The battle between Rostov and the two dragons was hard to miss. Both dragons were bigger than houses; they flew and fought with incredible power.

  Rostov’s spine was steeled by the matter of ‘face’ and pride. What would it mean to him if he got defeated by Croix, a teenager of eighteen, dragons or not. What would it mean for the Empire’s morale if one of the Ten Tundras was repelled by those with a lower Level?

  In the end, above all that, Rostov prized his life more.

  Croix’s combined power forced Rostov to flee. The blue dragon swallowed one of Rostov’s arms while the red dragon devoured one of his legs.

  The newest of the Ten Tundras had already suffered great injuries before the battle with the dragons. Neither dragon were Level 5 but they showed why dragons were feared and worshiped since time immemorial.

  “You haven't seen the last of me! I swear on my life I’ll settle this debt in full!”

  Rostov’s words rang through the battlefield whilst he performed a speedy retreat. The man had lost both arms and one leg but was still able to fly.

  On the other hand, the bigger threat’s situation was also resolved.

  Sal Marag had been assaulted by Wen Shenhu. Their battle was covered up by a mana storm so even Level 5s were unable to peek through. One Level 5 who tried to dip a toe got his foot disintegrated.

  Wen Shenhu’s objective was the Sea-Rumbling Bull’s core. A Rank 7 monster core. The foreigner thought it was in the possession of the demon.

  Sal Marag and Wen Shenhu were in the same realm of cultivation but half of Sal Marag was still sealed and immobile. The goat demon was low on magic since he had just woken up.

  All these factors resulted in his defeat at the hands of Wen Shenhu. Level 6 demons were no easy opponent, even for an immortal, but he prevailed.

  “The demon doesn’t have it! Where is it? The core!”

  Wen Shenhu, drained and furious after the battle, had a mind to slaughter all the people on the battlefield. This was the closest he had ever been to the guardian beast’s core.

  Alas, he was out of time.

  The Silver Legion’s failsafe, the mandala forming in the sky above was like a hanging sword. It was meant for Sal Marag, Wen Shenhu knew this, but it didn't mean that it would be harmless to him. He had to leave fast.

  After seeing the feat of Popess Sallustia, Wen Shenhu had no interest in testing the Estellian Church.

  In his anger, he destroyed Grandia Castle with a gigantic energy punch. The site was already ruined thanks to the battle between those above the mortal realm but now the castle was utterly annihilated.

  “The guardian beast eluded me again but I gained an unexpected benefit. The demon’s heart, after properly processed, will make an exceptional pill.”

  Wen Shenhu disappeared with the demon’s remains, causing much confusion among the war participants.

  He glanced at the two great dragons in the distance. Compared to him, they were too weak but their potential to reach his level was beyond question. It might take a few centuries but so what for a being like them? If he wasn't pressed for time, he would have harvested them like he did with the demon.

  Alas... It was not meant to be.

  Viers, in his dragon form, sighed in relief in his mind after Wen Shenhu’s presence went away.

  His dragon form was only Rank 4, not even Rank 4 peak, because his transformation ability was capped by his human side’s cultivation. That said, Viers’ dragon form was special. Not only was he a pure blood True Dragon, he also soaked up plenty of Divine energy in the Book Word before he evolved.

  Viers’ Magikarp gambit paid off.

  That was why Dragon-Viers was able to fight the Level 5 Rostov. He wasn't able to kill him but the divinity-infused true dragon was too strong for the human to defeat in his condition. Falmerion’s Rank 5 evolution was another surprise. Dragon Evolution Arte was borderline cheating but jumping straight up to temporarily Rank 5 was pushing it. Viers suspected it was Croix’s MC moment. He wouldn't be able to repeat the feat again anytime soon.

  Now that the crisis had passed, Dragon-Viers faced Prince Croix and his dragon behind him. Naturally, they drew an audience.

  “Honored dragon, umm... I-”

  Croix looked so small from Viers’ point of view, and he was hesitating to speak. Understandable, since Viers was wielding his mysteriousness like a hammer.

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  And he hadn’t any intention of unraveling the mystery anyway. Like a good magician, he maintained a sense of wonder by not revealing his tricks.

  “Your questions will have their answers in due time, young one. Farewell, Son of Athos,” Viers ripped one of his scales and gave it to Croix. “Keep on improving thyself.”

  Viers took flight. Even wingless and aquatic in nature, the dragon had no difficulty rising to the sky. No Level 5s disturbed him either. A being such as him was never simple. They had a hard day today, even casualties. No one wanted to risk dealing with a draconic hot potato, especially one as powerful as him. Rostov had already become an example.

  “We... won?”

  “We won! Victory!”

  “Prince Croix, Chosen of Dragons!”

  “The dragon prince! Blessed not only by one but two dragons! Hail!”

  “The second coming of King Athos!”

  “Chosen of Dragons! Chosen of Dragons! Chosen of Dragons!”

  Croix was surrounded by cheers. To a layman’s eyes, it looked like Croix held the reins of two dragons.

  While Croix’s countrymen showered him with praise, Princess Celestine watched with a blank face. Despite her black dragon beside her, it was as if she had been forgotten.

  And so the Battle of Grandia Castle came to a close, burying many mysteries with the castle’s destruction.

  ***

  Viers’ first priority was to return to his Biome without anyone knowing.

  One might think it would be a difficult matter, considering he was a big-ass dragon and eye-catching to boot. Except, he could remedy such things by transforming to another animal.

  Once he was out of anyone’s sight and senses, including the Level 5s, Viers became an inconspicuous squirrel. A water-type one.

  As a rule, Viers could only absorb the core of water affinity monsters. Once the core was absorbed, he could assume the monster’s form and used the monster’s strength when it was alive. Other types than water, he couldn't absorb the core no matter what he tried.

  But there was a way. If he evolved, he could change a monster’s affinity. For example, the squirrel could become a water-wind type squirrel or a fire type squirrel at the next rank, as long as he could fulfill the evolutionary requirement. Monsters had their own Path of Power. Mainly about eating other monsters or natural treasures.

  Still, because he could, it didn't mean Viers had a plethora of monsters with varied elements so he could exploit an enemy's elemental weaknesses. He didn't. Most of his monster forms were water type, sometimes, with a second affinity to complement their style. Like the water-space Devadom Orca.

  The squirrel was one of his weaker forms. A weak monster like that didn't attract attention. He entered a nearby forest and approached a Gate Plant protected by an illusory and repelling barrier.

  Viers planted this teleportation node before the assault on Grandia Castle just in case he needed an exit if the need arose. Such preparation was one of the reasons Viers kept surviving thus far.

  He easily entered the barrier and gate after giving his registered Victa.

  Once inside the barrier, Viers went to his personal tree building, where he kept his many secrets. It was one of the most secure and guarded places in the entire Biome. In one of the secret rooms, there was a wooden pod, big enough for a person to lie in.

  The squirrel climbed into it and reverted back to a person.

  The consequences of igniting the Countess’ bomb for a sneak attack at Rostov were severe.

  It looked like a chestburster came out from Viers’ torso. He didn't even have a heart and lungs. What connected his neck to the rest of his lower body was only a wrecked spine.

  A gruesome sight, but this wasn't Viers’ first rodeo.

  The grim reaper’s presence was so close but Viers had a lot of experience keeping it at bay. He opened the floodgates of his healing factor fully. His lifespan reserves quickly decreased but it didn't matter.

  The pod began to fill with green liquid. This liquid was a healing agent.

  From Dia’s most potent healing plants, Clarissa’s alchemy expertise, treasured secrets, and uncountable knowledge from soul searches, Viers made an almost miraculous medicine. It could even rebuild a body.

  His quest to create a body for Paina, Farley, and Clarissa helped. The pod was inspired by the healing capsule from Dragon Ball Z. He would have preferred a Senzu Bean if he could but this was the best he could achieve for now so he took it.

  Viers wasn't a researcher type but he made use of the pooled wisdom of the soul searches and plunder. This solution he bathed in included the research on High Elves' vitality after the Magisterium conquest.

  During his three years of seclusion to Level 4, Viers often got injured. The room was made to facilitate his healing during that time. Though it was rare he got hurt this badly.

  According to his calculation, he might be bedridden for half a year to a year. A shame, but it was what it was. That he wasn't able to gain much from the Grandia battle stung but considering how much danger he was in, he considered keeping his life a win.

  Comparing his healing factor to when he was a Level 3 and now. It was a stark improvement but still, he basically got hit by the Countess’ MOAB when he blew up. It would take time to heal.

  Guess this is curtains for the Harkelan invasion arc. At least for me. Who knows what kind of fallout or development will occur now but I won't have a role in it.

  “So, how is it on your end?” Viers connected his soul with someone who entered the room. The only one who could, other than him.

  It was Arsène, his clone.

  “Well, you look like a wreck,” Arsène scoffed. “Let me guess. You were having too much fun and things backfired again?”

  His other self hit the nail on the head so to preserve his dignity as the original, Viers changed the topic.

  “How’s the Tower of Remorse? Success?”

  While he was hitting the Grandia Castle, Arsène was having his own campaign. He would prefer not to fight on two fronts but the window of vulnerability on the Estellian Church’s greatest gaol was time sensitive. He couldn't delay so he sent Arsène.

  Between the Grandia front and the Tower of Remorse, Viers judged the prison break to be the more dangerous one. So, he sent the one who could safely die there. He didn't know the Grandia battle would blow up to such proportions. If he did... he'd still send Arsène to the Tower of Remorse.

  “Well...”

  Viers frowned. Arsène’s face was complicated. Viers knew because it was his own face.

  “Houston, we have a problem,” Arsène said straight.