Chapter 39: The Usurper’s Birth

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: The Usurper’s Birth

​Still morphed into his Dragonoot form, Krono sat silently perched atop a high domed building.

​The sky burned in vibrant shades of deep orange as the sun slowly dipped below the distant horizon. A cool evening breeze swept across the rooftops, causing his dark hair to flutter softly in the wind.

​His gaze remained serene, quietly observing the twilight sky and the bustling dragonoids roaming the city streets below.

​Everyone was simply going about their daily routines, completely unaware of the melancholic figure watching them from above.

​He felt utterly alone.

​The gentle smile of his mother and the encouraging words of his brother echoed softly in his mind. It had only been a few months since he was forced to abandon his home, but to Krono, it felt like several lifetimes had passed.

​He missed those peaceful, nostalgic days with his family more than he cared to admit.

​All of a sudden, Adira’s sharp voice intruded upon his quiet thoughts.

​"So, what is your grand plan now?" she mocked lightly. "Or are you going to spend the rest of your days reminiscing about the past like a cranky old man?"

​Krono slowly shook his head. The nostalgic softness vanished from his crimson eyes, replaced by a cold, terrifying glint of pure ambition.

​"No. I am not going to sit idly by," he answered quietly.

​Inside his mind, Adira let out an amused snort.

​"Then state your destination first. The human realm rejects your demonic nature, the dragons treat you as an invasive pest, and those brainless demons are certainly not going to roll out a red carpet for you. Where could you possibly go next?"

​A silence followed..

​Then, slowly, Krono lifted his gaze from the bustling city below and stared straight into the vast, darkening sky.

​"I am going to destroy them all. I am going to be an usurper"

​Adira let out a dramatic sigh.

​"An usurper? "Do you even know what you are talking about? An usurper does not simply wage war. An usurper steals divine mandates, shatters ancient bloodlines, and rips crowns directly from the bloody heads of those who wear them."

​Krono’s lips curled into a predatory smile. His crimson eyes glowed with an unholy light against the fading twilight sky.

​"I know exactly what it means. This entire world is governed by hypocrites sitting on high thrones built from stolen power. The dragons call themselves absolute nobles while stomping out innocent lives like bugs. The human kings preach righteousness while slaughtering anyone who does not fit their mold. The demon lords rule through mindless, chaotic slaughter."

​He slowly stood up at the very peak of the dome, looking down at the sprawling city below like an executioner selecting his next target.

His eyes turned terrifyingly cold.

​"I have no interest in building a kingdom from the dirt. I am going to take theirs. I will hunt down every ruler, every baron, every king, and every god who thinks their lineage makes them untouchable. I will drag them off their precious seats, devour their power, and sit upon their shattered crowns."

​Adira went completely silent for a moment, absorbing the intoxicating malice of his resolve. It suited his nature far better than a sneaky devourer.

Adira curled his lips.

​"The Ultimate Devourer, stealing thrones and usurping the very order of the world. You will not just be hated, Krono. You will become an existential plague to every ruling class in existence. They will learn to fear the day they ever let you live."

Krono was unflinching.

​"Let them fear it. Their authority is just prey waiting to be consumed. And my hunger has only just begun."

With that, he was about to leave toward his first target.

But, before Krono could even step off the edge of the domed roof, a powerful gust of wind slammed into the stone tiles.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

​One by one, five towering Dragonoots landed in a tight circle around him.

They wore shiny black armor engraved with the ruling Baron’s family crest. These were not mere street patrols. They were elite trackers, strongly armed and radiating a suffocating aura of superiority.

​The squad leader stepped forward, and pointed his heavy spear directly at Krono’s scaled chest. He looked down at Krono’s generic, low-tier Dragonoot scales with absolute disgust.

​"Do not move a single muscle, lowborn trash! We are hunting a filthy human child who committed treason. What is a pathetic bottom-feeder like you doing lurking around the high district at this hour? State your name and clan immediately."

​Krono did not even move. He slowly tilted his head, his crimson eyes fixing onto the tall captain.

Astoundingly, a sickeningly calm smile spread across his scaly face.

​"My identity?

You came all this way just to ask me that?"

A different guard snapped,

​"Watch your tone, mongrel! Answer captain’s question before we cut your tongue out. We do not have time to play games with a nameless peasant."

​Krono chuckled. "Che!"

The sound was very dark and raspy. It sent an unnatural freezing chill down the spines of the elite dragon warriors.

​"You are absolutely right. You do not have time. Because your time in this world has just run out. You want to know who I am? I am the nightmare your masters are going to face. I am the Usurper."

​Before the captain could even register the brazen threat, Krono opened his hands.

​"[Absolute Absorption]."

​Instantly, a terrifying explosion of pitch-black viscous mist erupted from Krono’s small body.

Buzz! Buzz!

The dark fog violently lashed out like starving serpents, instantly wrapping around all five elite guards.

Buzz!

​The seasoned warriors did not even have time to swing their heavy weapons.

The black mist immediately began to bypass their physical defenses, dissolving their armor and eating straight into their living flesh.

​"Ahhhhhhhh! What is this dark magic? My scales! My skin is melting!" the captain screamed in terror.

​"Help us! Somebody help!" the others shrieked as the mist lifted their bodies off the ground.

​Krono stood perfectly still in the center of the dark storm. His eyes glowed like bloody moons as he watched the living guards being slowly digested alive.

"Ahhhhhhh! Helppp!"

Their panicked, screams echoed loudly into the night sky before abruptly cutting off as their vocal cords dissolved into pure energy.

​Within seconds, five fully armored elite warriors were reduced to nothing but raw essence.

Krono’s veins were flooded with rush of intoxicating energy.

​[ You have devoured 5x Elite Dragonoots alive. ]

​[ Stats increased. ]

​Krono licked his lips, his bottomless hunger burning hotter than ever.

​"Thank you for the warm meal. Now, who is next?"