Chapter 501: The One that Became a Demigod


    Duke Yerett, the Sword Master of Lumae Kingdom, was the one leading the 20,000 monster corps and the knights, who were of course the elite knights of Lumae Kingdom, riding on top of the monsters. Duke Yerett might be hailed as just a Sword Master, but his level was far higher than that. His strength and abilities were more than enough to lead the 20,000 strong troops.


    He was also one of Lumae Kingdom and King Raldo’s loyalists. But this time, he decided to join hands with Prince Votto. It was mainly because he knew that King Raldo’s mysterious illness was very difficult to cure. This meant that their kingdom would most likely be targeted and devoured by the other kingdoms. He made the decision because he wanted to protect the kingdom that His Majesty Raldo and the people had established.


    With those thoughts in mind, Duke Yerett ordered the advance of the troops toward the Baroque Kingdom. At first, he could not believe what was in front of him, but there was no denying what he saw.


    <em>Shwaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—</em>


    The being soaring in the skies of the capital of Baroque Kingdom was none other than ck Dragon Vormon.


    “This, this… what…?!”


    “What the hell?!”


    “Kihyeeeeeee!”


    “Kyaaaaaaack!”


    “Grrrrrrrrack!”


    The wyverns that dominated the skies, the drakes, and ogres running rampant on the ground and the elite knights of Lumae Kingdom were all forced to trace back their steps.


    Duke Yerett thought that this was just a lie, <em>‘The Food God killed ck Dragon Vormon in the Continent Cloud.’</em>


    “This is obviously an illusion! Don’t be afraid!” Duke Yerett, with full confidence, ordered the advance once again. But then, at that moment, a tremendous force gathered at the mouth of ck Dragon Vormon.


    “…?!”


    The tremendous force, which was none other than the ‘Dragon’s Breath’, shot toward their troops. The dark, pitch-ck Dragon’s Breath turned more than a thousand of the advancing monsters and knights into ashes. The same was true for the dragons that were with them.


    “Bl, ck Dragon Vormon’s Breath…?!”


    “That force, that power!!! It’s real…!”


    “How, how could this be…?!”


    Then, words spread from one knight to another.


    “Is it really true that the guardians that died in the Continent Cloud will be revived?”


    “Are you telling me that includes the monsters?”


    <em>Murmur, murmur, murmur—</em>


    This absurd story began to circte among the monster corps. Duke Yerett could not deny it since they were truly hit by the Dragon’s Breath.


    “Re, retreat!!!”


    “Retreat! We have to retreat!!!”


    “Retreat! Quickly!”


    It did not matter to them as to what reason ck Dragon Vormon helped the Baroque Kingdom. All they knew was that they could not handle any attack sent by ck Dragon Vormon. They needed strategies and tactics based on what the dragons might have said. So, they quickly began to retreat.


    Meanwhile, Genie, who was looking at everything, smiled, <em>‘Phew. I think I lost ten years of my life there.’</em>


    The guardians would not die in the Continent Cloud. Did that include the monsters too? This might be the case if they were Named NPCS. However, based on Genie’s investigations, Vormon had truly fallen into an eternal rest after being killed by Minhyuk.


    That was right. The ck Dragon Vormon that was flying in the skies right now was not ‘real’. He was none other than a ‘painting’.


    The Painter’s Tower’s Tower Master Elise had an amazing skill called ‘Turning Painting to Reality’. The painting that she drew, just like any other artwork, artifact or dish, would be graded and the higher the grade of the painting, the more realistic and more pronounced the object would be once it materialized. Fortunately, the ‘ck Dragon’ that Elise had painted was a legendary grade painting.


    As for ck Dragon Vormon’s Dragon’s Breath, it was created by the ‘Supreme Divine Beast’ Beanie. Supreme Divine Beast Beanie was one of the top contributors that yed the biggest part in hunting ck Dragon Vormon. He obtained a skill named ‘Predator’s Authority’, a skill that had reached MAX for a brief moment during their Vormon hunt and had turned back to ‘Level 1’.


    However, even though it might be weaker than back then, Beanie’s Predator Authority’s first chapter allowed him to use the skills and power of the being that he predated back in the past.


    The Turning Painting to Reality’s creation followed the instructions of their painter and since it was just a painting, Beanie was able to hide within it. Beanie stationed himself in ck Dragon Vormon’s head and watched the situation. He shot out a Dragon’s Breath through his Predator’s Authority once the head moved as if it was going to release a breath.


    They also purposely made use of some gossip mongers among the monster corps to spread words about the ‘Continent Cloud’ system and make them believe that it was real.


    Seeing everything unfold sessfully, Genie could not help but be in awe.


    <em>‘Jarrod…’</em>


    The one that devised these tactics and strategies was none other than Jarrod.


    “Hoo~ That’s amazing…”


    “How…”


    Even the kings that stayed to watch a y could not help but be amazed at the situation that the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom had created.


    Then, Genie, whose lips were twisting into a smirk, said, “Are you satisfied now, Your Majesty Lloyd?”


    <em>Gulp—</em>


    King Lloyd could not retort. He belittled the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom for being a small country. In fact, he had evenughed at the production ss people that Genie brought with her. But, at this moment, he realized that the only ones that could help them was this small nation, the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.


    “Shall we have a cup of coffee?”


    “If Your Majesty agrees with us then I might think about it and have a sip with you,” Genie said. Her charm, an arrogance that knew no bounds, was on full disy.


    ***


    Dragon Elder Vch hoped that the new Lord that would rece the previous Dragon Lord, which had fallen into eternal rest, would not be a disaster, but a dragon that would want the best for the world.


    Akhan contacted Vch after the Dragon Lord’s egg had been stolen from Dragon Bracard’sir. He said that someone from Beyond the Heavens Kingdom had stolen the egg to raise the dragon and turn it into a Dragon of Destruction.


    Hearing that, the dragons were left with no choice. Even if they had to be burdened by a huge 30% decrease in power as a penalty, they decided to cross over to another continent and retrieve the stolen egg.


    Akhan, who was standing right next to Elder Vch, said, “The Lord will be arriving safely soon.”


    “That’s a relief.”


    Akhan was not really that surprised to learn that most of the people that he sent to the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom had been wiped out. It was still within his expectations. Only those from the Lumae Kingdom had believed too much in themselves. At least there was one thing that they seeded in doing, they were able to take away the hatchling and were even able to take the Food God’s aide as an added bonus.


    In this ce, 10,000 soldiers and 2,000 elite knights from Lumae Kingdom had gathered under Akhan. He was also leading around 20,000 monsters in his monster corps. Once the hatchling was taken out of the picture, Akhan, together with Elder Vch, would begin unleashing judgment on the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. The dragons were an arrogant and prideful race, they would surely not leave the ones that stole their Lord alone.


    But then, Akhan heard that ck Dragon Vormon had suddenly appeared in the capital of Baroque Kingdom and that his troops had retreated to watch the situation.


    “I believe I have to go to Baroque Kingdom for a moment. It seems like something went wrong there.”


    <em>Swoosh—</em>


    Akhan turned into smoke and disappeared.


    <em>‘He’s a man that you can’t readily believe.’</em>


    Vch might have followed Akhan''s words here, but he was no fool. He did not trust the words of Akhanpletely.


    Then, Renzie, the Warrior’s Disciple, appeared on horseback. He was raised and taught by Lumae Kingdom’s Overlord, Raldo, and was said to be the next generation right after Lumae Kingdom’s King Raldo, the kingdom’s absolute ruler. Renzie finally came to a halt in front of the 10,000 strong troops.


    <em>‘Finally…!’</em> Dragon Elder Vch’s heart was pounding in excitement. The birth of their Great One would determine if the whole world would be brought into the darkness of despair or the light of hope.


    <em>‘As long as they are not walking the path to destruction yet.’</em>


    Once the Lord was born to the world, its existence and what it would grow to be would depend on the things that it would hear, see and experience. Vch wondered what existence it had be now as he slowly approached them.


    “Who’s the woman?”


    After hearing Vch’s dignified voice, Renzie replied, “She’s the aide to the King of the Beyond the Heavens kingdom.”


    “A person that serves the king of the kingdom that stole the Lord should be killed. I can’t let any dirty blood contaminate the Lord any longer than this.”


    In the first ce, dragons were arrogant beings that did not take the lives of humans seriously. Renzie immediately dropped the woman from the horse.


    “Kyaaaaa!”


    Then, Renzie peeled off the cloth that covered Haze’s face. The moment the cover was removed, Haze looked at Renzie with a fierce and spiteful gaze.


    “Ho?”


    Renzie felt curious. The woman in front of him was just shy of twenty years, yet she was not afraid and was asking them to spare her life. In fact, Haze never intended to beg them for her life. Doing so would mean that she was tarnishing the honor and interest of her king and friend, Minhyuk. Besides, she had already experienced a new life thanks to Minhyuk. She would not regret losing this life for him. It was just…


    “Keep your hands off of Luna!” Haze shouted coldly,pletely ignoring the fact that her life would beid to waste here and unaware that the dragons were here to protect their Lord.


    “Weren’t you the ones that touched it first?” Renzie said as he unsheathed his sword.


    Haze red at the de of the sword that shone brightly under the rays of the sun. However, she could not hide the tremble that shook her core as she murmured, “For His Majesty… Minhyuk…”


    Renzie struck down his sword. Soon, Haze’s head would roll on the ground and dye the ground red. But then, at that moment…


    <em>Piiiing—</em>


    A spear suddenly flew and struck Renzie''s sword.


    <em>aaaaang!</em>


    <em>Piiing—</em>


    Renzie, the Warrior’s Disciple, felt his arm shake violently from the impact of the spear on his sword. Then, the red ruby ne that was hanging on the spear suddenly shone brightly.


    <em>[Red Ruby’s Tear’s artifact effect has been triggered.]</em>


    <em>[For ten minutes, those that had received the Red Ruby’s Tear’s protection effect would be unconditionally protected.]</em>


    <em>[For ten minutes, those that had received the Red Ruby’s Tear’s protection effect would not be able to move.]</em>


    Then, a red aura appeared and covered Haze’s body.


    <em>‘What the hell?’</em>


    In the continent, those that could use aura could only be counted in one’s hand. It was said that Warrior’s Disciple Renzie was among the top. Although he was not as good as the Overlord, his strength and power had already reached the point where people said that he could surpass Sword Emperor Ellie in the future.


    But his sword was stopped, just like that?


    “Who is it?!”


    “Who dared to strike at Sir Renzie’s sword…?!”


    “Show yourself, bastard!”


    All of their eyes turned toward the direction where the spear came from. There, they saw a ck-haired veteran sweeping his hair back and tying it tightly before grabbing another spear. His aura and momentum as he sat on his ck horse was so fearsome that the monsters and knights that were standing in front of him stepped back unknowingly.


    “Ha…!”


    “It’s just one bastard?”


    “And it’s even an old man to boot?”


    The tension in everyone’s body dispersed as they sighed in relief. The veteran red sharply as he surveyed the thousands of enemy troops in front of him. Then, he took a bandage and wrapped it around his hands. In fact, he had already wrapped his body in bandages while he was chasing after Haze and Luna. The old man was already prepared to give his life here as he urged the horse with his shins.


    “Hiyaaaa!”


    <em>Clop, clop, clop, clop, clop—</em>


    The old man raised his spear high up in the sky as he ran with his horse. The knights and monsters immediately flocked to where he was to stop his advance.


    Seeing this scene, Renzie could not help but burst out inughter, <em>‘He’s just a single old man, what can he even do…?’</em>


    When the thought appeared in Renzie’s head…


    “Aaaaaaaack!”


    “Urrrrrrrrrrk!”


    “Uwaaaaaaack!”


    “Keuaaaaaaaack!”


    Screams rang loudly as the soldiers and monsters that blocked the old man’s path got swept away.


    <em>sh, sh, sh, sh, sh, sh—</em>


    The old man quickly pierced through the hearts of his enemies as he rushed forward at a fierce momentum. This charging old man was none other than the personal barista of King Minhyuk, the legendary Ghost Spear, Ben.