While Tear was having an impassioned conversation with Xal, three men had broken into the school’s main headquarters and made their way to where the meeting was currently being held.
Erebus had put back on his eyepatch and let the streak return to his hair since it was unnecessary to keep it hidden.
“I hope Tear is treating them courteously,” Erebus remarked suddenly. He had forgotten to tell her to act properly, it would be no good if they joined if they were scared... well, it should be fine, right?
Vyne, knowing quite well what she was probably doing, didn’t dare utter a word.
“How are we going to deal with these men?” Dissolve changed the subject since he didn’t care about Tear or how she was treating the humans at all. To most dragons, humans were on the same level as ants, so if a few of them died, they didn’t bat an eye.
“Ah, let’s get the truth with them and then we’ll kill them,” Erebus answered. “Mae talked to me a while ago and said that she’s almost finished with her research, so she should be reporting to me within the hour. Let’s get this over with quickly so I won’t be busy when she contacts me.”
Vyne chuckled. “Should I draw the information from them?”
“We only need one of them to confess, there should be a weak-willed person who will give us what we need if we give them some prodding,” Erebus answered. “Most humans are innately cowards and only care for themselves, so it shouldn’t be that hard.”
“I agree, I agree.”
The trio of men arrived at a grand set of double-doors made out of a high-quality wood and had a knocker made out of pure gold. It was as if the door was made in order to fully explain their wealth. Sadly, the three that beheld the door had seen much finer things in their lifetime, and thus marked it off as a “normal” door, not worthy of any attention.
Erebus opened the door and the three walked inside of the meeting room which barely had any lighting. The moment the door closed, the sunlight from outside was blocked off and everything was left in darkness with only the amber hues from the torches illuminating the room.
“Hello, gentlemen,” Vyne spoke as he stepped forward. He didn’t deem the seven men that were congregated around a roundtable to be worthy of his master’s greetings.
“Oh no,” a single man wailed. “Not again,” he sobbed. “Why is it always me?” It was none other than King Rupert, the man who, whenever he met Erebus, misfortune fell upon!
“Hey, it’s Rupert!” Erebus said joyfully. “Since we’re friends, he’ll tell me everything.”
Rupert had an expression on his face that clearly indicated that he didn’t think they were friends, nevertheless, Erebus walked over and threw his arm around Rupert’s shoulder.
Those watching could only gasp in surprise. First, this child was referring to the King of Milon without his title, and now he touched him so nonchalantly! Where were the guards?
Hey, guys, those guards had been wiped out rather quickly. They didn’t even put up much of a fight, you know? Maybe your standards are too low.
Or maybe their opponent's specs were too high.
“W-what is it?” Rupert stammered, feeling a cold sweat form on his forehead.
“Tell me... what do you know about the「 Magma Heart」? What have you stupid humans been doing?” Erebus’ tone changed and his aura began to leak out, filling the weak man with even greater fear.
“I... don’t know what...”
Erebus’ hand clamped around Rupert’s throat. “Don’t lie to me, Rupert.”
The king spluttered and coughed as he desperately tries to breathe, his ruddy face turning a vivid red color and veins bulging. "I'm sorry, I'll tell the truth!" he squealed.
Erebus released Rupert and stroked his head as if he was a child. "See? Was that so hard?"
Rupert shook his head, collapsing to the ground.
"Good, now tel--"
"Rupert? What are you doing! I don't know who these men are but do not say an--"
In a flash, the outraged man who had spoken out was cleaved in half. Vyne had used his wind magic to kill the one who dare disrupt his master, he smiled serenely, but it was clearly was warning to anyone else who would try to speak out.
Poor King Rupert was shaking, in fact, the smell of urine and feces filled the air. Erebus took a step back, then a couple more as a liquid moved towards him.
“That’s...” he started to speak then paused. “Wow, okay.” He looked around, everywhere but Rupert’s face. “Um, all right. So... about that「 Magma Heart」.”
Rupert didn’t hesitate for another moment to spill everything to Erebus, “W-we used the 「 Magma Heart」to conduct experiments on the human body, incidentally, we found out another way of resurrection through this. We’ve also been using it to enhance their bodies with and without the resurrection, the ones who died and reborn were stronger than those who didn’t. It’s true that it was the combined aim of Dyora, Milon, and Halagenia to build up an undefeatable army to conquer the Lower Continent! I’m sorry, O Supreme One! We are worms who deserve to be squashed.”
“Exactly my thoughts,” Erebus said. He clapped his hands together. “Who wants to die first?”
Erebus! My darling, I have finished. Mae’s voice cut into Erebus’ mind and he groaned inwardly.
“Dissolve, can you handle this? Vyne, we’re going.”
Erebus walked out without another word and Vyne followed behind him. They left Dissolve behind alone with six men and one corpse.
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Dissolve sighed. “I have no desire to draw this out either...” Accompanied by his words, six magic circles appeared under the feet of the men. Within a second, the skin on the men’s body began to peel and fall off along with the muscle, then the bone, and their innards. The parts fell onto the ground and the moment they touched the magic circle, they were melted into a liquid with a thick consistency.
With that, he turned on his heels and went to meet up with Erebus and Vyne.
...
When Mae had finished dismembering Xena’s body in order to fully explore the effects of the transmutation, she had called Erebus immediately.
According to her, since the soul hadn’t been completely dispersed during the resurrection, they were able to call it back partially. But, it was still a tumultuous existence that couldn’t live stably, so, it underwent the process of dying and being brought back multiple times.
Each time that occurred, the host would lose some of its memories. The effect of this process on the body, however, was not slight. The body was experiencing rapid deterioration, and their lifespans could at maximum reach one year before they’d essentially fall apart. If they used their power, the lifespan was shortened even more.
And, for Erebus’ thoughts on how it affected the preexisting mana channels, he was correct. It corrupted the mana channels and made that unstable also, as seen in the bodies of the guards, their internal mana flow was disrupted from long-term exposure. From that, she could hypothesize that its existence was overall harmful to this planet and could lead to even more atrocious dangers if it continued to stay.
And, therefore, needed to be eradicated.
Erebus proceeded to relay this information to the Dragon Council, and that’s where we were now.
I see... Rolut rumbled.
In the background, Lisset could be heard screeching as she let off a stream of words unbefitting of a lady of her status.
Dissolve clamped his hands over his ears as if it would make the noise go away.
Erebus, Ayirn and I will come to help you in the eradication of the human kingdoms of Milon, Halagenia, and Dyora along with the Opinum Academy.
Erebus restrained from laughing. For the old man to come himself, the humans had really messed up. The last time Rolut had left the Dragon Continent was because... ah, nevermind, Erebus didn’t want to remember.
And also, for him to say to Ayirn was coming... whew, this was going to be even more entertaining than Erebus had originally thought!
We will be there shortly.
With that, the connection went silent. Erebus finally started laughing boisterously, eliciting Vyne to raise his eyebrows as he had no idea what was going on. Even Dissolve was displaying emotion on his typically apathetic face, it was an ominous smile that graced his face.
I’m even starting to feel a bit sorry for the humans, was all Vyne could think.
Me too, Vyne. Me too.
“Honey, I’m back!” a female screamed from not too far away. Tear appeared out of seemingly nowhere and tackled Erebus, rubbing her face against his cheek. “Ah, I missed you~ I got them for you, praise me! Hurt me! Please.”
Following close behind were Wolf and Xal, the sickly man was being supported by Wolf, and both of them looked scared.
“Teacher?” Wolf said, surprised that Dissolve was there, but then, upon seeing the look on Dissolve’s face, he felt even more frightened.
Erebus tore the leech (Tear) off of him and stood back up. “Good timing, Tear. Rolut and Ayirn are on their way, they should be here in a few minutes, let’s sit down and wait.”
Tear didn’t know who they were, so she tilted her head and wore a bemused expression. But, since Erebus sat down, she did so also. As did Vyne and Dissolve, and for the last two, they were afraid, so they sat, too.
As Erebus said, within a couple of minutes, a ginormous shadow covered the academy, and without warning, two people fell from the sky.
One was an intense man in his forties, with long graying hair and smoldering eyes while the other was a pretty lady in her youth with an inviting smile.
“Welcome, welcome,” Erebus said while clapping his hands and the others soon followed.
“Quit playing games, Erebus. Who are all of these people?”
Erebus stood up and threw his arm around Rolut’s shoulder. “Well, this is Dissolve...”
“Boy.”
Erebus’ easy smile tightened. “My subordinates: Tear of the Moon Goddess and Vyne of Tartarus, Xaltiq the previous student council president, and my classmate, Wolf.”
“I was not aware of the last two.”
“Newly recruited.”
Rolut gave Erebus a burning look that made the younger man feel as if a hole would be bored into the side of his head. “Dissolve, stand. We must properly introduce ourselves.”
Dissolve stood up and walked over to his dragon kin. “Tenth dragon, Dissolve.”
“Tear and Vyne already know me, but whatever. I’m the fifth dragon, Erebus.”
“Fourth dragon, Ayirn. A pleasure to meet you, children.”
“I am the first dragon, Rolut, and the emperor of the Dragon Continent.”
Four names that were associated with absolute power and authority rung throughout the air.