Chapter 222

Chapter 222

The creature was so massive that it was doubtful whether a creature bigger than this one could be found anywhere in the world.

The creature also possessed dark scales that seemed darker than light itself. The beast’s amber eye alone was bigger than Joshua, and it seemed to be able to peek into the young baron’s heart.

Joshua looked up, but he still couldn’t see anything else but the beast’s amber eye.

The word huge would be an understatement to describe it.

The creature, which was part of the greatest race in the world, roared wildly.

[Grrr!]

“Hieeek!” Ash wrapped his hands around his head and crouched down.

The dragon cry Joshua had once performed could not be compared to the cry of a real dragon. The Fear the dragon had emitted shook the very soul of every living being within earshot.

‘Evil Dragon Crevasse,’?Joshua muttered to himself. His expression turned grim.

He was quietly circulating his mana to protect himself, but the mana he was trying to circulate throughout his body seemed to be being disturbed by something.

It wasn’t really strange because Joshua was in the presence of a member of the Evil Dragon’s Dark Clan, which had a deep foundation of three thousand years.

[Who are you?]

“...!”

The source of the voice didn’t need to be explained, as overwhelming as it was. The bigger issue was that a dragon was asking him a question. It asked Ash as well, but the elf didn’t seem to be capable of answering.

Joshua wasn’t crazy enough to pretend to be a god in front of a dragon.

“I—”

“Crevasse!” Ash got up and ran toward the amber eye before Joshua could even say anything in response. “I think he’s up to no good! He’s a human god, and he’s wearing the obsidian earring!”

“...!” Joshua scowled at what Ash had done. Now, there was no way he could make an excuse.

‘If I manage to escape this predicament unscathed...’?Joshua inwardly grumbled. He was still trying his best to circulate his mana despite the dragon’s presence while gnashing his teeth.

Crevasse finally spoke. Crevasse sounded doubtful.

[H-He’s just a human, what are you talking about?]

“Huh?” Crevasse’s confusion seemed to confuse Ash just as much.

“Yes?” The elf stared at Joshua. Ever since he had discovered the obsidian earring, he had been treating Joshua as if the latter were some sort of god. “I-I don’t believe it! Really?”

[A being with both divine power and demonic power. This is absurd...]

“...”

Joshua let out a little sigh of relief. He was worried at first that the dragon would be upset when he realized that a member of his clan was used to make the obsidian earring, but it seemed that Crevasse didn’t care at all.

It wasn’t really strange because dragons had always been isolationists. They cared little about the clan unless it involved the safety of their hatchlings, which was the clan’s raison d’etre. Most likely, Crevasse wouldn’t care about the obsidian earring.

“...”

[I only care about how a hybrid like you came into existence in my world.]

‘Damn it—’?Joshua was curious about how things would turn out, and now, he was once again standing in front of an impasse.

[You will have to pay the price for existing.]

Joshua’s vision went black as his mind was pummeled by a truly overwhelming amount of energy—it was the instant death magic that only dragons could use.

It was absolute and unerring.

[Die.]

At last, Joshua finally understood what Crevasse meant.

***

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

A man was swinging his sword in the middle of Peril Castle’s training hall. His massive muscles, which seemed like they had been carefully and meticulously sculpted by craftsmen, powered his strokes as he swung his sword in the air.

“Sir Cain.”

He kept swinging.

“Sir Cain!”

Cain finally turned around to face Icarus.

“You know, you've been doing this for three days and three nights now.”

“Has it really been that long?” asked Cain. Dark circles could be seen beneath his eyes, and he had grown an unkempt beard in the interim.

“Sir Cain, are you not tired?” asked someone else.

“Oh, my lady, you’re here,” remarked Cain.

Charles approached Cain and stared at him in silence. Eventually, she spoke, “Are you really that mad?”

“Yes, I am.”

“...” Charles didn’t know what to say.

“I felt like we were beginning to understand each other. But once again, it turns out that I was mistaken,” said Cain with a somber voice.

Charles and Icarus’ faces turned grim.

“You have to experience it for you to understand my anger after being abandoned by my master once again.”

“Sir Cain...”

“I’m weak. I need to be strong so that he doesn’t have to face trials like these again.”

Icarus and Charles were silent. Cain was powerful and had incredible potential, but his master was simply the most powerful man on the continent.

Swoosh!

With that being said, Cain went back to swinging his sword.

However, when Cain started swinging his sword again, Charles and Icarus noticed something—Cain’s palms were bloody. The callouses in his palms had been obliterated, and his palms looked worse than tattered rags.

“Sir Cain! You have to receive treatment—” Charles’ started.

Cain coldly shook Charles off and said, “I’m fine.”

Icarus saw this and quietly mumbled...

“Do you have to take it this far?” Icarus mumbled. She seemed sad as well as she said, “Are you implying that I’m useless to Master?”

“Icarus, what are you talking about?”

“I mean, there are other ways to become stronger.” Icarus tapped her forehead with her finger.

Cain nodded slightly. “You’re right, but my job as a knight is to wield my sword for Master, while your job is to use your head to strategize. Our job is fundamentally different, so why are you suggesting that I become a strategist as well?”

“Wouldn’t that mean that I’ll be snatching away your job?”

“Before you were a knight, weren’t you a servant of the great Baron Sanders?” said Icarus with sparkling blue eyes.

“...!” Cain’s eyes widened. He seemed to have been struck by epiphany as he stood there without moving.

“Is there anything better than knowing that our master will have a home to return to once his work is done?” Icarus continued with sparkling eyes.

“You mean...”

“How long do you plan to live like a vagrant? We need to establish the Estate of Sanders so that Master will have a place to return to once he was done with everything he wants to do,” explained Icarus.

“I will help as well,” Charles finally spoke up. “I need to make it up to you. I’m not strong, but I want to do my best.”

“Lady Charles...” Cain lowered his sword.

At the sight, Icarus smiled sweetly and said, “You’re a man, right, Sir Cain? In that case, I’ll make sure to give you a ton of work. You can do it, right?”

“Man...” Cain was about to sigh.

However, Icarus interrupted him by saying, “Imagine this—in addition to our master being an incredibly successful person, he also has a successful estate. If that were to happen, then our master won’t lack anything anymore...”

“I’m pretty sure that you will be able to get married by then!”

“...!” Cain’s figure quivered. Slowly but surely, the light returned in Cain’s dull eyes.

It seemed that Icarus was truly the only one who knew how to manage Cain.

“Where do I start?”

Icarus' smile widened. “First, we should find a suitable place for us to build the main house! It will be the foundation of our estate, so the location has to be great!”

“So...”

“Master said he wants to become the emperor.”

“What?!” Charles’ exclaimed unconsciously. He stared at Icarus and Cain in disbelief. Eventually, she recovered and apologized profusely, “Ah... I’m sorry!”

“No, you don’t have to apologize, Lady Charles.” Icarus made a sidelong glance at Charles before continuing. “I thought about it a lot, and I realized that it is paramount for us to build our main house there.”

“To catch a tiger, we have to go into its den?” asked Cain.

“Yup...” Icarus replied.

“Then...” Cain was excited.

However, Icarus interrupted him again. “We will have to decide on the rest, and it will depend on how much land His Majesty will bestow upon our master.”

“Wait, what if the reward didn’t involve territories?”

“Do you really have to ask?” asked Icarus.

“You’re the finest of our academy.” Cain chuckled. “I guess I’ll leave the reins to you.”

“You know that my plan will never work out if Master were to make a mistake...”

“He won’t make a mistake.” Cain insisted strongly.

Icarus couldn’t help but smile. “I hope you’ll put everything you’ve got into it.”

“That’s my line.”

“My word...” Charles, swept away by their utterly mad conversation, could only stand and stare at them in a daze.

***

In a space composed of nothing but total darkness, a thread of consciousness awakened. Ever so slowly, ripples started forming on the stillness.

[Who are you?]

It was a question many people had asked him before.

‘Who am I?’

He was the fruit of the great tree known as Duke Agnus...

The Legendary Spearman...

And a regressor...

He could describe himself in many ways, but none of them would be enough to answer the dragon’s question. After all, the dragon was asking him for something more important.

Unfortunately, Joshua couldn’t even begin to wrap his head around it. All he knew was that it was missing.

While Joshua was thinking, something else appeared. It was a magical spirit with a deformed exterior. At first glance, the creature looked like a goblin.

‘Lugia... what’s my purpose?’

- There’s no use asking me because I don’t even know my own purpose anymore. My memory is hazy. However, I have one thing I know for sure. The answer you’re looking for lies at the end of this road.

Lugia transformed into a spear.

- Get up. You still have to greet your guests. You already know how to leave this creepy lizard’s space, right? n0veluSb.C0m

Joshua stretched out his hand, but he didn’t speak because he was deep in his thoughts.

Yes, there was no need for him to be so confused.

Right now, he was just Joshua Sanders.

Joshua wasn’t really reaching out to Lugia, but Lugia started circling around Joshua.

He could pierce everything in this world. Therefore, there was nothing that could keep him trapped. Naturally, something as flimsy as someone else’s will wouldn’t be able to keep him trapped.

Joshua’s own will rose to challenge the heavens.

Magic Speart Arts Level 6: Defying Heaven.

It was named Defying Heaven because it was a spear art that could rip the heavens apart.

The tension in the air finally came to an end as light flooded and illuminated the dark space. Joshua suddenly found himself floating in the air.

He raised his head and smiled at the enormous amber eyes.

[Hybrid, what is this...?]