NOVEL NEXT Chapter 71
Chapter 71
"A dragonkin?"
Sieg turned around abruptly.
"Graaaaaaah!"
A massive demonic beast opened its gigantic maw and lunged towards Sieg's direction.
BOOM!
Sieg dodged quickly and brandished Bahamut.
He then aimed his sword at the enormous beast.
Whooosh!
A gigantic vortex began to emerge from Sieg's blade.
Elemental Sword: Energy of Water - Wave Blade
A massive tidal wave arose on the serene lakeside.
Whooosh!
The energy of the Wave Blade whirled and launched towards the colossal beast.
Blaaaargh!
Even within the water, the beast's roar resounded.
Sieg tightened his grip on his sword and charged toward the beast.
Woooong!
The surging aura blade slashed through the beast's tough scales.
Shhhk!
Sieg hadn't known it, but until now, the beast had never encountered a foe capable of penetrating its scales.
Feeling its first real pain, the beast opened its blood-red eyes and bared its maw towards Sieg.
Suddenly, a massive waterspout burst from within.
Whooosh!
The immense water pressure threatened to tear Sieg apart.
"Urgh!"
Sieg gritted his teeth to withstand the overwhelming water pressure.
If things continued like this, he would be at a significant disadvantage in battle.
At that moment, an idea struck him.
"Hersion!"
Sieg immediately activated the Hersion he had taken from Cain.
Clatter!
The previously shell-like Hersion unfurled into a full plate armor, enveloping Sieg entirely.
With the armor equipped, Sieg felt the reduction in the pressure's impact.
Now more agile, Sieg planted his feet on the riverbed and drew energy into Bahamut.
Woooong!
Curiously enough, wearing the Hersion while gathering energy significantly enhanced the strength at his blade's tip.
The powerful aura stormed forth as if creating a tempest.
Sieg aimed his sword at the beast.
Dragonslaying Art: True Dragon Sword Art - 8th Chapter, 1st Verse - Dragonscale Slash
A massive aura erupted from Sieg's sword.
The aura blade, which soared over ten meters high, flashed and struck the charging beast.
Screeech!
The beast, hit squarely by Sieg's Dragonscale Slash, momentarily halted its movements.
The strike then detonated.
BOOM!
Wracked with agony from the tearing pain, the beast screamed loudly.
Sieg did not miss this opportunity.
He positioned himself again.
Woooong!
The energy converged on his sword once more.
A massive vortex gathered around Bahamut.
Sieg directed the tip of his sword toward the beast's nape.
Focusing all his power on the sword tip, he launched his next attack.
Dragonslaying Art: True Dragon Sword Art - 8th Chapter, 3rd Verse - Dragonscale Pierce
An enormous energy coiled around Sieg's sword, transforming into a powerful spear hurled at the beast.
BOOM!
The gigantic spear formed from the aura blade pierced straight through the beast's body.
Thud!
The beast barely twisted to avoid a vital hit, but the immense force still cut its scales and tore its flesh.
Gradually retreating, the beast stumbled backward.
Thinking he had to finish it off here, Sieg pursued the beast.
And as it tried to flee, he utilized the Dragon's Claw skill from behind.
Shhhk!
The fierce dragon's claw slashed the beast's back.
Though the beast twisted and screamed, it did not stop fleeing.
Sieg rapidly chased it using his Swift Wind Technique.
Reaching close, he immediately thrust his sword into the beast's neck.
BOOM!
Using the power of metal, Sieg drove his sword deep into the beast's neck, forcing it to sink to the lake's bed.
Crash!
As the colossal beast sank, the soil rose upward, clouding the surroundings.
Sieg secured his vision using his Dragon Eyes skill and threatened the beast with his Dragon's Dignity.
Then, a message appeared before Sieg's eyes.
『You instilled fear in a dragonkin corrupted by the contaminated aura.』
『Unique Authority: Dragon Domination is triggered.』
『Would you like to subjugate the target dragonkin?』
Sieg recalled having previously subjugated a chimera created by the dark mage Gurav, turning it into his summoned creature.
"Could such a massive beast also be subjugated?"
The beast he had captured recently was merely devoured, granting him skills and wasn't a dragonkin.
Sieg debated whether to absorb the creature through consumption or attempt to subjugate it first.
"I'll try subjugating first, and if it doesn't work, I'll just devour it."
He decided to respond with affirmation to the message.
Woooong!
Unlike with the chimera, a symbol resembling a grand magic array emerged from Sieg's Ether Hall.
A grand magic array of similar design appeared around the beast's body.
Crackle!
Sparks flew from the magic array, and the demonic beast writhed in apparent agony, letting out a loud cry.
Screeeeech!
Surprisingly, the beast's appearance started to change bit by bit.
"What's happening?"
CRACK!
Like hardened clay peeling away, the black aura encasing the beast fell off.
Rumble!
Shedding the black aura revealed the beast's true appearance—not as a monstrous being but a mysterious, aura-laden dragonkin.
Once the black aura completely vanished, the magic array began to glow.
Rumble!
The light of the magic array dug into the dragonkin.
Shortly after, a message appeared.
『The contaminated energy that corrupted the dragonkin has been purified, restoring its former sanctity.』
『The dragonkin has been subjugated.』
『Would you like to assign a name to the subjugated dragonkin? It can be summoned at any time upon receiving a name.』
Sieg looked at the purified dragonkin.
What had seemed a perfect monster moments ago now appeared as a mystical being with iridescent blue scales after being freed from the malevolent aura.
After a brief contemplation, Sieg bestowed a name upon it.
"Nahuel."
He named it after the lake's name, Nahuel.
Nahuel seemed pleased with the name, raising its long neck and letting out a howl.
Rooaar!
Unlike when it had been a beast, its cry was now clear and mystical.
『You have acquired the spirit beast Nahuel.』
『Nahuel can only be summoned where there is water.』
Simultaneously, Nahuel's information surfaced.
―Nahuel Information―
Description: A spirit beast holding auspicious water energy.
Unique Ability: Can control water.
Special Feature: Was corrupted by contaminated energy just before becoming a divine beast. It can evolve into a divine beast if specific conditions are met.
"Possible to evolve into a divine beast?"
However, the specific conditions weren't provided.
Nahuel gracefully extended its neck towards Sieg.
Unlike Gurav, who openly displayed affection, Nahuel appeared quite dignified.
"Is it asking me to ride?"
Sieg pondered, and Nahuel, seeming to read his thoughts, nodded.
Bound to its summoner by the bonds of authority, a subjugated creature could communicate soulfully.
He climbed onto Nahuel's back.
Soon, Nahuel rapidly ascended to the lake's surface.
Swhooosh!
Nahuel parted the water, revealing itself on the lake.
Raaaar!
By the time the sun had risen, casting warm rays over the lake.
Sieg guided Nahuel towards the lakeside.
Upon reaching the shore, he gently stroked Nahuel's nape scales.
"From now on, take care of me, Nahuel."
Rumble!
Nahuel let out a prolonged cry before returning to the lake.
Unlike the chimera Gurav, Nahuel seemed to reside in this lake until summoned.
As Sieg stepped onto the shore, Felix, standing by, gaped at him in shock.
"M-Master, what exactly was that?"
Sieg replied, maintaining a composed demeanor.
"It was a demonic beast from the lake. Once the curse lifted, it changed into that."
"What? The curse lifted?"
"I don't fully understand it either. I'm starving, Felix. Prepare some food."
Although still bewildered, Felix followed Sieg's words, lighting a fire and preparing a meal.
Sieg examined the golden mask he had retrieved from beneath the lake while seated at the campsite.
"Hmm. The inscription on the forehead resembles the emblem of the Holy Kingdom."
Though the design and form differed from Felix's emblem of the Holy Kingdom, the basic structure was similar.
Recalling how Terakan Draker's relic had reacted to mana, Sieg fiddled with the mask.
He allowed some mana to flow into the mask.
Woooong!
Surprisingly, it reacted to the mana.
Sieg injected more mana into the mask.
A message then appeared.
『You have acquired a mask of ???.』
『Would you like to register as the mask's user?』
An interface similar to when he acquired Cain's Hersion appeared.
"This one also appears as a question mark."
According to Gelion, the Hersion Cain possessed was created before the golden age.
This mask might have been crafted in a similar era.
Harboring various curiosities, Sieg registered himself as the mask's user.
Subsequently, more message windows appeared continuously.
『You have been registered as a user of the mask.』
『Would you like to activate the mask's functions?』
The mask's functions remained unexplained, but Sieg opted for activation.
"Is it akin to Hersion?"
Upon making that choice, light began radiating intensely from the mask.
"What, what's happening?"
As it did beneath the lake, the mask emitted a powerful light.
Simultaneously, the mask unfolded, wrapping around Sieg's face and automatically wearing itself.
"What on earth is this!"
A message window then appeared once more.
『The mask's functions are being activated.』
『They are synchronizing with the Intermediate Administrator System.』
『Confirming the Immortal class.』
『The skill 'Purification' is activated.』
『The skill 'Purification' merges with the Immortal class to transform into the unique class-exclusive skill 'Great Purification'.』
『The function of 'Great Purification' synchronizes with the user's skill range-wide buff.』
『Determining the range of Great Purification.』
『Initiating the purification process of the contaminated energy eroding the land.』
Sieg was taken aback by the arising message.
"A unique class-exclusive skill?"
Woooong!
A colossal golden light burst forth from Sieg's body as he wore the mask.
"Ahhh!"
Preparing a meal, Felix was stunned seeing Sieg enveloped in the golden light with the mask on.
Abruptly, the golden light emanating from Sieg's body began to ripple out in waves.
Swiiiish!
The first thing the golden light touched was the sprawling thorny vines.
The clinging black dust fell away, transforming the thorny vines into beautiful rose bushes.
"Oh my."
Felix, and even Sieg himself, watched the transformation in awe.
As the golden waves spread, the once twisted and contorted trees also transformed into beautiful garden trees, while the thorn bushes turned into a vibrant rose garden.
Whoosh!
The black lake water turned clear, and the barren earth sprouted fresh green shoots, changing into a land brimming with life.
The spreading golden waves reached the castle.
A new message appeared simultaneously.
『Connecting to the administrator system of ???』
『Switching the mode of ???』
『Disabling emergency defense mode.』
Rumble!
Literally, the castle was changing.
The walls shifted, the towers forming the castle changed positions, and the huddled structure unfurled into a grand, majestic architecture.
"M-Master... Th-The, that, the castle...."
Felix, still astonished, struggled to form words as he witnessed the ominous ghostly castle morph into a beautiful castle with a rose garden.
The golden wave continued its expansion, transforming the entire hill on which the castle stood into a lush hill filled with roses and beautiful trees.
The purification process completed.
Clatter!
The golden mask detached from Sieg's face, reverting to its original state.
Sieg inspected the golden mask anew.
"What on earth is its true nature?"
That's when it happened.
Thudududu!
Something approached with incredible speed.
Mounted individuals were riding towards Sieg.
Felix, startled, drew his sword and assumed a defensive stance.
Sieg intervened to calm Felix.
"Relax, Felix. They aren't enemies."
Neeeigh!
Dismounting their giant steeds, the individuals approached Sieg and Felix.
They were burly, with stately physiques, all adorned in the fashion of old nobility.
Surprisingly, despite their large statures, they were all white-haired elders.
One of them approached Sieg and shouted.
"The prophecy has been fulfilled! The child with black pupils has restored the family!"
Following the elder's words, the others echoed.
"The child with black pupils!"
"The savior of the family!"
Felix, bewildered by the sudden appearance of the elders, inquired to Sieg.
"M-Master. W-Who are these people?"
Sieg addressed Felix with a nod.
"I greeted them earlier, didn't I?"
Felix, astonished, asked again.
"What? You mean, those ghosts earlier?"
"They were not ghosts; their condition worsened by a curse. Once the curse lifted, they reverted to their original appearance."
The elder standing in front approached Sieg and knelt on one knee.
Simultaneously, the other elders also knelt.
"I, Rufus Agamemnon, head of the Agamemnon family, present my gratitude to the savior of our house!"
"We present our gratitude!"
The other elders also voiced their gratitude loudly.
After a moment, Rufus Agamemnon stood up and approached Sieg.
Placing his sizable hand over Sieg's shoulder, he spoke earnestly.
"Sieg Draker! My grandson with black pupils! You have lifted our family's curse and saved us!"