Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 222

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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—Are you trying to sacrifice yourself?

Jjangdol’s weighty voice echoing through my mind vanished in an instant.

Boom—!
The silver shield trembled. No—Raon’s silver barrier shook violently, and that tremor transmitted entirely through my fingertips.

‘Damn it.’

I barely managed to swallow the curse that nearly escaped my lips.
Sea and sky, crimson lightning and violet wind—everything swirled together until I couldn’t distinguish where the ocean ended and the heavens began.

Behind the shield, the sea was completely obscured by the raging tempest.

Whoooosh—bang, bang, bang!

Wind hammered against the silver barrier. It pulled seawater together like a tidal wave, rolling with enough force to swallow even the colossal silver shield.
Had this power reached the Coastline or Leona Fortress, the consequences would have been catastrophic.
Especially with the mountains on both sides of Leona Fortress collapsing, countless people would have perished without escape.

I cracked open my eyes slightly against the fierce wind and peered beyond the silver shield.

Splash—

Seawater drenched my head.
A massive tornado raged wildly, unable to properly control its own enormous bulk.

—Human, can you see my power? I did this!

I had only used a fraction of my crimson lightning. The vast majority was Raon’s magic.
Ever since that battle with the fake Dragon Slayer, this creature’s magic had grown remarkably stronger.

“Yeah, you’re pretty impre— *cough*.”

I coughed lightly and wiped my sleeve across my face. The salty taste of seawater lingered on my lips.

—…Human, I clearly didn’t even use one-third of my front claw’s power, so why are you bleeding? Did my calculations fail? That’s impossible! How fragile is your body that you cough blood from using barely a speck of strength? You are truly… incomprehensible!

Kale answered with a refreshed spirit.

“It’s fine.”

However, the expressions of the invisible Raon and Choi Han grew clouded.
Meanwhile, Kale finally grasped the backlash of the ancient power.

‘Ever since the Glutton Goddess consumed the vitality of my heart, the power of the unbreakable shield has definitely grown stronger.’

Because of that, the shield no longer strained my body unless it received an impact severe enough to shatter it. However, other ancient powers still caused the vitality of my heart to stir with even the slightest use.

‘The vessel is too small, so there’s nothing to be done.’

It was a matter arising from my own insufficient capacity and ability.

“Don’t worry about it.”

I dismissed my companions with a casual remark and observed the battlefield. Since Raon’s silver shield was incredibly sturdy, I gazed slowly at the descending sea.

The site where explosions and whirlwinds had raged for approximately ten minutes.
The sea gradually grew quiet, and the sky and water became distinguishable once more.

Drip. Drip.
I was struck by a few drops of seawater falling from the sky, my gaze fixed beyond the shield.

“It’s all destroyed.”

Choi Han’s calm voice reached me, but I couldn’t bring myself to look away. He understood my sentiment.

Everything was destroyed.
Dozens of ships, large vessels without exception—most of the vessels floating on the sea were either capsized or destroyed in various ways.

Among them were the dead and those who had barely survived.
From behind this safe shield, Choi Han fully understood the weight in my heart as I witnessed the desolate scene of the enemy forces.
That was the kind of person I was.

However, Choi Han’s assumption was half right and half wrong.
My lips opened.

“Raon, why—”

I opened my mouth, bewildered by the horrific sight before my eyes.

“Why didn’t the Dragon Hybrid deploy his shield?”

What?
Choi Han turned his head to look at Kale Heniatus. I could see the confusion on Kale’s face. Raon’s voice echoed between us.

“Human, Choi Han. Something is strange.”

Raon had clearly seen the platinum shield draped over the large vessel before the lightning pierced through the purple sphere.

“With that Dragon Hybrid’s skill level, he could have spread the shield around and protected the enemies to some degree. Yet it seems he withdrew the shield he had deployed.”

What?
Choi Han was bewildered. He hadn’t provided a shield to his allies? No—he had provided one but then withdrew it?

“Why?”

The moment the question burst from Choi Han’s lips, his body moved.

—It comes.

Roooaaar!
Before the silver shield, Raon’s water dragon surged up from the sea.

Boom!
Simultaneously, an explosion erupted. The sphere of light burst, part of the water dragon’s body detonated, and seawater scattered into the air. Choi Han’s body leaped over the silver shield toward the opposite side.
A fierce aura slashed vertically down toward the sea surface.

Crash, boom, boom!
These too collided with several spheres of light and dissipated. With that, the sea surface split open.

Whoooosh.
A figure rose from the fissure.
Surrounded by multiple layers of platinum shields, standing pristine without a single drop of water touching him.
The being standing on the water was the Dragon Hybrid Mage.

“Hahaha— there you are.”

A grin spread across the mage’s face, cheekbones rising as his eyes locked precisely with Kale Heniatus’s beyond the shield.

Behind him, my allies fell. Those presumed to be Dark mages fell as well.

Yet he was laughing.

Crack! Crack!
Small bolts of lightning materialized in the mage’s palm, lashing out toward the shield once more. Naturally, Choi Han and the Water Dragon intercepted them, and Raon’s silver barrier held firm.

But the lightning that ricocheted away.
Where those bolts fell.

Crackle—!

“Arghhhh!”
“Kugh—! M-my body!”

The lightning coursed through the sea, strangling the breath from what few allies remained alive. Of course, the mages who had erected barriers and flight magic, and the knights skilled enough to climb atop the capsized vessels, managed to evade unscathed.
But the soldiers of the Indomitable Alliance fell helplessly.

“Is that bastard insane?”

The words spilled from my lips unbidden.
Then.

“Hm.”

Our gazes collided. The mage charged straight toward me.

Both Choi Han’s blade and the Water Dragon rushed forward.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

They could not stop the mage, who was surrounded by dozens of mana spheres that materialized without pause.
Before I could even dodge backward.

Boom!

The Mage reached the shield in an instant, and the silver barrier collided with him.
Red blood streamed down the forehead of the presumed Dragon Hybrid Mage who had struck the silver shield. Yet the Mage was smiling.
He remained pressed against the silver shield, staring at Kale beyond it.

Or rather, staring at the area near Kale.

“…I smell a Lord. That power from before—it was definitely a Lord. I know it. I’ve definitely smelled it before.”

This insane bastard.
Kale found himself cursing at the scene before him, as if watching a horror film.

“Are you a Dragon?”

The Mage’s eyes gleamed.

Crimson lightning.
That power contained both the pure force of nature and an overwhelming surge of mana.
This wasn’t merely the power of a human Mage. It was a Dragon. Unmistakably, Dragon power was woven through it.

“What’s that invisible thing next to you?”

I can sense it.
The closer I drew to this one, the more I sensed it—that invisible presence beside him.
Yet its presence felt far too faint.

Rather, the presence of this red-haired one, Kale Heniatus, was far more pronounced. A scent of nature emanated from him.

That’s what made it strange.

“You’re a Dragon, aren’t you? Huh? A Dragon that emerged from play? Is it you? Or is it that existence next to you? Huh?”

Thud. Thud. The Dragon Hybrid’s two arms, his two fists, pounded against the shield.

This insane bastard. What’s with all these lunatics in the Dark?
Kale opened his mouth as he looked at this completely unhinged creature.

“Any Dragon that emerged from play would freeze to death. Your mind must have left play behind. Stop spouting such nonsense.”
“Hahahaha!”

At Kale’s response, the Dragon Hybrid burst into laughter.

“Right, I knew it. Dragons are naturally good at dodging responsibility. Pretending innocence while toying with lesser beings beneath them. Kekeke, how delightful. Truly,”

But his words never finished.

Screeeech—
Where the Dragon Hybrid’s body had been attached to the shield, a massive black claw raked across the space. Like a dragon’s enormous talon, it carried a ferocious, devastating force.

But the Dragon Hybrid Mage had already moved into the air.

“Clumsy.”

Strong, yet clumsy.
A strange light flickered across the Dragon Hybrid’s eyes.

‘Could it be?’

He looked back at Kale.
That vivid crimson hair, and that shield. At first, he had assumed the pure wood’s power was an ancient force. But could it truly be?

He recalled the red dragon.
A form as if fire had taken shape.
But that fire had extinguished, leaving only death behind.

The lightning strike of flames that had been in opposition to the wood shield’s power came to mind.
Though wrapped in magic, he had sensed pure fire within it.

A dragon’s power is pure.
And my power, inherited from dragon blood, is equally pure.

‘But there are no more red dragons in this generation.’

I had confirmed it clearly.

‘Could it be?’

Could there be another creature like me?

Immaturity.
A Dragon that hasn’t undergone its first growth is immature. It cannot even control its own power.
A Dragon Hybrid is half Dragon. Of course it grows. Even as a half-breed, it undergoes three growths like a true Dragon.

He had already undergone two growths. A Dragon without its first growth and a Dragon Hybrid were nothing but playthings in his grasp. The Mage laughed like a madman.

“Puhahahaha! Yes, they’re all coming.”

The Mage, beside him, saw the Water Dragon, the black Wyvern skeleton, and Choi Han, along with countless spells flying from Leona Fortress.
He gazed at the area near Kale Heniatus.

“With this much firepower, I suppose I should get serious too.”

Light began to pour forth slowly from the Dragon Hybrid Mage’s body.

-What? Human! Something’s wrong, human!

Raon’s startled voice echoed in my mind.

-That Dragon Hybrid wasn’t fighting at full strength until now!

Wasn’t fighting at full strength?

-…He’s strong.

I looked at the Mage.

Platinum-hued mana surged and enveloped his entire body, his robes fluttering wildly.
At the same time, his hair began to rise into the air. Simultaneously, vitality returned to his previously dull skin.

He looked at Choi Han, who was closing in with black aura blazing in his hands.

“Do you know why I don’t care whether my allies live or die?”

Choi Han felt sudden curiosity, but his speed didn’t falter. Yet he was genuinely curious. It was something he simply couldn’t comprehend.
However, at the Dragon Hybrid Mage’s following answer, Choi Han’s face twisted.

“Because I love it when humans die. Many of them! The more humans that die, the better.”

At the same time, light began radiating from his entire body.
Choi Han’s eyes stung from the brilliance, but he did not stop.

A chill crept down the back of his neck.
That radiant light.
That light felt like viscous darkness to him.

The overwhelming luminescence, far more intense than before, blazed as if consuming his own body. Choi Han’s palms grew slick with sweat.
If I step into that light, I will die.

I will die.
His immature darkness would vanish without a trace.
Yet Choi Han did not stop.

That was when it happened.

“All of you—I will slaughter every human! Even if it costs me my life, I will kill you all!”

All?
At that word, Choi Han’s face drained of color.
He turned his head. There—spells from the Caro Kingdom forces streaking through the air.

Darkness vulnerable to light.
The Dark Elves came to mind as well.

Could it be?

“Kahahaha! Die!”

The Dragon Hybrid’s body hurtled toward the Caro Kingdom’s coastline.

“No—”

This cannot happen!
Choi Han’s body changed direction.
In that moment, he saw a presence moving ahead of him.

“That madman.”

The red hair of the person spewing curses remained as an afterimage.
Riding another wyvern, Kale Heniatus surged forward. And for that wyvern and Kale, Raon became the wind itself.

Kuuuuung—

Choi Han turned his head at the tremendous sound echoing behind him.

The shield—the colossal shield that had barred the sea—began to rise into the sky. Massive silver wings unfurled from both sides of the shield, following their master.

—Weak human, do not worry. I will not let anyone harm you.

It was not only the shield that followed. The silver shield also trailed after its master.

But light was swift. Speed and destruction—the properties of light that he possessed.
The Dragon Hybrid Mage had arrived at the Coastline.

At the Coastline were the Dark Elves, the Bear Tribe, and the forces of the Caro Kingdom that had advanced along the land purified by Merry. Many still remained on the City Wall.

“Th-that—”

Bewildered humans came into view.
Those small, insignificant beings.
Creatures that would be slaughtered without a second glance, if only they weren’t on a leash held by the Dark.

“Your Highness!”

Prince Valentino of the Caro Kingdom could not speak at the Chief Advisor’s call.
His hands, gripping the railing of the Central Tower, trembled.

The explosions that had engulfed the sea.
That battle that transcended the realm of humanity.

And now, before his eyes, the Mage laughing with blood streaming down his forehead.
Together with that Mage, covering the sky—

“Death to all—!”

Hundreds of arrows of light.

With a bright smile, the Dragon Hybrid Mage waved his hand. Finally, when the mage’s hand came to a stop, those arrows turned downward—toward the humans.

“Shield, deploy the shield!”
“Your Highness, please evade!”

Prince Valentino could say nothing in the face of the heavenly assault raining down upon the earth. He felt the Staff Officer’s hand pulling at him, but he could not move.

Arrows of light pouring down as if divine punishment itself.
It seemed as though everything would be consumed by those arrows.

“Oh, divine one.”

The High Priest’s voice could be heard calling upon the divine as he fled.
But the Crown Prince gazed at the soldiers. The City Wall had become a scene of utter chaos. In his eyes as he beheld it, a deep despair settled.

Yet there was one thread of hope.
Because of that hope.

“Your Highness! You must leave!”

He did not move.
And finally, he could see that hope.

Expansive black wings spread wide came into view.
Crimson hair came into view.

“As expected, I knew it would be like this!”

The Dragon Hybrid raised his voice with a beaming smile.
He could see the one who had followed him—swift and strong against darkness with light attributes.

Kale Heniatus.
He had positioned himself before the arrows the Dragon Hybrid had unleashed.

“You can move this fast and still claim to be human?”
“You madman.”

The two exchanged words that neither could hear from the other.
Kale Heniatus reached out his hand.
He felt the small front paws supporting his back.

“Let’s do this.”
-Understood, human.

Everyone standing on the ground looked up at the sky.

The sun had already set.
But night had not come.
The brilliance of white light blinded the eyes more than darkness ever could.

Light that overturned the night as if heralding the end of all things.
The moment hundreds of those lights poured down to the earth.

Once more, silver light was embroidered across the ground.
As if the Milky Way itself had descended to earth, a radiant silver shield stood against the light that overturned the night.

Boom, crash, crash!

People threw themselves to the ground, pressing their bodies flat. The earth trembled. The sky trembled.
The blinding light from above obscured everything from view.

“Hahaha! I knew you’d protect the humans!”

The Dragon Hybrid could see Kale Heniatus beyond the shield. He found it amusing—Kale’s grimacing face as he blocked the arrows of light.

Now I have time to escape.
Why would I risk death just to kill some pathetic human?
Disgusting.

He could see Choi Han and the Wyvern unable to approach. That’s right—with this light, you can’t come. If you do, the Wyvern will burn to death, and you’ll suffer severe injuries.

That was the value of incomplete, inferior darkness.

Snap, snap, snap!

With three finger snaps, a teleportation circle formed beneath his feet. For him, the one who had created the teleportation magic scrolls of the Dark, instantaneous movement was an incredibly simple matter.

“Then, take care.”

He smiled broadly one last time as he looked at Kale Heniatus. Then he froze.
Kale Heniatus was smiling.
A voice echoed in Kale Heniatus’s mind.

-Human, I have learned that I am not great. So I have resolved to learn and acquire everything, making it my own.

The Young Dragon had realized something while fighting the fake Dragon Slayer.
If one is not great, one must strive to become great.

The Young Dragon had learned about calamity last time.
And.

-This time, I learned about light.

A small light descended from the black sky.
It was small and swift.
But the power contained within it was hotter and more destructive than anything else.

The Dragon Hybrid felt a power similar to the light he had honed for nine hundred years. Light directed at his back.

“…Thi—”

Kwaaaang!
A tremendous roar shook the heavens once more.
This sight was visible only to Choi Han, Kale Heniatus, and Raon. For the others, the sky remained blindingly bright—still nothing but emptiness to their eyes.

Yet the thunderous sound made people open their closed eyes.
The roar continued. Were more arrows of light being created? Why wouldn’t this sound end?

Among those who had not closed their eyes. Among those who, despite tears streaming from the blinding light, watched until the very end.
Prince Valentino stood gripping the railing, gazing slowly at the darkness settling over the sky.

As the light faded, a small back came into view.
A back insignificant compared to the massive shield and hundreds of arrows of light.
The owner of that back stood upright.

“…Commander.”

A black wyvern and a man with crimson hair.
When the light that had overturned the sky completely vanished. And when true night finally descended.

I withdrew the silver radiance.

Thud. Thud.
I watched blood droplets falling from the wyvern’s head as I descended through the air.

This blood belonged to the Dragon Hybrid Mage.
But I had let the Dragon Hybrid escape.

‘It seems he couldn’t achieve his first growth. It’s been a while since something was this entertaining.’

The Dragon Hybrid grasped the light that had pierced through his back and laughed. At the same time, rather than fleeing, he created another light arrow and fired it.
That choice was brilliant. It pinned down Raon and me, preventing Choi Han from approaching. And the light arrow fired once more was aimed at Choi Han and the wyvern.

‘If your heart is weak, you’ll ultimately accomplish nothing.’

The Dragon Hybrid used teleportation magic, while Raon ultimately created a shield for Choi Han.
The two were separated that way.

I recalled the Dragon Hybrid’s voice that had echoed through my mind.

‘You carry the same dragon blood as I do, so I shall protect you while you’re young. In exchange, it will also be I who kills you. Hahahaha!’

…What kind of nonsense was this?

But I didn’t pay it much mind.

-Human. He left a trail! Let’s go catch that bastard too!

If I caught him as well, that would be the end of it.

“I apologize, Kale.”

Choi Han approached on the wyvern and bowed his head. Tap, tap. I patted his shoulder and spoke.

“Let’s head down.”

Kale Heniatus gazed down at the ground below.
He could see those standing on the earth.
Those who had survived the barrage of light arrows were looking up at him.

A deep rumble echoed through the air.
The wyvern descended to the ground, and Kale’s feet touched the earth. Vice-Captain Hilsman rushed toward him, and Kale found himself clearing his throat awkwardly at the man’s overwhelmed expression.

One enemy had fled, and their allies had survived.
That was enough.
He would capture the one who ran and deal with him accordingly.

With these thoughts, Kale opened his mouth as Hilsman approached. That was the moment.

“Young Master—no, Commander! The shield remains unbroken after all!”

The voice burst forth with overwhelming emotion, and Kale’s face twisted in displeasure.
Behind Hilsman, he could see Prince Valentino approaching with tears streaming down his face, his expression one of profound relief.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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