C398. What is that…? (1)
Alon's shock, having just witnessed a cosmic horror (?) where the head of the Poison Eater suddenly transformed into Blackie's head, lasted only a moment.
[Kyuu?]
When the Poison Eater's head… no, Blackie’s, tilted with curiosity, he opened his mouth carefully.
“…Blackie?”
He called out to him just in case.
The Blackie that, until a moment ago, had adopted the form of the Poison Eater, let out a soft “kyu” and, without realizing it, began to shrink his body.
[Kyu!]
He soon returned to his original size.
…While maintaining the form of the Poison Eater.
Noticing Alon Palatio's fixed gaze, Blackie tilted his head, and only then realized he hadn't returned to his original form. He immediately readjusted his body to its normal state.
While one of his spider legs briefly appeared and disappeared—
“Uh… what is this situation?”
Shortly after, Penia, who had caught up to Alon Palatio late, observed Blackie with bewilderment.
“…I don't know either.”
Seeing how Blackie approached with total naturalness to rub against his leg as if nothing had happened, he had no choice but to answer like that.
A moment later—
“Then, are you saying Blackie absorbed the Poison Eater?”
“It seems so.”
Alon Palatio nodded.
Penia, unable to comprehend, asked:
“How?”
“…I don't know either.”
“You don't know?”
“Why do you assume I should know?”
“Because you are his owner.”
Penia's statement was reasonable.
But the truth was that Alon Palatio barely knew anything about Blackie.
The only thing he knew was that his true identity was that of the Shadow Dragon.
Alon Palatio looked at Blackie, who kept alternating between his original form and the Poison Eater's form in front of Basiliora.
[Tch, how disgusting.]
Basiliora clicked her tongue.
Perhaps annoyed by that comment, something began to leak from Blackie's body.
[Hm? Kraaaagh! What is this!? Gyaaaah~!]
As soon as Basiliora touched the mist emanating from Blackie, he started writhing pitifully like a fish caught on a hook.
At that scene, Penia spoke slowly:
“That… isn't that what the Poison Eater used?”
“…It seems so. Although its power appears to be much weaker.”
Just as Alon was watching that in disbelief, the door creaked open and Evan entered.
“My lord, I did as you requested. The body of the Devourer has disappeared without a trace.”
“…I see, so he really absorbed it.”
They had checked with Evan if the corpse, which should have been where Blackie was before, was still there. As expected, nothing remained.
‘I had seen Blackie absorb other beasts before, so I assumed he could do it… but to absorb even the Divine Bloods…’
Alon Palatio, absorbed in his thoughts, called Blackie.
“Blackie.”
[Kyuu?]
“Can you transform into the Devourer too? You don't need to adopt the original form.”
Blackie tilted his head a couple of times as if it were simple.
And instantly, he transformed into the Devourer.
A huge and grotesque head, and dozens of limbs with claws for swimming underground.
“Wow… it's more disgusting than I imagined…”
Penia murmured in amazement.
When Evan almost screamed upon seeing the dozens of tentacle-legs—
[Kyuu—]
Blackie, maintaining the Devourer form, quickly returned to his normal body and then, as if he had run out of energy, collapsed.
Anyone could see that he was completely drained, melting onto the table like jelly.
Penia, who was watching him with interest, murmured:
“I think to transform he needs to use stored magic.”
“Stored magic?”
“Yes. So far, it seems he transformed using the magic you gave him in the last battle.”
Alon Palatio nodded at her analysis.
Then—
Uuuk—
“?”
Blackie, who was stretched out, made a strange sound and spat something out of his mouth.
“…Is this?”
“What could it be…?”
They were two black stones, so dark that not even light seemed able to touch them.
Alon Palatio looked at Blackie, but—
[Kyuu—]
With a small, tired whimper, Blackie crawled directly into Alon Palatio's coat pocket.
“…It would be a good resource, but it seems we'll need to investigate it further.”
With eyes shining with curiosity, Penia continued observing Blackie.
“I agree.”
Alon Palatio nodded.
Several days passed, and when Alon Palatio had largely recovered…
Investigating Blackie together with Penia, they discovered two interesting facts.
The first: as long as he had enough magic, Blackie could transform into any Divine Blood he had absorbed, and although not perfectly, he could use their abilities, albeit weakened.
The second: although he could transform into Divine Bloods, he couldn't do so into the other monstrous beasts he had absorbed.
The second point wasn't a big problem.
For Alon Palatio, the important thing was that Blackie had acquired a new ability that would be a significant help in combat.
‘If he could transform into all the Divine Bloods he has absorbed, then…’
Alon Palatio recalled again the doubt he had had repeatedly during the investigation.
‘…If I go to Kylus to ask him, I might get answers.’
He clicked his tongue with frustration.
Perhaps Kylus would know something.
After all, he was also a True Mage who handled spirit dragons.
But unfortunately, Alon couldn't meet with him.
For some reason, the Feet Running Through the Past, which he used to meet with Kylus, had stopped working since the battle with Eliban.
As if they were broken.
‘…I'll have to show it to Alexion.’
Remembering that Alexion had some skill with artifacts, he put the Feet Running Through the Past into his coat.
‘If even Alexion can't repair it, I'll have to look for Lainicius.’
The Golden Dragon Lainicius.
As his thoughts reached the dragon he had met when he first went to the border—
“My lord, do you plan to leave soon?”
Evan asked. Alon Palatio nodded.
“I think it's time.”
“Where will you go?”
“Hmmm…”
Alon Palatio hesitated.
Actually, his next destination should be Fildegreen, the Magic Tower, or Teria.
Besides that, to investigate Blackie, he had to stop by the Marquis's House first…
…And now that he thought about it, he also had to consider Divine Land.
That's why he hesitated.
But he made his decision.
“…First we will go to Caliban.”
“To Caliban?”
“Yes. We will go there and then return to the Marquis's House.”
“…Ah, that makes sense, considering the pending matters. Then I will prepare everything to leave tomorrow.”
Alon Palatio nodded, ending the conversation.
The next day, after informing Karsem that he would leave Colony—
As he headed toward the carriage, which miraculously hadn't suffered damage despite the city's destruction—
“Thank you very much, my lord.”
“Thank you!”
The citizens of Colony bowed deeply before him.
Everyone expressed their gratitude.
Although he hadn't acted with the intention of receiving honors…
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Alon scratched his cheek while accepting their greetings, though he also felt some doubt.
After all, the one who had truly defeated the Divine Blood had been Seolrang.
“My lord, why do you have such a blank look?”
“…Because the one who killed the Divine Blood was Seolrang…”
“That is true, but you weren't insignificant either.”
At least Evan didn't see it as insignificant.
“Anyway, we will repay this debt.”
Chatting like this, Alon Palatio reached the carriage. There he said his final goodbye to Karsem.
“Onsa! If you need anything, call me anytime!”
“Yes.”
He also said goodbye to Seolrang, who was smiling brightly.
“Likewise, if you need me, call me.”
“Yes, understood! And if you need me, master, tell me too! I'll always be waiting!”
Seolrang nodded as Alon gently patted her.
Staring into her eyes, he finally boarded the carriage.
And so, they departed from Colony.
Some time passed.
[Kyuu—]
[Kraaaagh! Damn thing! Let me go! Hey! Don't just stand there watching, help me already!!]
“Ah, right, my lord. There was something I hadn't told you yet.”
While Blackie, turned into a small Devourer, was swallowing Basiliora, Alon turned his gaze toward Evan.
“Is there new news?”
“Yes, several.”
“What is it?”
“Yesterday, a Divine Blood appeared in Teria.”
“…In Teria?”
Seeing Alon Palatio's surprised expression, Evan added:
“But you shouldn't worry too much.”
“…Did a friendly one appear in Teria too?”
“No, not that… but, in short, Teria managed to eliminate the Divine Blood.”
“They eliminated the Divine Blood?”
“Yes.”
Evan's answer left Alon Palatio intrigued.
‘…Is there anyone in Teria capable of facing a Divine Blood?’
But he immediately shook his head. As far as he knew, there was no one in Teria capable of stopping a Divine Blood.
In reality, at this point, there was no country or individual capable of facing one while consciously prepared.
Alon Palatio knew this, because the Divine Blood he faced was so strong that even he, prepared and without letting his guard down, could barely resist.
“…Then who did it?”
He asked.
“Well… honestly, I don't fully believe it either, but…”
Evan scratched his head, hesitated for a moment, and added:
“According to information from the Information Guild… it seems it was His Majesty the King who eliminated the Divine Blood.”
“…The King?”
“Yes. At least that's what the reports indicate.”
It was news devastating enough to leave his mind blank.
