Ch.112Dragon King of the Four Seas

The serene mountain landscape began to shake violently. A massive wind blowing from afar was stirring up everything around.

Three young women appeared, enveloped in the wind. They created a mystical atmosphere as they descended onto a wide clearing halfway up the mountain. Once in place, Se-erin had to catch her breath.

She had traveled a considerable distance at high speed. If she had been alone, it might have been manageable, but she had to carry two others on the wind. Her body, pushed to its limits in that brief moment, was demanding oxygen. Only after taking several deep breaths could she move again.

“Se-erin!”

Theo approached with delight upon spotting Se-erin’s group. Se-erin’s gaze quickly scanned the area around the sacred tomb. There were no signs of fighting or the door being opened, and Theo’s breathing remained calm.

“That child…?”

“I borrowed her briefly. She should be able to open the tomb’s door.”

“B-borrowed her?”

Theo looked at Se-erin as she passed by, or more precisely, at the girl in her arms. The girl was wearing a flimsy negligee. She looked as if she had been taken just before falling asleep.

Thinking about it, their travel speed had been extremely fast. How could she have brought a noble girl in such a short time? Nobles were known for their love of formalities and procedures. This suggested an unusual situation.

“Flora?”

Theo turned his gaze to Flora. Having spent so much time together, the two could guess each other’s thoughts without speaking.

“This is insane…”

“At least they haven’t noticed yet.”

“That’s hardly reassuring…”

Even if no one had noticed immediately, it would surely be discovered with time. Se-erin, heading toward the tomb entrance, could hear her friends’ entire conversation. She too understood the gravity of the situation.

But what could she do? Time was short. She planned to open the door and return the girl afterward.

Standing at the entrance, Se-erin put down the girl, Tina, whom she had been carrying. It was momentarily awkward when Tina clung to her, not wanting to let go, but it only lasted a moment.

“Now, Tina. Please open the door.”

“Yes!”

Tina stepped forward with a spirited response. The family tomb was a place that only direct bloodline members could open. Tina knew how to open the door.

As her small hand confidently extended forward, the ring on it sparkled. The tiny magic circle engraved on the ring reacted with the lock on the tomb entrance.

Whoosh—

The closed entrance opened. Tina had fulfilled her role. Se-erin picked up the girl in her arms again.

“Wait, just a moment! I need to go in with you!”

Tina cried out from Se-erin’s arms. Se-erin shook her head. Below was a knight of the Solis family who had been revived through necromancy. Although the person controlling that body was a reincarnator, they would likely still use the skills the knight had possessed in life.

Tina, flailing her arms and legs, quickly spoke up. She could see that the pretty older sister holding her had no intention of listening.

“If you don’t take me with you, the tomb’s traps will activate! They’re traps set up to guard against outsiders, and they automatically activate without the family seal!”

Se-erin tilted her head and checked Tina’s body scent. Sniff, sniff—she buried her face between Tina’s shoulder and neck, inhaling deeply. Usually, when someone lies, a peculiar scent mixes into their body odor. With her sense of smell superior to ordinary people, Se-erin could detect such changes sensitively.

However, she detected no scent of deception from Tina.

“What should we do? It doesn’t seem like she’s lying.”

“I-I’m only telling the truth!”

Still holding Tina, Se-erin looked at her friends. Neither of them had a good solution either. It was a dangerous place. Taking Tina along was a huge risk, especially when they couldn’t predict the enemy’s strength.

Se-erin’s gaze moved between Flora and Theo. Both were powerful fighters. They could bring out their full potential when coordinating with her to pressure the enemy, rather than protecting someone while fighting.

That left only one option. Se-erin turned her gaze to Clara and Alberich.

“Alberich.”

“I understand what you mean. You want me to protect the girl. Don’t worry. Holy power exists to protect, after all. I can at least buy some time.”

Not the most reassuring words. Hadn’t his holy barrier been shattered instantly when sparring with her? But there was no one else she could trust right now. Se-erin nodded and handed Tina over to him.

“Guard her with your life.”

“Of course…”

Se-erin immediately headed toward the tomb. As she descended the stairs, lights automatically illuminated. Her sensitive senses detected the mana flowing through the tomb’s interior.

True to Tina’s warning about traps, there were several spots where threatening energy could be felt.

“There are footprints.”

Clear footprints were visible on the stairs. Did the intruder think there would be no pursuit? They hadn’t even tried to hide their tracks.

“Let’s move quickly.”

Se-erin ran swiftly, spreading her Ashen. The mana dispersed with the wind, mapping out the tomb’s structure. It was built quite complexly. There were many meaningless rooms, seemingly designed with external intrusion in mind.

However, the footprints led straight ahead without any sign of wandering. They moved forward without the slightest hesitation or pause.

Se-erin frowned. In the past, the reincarnator who had revived her body had sought the floating island to gain elemental power. This time too, they were likely seeking something similar in the tomb.

“Tina, what lies buried in this tomb?”

“Umm… I’ve heard our ancestors and their weapons are enshrined here. Beyond that, I don’t know anything else…”

‘So the weapons are the target.’

Following the footprints, Se-erin’s group had to stop at the middle level of the tomb. The earthy footprints had disappeared.

“Oh no…”

“The footprints end here. They don’t seem to continue elsewhere.”

Sniff, sniff—

Even when she tried to smell, she couldn’t detect the distinctive scent of a corpse. Had they used some special agent to mask their scent? The group was looking around to find the way when Tina, still in Alberich’s arms, raised her hand. Her short finger pointed in one direction.

“Our ancestors are enshrined that way. If the intruder’s goal is their weapons, they probably went there!”

Information they wouldn’t have known without bringing Tina. Se-erin launched herself in the direction Tina indicated.

Swoosh—!

A fierce wind raced through the corridor. She moved so fast that the lights only illuminated after she had passed.

Rushing toward the lowest level, Se-erin placed her hand on her sword. Her widely spread Ashen detected nothing. Yet, she trusted her instincts.

Dashing forward rapidly, Se-erin turned a corner and stamped her foot firmly on the ground. It was a footwork technique for charging and attacking. Just before the wind gathered beneath her feet could explode outward, Se-erin detected a faint movement at the end of the corridor.

“Enemy.”

Her voice wasn’t loud. But Flora and Theo could hear Se-erin’s voice. A faint wind carried her voice clearly to the two of them.

Boom—!

The moment she recognized the enemy, Se-erin’s body surged forward. The storm that erupted as she kicked off the ground propelled the small girl’s body violently. Her posture remained steady, as the wind itself was like an extension of her body.

Se-erin drew her sword in that state.

Her sword grip changed. Her index and middle fingers, which had been extended forward, slightly bent downward. It was a method to exert more power. Obtaining the Ice Dragon-Heart had brought significant changes to Se-erin’s swordsmanship.

Light spread with the drawing of her sword. The wind, catching up belatedly, trailed behind the light. The sight resembled a white dragon writhing.

The suddenly appearing dragon dominated the space. The corridor walls, unable to withstand the impact, were partially scraped away.

Crash—!

‘Island Dragon.’

A name naturally attached to the newly born swordsmanship. Perhaps because a great dragon had taken its place in the Three Phases. It was a dragon of light. A technique worthy of its name.

Se-erin, now standing still, caught her breath. She had just cut down a knight who had been running ahead. The knight, whose upper and lower body had been cleanly severed, lay fallen, seemingly unaware of his own demise.

From the end of the corridor, shaken by the impact, gazes were felt. A group of knights who had been running ahead turned to look back.

The full plate armor they wore lacked uniformity, each piece different. Had they just risen from graves and started moving? Hardened clumps of dirt and twigs protruded from various gaps in their armor.

“You, you are…?”

One of them seemed to recognize Se-erin. But they should have never met before…

‘So it’s you.’

Se-erin caught her breath again. She had just recovered from the recoil of using a major technique. Her posture lowered, and the muscles in her legs tensed as she put strength into them.

However, there were those who sprang forward even faster. They were Theo and Flora. Behind Flora, who rushed ahead, black petals spread like a whirlwind, while a blue flash of light filled the corridor as Theo accelerated belatedly.

Rumble—!