Chapter 30 - The Ancient Curse (3)

As the Dragon Lord opened the door, he saw his servant lying on the ground unconscious. His face darkened with rage, and he closed the door behind him, his footsteps echoing ominously as he walked outside.

He reached the mansion yard and saw the guards and adventurers he had hired, all lying unconscious on the ground. But what truly enraged him was the sight of his destroyed gate.

"You dare come here and cause me problems at the worst possible time? You won't be leaving here alive," he growled.

With a fierce determination, crimson wings suddenly sprouted from his back. They flapped once, and in an instant, he appeared in front of Leo. But as soon as he looked into Leo's eyes, he felt a deep fear settle in his bones. Leo's fiery emerald eyes were the calmest he had ever seen, yet they carried a terrifying killing intent.

Leo stood his ground, his stance firm and unyielding. The wind rustled through his hair, and the fallen leaves swirled around them, adding to the tension in the air.

Amanda rushed outside and saw Leo and Ai standing amidst the chaos. She hurried over, her expression frantic. "This... this was the price of my request," she said, her voice trembling. "Please, don't anger the Dragon Lord any further."

Leo noticed the fear in her eyes and the torn state of her clothing. His blood began to boil, but he managed to calm himself. "I'm sorry, Amanda," he said, his voice low and filled with regret.

"It was my fault for hiding my power. I never thought it would backfire this way. I promise I'll explain everything to you later, but right now, I need to deal with him."

Amanda's eyes widened as she saw the fire in Leo's emerald eyes. She was in awe, the intensity of his gaze taking her breath away. There was a warmth there, a familiarity that made her feel as if her soul was being bathed in the Elven God's love. She had never seen him like this before.

His eyes, which she remembered as a deep, serene black, now blazed with a vivid, fiery green that seemed to hold untold depths of power and resolve. This transformation filled her with both wonder and an inexplicable sense of comfort.

Leo turned his attention back to the Dragon Lord, his resolve hardening. "You took credit for defeating the Orc Lord," he said, his voice steady. "And now, you will pay for it."

The Dragon Lord's eyes widened in shock before narrowing in anger. "There's no way a brat like you could have done that," he spat, his voice dripping with disdain. He threw his head back and laughed, a harsh, grating sound that echoed across the mansion grounds.

Saliva flew from his helmet, glistening in the light as he reveled in his arrogance. "But this works out perfectly," he continued, his laughter dying down to a sinister chuckle. "I'll get rid of you, and Amanda can focus on being my concubine without any distractions."

Leo's fury intensified, and he started to walk forward, each step heavier than the last. Amanda shouted, her voice trembling, "Leo, stop!" Then an otherworldly aura enveloped and gusts of wind began to circle around him, growing in intensity until they expanded outward, covering the entire kingdom.

Every citizen in the kingdom felt the sudden pressure. Though it wasn't hostile, it carried a familiar, divine essence that left everyone in awe. Amanda dropped to her knees, tears welling in her eyes as she covered her mouth with her hands. "Divine Presence?" she whispered, barely able to believe it.

Lady Kurea, sensing the shift in power, pinpointed the source and felt a cold sweat break out on her forehead. "What the hell did that Dragon Lord do?" she thought, her heart racing. She immediately took to the sky, flying towards the source of the immense power.

From a distance, she noticed someone leaping from building to building, also heading towards the same direction. As they drew closer, she realized it was the king. She flew alongside him, their paths converging.

"Lady Kurea!" the king shouted, his voice urgent. "What did our troublesome Dragon Lord do this time?"

"I have no idea," she replied, her voice strained. "But this presence... it's unknown to me yet somehow familiar."

The king nodded, his expression grave. "It's not important who it is right now. A divine being is still a divine being, and the kingdom is at great risk if we somehow anger it."

As they approached the Dragon Lord's residence, the aura kept growing stronger and more oppressive. Without wasting any time, the king and Lady Kurea increased their speed, racing toward the source of the disturbance. They arrived to find a man standing resolutely in front of the mansion, facing the Dragon Lord in his battle form.

Although neither the king nor her recognized the man, they instinctively kneeled and bowed from behind him, acknowledging the overwhelming power that surrounded him.

The king began to speak, his voice calm but urgent. "Great one, we seek to resolve this without further conflict. Can we not talk—"

But Lady Kurea interrupted, her voice sharp and commanding. "Dragon Lord, cease this madness at once!"

But his pride stung and his arrogance, unyielding, sneered and ignored her. "You think you can intimidate me with such power?" he spat, his eyes narrowing in defiance.

"Antumbra Porma!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the courtyard.

With a blinding flash, his body began to transform, growing and expanding as scales erupted across his skin. The ground trembled under the weight of his change, and his roar filled the air as he completed his transformation into a colossal dragon.

The Dragon Lord's new form towered over them, his scales shimmering with a malevolent red light.

Pormas are another power of system users, where they can transform into their ultimate forms, gaining a fraction of their total power—Antumbra for 50%, Penumbra for 75%, and Umbra for 100%.

Lady Kurea's eyes widened in surprise. "He can access his Porma?" she thought, her mind racing with the implications. "I didn't know he had reached that level of power."

Leo, standing firm, felt the ground shake beneath him as the Dragon Lord's transformation finished. Despite the terrifying presence before him, his eyes remained steady, his intense emerald-colored eyes were glowing with unwavering intensity.