Chapter 120: The Mystery of Dragon yer (5) >


    ‘What is this?’


    The Captain of the Ghost yer Squad suddenly raised his head.


    An eerie feeling, indescribable and unsettling, seemed to seep in from somewhere.


    However—


    “Stop right there!”


    The Captain turned his head toward the voice that suddenly called out from the opposite side.


    Umberto, fully equipped with defensive artifacts, was striding forward with members of the Spin family in tow.


    “Well, well, isn’t it Lord Umberto? It seems you rushed here in a heartbeat upon hearing of an emergency at the Grand Merchant Guild. Truly fitting of a head of the Three Shipping Families, who deeply care for the Shipping Alliance and the Floating Archipgo.”


    At that moment, a man with sly eyes stepped forward from among the Ghost yer Squad, a mocking grin on his face.


    It was Piren, the General Manager of the Grimahl family and second only to its head, Giuseppe.


    From his tone, one might think he was admiring Umberto, but the sarcasm was unmistakable.


    Umberto’s face tightened with slight irritation as he replied, “It seems the Grimahl family has also sent troops to subdue this crisis. Why, then, must you treat those who havee for the ‘same purpose’ with such hostility?”


    Piren merelyughed.


    He had already sensed the intent behind Umberto’s maneuvers.


    “My son, Antonio, and his friends happened to uncover intelligence that a certain group was targeting the Kriemhild Guild, so they moved preemptively. I, too, gathered reinforcements as a secondary wave to prepare for any possible external interference.”


    Spin’s pretext was to suppress any external forces that might exploit the chaos.


    ‘So they intend to me this entire situation on those outsiders apanying Antonio… A cunning old serpent, indeed. He’s found himself a convenient escape route.’


    The problemy in the fact that this justification hinged on ‘preventing outsider interference.’


    In other words, if used strategically, it could drag the Ghost yer Squad into the fray as well.


    As Piren narrowed his gaze, Umberto turned his attention to Selperd, who had Antonio held hostage.


    “I don’t know what schemes you’re nning, but don’t think I would be so foolish as to recklessly hand over the proud mysteries of our ancestors just because you’ve taken my son hostage!”


    Clink, clink!


    The Spin family’s men simultaneously aimed something at Selperd’s group.


    Handguns.


    These werepact magic guns, crafted in a coboration between a renowned arms manufacturer from the southwestern region and the Tower of Magic.


    In terms of firepower alone, they wereparable to heavy artillery, as the inner cylinder of these artifacts rotated, poised to unleash a torrent of rounds at any moment.


    “It seems that your father has decided to abandon you.”


    Selperd spoke to Antonio with a bitter smile.


    ‘F-Father!’


    Antonio’s pupils quivered violently.


    The arrival of Grimahl was one thing, but the revtion that Umberto had abandoned him was even more shocking.


    He’d always known that his father was the type who would cast aside even his own son for ambition, but now that it hade to him so directly, he found it hard to keep hisposure.


    “Arin! Snow Frost Sword! This way.”


    “Ray.”


    “What?”


    “I have a name. Stop using that alias.”


    Selperd gave a hollowugh, watching Ray, who calmly adjusted her grip on her sword as she took her ce beside him.


    Was that really what mattered to her in this situation?


    He had heard that her personality was peculiar, but it seemed that the rumors had understated it.


    “Very well, Lady Snow Frost Sword. Can you form an ice wall? How long can it hold?”


    Ray twitched an eyebrow at the even longer title but responded coolly, without showing her irritation.


    “Two minutes.”


    “If we support you with our magic power?”


    “Five minutes. No more than that.”


    “Only five minutes even if we hold out as much as possible…”


    Selperd cast a quick nce toward the tall structure.


    He noticed it had shifted form.


    The mystery was still in effect. Theo had to be inside.


    “I hope Theopletes the mystery in time.”


    As Selperd muttered to himself, Umberto shouted.


    “Fire…!”


    “That won’t happen. Captain of the Ghost yer Squad, if you please.”


    “It’s finally war.”


    The Ghost yer Squad leaped forward, blocking the path of the Spin family.


    “What is the meaning of this?!”


    “Surely you know the answer? The charges against Antonio and the ck Skull have not yet been fully resolved.”


    “Haven’t I told you? We stepped in to prevent any unfortunate idents!”


    “That can be thoroughly determined after a detailed investigation, don’t you think?”


    Spin, trying to kill Selperd’s group, and Grimahl, determined to capture them alive at any cost—their conflict was reaching its peak.


    Umberto’s face twisted in rage as he roared.


    “The fact that Grimahl is so eager to spare them is far more suspicious! Isn’t it?! You’ve been colluding with outsiders for ages, and now you n to sell out the Floating Archipgo!”


    “Aren’t you ashamed to make such brazen usations? It seems more like Spin is hiding something and trying to bury the truth.”


    “Silence, you scum! Tonight, I’ll tear all of you to pieces and hold Grimahl ountable for this disaster!”


    The muzzles of the Spin family guns aimed collectively at the Ghost yer Squad.


    In response, the Ghost yer Squad unleashed their aura all at once.


    Tat-tat-tat! Ta-da-da-da!


    Boom-boom-boom—


    Magic bullets rained down, while shes of aura from the Ghost yer Squad swept through the area in every direction.


    “Aaaagh!”


    “My arm! My arrrm!”


    “Concentrate fire! Don’t let them group up! Take out the ones at the front first!”


    “We can’t secure a clear line of sight! They keep pushing into our formation, making it difficult to shoot!”


    Screams of agony were drowned by the endless gunfire.


    “What a mess.”


    “…Indeed.”


    Nod, nod!


    Arin and Ray silently nodded in agreement with Selperd’s assessment.


    Meanwhile, they raised the ice wall higher to avoid being caught in the crossfire, while keeping a steady eye on the giant statue, ready to retreat with it at a moment’s notice if needed.


    Then—


    Rumble, rumble, rumble!


    ‘What is that?’


    The massive dragon statue, which had been lying t against the ground until now, slowly lifted its head.


    Before Selperd could even react, the colossal dragon statue lunged into the chaos where the Ghost yer Squad and the Spin family were entangled.


    Crash!


    With its immense, solid body, it rammed into the crowd, crushing those on the outer edges into a bloody mess before they even had time to react.


    “What… what is that?”


    “It’s the dragon that was pinned beneath Kriemhild’s foot! How is it moving?!”


    Panic spread rapidly through both the Ghost yer Squad and the Spin family.


    Who could have expected that the statue, which had remained stationary in the same ce for centuries, would suddenlye to life?


    “All Ghost yers, regroup and reform ranks! Unit One, contain the statue! Unit Two, secure the group holding Antonio!”


    The Ghost yer Captain, seasoned from years ofbat, issuedmands without faltering, grasping immediately that the dragon statue’s movement was the result of a mystery activation.


    ‘Though I don’t know how they managed to unleash Kriemhild’s mystery, this is our chance! It’s undoubtedly connected to these outsiders and might even tie back to the Ragnar family. If we capture them, victory will be ours.’


    After all, the Ghost yer Squad’s true objective had been to secure Kriemhild’s mystery, making this situation a rare opportunity.


    “Spin! The Spin family must kill them all and secure the dragon!”


    The confrontation devolved beyond mere conflict, spiraling into utter chaos.


    Despite the relentless attacks, the dragon statue twisted its massive body without sustaining significant damage, smashing the ground with its tail and umting damage on both sides.


    Boom! Boom-boom!


    The thunderous sounds and shes of light grew so intense that they became visible across the entire Floating Archipgo.


    The real problem, however, was that amidst all this, the sight of the rampaging dragon statue stood out the most.


    “What on earth is happening?”


    “The statue… it’s crumbling!”


    “The dragon is raging once more! The legendary dragon is trying to plunge our Floating Archipgo back into the sea!”


    “Oh, great Kriemhild, revered ancestor. Spirits of old, protect us, your fragile descendants.”


    As the residents’ panic and confusion swelled like a snowball—


    “Wow!”


    “Ovan, it’s dangerous outside! Come back into the house!”


    “Dad! Look! Lady Kriemhild is moving!”


    “What are you… What? Th-that’s…?”


    Some people could see it: the towering statue of Kriemhild, which had once stood precariously as if ready to copse, slowly raising its upper body.


    “Lady Kriemhild! She has answered our call!”


    “Our ancestors and the spirits have sent Lady Kriemhild back to us!”


    The people epted it as a miracle.


    The return of Kriemhild.


    With the dragon rampaging, the  had reappeared on thisnd to protect her descendants.


    “Kriemhild’s statue is moving?”


    “What… in the world…?”


    Meanwhile, it was the Ghost yer Squad and the Spin family who felt the greatest confusion.


    For both sides, who had sought to either seize or bury the mystery, the awakening of both the dragon and now Kriemhild herself was utterly terrifying.


    Watching the immense statue, towering dozens of meters tall, take its steps, spreading cracks everywhere as if it might copse at any moment, evoked a sense of awe.


    Sssht—


    Kriemhild’s statue took up a ready stance.


    Where a broken sword once was, a mysterious halo of light coalesced into the shape of a de, appearing in both her hands.


    And then—


    Sweeck—


    Crunch!


    Kriemhild’s statue thrust the sword forcefully, driving it straight into the rampaging dragon’s jaw with precision.


    In an instant, the de shattered through the upper skull and emerged on the other side.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The dragon froze mid-movement.


    “…”


    “…”


    “…”


    Everyone—the Ghost yer Squad, the Spin family, even Selperd’s group—stood in stunned silence, watching the scene unfold.


    A scene from legend had been recreated right before their eyes.


    And then—


    Crackle—


    The statues of both the dragon and Kriemhild began to break apart, fragmenting into dust and scattering into the air.


    The dust gathered in a whirlwind and soon condensed into a human form.


    Theo.


    The one who had vanished with the mystery now stood there.


    Encased in a radiant halo of light, his appearance radiated an almost sacred aura.


    “Theo, you—!”


    Selperd’s group urgently called out to Theo, barely able to warn him that they needed to escape immediately.


    Before they could get a word out, Theo suddenly swung the Dragon yer Sword in his hand toward the Ghost yer Squad and the Spin family.


    “Vroooom—”


    “Shhhhk!”


    With a surge of force, the sh tore through the air, narrowly missing those in its path. It left marks on the ground, as if a dragon’s ws had scraped across it.


    But this time, the marks were different from usual.


    Countless geometric patterns were etched into the ground.


    “This is…!”


    “The ‘Nibelung’! Kriemhild’s Nibelung remains!”


    “The sessor of Kriemhild has appeared!”


    The Nibelung.


    This was the technique Kriemhild had used alongside the Dragon yer Sword, Balmung, to seal the dragon in the legends. It was a skill lost to time, existing only in records, and now Theo had mastered it.


    Naturally, the Spin family, as residents of the Floating Archipgo, were bewildered, while the Ghost yer Squad hesitated, uncertain how to proceed. Meanwhile, themotion had drawn the attention of the guards stationed outside, who rushed in and saw the marks Theo had left.


    「We’ll…!」


    「Yes, there are too many eyes on us for now. Let’s postpone this. Besides, Spin is now fully divided from them, giving us our own chance.」


    Piren and the Ghost yer Captain exchanged a quick understanding, preparing to withdraw.


    “Damn it! Why now, of all times?!”


    Umberto, finding himself in the most difficult position, ground his teeth. Having imed to act in the interests of the Floating Archipgo, he no longer had any justification to persecute Theo and his group.


    “As the sessor to Lady Kriemhild’s legacy and the new master of Balmung, I dere—!”


    Theo took advantage of the lull in the battle to channel his magic and shout with conviction.


    As the inheritor of Kriemhild’s will… the new master of Balmung… His voice reverberated throughout the entire Floating Archipgo.


    “By Lady Kriemhild’smand, I have vanquished the dragon that sought once again to consume the Floating Archipgo! I call upon the Three Shipping Families and the Council of the Autonomous Region to assist me in fulfilling this mandate!”


    In that moment, Theo’s presence was engraved into the hearts of every resident of the Floating Archipgo.