Chapter 20: Clash

"Roar! Roar! Roar! Duke Last, never thought I'd be back, ahahaha!"

"Rien? Weren't you supposed to be exterminated by the Radiant Sect of the Church of Light? How are you still alive?"

"You're right—the cunning and cruel Rien was indeed reduced to ash by holy light. The one standing before you is his younger brother: the cruel and cunning Sakavi."

Last: "…………."

"Sakavi, daring to sign a false name on the Covenant of the Just Church while cooperating with the Church of the War God—you're truly insane."

"What does my brother's covenant have to do with me? Blood for blood, debt for debt. Go find his soul in the Temple of Tiamat and argue with him!"

"Since you refuse to reason, let's see if your strength matches your words."

Words failed to bridge the gap. Seeing Sakavi had no intention of reason, Last launched a spherical bolt of lightning. Sakavi retaliated with a Theater of Decay—trees, flowers, and grass around Last withered instantly, even ruins began to crumble into dust.

In this zone where all life edged toward death, Last’s power was severely suppressed. Exploiting his weakness in aerial combat, Sakavi planned a long-range war of attrition, draining his magic.

Bolts of pure necrotic energy rained from all directions, sealing every escape route. Thunder Net—a spiderweb of lightning suddenly drawn in the air—shattered every approaching bolt.

Last leapt upward, but too late—a withered tendril wrapped around his foreclaw; decay spread rapidly up his calf, halting just before his ribs.

Watching Last bite off his own foreleg without hesitation, Sakavi knew today would be another grueling battle. He chanted a spell—new flesh and bone surged forth—but Sakavi wouldn’t grant him that chance. Several clusters of decay magic detonated over the regrowing limb.

Last, dodging frantically, was soon battered into disarray. Just as the black dragon gloated, a sudden lightning bolt pierced Sakavi’s chest. Another flash erupted from the ground; a shadow streaking through the air veered at the last instant, barely avoiding the strike.

"Sakavi, do you really think I didn’t know that aerial illusion was yours? Let me tell you plainly—since your first visit, our Rosen Empire has studied every one of your battle records in detail. Your end has come. Die!"

He’d underestimated Duke Last—but Sakavi never claimed he’d come blindly without knowing his foe. Last had fought in the Abyss for centuries; his battle records far outnumbered Sakavi’s.

Historical records showed that while Last was a beast exceptionally skilled in close combat, he rarely engaged in it—most battles were fought at range. During the half-god emperor’s reign, he primarily provided long-range cover.

Intelligence confirmed Last had taken the second vocation of Thunder Judge—his close combat was relatively weak, but getting near him was no easy feat. Still, no challenge is without a solution.

Sakavi swiftly retreated and summoned necrotic energy—countless skeletal hands erupted from the ground, grasping for Last. Above, a dagger inscribed with runes, radiating chilling cold, hurtled toward him at speed.

As Thunder Judgment activated, the attacks shattered under lightning. A shadow shaped like a black crossbow bolt suddenly lunged at Last, tackling him before he could react.

The Requiem of the Dead: The Butcher echoed from afar, synergizing with the Theater of Decay already active beneath. The black dragon transformed into a horrifying executioner, striking in rhythm with the music. This unique spell, developed and perfected by Sakavi over a year, was designed for overwhelming multiple foes—the more enemies, the stronger its effect.

Technique: Shatter Stone—punching toward the dragon’s lethal strike, it was easily dodged; another claw followed. Caught off-guard, Sakavi shifted from offense to defense. Last’s willingness to trade blows forced Sakavi to avoid all risks.

Wounded, Last was still a Rosen Duke; wounded, Sakavi might not even control his own subordinates. Even non-lethal injuries would draw scavengers like hyenas. This was a hallmark of the evil faction: never fight at full strength.

The high-ranking officials of Duke Last’s domain, seeing Verna leaning against the bell tower, dared only shout threats—none dared move to aid Last.

Watching the crowd, most no higher than Master rank, Sakavi was speechless. He’d been Duke for over three hundred years—and only two Masters among his subordinates? The rest were merely High Rank.

Together, they couldn’t match Verna in a fight. These useless fools at critical moments—what did Last keep them for? If it were Sakavi, he’d have kicked them out long ago.

After prolonged combat, Sakavi was stunned—he’d been fed false intel. Last had already fixed his close-combat weakness. He’d taken the Monk vocation, and his melee skill now surpassed Sakavi’s. But as a five-colored dragon naturally gifted in close combat, how could he yield?

After two days and one night of battle, Sakavi was reduced to a wide-eyed, dazed husky—no trace left of his former arrogance.

"Grandpa, I’m sorry. I’ll never dare provoke you again."

"Hmph. Will you dare come to my lands again?"

"No no, never again!"

"Where’s my money? Give back what you stole from me."

"Grandpa, you’re mistaken. I’m a good boy—I never do murder or arson. I never stole your money."

"Really? Many of my men say they saw it."

"I don’t believe it. Tell me who said it—I’ll send my top assassin, Verna, to question him properly. How dare they spread lies about me!"

Duke Last declared he’d never met such a brazen, shameless man—he’d seen stubbornness, he’d seen thick skin, but never someone caught red-handed who still denied it.

Yet he had no real power over Sakavi—Sakavi’s subordinates weren’t empty showpieces. When trouble came, they acted. Verna, a Legend, already held twin blades, ready to fight. She couldn’t defeat him, but rescuing her master? No problem.

The world isn’t about fighting—it’s about human relations. If you can’t kill someone outright, leave them face. You’ll need to deal with them again. Last knew Sakavi’s plea was just saving face—he still had the Rosen Empire behind him.

Looking at the ruins of Weilincheng, Duke Last knew he’d won face but lost substance. He appeared to have bravely defended the city against cultists and the opportunistic black dragon. Only he knew: every craftsman had been abducted, every valuable good, every noble’s savings—gone.

"Your Majesty, you were right—there’s never a shortage of young people. We fight because we’re young. When we’re old, we’re left with only memories. Very well. Let’s make a generous gesture. Clawsua, go to the Dark City and deliver this sealing key to Sakavi."

"Sakavi, I’m here to divide the spoils. Hand over the money."

"Nonsense. All this money is mine. What right do you have to split it?"

"Hmph. I told you where the vault was. How dare you keep it all for yourself?"

"That’s not true. I, as a dragon, value honor above all."

"Your honor is no honor, isn’t it?"

"Of course not. If you take your money back, your duke will reclaim it too. Better to leave it with me—it’s safer."

"There’s an organization called the Just Church. You can deposit money there."

"I can too. And I don’t charge storage fees. The only downside? You can’t withdraw it."

"So you’re planning to default?"

"If you agree to marry me, all this money is yours."

"Get lost. Do you think you’re worthy? Do you think I’m for sale for a few gold coins?"

"We stole five million gold coins total—not counting other valuables. Two percent is how much? Let’s guess."

"From now on, you’re my big brother!"

"I already chopped off my own big sister."

"Then your big sister probably won’t do either."

"Uh, I’ve got something urgent—I’m off now. Hahaha, next time I’ll come again. No need to see me off."

"Don’t be afraid. If I wanted to kill you, you couldn’t escape."

"…………"

"I have one question. Answer it, and I’ll let you go. Why, at nineteen, are you still a Mid-Stage Mage?"

"Sakavi, do you think it’s possible that a dragon beast without magic training is just an animal?"

A dragon beast is a dragon born without the Dragon Heritage. Such dragons are not recognized by the dragon race and bear no name.

Theoretically, they are magical creatures—but without any teacher, they’re indistinguishable from beasts. Most don’t survive to adulthood, except those taken in by humans.

"Clawsua, since you’ve come, stay for dinner!"

"Must I eat?"

"What do you think?"

To entertain this kin, Sakavi cooked personally, preparing every dish he’d mastered in his past life—determined to make his friend regret ever coming.

Two hours later, the black dragon lay sprawled on Sakavi’s golden platter bed, belly swollen, snoring loudly. Sakavi stared, speechless. Is this how one behaves as a guest? What kind of upbringing did that duke give?

After instructing his subordinates to care for the dragon, Sakavi summoned Grap and Verna. Verna had ties to the Rosen royal family; Sakavi couldn’t risk sending her to the capital, Skullcrusher City, for intelligence. Instead, he sent her to the northern Loka Plains to investigate cultist activity there.

The Loka Plains were a vital grain-producing region of the Rosen Empire and its most densely populated area—cultists there were unusually active. Whether the Empire could control this region would directly determine the outcome of the coming rebellion.

According to Verna, Skullcrusher City was also seething with hidden currents. The Emperor and his younger brother, Prince Vilen, were locked in a heated struggle for the throne.

Emperor Gruen seized power through a palace coup—an act that deeply angered many nobles. The beastfolk revered strength and despised treachery.

Rumors claimed Prince Vilen secretly backed these cultists, fueling their rise. But there was no concrete evidence—only gossip, to be heard and forgotten.

Grap’s mission: determine how firmly Emperor Gruen controlled Skullcrusher City. This would decide whether Sakavi bet on this emperor.