CHAPTER 781

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'Look where the patriarch is...!? What's happening?'

Octavia couldn't make sense of what Veradin said, but a foreboding intuition pierced her mind like a knife.

Overwhelmed by the tremendous firepower imbued in Hroti, Octavia took a step back. Veradin and Kadun's fight began without Octavia being able to intervene.

Swoosh!

The firepower embedded in the staff instantly transformed into a massive fireball. It was the Decimating effusive flame orb, demon empress 2nd version, the grand magic used by Kelliark during the Sword Emperor Castle war.

However, unlike before, Veradin did not transform into a form resembling Kelliark. He was using a similar appearance to his youthful self while employing Kelliark's magic.

[Veradin, you are finally revealing your true colors...!]

Kadun shouted with widened eyes, as if he couldn't believe it. It was hard to believe that Veradin emitted such power without any transformation, both in terms of unleashing such immense mana and his intent to attack Kadun.

Moreover, Veradin was not even relying on the aid of the Demon's God's Orb. He unleashed the grand magic spell solely with his own mana.

"That's something I should be saying, Lord Kadun. I should have realized sooner that you are no longer necessary for the clan, or rather, that you have become a harmful presence."

Kadun gathered his strength and exhaled a breath with all his might. Unlike the breath that expanded like a beam, the 2nd version-like colossal fireball erupted from Kadun's mouth.

As the two fireballs collided, the remaining mages hastily formed protective shields in response to the resulting shockwave.

The sheer firepower unleashed by Veradin's 2nd surpassed the final version.

Therefore, just like during the Sword Emperor Castle war, the best method to evade it was to find and sever the flow of mana. Kadun, who also knew the secret like Jin, quickly descended and lowered his altitude. Due to the explosions of the fireballs, his movements were temporarily obscured.

However, during the moment when he tried to release his mana to examine the flow of the 2nd version.

Unexpectedly, two beams struck Kadun from the sides, piercing him like spears. Kadun could only retreat, wrapping his body with his wings in response to the unforeseen attack.

'Damn it, I was so excited that I forgot about these bastards...!'

The Water Dragon of Itelmion, Tuyan, and the Earth Dragon of Rikta, Pinia, were the guardian dragons sent by Veradin to ambush Kadun.

[Tuyan, Pinia. You've grown so much. Since the young patriarch has gone mad, are you also going crazy? As the guardians, it is your rightful duty to help the young patriarch make the right choices.]

Tuyan and Pinia didn't answer and closed in on Kadun, increasing the pressure on him.

It was a strange situation.

The combat power of the two dragons exceeded Kadun's memory. Initially, Tuyan and Pinia, as Kadun knew them, would not be able to move properly in this level of fire.

However, the two dragons relentlessly attacked Kadun, enduring the flames all over their bodies.

[Kyaaaah!]

In an instant, Tuyan's sharp teeth tore through Kadun's sturdy scales. Thud!, the flesh and scales of a person-sized body fell to the ground, producing a heavy sound.

It was nothing less than the sound of Kadun's honor and status plummeting. The symbolic significance Kadun held in Zipfel was the "strongest force," after all.

Despite forgetting about the existence of the Guardian Dragons and letting his guard down, Kadun was being pushed back so effortlessly. It hadn't even been a minute since the battle began.

Octavia was also taken aback. She hadn't expected Kadun to be pushed back so easily.

Of course, the fight wasn't over yet.

However, Veradin amplified the flames of the 2nd version and spoke in a chilling voice.

"Do you still want to continue? Just so you know, I have no hesitation in killing you, Lord Kadun. If you choose to surrender now, I will think about how I can use that arrogant body and strength for the sake of the clan."

[Shut up!]

"Well, I suppose... there is something you believe in, so you won't stop. But even that will prove to be a mistake, and you will realize it soon."

[What nonsense are you babbling...!]

"By the way, why is the Captain of the Spectres silently watching? Or do you need more time to ponder which side to choose?"

Octavia flinched as she made eye contact with Veradin.

She felt an indescribable sense of dread.

"That is..."

"The other mages have already completed their preparations for an attack."

As Octavia looked around, she saw the mages of the First Tower, the Tower of Stories, setting up protective barriers and preparing their magical spells.

The mages stationed at Zipfel's First Magic Tower, the Tower of Stories, were all exceptional individuals with powers surpassing the White Night. Many retired members of the Spectres and prominent members of the collateral families were among them.

In Octavia's opinion, their loyalty should have leaned more towards Kadun than the overly authoritative young patriarch. Especially the retired members of the Spectres, who prioritized her commands over the young patriarch's.

Yet, they were all moving without the slightest hesitation, ready to follow Veradin's lead and attack Kadun. And everyone's pupils were shining white.

Octavia briefly speculated on the reason why they had become so blindly obedient.

'A large-scale mind manipulation...!?'

Although she had never witnessed such dark magic firsthand, she sensed it intuitively. Veradin was manipulating the mages like puppets through mind manipulation.

Veradin spoke with his eyes. 'The reason I did not use this magic on you is my final consideration.'

"Mind manipulation is a privilege of Zipfel, not just an individual's privilege, Captain of the Spectres. So there is no need to be surprised. Now, please move quickly. We must finish off Lord Kadun as quickly as possible."

Veradin gestured as if urging her to move forward.

Ultimately, Octavia had no choice but to channel mana into her staff and confront Kadun. Kadun, already pinned to the ground by the two dragons, was still struggling to retaliate.

'...Forgive me, Lord Kadun. At this point, I cannot disobey the commands of the young patriarch.'

For now, she had to follow Veradin's words and attack Kadun. After that, she had to find a way to keep Kadun alive and wait for Kelliark to return. If the patriarch came back, this madness would surely be resolved in the right way.

There was still no significant reaction from the top floor of the tower.

As Octavia began to weave her light magic, Kadun grew even more enraged and let out a thunderous roar.

[Octavia Zipfel! So, you too obey the orders of that madman. Today, the glory of Zipfel, which has lasted for thousands of years, has crumbled to nothing!]

As Octavia and the mages joined the battle, Kadun became even more desperate, barely managing to defend himself. The empty battlefield echoed with nothing but his furious roar.

And so, about ten minutes passed.

Kadun, once the strongest of the fire dragons, eventually slammed his head onto the ground, his entire body torn apart like a torn carpet. His wheezing breaths produced a metallic sound, his wings were half torn and sprawled out, and the ground was covered in puddles of blood he had shed.

On the other hand, Veradin suffered no significant damage. While Tuyan and Pinia sustained injuries, they would recover to their full strength within a few days.

In the first place, even without Veradin's abilities, it was impossible for Kadun to single-handedly attack the Tower of Stories and achieve victory.

"If the mages had rebelled and followed Lord Kadun, the outcome might have been slightly different, but how dull. Have you been mocking me with such feeble power?"

Veradin tapped Kadun's forehead lightly with his staff as he spoke. It was a scene of humiliation beyond words.

[Veradin…]

"I have given you numerous chances to correct your mistakes, Lord Kadun."

[Why... Why are you doing this to me? Is it all because I expressed displeasure towards you?!]

"Well, that is one of the reasons, but there's more to it. You really have a thick face. Your body has suffered significant damage, making it unsuitable for keeping you alive and using you. It's time to bid farewell. Would you like to leave any last words?"

[When I die, Kelliark and Sheenu will…kill you… argh!] Kadun's voice trailed off, and he let out a pained scream.

Veradin's staff gradually pierced Kadun's forehead.

The mages, now restored to their senses, showed no reaction, but Octavia's heart was suffocating, on the verge of madness.

"Young patriarch! While Lord Kadun's injuries may be deep, once they are treated, there should be no problem for him to fight for the clan's cause again. Today, Lord Kadun must have learned many lessons, so you must stop now! For the sake of the patriarch and the god Sheenu...!"

Thud!

Veradin's staff pierced through Kadun's forehead. Sticky blood oozed out along the staff.

"No!"

The moment Octavia shouted out.

Suddenly, from somewhere, a foreboding vibration began, resonating through the sky and the earth.

It was the Tower of Stories. The vibration originated from the top floor, where Kelliark's life supporting device was located.

Kwaaaang...!

In an instant, the top floor of the tower exploded. Amidst her despair, Octavia turned around and looked up at the tower.

'This... This energy...!'

It was the energy of the patriarch, Kelliark Zipfel.

However, that energy emitted a slightly different atmosphere from Octavia's memories. It was filled with an unmistakably malicious and black energy flowing from the Tower of Stories.

It was chaos. Along with the flames symbolizing Kelliark, a dreadful chaos akin to the evil god was already engulfing the sky above the 1st Tower.

"Young patriarch, what on earth is happening...? How could the patriarch..."

Furthermore, the chaos began to emanate from Kadun, who had just breathed his last breath. Veradin stepped back with Octavia and deployed a protective shield.

"Until now, the fire dragon Kadun had been amplifying my father's chaos energy. I don't know his intentions, but I judged that it would never bring any good to our clan."

"No, that can't be! Lord Kadun would never do such a thing!"

"Look, when Kadun's life was about to end, didn't my father immediately go into a rampage? Difficult as it may be to accept, this is the reality our clan faced. It means that both the roots and pillars were rotten."

Grrrr!

With clear hostility, Kelliark let out a roar. Revealed through the debris of the shattered top floor, Kelliark had a grotesque appearance, like the evil god.

Behind Octavia, Kadun spread his wings once again. The mages formed their ranks, and Tuyan and Pinia took their places on either side of Veradin, preparing for battle.

"If Kadun's sinister plan had been completed as scheduled, we wouldn't have been able to handle my father."

"Young patriarch, do not tell me... What do you intend to do with the patriarch!?"

In response to Octavia's question, Veradin answered without hesitation.

"We have to kill him. Fortunately, before Father becomes another evil god, today I have the opportunity to grant him eternal rest myself."

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