"Don't show off. I've got a task for you."
Adam pinched Xiaoshui's tiny, soft body — smooth and warm to the touch.
"You and Xiaolan will head to the capital. Find Mereoleona and go with her to the base of the Eye of the Midnight Sun. Wipe those lunatics out."
Xiaoshui scratched his head, looking confused. "But… I don't even know that woman."
"Xiaolan does. The wild one."
Xiaolan descended from the sky, visibly trembling. Just hearing that name made his scales itch. He really didn't want to meet that crazy woman again.
"Don't worry, she won't eat you," Adam said, patting Xiaolan's head. He set Xiaoshui on the dragon's back and smiled. "The duty of saving the kingdom now rests on you two."
"Don't worry, Boss! Leave it to me!" Xiaoshui said confidently, thumping his tiny chest.
Xiaolan, on the other hand, looked utterly defeated. Why me again…?
"Roar!"
As the blue dragon soared into the sky, Adam couldn't help but feel proud.
These two creatures carried enough magic power to rival an entire Demon Palace — and they were immortal. That was more than enough to annihilate the Eye of the Midnight Sun's forces.
"Come out, friend. I know you're there."
Adam turned, his eyes narrowing sharply.
He'd felt that strange energy earlier but hadn't acted. Only now, after sending Xiaolan and Xiaoshui away, did he make his move. If he'd struck earlier, the intruder might've escaped instantly.
"As expected of you, Adam. Even though I hid so well, you still found me."
William appeared from behind a boulder, wearing his familiar red mask.
"You're not hiding that well, Captain William — or should I say, Licht."
Adam's tone was cold and cutting. "You really thought a rat could hide from a hawk?"
Licht smirked and slowly removed the mask. His cursed forehead began to glow, his face shifting into Licht's true form under the white light.
"Two souls in one body?" Adam asked.
"That's right."
"So you're the secret the Wizard King was trying to expose today. Why come to me instead of him?" Adam frowned. "Shouldn't he be your main concern? The guy whose grimoire is larger than a damn house?"
"Don't worry," Licht said darkly. "Once we deal with you, it'll be his turn."
He looked down at Adam, his right hand hidden behind his back. "You're a variable. I can't rest easy while you still exist."
Whoosh!
Before Adam could react, Licht vanished, reappearing behind him with a golden cube in his hand — which he slammed straight at Adam.
"Just you?" Adam scoffed.
He spun around and fired a blazing beam of light from his palm.
Bang!
The explosion sent waves of dust through the crater, but when the smoke cleared — the golden cube remained completely untouched.
Adam's eyes widened. "What the hell…?"
"Feel honored!" Licht laughed. "This is our clan's most sacred treasure. We've been searching for a sinner like you for a long, long time."
"You crazy bastard…" Adam growled.
"Eye of the Sealed Spirit — awaken!"
The cube trembled. A blood-red eye suddenly opened on its surface, radiating a sinister glow.
"Adam, be sealed!"
The crimson light engulfed him. His body froze — he couldn't move, not even transform.
"Damn it… I was careless."
The Eye of the Sealed Spirit split into four smaller cubes, each glowing with eerie red light, and surrounded him.
With a click — they locked together.
Adam's golden grimoire slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground.
"Hahaha! Let's see you escape this time!"
Licht snatched the cube and hurled it into the volcano, driving it deep with a massive golden lightsaber.
Magma erupted violently.
He wrapped the cube with Light Magic, sealing it tight, and sent it plunging into the molten depths.
"Stay there forever, Adam… may your screams echo in the lava."
But then — he froze.
"Wait. Where's his grimoire?"
Licht looked around, frowning. That grimoire was different — it allowed even those without mana to wield magic.
And now… it was gone.
"Tch. No time to waste."
He clenched his fists. "I still have to recover the last two magic stones from the Wizard King."
And with that, Licht disappeared into a beam of golden light.
At the same time, in the capital—
"Did Adam send you here?" Mereoleona asked, stepping forward with a sharp glare.
The King's Chosen Knights, who had been preparing for their mission, had been stopped by a sudden arrival — Xiaoshui and Xiaolan.
The enormous mana radiating from them made everyone instantly assume it was an enemy attack.
Thankfully, Mereoleona recognized the timid blue dragon and stopped them from unleashing their spells.
"The Boss told us to help you!" Xiaoshui said proudly, leaping down from Xiaolan's head and landing neatly on Mereoleona's shoulder.
She was unmistakable — the fiery aura, the sharp eyes, the crazy energy.
Xiaolan shrank down to palm-size and perched on her other shoulder, sighing miserably.
"How did you find this place?" Nozel asked coldly. "This base is classified. Not even most nobles know its location."
Xiaoshui tilted his head. "Oh, that? We flew over a big castle and met a kind old man. He told us."
He crossed his tiny arms and continued, "That yellow-haired uncle was nice — not like the ugly guy with the crown. His voice sounds like a duck. Really unpleasant."
Everyone froze.
Mereoleona blinked. "Wait… old man, yellow hair…"
Asta's eyes went wide. "You mean the Wizard King?! And… the King?!"
Everyone exchanged horrified looks.
"Just who are these two creatures?" Asta whispered. "They're terrifying…"
Noelle bit her lip, muttering, "Why would Adam send Xiaolan to help Lady Mereoleona…?"
Then, a terrifying thought struck her. That day, she'd seen a strand of fiery red hair on Adam's coat…
No way…
She stared at Mereoleona in shock — and immediately looked away when the woman's sharp gaze met hers.
"Noelle, what's wrong?"
"N-Nothing!" she stammered.
Mereoleona narrowed her eyes. "This girl…"
She glanced at the tiny duo on her shoulders. "That damn kid — sending me guards? Does he think I need protection?"
She clenched her fists. "Space Mage — open the portal!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Cobb activated his grimoire, summoning a massive space tunnel shimmering in white light.
"Everyone, move out!"
"Yes!"
The King's Chosen Knights stepped through the portal — toward the Eye of the Midnight Sun's floating fortress, suspended in the eastern Dungeon Region.
...
Author's Note:
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