Chapter 346: Black Dragon

Chapter 346: Black Dragon

Lost
History of Portal Magic.

The
words of the arrogant demon worshiper gave me a clue.

‘The
King’s portal magic from the Great War era.’

Without
needing to revisit the Puppeteer’s memories or Princess Incella’s
words, it was a clear fact.

The
portal magic technology, once so advanced that it could create
portals for managing the labyrinth, had become a rare magic with few
users.

“Isn’t
it a waste? Portal magic holds countless possibilities.”

The
arrogant demon worshiper, Ignorion, lamented this reality.

“Humanity
clearly had the potential to wield the immense power of space-time.
But with the death of a single genius, it has fallen into ruin like
this.”

Perhaps
even developing portals to travel to pasts in other dimensions,
portal magic gradually declined after the death of the King during
the Great War.

Simply
because it was too difficult and complicated to use.

[LV.63
Ignorion]

[Current
Blessings and Curses possessed by Ignorion: 2]

[◆
Blessing of Dimensional Travel]

—Allows
the use of portal magic.

—Prevents
the use of any magic other than portal magic.

—The
types of portal magic that can be used are proportional to the
understanding of portal magic.

—Current
understanding of portal magic: 53%]

Balkan,
who had grown stronger, could now see one of Ignorion’s blessings.

A
blessing with no stat bonuses and a huge penalty of not being able to
use other magic.

Ellie,
who could open portals more naturally and for longer, had a portal
magic understanding of only around 50%.

This
was proof that portal magic was a difficult field of study, and that
Ignorion was not the genius she claimed to be.

“The
world can only regain that dazzling power if there is an arrogant and
noble genius, so unique as to make hundreds of other geniuses seem
mediocre.”

Ignorion’s
eyes turned to Ellie.

“Ah,
beautiful… a jewel of talent. A child tens of times more beautiful
than my peacock feathers…”

Ignorion
said, shuddering her peacock feathers all over her body.

To
a mediocre person who couldn’t perfectly master portal magic despite
receiving a blessing, a genius appeared who not only imitated portal
magic after seeing it once but also made every effort to use it more
perfectly.

A
situation that would normally lead to frustration and despair.

But
the woman, who had been waiting for the emergence of such a genius
for a long time, felt different.

“Come
with me. Child with jewel-like talent. If your talent and my
knowledge combine, we can bring back the golden age of portal magic
within decades…!”

“Ew…
no thanks.”

“…What?”

Ignorion,
who was about to perform a peacock dance of courtship with a face
full of ecstasy, stared blankly at Ellie’s disgusted expression.

Regardless,
Ellie continued in an unpleasant voice.

“Who
would follow a demon worshiper who asks them to come along? Even
little kids would fall for kidnappers who lure them with candy, but
not demon worshipers.”

“…”

“And
I’m the youngest royal magician. My life was on a smooth path even
before I handled portal magic.”

“…”

“Besides,
decades… Ha. You want me to spend that long researching magic in a
creepy hideout without my brother? I’d rather be stuck in the academy
as a research slave for professors.”

“Ah,
no, that…”

“And
the reason I research portal magic is 80% because my brother asks me
to and praises me every time there’s progress, and the other 20% is
royal support and other things. The golden age of portal magic?
Honestly, I’m not that interested.”

“…”

“Ha,
I’m already tired and exhausted, so annoying… My brother said he’d
carefully wrap meat and feed it to me and stamp my butt with praise
stamps today. Don’t even think about interfering, just go away. Oh,
and let Jubel go.”

“…”

Silence.

The
arrogant demon worshiper who tried to persuade Ellie, Ellie herself,
and we who watched were all enveloped in silence.

Ellie,
who had graduated at the top of the academy and rejected numerous
professors’ calls, spat out merciless contempt even at the demon
worshiper.

“…Well
done, Ellie.”

“Oh,
really…? Hehe.”

When
I praised Ellie and patted her head, she scratched her cheek with a
bashful smile.

In
a situation where an ordinary person might be terrified and panicked,
she confidently expressed her opinion, and I thought she had grown a
lot.

‘From
the beginning, she had no intention of cooperating with the demon
worshiper.’

Didn’t
that guy just state his purpose?

The
arrogant demon worshiper, Ignorion, wanted to bring back the golden
age of portal magic that transcended space-time.

‘Then,
where would that powerful force be used?’

Grind…

“…”

Looking
at the guy grinding his teeth while looking at Ellie, who had
mercilessly rejected his proposal, it was clear that his intentions
were not good.

Besides,
I had experience dealing with demon worshipers until now.

Belle
and Lilith, who I somehow joined, and the demon worshipers of
Jealousy and Wrath who I opposed…

None
of them were right in the head, and something was missing somewhere.

And
there was a high probability that the peacock beast in front of me
was also missing a screw or two.

As
expected.

“…I
see.”

The
guy muttered in a gloomy voice.

“Even
with such a kind invitation, you reject the proposal…”

He
was talking about taking Jubel hostage, which was practically a
hostage exchange, but he called it a kind gesture.

“Even
if your ability to handle magic is genius-level, your experience may
be lacking. I understand. But someday you will regret this decision.”

“Regret
my ass.”

Swoosh!

Balkan,
who had solidified his judgment based on Ellie’s claim, drew his axe.

He
had no intention of handing over Ellie, who was his benefactor, his
lover’s adopted daughter, his first experience, the woman he had
vowed to take responsibility for, and who might become his daughter,
to a sinister demon worshiper.

Wham!

Balkan
kicked off the ground and ran out, immediately swinging his axe
horizontally.

Whoosh!

The
axe blade cut through the wind and instantly reached the peacock
beast’s vicinity.

Clang!

As
expected of a demon worshiper, he didn’t go down easily.

The
peacock beast’s soft wings became as hard as steel, and they were
combined in dozens of layers to block the heavy blow.

But
Balkan’s aim was not Ignorion’s neck.

“Nice!”

Taking
advantage of the gap where Ignorion’s concentration was focused on
defense, Jubel, who had been taken hostage, escaped and swung her
curved sword as if slashing the air.

The
curved sword, which had seeped through the gaps in the heavy axe’s
blow, accurately aimed for the gaps in Ignorion’s wings.

Swish!

Red
blood splattered on the labyrinth floor.

“Kuh…!”

Ignorion,
whose arm was slightly cut, gathered magical energy with an enraged
expression and spread his peacock wings wide.

Fwoosh!

The
peacock’s wing feathers fluttered and were instantly shot in all
directions.

It
felt like a hand grenade had exploded right in front of me.

Balkan
instinctively realized.

I
can’t dodge this.

But
there’s no reason to dodge.

The
Zirnier armor mixed with the Black Dragon’s claws would block all
those attacks without a single scratch.

The
problem was the countless civilians behind me.

Civilians
who weren’t explorers would have their limbs torn apart even if they
were grazed by a single feather containing immense magical energy.

But,
there was no need to worry about that either.

Thud!

As
if time had stopped, dozens of feathers that were flying explosively
were all frozen in mid-air.

At
the end of the feathers that had flown at high speed, thin magical
threads were woven.

“Ugh…!
I can’t hold it for long, Master!”

“Well
done, Dency!”

I
praised Dency, who had stopped Ignorion’s struggle with the power of
the Puppeteer, and kicked off the ground.

The
distance was closing in an instant.

The
arrogant demon worshiper’s head was caught in the target.

Crack!

I
felt the sensation of piercing something at my fingertips, but…

“You
little—”

Balkan
frowned as he looked at the target his axe was stuck in.

“Haha!
You fell for it!!”

Ignorion
smiled bitterly and raised the corners of his mouth.

The
extra-large axe was stuck not in Ignorion’s head, but in the portal
that had appeared right next to her.

She
had opened the portal just before being hit by the axe.

Moreover,
a huge life force could be felt from the axe blade that was
half-buried in the portal magic.

“Shit.
How are we supposed to break through if you block attacks like
that…!”

Jubel
shouted, taking a step back in horror.

The
cow beast’s gaze was slowly directed towards the leader’s axe blade
emerging from the portal.

Balkan
hadn’t directly retrieved the axe.

Something
trying to get out of the portal was pushing the axe out.

Soon,
the appearance of that huge creature began to emerge from the portal.

Skin
covered in black, shimmering scales.

Eyes
and huge horns, wings, split like a lizard and glistening.

Even
Zirnier, called the Deep Blacksmith, boasted that the claws of that
monster, which he had mixed into the armor, were a precious material.

The
huge dragon, who had forced its way through the narrow portal to
punish the one who had scarred its scales.

Only
two floors above the 34th floor, the end of the labyrinth.

A
monster that was the boss of the 32nd floor.

“Krrrrrrrrrr!!!!”

As
the black dragon’s angry cry echoed loudly, the labyrinth trembled as
if an earthquake had occurred.

The
moment it appeared on the 10th floor, the atmosphere of the labyrinth
changed.

The
black dragon’s eyes turned to the insignificant being wearing armor
made of its own claws.

“Ellie!!!”

Balkan
shouted urgently, making eye contact with the black dragon.

“Use
portal magic to escape with the injured!! Rubia and Jubel, protect
Ellie! The rest of the party, buy time against the black dragon!”

“W-wait
a minute! What about you, Brother—”

“Hurry!”

Balkan
shouted, dismissing Ellie’s question.

There
was no time to delay.

Kaaaaaang!!

Balkan
blocked the claws swung by the huge black dragon, which was dozens of
times larger than a wyvern and filled the 10th floor, which was
shaped like a single cave, with his axe.

“Brother!!!”

The
blow, which contained overwhelming mass, was no different from a
destructive attack magic in itself.

Boom!!

Ptooey!

Balkan,
who was sent flying by the black dragon’s gesture and crashed into
the labyrinth wall, opened the entrance hole of his helmet and spat
out blood as he got up.

Balkan,
who had cleanly recovered from the concussion and internal injuries
with divine power from a single blow, raised his head and glared at
the peacock beast standing behind the dragon.

“Hey,
can you handle this? Summoning a black dragon to the 10th floor?”

“Even
the Sloth Worshiper can’t control a black dragon-level monster, so
there’s no way I can. So I’m going to run away.”

Ignorion
had only opened a portal to the black dragon’s nest on the 32nd floor
and induced the attack to be directed at the black dragon.

It
was like calling in a strategic weapon just to seize a single talent.

“You’re
a real piece of shit.”

“Thanks
for the compliment. I have to do this much to get my hands on the
talent I’ve discovered in decades.”

“Hahaha!”

Balkan
let out a hollow laugh as he looked at the arrogant demon worshiper
who was already preparing to open portal magic and run away.

‘I
was too arrogant.’

I
didn’t think he was the kind of guy who could do something like this.

Still,
maybe it was thanks to being hit by the black dragon’s claws and even
spitting out blood.

Balkan’s
thoughts were clearer and cleaner than ever.

Fight!

Adrenaline
boiled throughout his body, and the male instinct shouted only one
word intensely.

Fight!
Fight!

No
matter how strong the enemy is, fight back and protect them.

Protect
your family, your lover, all your precious people!

Fight
and kill all those who try to take and steal what is yours!

Swoosh!

The
male in black armor instinctively raised his axe.

[You’re
going to have a hard time.]

The
demon trapped in the axe looked at the black dragon and laughed
lowly.

[Let’s
have a hard time together.]

[Hmph.]

Bernie
snorted at the nonchalant reply and answered casually.

[I
was planning to from the beginning.]

The
warrior’s axe blade, which had suddenly begun to exude a savage
atmosphere.

Whack!!!

It
was swung at the black dragon, who was arrogantly looking down at the
insignificant being.