Chapter 306: Wings of Freedom (7)

"Explain it one more time, please."

At Gust’s request, Kai nodded. "The operation is simple. Once I begin facing Harley, all of you must escape this place and get out of the Black Sea as fast as you can."

"The destination is the Kingdom of Rashion’s... Riperdia? Is that right?"

"Libertia."

"

Ah!

That’s right. My age is catching up to me... Libertia, Libertia..." Gust muttered the name of the assembly point several times and nodded. "Got it. I won’t forget it now. But do you have a means of flight?"

"Yes. I do." Kai summoned Mimic and transformed it into wyvern form.

"

Oh

, a wyvern. I haven’t seen one in ages." Quickly setting aside his worries, Gust tightly grasped Kai’s hand with his arm wing. "May fortune favor you. And thank you, truly.”

"It’s too early to receive thanks. Let’s save that for Libertia."

"

Ah

, right. Then I’ll see you in Libertia..."

The two shared a brief smile as they looked at each other before a group of birdfolk came running toward them with urgent expressions.

"C-Chieftain! There’s trouble!"

"Patrol captain? What’s going on?"

"A large number of gargoyles are pouring through the black clouds and heading this way! There’s nearly a hundred of them!"

"

Hm!

" Gust’s face hardened at the sudden report.

They had moved up the D-Day to today to act before Harley could make a move.

"Perhaps because his body had been submerged in cold seawater for so long, even his reactions are chillingly swift," Kai said.

"Are you not worried?" Gust asked in response.

"I’ll leave Blizzard behind here just in case. And with Icarus as well, the two of them should be able to take care of things without any casualties."

"

Whew

... thank you truly."

"No, if anything, Blizzard can’t fly, so it’s better for him to stay here and protect everyone."

Blizzard looked briefly disappointed, but as soon as Kai gently patted his shoulder, that expression melted away like snow.

"Blizzard, you can protect the birdfolk, right?"

"I’ll protect them without fail.”

***

A wyvern tore through the waves of black clouds at a furious speed.

"Over there."

Spotting a scaly tail far below in the sea, Kai directed Mimic to fly that way.

—

Hmm?

Sensing a stranger’s approach, Harley slowly lifted its heavy eyelids.

As Mimic landed on a rock near the archipelago, Kai shouted, "Sea Serpent Harley! I’ve come to make a deal!"

—Arrogant and insolent. You dare request a deal with a supreme being? You, of all things?

"I’ve been meaning to say this since last time, but I think you’re misunderstanding something about me."

—

Silence!

Harley let out a furious roar as he lifted his submerged body. At the same time, seawater spread in all directions, creating a tidal wave.

Fortunately, the rocky island served as a kind of breakwater, so Kai wasn’t swept up in the wave. Of course, Kai continued to stare at Harley, unfazed.

"I’m not from the Church of Muldine."

—Didn’t I tell you... to shut that mouth?

As Harley opened its mouth, seawater defied gravity and flowed into it.

"Let me finish."

Kai stretched out his hand and cast Gravity Field. The water that had been flowing upward toward Harley’s mouth dropped back down.

Harley narrowed his eyes and glared at Kai.

—You must have a death wish to remain that insolent...

"Summon Holy Sword, Prius." Kai grabbed the holy sword that appeared midair and lifted it high. "Alright, focus and look closely. You of all beings should recognize this."

Sensing the immense holy power radiating from the sword, Harley slowly closed its mouth.

—Indeed... you’re not one of those wretched things from that place.

"Right. Strictly speaking, I stand against them."

—So what?

At Harley’s question, Kai blinked. "What?"

—So what does that matter? Does that give me a reason to spare you? Are you not here trying to steal away my pet birds?

"They’re not the kind of beings that should be treated like pets."

In response to Kai’s protest, Harley sneered.

—You prove exactly why I call humans arrogant and insolent. Then are birds raised by humans born just to be treated that way?

Kai momentarily wore a bewildered expression at Harley’s retort. Its words carried a philosophy, one that was difficult to argue against.

As Kai fell silent, Harley scoffed and continued,

—You have nothing to say, do you? Because no living creature is born to be treated like that. That standard was set by humans, based on whether something is weaker or stronger than themselves. It’s just the law of the jungle. However, I am a dragon. I have no obligation to play by the rules humans made.

"That’s..."

While Kai struggled to find a counterargument, Harley suddenly soared into the air.

A majestic voice flowed from its mouth.

—Kazrun! Take the gargoyles and head to the cage. If this one has come here, it means the birds are planning to escape. Kill all the birds trying to flee.

"Understood, master."

Kazrun, king of the gargoyles, glanced briefly at Kai, then soared upward at great speed. Hundreds of gargoyles followed behind him like a swarm of bees.

"No... Mimic!"

Kai mounted Mimic and tried to chase after them, but an immense gravity suddenly pinned him and Mimic down.

"

Argh!

"

—Did you think magic that manipulates gravity was exclusive to humans? That also, is arrogant and insolent.

"Damn it. What the hell did those Church of Muldine bastards create..."

The Sky God Isca was right. A monster born with the base of an eastern dragon, yet created to become one like a western dragon. That was Sea Serpent Harley.

"Gravity Field!"

Kai used Gravity Field to dispel the gravity pressing down on him and Mimic. Of course, the mana cost began to drain at a rapid rate.

There’s no time.

In Harley’s domain, where mana couldn’t be used freely, he had barely three minutes left to use Gravity Field. Within that time, he had to either finish the fight or find another breakthrough.

"Mimic!"

"

Kkaaaak!

"

Understanding Kai’s intent perfectly, Mimic spread its wings and soared into the sky.

Then, Harley's horn, attached to its head, began to emit a powerful light as it looked down at Kai.

Ding!

[Sea Dragon Harley has cast Thunder Storm.]

At the same time, dozens of thunderbolts struck down. What they targeted was not Kai, but Mimic. Harley's intent was to prevent Kai from flying at all.

If Mimic gets reverse-summoned now, I’m literally done for.

Fighting an underwater battle against a Sea Dragon in this vast ocean was pure nonsense.

Thus, Kai pulled out an iron weapon exclusive to dullahans from his inventory.

Pzzzzt!

The sword, which served perfectly as a lightning rod, was scorched black and became unusable. Though it was a Unique-grade sword worth at least several million won, Kai discarded it without hesitation. In this urgent situation, even the time to put the sword back into the inventory felt like a waste.

Ugh, what is this damage?

Kai grimaced. His magic resistance was currently among the highest of all players, and that was possible by the title of the First Orc Sorcerer Hunter, along with the Skin of Magical Resistance skill. Believing in that, Kai had taken Harley's thunder attack head-on without hesitation.

One magic hit and I’ve only got 21% HP left?

It was truly terrifying offensive power!

“Sunlight’s Warmth!”

Of course, Kai’s HP was instantly restored to full with just two healing spells.

But this is too dangerous.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

He couldn’t afford to keep gambling like this. He had been lucky to survive just now, but luck wasn’t something he could count on twice.

I didn’t want to remove the three-piece relic set with its Holy Power boost and reduced consumption effects, but...

Kai mumbled, “Open inventory. Equip White Death Dragon Set.”

The number one blacksmith every major guild desperately wanted to recruit, Camilla the God Hand had crafted this ultimate armor set using the scales and bones of the Death Dragon Sineras!

The moment he equipped the White Death Dragon Set, the three-piece relic set effects disappeared. However, as if to compensate for that, new stats began to rise exponentially. Although the White Death Dragon Set equipment lacked options related to Holy Power, its defense and stat boosts were outstanding. And that wasn’t all.

Ding!

[You have equipped the White Death Dragon Set.]

[5-piece set effect: Contempt Against the Weak is activated.]

[5-piece set effect: +50 to all stats.]

[5-piece set effect: +10% to all speeds.]

“Nice.”

Though he could no longer use the Holy Power benefits from the relic set, his base damage had increased.

—Die! Arrogant human!

Dozens of thunderbolts rained down on Mimic again. Of course, Kai drew an iron sword from his inventory again and intercepted the attack with his body. In the end, Kai's gamble paid off.

“At this rate... I can do this.”

His remaining HP was at 54%, and he had become tough enough to withstand Harley's fierce attacks twice in a row without dying.

But I can't let it end like this.

Even with greatly increased defense, he couldn’t afford to take a defensive stance. It may have looked like Kai had taken control of the battle, but his mana was still insufficient.

—How could a human... withstand my attack... Wait, is that armor... made from dragon scales?

Harley, who recognized the materials of the White Death Dragon Set, became visibly taken aback. Though it was a created being, it was still a dragon, and it knew very well how terrifying and powerful dragons were.

—You're not someone I should underestimate.

Harley’s attacks became even fiercer. The thunder attacks came relentlessly, and several blasts of the pressurized water cannon also erupted from its mouth.

What is this shooting game...!

Kai gripped Mimic’s back tightly as he blocked the incoming attacks and dodged the ones he couldn’t avoid, and closed in on Harley.

Mimic, empowered with all kinds of buffs like Solaris Blessing and Haste, moved like a flash of light, dodging Harley’s relentless barrage of attacks.

This is close enough.

As soon as Harley entered his effective range, Kai carefully rose to stand on Mimic’s back.

“

Argh!

”

A powerful wind rocked his body, but he maintained balance with intense focus. From that position, Kai aimed the holy sword at Harley.

—

Goooooogh...!

Harley opened its mouth wide and prepared a blast of the pressurized water cannon. It was several times larger than the ones it had fired before.

However, Mimic trusted the master on its back, and charged toward Harley without hesitation.

“Sorry, but I’m running out of time.” Kai’s eyes sharpened with resolve. “Descent, Patrick.”

At that moment, an overwhelming light came from the holy sword.