**C484**
The Dragon King. He was on the verge of madness.
"How dare you…! How dare you…!"
His gaze was solely fixed on Cale Henituse and the small snake writhing helplessly in front of him.
*Whoosh!*
Cutting through the rain, the Third Emperor advanced. With each step, the landscape around him changed dizzily. He descended from the mountain at an astonishing speed, heading towards Mikasis… no, towards Cale Henituse.
"How dare you!"
An insignificant human…!
Does he dare to devour my dragon?
Dragon King.
Does he intend to tarnish this glorious title?
The Demon King. He knew that bastard was following him. He also knew that the Demon King was plotting something.
In the distance, he perceived his subordinates, wounded but still pursuing him, but he paid them no attention.
*How dare you!*
He gave himself completely to his rage.
However, although he was on the verge of madness, he had not yet lost his reason.
He remained calm.
*Damn Demon King, why is he so strong?!*
That Demon King bastard… was powerful.
For the Third Emperor, there was only one criterion for measuring strength:
*Can I beat him or not?*
That is, if he fought the Demon King to the end, he knew he would lose.
*He hid it!*
The Demon King had no reason to show his true power before the God of Chaos or the Five Colors Family, and he was surely too lazy to do so.
But, for the Third Emperor, the Demon King had hidden his strength.
Because he didn't know it when he challenged him.
*If I had known that bastard was hiding his power, I wouldn't have fought! It's his fault!*
In short, it was all the Demon King's fault.
And now, that lunatic had betrayed both the Third Emperor and the God of Chaos, allying himself with Cale Henituse.
Furthermore, Cale Henituse had dared to devour the Sky Eating Water Dragon.
*So I must capture him!*
Capture Cale Henituse…
*And escape!*
To flee, he needed to take Cale Henituse as a hostage.
The Demon King would have no choice but to keep him alive if he wanted to resolve the gray bottle issue.
And if he returned with Cale Henituse to the Five Colors Family, he could expose the conspiracy between the Demon King and him.
*Only then will the First Emperor understand!*
The Demon World and the cult of the God of Chaos…
The reason why the Third Emperor ended up fighting against these two forces was solely because of Cale Henituse.
If he explained it, they wouldn't blame him.
*No!*
Rather, in a critical moment, when the great objective of the Five Colors Family was about to be fulfilled…
He had discovered the variable that threatened everything!
*I am the great hero of the Five Colors Family!*
*Exactly!*
So… he had to catch him!
Take him before the Five Colors Family and make him suffer unbearable pain.
That was the only answer.
The Third Emperor's eyes became even more bloodshot, and his steps towards Cale accelerated.
Cale Henituse.
He would not allow that bastard, responsible for this situation on the verge of madness, to get away with it.
*Kuaaaah!*
The reduced snake, with the little strength it had left, lunged towards its master, who was running towards it.
*Whoosh—*
Through the rain, its master, full of rage, approached.
Surely he was furious with Cale Henituse for what he had done to him and would feel sorry for her.
The snake struggled to move towards him.
No one stood in its way.
Its master was approaching.
Soon he would take it in his arms, pitying it.
*Kuaa… ah?*
The snake, which was struggling to reach the Third Emperor, stopped, confused.
*Huh?*
It seemed that its master did not see her.
The approaching master…
*Crash!*
Stepped on her and continued on.
He was heading directly towards Cale Henituse.
He didn't even give the snake… no, the Blood Dragon, a glance.
Why would the Dragon King notice a miserable snake?
*…!*
Despair flooded the snake's eyes.
But the Dragon King, on the verge of madness, didn't give a damn.
And then…
*Ugh!*
Cale Henituse was also on the verge of collapse.
*Whoooosh—*
The rain continued to fall heavily.
Time was advancing towards dawn.
At that moment, when darkness still covered the earth…
The Third Emperor was approaching him.
*Whoosh—*
Not even his footsteps could be heard.
One after another.
With each step, the Third Emperor approached rapidly, but not a single noise was heard when stepping on the water accumulated on the ground.
*Cale, that bastard is out of his mind!*
Super Rock spoke to him gravely, and although Cale saw it all…
*Ugh!*
He felt like he was really going to vomit.
So, whether it was the Third Emperor or whoever, he couldn't concentrate.
*Human! Don't worry!*
Then, Raon's solemn voice resonated.
*Shhhhk.*
Choi Han unsheathed his sword and stood in the way.
With bloodshot eyes, he stared at the white-haired madman approaching, ready to stop him.
"Pathetic bastard. Which part of you hurts now?"
And behind Choi Han, Eruhaben, in his human form, stood to protect Cale.
*Human, we can resist until the Demon King arrives.*
*Tap, tap.*
Raon patted Cale's back with his chubby little paws.
*Blergh!*
And Cale was about to vomit in the middle of the street.
*…!*
*……!*
*…!*
Choi Han, Eruhaben, and Raon's expressions turned serious.
They had never seen Cale in such a state before.
Something out of the ordinary was happening.
*I must stop him.*
So Choi Han, with a firm face, pointed his sword towards the Third Emperor.
*I will resist.*
In reality, stopping him was impossible.
The Third Emperor was incomparably stronger than the Water Dragon.
So, even if he had to endure his blows, he would resist.
He would not allow anyone behind him to be injured.
"How dare you stand in my way!"
Faced with the Third Emperor's furious voice, Choi Han tightly gripped the hilt of his sword.
*Uuuuung—*
A black energy began to emerge from the sword.
It had not yet reached its final form, but with a little more time and the right momentum, it would fully blossom.
*Uung—*
In response to Choi Han's determination, even in its immature state, the power manifested.
*Ssssshh—*
Along with the silver-white dust, Eruhaben also prepared to attack.
Furthermore, Raon's sword shone with mana, floating in the air.
"How dare you!"
And just when the Third Emperor arrived in front of Choi Han…
*…!*
"Hmm."
*…!*
Raon, Choi Han, and Eruhaben were astonished.
*Whoooosh—*
The energy emanating from the Third Emperor.
A force as vast as an ocean, incomparable to that of the Sky Eating Water Dragon that had devoured a mountain.
It was as if nature itself was advancing towards them.
Although there was no sea in sight, just by the Third Emperor approaching, it seemed that the ocean enveloped them.
Faced with nature, humans, and even dragons, felt insignificant.
It was as if they had become a small grain of sand before an infinite sea.
Could they resist?
*Choi Han, don't worry! I will protect you!*
*Uuuung.*
Choi Han saw a black shield appear in front of him. One after another, the shields formed, ready to envelop him at any moment.
*Ssshh—*
And the silver-white dust that surged from behind him.
That dust seemed to say to him:
"If you move, we will move with you."
The support of the two dragons was solid, and Choi Han felt that he was not a simple grain of sand before the sea.
He was a human with his feet firmly planted on the earth.
*That's right.*
I am that kind of human.
Unlike when he wandered aimlessly, he now had a place to belong.
*Uuuu—uuung—*
At the moment when his sword showed a subtle change, before Choi Han could realize it, he made a decision.
He would cut that infinite ocean.
Just when he brandished his sword against the vast sea, the silver-white dust launched along with it.
And in that instant, the black shield stood in front of Choi Han.
*…!*
Choi Han was paralyzed.
*Boom!*
The Third Emperor's body passed by him with complete naturalness.
Raon's black shields, created exclusively to stop the Third Emperor, were overcome.
The Third Emperor's body, which had been on the ground, rose into the air.
The rain sustained him, opening a quick path to his target.
With fluid movements, as if walking on water, the Third Emperor passed by Choi Han and Eruhaben.
The same one who had acted with arrogance and murder in his eyes, now dodged them with incredible speed.
The oceanic energy disappeared without a trace.
*Boom!*
And he stopped behind Raon and Cale.
*…!*
Raon's eyes widened immeasurably.
*Shield!*
He tried to deploy a shield immediately, but it was too slow compared to someone who was already prepared.
*Whoooosh—*!
"No!"
Eruhaben, without thinking, shouted and turned quickly, throwing silver-white dust.
*Whoooosh—!*
But the rising water had already pushed Raon.
"Ugh!"
Raon was sent flying.
Surprised, Eruhaben caught him in his arms.
"Choi Han!"
And realizing the Third Emperor's intentions, he called out to Choi Han, who was already moving before Eruhaben finished speaking.
*Slash!*
A black energy sprang from his sword, heading towards the Third Emperor.
But the Third Emperor, with movements as quick as water, had already arrived at the place where Raon was.
He was now behind Cale.
"Keuk, I've got you."
He extended his hand towards Cale.
*Now I will take him as a hostage and flee the Demon World!*
The Third Emperor saw Cale's face, which turned towards him in panic.
Seeing that expression filled him with satisfaction.
*Heh, heh. His condition is terrible.*
He didn't know what was happening to him, but that bastard in front of him was in bad shape.
That was why he couldn't deploy that shield like before and only paled with fear.
Perfect.
Rage and relief.
Feeling all that…
The Third Emperor grabbed Cale Henituse by the collar of his shirt.
Now he would take him with him and escape from the Demon King!
"Keuk!"
A desperate cry from Cale Henituse was heard.
Being grabbed, his body leaned forward, staggering.
The Third Emperor looked at him with disdain as he swayed.
With his neck caught in his fist, unable to do anything, his torso hung, showing his convulsing back.
*……!*
But the Third Emperor soon averted his gaze towards the mountain.
Towards the summit, where someone was watching them from above.
It was the Demon King.
"...What an unpleasant sight."
The Demon King's low voice reached them miraculously.
Although, considering his power, it wasn't that surprising.
*It was the right answer.*
In any case, the Third Emperor was sure: the Demon King could no longer kill him.
"Heh, heh."
With his white hair disheveled and his appearance shattered, the Third Emperor smiled with his usual benevolent expression.
"Now everything will return to its place."
He could feel Cale Henituse's companions looking at him with hatred, and the Demon King's soldiers approaching, but he didn't care.
Those insects would die with a simple gesture of his hand.
The only important thing was that Cale Henituse was in his power.
And that the Demon King couldn't do anything to him.
"Release our human!"
The young dragon acted as if he was going to pounce on him, but he didn't dare to do it.
The Third Emperor tightened his fist and pulled Cale.
"Keuk!"
Cale Henituse's body was forcibly lifted.
The Third Emperor raised his hand.
"Ugh… blergh."
Cale Henituse, trembling, was suspended in the air.
His feet no longer touched the ground. His trembling body and his pale face, unable to articulate a word, were a ridiculous spectacle.
*How dare you…?*
The one who had fled from his ocean.
He finally had him in his hands.
No matter how it had happened, the result was satisfactory.
A smile drew on the Third Emperor's lips.
"Demon King, what do you think?"
He directed a triumphant smile towards the Demon King, who was already descending from the mountain.
But he did not lower his guard.
*I must flee now.*
Before the Demon King could do anything, he had to escape.
With Cale Henituse as a hostage.
The Third Emperor tightened his fist again.
"Keuk!"
Cale Henituse struggled.
Everyone watched, helpless.
*I will use the water to move away—*
He couldn't finish his thought.
In that moment of maximum tension…
"Ugh…"
Cale Henituse, hanging from his neck, muttered something.
*What is he saying?*
The Third Emperor's brow furrowed.
Cale had to tell him.
"I'm… I'm going to vo…"
Vomit?
"…I'm… I'm going to vo… mit…"
What!?
The Third Emperor didn't understand.
In the midst of this critical situation, he was saying that he was going to vomit?
*…!*
Then, his face froze.
Cale Henituse.
The bastard he had grabbed by the neck.
A peculiar energy emanated from his body.
*Tremors.*
Cale Henituse's body trembled.
But it wasn't because of the Third Emperor.
*The ocean/sea!*
He could feel the ocean in him.
His own energy.
What was happening?
He didn't have time to think.
Because Cale didn't allow it.
*This is crazy…!*
Because Cale couldn't think either.
*Everything is ready.*
Sky Eating Water made its announcement.
*Now you can expel it.*
Cale's face paled.
Vomiting while the Third Emperor had him grabbed?
He had done many absurd things, but this was too much.
*It will take a while.*
After all, he had devoured a giant Sky Eating Water Dragon.
It would take time to expel all the excess.
*…Do what you want…*
Cale resigned himself.
His expression showed acceptance.
And just when the light of resignation shone on his face…
"Keuk!"
His body shook.
*Water can stagnate, but if you give it a path, it will flow anywhere.*
Sky Eating Water's voice resonated with understanding.
*If you give it a path to the earth, it will go to the earth.*
*If you give it a path to the sky, it will go to the sky.*
*Yes, water can flow anywhere.*
"Keuk!"
Cale twisted his body.
Ah, damn it!
This was too much!
He felt as if his veins were moving throughout his body.
How could he describe it?
"Kghak!"
His body shook violently. His hands extended forward, as if something was forcing him.
As if that was the only path.
*Ready.*
Sky Eating Water completed the path.
"Kghuuuk!"
Cale vomited.
*Whooooooosh—!*
Water began to gush from his hands.
But it wasn't normal water.
It was the ocean.
The very essence of the water that had created the Sky Eating Water Dragon.
That water, concentrated and compressed to its purest form, flowed violently.
Its shape was like an arrow… or a spear.
*…!*
And it headed directly towards the Third Emperor.
The Third Emperor, who had controlled the ocean since he obtained it, had never faced such an attack before.
Because he was the Dragon King.
But now, the ocean itself was attacking him.
The ocean was stabbing him.
With overwhelming speed and ferocity.
It was a reality he couldn't comprehend.
Both because of the situation and because of the time.
The sudden attack impacted him fully.
"Kuaaaah!"
"Uwaaah!"
The Third Emperor and Cale screamed in unison.
The Third Emperor was pierced by the ocean as sharp as a spear.
*Huh?*
Cale, meanwhile, felt his stomach gradually relieved.
It was like when, in folk remedies, they cut the hand to release the pressure.
"……"
"……"
And everyone who witnessed the scene remained mute, paralyzed.
.png)
