[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-204":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Ember Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1162323,1504,"Chapter 204: Self-Destruction","ember-dragon-chapter-204",204,"\u003Cp>Just as Mantou was about to strike Wagner, the latter remained motionless, even laughing maniacally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha, hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Finally, the perfect test subject has come to me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From beneath his hood, a pale, scaly face, almost inhuman, emerged, sending chills down one’s spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wagner raised his hand gently, a faint red magical glow flashing in his murky eyes, the power flowing to his fingertips and onto his target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Telekinetic Control】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mantou, in his young dragon form, was halted midair, manipulated by the overwhelming psychic force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite his newfound red dragon strength, as a mere young dragon, he was no larger than a horse and had no means to resist such a powerful spell. He thrashed and writhed in the air, spitting flames and curses alike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You bastard! When I get free, I’ll sew your mouth to your—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You ********!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wagner paid no attention, his obsession solely focused on the dragon body, ignoring Mantou’s words completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What captivated him wasn’t Mantou, but the physical vessel that had perfectly absorbed dragon bloodline power. He was utterly entranced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From my awakening a century ago to now, through 36,714 experiments...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve never encountered a specimen so perfect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the will of the world itself. It’s granting me the path to supreme evolution!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice trembled with the fervor of witnessing a divine miracle. His gaze on Mantou turned increasingly ravenous, as if preparing to devour him whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead, child, resist me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me marvel at this intoxicating power—like a true dragon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll uncover your secret and make you the foundation of my ultimate evolution.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mantou noticed Wagner’s gaze and felt his skin crawl. For the first time, he understood the chilling sensation of being the object of a madman’s obsession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Singo called out from the distance: “Mantou! Don’t forget what I gave you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That reminded Mantou—he still had the rune-explosive bombs!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wagner, smug in his perceived victory, stood carelessly before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a perfect opportunity couldn’t be missed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gritting his teeth, Mantou pulled out the explosive device midair and bellowed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve had enough! Time to blow us both to hell, you lunatic!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rua! Activating backup power!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wagner sensed danger but failed to act in time. Mantou activated the bomb, triggering a self-detonation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peculiar metallic spheres lit up with runic brilliance before detonating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deafening explosion erupted, engulfing Mantou, Wagner, the hounds, and the entire area in a massive fireball. The intense blaze consumed everything in its path, shrouding the lab in a thick cloud of smoke and debris.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the smoke cleared...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive crater had formed in the floor. If not for the reinforced structure built to restrain dragons, the explosion might have collapsed the entire tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mantou’s young dragon form lay mangled and motionless amidst the wreckage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The draconic hounds had been incinerated, reduced to charred chunks of flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, Wagner stood unharmed, hovering midair, protected by a shimmering, orb-like magical barrier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a hallmark defensive combo of high-level mages: 【Contingency Spell】 linked to 【Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere】, effectively granting them an extra life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As expected of a mage boss. That wasn’t going to be easy,” Singo muttered, watching Wagner emerge unscathed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Wagner’s face was twisted in rage. His grotesque features contorted further, veins bulging on his forehead as his eyes burned with fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it! Damn you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why resist?! I need you alive!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll uncover your secrets, no matter what!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No... I still have a chance. His companions—they must be captured alive!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wagner turned sharply, preparing a spell to immobilize the remaining players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he saw the two of them each holding an active rune bomb, emitting ominous beeps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Singo grinned wickedly and taunted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How’s the blast treating you, old bastard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enjoy the fireworks!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wagner, panicking, fired a green disintegration ray at the bombs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Disintegrate】, a six-circle spell capable of reducing objects to dust, could have neutralized the bombs instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was a fraction too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bombs exploded in dazzling fireballs, consuming Singo and Born Battle Maniac in the inferno and obliterating the surrounding lab equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You... damn pests.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I... I will find a better specimen!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wagner collapsed onto the ground, trembling in frustration, his maniacal obsession pushing him to the brink of madness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roar—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A loud roar echoed in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white dragon, sensing an opportunity, struggled fiercely against its restraints. The repeated detonations had damaged portions of the 【Wagner’s Dragon Binding Array】, giving the dragon a sliver of hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seizing the moment, the dragon channeled all its strength, determined to break free from its centuries-long captivity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wagner’s face darkened as he pounded the ground in frustration, his voice trembling with rage and disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tinia, even you... you dare defy me?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why? Why won’t any of you contribute to my evolution?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Catherine, Valena, those intruders... and now even you?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After his outburst, Wagner’s expression grew cold. Rising to his feet, he glared at the struggling dragon with chilling resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems you need a lesson in obedience.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his hand, summoning a grotesque array of dismembered, scale-covered limbs from the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roar—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the cold winds of the Kolka Mountains, snow fell steadily, blanketing the rugged peaks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White snow blanketed the undulating mountain ranges\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cries carried far and wide, sowing fear and birthing legends among those who heard them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep within the mountains, from the black tower known as the ” Polar Night Demon Tower,” came piercing, mournful roars, unending and reverberating for ages. If any passing traveler were to hear them, countless terrifying legends would surely arise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*************************************************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you want to read more chapters, you can Read (346) chapters ahead on Patreon:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tier 1: $1\u002Fmonth for an additional 5 chapters. 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