Chapter 361: Become the Stepping Stone

“How is this possible...?” Karyl muttered incredulously, seemingly forgetting he was surrounded by enemies.

Rumble...

Every time the Platinum Dragon beat its wings, a powerful gust of wind whipped through the area. As Karyl watched the dragon rise above Neil Blanc, he glanced back and forth between the two, his frown deepening.

“Another... Platinum Dragon?”

[See? I told you, that guy isn’t Narh Di Maug.]

[We were right all along.]

[Quiet, everyone. Don’t jump to conclusions. After all, I do sense draconic mana from that man.]

The Spirit Kings murmured to each other as they observed the Platinum Dragon circling in the sky. After silencing the others, Ramine gazed at Karyl, as if trying to gauge his state of mind.

[You seem just as confused as the rest of us. But now we’ve confirmed that Neil Blanc and the Platinum Dragon exist simultaneously.]

“That’s impossible. Then... is Neil Blanc really just a human?”

[No, I doubt that. Like Ramine said, we can sense draconic mana from him. But the problem is that the mana radiating from that dragon feels real too,] Allen explained calmly.

“Yeah.” Karyl slowly nodded. “Seeing this in person... is indeed overwhelming.”

In his previous life, without mana, he had been unable to grasp its true nature, but now, standing before the Platinum Dragon, Karyl could feel a power that was on a completely different level from the other three dragons he had encountered.

𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

[Yes, there’s no denying the majesty of an ancient dragon. How on earth did Kaye Aesir manage to capture Riseria? He must have been formidable in his own right.]

“Still, something doesn’t add up. From what I recall, their battle was intense, but looking back, it almost seems as if the Flame Dragon let herself get killed.”

[Hmm...]

Allen considered this new mystery but quickly pushed it aside, as there was a dragon right before their eyes, one that demanded far more urgency than the one who had died centuries ago.

[So you were convinced that Neil Blanc was the dragon because you knew what visage Neil Blanc would eventually take?]

That’s right.

[And yet, now you have both Neil Blanc and the Platinum Dragon here at the same time?]

Karyl watched as the dragon, now in its full, imposing form, slowly descended.

[There are a few possibilities, but with both of them showing up at once, I assume you realize what’s most likely happening, right? ]

Though initially bewildered by the simultaneous presence of the two, Karyl quickly realized the nature of their relationship. Even though dragons were awe-inspiring creatures, Neil Blanc’s mannerisms toward this one were oddly subservient, like he was greeting his master.

Of course. That would make sense for him.

[Then we need to confirm it. We have to find out who the real one is. I assume you know the best way to do that.]

The moment Allen finished speaking, Karyl gripped Lakna and Agnel tightly in both hands.

[Be careful. That man is not ordinary either. His magical aura seems powerful enough to mislead even you.]

“Yeah, I know.”

Karyl’s gaze fixed on Neil Blanc.

“Huh, my father, and now you... Since when was draconic mana this common? It’s almost unfair.”

Voosh—!!

“...Since some of us have spent eons trying to attain this power!”

Karyl closed the distance in an instant, leaving no trace behind, as if he had teleported. Without hesitation, he brought his dagger down over Neil Blanc’s head.

Crack...! Zzzzzt...!!

Agnel’s blade glowed a deep violet, channeling arcane energy.

Neil Blanc wore the same bewildered expression as when Karyl had seen him in the capital, unable to react to the speed of his attack.

“What on earth is happening behind the scenes?”

Whoosh

...!!

But just before Karyl’s Arcane Blade could pierce him, the Platinum Dragon’s silver wing enveloped Neil Blanc.

Clang!

With a sharp, deafening sound, the dragon’s sturdy wing shook from the impact.

“Allen Javius, is that you? Seeing you’re alive feels... almost wrong.”

The Platinum Dragon, gazing at the arcane energy Karyl had unleashed, addressed the dark presence behind him.

“It’s been a while.”

Despite the ferocity of the attack, the dragon spoke in an oddly reminiscent tone, as if recalling old memories.

“Of the Assembly of Seven Elders, you were the only disciple who could truly follow my teachings. It’s unfortunate that our reunion comes under such circumstances.”

“Disciple? Cut the crap!” Allen snapped. He then swung his shadowy staff, sending sharp, ashy spikes imbued with Duat’s power hurtling toward Narh Di Maug.

Boom!! Crash!!!

At the same time, a searing heat surged from Karyl’s Lakna. The blade glowed red-hot, as if filled with molten lava, and each strike against the Platinum Dragon’s wing sent up a cloud of steam.

“It truly is Riseria’s power. Alteman once said that the seal within Einheri could never be broken... And yet the Flame Dragon’s lair was unlocked? I certainly didn’t expect such a blunder from

him

.”

Despite the onslaught, the Platinum Dragon’s wing didn't lose a single scale.

“The one who placed the seal, Kaye Aesir, was indeed an exceptional man. I was just lucky.”

“Hmm...” The Platinum Dragon scanned Karyl, as if to assess him. “Lucky, you say. If luck played a role in breaking the seal, that simply means it was flawed.”

“Well, I’m just that good. Luck is also a skill, you know? The fact that you and I have met here proves it.”

“Hah...” The Platinum Dragon chuckled, seemingly bemused. “You weren’t part of my plan. But you do intrigue me. Not only do you have my human disciple by your side, but you have also made pacts with Spirit Kings and attained the Fifteenth’s power.”

“Who are you calling your disciple, you damned lizard?” Allen spat.

But the Platinum Dragon ignored Allen, his gaze fixed on Karyl—or more precisely, on the blue markings on his arm.

“It has been quite some time, Mael.”

Ssss

...!!!

“Yes, a long time indeed, traitor.”

The blue serpent slithered up Karyl’s shoulder, tension crackling between them.

“Guardian Dragon? Who are you to bear that title, when you abandoned humanity so easily? What a joke.”

“That’s not something you should be saying.”

“I’m not like you. I said from the beginning,

never trust me when using my power

. I bet this one knows it too. We only share power because we need each other, nothing more.”

“From the Mythical Era until this very moment, you haven’t changed one bit.”

“Of course. I’ve been waiting, always, for the moment I could sink my fangs into your neck.”

Mael’s power surged more than ever. Until now, even when Karyl had called upon him, Mael had been quietly waiting for an opportunity to take control of his body. But this time felt different.

“Your strength isn’t enough,” the snake hissed. “Use my power. Just this once, I will lend you everything.”

“Shut up.”

“...What?”

“Don’t give me orders. You, him, all of you, remember how you got here. You’re in no position to speak to me like that.”

“Wh-What did you say?”

Mael was taken aback by Karyl’s rebuke.

“I’m not borrowing your power. I’m

choosing

to use it. If you want revenge on that bastard, stop whining and cooperate.”

“Kh-Khahaha!!” Narh Di Maug burst into laughter. “You truly are an amusing human. Has there ever been anyone who wielded the primordial Master Key like this? Not even the Bladers used it this way.”

“Save the chatter. Just come at me. Whether this is a charade or the real deal, it doesn’t matter. If you wish to remain the empire’s Guardian Dragon, by all means. As far as I’m concerned, I’ll just hunt you down and rip your heart out.”

“...”

The Platinum Dragon’s expression stiffened.

“I commend your courage, but you cannot defeat me. Still, it’s intriguing to see a human with such mastery over draconic mana... but that’s as far as it goes. Even with draconic mana, a human cannot become a dragon.”

“Intriguing? Why? Do you want to dissect humans again and use them as experiments?” Karyl scoffed.

“...You’re courting death.”

The Platinum Dragon’s voice grew sharper, as if he had caught the hidden meaning behind Karyl’s taunt.

“Believe it or not, I have lived long enough. But you? You don’t understand what death really is,” Karyl responded with a mocking smile.

[What will you do? I hate to admit it, but he’s right. We don’t stand a chance against him now. We should wait for a better opportunity—perhaps when that whelp Nain Darhon returns from the Ivory Tower.]

Allen, do you even know why I’m still at the 7th Class?

Karyl answered in his head so that Narh Di Maug could not hear.

[...What?]

You’ve said that in the Magical Era, the 7th Class was the equivalent of today’s 8th Class. But that’s just a difference in mana. The fundamental magic system was limited to the 7th Class, both then and now.

[Yes, that’s true. But why bring that up now?]

The vast repository of knowledge you’ve bestowed on me... Everything you remember about magic is still limited to the 7th Class.

[Of course. The 8th Class goes beyond the established systems of magic. To reach that level, one must create their own unique magic. Just like with my arcane energy, the 8th Class magic of that little upstart Berchi Blano isn’t just about possessing more mana. He has his unique spell, Neurin.]

Karyl nodded.

Yes. I have dragon mana. If we measure pure mana, I’d surpass Berchi Blano. But the reason I haven’t reached 8th Class is that I lack the creativity that you and he possess.

[Are you saying you lack talent? That’s absurd. You use magic as naturally as breathing.]

Application and creativity are different. I’ve seen more magic than anyone, and I understand how archmages use it in battle. But they, too, were all limited to the 7th Class. I’ve never seen anyone wield magic beyond that.

[So what you’re saying is that you haven’t been able to surpass the system because there’s no guide for it? That’s nonsense,] Allen scoffed.

However, Karyl merely smirked at his reproach, his gaze fixed ahead.

“That’s right, but now I have the perfect guide right in front of me.”

[Don’t tell me...] Allen’s voice was tinged with disbelief. [You lunatic... So that’s why you were so desperate to find the Platinum Dragon? It wasn’t just to fight him?]

He then chuckled drily.

“Conquer and pillage. I’d say this works out just perfectly.”

[Hahaha... Has anyone else in history ever been mad enough to try stealing the Platinum Dragon’s magic? Only you.]

Without hesitation, Karyl swung his sword.

Narh Di Maug, I don’t care what your intentions are. Just as you tried to use me, I’ll be using you now. Go on, cast your spells. Use the magic humans cannot wield. In this battle, I shall take that from you.

There was a gleam of fierce determination in his eyes.

Guide me. Thanks to you, I will step into the realm of dragons.

What Karyl yearned for was the 9th Class, a realm few dared to even imagine.