Chapter 622

Ian finally remembered the scale fixed to his left palm.

—I don’t think it can absorb chaos forever. The cracks are spreading. Still... it looks like we’ve got ourselves another chance, my friend.

At Yog’s ensuing whisper, Ian curled a corner of his lip and leaped powerfully toward the Heaven Defier. He opened his maw wide, unleashing the chaos power surging from within.

"-----!"

A tearing roar, reminiscent of a demonic monster, echoed through the cavern. Archeas’s eyes twisted, and not just because of the agonizing pain in its chest.

Ian...

Its head tilted, its gaze remained fixed on its Agent charging the Heaven Defier. He didn't seem consumed by chaos yet, but it wouldn't be strange if he were at any moment. He had just absorbed the very chaos power it had unleashed.

—Well, show me what you can do.

Not that the situation had improved. The creature might have been feigning generosity now, but Archeas knew it was only a matter of time before Rakhmah bared its true fangs. The moment it became certain that persuasion was futile, it would kill Ian without hesitation.

Fwoosh—

Perhaps Rakhmah was only keeping Ian alive to torment Archeas further. Whatever the case, Archeas knew the end would not be long in coming.

But...

Archeas’s gaze followed Ian, who was narrowly dodging the arcs of azure flame as if performing acrobatics. Ian couldn't possibly be unaware that his current situation was like a moth flying into a flame.

You still haven't given up.

There was no hesitation in Ian’s movements as he shot his tentacles out in mid-air to leap again. Gripping the dragon bone like a greatsword, he charged into the reach of Rakhmah, who was swinging the stake high.

Swoosh—

Rakhmah, having stopped the stake's momentum, immediately slammed it down again. The movement was faster than Archeas had expected. It must have felt that way to Ian, too.

Instead of attempting another acrobatic dodge, Ian raised the violet-tinged dragon bone diagonally above his head. He clearly intended to deflect the stake and charge in. It was a decision born of the lack of other options.

The stake came crashing down.

Crackle! Crack!

Sparks burst as the stake scraped against the bone before shattering it into pieces. Ian tilted with the impact before being engulfed by the onrushing flames.

—Ian!

Archeas despaired again, watching him slam into the ground and bounce. Fortunately, the flames covering Ian quickly subsided.

Thud—

Tumbling and spewing violet smoke, Ian jammed his tentacles into the ground to regain his footing.

–Is that all the tricks you’ve got left?

Rakhmah straightened its upper body, letting the stake hang low. Thankfully, it didn't seem intent on killing Ian yet. Its blazing eyes flickered as it watched Ian slide to a halt.

—If not, your time is short. My anticipation will soon turn to disappointment.

Ian stood, pulling his tentacles from the ground, and answered with a sharp roar. Violet chaos seethed, and he began to writhe and swell.

Crunch!

His muscles bulged, the horns on his head multiplied and thickened, and beneath his sharp eyes, a second pair split open along a diagonal. The tentacles on his back grew thicker and longer.

Thump...

Archeas couldn't know that this was a state similar to when Ian had been consumed by chaos. Nor could it know that Ian was still fully conscious, unlike then.

—How bold, yes, an Agent superior to his master in many ways.

Rakhmah’s low, amused voice followed.

Archeas watched Ian, unable to hide its anxiety, but it had to agree. Ian was an exceptional Agent, one who had always exceeded his expectations. Even now, he was throwing everything away to make the impossible possible.

If that is the case, then I, too...

As Ian shot forward like a bolt of light, tentacles tearing the ground apart, its gaze fell on the stake embedded in its chest. Its hand gripped the top of the stake once more.

I must stop showing my Agent such a disgraceful side.

The violet light around it deepened. Though the pain in its chest intensified, Archeas did not stop, welcoming more chaos power into its soul.

Crackle... Crack!

The stake in its chest slowly emerged. Despite the agonizing pain, Archeas merely narrowed its eyes, not even letting out a groan.

Meanwhile, Ian and the Heaven Defier clashed again. As Rakhmah’s wingbeats unleashed waves of scorching wind, Ian soared high to evade them, spun midair, and then shot forward in a counterattack.

Ssss...

The stake in Archeas's chest continued to pull free. As the pain finally lessened, it felt its soul sink deeper into chaos. Its body, too, changed in response.

Crunch! Crack!

A dreadful tremor ran through it, but Archeas no longer cared. It felt unburdened. A surge of fighting spirit and rage replaced hesitation.

Shaaaa... Zap!

Violet chaos and lightning crackled over the fully extracted stake. Archeas did not drop it. Instead, it gripped the sharp end like a hilt and slowly rose.

Swoosh!

Just then, Rakhmah struck Ian once more, sending him flying. The creature had known all along that Ian was aiming for the hole in its chest.

—Your mockery of my agent ends here, Rakhmah.

Archeas spat, watching the Heaven Defier stop its horizontal swing.

—As I said, our fight is not over.

—

Hmm

...

Blue flames trailed behind Rakhmah as it turned, a low, amused hum rumbling from its throat. Its blue eyes narrowed as it stared at Archeas.

—So you’ve finally found the courage to cross the line, yet you’re still as pitifully clumsy as ever.

The creature murmured, lowering its stake. Archeas glanced past it to where Ian was falling into a distant bone pile. He was now wreathed in smoke, not flames.

"-----!"

Archeas immediately drew on its chaos power and roared. Rakhmah shielded itself with one wing, mocking it, as the shockwave of chaos scattered the azure flames.

—We will have to see if that is true.

Archeas finally spoke and kicked off the ground, raising the stake it held.

Zap!

Rakhmah shook its wings, casting off the remnants of lightning and chaos power, its eyes gleaming.

—If that's what it takes for you to learn, then gladly.

Rakhmah turned its stake sideways. Archeas’s downward strike crashed onto it.

Boom!

When the stakes collided, a blinding explosion of flame and violet lightning filled the air. Yet neither weapon flew free. Locked together, the two forces pushed until Rakhmah’s massive form was forced backward.

Thud—

The creature's slide quickly slowed, and Archeas halted. Archeas immediately swung its sharp, claw-like wing joint at Rakhmah's neck.

Zip-zap!

Rakhmah swung its wing to block, as though expecting it. Sparks and lightning erupted where their strikes met, and the Heaven Defier’s grip on the stake tightened.

𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Clang—

Archeas’s right arm was knocked back, and flames grazed its torso as Rakhmah’s spear swept past. It gritted its teeth against the pain before striking again.

Crash, snap!

Like swordsmen locked in a deadly duel, the two dragons’ stakes clashed again and again, scattering fire and lightning in every direction. The two dragons moved with impossible speed, surrounding themselves in a thick haze of blue fire, violet lightning, and chaotic waves from their impacts.

Between strikes, they jabbed with claws or swung their wings, aiming for vitals. However, the distance between them remained. Rakhmah maintained its range, refusing to be drawn into a grapple, and slowly seized control.

Grk—

Before long, it was Archeas who fell back. It was inevitable. The Heaven Defier was still superior in both power and speed.

—This reminds me of the old days, Archeas! Do you remember when you learned fairy swordplay from me?

The Heaven Defier shouted as it attacked without pause. Its rough voice was full of energy, and though it probably didn’t realize it, just as much madness.

—Yes, though I never once managed to beat you!

Archeas retorted. It suspected its own voice didn't sound much different from Rakhmah's right now. That, however, was not important.

Clang!

Another hit nearly drove the stake straight through its chest. Archeas’s upper body staggered back, its arm knocked aside. It gritted its teeth and stopped. It knew it had to draw in more chaos power. This might be what Rakhmah wanted, but there was no other choice. It had to push Rakhmah back.

—Indeed! But nothing has—

Rakhmah paused mid-sentence, stake raised. Archeas, which had been quietly gathering its breath, looked over.

The blazing flame coating Rakhmah flickered and died in an instant. The flames along its weapon vanished as well.

—This is...

Rakhmah’s eyes narrowed in confusion. Archeas didn’t waste the moment. Power surged through its arm as it swung the stake with every ounce of strength it had.

Fwoosh, crack!

It swung with all its might, slamming the stake into the side of Rakhmah’s head. The black, scaleless hide caved in, followed by a brilliant explosion of lightning.

Crackle, snap— Boom!

Rakhmah’s head whipped sideways as it crashed to the ground, rolling across the stone. However, Archeas wasn’t watching it. Its gaze had shifted toward the spot behind Rakhmah where something new was stirring.

Charrrrrr—

The thick chains trailing from the shackle around Rakhmah’s tail had darkened to a deep violet. The glow came from a violet demon, clutching the middle of the chain as if locked in a tug-of-war.

As its tentacles dug into the ground while being dragged forward, Archeas looked down at the scene and muttered before realizing it.

—Ian!