Ch.1288You’re the Bad One

# Two Blessings Engraved in Flesh Through Blood

Two blessings engraved in flesh through blood as a medium.

Wolf’s blood grants superhuman physical abilities and beast-like sharp senses, while dragon’s blood improves mana control efficiency, magic resistance, and enhances the body’s overall durability.

There was a side effect of becoming somewhat cruel and ferocious in personality, but that was a small price to pay compared to the power gained.

Therefore, Vanirgand unhesitatingly devoured Balaur’s essence to engrave the blessing of dragon blood into Haschal’s body.

Not just dragon blood. Bones, muscles, nerves, flesh, skin—he gathered all the power remaining in the ancient dragon’s corpse to strengthen the entire body as much as possible.

Of course, while being careful not to exceed the limit that would maintain human appearance.

If he ignored the distortion of appearance and strengthened to the maximum possible limit, he could form a more powerful body, but such excessive enhancement would be inefficient and meaningless.

The current owner of this body was someone who had trained in martial arts tailored for humans as a human. Growing wings or a tail now would only get in the way.

‘Scales are inefficient since they can’t regenerate on their own… and horns would be meaningless without sorcerer qualities. This is the best I can do.’

Auxiliary organs like scales or horns were also excluded from consideration as they would be of little use to Haschal’s body.

Haschal’s talents were unusually lopsided even for a human—she possessed unprecedented qualities as a warrior but completely lacked magical aptitude.

She could freely manipulate fire and destruction mana, but this was not due to her own talent but rather thanks to the rune engravings.

Without those engravings, she couldn’t even create a tiny spark, so dragon horns, being magical auxiliary organs, would be nothing more than useless decorations if forcibly attached.

This was somewhat regrettable for Vanirgand. But from Haschal’s perspective, lacking such talent was actually fortunate.

If by some chance she had the aptitude to handle magic, she would have had to live with large, thick horns prominently displayed on her head from this moment on.

*Crack…*

Anyway, Vanirgand continued to transform Haschal’s body to be stronger and more useful in such ways.

It must have been thanks to that.

*RUMBLE—!*

The next moment, she was able to withstand a direct hit from the breath of lightning that poured down like a torrential rain.

*CRACKLE!*

Dozens, hundreds of lightning bolts scattered blue charges and struck down like spears above Vanirgand’s head.

It was the breath that Bishaf reflexively spewed out of fear and disgust after witnessing Balaur’s miserable end.

The ancient dragon’s desperate attack engulfed the predator.

Vanirgand, pushed back by the impact, crashed like a comet into the center of the partially destroyed floating island, followed by consecutive lightning strikes until the epicenter glowed red-hot.

Firepower strong enough to melt rock into lava with heat alone. It was a powerful and overwhelming attack worthy of a dragon’s breath.

However.

【 Did I finish it…? 】

Despite Bishaf’s quiet hope as he ceased his breath after reaching his limit, looking at the epicenter where residual charges still raged—

【 Not likely. 】

As soon as the rain of lightning strikes stopped, the red monster leaped out from the lava pit where residual charges still raged and flew upward.

With small sparks flying here and there from the red nebula covering its entire body, but otherwise appearing unharmed without any noticeable wounds.

【 Kuk…! It was futile after all…! 】

Bishaf gritted his teeth in dismay and hastily conjured all sorts of defensive spells.

Deeply regretting that he should never have touched that monster in the first place, unable to suppress his instinct, he had reflexively attacked it.

【 Pathetic! 】

And in an instant, all those defensive spells shattered completely. They couldn’t even withstand a casual strike, let alone a serious ultimate technique.

‘I misjudged. Is this the end…!’

A fear like blood freezing cold. With the premonition of unavoidable death, Bishaf instinctively cowered, eyes wide open.

【 It’s been four thousand years? Quite a noisy greeting for a reunion, Bishaf. 】

But contrary to Bishaf’s expectation, instead of smashing his head, Vanirgand approached him casually as if meeting an old acquaintance and spoke.

【 …Vanirgand. 】

Strictly speaking, they were acquaintances. Though it hardly mattered since four thousand years had passed and they weren’t particularly close even back then.

【 I don’t understand. Why did you stop? Weren’t you trying to kill me too? 】

Therefore, Bishaf was certain that the reason he was still alive was not because of that connection.

And indeed, that was the case.

In the first place, if Vanirgand were merciful enough to forgive someone who attacked him out of respect for old ties, wouldn’t he have mercifully forgiven Garmerlic before Bishaf?

Even before falling to become a beast of malice, Vanirgand had been merciless to enemies, and now as a complete evil god, he was even more cruel than before.

So how could he possibly have any mercy for a dragon who had the audacity to breathe at him?

The reason Vanirgand didn’t slaughter Bishaf wasn’t because he forgave him. It was because there was nothing more to gain from devouring him now.

【 I’ve eaten enough dragons. More than necessary. 】

He had already obtained everything he could from a dragon’s body, and craving more would only excessively corrupt the body.

Of course, he could just kill him without devouring him, but it seemed wasteful to dispose of a being as mighty as a dragon in such a manner.

【 So you… Ah, yes, that would be good. You were trying to bring down that fortress? Focus on that. With your life on the line, with all your might. 】

Therefore, Vanirgand instructed Bishaf to use all his power to bring down the Agnita Fortress in exchange for sparing his life.

Not cautiously observing from a safe distance as he was doing now, but literally fighting with all his might, prepared to die if he couldn’t win.

【 …I don’t understand. 】

It was an extremely bizarre command to Bishaf.

【 Why do you demand such a thing? The Agnita Fortress, Bellona’s temple, is merely a target for the ‘vessel,’ it has nothing to do with you. 】

For Vanirgand of all people to care about the vessel’s circumstances—knowing well that wasn’t his character, Bishaf couldn’t help but wonder what scheme this monster was plotting.

【 Too much idle talk. Did my words sound like a suggestion or a request? 】

Of course, Vanirgand had no intention of kindly answering that question.

For someone who didn’t immediately obey after being given instructions and having their mortal sin forgiven, something stronger than words was needed.

【 If you won’t obey— 】

The next moment, Vanirgand kicked off the air and rushed past Bishaf’s back. Then he stopped abruptly near the tail.

【 —I’ll simply change my approach. 】

His speed was so fast that even to Bishaf’s eyes, it looked like a red lightning bolt flashing for an instant.

【 What…? 】

And immediately after that.

*CRACK!*

Almost simultaneously with the red afterimage fading in the air, all of Bishaf’s wings were torn off.

【 KRAaaahk…?! 】

His vision suddenly dimmed. With the searing pain as if his wings were burning, Bishaf let out a startled scream and turned his head to look at his tail.

At the insane evil god who was gripping his tail with both arms.

Vanirgand burst into a low laugh and shouted.

【 If you can’t escape, you have no choice but to fight desperately! 】

【 You, surely not!! 】

Just as the shocked Bishaf twisted his body, trying somehow to shake him off.

【 KUAAAAAAH—!! 】

One step ahead, Vanirgand swung the tail he was gripping with all his might and threw it like a log.

Toward the massive floating fortress visible in the distance below him.

*KWAOOOOO!*

A terrifying sound of air being torn apart, almost like a storm.

With the divine strength that could uproot mountains, the dragon’s body, incomparably larger than a human body, helplessly cut through the air like a mere javelin.

Bishaf couldn’t even resist. The transcendent pressure crushing his entire body made every scale creak and groan.

Far from resisting the force to stop, he barely managed to construct defensive spells to prepare for the impact of the fall.

*GUUUUNG!*

Almost simultaneously with the hastily deployed protective magic enveloping him with a faint blue-green light, the thrown dragon’s body crashed like a meteor into the center of the fortress.

The thunderous sound shattered the earth.

—-

After demonstrating the mythical act of insanity—using a dragon with severed wings as an autonomous combat projectile—Vanirgand completely lost interest in the matter as soon as he saw Bishaf crash into the fortress.

With his wings cut off at the roots, he wouldn’t be able to fly away for a while.

Even if he tried to recover quickly and escape, the undead remaining in the fortress wouldn’t allow it, so if he wanted to live, he would have no choice but to fight with all his might.

If he fought hard enough to successfully neutralize the fortress, he could eventually regenerate his wings and leave the battlefield safely.

What if he failed to neutralize the fortress and couldn’t escape, dying there?

That wouldn’t matter to Vanirgand either way.

If Bishaf wanted to blame someone, he should blame himself for daring to irritate Vanirgand while having only mediocre power. Vanirgand sincerely thought so.

True to the source of the cruel and irresponsible personality that Haschal occasionally revealed.