The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

The amalgamation of the demonic sword and cyan was no longer human in appearance.

It was a black mist itself, a semblance of artificial nature, not of primordial origin but crafted by him.

It emitted a negative aura that evoked various emotions just by being observed.

“Lu-Lucion, is that power…?”

“It’s the power of an exile chased from the divine realm.”

Lucion Kalonis Aron Moarlian Charlotte, a pure-blooded silver dragon untouched by crossbreeding.

He gazed at the transformed cyan with great interest.

“I see. You also have some belief in it, so it seems it’s showing those disgusting fangs…”

Cyan remained silent, confidently striding out of the containment barrier he had created.

“However tough the vessel might be, it cannot contain overflowing torrents. Even if you possess the infinite power of a god, there are limits to what a fragile human body can handle. As I’ve said before, understanding one’s limits is crucial for creatures like you, primitive beings.”

With an odd smile, Lucion concentrated the mana he manifested in his hand.

*Crackle*

Like colliding electricity, a strong spark ignited.

The condensed mana gradually took shape, transforming into the form of a long spear.

“You should consider it an honor to see my Radiant Spear, human. Push yourself to your limits wherever possible. Perhaps if you please me, you too will become a subject of my research like that half-breed…”

“You’re talking too much…”

At a speed leaving no room for response, Cyan, in the form of black mist, swiftly approached Lucion and delivered a rapid strike.

*Clang!*

It was as if instinct rather than intellect blocked the blow.

Lucion, who barely managed to block the sword with his raised spear, did not exhibit the same composure as before.

“What kind of movement is this…?”

*Swoosh*

The scarlet blade slid down the shaft of the spear, and in that moment, Cyan’s body rotated dynamically, delivering an attack twice, if not thrice as fast as the previous strike.

*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!*

Rather than counterattack, Lucion was forced into a defensive stance.

Even the slightest distraction could lead to the grim sword piercing his noble body.

Desperate, Lucion had to block it at all costs.

“How dare you challenge a mere human…!”

As Lucion’s anger manifested divine energy, a blue magic circle appeared above Cyan’s head, along with lightning bolts.

*Zap*

Cyan swiftly retreated after deflecting the sword. In its place, white lightning struck, and the ground beneath charred black.

“Urgh…”

Thinking he bought some time, Lucion looked back at Cyan.

But between 0 and 1 seconds.

In a breathless moment, the eyes, brighter than blood, full of murderous rage, once again gazed down at Lucion from close range.

At that moment, Lucion thought, there was no way to avoid this attack…

“Lucion, Lucion!”

*Bam!*

A transparent colorless barrier clashed with the crimson demonic sword.

It was a protective shield formed by the fusion of divine power and mana, a dragon’s innate defense that even ordinary humans couldn’t breach.

“C-Cadelina…!”

“Step back and regroup! I’ll handle this insignificant human!”

Having blocked the blow, the red dragon spread her large wings, emanating the power of her noble lineage.

“Hah!”

*Thunk!*

As her mana spread through the barrier, Cyan, unable to withstand the shockwave, was repelled.

“Step back, Cadelina! He’s not an opponent you can face…!”

“Don’t worry, Lucion! This insignificant human won’t penetrate my barrier…!”

In a moment, she saw it.

In the space illuminated by Lucion’s lightning, within the brilliance filling the dragon’s vast vision, she saw the black mist of ignorance…

In that darkness, she met the scarlet gaze, and fear overwhelmed her entire being.

Her hands holding the barrier began to tremble.

Cyan addressed her with a whisper.

“Dance of Blades: Scattering of 8 Petals…!”

With each blade dance, the floating sword performed acrobatics.

Its speed was unmatched even by the dragon’s senses.

Before she could react, eight sword slashes were drawn.

Unable to cope, she could do nothing as the blades pierced through her barrier and into her body.

*Zap!*

“Kyaaah…!”

Cadelina’s body, shattered into eight pieces, scattered in all directions.

Thick blood gushed, staining the black mist crimson.

Lucion observed it all.

The racing heart, the frantic blood flow.

The emotion he felt could be summed up in one word: fear.

The greatest race on earth, descended from the blood of gods, was in fear of the insignificant humans.

“W-what the hell are you……?”

Lucion’s words no longer contained arrogance.

Just a question.

He just wanted to know how on earth the being in front of him was showing such strange power.

“…….”

The hands holding the spear were trembling endlessly.

* * *

A red-haired dragon that has been torn to pieces to the extent that its original appearance is no longer known.

Was your name Cardelina or something?

Next time you are born, I hope you don’t say or do anything ugly or anything like that when you first meet people.

My gaze naturally turned to the target I was originally aiming for.

“……!”

Doubt, denial, vigilance, and the fear that encompasses all of those emotions.

The supreme race, heirs to the divine blood, feared a mere human.

How amusing!

*Drip*

A trickle of blood ran down his cheek.

Perhaps grazed by the lightning moments ago.

“This scent… You’ve tasted the blood of a Demonic Dragon from the Lemea Valley!”

A keen sense of smell indeed.

I didn’t bother to respond.

“But that alone doesn’t explain it! You may have drunk the blood of the demonic dragon and inherited the divine, but you’re not another god, are you? A god of the black mist, an exile, yet you exhibit such power! Tell me, just who are you!”

[Isn’t it about time you shut that mouth of yours?]

Kaeram, who couldn’t bear it anymore, interjected.

I agreed with Kaeram on that point.

Always demanding explanations whenever something incomprehensible happens, charging in like an enraged bull demanding answers.

They seem to lack any sense of dignity.

I approached the silver-haired old dragon without a word, grabbing Kaeram and turning him around slowly.

Sometimes, you have to experience and endure things firsthand to understand.

That’s true not only for humans but also for dragons.

Look at the face of the one who was so arrogant and mocking earlier.

Look at how all that bravado vanished from his face.

His comrade threw herself to protect him, only to be torn apart.

Even if he shed blood and tears and rushed in, it wouldn’t be enough.

Yet, he still arrogantly runs his mouth…

To such a contemptible fellow, I have nothing to say.

“All right, since you have no intention of talking till the end. Fine! I’ll personally cut off your head and plunder every memory from that hollow brain of yours! All of this is your own doing!”

*Hummm*

A massive magic circle formed beneath his feet, accompanied by an enormous amount of mana and divine energy.

He wasn’t trying to cast high-level magic.

He simply wanted to abandon his feeble imitation of humans and return to his true form.

*Whoosh*

As a fierce gust swept through, the dense mist around dispersed.

Within the magic circle, the silver dragon, now gradually reverting to his true form, stood.

How others perceived him didn’t matter.

Right now, he was the most vulnerable he’d been throughout all his displays.

No defense whatsoever, just waiting to be struck down.

Would I marvel, “Wow! A dragon transforming before my eyes!” or something similar?

Wherever I heard it, I remember the rule: during transformation, it’s customary not to attack.

Wasn’t there some sort of etiquette in battle?

If we follow that logic, do I have to tolerate and observe this guy’s ridiculous transformation?

Is there any need for that?

I’m an assassin.

I simply assess the best angle and dive in to kill, regardless of courtesy or formality.

That’s the bare minimum rule for an assassin.

It should apply to that basta*d over there as well.

As mist enveloped Kaeram, I propelled forward.

Ever seen the root of a tree?

All plants rely on roots buried in the soil, spreading out to support the stem.

From small sprouts to towering trees with thousands of leaves, they grow.

Even the tiny tendrils of external roots grow into countless roots over time.

Such a rich network of roots, unsure of where to go or how far they’ll extend.

This small strike I’m about to deliver to his colossal body will become the root of a resilient tree, enduring through countless ages, eventually becoming the core of the forest.

“Dance of Blades: Resilient Tree’s Roots!”

*Slice!*

At the moment the dragon fully manifested.

Leaping lightly from the ground, I plunged Kaeram right into his center.

*Sizzle*

The fog surrounded by the sword penetrated into the creature’s body, splitting into hundreds of paths and spreading throughout the body, like the roots of a tree.

“You, you! What did you do to me……!”

It’s nice to have an exciting transformation, but now it’s time to leave.

I looked into his eyes and smiled softly.

“In your next life, be born with flexibility rather than nobility.”

“Kwaaaaaak!”

The guy responded with a bloody scream.

As mist engulfed him and pierced through his body like hundreds of branches spreading out, I separated his massive body with cracks, scattering him into pieces.

*Thud thud*

I killed him.

Two of the supreme dragons of the earth, each in just five minutes.

The torn and shredded dragon’s corpse scattered in all directions.

This situation might not fit the following phrase, but why does this scene seem like… a feast of victory?

“Brian!”

“Yes, my lord!”

To him, who rushed over briskly, I handed him a suitable piece of flesh.

Blood was dripping from it.

“M-My lord, w-what’s this for…?”

“Eat it.”

“Huh?”

Maybe he misunderstood, as his eyes widened as if they were about to burst.

“It’s a delicacy of life that you won’t have a chance to taste again if you don’t eat it now. There is no better healthy food to strengthen your body, so if possible, pour as much as you can into your stomach.”

As I spoke, I too picked up a piece of flesh and swallowed it along with the blood inside.

Ugh…

A sensation spread deeply within my body, the sacred dragon’s energy filling me up.

He might have been a bit foolish, but indeed, the blood of the earth’s mightiest race is different!

[…]

Beside me, Kaeram shook her head as if she were fed up.

“Papa, is it tasty? Can I have some too?!”

Somehow, an energized Nana approached me and said.

“You can’t. Go back, and I’ll give you something else! Eat it.”

“No! I want to taste it too! I want to eat it!”

Stubborn kid.

No matter how she insists, I don’t want to make her a cannibal.

I gently held Nana back as she ran towards the corpse.

It was amusing to see her whine and fidget, unable to go forward.

————