Chapter 77: The Soul of Elexion

Before returning, Aegon and Selene made a quick stop in central Dolarhil on the continent.

Unfortunately, since they left, the Wood Dragon Aldoron had not returned, leaving his whereabouts unknown.

After they returned, Misaki didn't linger around Aegon, quickly hurrying off, nearly running in her rush.

"Sister Misaki, wait for me! Why are you running so fast?"

Aegon didn't mind too much. She was just shy—if he didn't tease her, she'd probably be fine in a few days.

The crisp sound of high heels echoed through the wide corridor, followed by a pleasant female voice. "You're back? Did you bring it?"

Aegon nodded, pointing outside to the courtyard. "Let's go out."

Aegon, Irene, and Selene moved together to the courtyard, and hearing of his return, Mira and Jenny arrived in a hurry.

Alongside Kagura, who was training in the courtyard, the place quickly became lively.

Soon, most people from the estate had gathered, surrounding a two-meter-long black coffin in the middle.

Curious, Erza whispered to Misaki, "What's this?"

Misaki answered simply, "Inside is the sealed soul of the Lightning Dragon King."

"You mean that Elex...?" Erza scratched her head awkwardly, having forgotten the Thunder Dragon King's name.

Misaki nodded. "That's right."

"Didn't you say last time it was sealed in a small box? How did it turn into a coffin?"

Misaki looked a bit embarrassed. "I didn't ask…"

"I'm unlocking it, so step back a little."

Aegon waved his hand to signal the weaker Jenny and Lisanna to move back.

Mira held them both protectively behind her, while they peeked out, curious.

With the chains unbound, Aegon pushed open the coffin lid. Immediately, a whirlwind of magic power spiraled around the coffin, shaking the bricks on the ground with a creak, and a faint sound of dragon roars could be heard.

Irene quickly tapped the floor with her antlered staff, setting up a defensive array to isolate the magic vortex from everyone else.

Standing by the coffin, Aegon gazed at the yellow dragon-shaped figure inside. It was about the same size as the coffin, explaining why it took the shape of a coffin.

The soul of the Thunder Dragon King Elexion seemed to retain only a few instinctive behaviors.

It kept muttering, "Heart… heart… my heart..."

Aegon tried but couldn't communicate with it.

When he covered the coffin again, the magic vortex dissipated on its own, and Elexion's voice went silent.

Erza immediately asked, "What happened?"

"It has no consciousness left. Likely, his lingering resentment in life kept his soul from dissipating," Irene explained. Though separated from the vortex, she had already observed it with her "Eye of Insight."

"Can you use it?"

Aegon looked at Irene and Selene, pointing to the coffin. They often conducted strange experiments.

"No."

"So what should we do with it?"

After a moment of thought, Selene suggested, "Hmm… it could be useful nourishment for that blond boy."

Irene nodded thoughtfully. "That might work."

After discovering red lightning in Laxus's blood last time, Selene realized his natural red lightning was just as powerful as the Thunder Dragon King's lightning.

When the two combined, they produced an orange-tinged crimson lightning, the most ferocious lightning Selene had ever encountered.

In simple terms, with the same amount of magic power, crimson lightning was the most powerful lightning Selene had ever seen.

Aegon nodded. "Sounds good."

Since Irene and Selene didn't need it, offering it to Laxus was a reasonable option.

He just hadn't expected the "great reward" he once promised Laxus would come true.

"Erza, when you see Laxus sometime, tell him to come and get it."

"Got it."

...

The next afternoon, after hearing from Erza, Laxus came by the estate again.

He was greeted by Heine, as Aegon was busy… enjoying himself.

Heine led Laxus to the front yard grass, where the black coffin, taller than him, lay in the grass. "Lord Aegon instructed that you should lie inside."

Seeing the black coffin, Laxus felt a mix of emotions and even a strong urge to turn around and leave.

When Erza had told him about the Lightning Dragon King Elexion's soul, he had been thrilled about the chance to grow stronger. Now, though, he wanted to flee.

Seriously, who in their right mind lies in a coffin while still alive?

But thoughts aside, Laxus opened the coffin and lay inside, as magic power once again shrouded the coffin.

Heine didn't pay it much attention, turning to leave.

Inside the coffin—

The dragon-shaped spirit entered Laxus's mind through his eyes. He felt a booming explosion inside his head, like thunder itself crashing.

When he reopened his eyes, it was entirely different from the endless darkness before; within the coffin, it was as if another vortex had formed...

In Laxus's mind, a new world appeared.

Laxus felt a strange sensation, like his body and soul were separating, and he seemed to be gazing down from above.

Below, there were two figures, one of whom… was himself!

Dark clouds loomed low, threatening to engulf the city. Occasional golden light pierced through the clouds as thunder boomed.

The swirling dark clouds in the sky gradually turned golden, coalescing into a thirty-meter-tall golden dragon.

With massive antler-like horns and golden eyes with vertical pupils, its powerful muscles and clearly defined dragon scales resembled an imposing mountain.

A strong urge stirred in Laxus to merge with the golden dragon before him; then, he could gain limitless strength, surpassing Makarov…

This way, whenever people spoke of him, they would never again say he only had his power and fame because he was Makarov's grandson...

"Merge with me, and you shall possess the body and strength of a dragon..."

The dragon's voice was deep, yet to Laxus, it sounded irresistibly tempting.

Laxus had been a frail child, the grandson of the esteemed Ten Wizard Saint Makarov, yet his weak body couldn't beat anyone…

But he had persevered with ambition and determination, studying lightning magic, though progress was slow.

Later, things changed. His father Ivan, without his consent, implanted a Dragon Slayer Crystal in his body.

He had recently learned from Irene why he was so weak as a child.

The lightning in his blood had been too wild for young Laxus to handle.

A lightning comparable to the Lightning Dragon King's and a small child—anyone could see where that would lead.

Irene said it was a miracle he survived until the Dragon Slayer Crystal was implanted.

It was only then, with the balance of the Lightning Dragon King's lightning and the natural lightning in his blood, that his path to growth began.