Vol. 5 Ch. 107

The massive bronze dragon was flung through the air, crashing through two towering buildings before plummeting heavily into a pile of rubble.

Its enormous body dissolved into faint specks of light, leaving Morgan sprawled amid the debris, his limbs trembling with pain that radiated through every bone in his body.

He tried to rise but found himself powerless, the searing pain in his chest making it almost impossible to breathe.

Morgan opened his eyes, struggling to focus on the battlefield ahead.

The monster known as Ultimate Fear continued to crush the Dragon Kings one by one, as if swatting away insignificant pests.

With a sweep of its massive wings, it knocked Rosvisser out of the air. It then grabbed Isha, who had just clawed her way out of the ground, and slammed her to the earth. Without missing a beat, it dragged Isha's massive dragon form across the battlefield, carving deep trenches into the ground amidst flying debris, blood, and fire.

The air was filled with the piercing cries of dragons and the sound of chaos.

Every being on this battlefield was among the strongest of their kind, kings of kings.

And yet, before Ultimate Fear, they were as fragile and insignificant as ants.

Morgan could feel it clearly—this battle was only making Ultimate Fear stronger.

“The Silver Dragon Prince said we need to defeat it before it absorbs any more negative energy,” Morgan muttered.

With a deep breath, he forced himself upright, wiping the blood from his mouth as his unwavering gaze locked onto the monstrosity ahead.

“But at this rate… forget defeating it, we can barely stall it.”

“Morgan! Morgan! Are you alright?”

A voice called out from nearby.

Morgan turned his head, squinting through the dust.“It’s you, Dimorsi.”

The Tower Master rushed over, grabbing Morgan’s arm to help him up.“How badly are you hurt?”

Morgan glanced down at his battered and bloodied body, then up at Dimorsi with a wry smile.“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Ah… sorry, let me heal you,” Dimorsi said hastily, preparing to cast a healing spell.

Before he could, Morgan grabbed his wrist, stopping him.“Don’t waste your magic on me. My strength won’t be enough to turn this fight around.”

Dimorsi hesitated, disbelief flashing across his face.“Even you can’t make a difference?”

Despite Morgan’s usually nonchalant demeanor—often teasing Leon and acting as if nothing fazed him—he was a Dragon King who had risen alongside Odin. Though not as powerful as Odin, Morgan was among the strongest of their kind.

For him to admit defeat so plainly…

The sheer strength of Ultimate Fear was beyond anything Dimorsi could comprehend.

“Dimorsi,” Morgan began, his voice laced with both curiosity and skepticism, “you and Odin mentioned the ‘Child of Thunder’ earlier. Are you certain it’s the Silver Dragon Prince?”

Dimorsi nodded firmly.“The prophecy was clear. Before the arrival of Ultimate Fear, the Child of Thunder would foresee multiple outcomes in their dreams. The prince has been tormented by such dreams for weeks now. He is undoubtedly the one the prophecy speaks of.”

“And yet…”

Morgan narrowed his eyes, staring at Leon’s distant figure.“If the prophecy is true, then where is this so-called change? Ultimate Fear has descended, but nothing has happened. Are you sure you and that old thunderhead didn’t misinterpret it?”

Morgan muttered to himself, “Maybe I’m the Child of Thunder. I’ve been having nightmares too, you know…”

Dimorsi let out a long, exasperated sigh, shaking his head.“Believe me, Morgan. The prince is the one.

“And he will be the one to defeat Ultimate Fear.”

As the words left his mouth, a deafening roar echoed across the battlefield, accompanied by a brilliant flash of lightning.

A resounding crash followed, and for the first time, Ultimate Fear staggered backward, its towering body nearly toppling over.

Moments later, a dazzling array of seven-colored light enveloped the battlefield, encasing Ultimate Fear in its radiant glow.

Leon and Rosvisser had managed, through sheer tenacity and precision, to turn the tide, even if only slightly.

As Rosvisser landed back on the ground, her legs wavered, and she nearly collapsed. Leon darted forward, catching her before she could fall.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his concern evident.

Rosvisser adjusted her stance, rubbing her forehead as she steadied herself.“I’m fine… just a little drained.”

Her dragon scales, still recovering from a previous injury, hadn’t fully reformed. Even with the aid of dragon sigils to store magical energy, the intensity of the battle was rapidly depleting her strength.

Isha, battered but still standing, approached them. After a quick glance to assess her sister’s condition, she turned to Leon.

“Brother-in-law, your magic reserves must be running low by now too, right?”

Leon wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression resolute.“Not yet. Rosvisser and I made extra preparations for this fight. Our reserves are still holding.”

“Extra preparations?”

Isha tilted her head, a curious glint in her eyes. Despite the blood and dust smudging her face, she couldn’t hide the knowing smirk that crept onto her lips.

“Well, aren’t you two resourceful.”

She chuckled weakly, taking a deep breath before shifting her gaze back to Ultimate Fear. Her tone grew serious.“Even so, we still don’t have a solution for that thing. If this drags on any longer—”

Her words were cut off by the sound of intense fighting from another part of the battlefield.

“Rebecca! Watch out behind you!”

“I’m heading to support Nacho. You stay here!”

“The Walker Squad has taken heavy losses! We need backup!”

Isha swallowed hard, her eyes lowering as she finished her thought.“If this drags on, everyone here will die.”

There was no exaggeration in her voice.

She, more than anyone, could feel the full extent of Ultimate Fear’s overwhelming power.

Its physical strength, magical output, and sheer presence were all on a level far beyond anything they had faced before.

Leon knew this all too well.

Even with dragon sigils, Rosvisser’s Soul Judgment, and their combined arsenal of high-tier magic, any other opponent would have been annihilated long ago.

But against Ultimate Fear, their attacks were little more than scratches.

Leon’s gaze remained fixed on the monstrous figure in the distance. It seemed even more agitated than before.

“Soul Judgment didn’t weaken it. If anything, it only made it angrier,” Rosvisser said softly.

“As expected of something that directly opposes primordial magic,” Leon replied. “Using such magic against it will only drive it further into chaos.”

Boom!

Several figures landed nearby, their presence shaking the ground.

Odin and Nova had returned, alongside Constantine and Claudia.

Constantine folded his wings and crouched to set the exhausted Nova gently on the ground before standing upright to address Leon.

“We’ve been locked in a stalemate with Shadow. He’s frustratingly good at prolonged battles. If this continues, he’ll wear us down completely. We came to see if we should change tactics.”

Covered in dust and injuries, both Odin and Claudia looked just as worn as Constantine. His words weren’t an exaggeration—everyone was nearing their limits.

Nova, having been forced to deactivate her primordial mode, wobbled as she tried to stand, only to collapse forward.

Leon caught her, holding her gently in his arms.

“Sorry, Dad…” Nova murmured weakly. “The time limit on primordial mode… it’s too short…”

The battle had already lasted over an hour, far exceeding the intensity of Nova’s usual training.

The fact that she had lasted this long was nothing short of a miracle.

Leon could understand her pain better than anyone.

He reached out with a trembling hand, gently wiping the dirt and blood from his daughter’s face. His voice was soft, filled with love and reassurance.“You’ve done well, Nova. Now leave the rest to me.”

“Kid… this isn’t the time to play the hero.”

Odin, still struggling to catch his breath, forced himself to remain calm.“This enemy… it’s far too strong. Our chances of winning… maybe thirty percent, at best.”

At Odin’s words, the other Dragon Kings fell silent, lowering their heads in grim acknowledgment.

Even for the mighty Thunder Dragon King, thirty percent was an optimistic estimate. In truth, their chances might not even be that high.

Despair, thick and suffocating, began to envelop the group.

Morgan and Isha were gravely injured. Rosvisser could no longer sustain herself in battle. Odin and the others were exhausted. Nova, having reached her limit, was unable to re-enter her primordial state.

In just over an hour, Shadow and Ultimate Fear had proven what it meant to be an unstoppable force.

For once, the overwhelming power was being displayed against Leon and his allies, rather than by them.

“The Thunder Dragon King is still far too confident in your side’s abilities,” a hoarse voice called out from beneath Ultimate Fear.

Shadow emerged, his hands clasped behind his back as he strolled toward the group. His movements were deliberate, unhurried.

“Thirty percent? Hmm… let’s be generous. Considering Leon Casmod is the only one who can still stand, I’d say your chances are—”

Shadow paused, extending his arms as a wave of dark energy swept across the battlefield, briefly illuminating the faces of the weary Dragon Kings. His eyes locked onto Leon, and he finished his sentence with a cold sneer.“Ten percent.”

Retracting his arms, Shadow continued in a mockingly casual tone.“As far as lower life forms go, you’ve done well to last this long.”

“And Leon, I must commend you on your ability to gather so many to sacrifice themselves for your cause. Impressive leadership skills, truly.”

“But numbers mean nothing against Ultimate Fear. Fighting it is no different than an egg smashing against a rock.”

“Restarting this world isn’t complicated. All I need to do is kill you all and eliminate anyone foolish enough to resist.”

Shadow’s voice was calm, almost conversational, as if he were discussing trivial matters like the weather.

In his eyes, life held no value. He and Ultimate Fear were alike—beings of pure destruction, slaughter, and chaos.

His words deepened the despair already hanging over the group like a dark cloud.

The searing pain of their wounds, the bitterness of their helplessness, and the rising fury in their hearts—all of it pushed them to speak, but the weight of despair choked the words in their throats.

“Many of you must have heard of the prophecy about the Child of Thunder.”

“Even now, you cling to that prophecy, hoping it will save you.”

“Pathetic.”

Shadow’s gaze remained fixed on Leon. Though his words seemed directed at everyone, it was clear that Leon was his true target.

To Shadow, the other Dragon Kings were already irrelevant. All he needed to do was shatter their last psychological defenses, and victory would be his.

“So, before you all die, I’d like to ask—who do you believe this Child of Thunder is?”

Shadow’s question dripped with malice, his intent to torment evident.

“Is it Odin?”

“It doesn’t seem to be him.”

“Perhaps… that little girl?” He glanced at Nova, unconscious in Constantine’s arms. “She’s already passed out. Clearly, it can’t be her.”

“Then… is it you, Leon Casmod?”

Shadow chuckled, his raspy laughter growing louder and more twisted.“How ridiculous. How could you be the Child of Thunder, Leon?”

“You’re nothing more than a ghost who should have died eight years ago.”

“A man who stumbled into eight years of borrowed time.”

“Your family, your wife, your daughters… all just a dream you’ve mistaken for reality.”

“Shut up!”

The voice that interrupted him wasn’t Leon’s, nor was it Isha’s.

It was Rosvisser.

Her silver eyes trembled as she stepped forward, glaring at Shadow with a mix of fury and unyielding resolve.

“So what if we’re weak? So what if my husband was a ghost?!”

Her voice was fierce, but beneath the anger was a strength born of love and memories.

“You can trample this world however you please, and you can mock us for being fragile.

“But I will never allow you to insult my husband or my daughter!”

She stood like a beacon of light, shining at the moment she was most needed.

Leon watched her, momentarily lost in thought. His mind drifted back to years ago, when she was still the cold and aloof Silver Dragon Queen. She had been distant, indifferent to the world around her.

It was their “false” family that had changed her.

She had opened her heart to new ideas, new bonds, and to him.

She had once said that Leon had changed her.

But Leon had always wanted to tell her that, in many ways, she was his guiding light, showing him the path forward when he was lost.

The bond they shared, the word “spouse,” was enough for them to overcome any trial.

Shadow hesitated, clearly caught off guard by Rosvisser’s fiery rebuttal. He hadn’t expected such a fierce response from someone who should have been too drained to fight back.

But he quickly recovered, smirking as he mocked,“Are you finished? Such sentimental nonsense… it’s the kind of thing I hate the most.”

“Don’t tell me you think a few impassioned words will summon the Child of Thunder. Don’t make me laugh.”

Shadow pointed directly at Leon, his voice laced with venom.“Fate will never choose you. Give up your last shred of hope, and at least you’ll die without regrets.”

Leon remained silent, turning to hand Nova carefully to Constantine.

Then he stepped forward, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Rosvisser.

He took her cold hand in his own, their gazes meeting briefly before they both turned to face Shadow.

“I never believed fate would choose me,” Leon said, his voice calm but resolute.

A surge of electricity crackled at their feet, silver energy beginning to envelop them.

Rosvisser spread her dragon wings, her silver aura radiating power, as Leon’s scar began to glow faintly.

Looking directly into Shadow’s eyes, Leon spoke, his words steady and deliberate.“Because I am the one who chooses fate.”

As his voice fell, a massive silver dragon emerged, its body surrounded by cascading lightning.

Using Rosvisser’s dragon form as a foundation, they combined their power into something capable of standing against Ultimate Fear.

Leon stood atop the silver dragon’s head, the stormy clouds above roiling with untamed energy. The ground shook beneath them as the dragon’s power reached an unprecedented peak.

Odin stared in awe, his voice a whisper.“…So that’s the Child of Thunder.”

The silver dragon, wreathed in crackling lightning, spread its wings wide. Thunder and wind roared across the battlefield.

S-Class Combined Technique: Dragon Mastery