Academy’s Genius Swordmaster

Chapter 230

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 230: Through the Sea, to the City of Dragons (3)

In the distance, a massive shadow rose above the forest of the Pashanti Islands. Judging by its size and aura, it was completely different from the childish fools they had encountered earlier. Ronan, sensing something was off, let out a curse.

“Go damn it.”

“Wh-What, what…?”

The young men, sensing danger, turned their heads at once. But the shadow had already disappeared from sight. Only an eerie, ominous feeling lingered, growing stronger by the second.

“Hmm.”

Suddenly, Shullifen, who had been following the presence with his gaze, swung his sword above his head. Swoosh! The low-hanging cloud split open, revealing a blue sky. The dark shadow that had briefly appeared vanished into the cloud.

“Missed it.”

Shullifen clicked his tongue. The other two men also looked around, but no further signs of danger were detected.

It seemed like they had just passed by it. But then, a thick shadow fell across the deck. Aselle’s face turned white as a sheet.

“Heeikk…!”

A powerful flapping sound echoed through the air, and an intense, palpable killing intent pierced through their bodies. It was as if they were being swallowed by a thorny, living hell. This was it, after all. Ronan let out a sigh and opened his mouth.

“Are you Drahavier?”

[I am Landoheidel. How does a mortal like you know my father’s name?]

Judging by how he called him father, he seemed to be the son of the Poison Dragon Drahavier. Ronan continued.

“…It looks like there’s been a misunderstanding. You were the ones who attacked first.”

[Turn around and face me. ]

Only then did Ronan turn around. The other two men also did the same. A massive green dragon was hovering above them, flapping its wings

Its pointed, flat head resembled a snake, particularly a venomous one found in the jungle. Its long, flexible neck was writhing back and forth. The scales, which were a nauseating dark green color, made the dragon look even more terrifying. Aselle, who had barely escaped being paralyzed, let out a sigh of relief.

“Da-da-dragon…!”

“It’s… strong.”

Shullifen murmured quietly. This was the first time any of them had faced a hostile dragon. Although it was still a young dragon, it was smaller than they had expected, but the pressure it exerted was immense. It was clearly older than Intargand.

Around the sinking galleon, survivors were still screaming. Every time the waves crashed, one or two people would disappear from sight. Landoheidel, who had been glancing between Ronan’s group and the survivors, opened his mouth.

[You look young even for a mortal. Did you do this?]

“What about it?”

Ronan replied, his hand on the hilt of his sword. Landoheidel remained silent. Ronan, who had been observing him carefully, raised an eyebrow.

‘If we do this well…’

He quickly exchanged glances with his friends, and Aselle and Shullifen’s faces hardened, understanding his intentions.

Really? Was this really the right judgment? It was the most silent and intense war council in the world. Finally, Landoheidel’s mouth slowly opened.

[Hmm… I’m pleased. Take my father’s imprint and become his servant. I’ll spare your lives and give you a chance to enjoy the luxuries you’ve never had in your miserable little lives.]

The young men’s eyes widened in surprise. This was an unexpected offer. If they were capable, would he forgive them for sinking three galleons? It seemed like he might be a more reasonable opponent than they thought.

“Are you for real?”

[A dragon does not lie.]

“What if we refuse your proposal?”

[You know the answer to that. You’ll become unrecognizable corpses and sink to the bottom of the sea, just like that trash that led me here.]

Landoheidel gestured towards the old man’s corpse floating on the sea. The corpse, completely polluted by the poison, looked more like a sea creature than a human.

“…Can I discuss this with my friends for a moment, merciful Lord Landoheidel?”

[You have 2 minutes.]

“Thank you for your generosity.”

They were officially given time to talk. Ronan turned around, putting his back to Landoheidel, and whispered to his friends. The plan was quickly discussed, and after about a minute, Ronan turned back around.

“We’ve talked about it, and everyone has declined. Sorry, but we can’t go with your proposal.”

[Then you’ll have to die. Do you have any last words?]

“Yeah. Go to hell.”

Ronan readied his sword. At the same time, Landoheidel’s mouth opened, and a poisonous breath shot out. Whoosh! The purple -colored poison breath enveloped Ronan and the ship they were on.

[What a shame. I thought my father would be pleased.]

Landoheidel’s appetite was whetted by the meaningless ending. No mortal had ever survived his poison. Anyone who came into contact with it would instantly bleed out and die.

The ship, infected with the poison, would soon become a useless hunk of wood. The poison was slowly weakening, and a strange presence was detected from within the purple cloud.

[…Hmm?]

Landoheidel was taken aback. Had they not died instantly? He slowly peeked into the cloud and saw the ship, completely unharmed. A transparent barrier-like thing was surrounding the ship.

[How…?]

Landoheidel’s eyes widened in surprise. It was impossible. Upon closer inspection, he saw a red-haired boy standing still, desperately casting a defense spell. Aselle, who had been casting the spell, jumped up in desperation.

“Kyaaaah! I did it!”

[You’re a talented mage. Unfortunately, I’m your opponent.]

Landoheidel’s mouth opened again. This time, Aselle realized he couldn’t defend against the attack and took a deep breath. Just then, Ronan jumped out from behind the ship’s sail. Wearing a mask that neutralized even the strongest poison, it was something he had obtained from Arondale, a poacher from Cariboro.

[What!]

Landoheidel was stunned, unable to react to the sudden turn of events. He quickly turned his head, but Ronan was faster. In an instant, he reached Landoheidel’s jaw and swung his sword. A red line was drawn across his long neck. Swoosh! Purple blood spurted out like a fountain, drenching the sky.

[Keueeek!]

“Shit!”

Landoheidel stumbled back. Ronan, realizing it wasn’t a fatal blow, curled his lips. With Landoheidel’s sudden movement, he was only able to use about 20% of his neck.

In any case, the ambush was successful. Shullifen, who, like Ronan, had been hiding in the square, swung his sword. Whoosh! The strong gust of wind from the sea swept away the useless poisonous mist.

“Ha, it’s really gotten better.”

Ronan murmured, seemingly surprised. He seemed to understand why the blacksmith Katan was so proud of herself. The sword, Lamacha, which he had received from the Aurora Skar, was incomparably sharper and faster than before.

The blood-stained blade was emitting a fierce aura. The mysterious colors flowing along the sword’s length resembled the intense light that illuminated the northern sky.

Landoheidel was still unable to regain his composure, writhing in agony. He was about to take flight. Ronan, who had jumped out of the ship, swung his sword towards Landoheidel’s wing.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

[Translator – Peptobismol]

It seemed like they had hit their opponent. Aselle, who was desperate, raised his arm to defend the ship. At the same time, Shullifen swung his sword, and a strong gust of wind blew away the poisonous breath. Ronan, who had been searching for Landoheidel, cursed.

“Damn it.”

Landoheidel’s figure had already turned into a small green dot, fluttering away towards the north.

A large, squirming fish-like flesh was floating on the sea, seemingly cut off from his tail. Ronan, who had rushed over, grabbed the tiller and shouted.

“Let’s chase him! Everyone, help!”

“Ch-chase him?!”

“He won’t last long anyway. And it’s better to finish him off here.”

Since they had already fought, it was inevitable that they would clash with the Poison Dragon, and it was better to take care of one of them now rather than later. Aselle, convinced, nodded.

“Okay, let’s do it…”

“Then help me. We need to catch up before he calls for backup.”

As Ronan turned the tiller, the ship’s bow inclined. Although it was his first time sailing manually, he was managing somehow. The ship, propelled by Shullifen’s wind and Aselle’s telekinesis power, began to move at an incredible speed, rivaling that of a flying fish.

‘It’s a good thing the weather is clear. We can follow the blood trail.’

The pursuit was going more smoothly than expected. The blood Landoheidel had spilled was leaving a trail on the sea.

After about three hours, they could feel the distance closing in. The dot that was Landoheidel was slowly taking on the form of a dragon. Bang! Suddenly, a beam of light shot out from the sea and pierced Landoheidel’s body.

[Keueeek!]

“Fuck, what?!”

Ronan, startled, bit his tongue. A black lightning bolt had fallen from the sky, striking Landoheidel, who froze and plummeted towards the sea like a bird crashing into a window. He landed on a small island, but there was no massive splash.

“…Let’s hurry.”

Something didn’t feel right. The group increased the ship’s speed, and after about thirty minutes, they arrived at the location where Landoheidel had fallen.

For some reason, the nearby sea was dyed a deep, shimmering purple. Countless fish were swimming on the surface, their scales glinting in the light. The group’s eyes widened in shock.

“What, wh-what is this…?!”

“This is insane…”

Aselle covered his mouth with both hands, and Shullifen couldn’t hide his astonishment. The place where Landoheidel had fallen wasn’t an island—it was the corpse of a massive dragon, almost three times the size of Landoheidel, floating on the sea. Ronan, dumbfounded, muttered quietly.

“…Drahavier?”

The dragon’s scales glistened like the dark, humid forest at night, and its long neck and snake-like head hinted at its relationship with Landoheidel. Landoheidel’s corpse was lying on top of the dragon’s corpse.

“Who did this…?”

The poisonous energy rising from the sea was warping the space, making it hard to believe what they were seeing. The dragon’s true identity was unmistakable—it was the Poison Dragon, Drahavier.

Ronan, wearing a bear mask, approached the ship’s bow. There were gaping holes in the bodies of the two corpses, as if they had been pierced by a giant tree. Suddenly, Ronan sensed a familiar energy and raised an eyebrow.

“This…!”

A dark, swirling mana was rising from the holes, like a black flame. The indescribably eerie energy was unforgettable. The face of the black-clad man he had met at the Aurora Skar flashed before his eyes.

[Translator – Peptobismol]