Chapter 589: [ I'm the one ]

“… …”

The Dragon King stay rooted in the spot. Then, suddenly he made an expression as if he had realized something, “As I thought, your body has some strange constitution, doesn’t it?”

“Eh?” You didn’t even notice it? Allen’s face was grand.

He looks at the Dragon King’s enlightened face and felt his throat suddenly had a taste of iron.

“No, it’s not that it had been negated and in fact, it was always in there, I believe. I can feel something strange each time I struck a hit but it’s not something absolute. Even air can be grasped you know…” The Dragon King smiled faintly while answering honestly. His answer was like he was just replying a matter of fact.

“… …”

Seeing Allen’s confused expression, the Dragon King shrug and started explaining like a patient adult. “Instinctively or not, people at our level coated our entire body with magical power the moment a fight started. It’s some kind of preparation, you know. You should be doing this similarly…”

Allen frowned and look at his body, indeed, a faint magical aura can be seen. He didn’t see it before but now that his eyes upgraded, he can now do it… a faint shadow like an aura. His was colored silver while the Dragon King, it was a blue color aura surrounding his body like some sort of halo.

The Dragon King opens his palm and a blue colored magic sphere appeared on top of it. He then resumed his explanation, “There are many kinds of energies in the world, and this is what we call the World’s Breathe. Different culture gives it different names and these people practiced different kinds of ways and techniques just to get ahold of this energy and use it for different purposes. One of them is Magic.”

“Magic gives energy a form… you should know that, right? Magic spells, techniques, practice—all of them are like nets that capture this energy and gives it a form. And this is what we call now, Magic. And this is similar as well.” The Dragon King pointed at Allen’s body with a faint smile. “You said, your lightning body, was it? It’s nothing but a composition of energy, am I right? Physical attacks can indeed be nullified but magic energy is different! And just like what I said, no matter what kind of energy it is, as long as there is magic, we can give them a form. And this form can be grasped, cut and severe as we like.”

“…?!”

“It’s as easy as that! Magic energy influenced one after another, don’t you know that?” The Dragon King slowly descended on the ground. “…Although it’s not completely negated, it’s more like your body’s ability is influenced and be overwritten. Thus, to people like us, having such body isn’t that incredible…”

“… …” Allen’s brows furrowed.

Is this true? He had always thought that his body is his greatest advantage. But now…

“However, you don’t need to worry at all. Only if your enemy was much stronger than you, they can do something like that. But if the opponent was equal or below you, you are invincible—just as you should be! A True God of Lightning…” The Dragon King smiled. “As long as your magic is stronger, no one can overwrite your magic…”

“So that’s why I kept being beaten. I almost thought that my body had returned to normal…” Allen smiled wryly.

The Dragon King laughed. “Break time’s over, now then, shall we go…?”

“…I can’t hope for more…!” Allen grinned.

BOOOOMMM!!

"———《Sodom》!" With just a word, Allen’s body burst in red flames and then, from above, numerous flaming bullets poured down like meteorites.

“Not enough!” The Dragon King blew all of them away with just a flapped of his gigantic Dragon Wings in which, immediately returned to normal as if it was slapping flies.

“Banquet of the Water Dragon God!” The Dragon King muttered under his breath, and instant, several massive tornadoes ransack the entire battlefield and went towards Allen’s direction.

“Tsk!” Allen clicked his tongue and invoked another image from his head immediately, and right after he destroyed a single tornado with a dance-like motion a lump of earth emerged from the ground in the shape of a hand and made a protective barrier around Allen.

Although the tornadoes were strong enough to penetrate through the mass of soil, it lost its momentum before it hit Allen and faded away together with the lump of earth.

"Haa... haa..."

After continuously using his magic power, Allen started to breathe roughly.

Although he can restore everything here in this world, it doesn’t mean he was omnipotent.

Despite the energy he can use seems endless inside his world, he will still expend massive amounts of both physical and mental strength. No exceptions. Although he was recovering it with his [ Flawless Restoration ], focusing on his mental power and letting the world’s providence do it acts in healing and recovering his body for himself, but it wasn’t unlimited even for a God like him!

At most, he can fight for a year or two like this without break or rest.

However, beyond that, he can’t expend anything anymore because, he was controlling time to run as fast as it could, meaning a month=hour time ratio.

This is the best he could do for now…!

He can neglect his physical fatigue like his brain being overused using [ Lifeless Physique ] and becoming an [ Immortal King ]. However, even with that, it was impossible to replenish his mental power for long…!

Which means, even being an ‘immortal’ has its upper limits. And as of right now, with me being continuously attacked and beaten like this, I will most likely be the first to reach my limit…

And also because of this, Allen who had an enormous endurance and will far beyond normal people, he was starting to see his limits after a very long time. When was the last time he had this kind of fight? When was the last time he had truly expended all his power during a fight?

"Haa... aa...guu..." Even still… Allen’s face showed a grin… a grin full of madness and excitement!

This is how it should be…!

When humans feel cornered they evolved!

They evolved and advanced faster when they are lives are on the line—that should be what the Dragon King was trying to say!

This is the real training…!

*** ***

“…that was a good fight…” Allen muttered, satisfied as he lied on the ground, completely exhausted.

Although his complexion was pale and wounds all over his body, his face was still showing his usual smile. Of course, the result of the battle was not the reason, in fact, he should be crying and depressed right now!

Defeat!

Abject defeat!

Another defeat!

Incessant defeats!

Allen nearly lost count of the number of defeats he had suffered.

He only knew that he had never won once!

He had used all of his tricks and trumps but against the Dragon King, he could not win even once!

Obviously, he had grown rapidly during the battle as Allen had expected he would have in fact, even the Dragon King was appalled by his growth speed that would make eyeballs jumped out of their sockets. Even still, that was just how wide he and the Dragon King’s distance were! His strength and power were incalculable.

“I thought the match was only getting interesting…” The Dragon King walked towards Allen with a casual pace. However, unlike from before, there were now small cuts and wounds on his body, even just a little bit, he was able to hurt the Dragon King and reach his stage, showing his improvement. “…can you go on?” he asked with a faint tone.

“No…” Allen shook his head with a faint smile. “It’s my loss,” he admitted but there were no heavy emotions and feelings mixed in his tone. He looks like an exhausted kid after playing.

“Hahaha, so be it…” The Dragon King sat beside Allen. With a shrug, his tension and the fighting spirit vanished in thin air and his temperament became casual and friendly. “But you sure are a complicated man. Rather than a dragon or a human… you are more inclined to be a demon…”

“… …” Allen grinned. “Being a Demon isn’t that bad though…”

“The words you just said, was it from your human or demon side?” The Dragon King asked curiously. “It was really unbelievable and unprecedented but, all of your blood merged together and can’t be separated anymore, you know. I don’t know how you are able to do that but it doesn’t seem to have caused any conflict…”

A Demon… a Dragon…a Human…

Allen smiled bitterly as he sighs, “I’m fine either way, as long as I can protect those I wanted to protect…I can become anything…”

“Is that so? Oh well, let me tell you one more thing then…” The Dragon King suddenly extends his arm and grabbed Allen’s head in an iron claw as he forcefully turned it towards him. Facing him, Allen stared, confused. “…I don’t know how much of a burden you are carrying on that shoulders of yours… nor would I understand what kind of feelings are you carrying as you trodden this kind of path. But, do not act as if your life means nothing… stupid brother…”

“…what are you talking about…?” Allen smiled faintly.

“Do you take me for a fool? Fist says more than words can… we had been fighting for almost five years in this world and yet you still think that I won’t be able to understand you? Get your mind in the gutter…” The Dragon King frowned and his words turned severe. “I understand why you are desperate, why you seek power all while ignoring yourself. But… a warrior who had forgotten to take care of himself would never be able to protect anything…never forget that. If you charge in without a care, you will regret it—you will become a monster without you noticing it.”

Allen’s eyes opened widely. Then, he burst out laughing.

“… Don’t make that serious face, it’s out of character…” Allen smile warmly. “I know full well the end of someone fighting to win all while thinking of defeat… I am family-man first before I am a warrior—you worry too much,”

“… …”

“Though I can’t say I don’t know where you are coming from. However, no matter what the outcome is, I already swore to do my best to protect my family. Even if it means going against an entire legion of demons or the entire world—”

“The way you say it makes it sound so easy.” The Dragon King smiled wryly.

“Well, putting aside my precious family and the world, if this fight is mine alone, things would be much simpler. To put it simply, winning or losing… is just a matter of life and death to me…”

“…that’s what I’m talking about, stupid!” Gang! The Dragon King’s fist of love-struck Allen’s head, startling him. “Although I want you to save the world, I wouldn’t like it if you suffer for it…”

“… …”

“We old timers should be the one doing that…” Old timers? Says the one who looked like a teenager… Allen can’t help but retort. However, the Dragon King’s expression was just too serious he couldn’t say anything. “We, Monster Kings should have been the one protecting this world—after all, I became like that because I want to maintain this beautiful garden that my clan and family was living happily at.”

“… …”

“I really love this beautiful world, you know…despite its twisted nature,” The Dragon King smiled bitterly, “But we are now the ones who were trying to destroy it… pathetic isn’t it? It’s like putting the cart before the horse…”

“You who are bound to nothing is much more meaningful compared to us.”

“Dragon King…”

“There must be a reason why you became a Monster King despite not taking any oath that restricts you…even mother, probably wants you to be one as well. She wanted someone to stop her. And so, she probably chose you… so make sure you do your part and stop her.” The Dragon King sighs as he smiled warmly like a big brother to his little brother, “… Though if possible, I don’t want you to do it. Shouldering the fate of the world was the most terrifying thing in this world…”

“You don’t need to make a face like that, Dragon King. I swore to protect them, so of course, I refuse to die.” Allen listened gently. He stared warmly at the Dragon King. Then, he turned his face and look at the dawn-colored sky.

I’m being strangled by this thread of destiny which I never wished for…

But I’m the one who decided to walk this path—I’m the one who hopes for it, decided it, chose it.

Allen smiled bitterly. It was me alone…“That’s why you don’t need to feel sorry…” Allen raised himself up, dusted himself and stood up. He looked at the surrounding forest—after his magic depletion, his domain automatically vanished and they once again find themselves within the forest of the Grieving Despair Mountain.

“I was walking this path with my own two legs, not being forced by someone or anyone, whatever ending this route takes me too, I’ll embrace it with open arms…” Allen said with a proud smile.

Proud, content. However, since Allen was still a bit exhausted, the moment he finished speaking those words, his mind suddenly blanked out and his body started falling down. The Dragon King was shocked and was about to catch him when,

Woosh. Someone had appeared before him.

A woman…

“Who are you?” The Dragon King frowned as he stared vigilantly at the woman that caught Allen’s body from falling. The woman then picks Allen up in a princess-carry as if it was natural. She looks at the Dragon King and bowed at him well-mannered.

She was a demi-human with a body covered in long bristles and striped akin to a hornet's. Behind her was a pair of beautiful butterfly wings and on her head were a pair of antennae. Aside from the carapaces that look like those of an insect, butterfly wings and the pair of big compounded eyes, her overall appearance was that of a human.

“Greetings, Sir Dragon King, my name is Alkrasha, a Monster King as well…” Alkrasha greeted with a warm smile.