Vol. 3 Ch. 64

In the Empire’s Fusion Laboratory, a sprawling underground facility, the top members of the Royal Sorcerer’s Guild gathered alongside the Empire’s Chief Steward, Erland, ready to witness a historic moment.

“Lord Erland, I assure you, this iteration of the fusion process is more refined than ever,” one of the sorcerers said with confidence.

Erland stood with hands clasped behind his back, staring blankly at the massive dragon-headed creature suspended in a large incubation chamber.

Without a word, he let the sorcerer continue.

“This time, we selected compatible dangerous species with high compatibility with dragon physiology, so both the magical abilities and physical coordination of this creation far exceed those of our initial attempt.”

Erland wasn’t as knowledgeable in magic as the professional sorcerers, but even he could tell that this version of Konstantin looked far more “dragon-like” than the previous grotesque mishmash.

Seeing that Erland’s expression remained stern, the sorcerer, sensing what he most cared about, added, “My lord, this reborn Konstantin will be the Empire’s strongest living weapon.”

*Strongest.*

For a brief moment, Erland’s cold mask shifted.

Just a few years ago, the Empire had once held the “strongest” man.

During the bloodiest days of the Human-Dragon War, he had single-handedly broken the deadlock, tilting the scales of victory for humanity for the first time.

No one denied his power, though everyone feared his terrifying strength.

People had thought the war would soon end with that man crushing all opposition.

But…

The Empire didn’t want—or rather, couldn’t allow—the war to end so quickly.

The conflict wasn’t about races; it was merely a grand, intricate game.

And that man was an unruly piece on the board.

He killed the previous Konstantin before Erland, symbolizing the entrance of a third player into this game.

Erland had been ordered to eliminate him, but after all these years, that man was still alive and well.

A fact that infuriated him.

Recalling those memories softened Erland’s rigid expression ever so slightly.

Sensing his reaction, the sorcerer added eagerly, “My lord, the reborn Konstantin will surpass even Leon Cosmod.”

The man’s name was like a bitter pill lodged in Erland’s throat. He would never speak it so lightly himself.

Fortunately, the sorcerer had said it for him. Erland turned slowly, his tone laced with displeasure.

“I recall that your last fusion attempt was also aimed at killing Leon, wasn’t it? And what was the result?”

“Not only did Leon survive, but he also destroyed every Heartscale we had.”

It was Erland’s greatest shame.

A lifetime of acquiring Heartscales, painstakingly hoarded, only for that damned Cosmod to blow them all up.

The king had nearly had Erland executed when he learned of it, and if not for Queen Elizabeth pleading on his behalf, Erland would have been exiled to some godforsaken corner of the empire by now.

The sorcerer stammered, “Last time was… unforeseen. Who would have thought that scoundrel Leon would hide Thunder Magic inside the Heartscales—”

“Enough, I don’t want any more excuses,” Erland cut him off, raising a hand. “Without Heartscales, are you sure Konstantin’s power will surpass the previous attempt?”

“We’re certain, my lord, because this time, we used the Primordial Force.”

“For dragons, it’s like an ancestral treasure, impossible to resist.”

Erland replied, “The Primordial Force is one of the Empire’s rarest resources, and the ‘Dagger Trio’ has already begun fusing with it. If Konstantin fails again, the Empire won’t spare more Primordial Force for a third try. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my lord.” The sorcerer bowed.

Erland exhaled deeply, turning his gaze back to the tank.

Inside, the dragon-headed beast kept its eyes closed as bubbles rose rhythmically in the liquid.

The sorcerers moved around, adjusting spells and materials.

After a while, Erland’s patience wore thin.

“When will it be finished?”

Although he had put a lot of pressure on the sorcerers, Erland still had high hopes for Konstantin.

Or rather, he was “betting” on him.

He had staked every high-value resource in the Empire on Konstantin.

All his Heartscales were gone, and now he had wagered the remaining Primordial Force.

If this failed, not even Queen Elizabeth could save him.

Power always came with risk, and Erland knew this well after spending half his life in the royal court.

The saying “serving a king is like serving a tiger” was something he understood better than most.

But even if it meant risking everything, he couldn’t imagine giving up his power to live as an ordinary man.

Power was a tantalizing thing, one that countless people fought over.

“My lord, it’s almost ready!” one of the sorcerers said excitedly.

Erland snapped back to reality, looking up.

The creature in the tank was slowly opening its eyes.

The sorcerers cheered, brimming with excitement.

“Konstantin… is awakening!”

“A masterpiece, greater than any known being!”

“Come forth, Konstantin. Awaken, and let the world hear your roar!”

With the opening of his eyes, a fierce aura spread from Konstantin.

Erland stared into his eyes, where fury seemed ready to burst forth.

Meanwhile, the Primordial Force began moving across Konstantin’s body like streams of water.

It slowly pieced the new body together, fully integrating it.

“Yes! The Primordial Force is taking effect!” one sorcerer shouted.

“It’s almost complete!”

The lab erupted with cheers, and Erland, swept up in the moment, stepped forward, raising his trembling hands in anticipation.

“Rise again!—Konstantin!”

Suddenly, bubbles in the incubation tank began churning violently.

A powerful energy radiated from within, spreading outward.

*Crack! Crack!*

Two sharp sounds rang out as fissures appeared on the tank’s outer wall.

Liquid started to seep through the cracks.

Erland’s elated expression froze as he stepped back, quickly asking, “What’s happening? Is this normal?”

The sorcerer swallowed hard. “I… I don’t know, my lord! Someone! Was this part of the plan?!”

A nearby sorcerer replied in a loud, crisp voice, “No, my teacher, it wasn’t!”

Sorcerer: ?

Erland: ?

*What the hell!*

Before Erland could explode in anger, a massive burst shattered the tank.

The dark green liquid spilled onto the floor.

And the dragon-headed beast slowly raised its right leg, stepping out of the tank.

Its massive frame filled the cavernous lab.

“Has it… lost control?!”

“Why isn’t Konstantin calming down as planned?!”

Many sorcerers panicked, screaming and scattering.

The senior sorcerer beside Erland forced himself to remain calm, ordering, “Activate the backup suppression array! Quickly!”

For such an important and dangerous experiment, the professionals had naturally prepared safeguards.

Upon hearing the command, the chaotic sorcerers scrambled to activate the array.

A crimson light glowed beneath Konstantin’s feet, forming an invisible cage.

He roared, trying to break free.

But his newly fused body was still incomplete, with much of his strength trapped within.

He started to howl, his dragon’s roar deafening.

One young sorcerer sneered, narrowing his eyes. “Pointless fury! He thinks he can escape the array? Dream on!”

The suppression array was strong, and Konstantin wasn’t fully in control of his new body yet, so the crisis should…

Be under control, right?

The array compressed further, limiting Konstantin’s remaining space.

As he was nearly forced back into the containment chamber, he continued to roar defiantly.

“Why is he still resisting?”

“Stop struggling and submit! Become the Empire’s weapon!”

The sorcerers began celebrating prematurely.

But the senior sorcerer remained silent.

He frowned, murmuring, “Something’s off about Konstantin’s roar…”

Erland glanced at him. “What do you mean?”

“It doesn’t sound like anger or resistance… it sounds more like… a call.”

“A call? What could he be calling for?”

As soon as Erland spoke, the ground began to shake violently.

“What the hell now?!” Erland cursed.

The next moment, the underground laboratory started collapsing, rocks falling everywhere.

The sorcerers, trying to avoid debris, couldn’t maintain the array’s stability.

If this continued, Konstantin would break free again!

But… that wasn’t the worst of it.

Amid the chaos, a massive iron-blue figure with wings burst through the rubble, scattering the sorcerers in all directions.

“That’s… Feir?! The Ironwing Dragon King, Feir?! Why is he here?!”

Hiding in a safe corner, Erland stared in shock at the dragon form of Feir.

The senior sorcerer finally understood.

“Konstantin’s roar… he was calling for Feir… my lord, this isn’t an accident.”

“What?”

“They planned this from the beginning… it’s their strategy!”

Too late, Erland realized the truth.

Without the sorcerers maintaining it, the suppression array was effortlessly shattered by Feir.

He quickly approached Konstantin, who raised his right hand and grasped Feir’s claw.

With Feir’s iron-blue wings spread wide, the two of them burst from the underground lab, heading straight into the dark night sky.

Under the full moon, the fires of vengeance burned once more.