Ch.2929. Red Dragon VS Morgan, The Shape of Their Ill-Fated Connection

One thousand two hundred.

That’s the number of civilians sacrificed to that whip before my eyes.

Thirty-four.

That’s the number of heroes who perished under those high heels.

Even now, the blood vessels at my temples throb when I recall that woman’s sadistic face from the Dark Kingdom days.

I’m not soft enough to consider Morgan an ally or feel any affection just because she helped me once.

I know her cruelty well.

Claims about being human in the past, owing me a debt—all the words from her mouth might just be schemes to confuse me and plot some grand design.

So I won’t go easy on her here.

If Morgan’s stats remain the same, I can handle her easily now.

She wants to evaluate my strength?

I’ll just kill her and silence that mouth for good.

“Begin the training match!”

At the Emperor’s signal, I wrapped myself in fighting spirit.

“Transform.”

[Up a blind alley]

“Crimson of War.”

[■ELL■MRUBE■]

I charge at Morgan, extending my hand to rip out her heart. Though not as fast as when using Death’s Blue, my acceleration is perfect and lightning-quick.

But somehow, Morgan’s whip is already wrapped around my right wrist.

Unbelievable.

I can’t move my arm at all.

“Hehe.”

Morgan displays a haggard smile. She places her left hand on my shoulder and lightly lifts her entire body.

Her legs wrap around my neck. Instantly, my carotid artery is compressed. Gravity reverses, and suddenly my body is flipped upside down, plummeting toward the ground.

I try to break my fall with my still-free left arm, but Morgan’s high heel pierces through the back of my hand. Damage.

My hand is restricted.

But there’s still a way.

I’m in a handstand position. I’ll fight like this then.

I switch to Capoeira. I’ll take advantage of reach.

I spin my legs in a full 360-degree rotation—Vermelho Mola. Morgan bends her waist like a shrimp to avoid it.

Using gravity, I transition to Batucada. Morgan has no choice but to backflip away. I also front-roll from my handstand. I don’t give her distance, shooting forward like an Avalanche.

But I’m human and Morgan is a monster. There’s a difference in our physical structures.

She has wings.

Morgan instantly generates lift to change her angle. She uses the brief opening to create a delay to use her weapon.

Her weapon.

It’s the whip still wrapped around my wrist.

Morgan swings it. BOOM! I’m slammed into the ground, pulled by the whip.

Damn it.

Morgan pounces without missing a beat. She tries to slash my cheek with her high heel.

Still with that sadistic taste. There are plenty of more efficient fighting techniques.

I twist my wrist to defend and grab Morgan’s ankle. I also extend my leg to strike her chin. A streak of injury appears on that pale cheek, and a drop of blood flows.

Morgan’s eyes change.

I landed one hit, but that was my last act of defiance.

My position is disadvantageous.

After a few exchanges, I can tell Morgan has clearly grown stronger with the Galaxy Empire’s power.

She’s definitely beyond that Pegasus.

“Ahaha, ahahahaha!”

Madness gleams in Morgan’s eyes. She begins to wildly swing her whip at me. I adjust the angle of my arms to minimize damage, but it’s not enough.

“Tsk.”

I draw out Plague’s White. I try to neutralize the whip, attempting to use it like a dagger, but…

“Think such petty tricks will work?”

Morgan releases her aura, mocking me. My neutralized White disappears without a trace.

“I won’t give you time to cast. I know how to counter you, Red Dragon.”

This is a bad matchup.

CRACK!

The whipping continues.

The whip wraps around me and lifts me into the air.

BOOM!

I’m slammed into the ground hard enough to crater it.

The impact shatters the lower part of my helmet, exposing my lower face.

My head is ringing.

I must have a concussion. Several bones are broken too. My internal organs… still okay.

“Hehe. To think the mightiest warrior would end up like this.”

Morgan lifts me into the air with her whip and pulls me toward her. Her delighted face comes right up to mine.

And suddenly—I feel something ice-cold and soft on my lips.

“…Ugh.”

Morgan’s kiss.

An invitation to the underworld filled with all kinds of poison and curses.

“My, could it be you can’t even withstand this much? How disappointing. I’ve been imagining playing with you all night for so long.”

Morgan’s whip loosens. I collapse to the ground, clutching my chest. Morgan crouches down, happily watching me.

“Even the great Red Dragon has aged considerably. Well, I have no interest in weak men…”

WHAM!

I grab Morgan’s throat tightly as she’s talking. I glare into her eyes as I slowly rise to my feet.

Morgan’s face fills with bewilderment, clearly not expecting this. Her thin fingers scratch at my thick arm, but no sound comes out.

Without hesitation, I claim her lips. I violate and ravage that corpse-like tongue for quite some time.

I pull away and spit.

“You call that poison? Don’t try to climb above your station, bitch. I’m the one who does the violating.”

Morgan can’t answer, struggling to breathe. I throw her aside.

“Cough, cough!”

Morgan falls to the ground, catching her breath. The Emperor starts laughing at the sight of me.

“Hahahahaha!! How embarrassing to be swayed by a woman! To willingly dive into Ursula’s instant death poison! What admirable spirit!”

It was definitely a bluff.

Cold sweat breaks out and my vision blurs.

Honestly, I feel like I’m dying.

But I stand firm, keeping strength in my legs.

I need to do this much to thoroughly deceive the Emperor.

I need to firmly imprint the image that Red Dragon is a warrior of equal dignity to him.

“So, what do you think, Ursula?”

“Cough… Yes, Your Majesty. After sharing this training match, I judge that Red Dragon has definitely lost his former skill.”

“And yet he subdued Ursula with his bare hands! Hahaha! How rare. What a rare man!”

The Emperor rejoices.

“Now return, Red Dragon. And watch for my answer!”

I turned and left the place.

◈ ◈ ◈

“Damn it.”

The Galaxy Empire provided a spacecraft to return to Earth. It’s an assault vessel that can carry about twenty people. Only after boarding could I catch my breath.

I’m quite injured.

Not as bad as during the Dark Arthur battle, but it’s been a while.

“Phew.”

I catch my breath.

My destination is in front of Vengeance’s hideout.

This spacecraft has optical camouflage, so I can hide it and use it later.

The fight with Morgan.

There was one strange point.

During the fight, Morgan kissed me.

A kind of provocation. Or perhaps some strange preference of monsters.

I returned it in kind.

So the Emperor wouldn’t suspect anything.

The strange part happened during that process.

“Ptui.”

A small capsule came out of my mouth.

It’s something Morgan pushed from her mouth into mine during the kiss.

I opened it.

Inside was a note filled with writing and a small marble.

I read the note.

“Red Dragon, please forgive this girl’s rudeness in having to communicate through writing.

I have infiltrated the Galaxy Empire. I gained the Emperor’s favor when he came to Dark Arthur and secured an executive position.

However, I am under suspicion from other executives, so I apologize for using such rough methods to communicate.

The enclosed marble is the Empire’s panacea that instantly heals all injuries. However, it has no effect in space, so please take it after returning to Earth.

Though I am not on humanity’s side, I am your ally.

When you judge it important, please give me orders. At that moment, I will become your spear to deliver a fatal blow to the Galaxy Empire with absolute obedience.

The reason I follow you, Red Dragon, perhaps I can tell you someday in the afterlife.

Stay healthy until we meet again.

■■■ ■■, Morgan.”

I wonder what those erased marks are.

I can’t guess Morgan’s true intentions at all.

Can I trust her?

…

I can.

I’ve made my judgment.

The marble she gave me.

I know what this is.

This isn’t a panacea.

Such a convenient item doesn’t exist in this world.

[Injury Transfer Stone · After]

[Effect: Works as a set with ‘Injury Transfer Stone · Before’. When used, transfers all your injuries to the target who has taken the ‘Injury Transfer Stone · Before’. The receiver cannot receive damage exceeding their maximum health.]

[Description: Created with technology from distant space, these mysterious marbles are provided only in pairs to Galaxy Empire executives. If you don’t want to see executives recover their health, keep them from using this.]

There’s no way a universal medicine made by the Galaxy Empire wouldn’t function in space.

Morgan plans to take on all my injuries after I eat this once I’ve hidden somewhere on Earth where no one can see.

She thought I wouldn’t know what this item is.

She communicated without arousing suspicion while simultaneously raising Red Dragon’s credibility with the Emperor through the training match.

Since Morgan’s total health is higher than mine stat-wise, taking all my injuries shouldn’t be a problem.

Looking at the plan, it’s perfect. Quite strategic.

What a stupid woman.

There’s only one thing for me to do.

CRUNCH!

Without hesitation, I crushed the marble to powder.

◈ ◈ ◈

“Geo!”

When I entered the hideout, Lu-a looked like she was about to die.

Why is she like that? I’m the one who’s injured.

Lu-a runs to me and supports me.

“You there! Open the infirmary right now! You, call Hans for emergency treatment! You, bring hot water!”

Lu-a skillfully directs her subordinates. I’m half-carried by her to the infirmary bed.

“Geo, it’s okay. I’ll stay by your side.”

I closed my eyes while looking at Lu-a’s face.

◈ ◈ ◈

When I open my eyes, it’s dark.

I don’t know how much time has passed.

I feel weight on my stomach. Lu-a had fallen asleep with her face buried there.

I gently arranged her long side-swept hair covering her eyes.

There’s not much pain. I must have recovered quickly. In this world, medical technology is advanced due to frequent injuries, so treatment is fast.

“…Hmm.”

There’s a notification in my system window.

[Notice: Scenario ‘The Song of the Final Duel Beyond the Galaxy’ Causality Destruction Rate 12%]

[Status: Correction Complete / Progression Possible]

This is a message I’ve never seen before.

Well, I just need to prepare more for variables.

The time until the final battle has doubled compared to the plan. I received a significant return for risking my life.

Time is a resource that cannot be bought with anything.

…Wait. There’s one bad thing.

[Notice: The maintenance condition level for ‘Red Dragon of Apocalypse’ has increased!]

[Maintenance Condition Lv.4]

[■■: ■■■■■■■■]

[■■: ■■■■■■■■]

[■■: ■■■■■■■]

[Wrath: IRA 10/10]

[Lust: LUXURIA 10/10]

[Gluttony: GULA 7/10]

[Sloth: PIGRITIA 5/10 (NEW)]

[Form change unlocked at Lv.7 release]

[Sloth PIGRITIA]

[The Red Dragon’s owner is not an enthusiast. You are one who obtains everything by acting on desire. Waste time.]

[The gauge fills when you enjoy leisure. Double effect when with someone of the opposite sex.]

…Fucking hell.