Chapter 503: On the Island

Editor: Tseirp

“Ryo-dono, I already knew you were a powerful magician, but that ice spear earlier, and now this ice bridge—you’re truly remarkable.”

“Have I proven my worth to join you?”

“Oh, without a doubt.”

Duke Helb offered sincere praise.

After all, having a powerful ally was always a blessing.

“Now then, I’d like to ask about that black wyvern we encountered earlier.”

Abel inquired promptly.

“That creature was not one of the death dragon’s abilities.”

“What?”

“As I mentioned before, the death dragon corrupts everything. It rots people, land, and even the sea. While it can enslave and control the rotted remains… the wyvern we saw earlier wasn’t decayed.”

“I see. But it was smaller than the wyverns we know. Is it an eastern variant?”

“No. Wyverns are found all over the world. But I’ve never heard of their appearance or size differing based on region.”

Duke Helb responded without hesitation.

“So, in other words…”

“That wyvern wasn’t natural.”

Abel was taken aback by the statement.

“Are you saying someone—or something… created that wyvern? It even unleashed a spell!”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Someone has created magical creatures. Over a thousand wyverns, no less.”

Duke Helb frowned deeply as he answered Abel’s question.

The death dragon was already a major threat, but the presence of another equally dangerous entity…

Was enough to make anyone grimace.

“Even the Djinn Garwin couldn’t create familiars capable of casting magic…”

“Yeah… That makes this situation all the more incredible.”

Abel murmured, and Ryo nodded in agreement.

But Ryo couldn’t help but wonder.

Is the ability to use magic really that extraordinary?

Even ordinary monsters, if classified as ‘greater’ variants, often used magic.

Ryo had fought many Greater Boa that hurled stones with magical force.

Ryo recalled what Michael (pseudonym) had once taught him: ‘The key to magic lies in imagination’.

However, in the Central Countries, magic could be performed without imagination simply by chanting incantations.

The spells were far weaker… but this discovery was likely made by the True Ancestor of the vampires.

That True Ancestor must have thoroughly researched the nature of magic in this world called ‘Phi’.

The result was the chanting system.

As for why Garwin’s familiars couldn’t use magic…

“I get the impression Garwin wasn’t very serious about researching magic.”

“Ryo?”

“Well, Garwin just strikes me as someone who half-asses things. It’s no wonder he didn’t dedicate himself to magical studies.”

It’s worth noting that this was purely Ryo’s personal opinion.

Abel and Duke Helb continued their discussion.

“Creating over a thousand wyverns, even if they’re smaller… The closest comparison I can think of is Djinns creating minions.”

“Djinns?”

“Are there any legends of Djinns in the eastern countries?”

“I’ve never heard of Djinns before.”

Duke Helb replied, tilting his head.

“Djinns used to call themselves Spelno.”

According to the red Djinn, Merlin, Ryo added.

“Ah, Spelno. That term I recognize. However… I’ve never heard of any Spelno creating minions in the eastern countries.”

“In the Central Countries, the Djinn in the south didn’t create minions either, and Djinn Merlin in the west admitted he wasn’t good at it. Just like how humans can differ in their ability to lead others, perhaps Djinns also vary in their proficiency with minions.” Ṛ�

“Is that comparison accurate?”

“Merlin mentioned that Garwin was particularly skilled at creating minions. Even among Djinns, what he did was extraordinary.”

“So, the one who created those wyverns is unlikely to be a Djinn… or a Spelno.”

Abel pondered over Ryo’s explanation.

“Those black wyverns earlier had physical forms. They weren’t like the conjured shikigami we know from sorcery.”

“Shikigami? Now that’s intriguing… come to think of it, didn’t you create some terrifying creatures summoned through talismans?”

“Ah, you’re well-informed. But those talismans merely summon entities prepared in advance. And even then, those creatures can’t use magic.”

“I see.”

It seemed the three of them didn’t have the knowledge to unravel the mystery of the black wyverns.

“We’ll have to figure it out as we go.”

“That’s Abel’s specialty.”

Ryo quipped at Abel’s mutter.

“My specialty?”

“Since ancient times, swordsmen have been known for thriving in unpredictable situations. Precision strategy doesn’t suit them anyway…”

“Right, you’re just mocking me now.”

“That wasn’t my intention!”

Ryo exclaimed, feigning surprise.

Abel was about to retort but froze, his gaze fixed on the bow of the ship.

Ryo and Duke Helb followed his line of sight.

The island ahead shimmered with a brilliant blue light and stopped.

They were about 100 meters away.

In the center of the glowing island, a massive figure loomed.

“T

“Yes, the death dragon.”

Duke Helb confirmed in response to Abel’s question.

“Within a radius of 20 meters around me, the death dragon’s breath attacks will be repelled. By the talismans.”

“Understood.”

“Breath attacks… so cool.”

Abel nodded at Duke Helb’s explanation. While the water-attribute magician… well, his reaction was par for the course.

“The ship will stay here. The protective talismans on board will safeguard them. I will jump from this point… please, both of you, follow me.”

With those words, Duke Helb leapt.

More accurately, he bounded across talismans suspended in the air, like stepping stones, heading toward the island.

“We’re going too. Abel, hold on tight.”

Ryo said as he firmly grabbed Abel’s belt with his left hand.

“…Will this really work?”

Abel asked, clinging to Ryo’s waist with both hands.

“Here we go! ”

The two took off.

Not by leaping, but by flying.

Arcing gracefully toward the island.

Helb and the pair landed on the island nearly at the same time.

“I expected you to use an ice bridge, but to see you fly…”

“I’m a water-attribute magician, after all.”

Ryo replied proudly to Duke Helb’s admiring words.

Abel, however, chose not to comment.

In the center of the island stood an enormous black dragon. Likely the death dragon.

One of its wings was torn off, and its right foreleg appeared missing.

The word decayed best described its appearance.

There was no blood seeping from its wounds either.

However, the three of them noticed something near the dragon’s feet—a bipedal figure.

The dragon’s colossal size made it difficult to gauge the figure’s exact dimensions.

But at first glance, it seemed humanoid…

As the three of them advanced, they saw what it was: the death dragon, and a woman standing at its feet.

“What brings you here?”

It was the voice of a woman.

Presumably, the one near the dragon…

Duke Helb stepped forward slowly.

With Abel to his right and Ryo to his left.

“We’re here to slay the death dragon.”

Duke Helb replied in his usual calm tone as they walked closer.

“That would be a problem.”

The woman said.

“Why is that?”

“The experiment isn’t finished yet.”

“Experiment?”

“I’m uncovering the truth of ma…”

Her words halted abruptly.

She seemed to falter, as though fully processing the sight of the three drawing nearer.

The woman had light, pale-blue hair cut to her shoulders, glasses perched on her nose, and wore something white.

From a distance, it resembled a lab coat.

But her face was frozen in shock, her eyes wide and unblinking.

Ryo felt a strange sense of familiarity.

Of course, he’d never met her before, it had to be his first encounter…

And yet, something about her aura felt oddly recognizable.

Yes, it must be that.

She carried a similar presence to someone he knew.

Two individuals came to mind.

Particularly one who was always ready to challenge him to a fight whenever they met…

Yet this woman lacked horns or a black tail…

Then Ryo remembered: the male counterpart of that acquaintance also had neither horns nor a tail.

“The experiment is over. I’ve thought of something better.”

The bespectacled woman declared, her lips curling into a sinister smile.

It was… a devilish grin.

In that instant, the world turned upside down.

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