Vol. 5 Ch. 32

Frequent earthquakes were certainly unusual.

Yet, some of the Sky City residents remained calm, as if they were already used to it.

“A floating city can have earthquakes?” Konstantin murmured under his breath.

Leon scanned their surroundings and replied in a low voice,

“They say the entire city is suspended in the air by the spatial magic crafted by the Twilight Tower. If these quakes are happening more often, could it be that old guy’s magic is failing?”

“That seems unlikely.”

Rosvisser, having landed safely with the two little dragon girls, chimed in,

“The magic keeping Sky City afloat should be a permanent spell, not a single-use one. In simpler terms, as long as the magic remains active and maintained regularly, it shouldn’t destabilize.”

Leon nodded in understanding.

“I see. But if it’s such a stable magic, why are these earthquakes happening so frequently lately?”

“Has this ever happened before?”

Rosvisser shook her head.

“Not in my memory.”

“Judging by how calm everyone is, the Tower Master has probably already explained it,” she added.

“Yeah, that’s probably the case.”

With the earthquake over, the group continued their stroll through the streets.

Rosvisser walked ahead with the two girls, while Leon and Konstantin lagged behind, engaged in a “serious man-to-man discussion.”

“Leon, it’s strange… Lately, I’ve been feeling…” Konstantin paused, rubbing his chest.

“It’s like there’s some inexplicable force stirring within me.”

Leon raised an eyebrow.

“Interesting. Is it the Primordial Force?”

“Though to be fair, the Primordial Force was something you gained long ago. Given its nature, it shouldn’t be fully compatible with your body.”

Konstantin shook his head.

“No, this isn’t the Primordial Force. That was overwhelming, distinct. This… this is much weaker, so faint that it’s almost imperceptible. Except—”

He stopped in his tracks, his crimson dragon eyes narrowing slightly as if he had just realized something.

Leon, noticing the pause, stopped a few steps ahead and turned to him.

“Except what?”

“Except when I approach Sky City,” Konstantin replied gravely.

Leon frowned slightly.

“You mean, this strange force within you becomes more pronounced the closer you get to Sky City?”

“Exactly. Although ‘more pronounced’ might be overstating it—it’s still faint, almost negligible. And it hasn’t affected my daily life in any way.”

Leon thought for a moment.

“When did you first notice this force?”

Konstantin recalled for a moment before responding with certainty.

“After I left the Empire’s control, it’s been there ever since.”

“So, it was already in your body before you gained the Primordial Force?”

“Yes. I’ve never mentioned it to anyone, but recently—especially today—when my clan and I were traveling to Sky City, the closer we got, the more I could feel its presence.”

Leon frowned deeper, lost in thought.

He wanted to suggest that it might be some subtle mechanism the Empire used when reconstructing Konstantin’s body, perhaps certain materials or energy they incorporated into his new form.

But Konstantin reiterated,

“When I’m near Sky City, this force becomes noticeably active.”

That left Leon stumped.

“Maybe the Empire’s low-level fusion techniques left some gaps,” Leon suggested half-heartedly.

Konstantin glanced at his right hand, clenched his fist, and said,

“When I get the chance, I need to study this new body of mine more thoroughly.”

Even now, the Red Flame Dragon King couldn’t let go of his grudge against the Empire for turning him into a stitched-together monstrosity.

Despite the fact that his new body, built from the best materials available, was far stronger than his original one, Konstantin’s pride as a Dragon King couldn’t accept such a foreign and artificial form. He would rather rely on his own body, tempered through countless trials, to reach even greater heights.

“I’ve been looking into the Empire’s fusion techniques myself. I’ll check their records when I return to the Empire and see if I can find anything that might help you,” Leon offered.

Konstantin blinked, then shifted his gaze to Hefei walking ahead before glancing at Muse.

“Your daughter was just born, and you’re already planning to leave the country?”

“It’s only for a short trip. I’ll be back before she even notices I’m gone,” Leon replied, looking at his youngest daughter with a fond smile.

The proud father’s face softened as he asked,

“Konstantin, how strong does someone have to be to ensure nothing they hold dear can ever be destroyed?”

“If anyone knows the answer to that, it’s you,” Konstantin replied solemnly.

“Ten years ago, I thought I was strong enough, but I nearly lost Hefei. So if you’re asking how strong one must be to protect everything they treasure—”

Konstantin looked Leon in the eye and continued,

“—my answer is this: one must always keep moving forward.”

“During our first fight, I told you that once you have a weakness, you’re no longer the strongest. That statement, applied to you now, is incomplete.”

Leon waited for the rest.

“You must become stronger than ‘the strongest.’” Konstantin’s eyes burned with conviction.

“Only then can you hold onto everything. If anyone can achieve that, it’s you, Leon.”

“Stronger than the strongest…”

Leon’s gaze drifted toward his wife and daughter walking ahead. His deep black eyes reflected their distant figures as he murmured to himself,

“What kind of state would that even be?”

A month later, Leon set off for the Flaming Valley.

His team had sent word that they had discovered a large number of dangerous creatures bearing Black Dragon Scales in the area, which suggested the Shadow Serpent’s secret base might be nearby.

Leon didn’t have much time to spend with Muse before leaving. All he told her was,

“Daddy has to go out for a bit, but I’ll be back soon.”

In the Silver Dragon Sanctuary’s front courtyard, the maid Milan held Muse as Leon bid his farewell.

“Be good and listen to your mom while I’m gone,” he instructed.

Muse waved her little hand from Milan’s arms and nodded seriously.

“Got it, Daddy. Come back soon and play me a new song!”

“Alright, I’ll come back as fast as I can.”

“Mm-hmm.”

After a brief pause, Muse added thoughtfully,

“But don’t rush too much, Daddy. Take care of everything you need to. As long as you’re back before my school entrance ceremony, it’s fine.”

Leon smiled at his clever little girl, already preparing for her future challenges.

“Alright, I promise I’ll be back before your ceremony.”

“Okay!”

“Daddy’s leaving now.”

“Bye, Daddy! Mommy, take care on the way!”

“Safe travels, Your Majesty. Hurry back once you’ve wrapped up.”

This time, Leon departed on the “Wife Express”—Rosvisser’s personal transportation.

They had agreed that after dropping him off, Rosvisser would return home.

Rosvisser had wanted to stay longer, but the Shadow’s mysterious and dangerous nature left her uneasy. Muse also needed her at home.

As much as Leon wanted her company, he prioritized her safety above all else.

Before parting, Leon promised her,

“If a boss fight starts, I’ll call you right away so we can take it on together.”

“Don’t leave me out of the big fights,” Rosvisser replied with a smirk.

With a powerful flap of her silver dragon wings, Rosvisser shot into the sky and disappeared into the horizon.