Chapter 376: The Final Battle (7)

“Perfect timing, as always,” Karyl remarked to Wingel’s intervention.

“No way... You actually managed to complete Ascalon? I thought you and Lord Calypson decided to focus on enhancing Revol, considering the issues with the power core.”

Despite the words of praise, Wingel’s expression was one of disbelief as he gazed at Ascalon.

“It was possible because everything else was completed, even without the core,” Karyl replied.

“Once I saw the blueprint you gave me, I was instantly captivated. Wolfgang Schumar truly was a genius among geniuses.”

Indeed, Wingel had been enthralled by the designs left behind by the arcane engineer of the Magical Era.

“In any case, I’m really curious to see how your upgraded Revol stacks up against this guy,” Karyl responded with a slight smile, pointing to his Ascalon.

“Heh, please don’t say that. The golem I made is really... nothing special,” Wingel replied humbly.

Boom—!!

Revol raised an arm to shield its face, blocking the Platinum Dragon’s razor-sharp wings just in time. The impact made Revol stagger, but the golem quickly regained its balance, clutching the dragon’s wing firmly.

“...?!”

Even as they clashed, the Platinum Dragon stared at the white golem in disbelief. It had actually managed to withstand his attack.

“A dragon’s strike isn’t all that impressive either, apparently.”

As if mocking the Platinum Dragon, a glint flickered in Revol’s eyes, and as if on cue, the two colossi charged straight at the dragon.

Zaaaang—!!

A sharp talon shot from Revol’s hand, sinking into the dragon’s wing, and with a powerful twist, it tore the wing apart.

Crack!

With the dragon’s agonizing scream, its shredded wing flapped uselessly, reduced to tattered skin.

Thud! Boom...!!

The assault didn’t end there. While Revol held the Platinum Dragon in place, Ascalon moved in from behind and plunged its massive sword into the dragon’s side.

Crash...!! Shunk!!!

The protective magic around the dragon shattered like broken glass, and Ascalon’s sword sank deeply into its abdomen.

Slaaaash...!!

Blood flowed down the blade’s edge as the dragon thrashed in agony.

Just a little more...

The massive sword trembled violently as Karyl gripped the hilt, pushing his mana to the limit. Though the blade looked ready to shatter, he poured even more draconic mana into it, determined to unleash its full potential.

“Grr...!!”

Amidst the relentless beating, the Platinum Dragon lashed out, batting Revol’s fist away and biting down on the golem’s shoulder.

Crack...!!

As Revol’s shoulder armor shattered, its circuits snapped, wires and components spilling out. The dragon yanked the circuits with his jaws as though ripping apart tendons.

“Argh?!”

Revol stumbled as it lost its balance, and the Platinum Dragon stomped down on its right leg, shattering its joints and sending it crashing down.

“You wretched... creatures!!”

His wrathful roar, saturated with magic, was nearly unbearable, leaving ears ringing. The dragon tore off the armor on Revol’s chest, exposing the cockpit, where Wingel Hart met his gaze with trembling eyes.

“Try begging for mercy. Perhaps I’ll give you a swift death...!”

“Screw you!”

From the cockpit, Wingel raised his middle finger in response. Once a mere engineer intimidated by war, he had changed, just like everyone else.

“You...! Insolent...!”

Infuriated by Wingel’s defiant gesture, the dragon raised his massive foot over him. At that moment, Wingel threw off the helmet he had been using to control Revol and yelled out, “Now, my lord!”

Boom...!!!

A single footstep echoed through the hall. Brief as it was, it sent a chill through the Platinum Dragon—distracted by rage, he had lost track of Ascalon.

The Second Stance: Unicorn Posture

Ascalon pulled back its massive sword with lightning speed and drove it forward.

Shwip—!

With deadly precision, the blade tore through the air and pierced the dragon’s neck.

“Gah...! Urgh...!”

Disbelief filled the Platinum Dragon’s eyes as he looked at the blade lodged in his neck. He tried speaking, but no words came out, only the sickening gurgle of blood.

“Too easy,” Allen sneered as he took in the dragon’s desperate situation.

Karyl wasn’t done. He raised his sword above his head, ready to deliver the final blow.

WOOSH!

And sure enough, the blade came down on the Platinum Dragon’s neck, sending his head spinning through the air before it landed with a dull, heavy thud.

“We... won....”

Zigra gasped, staring at the dragon’s head in utter disbelief.

“Our lord has slain the Platinum Dragon!”

Though not amplified by magic, his voice seemed to carry the announcement across the entire capital.

“YEAAAHHH...!!”

Wingel, who had crawled out of Revol’s ruined cockpit, raised his arms high, joining in the shouts of victory.

The tables had turned completely. Now, no one in the empire stood in their way.

Nearby, Belin and Kadin Luer looked on in stunned silence, too paralyzed to make a move.

“Y-Your Majesty...” Kadin whispered to Olivurn, looking at him with pleading eyes, as if to urge him to flee. The thought of what would come next overwhelmed the sorcerer.

“You better not think about fleeing,” Karyl called out from Ascalon’s cockpit, aiming his Lakna directly at Kadin.

“The time has come... to end this,” he declared coldly, his gaze shifting to Olivurn, still seated on the throne.

“So he says. Do you also agree?”

Olivurn’s response was surprisingly calm. Was he feigning composure in the face of death?

Karyl frowned as he realized Olivurn hadn’t spoken to him. He turned his head slowly.

“My apologies for that unseemly sight.”

The voice echoed from the far end of the ruined Sun Hall.

“Hah... I had to keep the Church on standby, unable to abandon the battlefield easily, and even had to send the Platinum Dragon urgently since all three dragons were embarrassingly subdued.”

The man’s voice, though not particularly loud, rang out even more clearly than Zigra’s booming announcement from before.

“One was about to do something utterly foolish, and the other was slain by a mere toy... Unbelievable.”

With an irritated gesture, the man ruffled his hair, his gaze finally meeting Karyl’s.

“...Neil Blanc,” Karyl growled.

Neil placed a hand on the severed head of the Platinum Dragon lying on the ground.

“Incredible. You managed to bring the Platinum Dragon down like this. I anticipated Revol, but Ascalon was my oversight... or maybe just your luck. I designed that dragon puppet so it wouldn’t be defeated easily, even if it went up against a golem controlled by a Sword Master... But it was you, out of all people, controlling it. With the near-limitless mana from Riseria’s heart, I suppose that Platinum Dragon never stood a chance.”

As he spoke, Neil walked over to the shattered remains of Rael and picked up a holy artifact, wiping the blood off it.

“I didn’t expect you to know how to pilot a golem. I’ll admit, that caught me off guard.”

“What do you mean by

designed

?” Karyl’s eyes were fixed on Neil as he spoke.

“Exactly what it sounds like.”

Neil held up the artifact, gesturing to himself and then to the severed Platinum Dragon’s head.

“Is he saying he created both the Platinum Dragon and Rael?” Allen spoke in a slightly trembling voice, uneasy at the implication.

“Haven’t you ever wondered? Unlike other dragons, the Platinum Dragon always remained in dragon form. Perhaps it’s been dismissed as pride, but... have you ever heard of a dragon incapable of Polymorphing?”

A faint hum filled the air.

The Platinum Dragon’s corpse slowly turned ashen and crumbled within seconds, leaving no trace behind.

It was enough proof for Allen’s suspicion.

“No way... This isn’t possible...”

“But it is... as long as it was never truly alive,” Neil explained calmly.

“It’s an imitation,” another voice came from the shadows.

“The dolls of the Rothschild family are so lifelike that it’s hard to tell the difference. In all the family’s history, only once has a doll awakened. Karyl, had it not been for you, even I would never have witnessed a doll come to life. But there was one other besides you who saw this puppetry firsthand.”

A woman emerged from the shadows, lightly stepping over the rubble to stand beside them. She looked at Neil Blanc.

“You... Narh Di Maug.”

“...!!”

“....?!?”

Her words left everyone speechless.

“With a dragon’s wisdom, creating a golem is entirely plausible. But what everyone overlooks is the assumption that a puppet must take a human form.”

She raised her hand slowly.

“You’re right; no dragon is incapable of Polymorphing. That thing was merely a gigantic puppet. Isn’t that right, Narh Di Maug?”

“So... Karyl, your suspicions were right. Neil Blanc

is

Narh Di Maug. We were played by that dragon form. Hell, even the Spirit Kings were fooled by it.”

Allen shook his head, his voice laced with frustration and disbelief. “Who would have imagined he could create such a massive puppet? I knew something felt off...”

Karyl let out a faint, bitter laugh, the underlying anger in his expression clear to Allen.

[He needed a vessel that could contain divine, spirit, and draconic power, didn’t he?]

[And instead of finding that vessel, he went and created it himself...]

[Platinum Dragon, just how far off course have you gone?]

The Spirit Kings murmured, gazing at him with voices woven from various emotions.

“And how did you leave the battlefield to come here, Kay Rothschild?” Karyl called out.

The Queen of the Dead, whom he had sent as part of Miliana’s reinforcements, stood before Karyl, looking remarkably more mature than before—not merely in appearance, but in the aura she projected. Perhaps it was the result of her experience on the battlefield, as she now radiated a new sense of strength.

“I requested permission. When we saw the Platinum Dragon flying urgently toward the capital, Miliana agreed there was no further threat, allowing me to pursue him. That way, I also got to watch Neil Blanc’s moves.”

Kay gestured to the other figure standing behind her, another puppet she had brought along.

“You haven’t forgotten, have you? You and Allen aren’t the only ones with a grudge against the Platinum Dragon,” she said, glancing at Karyl.

“And, having paths through the forest that even the Platinum Dragon couldn’t know about, it allowed us to remain hidden.” The corner of her mouth rose slightly.

To his surprise, the place she was pointing toward appeared empty.

“He said he’d be here no matter what. I’m surprised, though... the Spirit Kings didn’t realize? How could that be? He noticed immediately.”

Swish...

“A true avenger never loses sight of their enemy. Isn’t that right?”

Kay Rothschild’s expressionless, doll-like face revealed a rare smile.

“Finally, we meet,” the elf whispered from the shadows, pressing his dagger against Neil Blanc’s neck.

“I never forgot, not for a second, the one who turned the Elven Forest into a land of death,” he went on, eyes blazing with fury. He was ready to strike.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Kay Rothschild tugged at the thin string connecting them both.

“Enough talk. Just cut him, Zarka Hochi.”