Vol. 5 Ch. 111

As Leon had said, although Shadow, having absorbed the power of chaos and primordial energy, had transformed into a false god and gained Tiamat’s strength, he had lost the speed and reflexive advantages he once possessed.

This gave Leon and Mevis an opportunity to engage him in close combat.

Furthermore, this was the only way for them to gradually deplete Shadow’s health.

After all, judging by the overwhelming magic strength Shadow had demonstrated earlier, engaging him in a magic duel would result in their defeat within just a few exchanges.

Father and daughter charged forward again, attacking Shadow from both sides. Their strikes rained down on him like a relentless storm.

At the beginning of this assault, Shadow attempted to spar with them, but after a few exchanges, he clearly realized that he couldn’t maintain an advantage in terms of speed.

Moreover, even the most skilled fighter couldn’t match the seamless coordination of two attackers. The synergy between Leon and Mevis was so flawless that Shadow felt as though he was facing a single, unified warrior.

Realizing this, Shadow quickly disengaged, putting some distance between himself and his opponents.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze landing on Mevis. Shadow stood upright and said,

“You’re working so well together… Mevis, you must have been collaborating with Leon for quite some time, haven’t you?”

“No, our first cooperation was just a few months ago during the academy’s outdoor assessment. Our opponent was a giant butterfly—far less of a challenge than you.”

Although her words sounded absurd, they were entirely true.

Even General Leon, one of the involved parties, didn’t know how to refute her.

But Mevis—who would become his eldest daughter in the future—spoke in a style reminiscent of himself from a few years ago.

No matter how formidable the enemy, she could still crack a joke.

Compared to the current Noa, the future Mevis had indeed grown much more open and cheerful.

Shadow frowned. “I’m starting to become curious about your true goal. You served me for so many years, yet it seems it was never about saving your family, was it?”

Hearing this, Mevis slowly raised her hand, gently placing her palm over her chest. Her tone grew serious as she said,

“Like all those who have suffered the horrors of war, such things dwell deep within the hearts of both humans and dragons. It is a crystallization of profound fear and wields the power to defy fate itself. However, I am also well aware that it does not possess the ability to bring the dead back to life.”

Shadow raised an eyebrow with interest and asked,

“Since you knew this from the beginning, why use saving your family as an excuse to infiltrate my side?”

Mevis shook her head, lowering her hand as primordial energy surged around her.

“Saving my family was never an excuse or a reason, because—”

She tightened her stance, and a wave of primordial magic erupted, her white pupils fixed firmly on the enemy before her. Her voice was resolute, her words deliberate,

“It truly is why I came here!”

After this brief exchange, the second round of combat began.

“They can’t give Shadow any time to breathe.”

In Leon’s current state, he wasn’t suited for a prolonged battle.

They had to finish this quickly.

Shadow continued to widen the gap between them, attempting to deal with them using magical bombardments.

But no matter how he maneuvered, Leon and Mevis relentlessly pursued him, closing the distance with incredible speed.

“I didn’t expect that after fusing two powers, my body would become so sluggish—” Shadow muttered while fending off the pair’s relentless storm of attacks.

“And Mevis, to see you using primordial energy so adeptly on your fists and legs—truly impressive.”

“And you, Leon. Do you have infinite stamina or something? By all rights, you should already be collapsing from exhaustion, so why are you still fighting so fiercely?”

Under normal circumstances, primordial energy functions as a source of power, similar to how steam powers a train. The energy provides momentum, while the train uses tracks (magical circuits) to reach its destination.

But what Shadow hadn’t anticipated was Mevis’s ability to apply this energy directly to her physical attacks.

It was as if the steam engine no longer needed wheels to run—it could move on its own.

This style of combat was indeed more effective than trading spells.

Imagine each of your normal attacks carrying true damage at the cost of burning a portion of your stamina—

But fortunately, the dragon ancestor residing within you could continuously replenish your strength.

And, of course, Leon Casmod was the key point—

A teammate who would never fall until the enemy did.

Thus, the current scenario could be likened to this:

An entity dealing true damage with every basic attack, constantly regenerating health and mana, paired with a crowd-controlling, all-rounded warrior still in perfect condition. Together, they faced off against a high-damage, high-attack opponent with low accuracy and slow movement speed.

Mevis: “Brother, party up?”

Noa: “Joined the party lobby.”

Leon: “Joined the party lobby.”

Shadow: “???”

“If this continues, I’m going to be drained to death by these two… I need a plan,” Shadow thought grimly.

“The prince and that Mevis are actually gaining the upper hand?” the Tower Master remarked, evaluating the scene.

The other Dragon Kings were equally shocked.

“Isn’t that Shadow, imbued with the power of the Dragon God Tiamat? In theory, if he wanted, he could destroy an entire Sky City with ease.”

Yet now, Shadow was being relentlessly pressured by Leon and Mevis, unable to retaliate effectively.

“I think… it’s because Shadow is still unfamiliar with the Dragon God’s power,” Claudia commented. “It’s like watching someone struggle to spin a top—they have the strength, but they don’t know how to use it properly. Shadow’s situation is no different.”

Odin narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the battlefield. After a moment, he spoke slowly,

“Based on Ultimate Fear’s behavior, Shadow’s adaptability and learning ability are incredibly fast. In just a few minutes, he has already adjusted to Leon and Mevis’s attack patterns. Soon, it will be his turn to counterattack.”

Odin’s combat experience surpassed everyone else’s on the field, and his keen insight saw what others could not.

Shadow was adapting—not just to the Dragon God’s power, but also to the strategies of Leon and Mevis.

Even though Shadow lacked speed and reflexes, the Dragon God’s power granted him enough tolerance to learn and improve.

The battle was no longer just between the two sides—it was now a race against time.

Shadow had to master his newfound power and find a breakthrough before he was defeated, while Leon and Mevis needed to finish him off as quickly as possible.

Noa clenched her tiny fists, her nails digging into her palms. She bit her lip and watched the battle intently, whispering,

“Come on… you have to win… you must.”

“I must admit, your performance has exceeded my expectations.”

Shadow, despite facing the relentless assault of the father-daughter duo, now appeared calm and even spoke with a hint of amusement.

“I originally thought that with the Dragon God’s power, no one in this world could stop me. But your stubborn resistance is truly impressive and… a pleasant surprise.

“Unfortunately, you’ve missed your golden opportunity to kill me.”

Shadow’s expression darkened as he continued,

“I have now fully adapted to Tiamat’s power. So now—it's my turn.”

Mevis stomped the ground and leaped forward, her fist charged with primordial energy as she aimed straight for Shadow’s face.

“Enough with the empty boasts!”

Smack!—

Her punch was caught effortlessly by Shadow.

Mevis froze in shock but quickly attempted to withdraw her hand.

However, as she tried to pull back, she realized with horror that her primordial energy was being siphoned little by little into Shadow.

“H-How is this possible?”

“No matter how skilled you are at wielding primordial energy, in the end, that power originates from Tiamat, doesn’t it?”

Shadow’s grip tightened on Mevis’s wrist as he continued to absorb her energy.

“Only now have I fully learned how to wield the Dragon God’s might. Any attack you throw at me will simply become my nourishment.”

"As for you—"

Shadow slowly turned his head, looking at Leon as he charged toward him.

"I can't even find the right words to describe you. You're as tenacious as something far beyond human."

"Let her go!"

Leon shouted, his voice low and commanding as he activated the sixth gate and lunged at Shadow's chest.

But just as Leon was about to land his blow, an enormous surge of primordial energy exploded from within Shadow, forming a shockwave that blasted Leon and the surrounding rubble into the air. The nearby streets cracked under the sheer force.

Shadow, still gripping Mevis’s wrist, flung her violently in the direction Leon had been hurled.

Father and daughter collided mid-air before crashing into a pile of ruins together.

"Are you okay, Dad?"

During the crash, Leon had cushioned Mevis's fall, so as soon as they landed, Mevis scrambled to check her father's injuries.

Leon shook his head, his body battered, as he tried to use the Sixth Gate: Reverse Life Radiance to heal himself, but he no longer had the stamina to activate it.

Leaning back against a crumbling wall, he panted heavily and said,

"My magic and stamina are completely drained. I can only manage one more round. We need to create an opportunity—one that allows us to take Shadow out with a single, decisive strike."

Gripping the Thundercloud Blade behind him, Leon glanced at Shadow, who was slowly approaching.

"Mevis, can you use the Radiant Aurora Seal to immobilize him? Even just for an instant?"

Mevis turned toward Shadow, biting her lip hesitantly.

"I can, but like you said, I’ll need an opening."

"Even though Shadow's reaction speed can’t keep up with us, the openings he leaves behind are still incredibly small..."

She hesitated before continuing, "And Mom’s magic is completely depleted. She can’t join the fight anymore."

Hearing this, Leon gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

"That’s... not great news."

"Have you finished planning?"

Shadow’s voice interrupted them as he closed the remaining distance.

"If you’re done, it’s time for you to depart."

The moment the words left his mouth, Leon and Mevis launched a simultaneous surprise attack.

But this time, Shadow was ready.

As they moved, a wall of shadows rose from the ground beneath their feet.

This shadow wall, however, was different from the ones before.

While Leon and Mevis’s initial attacks passed through it, their strikes were abruptly halted midway, as though caught in a trap.

With their movements locked, Shadow casually approached.

Extending his hands, he seized Leon and Mevis by their throats, lifting them off the ground.

He gazed at Mevis for a moment, then shifted his attention to Leon, sneering coldly.

"So, now I have the two heroes of the Leon Continent who were supposed to save it from the shadows. With just a flick of my wrist, neither of you will ever rise again."

"This has truly been... a memorable battle. When I ascend to the throne of this world, I will look back on this moment fondly."

"Let them go!"

Several figures suddenly landed around Shadow, encircling him tightly.

The Dragon Kings, extracting the last remnants of their magic, began shrinking the perimeter around him step by step.

"Oh? With the state you’re all in, it’s a miracle you can even stand. And yet you think you can rescue anyone from me?"

Shadow's gaze swept across the Dragon Kings, his tone dripping with disdain.

"Don’t worry. After I kill them, I’ll deal with each and every one of you. One. By. One."

"The threats here are neutralized."

"So are mine."

"What about Rebecca? Rebecca, where are you?"

"Rebecca?? Martin, where is she?"

"Over here!"

Martin and Nacho rushed after Rebecca, following her up to the top of a tall building. When they arrived, they found Rebecca assembling a specially designed sniper rifle.

Her face was tense, and her hands trembled slightly as she worked, fumbling several times to piece the weapon together.

Noticing Rebecca’s unusual state, Martin stepped forward and asked,

"What’s going on, Rebecca?"

Rebecca didn’t say anything, nor did she stop assembling the rifle. Instead, she handed Martin a pair of binoculars.

Martin took the binoculars and scanned the distant side of Sky City. What he saw made his breath hitch.

There, surrounded by the Dragon Kings, Shadow stood gripping the necks of Leon and an unfamiliar woman.

Martin muttered in disbelief,

"How did the captain end up like this…?"

"That enemy is incredibly strong," Rebecca said in a low, steady voice as she continued working on the rifle.

"I saw the captain decapitate something called Ultimate Fear, but the battle didn’t end there."

"Then Shadow... it’s like he went berserk, overpowering the captain completely."

"And now, with the sister-in-law there, we’re all completely exhausted. The only ones who can provide support... are us."

Nacho hesitated, lowering his head nervously.

"But if Shadow can suppress the captain and all the Dragon Kings, what can we possibly do?"

"That’s why I prepared this in advance."

Click.

Rebecca finished assembling the rifle, a massive weapon almost as tall as herself.

Nacho, still uncertain, said,

"Even enchanted bullets won’t work, right? We’ve already seen some of those creatures resist our enchanted rounds. Let alone Shadow—"

"Which is why I’ll use..."

Rebecca pulled a pure white bullet from her pocket.

"This."

"Is that...?" Martin pointed at the bullet.

"The pendant the Silver Dragon King gave you, turned into a bullet?"

Rebecca nodded.

"The woman beside the captain has been attacking Shadow with primordial magic. I think Shadow might be vulnerable to it. This bullet—it should work on him."

She loaded the bullet into the rifle’s chamber and added,

"Shadow may have gained incredible power, but his reaction speed has noticeably slowed. That means there’s a good chance he won’t be able to dodge this shot."

After a pause, Rebecca continued,

"But I only have one shot. If I miss..."

She didn’t finish the sentence, but her expression was grim as she pressed her cheek against the rifle stock. Her cyan eyes appeared calm, but underneath, waves of turmoil raged.

Rebecca forced herself to steady her breathing, repeating silently in her mind:

Treat this as just another shot. Just a regular shot.

But the more she tried to convince herself, the more her hands trembled.

She spent over thirty seconds aiming, unable to summon the courage to pull the trigger.

Taking a deep breath, Rebecca lowered her head, as if trying to regain her composure.

Martin, understanding the immense pressure Rebecca was under, crouched beside her. Gently placing a hand on her trembling shoulder, he said softly,

"I’m scared too, Martin. My hands are shaking...

If I miss, the captain and his wife... they’re finished."

"Maybe even the entire Samael Continent will fall."

The weight of the responsibility had come crashing down on Rebecca too suddenly. She had never imagined that her single bullet could become the pivot upon which the entire battle turned.

"I’ve missed before, Martin. And every time, you were all there to back me up, to cover for me—"

"But now... my hands are so cold... I can’t even measure the wind speed properly—"

"Martin, I’m terrified, I—"

"I’ll pull the trigger for you, Rebecca."

"W-what?"

Martin lay beside her, aligning himself with the rifle. Reaching over, he gently held Rebecca’s icy, trembling hands in his own.

He gazed warmly at her, smiling as he said,

"You aim. I’ll shoot. How about that?"

Their eyes met, and in that moment, no further words were needed.

Rebecca bit her lip and nodded firmly.

"Alright. On my command."

"Got it."

Rebecca repositioned herself, adjusting the rifle’s aim while feeling the airflow and humidity around them.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

They could hear each other’s heartbeats, steady and heavy.

In the faint currents of air, it felt as though countless invisible threads were intertwining. Among them, Rebecca found the one perfect trajectory to hit Shadow.

A Single, Perfect Shot.

This was the only chance. No one could cover for her anymore.

“Now, Martin!”

Bang!

Martin pulled the trigger, and flames erupted from the muzzle.

The bullet, crafted from pure primordial crystal, spun as it tore through the air, piercing the darkness and cutting through the haze. It carried the collective will of humanity, traversing the vast and scarred streets, slicing through shadows and dust, and passing between Leon and Mevis—heading straight for Shadow’s brow.

Shadow sensed the ambush a split second before it landed and moved to evade.

The bullet, which should have struck his forehead, instead grazed his ear.

“Damn it! How could the Dragon God’s body be harmed by a human bullet?!”

“Now, Mevis! This is our chance!”

In the fleeting moment when Shadow was distracted by the bullet, Mevis summoned the last reserves of her primordial energy. She conjured four fiery orbs, suspending them above Shadow’s head.

Primordial Magic: Sealing Art – Radiant Woodlight!

Boom!

The orbs converged, enveloping Shadow in a blinding explosion. In that instant, Shadow’s grip on Leon and Mevis loosened, and they fell to the ground.

As soon as her feet hit the earth, Mevis shouted,

“Now, Dad!”

Leon gripped the Thundercloud Blade, assuming a stance for a Iaido Slash.

At the same time, a crimson aura of bloodlust began to rise from his body.

Ninth Gate: Night Lightning!

Leon channeled the power of all nine gates into the Thundercloud Blade. Even though his Heart-Guarding Dragon Scale hadn’t fully recovered, he forced himself to endure the backlash of the ninth gate.

Truthfully, he didn’t know if his body could handle it. But if they missed this opportunity, it would all be over.

Swish!

Leon became a streak of blue light, like a razor-sharp blade slicing straight toward the false god.

“Leon… You have to win. You must!”

“Dad, you can do it. I know you can!”

“Go, kid. Take all our hopes with you.”

“Before the sun rises… kill him!”

Boom!

The seal of Radiant Aurora shattered as Shadow broke free. He roared at the charging Leon,

“Why won’t you just give up and die, Leon Casmod?!”

Thunder flashed before Shadow’s eyes, and in that blinding light, he saw the unwavering determination in Leon’s gaze.

“In the name of humanity, and for all living beings of Samael—

I will defeat you.”

The Thundercloud Blade slashed through, the brilliance of the attack illuminating Shadow’s chest as blood sprayed into the air. A black and a white dragon scale slowly disintegrated from his chest.

Thud.

Shadow’s body collapsed to the ground, his blood pooling around him, soaking into the earth and his torn clothes.

Before his vision faded completely, Shadow saw Leon standing beside him.

“You’ve lost, Shadow.”

“Is that so…? So this is… what death feels like?”

His voice remained hoarse, even as his strength waned.

Shadow slowly closed his eyes, whispering,

“The last of the Clear Dragons has fallen. Samael will soon welcome… a ruler from another world.”

“What—”

Shadow’s breathing ceased. His schemes and ambitions were buried alongside him, vanishing before the dawn.

Mevis stared at Shadow’s lifeless body, lying in a pool of blood, and murmured,

“Thank goodness… Dad.”

As she spoke, her vision darkened, and she began to collapse forward.

But in the next moment, Mevis felt someone catch her.

Opening her eyes, she found herself leaning against a familiar black suit of armor.

Leon, one hand gripping the hilt of the Thundercloud Blade for support, hoisted Mevis onto his back, cradling her legs with his other arm. His back was as dependable as ever.

Resting against her father’s shoulder, Mevis whispered weakly into his ear,

“This time, I didn’t let you down, Dad.”

“You’ve never let me down, Noa.”

The sun slowly rose over the distant horizon, its first rays dispersing the shadows over Sky City.

The Dragon Kings stood atop the highest ruin, gazing out at the devastated city.

“There’s going to be a lot of rebuilding to do, Timothy,” Morgan said.

“At least this time, we don’t have to worry about some monster suddenly waking up beneath our feet,” the Tower Master replied with a smile.

The group chatted casually, savoring the cool breeze of dawn.

Constantine stood behind them, looking slightly out of place. Leon and Mevis had walked ahead, and no one seemed to speak to him. His only companion was Adam’s hammer, resting beside him.

As Constantine was about to bid farewell to the Dragon Kings, a familiar voice called out from the distance.

“Father! Father! We won!”

Constantine froze, then slowly turned around.

In the golden light of dawn, a small figure waved her arms, running through the rubble toward him.

“Hefei…”

Hefei threw herself into her father’s arms, hugging him tightly.

“Uncle Leon said yesterday that if Sky City was still standing at sunrise, I could ask Sherry to bring me up to see you.”

“Leon…”

Holding his daughter, Constantine glanced at Leon, who had already turned away. He couldn’t help but laugh softly.

“Thank you.”

With Hefei in his arms, Constantine walked to the highest point of the ruins and pointed to the rising sun.

“I told you, Hefei, all goodbyes are only temporary—”

Nestled in her father’s embrace, Hefei’s dark eyes reflected the fiery red sunrise.

“One day, at another dawn, we will reunite.”