Chapter 47: Monster of Mist Forest

Kei had coiled his magic into a spearhead of light, hiding it within the very layer of surging black flames. When Azel used his magical power to disperse the dragon’s breath, the ray of light immediately escaped from the blind spot behind the flames.

It made no sound.

In just an instant, the holy light crossed the distance between Kei and Azel at terrifying speed. The ice pillars along its path were pierced through, shattering into pieces like glass under the dazzling light.

The ray of light pointed straight at Azel’s head.

"What...?"

Azel’s pupils widened. He immediately raised three layers of magical barriers in front of him, but the golden light pierced through the first layer, crushed the second, then tore through the third like thin paper.

He realized he had fallen into a trap.

The dragon’s breath was merely bait, the real killing blow of magic had been hidden behind it by Kei all along.

That was an SS-rank magic scroll!

The divine punishment light continued forward, tearing open the sky, passing through the ice pillars and illuminating the entire forest with blinding radiance. Azel roared, purple-black magical power erupting around him as he tried to resist the light pressing down upon him.

But it was useless!

The frozen lake surface cracked apart. Ancient tree trunks shook violently. The golden light and purple-black magical power collided, creating a storm of energy that hurled dirt, rocks, branches, and ice fragments into the air.

Kei could see Azel’s terrified face in the distance, he was certain that even if Azel didn’t die, he would be left with barely a breath after taking this spell head-on!

Immediately afterward, the magical power within Kei’s body was completely depleted.

Kei’s body went limp. He barely managed to cling to the black dragon’s neck before his consciousness sank into darkness.

"No... I can’t pass out now!"

Kei screamed inwardly.

His consciousness was sinking into a cold, dark void. His entire body went weak, his arms nearly losing the strength to hold onto the black dragon’s neck. The magical power in his body had been completely drained after activating the [Divine Punishment Light] scroll. Each heartbeat grew heavier, as if someone were slamming a hammer directly into his chest.

Yet Kei could not afford to lose consciousness.

Not now.

If he passed out, the little dragon wouldn’t know what to do next. It had never stepped out into the outside world, let alone truly fought for survival. Azel might be severely wounded, but he wasn’t dead yet. As long as he caught up, the two of them would have no chance left.

Mages possess extremely strong willpower, Kei used the faint remnants of his magical power to force himself awake.

Kei bit down hard on his lip.

The taste of blood immediately spread across his mouth, pulling his consciousness back from the brink of unconsciousness.

"Little dragon...! Kill him...!"

The moment Kei opened his eyes, he saw the black dragon charging toward Azel.

The dragon knew this was the chance to kill Azel too. Despite wounds covering its body, the black dragon struggled to flap its wings, its massive form skimming low over the frozen lake surface. It opened its jaws wide, revealing sharp fangs, and lunged straight forward, wanting to tear apart the one who had been hunting it and Kei.

Azel was kneeling on the ice. His left shoulder had been pierced through by the golden light, and the purple-black magical power around him flickered like a flame about to go out. Black blood dripped onto the lake surface, immediately rising as thin wisps of mist.

But he was still alive.

Moreover, in the moment the black dragon lunged forward, Kei sensed a terrifying wave of danger surging up from behind Azel.

It wasn’t Azel’s magical power.

It was colder, deeper, and so immense that it made Kei’s soul tremble. The feeling was like an invisible eye opening beneath the depths of the forest, silently watching every creature struggling on the ground above.

"Run, little dragon!"

Kei shouted, his voice hoarse.

"Don’t get near him!"

The black dragon halted mid-air instantly. It tilted its head to sense for a moment, seemingly having also noticed something was wrong. The survival instinct of a dragon screamed within its chest.

But it was already too late.

Right behind Azel, space suddenly caved inward.

At first, it was just a small black dot, like a drop of ink falling onto the lake’s surface. That black dot quickly expanded, swallowing the surrounding light. The nearby ice pillars were pulled and tilted toward it,the surface cracked into countless winding lines.

Azel also realized danger had arrived right behind him.

He turned his head, and for the first time, his face showed a look of terror.

"No... impossible... an ancient creature..."

A colossal mouth opened within the black hole.

No eyes, no nose, and no discernible shape other than layers of pale white teeth stacked upon each other. That mouth was wide enough to swallow an entire building whole, exuding from the darkness the stench of corpses rotting for thousands of years.

Azel immediately erected layers of magical barriers, wanting to survive and flee.

"Get lost!"

He roared, swinging his hand to unleash a column of dark purple magic. The column of magic shot straight into the colossal mouth, but only created a few ripples in the deep darkness.

The mouth of the ancient creature gaped wider.

A terrifying suction force erupted instantly.

The frozen lake surface shattered. Heavy chunks of ice were pulled up into the sky, spinning before vanishing into the black hole. Azel dug his hands deep into the ice, struggling to hold his body in place, but little by little, he was still dragged backward.

"No! I am one of the Demon King’s four demon generals! A nameless ancient monster like you has no right—"

"Agh!!!!"

Azel’s scream was cut off.

The colossal mouth snapped shut.

Azel’s body disappeared into the darkness after just a single dry, crunching sound.