"Asshole."
King Kira looked at the ruined palace and flew into a rage. He pointed at the Wizard King's nose and shouted, "Julius, why haven't you caught the creature that destroyed the palace!?"
"Your Majesty, they didn't mean to," the Wizard King replied calmly.
"They're the culprits who attacked me! Your mission is to protect me, not to favor that devil's mount!"
The king recognized it as Adam's dragon and couldn't help feeling jealous.
For the past two days, he'd even been dreaming about how amazing it would be to have a dragon of his own.
Not only would it look cool when he went out, but the people's attention would all be on him.
Maybe he could… use some tricks to steal it.
"Your Majesty, please don't speak of the kingdom's hero in that way. If the people heard your words, what would they think?"
The Wizard King's calm yet sharp tone snapped Kira out of his fantasy.
The image of Adam appeared in the king's mind, followed by Julius's unsettling smile. A shiver ran down his spine.
"I see…"
Kira began to sweat. He didn't dare to anger the Wizard King. This entire kingdom — even his life — depended on the man standing before him.
As long as Julius didn't interfere with his luxuries, the king couldn't care less what the Wizard King did.
"Then, Your Majesty, please rest well. I have other matters to attend to."
With a whoosh, Julius vanished.
Suppressing his frustration, Kira shouted toward the door, "Call all the beauties here!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Soon, the king was lying on a woman's lap while another massaged his shoulders. Still irritated, he sought to ease his boredom through indulgence.
Black Bull Headquarters
A magic stone hidden by the Black Bull's pet, Nero, had been found by the most miserable trio of the Eye of the Midnight Sun.
Henry, barely alive through the Bulls' magic link, piloted the reassembled Black Bull base to battle. But when Gauche's team was defeated, they collided head-on with Rades's secret weapon — Zombie No. 0.
"Rades, we've got what we came for. Time to retreat!"
Valtos scowled as he retrieved the hidden magic stone from the rubble. With his Space Magic, he could teleport everyone out in an instant.
"Retreat? Hell no! We can't just leave after this mess!" Rades shouted furiously. "This mission can't fail!"
Valtos's sharp glare silenced him immediately. Everything was for Master Licht's grand plan.
"Damn Black Bulls… just wait for me," Rades muttered through clenched teeth.
A dark spatial tunnel opened beneath them, swallowing the trio as they vanished.
"That button-eyed freak took something, didn't he?"
Gauche and the others turned to the shattered remains of the base. The battle had caused serious damage — the headquarters could only be rebuilt once Henry restored his mana.
Now, only two magic stones remained before the elves' plan could be fully realized.
Patolli, still disguised as Licht, was preparing to claim the stone held by the Wizard King. The darkest moment was drawing near.
"Don't be afraid! Your god has arrived!"
"Wuhu!"
Xiaoshui rode on Xiaolan, who had transformed into a massive blue dragon, rampaging through the Floating Demon Palace. Moments ago, they'd charged in and rescued several kidnapped civilians.
"Run! What the hell is that thing!?"
"Help!"
The followers of the Eye of the Midnight Sun trembled as the dragon's massive, fiery eyes locked onto them. They dropped everything and fled in terror.
"Fire Dragon's Breath!"
Xiaoshui shouted, and Xiaolan unleashed a torrent of flame. The blazing inferno incinerated the fleeing enemies to ash in an instant.
"Hehe~"
Xiaoshui let out a strange laugh, confusing Xiaolan, who could only respond with a roaring "Rooaar!"
"These rats are all traitors," Xiaoshui said, patting the dragon's neck. "Let's go straight for their leader. Take him down, and we win."
"Roar!"
Xiaolan bellowed in agreement, smashing through walls and obstacles alike as they charged toward the core chamber.
Meanwhile, Mereoleona had split her squad into five groups, leaving one Space Mage on standby outside.
She'd wanted to bring Xiaoshui and Xiaolan with her, but thinking of Adam's reckless behavior made her furious.
She was about to order them to follow Noelle, but Xiaoshui interrupted, saying arrogantly, "No need for nonsense. Just prepare a cup of seawater for me. Once I behead the enemy leader, everything will be solved."
Boom!
Before anyone could react, Xiaoshui mounted the massive dragon and burst through the palace wall, vanishing into the battlefield.
"That damn Adam! Even when he's not here, he steals the spotlight!?"
That was exactly what everyone in the Royal Knights thought. Both Mereoleona and Nozel looked like they could breathe fire.
Their plans for vengeance — for their fallen comrades and families — had been completely overshadowed.
"Let's move out!" Mereoleona ordered.
"Yes, Captain!"
As the Royal Knights charged into battle, the Wizard King — still in the capital — prepared to face what was coming.
"Go inform the citizens not to panic. That dragon is one of our secret weapons against the Eye of the Midnight Sun."
Julius's instincts told him something was about to happen. Calm and composed, he continued his duty as always.
"Yes, sir."
As his subordinate left, the Wizard King teleported to the top of the palace — the highest point in the royal capital.
"William. You're here."
"Wizard King."
William, wearing his red mask, was already waiting. He bowed slightly before removing it.
The black curse marks faded, revealing the true face beneath — not William, but Licht.
The scars vanished.
The Wizard King's eyes widened. As he suspected — two souls in one body.
He was William's superior… but Licht was William's friend. Unable to choose, William had surrendered his body.
"Thanks to my only human friend, William," Licht said softly. "Hello, Wizard King. I am Licht, leader of the Eye of the Midnight Sun."
"I didn't want this," Julius said heavily.
"Wizard King, please die!"
Licht's voice was filled with fury. He would resurrect his companions — and send all humans who betrayed them straight to hell.
"Light Magic: Lightsword of Judgment!"
"Time Magic: Chrono Illusion."
Licht fired a storm of radiant swords, but just before they reached Julius, they froze — suspended in time — and vanished into nothing.
"Light Magic may be fast," Julius said calmly, "but that doesn't mean it's impossible to stop."
"Then let's see how long you can keep that up!"
Licht conjured countless more lightsabers and unleashed them all at once. But the swords simply disappeared the moment they entered Julius's field.
Only light can overcome time, Licht thought. He condensed a whip of pure light and lashed at Julius.
The Wizard King leapt high into the air. Licht seized the opening, lunging forward — his lightsaber slicing across Julius's chest, leaving a crimson trail.
"I haven't seen my own blood in a while," Julius sighed.
"Your Time Magic is running out!" Licht yelled, grinning wildly.
"The essence of Time Magic…" Julius said quietly, placing a hand over his wound, which instantly healed, "…is taking time from others."
"Time can be stored. You can't defeat me."
His confidence stood in sharp contrast to Licht's growing madness.
Meanwhile, Yami Sukehiro — having sensed an immense surge of magic — was already on his way to the royal capital.
"I wonder if Xiaoshui and Xiaolan found Mereoleona."
Adam's transparent figure flickered across the sky, racing toward the capital.
...
Author's Note:
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