CHAPTER 161 – TASTY TOWN BOMBING

HIRAYA MISTELTEIN – PREVIOUS TIMELINE

The secrets of the Vesryn Pulse revealed themselves to me in the shimmering clarity of my visions as the Oracle of the Dragon Lords. I saw that Vesryn Pulse thrived on the perfect synchronization of heartbeats, a harmony that could only be achieved through the purest form of connection—love.

With this knowledge, I turned to Kate. Her mission was to court the enigmatic Fourth Dragon Lord, Mariko Septem, from the island of Onishira, the Land of Onis. As their bond deepened, Kate unlocked her Warflame Dragon Form, a blazing force of destruction that dominated the battlefield, her every movement leaving trails of scorching fire in her wake.

Gaeun’s path led her to the mysterious Fifth Dragon Lord, Earvin Lancaster, prince of Nocturnia, the Land of Vampires. Their relationship blossomed under my guidance, and Gaeun’s transformation into her Kyubi Dragon Form unveiled a creature of unparalleled mystical power, her nine tails flickering with an ethereal glow that struck fear into the hearts of our enemies.

Charlotte, with her guarded heart, required a gentler touch. I helped her open up to the Sixth Dragon Lord, Darlix Mctavish. The bond they forged unleashed the might of her Panzer Dragon, a behemoth of firepower that no human empire could hope to replicate. Its armored scales gleamed like molten metal as it tore through the skies.

After five years of relentless preparation, the Six Dragon Lords stood united at last. The final phase of our plan was upon us: to kill Arthur Castamere, the one who had sinned against both me and our planet.

With Eva Nascence infiltrating under Madam Corasell’s command, our information networks grew vast and intricate. Eva’s discovery of a hidden communications network was a turning point. Using her intel, I hacked into the system, finally making contact with Arthur. The moment of reckoning was near.

Arthur took the bait. As his image flickered onto the computer screen, I maintained my composure, greeting him with a serene smile.

"Arthur Castamere. Or should I say... Arthurius Elkyria Neos, the royal bastard. Long time no see," I said, my voice laced with a hint of irony.

"Hiraya Misteltein…" Arthur muttered through gritted teeth. "Why are you using Marieflorine Corasell’s communication network? Where is the source of this transmission?"

Behind me, the grandeur of Cathedral Exa was unmistakable. The rich red carpet stretched out beneath my feet, and the stained glass windows bathed the room in a kaleidoscope of colors. Pews stood in orderly rows, and the Cross of Exceria loomed behind me, casting a solemn shadow.

"The Demonic Cathedral, I see," Arthur observed with a confident smile. "It's been ages since I last went there."

"That's right," I replied, my smile never wavering. "This is the place where you defiled my previous incarnation, you ingrate. Now, I have a few questions."

"What is it, oh defiled goddess?" Arthur smirked, his arrogance palpable.

I narrowed my eyes, my voice growing colder. "Why did you kill Goddess Exceria? Was it for self-preservation, or was there another reason?"

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"It was for self-preservation," Arthur replied without hesitation. "Exceria was destined to kill me from the moment I was conceived. That’s why I had to use Regression Magic to travel back and kill your previous incarnation. It was an unending cycle. You kill me, I kill you, you kill me again, and I kill you again."

"But why did you have to defile me?" I asked, my voice steady despite the turmoil within.

Arthur scoffed, then burst into derisive laughter. "Hahahahaha!"

I stared at his image on the monitor, my eyes burning with a cold, lethal intent.

"Call me petty if you want," he sneered. "I want you to suffer for the rest of your life. Your existence is the bane of mine. Don’t you know that I’m trapped in a time loop because you keep killing me? I’ve lost my sanity just to stay alive! I have no future! I’m destined to go back to the past, over and over and over again! All I’ve done is endure! Endure the agony, endure the madness! That’s why I decided to play with you, to make you lose your sanity. I will punish you through a million timelines until I can summon the Outsider and finally free myself from this endless fate."

"Then this has already become a war between you and me," I answered, my voice unwavering. "I will bring my punishment to you, tonight."

"Oh?" Arthur smirked. "I know you're tracking my whereabouts through this channel. But by the time you arrive, I’ll have already moved on to my next location—"

Suddenly, Arthur's hideout shook violently. The walls trembled with a deafening roar, as if the earth itself was splitting open.

"How did you—" Arthur roared, his confidence shattered.

It was already too late for him. Unbeknownst to Arthur, the "me" he was speaking to on the video feed was a pre-recorded message. The real me, accompanied by my consort Alris Vortigern in his formidable Nova Dragon Form, had already made our move.

Now, we hovered above Tasty Town, the place I once cherished. From the night skies, the view was breathtaking, the twinkling lights below painting a picture of serenity. It was bittersweet, knowing this would be my final glimpse of the town I loved.

Behind me, the Alientech Dragon, who had been tracking Arthur’s whereabouts ever since our conversation began, hovered silently. The transmission had been a mere distraction, buying us the precious time we needed to prepare for our assault.

"Daybreaker, I have found Arthur Castamere’s hideout. It is in the underground tunnel network of Tasty Town," the Alientech Dragon communicated telepathically.

"Did you—did you just trick me with a pre-recorded video clip and anticipate my answers to your questions?" Arthur cried out in disbelief.

"That’s right," I shouted, my voice echoing through the night air. "All of it was to distract you and lower your guard. I made you think I was still in the Demonic Cathedral, and it worked. You couldn't escape. I also brought only my dragonoid companion and Gazelle with me so you wouldn't detect us."

"Hirayaaaaa!" Arthur roared, his voice filled with fury and frustration.

"I shall give you a quick punishment. Consider it a mercy compared to what you have done to me," I declared.

My Nova Dragon spread its wings wide, blue flame particles charging across its body. Our hearts beat in perfect synchronization, like the powerful rhythm of a train engine, building to an unstoppable crescendo.

With all my might, I unleashed our most powerful attack. "Dracaryx! Activate Terranova Bomb!" I cried out, my voice ringing with the intensity of our combined power.

The Nova Dragon charged a miniature blue sun within its mouth, the light growing more intense with every passing second. With a deafening roar, it launched the Terranova Bomb toward the heart of Tasty Town. As the glowing sphere descended, time seemed to slow, and then, with a blinding flash, it made contact with the ground.

The explosion was cataclysmic. A wave of searing light washed over everything, obliterating buildings, people, and memories alike. When the radiance finally subsided, Tasty Town was no more. In its place was a vast, smoldering crater, a silent testament to the power unleashed. Everything I had ever known and loved about this place had vanished in an instant.

Tears welled up in my eyes, streaming down my cheeks as I mourned the loss of countless lives and cherished memories. "I’m sorry, everyone. I’m so sorry..." I whispered through my sobs.

Suddenly, a chilling, familiar laugh pierced the silence. "Ahahahahaha!"

I looked down into the heart of the crater and saw him—Arthur. He stood there, buck naked, yet completely unscathed, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

"You almost killed me, you bitch! But I’m sorry, I cannot be killed!" Arthur taunted, his grin widening with each word.