In reality, Lock was aware that he wasn't completely in his right mind.
"Hehe."
He couldn't help but laugh. He felt an overwhelming power throughout his entire body. He couldn't contain it. This was undoubtedly due to the Sacred Object, the Howl of the Sunset. It was thanks to the divine power that had remained within him. And this power was a one-time use. It had not been granted to him forever. Even so, Lock couldn't stop laughing. Because he had realized something.
'This is my future.'
Lock was seeing a glimpse of the future he could reach if he became stronger.
'Ah.'
How could he hide this euphoria? This blue force enveloping him wasn't divine. It was the future of a strengthened Lock.
The Beast People can't handle either mana or aura.
'Then, what is this blue force enveloping me?'
Choi Han. It must be similar to the black aura of my hyung.
Chiiiii---
The sound of something burning reached Lock's ears.
Ryan. His blue glow was like the blue at the heart of a burning flame.
In contrast, Lock's blue light was a bit more transparent. It reminded him of the sky clearing at dawn, just before morning. It was a dark yet bright blue at the same time.
If Ryan's seemed fiery, Lock's seemed cold. And when those two blue glows clashed...
Chiiiii----
They devoured each other as they burned. White vapor rose between them.
That's why...
"Damned inferior wolf!"
Ryan the Dragon was furious. Because Lock was unharmed. Lock's blue force was not being overpowered by Ryan's.
"That's mine!"
Ryan's eyes were bloodshot.
"Are you mocking me with a power that's not even yours, but the God's?"
Lock laughed.
"Ha."
He simply couldn't help but laugh. Yes, thanks to the God's power, he wasn't being overpowered. Even so, Lock had something to say.
'This is my future.'
The Blue Wolf was showing a part of the future when Lock would have fully grown. Even this power wasn't his limit.
'I see the path.'
Lock remembered what Choi Han had said. When he asked what the black aura was, Choi Han responded.
'It's the path. The path I've walked. Or perhaps, it could be the story.'
He thought he understood its meaning. Or maybe, it was something different?
Lock could see the path he should follow. That's why, unconsciously, he said to the enraged Dragon:
"I'm not weak."
Lock understood his infinite possibilities.
"Damn you!"
Ryan threw another punch.
Boom!
Bam!
Fist after fist collided.
Bang!
Ryan's knee struck Lock's abdomen, but he blocked it with his hand, twisting his body and countering with a kick.
Boom!
Bang!
In a matter of seconds, Lock and Ryan were clashing at an astonishing speed.
"This damned...!"
Ryan's blue force grew more intense. The God's power. Let's say that blue glow is the God's power. His mana could be overwhelmed by that power.
But then...
Why?
'Why is he being overpowered?'
A Dragon has the largest body. Therefore, it should also have the greatest strength. Even compared to Whales, on land, a Dragon's physical superiority couldn't be matched by them. But then...
'I'm in Rage state!'
Even though his mana wasn't completely out of control, his physical strength was at its peak.
'Kuh!'
And, moreover, it hurt. That meant the young wolf's punches were stronger than his.
"How dare you!"
How dare a Beast People...
He should be under my dominion!
He has beast blood!
"How dare you try to defeat me...!"
Boom!
Ryan's blue glow exploded like a volcano.
Ssss...
And began to spread around him.
"Everyone, bow before me!"
I have dominion!
Ryan's eyes saw only Lock. And with his Dragon's Rage, the 'Dominating' Attribute extended to its maximum.
He wanted that young wolf to submit to his dominion.
That was his strong will, released in Rage state, willing to sacrifice even his life.
"Kill them all!"
He shouted, looking at Lock.
"Kill them all!"
He yelled at the beasts, at everyone who heard his orders. Using all the power of his Attribute.
"Kill them all!"
Bam!
A massive wave spread everywhere.
Lock felt his body numb from the great blue wave spreading. He felt the desire to dominate others from that power. But there was something deeply sinister in it.
"Pathetic."
Lock said something he normally wouldn't. Yes, he was out of his mind. Even though his body was numb and he felt the powerful dominating energy overwhelming him, Lock managed to say it.
"What...?"
When Ryan's face distorted to the point of being unrecognizable while looking only at Lock, he spoke again.
"...Our Young Master isn't like that."
That's why he said it.
"You're an incomplete Dragon."
"You, you...!"
Ryan, unable to contain his fury, couldn't even articulate words.
"Kill him!"
That was all he could say. And he himself launched at Lock.
"!"
At that moment, he felt something strange. No, it wasn't just a feeling. A chilling sensation ran through his entire body. Ryan stopped and saw something.
"......"
The blue wave that was expanding in all directions stopped. Instead, a chilling sensation approached Ryan. The blue wave was retracting. He looked down. His subordinates had already been captured or were fleeing in terror.
And the beasts weren't looking at Ryan. They were looking at the young wolf before them. Even the Beast People who were fleeing stopped. The Beast People of fierce races like wolves, tigers, and lions approached with stunned expressions. Their gazes directed at Lock.
"Oh, my god..."
"The Blue Wolf...!"
On their faces were hope and euphoria, joy and anticipation. Also...
'Reverence.'
Yes, it was a reverence Ryan had never received. The Beast People had never looked at him that way. Sure, they were steeped in fear, but they had never shown such reverence as to forget fleeing and return.
The beasts weren't crying. Ryan, who thought that a beast that doesn't cry or fight is useless, found it chilling to see so many beasts just observing silently.
Why do I feel so chilly?
Why, why...
'Why do I feel fear?'
He didn't understand it.
"!"
Then, an immense energy enveloped him. Ryan understood why the blue wave had stopped. Behind the wolf was the red-haired man smiling as he watched.
"...That wasn't everything?"
The immense energy that guy had used initially, the energy reminiscent of the Ancient Dragon, wasn't all he had?
Cale simply smiled, enveloped in a Dominating Aura. No matter how much he used it, it didn't affect his capacity.
"......"
Ryan was speechless. His attempt to become a God had failed. His Attribute had been blocked.
In the end, the only path in his Rage was to kill that young wolf and die as well. But, could he kill that young wolf?
'...That human, his energy is divine.'
Could I avoid that guy and kill the wolf?
"Damn it...!"
It didn't seem possible. He felt he couldn't even kill that young wolf and that he would die.
All possibilities were blocked.
He now had no future. He couldn't even take proper revenge.
It was a feeling of emptiness.
Only one path lay before him. Only one future was possible for him.
'Am I really going to die...?'
Thinking that it didn't matter to die in his rage, he had entered the Rage State. But, would he really die?
'Me...?'
The great me?
Ryan's pupils trembled.
"!"
Lock took advantage of his moment of weakness and launched at him. Ryan hastily raised his arm.
"Kuh!"
He managed to block it, but couldn't suppress the groan that escaped his mouth. His blue mana was diminishing. And another fist flew towards him.
Bang! Boom!
He blocked it, but another blow came immediately.
"Damn it!"
When he managed to throw a faster punch...
Boom!
Lock grabbed him. And pulled that fist. With the other hand, he grabbed him by the neck.
Boom!
Lock headbutted him.
"Gah!"
Ryan, who hadn't anticipated such an attack, threw his head back. Drops of blood flew from his nose. And his body was pushed back.
"Ugh, ugh."
Ryan tried to regain his balance, but his vision was blurry. Lock observed him and realized.
'He's scared.'
And he understood.
'He's thinking of running away.'
This Dragon was thinking of escaping. Lock, who had never fled, even when he had curled up in fear as a child, realized something.
'This guy wanted to be a God?'
He intended to dominate the Beast People?
Ridiculous. Totally ridiculous. And rage surged within him. How many had died because of this pathetic Dragon.
Lock threw a punch.
Smack!
Smack! Smack!
He hit and hit the stunned Ryan again. This was the first time Lock had hit someone like this. But the rage didn't dissipate.
"Ahhh!"
"Graah!"
Because, among the rising gray ashes, the laments of the Beast People who had died could be heard. Lock felt like crying. How many had died because of this pathetic and despicable Dragon?
What does it matter to be a God?
What does it matter?
"Aaaaah!"
Lock couldn't contain his rage and continued hitting Ryan without rest.
The blue mana was diminishing.
Ryan knew perfectly well why Lock was doing this.
"Trying to run away?"
The pupil of Ryan, who was being hit, trembled at Lock's question.
"Are you scared?"
Lock shouted.
"Die. Die! Run like a madman!"
Then, in a low voice, he added. It was similar to a wolf's howl full of fury.
"You can't, can you? Look. You don't have the courage for that."
Ryan's eyes widened. The young wolf was looking down at him. He despised him. Just as he looked at other creatures. Even so, Ryan was thinking.
‘I have to run away.’
To survive, he had to flee. That's why he was trying to control his mana again somehow.
Boom! Boom, boom!
But it wasn't easy. He couldn't stop the out-of-control Dragon Heart. Despite that, Ryan tried. He believed his talent was the second-best among the Dragons of this world.
Thump!
But when his heart gave a big jump...
"!"
Ryan realized he couldn't do anything. Lock, who was holding him, felt his hands trembling. Because Ryan's body was shaking. Lock could feel the gigantic energy swirling inside Ryan's body. Normally he wouldn't have noticed, but now, future Lock was strong enough to feel that energy.
"Lock, get away! That guy is a time bomb!"
He heard Raon's voice.
"The mana of the Dragon Heart is out of control, and that's not all!"
At that moment, the 2-Star Dragon, Epley, who was fighting with Eruhaben, quickly retreated and laughed.
"Ha, ha! Once the source's binding is released, there's no way to stop it. Ryan will die now. Even if he wants to flee, he won't be able to."
Ryan had consumed too much Source of the World. And that essence, thanks to the out-of-control Dragon Heart, had loosened its bindings and didn't obey Ryan's will.
Boom, boom, boom!
"He's a time bomb. Now everything will blow up."
Epley spoke while laughing.
"The Dragon Heart exploding along with the Source of the World! I can't miss this spectacle!"
She seemed to be enjoying it, as if she was watching a new experiment subject.
"You, you—"
Ryan looked at Epley with fury, but...
"Ugh!"
He couldn't continue speaking.
Ssssss---
The blue mana burst forth again. He felt his whole body hot. It was as if he had become a flame. He felt dizzy.
Dragon's Rage.
Ryan twisted his body, something that was unworthy of the name Dragon's Rage.
"Ugh, ugh!"
It's hot! It hurts! He felt like his body was going to explode. He hadn't heard that Dragon's Rage was like this. At least he thought he would turn to ashes and die grandly. Although he was trying to flee, he didn't think he would explode so painfully and pathetically.
‘Time bomb?’
Is my death just that? At least he thought his death would be something impressive and terrifying, that would leave a mark on the entire continent. While those thoughts occupied his mind, Ryan finally spoke.
"Sa, Save me—"
He didn't want to die. He was scared. It hurt. He couldn't die like this. He was too grand for that.
Sssss---
Ryan extended his hand.
"Lock, let him go!"
Despite his companion's shouts, the wolf continued holding him. Ryan grabbed Lock's hands that were holding him by the neck and spoke.
"Lo, I'm sorry. Save me."
He didn't want to die.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The mana around him started fluctuating and exploding irregularly. The air distorted.
Ssss-
Smoke started to rise. Ryan's body turned bright red. Anyone could see he was about to explode.
"Ugh, ugh."
It was getting harder for him to speak. So he stretched his hands desperately and grabbed Lock.
"Lo, I'm sorry—"
Yes, everyone can make mistakes, right? And it's not that big, right?
Ryan really thought he was going to die soon. He looked at Lock desperately, and Lock frowned.
"...Yes. I can't let you die like this." (Note: Haha, Lock reminds me of Gohan in the battle with Cell)
"Lock!"
Raon shouted.
"Ha, ha, ha! Too kind!"
"Shut up, cowardly Dragon!"
"Ha, ha, ha!"
Epley easily blocked Eruhaben's attack. In her field of vision, Lock was approaching Cale. She smiled and moved her fingers.
Snap~
At the moment her fingers joined.
"Aaahhh!"
Ryan suddenly had a seizure. Epley, who was smiling, stopped. Two pairs of eyes watched the scene. The Ancient Dragon and the red-haired man.
"That Dragon is going to die."
Eruhaben spoke calmly.
"He's about to explode."
Cale spoke as Epley smiled wider.
"Come on, run away! Don't waste time catching me."
She gestured to the Black Mage, who was dodging Choi Han's attacks with difficulty. Seeing the signal, the Black Mage quickly headed toward her.
"Juju."
As they raised a shield to protect themselves and struggled to maintain it, she planned to escape with this Chimera. She had enjoyed the show quite a bit. A soft smile appeared on Epley's face.
‘Ah, but that young Dragon seems a bit special.’
A Black Dragon with a peculiar smell. She wanted to dissect him. Maybe she could create a new Chimera. While Epley licked her lips.
Crack.
Finally, the bomb started to break. Ryan's body began to crack.
"Lock!"
Raon called Lock again, and Lock bit his lips before looking at Cale.
"Throw him."
Cale looked at Epley and spoke those two words.
"Ha, ha, ha!"
Epley laughed. Did they think throwing Ryan upwards would prevent the explosion? It didn't seem so.
"Ugh, ugh—"
Crack.
Ryan's cracked body shook his head, looking at Lock.
"......"
Without saying anything, Lock threw him into the air. The contempt in that gesture made Ryan feel furious, aggrieved, and on the verge of tears.
Sss---
Ascending, toward the night sky, Ryan's body cut through the air. He felt his damaged body, unable to even feel the wind, and the tears kept flowing. To die like this? It was too unfair.
"I don't want to die...!"
When he finally let out a cry similar to a roar.
Crack, crack—
His chest opened.
Woooo---
The heart, wrapped in blue light and strange colors, was revealed. An entity of concentrated energy. Epley, the Dragon, licked her lips at the sight.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Eruhaben attacked Epley again.
"Oh? Do you have time for this?"
The Ancient Dragon responded indifferently.
"Do you?"
"Eh?"
Cale was unfolding a map. He already knew, but.
"Here?"
He pointed to a small island in the middle of the sea.
The 2-Star Dragon, Epley. Unlike the other Dragons, it was said she enjoyed being alone, not leading any group.
"I've memorized the coordinates!"
There was a reason why Raon urged Lock to throw him quickly. Cale touched the island with his finger.
"Shall we send him?"
To Raon's question, Cale nodded.
"Yes. Send him."
Epley's eyes widened.
‘It can't be!’
When she saw the black dragon's magic, she moved hurriedly without realizing it.
Bang!
But the Ancient Dragon blocked her way. A moment before, he had heard Raon's voice.
-Goldie Gramps! Why would we run away? Why would we be responsible for a bomb? Let's send him.
The Dragons of 1, 2, and 3 Stars. Their locations were known due to their fame. Unlike the Dragon Lord, whose location was only partially known.
Woooo---
The black magic formed a teleportation circle. The magic circle that appeared in the air enveloped Ryan's ascending body.
"No!"
Epley shouted, but she couldn't do anything. If Ryan hadn't lost control, he might have avoided or canceled Raon's magic. But without control, he couldn't resist the teleportation magic.
Flash!
Ryan disappeared. He was teleported to Epley's island.
Cale looked at Epley. She also looked at him. Then, Cale spoke calmly.
"Shouldn't you check your home?"
Your island, your house. Cale added nonchalantly.
"Boom?"
The 2-Star Dragon, Epley.
"Damn----!"
For the first time, a scream full of fury escaped from Epley's mouth. The island that was only hers had disappeared with a big explosion. Her home had been destroyed.
