Chapter 123

The Shadow Demon Poison.

Why does the same energy that once transformed Umbra into a Shadow Wyvern seem to come forth from the Sea King now?

‘There’s something here.’

At that moment Theo infused even more brilliance into the Spiritual Essence flowing around his eyes.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud!

“Krwaaaa—!”

The Sea King’s contortion grew increasingly violent, then suddenly, it raised its head high.

Its gaze landed on Theo.

However, in the raving eyes of the Sea King, Theo looked completely different.

To him, Theo appeared to be the one who had condemned him to this wretched abyss—Kriemhild!

「Kriemhild! Kriemhild—!」

The Sea King, consumed by madness, unleashed a chaotic burst of resentful thoughts, his gaping jaws directed straight at Theo.

「Damn it!」

Pontus let out a scream and threw himself forward, trying to shield Theo by pushing the Sea King back with his own body.

‘No need to worry that much.’

「What are you saying…?」

Just as Pontus prepared to move, a chilling sensation stopped him, something that made him instinctively look up.

BOOM!

With a tremendous force that suddenly descended, clouds of sediment scattered densely across the deep-sea plain.

The Sea King was forcibly slammed to the ground, pinned by an overpowering pressure.

「Let go! Let me goooo!」

「What a pitiful sight you are, Leviathan. Who could ever imagine that you were once the who saved and protected this world long ago?」

The being pressing down on the Sea King let out a derisive chuckle.

The more the Sea King struggled to escape, the tighter the force binding him became.

Compared to the massive bulk of the Sea King, this being was diminutive, yet—

Its presence was so intensely overpowering that no comparison could be drawn. The dragon stretched its wings wide, fully displaying its majestic strength.

「That one is…?」

Pontus, as though bewitched, stared up at the mighty dragon.

‘Lothbrok.’

Theo felt a surge of strength rise within his shoulders as he smiled.

‘My guardian dragon.’

「So that familiar aura I sensed belonged to her!」

It was Pontus’s first time seeing Lothbrok in the flesh, yet he knew her name without a doubt.

The peak among all past descending since the Ancient Dragons.

The last remaining warrior holding back the Nameless Sovereign alone.

The true ruler of the Winter Mountains.

Each of her achievements commanded the utmost reverence.

‘Unfortunately, it seems only her spirit has materialized, not her physical form.’

A slight disappointment lingered, as the form of Lothbrok pinning down the Sea King shimmered in a semi-transparent glow.

Leaving the Nest without a heart seemed to burden her.

Of course, even in her current state, Loythbrok was strong enough to completely suppress the Sea King.

But if she regained her full power, how powerful would she be?

Theo, sensing just a glimpse of Lothbrok’s true nature, felt an involuntary shiver run through him.

「My companion, why have you come all this way? I told you before—there’s no need to worry yourself here, as I’ll handle everything from now on.」

Lothbrok even glanced back at Theo with a relaxed air.

「Or did you come all this way out of concern that I might get hurt?」

As she spoke, her large eyes curved into a crescent shape, hinting at a playful smile.

Theo let out a light chuckle, nodding in response.

‘Of course, I should be the one to look after my companion’s health. Who else would do it?’

「You sly fox. Surely, you’re not saying things like that to all the young ladies, are you?」

‘Absolutely not. I’m always mindful of my behavior.’

「Hahaha, is that so?」

Pontus, overhearing the banter between Theo and Lothbrok, felt a cold sweat form on his brow.

He was struggling to endure the mingling of Lothbrok and the Sea King’s magic power, yet Theo remained perfectly at ease.

Inwardly, Pontus couldn’t help but feel awe toward his new master.

「In any case, I will handle this matter myself. However, it might get dangerous, so stay back.」

Lothdbrok’s concern was evident in her words.

But Theo simply shook his head, calm and unyielding.

‘I’ll stay.’

「What do you mean?」

‘I have a request left to me by Kriemhild.’

「Kriemhild? You mean the Dragon Slayer who trapped this one in the ocean depths?」

Theo nodded.

Beside him, Pontus’s eyes widened.

Lothbrok narrowed her gaze slightly.

「My condition isn’t ideal. I can’t protect you and subdue this friend at the same time.」

‘I understand. Please don’t worry about me. I’ll fulfill Kriemhild’s last request myself.’

「I have no idea what you’re planning.」

Tsk!

Lothbrok clicked her tongue in mild displeasure, but as she turned her attention back to the Sea King, a slight smile played around her eyes.

「Still, you must have your reasons for being so stubborn. You always do. I hope it’s the same this time.」

Her words conveyed deep, unspoken trust.

Theo bowed in gratitude, then glanced at Pontus.

「…You truly are a fascinating human, the more I see of you.」

Lothbrok’s behavior seemed fascinating to Pontus.

‘Pontus, I’d like your help.’

「Me? How?」

‘Clear a path so I can get as close as possible to the Sea King.』

「You want me to control the currents?」

‘Yes.’

Pontus paused in brief contemplation, then replied.

「With some effort, it should be possible for me and the other sea creatures to manage it once. But that toxic aura—we can’t resist it. We’ve struggled with it as well.」

‘Don’t worry about that; I’ll handle it.』

「Alright. Understood.」

Pontus let out a light sigh, then abruptly lifted his head, his gaze sharpening.

And then, he let out a roar.

Groooooo!

Sound couldn’t travel in the ocean.

Instead, the sonic wave he created reverberated roughly, stirring a response from all the scattered sea creatures around.

「Clear a path for this human to reach Father—!」

Groooo! Grooo!

Grooooooo—

Hundreds of marine creatures responded at once, exhaling in unison.

The resulting massive wave of combined sonic energy momentarily pushed the chaotic currents outward, opening a path directly toward the Sea King.

‘Thank you.’

Whoosh!

Theo wasted no time and launched himself forward.

Wind Thunder God – Swift Kill.

He further amplified his momentum by using Death Beat as a stepping stone, propelling himself with even greater speed.

Shlaaash—

In Theo’s wake, a trail of white currents stretched behind him like an elongated path.

[Shadow Demon Poison detected ahead.]

Before he knew it, Theo plunged into the black mist radiating from the Sea King.

Scree!

From within the shadows, Umbra let out a chilling shriek.

It seemed to question why he was even here.

‘I don’t know why this thing is here either, but it works out for the best.’

Theo pulled the trailing wind back toward himself, wrapping it around his body.

The Squall.

The third stage of the Wind Thunder God technique activated.

Since gaining Kriemhild’s Mystic Art, Theo’s ability to handle Magic Power had improved drastically.

His level had risen too.

[Added 25 stat points to Intelligence.]

[Intelligence: 79 → 104]

[Skill comprehension enhanced.]

[Magic control improved.]

[Intelligence modifier surpassed 100.]

[A hidden function has been unlocked, enabling Foresight from now on.]

+

[Foresight]

– Type: Special Ability

– Effect: Exceptionally heightened judgment and insight allow rapid predictions in any given situation.

+

The time Theo had spent immersed in the mystic art felt roughly like a month.

After battling countless Dragon Children and inheriting the knowledge of the Nibelung, Theo had amassed an extraordinary amount of experience, reaching Level 7.

On top of this, his other stats had also steadily risen, marking remarkable growth.

Wind Thunder God – Tempest Draw.

Theo extended his hand forward and then pulled it back, drawing the Squall surrounding him inward, gathering the turbulent poison in the process.

Though the Shadow Demon Poison threatened him along the way, Theo had built up a certain resistance to it, and with Foresight constantly active, he could dilute the poison with Magic Power whenever it grew overwhelming.

As a result, he managed to forcibly separate the seawater from the Shadow Demon Poison.

Boom!

Before long, a darkened sphere of Shadow Demon Poison sat in his palm—a highly refined essence of the deadly toxin, or Venom Core.

Ordinarily, he would have just let it dissolve into the seawater, but—

‘It feels wasteful to just throw it away.’

Licking his lips, Theo turned to the shadows, an idea coming to mind.

‘Umbra.’

Keek?

‘Want it?’

Keeeeek!

The shadow trembled violently as if protesting the sheer horror of Theo’s suggestion.

‘The toxicity is mostly neutralized, so it’s safe. You only need to swallow it.’

Keek?

‘You’re asking what I’ll do if you refuse?’

Keeek!

‘Well, then I’ll just toss it out.’

Keeek! Keeeeek!

‘I can’t eat it myself. The poison within me could be reactivated. But for you, who’s already immune, this would be like a potent elixir.’

Keeek…

Umbra hesitated, pondering Theo’s words, before finally shrieking.

Keeeeek!

‘Fine, here you go.’

Grinning, Theo dropped the Venom Core into the shadow.

With the Sea King’s dragon power mingling within, the quality of this refined poison was far superior to what Umbra had consumed in the past; it wouldn’t be disappointing in any way.

‘Umbra might even become a Shadow Wyvern once more—this time, free from the grip of madness.’

As he continued to separate and refine the Shadow Demon Poison from the seawater, dropping it into Umbra repeatedly, Theo soon found himself close to the Sea King’s nape.

Among the many rigid scales, he noticed one growing in the opposite direction.

The Reverse Scale.

‘Found it.’

He recalled Kriemhild’s words:

– There’s a Reverse Scale on Levi’s nape. Stab Balmung there. That’s the origin of the madness.

Raising the fiercely resonating Dragon Slayer Sword high, Theo prepared to strike.

– What exactly is down there tormenting the Sea King?

– The Deluded God. An ancient curse that trapped him beneath the ocean and cast a forgotten damnation upon him.

A scar left by the Nameless Sovereign.

Theo took a deep breath, channeling all his intention to the tip of his sword as he thrust the Dragon Slayer Sword forward.

– And the Nibelung offers a way to dilute such curses. It’s a secret art I learned while coexisting with Levi—also a technique for wielding the Dragon Slayer Sword.

The Nibelung, a culmination of Kriemhild’s secret teachings, allowed Theo to identify and instantly exploit his opponent’s weaknesses, either by severing or piercing through them.

This art shared an affinity with Dragon Flash, Theo’s goal, and also synergized well with the Dragon’s Claw.

The insight granted by the sword’s gem greatly facilitated merging the two techniques.

Through this process,

a new secret art was born.

Claw of the Nibelung

Slash!

A slicing motion.

Following the vertical arc of his strike, the Reverse Scale split apart.

Crunch—

Then,

Fang of the Nibelung.

Theo drove the Dragon Slayer Sword deep into the wound left on the Reverse Scale.

Thrust!

More the claw struck downwards, the more the fang drove deeply inward.

Graaaaah!

The Sea King writhed in agony.

Even though he wanted to thrash in convulsions, Lothbrok’s oppressive hold kept him bound, unable to react.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Each time he twisted his head in pain, tremors shook the ground.

But Theo clung on relentlessly, refusing to let go.

Instead, he drove the Dragon Slayer Sword even deeper into the Reverse Scale, pouring every ounce of Magic Power into it.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

With each surge, his Dragon’s Heart and Dantian resonated wildly, radiating intense heat.

Lightning crackled and vapor erupted in clouds.

The wound in the Reverse Scale split open further, igniting the Nameless Sovereign’s curse that lay dormant within, burning it to ashes.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a fierce wave of resentful thoughts poured out, engulfing Theo.

[‘Skill: Hatchling Synchronization’ has been forcibly activated. You can now hear the Sea King’s voice.]

「I… I…!」

Countless fleeting images passed before Theo’s eyes.

The Sea King’s cherished memories.

Brief glimpses of the joyful moments he had shared with Kriemhild.

Her placing a crown of flowers on his proud horns, tending to his wounds throughout the night.

Listening to her worries about the hardship of her slave duties, comforting her, and recounting stories of the outside world she had never seen.

The happiness of those times long past.

– While he was sealed away, lost in madness, he repeatedly relived those joyful memories, trapped within them.

And then—

‘I know you’re worried.’

Theo sensed the worry embedded in the Sea King’s voice.

He feared that his only friend might resent or hate him.

Amidst his madness, he was terrified that Kriemhild might despise him for the devastation he had wrought upon their homeland.

‘No, she doesn’t.’

Theo shook his head, calling out with a voice meant to reach Kriemhild’s ears.

‘Kriemhild had something she wanted me to tell you.’

– Levi.

‘Levi.’

The Sea King slowly lifted his head.

Levi—a nickname Kriemhild had affectionately called him, saying his full name was difficult to pronounce.

In turn, he had only ever called her by the first syllable of her name.

And each time, Kriemhild would grumble.

「K… rim…」

What’s that supposed to mean? I’m not some kind of cream cake.

The Sea King could almost see her teasing expression flash before his eyes.

– I was happy, being with you.

‘I was happy, being with you.’

A faint light returned to the Sea King’s once-clouded eyes.

Kriemhild’s image seemed to overlap with Theo as he stood there.

– So please…

‘So please, don’t let nightmares trouble you anymore.’

Then, as their two voices merged into one—

The Sea King instinctively closed his eyes.

A tear slipped from the corner of his eye, swept away by the ocean currents.

And then—

「My brother.」

Crunch!

Lothbrok buried her face into the nape of the Sea King’s neck.

There was a sound of scales and muscle tearing.

When she raised her head again, blood flowed freely, and a massive orb gleamed between her teeth.

The Dragon Heart—the power core of an ancient dragon.

「With your deeds, your heart now passes on to me. May you return to nature and bless us.」

Kraaaaa—!

With a fierce roar, Lothbrok devoured the Dragon Heart in a single bite.

Flaaash!

In that instant, a radiant glow enveloped Lothbrok’s spectral form, illuminating the dark depths of the ocean.

[Congratulations! You have subdued the Sea King, who had been driven mad by Shadow Demon Poison, and safely delivered his heart to Lothbrok. You have successfully completed Scenario Quest #4.]

[Evaluation: S+]

[As a reward, your Affinity has increased by 100, and you have finally awakened Dragon Blood Talent.]

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

[You have unlocked the restricted talent of Dragonborn.]