Chapter 421 Together Again

As the man bolted straight towards him, the azure coalescence was finished as Emilio held it forward, releasing it as it unleashed a colossal beam of condensed, draconic flames straight towards the Stormheart.

["Dragonheart: Breath of Destruction"]

The massive beam of heat carved across the valley, parting the grass and mud and invoking a cloud of steam from the collision of rain droplets and supreme fire.

Emilio released the attack, looking forward as an entire chunk of the summit field had been carved away, surrounded by a tunnel of steam that swayed in the storm.

'Hope I didn't accidentally turn him to ash. Not a chance,' Emilio thought.

He reflexively spun around while pushing his hand towards the area behind him, instantly releasing a tri-formation of dragon heads forged of fire, nearly catching the lightning-wielder who had appeared behind him.

Sirius laughed, "You nearly got me with that last one! Here! I'll show you, then!"

Flexing his electric aura, the man overpowered the draconic constructs with a pulsation of electricity before smiling excitedly. The messy, jet-black hair of the man began to spike up, conducting the magenta lightning he wielded as the tips of it turned into the same shade. Across his pale skin, etchings of lightning bolts, spreading like the roots of a tree across his body, appeared with his heightened form.

[Stormheart System Activated]

[Current Stage: 1/10 | Divine Striker]

ZAP

Emilio watched as the figure disappeared even from his extraordinary reflexes, feeling the air go silent against his ears for just a moment at the crack of the wind before he jolted as electricity sparked against the right side of his body.

"--!"

As he turned to the right, unleashing a quick burst of fire, he found there to be nobody there, hitting nothing but air and grass.

"Right here," the playful voice of the Stormheart flowed into his ears from behind.

A quick spin was used again as the Dragonheart engulfed his leg in azure flames as he kicked behind him, hitting only air again, but seeing the electric blur of his opponent for a fraction of a second.

"Way too slow, man."

The casual, taunt words were exhaled as a pat on his shoulder came from the speedy, lightning user, who reappeared right beside him. Expecting an attack, he jumped back, flipping onto his feet as he held his guard, though he looked over to find Sirius with his hands raised as if the man never intended to even take advantage of his opening.

'This speed–it's on another level. Is this really the first stage of his system?' Emilio thought.

Every attack that was attempted failed to make any sort of contact, instead causing the Dragonheart only to touch the electricity that had infused with the space around him, constantly electrocuting him.

"Nngh...!" He winced.

'Alright–enough of this,' Emilio thought.

No part of him felt like playing along with the arrogant reincarnator as he felt the electricity attacking his nerves. With a burst of his flaming aura, he repelled the electricity before shifting the scales that armored his body.

The draconic scales sharpened, becoming sleeker and darkening into a deep-black as a tail extended outward, slamming down against the mud with a heavy impact.

[Current Stage: 5/10 | Dragon Sentinel]

"Oh? Nice transfor–"

"Well, it'd hurt my feelings," Sirius told him.

"--" Emilio sighed, "If it'll get you to come back, then I don't care."

"Oh? Where to?" Sirius asked.

It returned to him that the lightning-wielding reincarnator had fought him without even allowing him to explain himself much, frustratingly enough.

"There's a 'base of operations' of sorts we have. There are other people like us there–pretty strong, too," Emilio told him, figuring out already how to play to his interests.

Sirius smiled, "Now you're speaking my language. Lead the way!"

"You're not going to turn that quest in first? With that big raven," he asked.

"No rush, no rush," Sirius casually waved his hand, "I was doing somebody a favor, anyway."

Somehow or another getting the Stormheart to willingly come back with him to Atlan, he held his ring-bearing hand forward before invoking the name of the one who made it: "Seraphheart."

With that simple utterance, the golden ring shattered before its gilded particles scattered and reunited, meeting into the circular-shaped portal of radiant light in front of him.

"Woah–is this an ability of yours? Were you holding out on me, bro?" Sirius nudged him with his elbow.

"...No," Emilio exhaled, "This'll take us to where we're going–c'mon."

Leading the way into the portal, he stepped straight back into the undersea domain, followed by Sirius who followed after him.

"What's this place? We're underwater, right? I'm breathing though, and I'm dry," Sirius wondered.

"We're in Atlan–it's hard to explain," Emilio told him.

As he looked forward, he found a sight that immediately stole the breath from his lungs, awaiting in the courtyard of the Cerulean Keep, just past the regal arch.

"...Is that..." He muttered.

Standing there, seeming to wait for his return were three figures he longed to meet again: the silver-haired half-elf, the tall, bumpkin shielder, the adopted sister, and the father he longed to see.

"...You all...you made it!" Emilio reacted, rushing over.

"Emilio!" Celly smiled brightly.

"I was wonderin' when you'd come back," Everett smirked.

"I knew you'd make it," Irene said with a smile.

Julius didn't say anything, only holding a warm smile with tears in his eyes as Emilio ran over, giving a returning embrace to all three of them–all of which he considered dear family.

He hugged his father tightly without a second thought, though as he felt the embrace of the man wrapped around his shoulders, the painful memories of recent resurfaced.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." Emilio apologized as tears left his eyes.

Julius seemed to know what he was referring to right away, patting his head and ruffling his mix-colored hair, "It's not your fault. The lady who brought us here explained it–we know who was responsible for this."

"--" Emilio glanced over, seeing Excelsior leaning against the wall of the courtyard, who gave him a small wave.

'Thank you, Excelsior–I owe you big time,' he thought.