Chapter 781
‘Look at where the Patriarch is...!? What's going on?’
Octavia couldn't understand what Beradin was saying, but an unsettling premonition pierced her mind like a knife.
Overwhelmed by the tremendous firepower imbued in Hroti, Octavia took a step back.
The fight between Beradin and Kadun began without Octavia being able to intervene.
Swoosh!
The firepower embedded in the staff instantly transformed into a massive fireball.
It was the Demon Empress Flame Orb Version 2, the great magic used by Kelliark during the Sword Emperor Castle war.
However, unlike before, Beradin did not transform into a form similar to Kelliark.
He was using an appearance similar to his younger self while employing Kelliark's magic.[Beradin, you're finally revealing your true colors...!]
Kadun shouted with wide eyes, as if he couldn't believe it.
It was hard to believe that Beradin would emit such power without any transformation, both in terms of releasing such immense mana and his intent to attack Kadun.
Moreover, Beradin didn't even rely on the aid of the Demon God Orb.
He unleashed the great magic spell with his own mana alone.
"That's something I should say, Kadun-nim. I should have realized earlier that you are no longer needed for the clan, or rather, that you have become a harmful presence."
Kadun gathered his strength and exhaled a breath with all his might. Unlike the breath that expanded like a lightning bolt, the colossal fireball similar to Version 2 burst from Kadun's mouth.
When the two fireballs collided, the remaining Magicians rushed to form protective shields in response to the resulting blast wave.
The sheer firepower unleashed by Beradin's Version 2 surpassed the Final Version.
Therefore, just like during the Sword Emperor Castle war, the best method to evade it was to find and cut off the mana flow.
Kadun, who also knew the secret like Jin, descended rapidly and lowered his altitude.
Due to the explosions of the fireballs, their movements were temporarily obscured.
However, during the moment he tried to release his mana to examine the flow of Version 2.
Unexpectedly, two lightning bolts struck Kadun from the sides, piercing him like spears.
Kadun could only recoil, wrapping his body with his wings in response to the unforeseen attack.
‘Damn it, I was so excited that I forgot about these bastards...!’
The Water Dragon of Itelmion, Tuyan, and the Earth Dragon of Rikta, Pinia, were the guardian dragons sent by Beradin to ambush Kadun.
[Tuyan, Pinia. You've grown a lot. Since the Young Patriarch has gone crazy, are you also going crazy? As guardians, it's your rightful duty to help the Young Patriarch make the right decisions.]
Tuyan and Pinia did not respond and approached Kadun, increasing the pressure on him.
It was a strange situation.
The two dragons' combat power surpassed Kadun's memory.
Initially, Tuyan and Pinia, as Kadun knew them, wouldn't be able to move properly at this level of fire.
However, the two dragons relentlessly attacked Kadun, enduring the flames all over their bodies.
[Kyaaaah!]
In an instant, Tuyan's sharp teeth pierced Kadun's tough scales.
Thud!, the flesh and scales of a body the size of a person fell to the ground, producing a heavy sound.
It was nothing less than the sound of Kadun's honor and status plummeting.
After all, the symbolic meaning Kadun held in Zipple was the "strongest force."
Despite forgetting the existence of the Guardian Dragons and letting his guard down, Kadun was being repelled so easily.
Not even a minute had passed since the battle began.
Octavia was also surprised. She didn't expect Kadun to be repelled so easily.
Of course, the fight wasn't over yet.
However, Beradin amplified the flames of Version 2 and spoke in a chilling voice.
"Do you still want to continue? Just so you know, I have no qualms about killing you, Kadun-nim. If you choose to surrender now, I will think about how I can use that arrogant body and strength for the good of the clan."
[Shut up!]
"Well, I guess... there's something you believe in, so you won't stop. But even that will turn out to be a mistake, and you'll realize it soon."
[What nonsense are you saying...!]
"By the way, why is Captain Spectre watching silently? Or do you need more time to reflect on which side to choose?"
Octavia cringed at making eye contact with Beradin.
She felt an indescribable sense of fear.
"That's..."
"The other Magicians have already completed their preparations for an attack."
As Octavia looked around, she saw the Magicians of the First Tower, the Tower of Stories, setting up protective barriers and preparing their magic spells.
The Magicians stationed at Zipple's First Magic Tower, the Tower of Stories, were all exceptional individuals with powers exceeding White Night.
Many retired members of the Spectres and prominent members of collateral families were among them.
In Octavia's opinion, their loyalty should have been more inclined towards Kadun than the excessively authoritarian Young Patriarch. Especially the retired members of the Spectres, who prioritized their orders over those of the Young Patriarch.
However, they all moved without the slightest hesitation, ready to follow Beradin's leadership and attack Kadun.
And everyone's pupils were glowing white.
Octavia briefly speculated on the reason they had become so blindly obedient.
‘Large-scale mind manipulation...!?’
Although she had never witnessed such dark magic firsthand, she felt it intuitively.
Beradin was manipulating the Magicians like puppets through mind manipulation.
Beradin spoke with his eyes: ‘The reason I didn't use this magic on you is my final consideration.’
"Mind manipulation is a privilege of Zipple, not just an individual privilege, Captain Spectre. So there's no need to be surprised. Now, please move quickly. We must finish Kadun-nim as soon as possible."
Beradin gestured as if urging her to move forward.
Ultimately, Octavia had no choice but to channel mana into her staff and confront Kadun. Kadun, already immobilized on the ground by the two dragons, was still struggling to retaliate.
‘...Forgive me, Kadun-nim. At this point, I can't disobey the Young Patriarch's orders.’
For now, she had to follow Beradin's words and attack Kadun.
After that, she had to find a way to keep Kadun alive and wait for Kelliark to return.
If the Patriarch returned, this madness would surely be resolved in the right way.
There was still no significant reaction from the top floor of the tower.
As Octavia began weaving her light magic, Kadun became even more enraged and let out a thunderous roar.
[Octavia Zipple! So, you too obey the orders of that little madman. Today, the glory of Zipple, which has lasted for thousands of years, has been reduced to nothing!]
As Octavia and the Magicians joined the battle, Kadun became even more desperate, barely managing to defend himself.
The empty battlefield echoed only with his furious roar.
And so, about ten minutes passed.
Kadun, once the strongest of the fire dragons, finally slammed his head against the ground, his entire body shattered like a torn rug.
His wheezing breaths produced a metallic sound, his wings were half-torn and spread out, and the ground was covered in pools of blood he had spilled.
On the other hand, Beradin didn't suffer any significant damage.
While Tuyan and Pinia sustained injuries, they would recover to their peak strength in a few days.
In the first place, even without Beradin's abilities, it was impossible for Kadun to attack the Tower of Stories alone and achieve victory.
"If the Magicians had rebelled and followed Kadun-nim, the outcome might have been slightly different, but how boring. Have you been mocking me with such weak power?"
Beradin lightly tapped Kadun's forehead with his staff as he spoke.
It was a scene of humiliation beyond words.
[Beradin…]
"I have given you numerous opportunities to correct your mistakes, Kadun-nim."
[Why... Why are you doing this to me? Is it all because I expressed my displeasure towards you?!]
"Well, that's one of the reasons, but there's more. You really have a thick face. Your body has sustained significant damage, making it unsuitable to keep you alive and use. It's time to say goodbye. Would you like to leave any last words?"
[When I die, Kelliark and Sheenu... will kill you... argh!]
Kadun's voice faded, and he let out a cry of pain.
Beradin's staff was gradually piercing Kadun's forehead.
The Magicians, now restored to their senses, showed no reaction, but Octavia's heart was suffocating, on the verge of madness.
"Young Patriarch! While Kadun-nim's injuries may be deep, once they are treated, there should be no problem for him to fight for the clan's cause again. Today, Kadun-nim must have learned many lessons, so you must stop now! For the sake of the Patriarch and Sheenu...!"
Thud!
Beradin's staff pierced through Kadun's forehead.
Thick blood seeped along the staff.
"No!"
The moment Octavia screamed.
Suddenly, from somewhere, an unsettling vibration began, resonating through the sky and the earth.
It was the Tower of Stories.
The vibration originated from the top floor, where Kelliark's life support device was located.
Kwaaaang...!
In an instant, the top floor of the tower exploded.
Amidst her despair, Octavia turned around and looked towards the tower.
‘This... This energy...!’
It was the Patriarch's energy, Kelliark Zipple.
However, that energy emitted a slightly different atmosphere from Octavia's memories.
It was filled with an unmistakable malicious and black energy flowing from the Tower of Stories.
It was Chaos.
Along with the flames that symbolized Kelliark, a horrifying chaos similar to the Evil God was already enveloping the sky above the First Tower.
"Young Patriarch, what the hell is going on...? How could the Patriarch..."
Moreover, Chaos began to emanate from Kadun, who had just expired.
Beradin took a step back with Octavia and deployed a protective shield.
"Until now, the fire dragon Kadun had been amplifying my father's chaotic energy. I don't know his intentions, but I judged that he would never bring anything good to our clan."
"No, that can't be! Kadun-nim would never do such a thing!"
"Look, when Kadun's life was about to end, didn't my father immediately become enraged? As difficult as it is to accept, this is the reality our clan faced. It means that both the roots and the pillars were rotten."
Grrrr!
With clear hostility, Kelliark let out a roar.
Revealed through the rubble of the shattered top floor, Kelliark had a grotesque appearance, like the Evil God.
Behind Octavia, Kadun spread his wings once more.
The Magicians formed their ranks, and Tuyan and Pinia took their places on either side of Beradin, preparing for battle.
"If Kadun's sinister plan had been completed as scheduled, we wouldn't have been able to handle my father."
"Young Patriarch, don't tell me... What do you plan to do with the Patriarch!?"
In response to Octavia's question, Beradin replied without hesitation.
"We have to kill him. Fortunately, before Father becomes another Evil God, I have the opportunity today to grant him eternal rest myself."
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