The Starforge Chains, which had completely sealed off the surrounding space, tightened further, binding the demigod Giovanni tightly. Some of the links even bit into his flesh, drawing golden ichor.
However, the brutal injuries didn't seem to faze Giovanni. His sharp eyes remained locked on the broken spear he had hurled earlier, praying it would strike down the lowly dragon who had pushed him to such dire straits.
The dragon wielded two divine artifacts, both of which were being used against him. If Giovanni could just kill this accursed creature, not only would he escape, but he could seize the artifacts for himself.
With two divine artifacts in hand, Giovanni's return to his own world would elevate his status beyond imagination. He would become the most powerful being under a true god, a force none could rival.
But as the demigod dared to dream of his glorious future, a scene that shattered his hopes unfolded before him. On the dragon's chest, a series of armor plates appeared out of thin air, perfectly tailored to its body, shielding its torso completely.
Clang!
The broken spear struck the dragon's chest, producing a crisp yet unpleasant metallic sound. Ripples of force emanated from the point of impact, causing the surrounding skyscrapers to collapse like a row of dominoes. The dust that rose was immediately suppressed by the residual shockwave.
"You… have a third one!"
Giovanni was utterly dumbfounded by what he was witnessing. It defied all logic. In this world, which he deemed bereft of transcendent heritage—a place where hundreds of mortals were sacrificed in a crude attempt to steal divine power—how could there exist a creature wielding three divine artifacts?
"Even my father does not possess this many divine artifacts! What are you? How can you possibly exist?"
Despair filled Giovanni's heart, accompanied by frustration, indignation, and a hint of reluctant curiosity. He had fought countless battles against other demigods, emerging victorious as often as he fell short. But never had he been so thoroughly humiliated.
"I told you, you're not worthy of knowing who I am," the black dragon, now partially clad in the Radiant Emperor's Armor, said indifferently. The armor had effortlessly blocked the demigod's desperate strike.
"Now, be silent."
With a casual wave of its claw, the black dragon commanded the chains. The Starforge Chains, already coiled around Giovanni's massive form, constricted further like serpents. They wound tightly around the golden-feathered eagle head, sealing his mouth and rendering him utterly powerless.
"With the deed done, it's time to leave, silently bearing my glory."
Perched atop one of the city's last intact skyscrapers, the black dragon uttered this remark, a note of self-satisfaction in its tone. In the next instant, it vanished into thin air.
Along with it, the massive, radiant chains that had bound the demigod also disappeared, taking Giovanni and his oppressive presence with them.
The crisis that had threatened to destroy the city was resolved in an instant. The millions of people who had been fleeing for their lives stopped in their tracks, staring blankly at the spot where the demigod had stood moments earlier.
Some were confused, others dazed. They wondered if what they had witnessed was merely an illusion. But the swirling vortex in the sky, though dissipating, was evidence of what had transpired. So too were the ruined buildings, the chaos all around, and the wreckage that marred the cityscape.
"Teacher!"
The door to the room slammed open, revealing a young man breathing heavily, his face flushed with excitement. His exhilaration was evident as he fixed his disbelieving gaze on the child sitting calmly on the bed, lost in thought.
"What is it?"
The child, Muria, looked at the flustered youth who had burst into the room. He could hear the commotion downstairs, which, he supposed, was indirectly related to him.
"Teacher, do you have… kin?"
The youth, Jiuli, took a moment to organize his thoughts before asking cautiously. His demeanor was noticeably more respectful than before.
"Of course I do." Muria rolled his eyes.
"No, no, that's not what I meant. I mean… do you have kin in my world?"
"Hmm." Muria stroked his chin thoughtfully, glancing at the youth before looking down at the floor. "Well, I suppose you could say I do."
Jiuli's expression faltered with disappointment. He raised his phone, showing Muria a freshly published piece of breaking news accompanied by a striking photograph.
The image depicted a massive black dragon with gleaming golden armor adorning its chest and a pair of majestic horns crowning its head. It perched atop the ruins of a skyscraper, surveying the shattered city like a king gazing upon his domain.
"Yeah, that's me. What about it?" Muria said nonchalantly, nodding as he acknowledged the picture.
"Uh… um…" Jiuli's thoughts unraveled at Muria's casual confirmation, leaving him stammering. Normally composed, he now found himself unable to string together a coherent sentence. Today's events had shaken him to his core, rendering his usual calm and poise utterly useless.
"Why are you so surprised?" Muria asked, puzzled by the youth's reaction. "You've seen my true form before. Why would you ask such a strange question?"
"Was that really you?" Jiuli asked, his voice tinged with excitement.
"Who else could it have been? Your world doesn't have anyone capable of taking on a creature like that," Muria replied, smirking. "If someone like you represents the peak of your world's supernatural powers, it's no wonder you've fallen so far behind."
"So… you intervened out of goodwill?" Jiuli asked hesitantly, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. Reflecting on his encounter with this mysterious teacher, he couldn't detect any malice in their interactions.
"Do I look like the type to act out of kindness?" Muria said, touching his youthful face with a bemused expression.
"Then why did you fight that… thing?" Jiuli held up another photo—this one showing the towering, radiant eagle-headed giant.
"Oh, that? Just a coincidence. I went to check out the commotion, and I happened to run into that fool," Muria said, irritation creeping into his voice. "I wasn't planning to do anything, but he just had to target me."
Muria snorted, visibly annoyed. "So, I dealt with him. You saw the results, didn't you? Not much else to say."
"What do you plan to do with him now, Teacher?"
"Oh, that guy?" Muria smirked, his golden eyes glinting. "He's the son of a god, so his body's full of goodies. I'm planning to extract everything useful from him."
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/INNIT
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.