The Dragon King roared.
ROOOOOOOOAAARRRRR!!
Its voice shook the entire mountain.
Massive cracks spread across the chamber floor as black lightning erupted from the dragon’s body.
Seal Integrity: 77%…
76%…
75%…
Every heartbeat weakened the ancient seal.
Kael tightened his grip around Nerina.
The sapphire blade hummed softly.
“Master.”
“We don’t have much time.”
“I know.”
Lyra stepped beside him, her silver sword reflecting the dragon’s crimson eyes.
“I’m with you.”
Kael looked at her.
“You don’t have to.”
She smiled.
“I know.”
“But I want to.”
For a brief moment…
The chaos around them seemed to disappear.
Inside the Infinite Sword Archive…
Scarlet crossed her arms.
“They’re synchronizing.”
Astra nodded.
“It isn’t through mana.”
“It’s through trust.”
Solis smiled gently.
“The strongest resonance has always been between two hearts that fight for the same future.”
The Dragon King suddenly lunged.
Its gigantic claw tore through the air.
BOOOOOOM!!
The chamber collapsed behind Kael.
Stone pillars exploded into fragments.
Kael grabbed Lyra’s wrist.
“Move!”
The two disappeared in a flash of blue and silver light.
The claw crashed into empty ground.
Professor Roland stared in disbelief.
“They’re keeping up with it…”
Lucien quietly corrected him.
“No.”
“They’re predicting it.”
Kael landed atop a broken pillar.
“Sovereign’s Insight.”
Golden patterns spread across his vision.
This time…
He wasn’t looking at the dragon.
He was looking at the chains.
Hundreds.
No…
Thousands of black chains pierced the Dragon King’s soul.
Each carried ancient runes.
Each fed corruption into the dragon’s heart.
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“So that’s the source.”
Malachar’s laughter echoed through the chamber.
“You noticed.”
“But can you destroy all of them?”
Kael didn’t answer.
Instead…
He looked at Lyra.
“I need ten seconds.”
She blinked.
“…That’s all?”
Kael nodded.
“I’ll give you the chance to save him.”
She smiled confidently.
“Then leave the rest to me.”
Before anyone could react…
Lyra charged.
Silver mana erupted around her body.
Her sword danced like moonlight across a calm lake.
The Dragon King’s claw descended.
She sidestepped.
The second claw followed.
The third strike came from above.
She met it head-on.
CLANG!!
The impact shattered the stone beneath her feet.
Blood trickled from the corner of her lips.
Yet…
She didn’t retreat.
Inside her mind…
Fragments of forgotten memories surfaced once again.
A battlefield covered in ash.
Kael standing before countless enemies.
He turned back and smiled.
“Stay behind me.”
“I’ll always find my way back to you.”
The memory disappeared.
Lyra’s heartbeat quickened.
“…Idiot.”
“You really carried all of this alone…”
The Dragon King’s tail whipped toward her.
She couldn’t dodge.
Suddenly—
A hand wrapped around her waist.
Kael.
He pulled her clear just before the impact obliterated the pillar.
The two landed together.
For a split second…
Their faces were only inches apart.
Neither spoke.
Neither looked away.
Kael quietly asked,
“Can you still fight?”
Lyra smiled despite the blood on her lips.
“Only if you’re beside me.”
A faint smile appeared on Kael’s face.
“Then let’s finish this together.”
Far away…
The silver-haired woman watched silently.
“…Aurelius.”
“They remind me of us.”
A faint sadness crossed her face.
Kael raised Nerina toward the Dragon King.
Blue light spread across the chamber.
Water gathered from thin air.
Rivers.
Streams.
Entire oceans of mana formed around the blade.
Nerina closed her eyes.
“Master…”
“I’m lending you everything I can.”
“Please…”
“Save him.”
The Dragon King roared again.
Black chains tightened around its heart.
Its sapphire eye struggled to remain open.
A single tear fell once more.
Kael inhaled deeply.
Then…
For the first time…
He combined the powers of two Sovereign Blades.
“Astra.”
Silver light answered.
“Nerina.”
Blue light intertwined with silver.
The two swords resonated.
Inside the Infinite Sword Archive…
Every Divine Sword trembled.
Scarlet stood up instantly.
“No way…”
Solis’ eyes widened.
“He combined them…”
“…at only three-point-five percent Synchronization.”
Aurelius smiled.
“Excellent.”
Outside—
Kael’s two swords merged into a single radiant blade.
Half silver.
Half sapphire.
Its aura wasn’t violent.
It was pure.
Warm. The source of this chapter is novelping.com.
Hope itself seemed to flow from the blade.
Malachar’s smile disappeared.
“…Impossible.”
Kael vanished.
Not with overwhelming speed.
But with absolute precision.
One slash.
A black chain shattered.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
Twenty.
Every strike severed another chain binding the Dragon King’s soul.
The corruption screamed.
The chamber echoed with inhuman cries.
The Dragon King suddenly stopped moving.
Its massive body trembled.
Its crimson eye flickered.
Blue.
Red.
Blue.
Red.
The two wills fought desperately for control.
Kael raised his sword for one final strike.
“I’m ending this.”
Suddenly—
A black spear erupted from the dragon’s chest.
SCHKKK!!
Kael barely blocked it.
The impact launched him across the chamber.
He crashed through three stone pillars before stopping.
“Kael!”
Lyra ran toward him.
He coughed blood.
“I’m alright.”
He wasn’t.
His right arm trembled violently.
The fused Sovereign Blade shattered back into Astra and Nerina.
Warning
Synchronization Limit Exceeded.
Body Damage: Severe.
Mana Pathways Destabilized.
Scarlet sighed.
“I knew he’d overdo it.”
Black mist gathered above the Dragon King.
This time…
Malachar’s projection was clearer.
His body was becoming tangible.
He looked down at Kael with amused eyes.
“You truly are Aurelius’ successor.”
“You’d sacrifice your own life…”
“…to save another.”
He slowly raised one hand.
The remaining black chains fused together.
They transformed into a colossal spear of pure Void energy.
Its tip pointed directly at Kael.
“No more games.”
“This strike…”
“…will erase both you…”
“…and the Dragon King.”
The spear descended.
The chamber fell into silence.
Kael tried to stand.
His body refused.
Lyra looked at the descending spear…
Then stepped in front of him.
She spread her arms.
Determination burned in her silver eyes.
“If someone has to die…”
“…it won’t be you.”
Kael’s eyes widened.
“Lyra!”
The Void Spear was only meters away.
And for the first time since his regression…
Kael felt the same helplessness that had haunted him in his previous life.
End of Chapter 20