to poke her eye out.
But after doing that, I wouldn’t have a speck of mana left. I would be unable to resist and would just have to take her punches.
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Still… I have too much greed to just squander this good opportunity. Rather, I’m filled with greed.
Let’s do it.
Eliaernes’s decision was quick.
Her action was even quicker. Before she could even make up her mind, her elbow was already raised.
It was a dirty habit she couldn’t correct since her previous life.
A primal instinct of being Ronan in the past and human Eliaernes now.
With a flash—cherry blossom-colored mana burst forth.
*
Slap! A clear and lively sound echoed from Leona’s forehead. Simultaneously, I quickly absorbed the dragon mana spreading in the air.
The now wide-open Blood Path twitched. My heart raced, and a pain shot through me as if my whole body was ripping apart.
I can bear it. Gritting my teeth, I opened the Blood Path even wider. Krk-krk-krk—the sound of the Blood Path twisting resonated inside my head. The Blood Path absorbing dragon mana. The Blood Path opened according to Arisa’s book is connecting to Purgatory.
That was all within 0.4 seconds.
Leona’s forehead twitched. Faster. More intensely. Thud-thud—my heart pounded heavily. The vortex of Purgatory greedily munched on the dragon’s mana. In the process, the pure energies adjust themselves to slip through without impurities.
0.7 seconds.
Leona’s teeth grit loudly. The corners of her mouth trembled. Her outstretched hand formed a fist.
0.9 seconds.
I close the door of Purgatory. The dragon mana lingering at the entrance of Purgatory… remains lodged at the entrance.
Shit… I didn’t expect this. It seems like it would take too long to naturally send it away. I have no choice but to send it elsewhere. How? By manipulating it?
If I operate it now… I can’t… do that?
“Remove your hand.”
The dignity of a human being, and the existence of Purgatory.
Which is more important?
In that split second, my mind spun rapidly as if it had been torn into dozens of threads.
If Leona suspects and checks that place, the existence of Purgatory would definitely be exposed.
What happens if she finds out? Given Leona’s personality, she would probably smash my limbs to keep me from fighting anyone else.
And… the chance of her realizing I am Ronan, no, not just a chance but the high certainty that she would be convinced I am Ronan?
Considering what she has seen so far… I can’t let that happen yet. I need a little more… time for my misdeeds to be forgotten.
But, but I can’t abandon the dignity of being human…
Grr- Leona grabbed my arm. I felt an indescribable strength in that hand. She wanted to break my skinny white arm, but there was an unbearable heaviness of agony in her grip.
…As long as I don’t get exposed as Ronan… that’s enough.
No, that’s not right. I can control my bladder. That would solve everything.
I can do it. In my past life, I often held it back in battles. Holding back was part of everyday life. So… I can do this.
It’s okay. It’s okay. I told myself so inwardly while manipulating the dragon mana.
“Ugh…!”
I felt a rough storm moving through my veins.
My whole body felt like it was tearing apart in every direction. A strange sensation. An excruciating pain as if my bones were breaking.
Bulging eyes. My vision turned red. Blood tears streamed down. Blood reversed through my nose, ears, and mouth.
Pain struck as if the dragon’s brass had been shot through my body. I can handle it. I can handle this much. Enduring pain is one of my strengths. So then, other things, I…
I am. I am.
I can endure it.
But, my body…
“…Huh?”
Couldn’t hold it anymore.
Drip-drip-