Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 651 - 603

Gallaron’s blood surged, and I could see a distinct flush on his face. He fell into silence, as if my insolence had left him speechless. I was quite enjoying the moment, feeling rather smug about myself.

"Relax, Mr. Good-Samaritan, I’ll do the dirty work. You’ve torn a rift, and I’ll help you stitch it up, simple as that. You’ve just dutifully followed the leader’s orders, while I only came to have a chat with you."

I casually walked out of the Heart Soul Barrier and towards that rift. A powerful and dense residue of energy had already accumulated within the Barrier, a dangerous aura was intensifying rapidly; I had to act quickly.

[For all the suffering brethren, inflict eternal vengeance upon our enemies.]

The power erupted. An irresistible, terrifying force descended from the heavens, turning into storms and flames. Blinding light illuminated the entirety of the Barrier, power converging and swelling. This berserk force was searching for a vent, and right before me was the only one.

In an instant, death and destruction engulfed me.

"Idiot!" A not-too-sturdy figure rushed in front of me.

"O Light, illuminate those without shine!"

Gallaron stood in front of me, slicing through the storm with Norgburn. His back was glowing, flesh and blood burning, as the magic of healing ceaselessly reshaped and repaired him. He stood before me like a giant.

As the surge of power subsided, the half-cooked Gallaron collapsed into my arms. He had rushed out of the Heart Soul Barrier, prepared earlier, to save me.

I bit my lip, squeezing out a few words between clenched teeth.

"I didn’t need your saving; I could have handled it."

Gallaron looked no different from a dead man at that moment, the residual heat from his back scalding my hands.

"I know, but this way you owe me one. I need care, I need healing, I need the rift to remain open. You can’t stop me, because you are George, my brother."

Dammit, this son of a bitch.

Just as I was familiar with my brothers’ personalities, they knew my weaknesses. I hate being in someone’s debt.

"A twisted dragon ripped through the Barrier and nearly beat you to death. I happened to come along just in time to save your life. The dragon has fled. How about we report it like that?"

"Fine." Gallaron closed his eyes, savoring his peace.

"Don’t get your hopes up too high. With such a massive impact of power just now, the dragon inside might already be dead. Even if it’s not, it’s unlikely to find this breach..."

"Roar!!!" Before I could finish, a giant dragon with tattered wings and bearing holy flames rushed towards the breach, escaping right before us. She didn’t attack us, following her instincts to survive, avoiding the threat. She was so close to escaping through the breach, flying towards freedom. Beyond, where Crusaders had not tread, where forests lie that hate could not singe.

The Holy Spear impaled the Giant Dragon right before us, and that massive lizard’s wings were broken.

Her power drained, she transformed into human shape, looking at us with eyes so similar to ours, they held a familiar light. This sight moved Gallaron; he let go of my hand, staggering towards the humanoid dragon mother, the warmth of the Holy Light descending upon her along with its judgment.

They must have locked eyes for a while; I even suspected Gallaron was brainwashed. They held their gaze, unnoticed by anyone...

God had come.

The new King of the Age, Raymond Mellock, the Angel of Light, my leader, my brother. But now I had no choice but to refer to him as God, for it was the only fitting title. His divine might was like a prison; his wrath, an ocean. His body and armor soaked in light, I couldn’t see his helmet, nor his face, only the blinding edges.

"Raymond... Lord..."

"There’s no need for that, George, we are brothers." He was definitely not my brother. Raymond, the fool, would never make someone feel this way, inspire a desire to bow down in grateful tears.

"My... child... save her..." It was the dying voice of the dragon mother, and a Dragon Egg the size of a palm appeared in Gallaron’s hands. My heart sank.

"I will..." Gallaron caressed her face, still covered in scales.

"The Light will remember your merits, my brother." Raymond spoke again, his voice filled with reason. At this moment, like a tyrant, "Hand over the orphan of the Giant Dragon to me, Gallaron."

Gallaron was as stubborn as the worst scenario predicted, his gaze firm, directly looking at the orb of light.

"Lord Raymond, we have all sworn oaths; a Paladin does not harm women and children."

"Giant Dragons, don’t count as humans." The divine clenched his fist, and the body of the dragon mother ignited, becoming a torch before our eyes in the blink of an eye. This action infuriated Gallaron; he bit down on his teeth, letting out a roar, and stood up once again.

"I will take good care of this child! No one can stop me until I have fulfilled my oath!"

"Nor shall anyone dare to trample on my justice, Gallaron." Raymond floated in the sky, the luminous Holy Spear forming in his hand, "My brother, you are straying off the path, come to my side. I shall say this one last time."

The oppression of the King of the Age, the leader’s dominance over his kind, made Gallaron kneel to the ground, gasping for air, his exhausted body ready to collapse while clinging to the egg.

I was starting to feel uncomfortable watching this.

"You really are an idiot." Raymond looked at me, and I laughed mockingly, patting Gallaron’s gaunt spine, "Gallaron, you’re really overestimating yourself, standing against our leader. I’d advise you to atone with death."