C316
Cale immediately stopped in his tracks when he heard Raon’s warning.
"Human, you’re going to get hurt."
"Hmm."
Cale, who had been laughing enthusiastically, stopped and looked at Raon. Raon smiled brightly upon seeing him.
"Human, it’s admirable! Stopping right when you realize you might get hurt! It’s really admirable!"
"Yes, you should learn something from this."
"Human, I already learned. You’re the one who needs to learn more."
"…"
Cale was left speechless by Raon’s comment.
‘What is this little dragon even saying?’
Where did he learn to say such harsh things? Cale looked at Choi Han, incredulous.
“Cale-nim, you really should learn more.”
But Choi Han’s words only made Cale choose to remain silent.
Tap, tap.
Hong patted Cale’s leg comfortingly. Raon, however, didn’t pay attention to Cale, as he was too focused.
Uuuuu—uuuu—
Mana started to surge around Raon. Cale’s eyes sparkled as he watched.
‘As expected.’
Just like Choi Han, Raon had yet to complete his registration in the game. Yet, he could freely use his mana, just like in Apitoyu, where Raon wasn’t limited by the world’s energies and could fully utilize his power.
‘He’s not even bleeding from his nose like the first time he used magic in Apitoyu.’
Raon’s Attribute, "Presence."
Cale thought about this Attribute…
‘The more I think about it, the more incredible it seems.’
Anytime. Anywhere. Raon is always Raon. Always fully present. If that’s just a part of this Attribute…
‘Raon just needs to grow up well.’
Raon, who learns everything so well, will gain absolute strength as he learns and experiences more.
‘Wait.’
He learns everything so well. Is it just because he’s smart?
‘Hmm.’
Cale decided not to dwell on it. Not at that moment, at least.
Uuuuu—uuuu—
The current situation was too serious and urgent. Cale’s smile vanished. The same went for the 10-year-olds and Choi Han.
"…This is incredible."
Gisk, who had been watching, swallowed nervously.
‘I can see it.’
The cookie house, now without a door, initially showed a normal interior. But the moment the small black dragon Raon started using his mana, the interior scene slowly began to reveal itself.
A strange web of intertwined energy, mixed with purple and multicolored hues. Gisk felt a chill from the force emanating from that energy.
‘If that energy explodes, this castle will be blown to pieces.’
A massive calamity would be unleashed in the seventh region’s field. Even so, Gisk did nothing and said nothing.
Uuuuu—uuuu—
The black mana surged from the young black dragon.
‘A black dragon.’
In this game, black dragons didn’t have a good reputation. However…
‘It’s pure.’
The black mana spread from Raon, moving the surrounding energy in a surprisingly pure way, just like the dragon’s clear eyes.
Swoosh—
At that moment, the wind started to blow. Raon’s dark blue eyes sparkled.
"I’ve got it!"
Raon murmured softly, and the black mana infiltrated the cookie house.
‘It’s infiltrating.’
A smile formed on Choi Han’s lips.
‘He’s smart.’
Raon is smart. He knows exactly what to do at each moment. He was infiltrating between the purple mana and the Source of the World.
‘He’s creating space.’
Just like how Choi Han created his own aura to break through the Demon of Blood’s force, Raon was creating his own path.
‘He learned from me. No, is this infiltration method from Mila?’
Raon was learning combat methods through Cale and his companions.
"Gently!"
Raon murmured like a mantra and clenched his small paws.
Sss—
The black mana gently infiltrated between the purple mana, though the Source of the World constantly resisted it.
"Mana is mana!"
The black and purple mana were, at their core, the same mana. Raon carefully handled the purple mana, pushing it aside.
Crack! Crack!
The purple mana initially resisted, but its owner wasn’t present. There was no one to control that mana, so naturally, it began to follow the path the new mana offered.
Uuuuu—uuuu—
The mana clumped together. Beads of sweat appeared on Raon’s forehead.
‘It’s not easy!’
It wasn’t ordinary mana; it was mana left behind by another dragon. Taking that mana as his own wasn’t an easy task. Fortunately, it was just "mana" without any commands, making it a bit easier to control.
There was no active spell from the Dragon Lord, so that mana was merely a collection of energy.
‘But it’s still not easy!’
Even so, Raon knew he had to do it.
‘Our human doesn’t have a plan!’
Cale had confidently moved forward, trusting that Raon could handle the purple mana. That trust was evident in the gaze he directed at him.
‘It’s difficult, but not impossible!’
So Raon did it. The black mana embraced the purple mana.
Swoosh.
Raon moved his small paws, and the black and purple mana followed his direction.
Beads of sweat ran down his round cheeks, but Raon didn’t pay attention to them. Focusing entirely, he only uttered one word.
"Human, I did it!"
And the response came.
"You’re truly amazing."
It was a calm tone, but full of sincerity. A smile appeared on Raon’s lips. He saw Cale enter the cookie house.
The black mana pushed aside the purple mana, creating a small space just enough for one person to pass through. Cale moved forward along that path. Choi Han and the 10-year-olds couldn’t follow him.
‘The Source of the World.’
The multicolored power was present in that house.
‘It doesn’t matter.’
It didn’t affect Cale. He finally moved forward without hesitation.
"Human, I can’t decipher the magic circle!"
The magic circle covered the entire house. If Raon couldn’t decipher it…
‘It doesn’t matter.’
With the Dragon Lord Neo gone, no one could activate that magic circle.
‘But let it be recorded.’
Cale memorized the magic circle.
-Cale.
He stopped in front of the machine. It looked like a cannon, but without gunpowder.
Swoosh.
The empty cannon seemed ready to fire a laser, and it was aimed directly at the portal.
Slosh, slosh.
At the top of the machine, a glass container held gray liquid.
Slosh.
The liquid continued to fill up.
‘Hmm.’
Cale paused.
-Cale.
The Dominating Aura called out to him. Cale looked down.
-That magic circle.
Yes. The magic circle activated the moment the gray liquid began to fill.
-What’s inside is pure chaos. It’s definitely ‘chaos.’
The aura could sense it.
-A primal fear.
The crystal in the container holding the "reference point" was wrapped in a primal fear.
-It’s a magic circle that draws in the primal fear of this world. But I’m not sure. It’s just a guess.
Cale spoke.
“Good job.”
-…What?
For the first time, he praised the Dominating Aura.
-Did I just get praised?
The aura was moved.
-…Sniff.
It was left speechless. Cale was surprised.
"Are you crying?"
-…No. Sniff.
It was crying.
Cale couldn’t believe it. But this time, the Dominating Aura had done a good job.
‘The primal fear of this world?’
The primal fear spread by the game. The energy absorbed and converted into that gray liquid. Just hearing about it was unsettling. And then…
"Just hearing about this makes me want to get rid of it."
At that moment…
-Why would you destroy it?!
"Ah, you scared me!"
Cale was genuinely startled.
-Why destroy it?!
The Dominating Aura stopped crying and shouted. Cale was genuinely bewildered.
-What’s wrong with you lately?!
No.
-Are you living comfortably now?!
What’s wrong with this guy?
"Why are you acting like this?"
Cale involuntarily stammered in surprise. It was rare to be scolded by an ancient power.
-It’s obvious!
The Dominating Aura was certain.
-We should eat it! Why would you destroy it?!
Huh?
-Just look at it, it looks so… delicious!
The aura sniffed and started drooling. The imposing image had vanished, and now it was swallowing eagerly.
‘Oh.’
In fact…
‘Didn’t we also absorb the power of the Saint of Chaos?’
Although it hadn’t fully digested yet. Cale’s status appeared in his mind.
[Skill: Chaos Fear (Inactive)]
"The name of the skill is…"
Chaos Fear.
The term that described the Saint’s power he had acquired. This…
"Should I really drink this?"
-Why wouldn’t you?!
The Dominating Aura shouted again.
-In the Central Plains, you gave so many good things to the Fire of Destruction. You gave it so many good elixirs! Why don’t you give anything to me?! Only me, I’m discriminated against! You give lots of good stuff to others! I feel so sad!
"Shut up."
-……
Silence at last.
Cale reached out towards the glass container. Then, a worried and urgent voice was heard behind him.
“Cale-nim, isn’t it dangerous?”
“Human, we haven’t deciphered the magic circle yet! You shouldn’t touch that!”
But Cale had already grabbed the glass container on top of the device.
"It’s fine."
Oh.
The container came out easily. It was the size of a wine bottle. Inside the transparent container, the reference point floated. Cale removed the cap of the container.
Pop!
It opened easily. He shook the container, causing the liquid inside to move, showing it to his companions.
"This is a tonic for me."
"What?"
"Our human always says things only he understands!"
Cale ignored what Choi Han and Raon said and focused on the gray liquid.
"Hmm."
A chill ran down his spine.
-Sniff.
But why?
-It looks tempting.
Yes. Why did that gray liquid look appetizing? Why did he want to drink it? His eyes were glued to the liquid.
Because of this, he didn’t notice…
"Hmm."
"……."
Choi Han and On stepped in front of Hong and Raon, respectively.
The strange energy emanating from the open container made their skin crawl.
"Ugh."
The bear cub, the fierce Dark Bear, nearly collapsed.
“Th-Thank you.”
Gisker held the cub, ignoring its gratitude and focusing on Cale. The terrifying energy coming from the container held an overwhelming dread. Gisker felt a sensation he hadn’t experienced even when facing Choi Han.
‘I’m going to die.’
No.
I’ll be devoured.
How to describe it?
It was like a human encountering a wild beast with bare hands. The feeling that he could be devoured by that beast.
The fear that enveloped him was similar to facing an instinctive, overwhelming terror.
"…."
And Cale Henituse, who had opened the container with his own hands, was staring at the liquid and smiling. Licking his lips.
This too was another kind of fear.
"Indeed, the worst…"
The bear cub murmured. Yes, the worst of the worst. Only someone like him could enjoy and desire something like this.
That’s why…
‘Is he called the worst?’
Cale Henituse.
He was a hidden figure. Gisker thought that if this figure were to be revealed, no name would be more fitting than ‘the worst.’
And Cale, unaware of all this, was in the middle of a dilemma.
‘To drink or not to drink?’
This liquid of chaos. Should he drink it or not?
If he drank it and passed out…
"It would be troublesome."
Besides.
"I don’t know what will happen to the reference point."
The reference point was wrapped in the gray liquid.
He should take this back to Apitoyu and use it at the right moment for his allies. Looking at the gleaming crystal, Cale saw that…
Sss—
The device was shutting down.
The magic circle was losing its glow.
It’s natural.
Without the container holding the chaotic energy, the circle and device would stop. Although the mana and Source of the World were still present.
However, surprisingly.
The magic circle and device stopped. As if nothing had happened.
Slosh, slosh.
Cale closed the container’s lid and stored it inside himself.
"Easy."
Everything had been easier than he thought.
"What’s easy?"
Ah, what a scare!
Cale turned to see the bear cub collapsing and panting heavily.
"Ah!"
When its eyes met Cale’s, the bear cub quickly averted its gaze.
"Definitely the worst!"
What’s this bear cub talking about?
Cale ignored it and looked at Choi Han and the 10-year-olds.
‘They’re fine.’
Both were looking at him with wide, innocent eyes.
So Cale ignored the bear cub and motioned to Choi Han and the 10-year-olds.
If he disconnected, he would return to the Dragon Lord’s lair, but…
"Let’s cross."
The distorted portal.
They could cross and return.
"Cross and destroy the teleportation circle first."
So the enemies couldn’t escape.
So they couldn’t enter the game.
"!"
Then, Cale turned.
A chilling sensation ran down his spine.
The door opened.
Through the portal, the door to the Dragon Lord Neo’s room opened.
No sound was heard, but they all clearly saw it open.
"Right after-"
Did the Lord already return?
If he found out…
Cale’s face hardened.
"What?"
Then, Cale stopped thinking.
No, he was stunned.
"Human!"
Raon was also stunned.
Nyaa! Nyaa!
On and Hong too.
"Hmm."
Even Choi Han.
There was no avoiding it.
Through the temporary portal.
When the heavy door to the room opened.
"What is this?"
The Heavenly Demon who entered looked through the portal with a surprised expression.
"Isn’t that Kim Haeil?"
"Hahaha. That’s right. The Legend was already creating a path."
And next to the Heavenly Demon was Clopeh Sekka, smiling calmly, unable to hide his joy.
Boom! Boom!
Outside the room where the Heavenly Demon and Clopeh were, loud explosions echoed.
-------------------
Eruhaben, Mila, and Rasheel.
The energy of the three Dragons was unleashed, indiscriminately attacking the castle with the green poisonous wind.
"Are you Neo?"
Especially Eruhaben, who charged at the Dragon Lord Neo.
"…"
Eruhaben directed a golden whirlwind of dust at the purple Dragon who silently watched.
Boom!
Seizing the opportunity, Rosalyn and Jegal Miryeo did their work as strategists.
The Dragon Lord was doing something now.
But the Dragon Lord had left.
So they seized the opportunity.
They sent scouts to the Lord’s lair.
And the scouts selected were the fastest in the Black Fortress.
