{Present, Estate of the Carmilla Royal Faction's Eastern Gate}
[Nereid Kyrie Manifesting: 04 minutes 57 seconds]
[Chosen Nereid Kyrie Skill: Song of the Downer]
[Song of the Downer: One of the five primary skills of Nereid Kyrie, capable of significantly weakening every physical and magical aspect of dragons.]
[Song of the Downer will be available for a single-time use for a duration of ten minutes once the Longinus is manifested.]
You're kidding me, right?
How the hell am I supposed to handle this monster for ten minutes?
"Gahaha!" He laughed maniacally in the sky as I took the moment to recover. "I did not expect you to be here, Tannin!"
The Crescent Circle dragon released a normal draconic breath, which the Blaze Meteor tanked with his wings.
It was insane. Even with Samael's poison still in effect, this monster didn't seem bothered at all.
"I cannot let you kill him, Crom," Tannin said, before releasing a draconic breath of his own.
Crom countered with a calm, almost bored tone. "Crescent Circle Aura."
The aura surrounding him flared, doubling in intensity. With that little boost, he simply slapped Tannin's breath away like it was nothing.
He didn't just tank it — he waved it off.
"I promised to fight you once, Tannin," Crom said. "But not here. And you know you'll die if I do end up fighting you."
Tannin glanced at me. For a second, I thought he wanted me to attack Crom. But when his eyes immediately went back to the dragon above, I didn't push my luck.
I needed to recover. The manifestation was still in progress — the translucent mold slowly taking the shape of a serpent made of water. A small, purple serpent, the size of my fist.
[The manifestation is only visible to your eyes.]
"And yet, I have to fight you here," Tannin growled. "I cannot let you kill him."
Crom's smile faltered for just a split second. "I owe you for the past," he said, his tone dropping, "but I made a promise. I can't leave. I'll fight you when you break through to the next stage, Tannin. Not now. You'll die."
Tannin didn't reply. Instead, he lunged forward, wrapping draconic aura around both claws.
Crom sighed, his expression hardening. "So, you really want to do this, huh?"
Even under Samael's Curse — the wound on his fist still proof of it — Crom met Tannin's charge head-on. He blocked the massive meteor dragon's strike with a single hand.
The difference in class was absurd. An Ultimate-Class could never defeat Crom.
And seeing that guilty look flash across Crom's face as he wrapped his fist in aura, I knew I had to step in.
<Bind>
Crom's regular punches could shatter bones. His aura-infused ones would kill Tannin outright.
Crom's eyes flicked toward me. He definitely felt the sudden slowness affecting him.
<Penetrate>
<Sever>
His aura-covered arm burst open, blood spraying as a deep gash tore through most of it.
But—
"Amusing."
"Guh!" Tannin coughed blood as Crom ignored the injury and drove his fist into the dragon's abdomen.
The small, human-sized punch left a visible dent in the massive meteor dragon's scales and flesh, making the beast shudder in pain.
"For what I owe you, Tannin," the evil dragon said with a sigh, "I won't kill you. But you will be hurt."
Tannin tried to fire another draconic breath at point-blank range.
Tried being the word.
Crom immediately grabbed his snout and forced it shut.
"Tannin!" I shouted as the dragon breath exploded inside his own jaw — the blast severely injuring him.
Tannin's massive body wavered. He almost crashed into the ground but barely managed to stay aloft, wings trembling.
The evil dragon looked at me once again and smirked. "I won't kill him," he said, grinning. "That is a promise. Only you might die here."
"Crescent Circle Aura."
So far he'd used that ability twice. Every time he used it, his wounds healed and his power rose. Almost like Ddraig's boost — not multiplying, but adding.
[Nereid Kyrie manifesting: 03 minutes 13 seconds]
Too long.
I had no choice.
[Bracelet of Imagination]
I had to fight, because while Tannin might not die, he'd likely lose a few limbs.
<Samael's Curse>
It didn't weaken him past his current state, but it was the only thing that actually hurt him at all.
<Blink>
My sword came down toward his head. He sensed it and tried to block.
His arms crossed in front of him as the blade grazed him — more a nick than a cut — but it made him flinch.
[Samael's Curse cannot be negated by any dragon.]
The potency varied, but the effect stayed. Even the Dragon Gods would feel it, just not as badly.
"That hurts quite a bit…" he said, a tiny frown crossing his face. His reactions shifted every few seconds, like someone with a split personality.
"Meteor Crash!"
Tannin used the moment and called a burning meteor from the sky, sending it straight at Crom.
"Crescent Circle Aura."
Crom's power rose again and his claws began to glow.
"Crescent Claws."
He'd gone back to the exact stage he'd been at before the fight — well above mid-stage Satan Class, probably near its peak. At that level, cutting through the meteor was easy. His claws sliced it like butter. I had to take my chance.
<Blink>
The sword, coated in Samael's Curse, swung again. Sadly for me, his speed had returned; I couldn't catch him off guard.
He dodged with barely a motion and muttered, "I would appreciate it if you kept that thing away for a while. It stings."
"Dodge!" Tannin yelled.
I tried, but the dragon's reaction was absurdly fast. It threw an aura-coated punch and I had to use the sword to block.
Needless to say—
"Gah!"
The sword cracked and my body shot toward the ground.
<Blink>
Without Blink my bones would have been powder. Teleporting slowed the fall enough to save them.
But fuck, did it hurt.
"You didn't need to join Rizevim for a good fight," Tannin coughed. "You could've challenged any of the Satans."
I'd wondered that myself. Why Rizevim? Why not just challenge the Satans?
If he'd been looking for a challenge…
"I fought one of them," he said, pausing his attacks to talk. The monster wasn't taking us seriously — he was toying with us, wasting time.
"He had an incredible defense. After I broke it, he didn't have much left." He shrugged. "And attacking one of the four Satans makes the whole devil army your enemy. I'd have to slaughter them all if I wanted to fight the two strongest Satans."
He broke into a grin. "I would've done that — I was going to. Until I learned Rizevim is at the same stage as the two strongest Satans, and he offered me a chance to meet that individual."
Deep down, I had a pretty strong suspicion about who Crom was talking about. I really hoped it wasn't her — because there was no fucking way I could face her.
And judging by Tannin's expression, I wasn't the only one thinking that.
"That's not someone you can ever win against," Tannin said sternly.
"I know." Crom's tone was casual, almost bored, even though he fully understood what he was saying. "I'd be slaughtered like a pig. But that's what it means to be a dragon — to fight even when there's no chance of victory."
His expression darkened a little. "Something you and the Dragon Kings seem to have forgotten."
Then he raised his index finger. "Stay down for a bit, Tannin."
"Dragon Aura."
Dragon Aura.
It was a dragon's version of demonic power — the purest form of their strength. Each dragon could mix their traits into it, giving their aura a unique effect, color, or ability.
But what Crom was using wasn't unique. It was the most primal form of draconic power. No individuality. Just raw, destructive energy.
The aura swirled around his finger, expanding into a massive orb before suddenly shrinking to the size of a pea.
"Tannin!" I shouted as the beam of concentrated aura shot forward at ridiculous speed.
My Disperse wouldn't work on that. Even if Crom wasn't trying to kill him, Tannin wasn't walking away unscathed.
[Bracelet of Imagination]
I tried forming a shield, throwing it toward the beam to block it. But I already knew how this would end.
The beam was too strong. Even if my shield held for a second, it'd break right through — if I even managed to intercept it in time.
As the beam neared Tannin, my shield shot forward, and he unleashed the biggest draconic breath he could muster.
And then — someone unexpected appeared.
Normally, there would've been a massive explosion when those two forces collided. Or Crom's attack would've pierced through everything.
But neither happened.
A third outcome took place — because of the arrival of a very unexpected individual.
A man in a white, robotic-looking suit with glowing, energy-projected wings shot down from the sky, throwing a punch straight at Crom.
Crom reacted instantly — faster than both Tannin and me — and caught the punch with one hand.
"Divide."
That voice…
The impact lessened immediately, the energy of Crom's attack fading by half.
[Nereid Kyrie manifesting: 01 minute 03 seconds]
The two attacks collided and canceled each other out.
"That is…" Tannin looked shocked. Crom seemed amused. Me? Just plain confused.
"Well, isn't this a surprise?" Crom said with a grin. "White Dragon Emperor."
"Divide."
Vali Lucifer.
The White Dragon Emperor himself. The main rival of the original protagonist.
A guy who would one day surpass Sirzechs and rank among the top ten strongest beings in existence.
And now… he had joined the fight for absolutely no fucking reason.
[Nereid Kyrie manifesting: 00 minutes 33 seconds]
Not that I was complaining about the help. But my focus was still on Crom — we had to beat this bastard somehow.
"I didn't take the Crescent Circle Dragon to be a lackey of my grandfather," Vali said coldly.
This absolute madman. He was provoking one of the strongest Evil Dragons alive!
[Race: Devil–Human Hybrid]
[Grade: Ultimate Class]
Wait—Ultimate Class?
He was provoking Crom with that level of power?
"You always seem to find troublesome hosts, Albion," Crom mocked.
Before Vali could respond, Crom's fist slammed into his chest. I definitely heard a crack before the White Dragon Emperor was sent flying several meters away.
This gave Tannin the chance to form a fiery orb mixed with molten earth and hurl it straight at Crom.
Vali had already divided Crom's power twice, I had him under Samael's Curse, and now there was a direct hit heading his way.
That should be enough, right?
No—fuck it!
<Bind>
I wasn't taking any chances.
<Penetrate>
<Sever>
Energy burned through me like acid. I was losing too much, too fast, but I had to keep going.
"Dragon Shot!"
Vali gave me a quick nod before launching a glowing sphere of draconic energy straight into Crom's chest.
Our combined attacks definitely landed. The impact cracked the air and made the sky rumble — but it still wasn't enough to bring this bastard down.
Through the pain, Crom laughed. "You've grown weaker, Albion! This one's weaker than the last one!"
I had already guessed Crom must've fought the past hosts of the Heavenly Dragons before. He was a warmonger through and through.
"You still have that habit of meddling where you shouldn't," Albion countered, his voice calm but cutting. Kind of ironic, considering Vali had come here to fight of his own damn will.
"Gahahaha!" The dragon's laughter boomed while Tannin popped his dislocated shoulder back into place.
After what felt like an eternity, the Longinus was only ten seconds away from full manifestation.
The problem was—
"As fun as this has been," Crom growled, his aura crackling, "none of you have managed to do anything to me! It's time I end this! Time I fight him!"
Shit. That was bad. All three of us knew it.
"Crescent Dragon Aura—Explode!"
This wasn't the same power-up he'd been using before.
The moment he spoke, the aura around him burst outward in a violent explosion. The shockwave hit us like a freight train, throwing all of us back and splitting the ground open. Rocks shattered, the terrain itself warped.
His aura didn't just double — it tripled. And we all knew one thing: if we didn't stop him now, we were dead.
Crom raised his hand. Like before, his aura began compressing around his fingertip, but this time it felt different — unstable, violent. Like a miniature nuke wrapped in dragon energy.
[Warning! Energy capable of erasing matter detected!]
A chill shot down my spine.
[Do not get hit or you will be erased. Estimated radius of area of effect: 1500 sq. km.]
Fuck, no. I couldn't Traverse out of this. If that thing went off, the entire vampire city would be wiped out.
No choice left.
"White Dragon Emperor!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. "Divide that attack as much as you can, or we all fucking die!"
Tannin couldn't do anything — his abilities were purely offensive. We needed defense, fast.
[Nereid Kyrie manifestation completed!]
"Wha—"
"Do as he says," Albion's voice echoed. "He's right!"
Even the Heavenly Dragon sounded tense. He knew Vali's Divide wouldn't be enough to stop that attack.
"I'll handle the rest of the energy!" I said, turning to the serpent that had just finished manifesting beside me. Its purple body shimmered like liquid crystal.
Crom's attack grew denser, darker.
[Estimated radius of area of effect: 3000 sq. km.]
We were screwed if that went off. Completely screwed.
Considering Divide only worked on contact, I had to do the one thing left.
<Blink>
I teleported right next to Vali. "Will you trust me on this?"
He definitely didn't. But before he could argue, Albion spoke.
"You have Barbatos blood in you, don't you?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Then trust him," the dragon told Vali firmly. "He's the only one who's got even a slight chance to do something."
Vali's eyes narrowed, but he didn't back away. He probably thought I'd try to teleport the attack away — but that was impossible at my level.
"Don't do anything stupid!" Tannin yelled from behind us.
Too late for that.
But we had no choice.
[Estimated radius of area of effect: 4500 sq.km]
Vali nodded, realizing we didn't have time to think. "Don't disappoint us," he said flatly.
Immediately, I pressed my palm against his back.
<Transit>
His entire body blinked from my side to right behind Crom — who looked more amused than threatened.
"Now, Divide!"
[Song of the Downer available for a singular use. Duration of effect: 10 minutes]
Ridiculously low, but better than nothing.
"Divide."
Since he was already in his Scale Mail, the ten-second delay between casts didn't apply.
"Divide."
Crom, too focused on the growing aura sphere, couldn't swat him away.
"Divide."
"Divide."
"Divide."
"Divide."
Vali used every ounce of strength he had.
"Divide."
"Divide."
"Divide."
Finally, he shouted, "That's it!"
[Estimated radius of area of effect: 8.78 sq.km]
The sphere had definitely weakened. That was my cue.
<Nereid Kyrie: Song of the Downer>
The serpent symbol exploded instantly, signaling the one-time use — and a haunting, harp-like melody spread through the air, directly aimed at Crom.
"Gah!" His face twisted in pain and rage.
[Physical and Magical abilities of the individual have been lowered significantly for the next 9 minutes and 59 seconds.]
"Get away!" I screamed, and Vali didn't waste a second. Even Tannin pushed his battered body to the limit to escape.
The reason was simple.
<Blink>
I had to blink a few times myself.
The aura sphere Crom had created was still monstrous — enough to wipe out around nine square kilometers. Vali's Divides had reduced its power, but the Longinus' curse had crippled Crom's control over it.
"You fuckers!" Crom roared, pouring everything he had left into reinforcing his body.
But it wasn't enough.
And then, in one insane moment, the sphere detonated — erasing everything within a nine-square-kilometer radius.
Including Crom.
Hopefully.
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{A/N: Got a pat reon named RedLamp01 with 30+ chapters + Other Stories. }
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