Chapter 375: The Final Battle (6)

“Wh-What?!”

The Platinum Dragon’s composure finally cracked, as he failed to hide his shock at the sudden arrival of the airship.

“Prepare for the bombardment.”

As Gordon Fabian raised his hand, the cannons on either side of the airship opened.

Wuuuuung...

A bright light gathered at the end of each cannon, concentrating into a single point.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

With a deafening roar, explosions erupted from the five cannons on either side, aimed at the Platinum Dragon. The dragon shielded his face with a wing, conjuring a protective barrier.

“You think something like this...?!”

The powerful blasts smashed through the remnants of the Sun Hall, leaving nothing behind. However, the dragon’s barrier had endured.

“Save me!”

“Aaaah...!”

The priests fled the collapsing Sun Hall, their terrified screams stripping away their last bit of dignity.

“How funny. You always boast that you’ll be beside your god upon that. Isn’t that your greatest wish? So why run, huh?” Allen sneered.

“Gordon, are you planning to break your contract with me?” Olivurn shouted at the airship from behind the barrier.

“Break what? I was just curious. I wanted to see what a dragon was really like. Contracts have priorities, after all.”

“You...!”

“We’re not knights; we’re mercenaries. It’s first come, first served with the Guidance Mercenary Gang!” Gordon growled at Olivurn amidst the carnage.

“We mercenaries might be bottom-dwellers, but we’re ready to risk our lives every day. For us, death is always a possibility. And a mercenary’s family? They live just like us, facing death every day. Using family as a bargaining chip is a low tactic, something that only works on aristocrats like you.”

Clack!

With that, the airship’s clasp released the crate it had been carrying, sending it plummeting toward the Sun Hall at terrifying speed.

“Understand this, you brat. A mercenary’s family lives knowing they could lose everything at any moment, so threatening them might work on nobles, but not on us.”

Thud...! CRASH! Clack! Thud, thud, thud!

The crate crashed through the ceiling of the Sun Hall, shattering the marble floor. With the sound of locks disengaging, the four sides of the crate unfolded, revealing a massive, dark figure.

In stark contrast to the Platinum Dragon’s shimmering scales, the dark form appeared to shine even more brightly in the shadows.

“Ascalon...?” Allen Javius murmured in disbelief as he stared at the colossal golem before him.

“Karyl. When hunting, one must use the proper tools, don’t you think?”

Clack!

Whirrr...

As the armor on Ascalon’s chest opened, Karyl leapt up, pulling the familiar control lever.

Zzzzing...!

In that moment, the eyes of the dragon-slaying golem lit up.

“You even know how to pilot a golem?”

“Of course. In my past life, I was the pilot of Revol.”

“Hmph...”

Karyl’s lips curved into a slight smile.

“A while back, I asked Calypson to reconstruct Ascalon’s interior to resemble Revol’s. That way, even if it wasn’t me, Wingel could operate it.”

“Whenever I think you can’t surprise me anymore, you prove me wrong... You truly have no limitations, do you?”

Allen shook his head as he glanced around from Ascalon’s cockpit, seemingly fascinated by the view outside.

“This golem was never completed, even in the Magical Era. How on earth did that gnome manage this? I knew he was skilled, but...”

“Refining a power core goes beyond just skill. If it could be done just with the Craft Magic of the gnomes, the golem would’ve been completed in the Magical Era.”

“Hmm... So then, how?”

“Darryl Harian. He said he’d send me a special gift they’d been preparing. I think this is it. No doubt the Golden Magic Society refined Ascalon’s power core,” Karyl said casually as he worked the cockpit’s levers.

“Are you saying that today’s mages have surpassed those of the Magical Era? That’s absurd.”

“But Darryl revived one of the three, which were thought to be lost forever. If he truly resurrected a divine beast, their magical skills are beyond simple assessment.”

“Reviving the dead... That sounds dangerously close to Tarak.”

Allen grimaced, recalling Rael’s attempt to corrupt the priests.

“Refining power cores and reviving ancient creatures... The Golden Magic Society sure is intriguing. They’re achieving what the Assembly of Seven Elders failed to accomplish. Their magical prowess might very well become an obstacle for us."

“Huh? Are you upset they managed to do what the Assembly couldn’t?”

“...”

Allen cleared his throat, turning his head at Karyl’s teasing remark.

Karyl gripped the controls firmly, glancing at the array of dials inside the cockpit. His mana flowed through Ascalon’s circuits, illuminating them.

Zzzzt—! ZZZT!!

Then, a bright white light surged from the massive blade mounted on Ascalon’s back.

“The Mana Blade’s output is far more efficient than a human body. The capacity for releasing mana is exponentially greater,” Allen remarked, still analyzing the golem. “I assumed that once you broke past the 7th Class, you’d be able to fully wield the dragon heart’s immense mana, but I was mistaken. The golem’s power core unleashes mana far more intensely than any small, organic body could.”

Clack!

A greatsword fell from the clasp on Ascalon’s back, and Karyl caught it with his right hand. Mana flowed through the circuits on Ascalon’s back, charging the blade and causing the circular core embedded in the hilt to spin rapidly.

Szzzz... SZZZZ!

The faster the core spun, the thicker and sharper the Mana Blade became.

“KYAAAA...!!”

The Platinum Dragon bared its massive jaws toward Ascalon, summoning dozens of magic circles around its mouth.

“Now I can see it clearly.”

The concentrated light condensed within the Platinum Dragon’s maw, forming into a large sphere.

BOOM...!!

CLANK! CLICK!

Karyl gripped the sword with both hands, splitting the dragon’s breath as it erupted toward him.

The First Stance: Crown Posture

Having cut through the breath with graceful precision, Ascalon charged directly at Narh Di Maug.

“Everyone, evacuate!”

Belin Vallention watched in horror as the spells unleashed by the Platinum Dragon devastated parts of the city.

“Your Majesty, this way...!” Kadin shouted weakly, clutching his shoulder where Agnel was embedded.

“No. I will remain here.”

“But, Your Majesty...!”

“You’ve seen it for yourself—the Church's power is no match for him. If the Platinum Dragon falls, there is no one left in the empire who can stop him.”

“Please, do not say such things. There are a million soldiers ready to give their lives for Your Majesty!”

“My head will hit the ground before they reach me.”

“Your Majesty...”

Olivurn slowly shook his head. “Don’t worry. We will not lose. Narh Di Maug is our Guardian Dragon.”

“Then I will remain as well. No matter what, I will protect Your Majesty!” Kadin shouted with determination, though he was hardly in a condition to fight. His lips had even turned blue from mana exhaustion.

“Graaaah! GRAAAAAH...!!!”

“...!!!”

Kadin looked up at the roar, his pallor deepening as he gasped in horror.

“No!”

Thump... thump...

The two men stared at the severed tail of the Platinum Dragon. It kept flailing on the ground as though it were a living creature.

Hissss...

Steam rose from both of Ascalon’s shoulders.

Clank! Whirrrr...!

The machinery in Ascalon’s legs emitted a mechanical hum, as if the golem was heating up its engines again.

Not only had the greatsword cleaved through the dragon’s breath attack, but it had also pierced the dragon’s shield and severed his tail in a single blow. The cut had been so clean that not a single drop of blood remained on the blade.

“Ha... Haha...”

In stark contrast to Kadin’s horrified cries, Allen shuddered with excitement. This thrill made him feel human again.

“Impressive! No mere human could have done this. The golem’s strength still depends on the power of its pilot. Karyl, perhaps you were destined to be the one controlling Ascalon.”

“Destiny? No, it’s all part of my plan.”

“Hahaha!” Allen laughed heartily, clearly pleased with Karyl’s unabashed confidence. “Excellent. With mana like this, cutting that dragon apart, limb by limb, will be well within reach.”

“Grrrr...”

The Platinum Dragon growled lowly, his gaze fixed on Ascalon’s gleaming sword.

“Heh.” Gordon Fabian, standing atop the airship, let out a chuckle as well. “Karyl, you’re something else. Using yourself as bait to lure the dragon—it would seem reckless to anyone else, yet here you are using me to bring the golem here. This is a truly unimaginable strategy.”

Thud!

Karyl stomped down on the severed tail, raising the sword lightly to rest it on his shoulder.

“This is more satisfying than I expected. Honestly, I never thought I’d get to use Ascalon here. At this level, it will be invaluable in the upcoming war.”

“What? Wasn’t this your plan all along?”

“Of course not. How could I have known that Darryl Harian would complete Ascalon’s power core?”

“Huh... So, you really intended to use yourself as bait without any guarantees, just to lure the Platinum Dragon out of Tatur?” Allen asked incredulously.

Karyl’s lips curved into a slight smirk. “Of course not. Didn’t I say I was setting a trap? I’m not the bait. The real snare hasn’t been unleashed yet, nor is this whole commotion the trap I have prepared.”

“What...?”

“It’s just that Ascalon proved to be the perfect finishing touch to my trap.”

Thud... thud... THUD...!!

At that moment, a distant rumbling was heard from the capital’s main gate, as if an earthquake had struck.

“Stop it! Don’t let it inside!”

“Don’t let the giant break through!”

“Ahhhh...!!”

“Save me!!”

The sounds of battle echoed from within the city gates. A massive white golem was charging straight toward the Sun Hall, crushing the buildings in its path as if mocking the resistance of the capital’s defense forces.

"No way..."

“Yes, that’s the trap I set.”

The white colossus, a stark contrast to the dark Ascalon, left the empire’s defenders paralyzed with fear, drained of all will to fight.

“Revol.”

Allen was aware of the secret orders Karyl had given Wingel back at the marquisate, though he had assumed the destination was the main battlefield at Tatur.

“I’m willing to bet none of them expected this.”

“Pff...! Phahahaha!!” Gordon burst into laughter at Revol’s sudden appearance.

“Beheading him would be too kind of a death.”

Click—! Vrooooom—!!

Revol surged forward, engines howling. The golem’s arms extended, the elbows glowing fiercely.

CRASH!

Fully charged by the engines, Revol’s punch slammed into the Platinum Dragon with devastating force.

“Crush him,” Karyl muttered under his breath.