C480
It was now the priestess Timorang, who was unconscious, who had spoken.
*‘The night, the city will be covered in gray, and the gray monsters will try to devour the demons!’*
For now, the night sky was covered by gray clouds, making it truly gloomy.
*‘The city will burn in flames, and the screams of the demons will fill the entire world!’*
*‘A red-haired man climbs the bell tower, but it is destroyed by a blue dragon!’*
*‘The gray rain does not fall, and when morning comes… the city is covered in gray ashes—’*
It was a truly terrifying prophecy, but…
Cale's indifferent face was reflected in the eyes of those around him.
"What? Is something wrong?"
*Whooosh—*
At the moment when the worst of events could have occurred, when the prophecy could have been fulfilled…
The problem of the gray snake, which would have been the trigger, had been resolved.
No, rather, the gray snake had been devoured by the man in front of them.
"Sir Ed."
*Whooosh—*
The strategist Ed had run out to the place as soon as he learned that the gray snake had been discovered in Midisi.
He hadn't even thought of an umbrella and was completely soaked by the rain.
"…Sir Cale."
He spoke with a tense face. The words that had just come out of Cale's mouth were a rough summary of the plan, and Ed summarized it even further by responding:
"Are you saying that you will do both things right now? Attract the Third Emperor and perform the purification ritual?"
"Yes."
It wasn't the strategist Ed who reacted to his calm voice.
"Y-you're crazy!"
Cale's gaze turned to one side.
There were Cho the Wanderer and Ryeon, who had arrived late along with Clopeh. The one who had spoken to Cale was Cho.
"The Third Emperor? No, well… do you really plan to face that Water Dragon? Do you think it's possible? The Third Emperor is strong, but the Water Dragon is too!"
Cho the Wanderer was serious.
*'You can't die!'*
This guy in front of him couldn't die.
If this guy, the only one who showed them happy moments, died, it would be a problem.
At the moment when Cho's eyes showed despair…
*Pfft.*
Cale let out a mocking laugh and turned his gaze towards the strategist Ed and the general Mol.
Especially towards the strategist Ed.
"The plan he talked about… I will execute it."
*Huh!*
Cho the Wanderer sighed, exasperated. But in the eyes of the strategist Ed there was no hesitation.
Would they doubt the judgment of Cale Henituse at this point?
That was impossible.
And if something occurred, the most efficient thing was to follow the leader's orders.
*Whooosh—*
The rain was falling heavily, but it didn't touch Cale.
Although he was already completely soaked, an invisible black dragon used magic to protect him from the rain.
Even so, Cale's face was pale.
His lips were blue.
"....... "
The strategist Ed looked at him for a moment before turning around.
And he went directly to the feudal lord's castle of Midisi. If Cale had said he would do it, the only thing left was to act.
"All knights and soldiers, listen!"
The general Mol also went into action.
"Go to the quarantine centers in Midisi and Mikasi and say that the purification ritual will be performed on all those infected and suspected of infection!"
"Yes, General!"
"Understood!"
The expressions of the soldiers of the territory, the knights, and the troops of the Demon Kingdom were solemn.
They couldn't be by Cale's side, so they didn't hear his words through the heavy rain.
But upon hearing that the purification ritual would continue despite the rain, their hearts were filled with determination.
"Hurry!"
Under the orders of the general Mol, the soldiers moved quickly.
Among the rain, the lines between the soldiers of the territory and the troops of the Demon Kingdom blurred.
"Are you satisfied?"
The general Mol, who was watching this, looked at Cale with a tense face.
"Yes."
Cale smiled at him in response.
"We will start with the nearest quarantine center."
There were quarantine centers scattered throughout Midisi and Mikasi.
It was inevitable.
To avoid the attention of the Third Emperor and act secretly without alerting the citizens, it was better to have several small centers instead of gathering everyone in one place.
"....... "
The general Mol didn't move and only stared at Cale.
"What?"
At that gaze, Cale responded indifferently.
"Are you worried that the infected will riot at night? Don't worry, I will purify them before that happens."
"No, I—"
Mol couldn't continue.
"*Haah.*"
He sighed and finally took a step forward.
*'Are you okay?'*
The Water Dragon and the purification ritual. Even if you do both things, will you be okay?
Mol wanted to ask Cale that, but he swallowed it.
He remembered the expectant look that the soldiers of the territory and the troops of the Demon Kingdom directed towards Cale.
*Whooosh—*
Although it was the night of the prophecy, although the rain and wind were blowing with an ominous omen, the expressions of those running in the rain were bright.
That image closed Mol's mouth.
*'Why are you acting like this?'*
Cale seemed a little uncomfortable at Mol's nostalgic and sad expression, but…
*—Cale. You plan to recover your physical condition as much as possible before the Water Dragon arrives, right?*
He nodded at Super Rock's words and relaxed his expression.
The upper part of his body, near the shoulders…
It wasn't completely purified yet.
His skin was still gray.
*'To face the Water Dragon, I must purify my body as much as possible.'*
Of course, after this storm is over.
*'When all the infected are asleep, purifying them and recovering my body is also an option.'*
Then, they could find some way to absorb the power of the Water Dragon.
*'But how?'*
How could they attract the Water Dragon of the Third Emperor and absorb its power?
*'Now is the time.'*
While the Demon King was facing the Third Emperor…
And while these were trying to plot something in these two cities…
It was the best time to attract only the Water Dragon, not the Third Emperor.
Besides…
"Ron."
"Yes."
"Rest."
"…Yes, young master."
Just in case, he would send Ron to the rear.
"The rest, help me today."
At some point, Choi Han, Eruhaben, the average of 10 years and even Clopeh had returned. They all nodded.
Companions who had seen and faced the Water Dragon.
Thanks to them, Cale's decision was easier.
And also—
"Hey."
"Huh?"
The wanderer siblings. Cho stopped and Ryeon looked at Cale.
"Aren't you going to answer?"
"!"
Cho, who was spitting fire like lava.
And Ryeon, who controlled the ice.
Cale looked at Ryeon and spoke.
"Don't you plan to see me again?"
Ryeon couldn't answer immediately.
"Freeze it."
"…What?"
Cale approached Ryeon.
And he placed both hands on Ryeon's shoulders.
He even had a soft smile on his lips. But in his eyes a deadly fire was burning, and Ryeon felt it clearly.
*'This guy… is angry.'*
Cale Henituse was furious at that moment.
Suddenly, Ryeon's gaze turned towards Ron, the butler, and then back to Cale.
Cale was silently angry because Ryeon's companion had been injured.
*'Ah.'*
This guy didn't just want to absorb the power of the Water Dragon.
He wanted to give the Third Emperor a blow.
When Ryeon's focus became clear…
"While my companions resist against the Water Dragon…"
Ryeon understood what he had to do.
"Freeze it."
Freeze it.
"I said freeze it."
When Ryeon swallowed nervously…
The three strongest members of the Five Colors Family. When he remembered the existence of the Three Emperors…
"You two are strong, aren't you?"
At those words of Cale, Ryeon closed and opened his eyes before answering.
"Then, will you continue to show it?"
Will you continue to show happiness?
Cale answered that question.
He was smiling.
"While I purify the seed of chaos of the Demon Kingdom, you can follow me all the time."
Ryeon spoke immediately.
"I have never faced the Water Dragon of the Third Emperor. Honestly, I'm not sure. His power is above mine."
Compared to his ability to freeze the water, the power of the Third Emperor was like the ocean itself, of Five Colors level.
"So, will you do it or not?"
There was only one answer to that question.
"I'll try."
Ryeon would do anything for his younger brother, Cho.
It was easier than dying, so there was no reason not to do it.
"No, I will definitely do it."
A moment ago, in the treatment center of the Gray Tree clan, not in the Mikasi barracks, a purification ritual had been performed.
There, Cho seemed to have seen the same moment of happiness.
But Ryeon was different.
*'Cho.'*
After seeing the illusion in the Mikasi barracks, Cho's happy voice resonated in Ryeon's ears.
She realized that she had felt joy at that moment.
She wanted to live it again and couldn't let it pass.
"Good. Then, while you freeze it…"
The corner of Cale's lips lifted.
"I will eat that Water Dragon."
Cale could feel the energy rippling inside his body.
It was difficult to describe, but…
*—Thirst.*
"....... "
The Indestructible Shield and the Sky Eating Water.
The tree and the water longed more than ever to meet the Water Dragon.
"Let's go."
Cale took a step forward.
*Whooosh—*
The rain was falling, the wind was blowing, and the sky was dark.
*
The first quarantine center of Midisi.
"Grrraaaah—!"
"Ugh, aaaah—!"
The infected were screaming and convulsing.
They were few, but…
*Clank.*
*Swoosh.*
All the windows and doors opened, revealing their figures, which looked like monsters.
With their bodies dyed gray, they writhed as if they were going to attack any living being nearby.
"……!"
"!!…!!"
The residents near the quarantine center.
Or the suspects of infection gathered in front of the entrance.
All of them were filled with fear upon seeing that scene.
*Whooosh—*
But at the moment when another sound of wind was heard…
*Swoooosh—*
Or the sound of the waves…
One could see the expressions of the troops of the Demon Kingdom and the soldiers of the territory surrounding the quarantine center and the suspects.
They were not afraid, nor were they simply sad.
Nor did they seem resigned.
Instead, there was something bright in them.
Something that they didn't know if it was joy or expectation, but that washed away the fear of those who were trapped in it.
*Whooosh—*
And finally, they could see a man appear in front of the infected and suspects who had become like monsters.
Although his body was soaked, the rain no longer touched him.
A black umbrella floated above his head.
*—Human, don't get wet! If you catch a cold, it will be a problem!*
The red-haired man appeared next to the black mana umbrella.
His pale face and a towel covering his shoulders.
*Whooosh—*
The sound of the heavy and ominous rain was no longer heard.
Cale entered the first quarantine center, passing through the river next to the residential area.
The quarantine center located in the residential area.
The rain and the darkness were scary, but more than that, the inexplicable situation made the residents look outside without daring to open the windows.
*Whooosh—*
Because they heard the sound.
The sound of the wind and the waves.
And among them, something was breaking through.
It was similar to a happy and nostalgic memory.
*Clank.*
Someone opened a window.
The gray mist also touched him.
The gray mist spread from the quarantine center to the surroundings.
*Whooosh—*
Despite the rain, the gray mist did not disappear.
"Ah."
The vivid memory of happiness made one forget the vague fear and terror.
A warm sensation arose in their bodies.
And the gray particles emanating from them gathered towards Cale and the quarantine center.
A bright gray Milky Way that neither rain nor darkness could hide.
When that Milky Way disappeared…
*Plop. Plop.*
The neighbors, acquaintances, and family members who had become like monsters disappeared.
And they returned to their original form.
*Plop. Plop.*
And the gray drops that fell from them mixed with the rain and sank into the earth.
"....... "
"....... "
No one could speak easily.
Their gazes turned towards the red-haired man under the black mana umbrella.
*
The Demon King looked at his hand.
One of his rings shone.
*Tok.*
When he touched the ring, he heard a voice.
*—Send the Water Dragon.*
The eyes of the Demon King, which were bored, shone.
*Whooosh—*
It was raining here now too.
The Demon King finally understood why the Third Emperor, who had been waiting for an opportunity, was acting like this.
The Water Dragon.
Creating an opportunity to release it was not difficult.
After all, he had not yet used all his power.
In fact, he was bored.
The fight had been boring.
But now the situation seemed to become interesting.
Not because of him, but because of someone else.
*
Cale opened his mouth.
"Next."
The gray tone on his collarbone had faded slightly.
He still needed more purification.
And there were many quarantine centers left.
The red-haired man, with the black mana umbrella over him, stepped forward.
*Whooosh—*
*Whooosh—*
The gray Milky Way (Galaxy) emerged in various places.
In a world where rain and wind made it difficult to distinguish things and only darkness reigned, those who looked outside could see a bright light.
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