Chapter 67 - Chapter 10: Breakthrough #5 (2/2)
“It is really reckless. This might be obvious but be careful.”
“Don’t worry.”
In-gong replied with a laugh then looked at Karma when she spoke.
”I wish Your Highness luck.”
”Come back safely.”
Carack was as blunt as always, but that bluntness made In-gong feel comfortable this time.
“I’ll be right back.”
In-gong responded lightly before using Protection of the Wind. Right now, what he needed weren't explosive movements but agile and quiet ones.
In-gong looked at the mini-map and divided the battlefield in two.
One was the battleground where the dungeon guardians and the third party were together.
The other was where the dungeon guardians were behind the black dragon, Partizan.
In-gong’s destination was the body of Partizan.
'I have to take Ascalon.’
The most important purpose of attacking Thunderdoom Fortress was to secure Ascalon.
If he could secure Arkaroola, he could take advantage of the flow of the battlefield.
If the dungeon guardians won, he wouldn’t have to fight. If the third party won, he would wipe out the remnants. If the third party won by a narrow margin, he would fight. However, if that didn’t happen, he could just withdraw. At the very least, he could make them seem like dogs chasing after chickens.
In-gong moved his body quickly. The sound of the highest ranked guardian’s thunderbolts covered any sound In-gong made.
In-gong zigzagged and took cover as he advanced until he eventually reached Partizan’s body. Involuntarily, he swallowed his saliva.
Not only was he enormous, the colour of Partizan’s body was so vivid that it didn’t seem like he died hundreds of years ago. He seemed like he was alive and moving.
Obviously, he couldn’t be compared to an elder dragon who had the grandeur of a mountain. However, he discovered why the word ‘dragon’ could cause fear.
In-gong calmed his heart and climbed aboard Partizan’s body. As he arrived at the chest area, he found the top of Ascalon.
Ascalon wasn’t a simple spear. Rather, the end was closer to a ballista arrow or a giant lance.
In-gong grabbed the handle of Ascalon without thinking.
Simple muscle strength was needed. Instead of invoking Dragon Blood which could potentially stimulate Ascalon, In-gong gritted his teeth and concentrated his aura on both arms. He also invested some additional points into strength.
There was the sound of thunder. The screams of the third party shook the central plaza. Among all the noise, In-gong swallowed a groan. At least, the spear was lifted and Ascalon started to show its appearance.
A white spear. Despite being embedded in the body of a dragon for a long time, it had maintained its pristine beauty.
There were complex golden patterns carved on it. It was a spell to attack a dragon, the core of the dragon slayer series.
In-gong grabbed the spear length instead of the handle and pulled using the last of his strength. He liberated Ascalon from the body of Partizan.
Felicia and Karma exclaimed breathlessly while Carack looked at the battlefield with nervous eyes.
[Ascalon]
[A masterpiece of the Dragon Slayer series]
[A huge spear that destroyed the heart of the black dragon Partizan. It contains all the grudges and anger of the dwarves of Thunderdoom Fortress.
Instead of looking at the options, In-gong hurriedly moved from Partizan’s chest. It was because he sensed an abnormality when Ascalon was pulled out.
‘Master!’
In-gong remained silent as Green Wind shouted loudly. Instead of answering, In-gong placed Ascalon in the inventory. He would worry about making excuses to Felicia later. The important thing was acquiring Ascalon safely.
Kwakakaka!
The sound wasn’t due to the highest ranked guardian’s thunder. It was coming from the black dragon, Partizan. Partizan’s body, which had been preserved for hundreds of years, was finally liberated. The flesh faded and the bones weakened like it suddenly experienced hundreds of years. Partizan’s body crumpled with a roar and the gaze of everyone on the battlefield turned toward In-gong.
The highest ranked dungeon guardian panicked. No, it fell into confusion. Partizan’s body had collapsed and Ascalon disappeared. So, what should it do now?
The answer was fixed. The highest ranked dungeon guardian thought simply instead of making it too complicated. It started hammering at any intruders in front of it, but its target was more the third party who were nearby than In-gong.
The reaction of the third party was somewhat different.
Some of them shouted frantically while others pierced through the gaps in the defences, caused by the highest ranked guardian going crazy. Those who escaped the battlefield rushed toward In-gong.
In-gong decided quickly. He didn’t know that Partizan’s body would collapse in that way. If he had known, he would have planned something else.
Anyhow, the water had already been spilled and it wasn’t a bad situation. Ascalon was secured and the dungeon guardians’ priority were the third party. Moreover, some of the people were lured over, so he didn’t need to head over to the main battlefield which involved the dungeon guardians and 3rd party.
“Greenie! Continue the operation!” (TL: In-gong actually calls out the first syllable of both parts of her name, aka Gre Wi, so I just made up a nickname for it,)
‘That nickname is too much! My name is Green Wind!’
Green Wind protested but followed In-gong’s orders faithfully. White Eagle spread out its metal plates like wings and flew near In-gong’s feet. In-gong climbed aboard White Eagle and felt like he was riding a skateboard.
“Fly!”
'Heavy! Master!’
Green Wind whined again but she still followed the commands faithfully. White Eagle flew toward the ceiling while carrying In-gong.
The enemies arrived too late and threw arrows or weapons at him, but it was useless. White Eagle moved effortlessly when it encountered a barrier or avoided any attacks.
Felicia and Karma were bewildered by the unexpected sight while Carack shouted. It was a warning, not in admiration.
”Prince! Watch out! Those guys are doing something!”
In-gong looked back. Not all of the enemies were chasing In-gong.
A few of them were standing in the wreckage of Partizan. They stabbed the chests of the dead, causing blood to flow toward a large gem that they were standing around.
In-gong felt something ominous, but their behaviour was faster. Those guys stabbed themselves in the heart with the end of the gem. At that moment, a blue aura exploded and covered Partizan’s entire body.
Kiaaaaaaah!
The roar shook all of them. The highest rated guardian stopped fighting while the third party felt a mix of horror and joy.
Partizan's body stood up. The dragon was resurrected. He had lost all his supreme intelligence and magic powers, but he was still a mighty monster.
Zombie dragon.
The blue energy covering Partizan’s body turned purple.