The Red Dragon Just Wants To Do As It Pleases-Chapter 517 - 311: Crime and Punishment

While David and the others battled the triune goddess at the center of the square with fierce intensity, a figure, much thinner than an ordinary Elf, tumbled through the ruins of over a dozen decrepit buildings. He skidded across the ground like a stone skipping across water before finally steadying himself and kneeling on the scorched earth.

A strand of dry but bloodstained hair fell before his forehead as Court Mage Menekver gasped for breath, looking up at the silhouettes on the purple rooftops, overwhelmed by an unprecedented sense of helplessness.

As a traditional Spellcaster, he ultimately needed the protection of some close-combat professionals to fully utilize his abilities.

However, in the previous surprise attack, the court Sword Dancers protecting him had been massacred by the Dragon’s kin.

Had it not been for the force field defense spell I carry, which activated just in time, I could very well have been kicked to death on the spot by that agile Ogre...

The opponent was clearly not yet legendary, yet through the blessings of countless Dragon kin rituals, his physical strength and power had been forcibly transformed into a true killing machine.

And there was more than one such perverse Dragon kin.

There was also a Barbarian wielding dual blades called "Fearless of Death."

Literally, fearless of death.

Menekver had repeatedly put this Barbarian on the verge of inevitable death with consecutive combinations of spells.

But every time, under what he thought would be a fatal blow, the Barbarian would keep fighting with a battered body and recover quickly.

This unique trait immediately connected Menekver to the intelligence he had.

These two were the earliest Dragon kin followers of David Uthos:

The Steadfast—Damon Raxind

And his Ogre bride—Monado

Although both were only of master-level standard, their tacit cooperation was seamless. The Barbarian always managed to deflect fatal blows meant for his mate at critical moments, and the Ogre invariably bought "undying gaps" of time for him.

If it were just this pair of unusual spouses, I still have many ways to deal with them. But just as I understand David Uthos all too well, David, whom I’ve faced many times, has also prepared for me in advance.

To deal with him, the tricky Court Mage, David had matched him with another adversary.

Rune Lord—Bergin.

A legendary Dwarf whose fame had long been established.

A Psionic Dwarf specialized in countering Spellcasters like himself.

Together, these three were like three indestructible cockroaches.

And the slots for his prepared spells and Magic Power were being consumed at a visible rate, bit by bit.

Also being consumed was his already frail life force.

At my age, an Elf like me should be in a library filled with books, or by a scenic fish pond, enjoying the rest of his days...

Sigh.

At this moment, Euniselen, who was organizing manpower to fight the Dragons in the outer district, reached him through Magic Communication:

"Teacher, the Dragons are bombarding us from the air; the outer city district is completely breached."

"Hmm."

"The Air Ban in the central city district has failed. The Mystlocks brought by the Elf envoys have also been located. Judging by the current progress, we fear we will lose them soon too."

"Hmm."

This chain of almost dismissive replies finally caused Euniselen’s suppressed emotions to explode. She said with suppressed anger, "I just saw Leopold; he’s heading towards the city center."

Menekver’s expression froze. If I remember correctly, wasn’t this Chosen of The Wandering God already stripped of his status due to his act of betrayal? At a time like this, shouldn’t he have already fled with his family? Although Leopold’s reclusive nature means our relationship isn’t very close, his love for his family is well known. For them, he abandoned everything he once held dear, including the favor of a god.

Then he heard Euniselen say, "When I first found him, his home had been crushed by a piece of city wall structure. Leopold... has lost everything."

It wasn’t until this moment that Menekver realized what his most promising student was hinting at. So that’s what she meant... I initially thought Leopold was merely unfortunate. But then I remembered: Leopold’s home wasn’t in the Noble district at the city center, nor in the outer district. It was near the commercial area around the middle ring. Theoretically, even if an ancient red Dragon took action, a single fiery Dragon Breath shouldn’t have brought down the sturdy masonry structure of the outer wall all the way to the middle ring area... Unless there was interference from an external force. Based on my observations, although the surprise attack organized by David Uthos wasn’t deliberately holding back, it also didn’t specifically target and massacre civilians. And Leopold had supposedly already lost his Chosen status... So... there seems to be only one truth. This is likely not a Dragon disaster, nor a natural calamity. But rather... divine punishment. Punishment from the gods. The essence of power has never been about granting. It is about depriving. Divine right is no different.

Menekver finally began to understand the source of Euniselen’s anger.

He closed his eyes in pain, the buzzing in his ears drowning out all other noise.

Time seemed to lose its meaning.

Perhaps only a moment passed before the aged Court Mage opened his eyes again, appearing to have found some semblance of peace.

His breathing was no longer labored, and his hunched body, wounded as it was, slowly straightened up.

As the Dragon kin once again converged on him from three directions, the elderly Elf communicated through Magic Communication with his student, whose spirit was beginning to waver, "Hold on, Euniselen."

"Do not hesitate. We do not fight for the gods."

"At least at this moment, we fight for the continuation of our species, for our own survival."

"Queen Arasya of the Elves used herself as bait, drawing the attention of Elves worldwide, allowing them to witness and confront the threat from the Dragons."

"Right now, the kingdom’s warships are returning from the seas, and Elf clans from various planes are coming to our aid."

"On the other hand, the Dragons are unable to unite as we do and join together to fight for Elariya until they resolve the threat from the dragon madness."

"As long as we hold the line, the victory in this battle will ultimately be ours."

Here, the Court Mage paused briefly. "As for Leopold," he said, "perhaps this end, for him, is actually a release."

Seeing that Euniselen seemed finally convinced by his words, Menekver ended the Magic Communication.

His hair, once as radiant as the sun, turned snow white under the caress of the wind.

Facing three Dragon kin who had cornered him, for the sake of ultimate victory, he had to choose to use his dwindling life force to forcibly overdraw his Magic Power, thereby activating the Magic Enigma Lock within him.

Power of Nature—Thorns Everywhere.

As he watched the thicket springing to life around him, swallowing both him and the three Dragon kin, Menekver finally showed a smile of relief.

I cannot take the enemy down with me. At least, in this way, I can temporarily protect my students from the pursuit and slaughter of these three adversaries.

As his vision was consumed by the thorns, he thought he saw the figure of Leopold. "Friend," he murmured, "at least, your descent into hell is not a solitary one, right?"

Yes, I would rather plunge into hell than return to the Afando Kingdom.

"David Uthos!" Leopold roared hysterically, like a hyena that had lost its child.

David was still puzzled. What right did this Godchosen, who had lost everything, truly possess to threaten me and reverse a situation already so thoroughly collapsed?

He was astonished to see the former Godchosen shout his deity’s name to the heavens:

"Oh my god, Feimar!!!"

"I have betrayed you!"

"Betrayed the Elves!"

"Disgraced my parents!"

In the central district, the treehouse crushed by massive stones still showed two pairs of elven legs unnaturally exposed.

"Disgraced my child."

Although the child’s figure was not visible in the rubble, a small bear woven from dried Century Aroma blossoms lay soaked in the blood on the street.

"I am guilty!"

"It was I who endangered the safety of our kin."

Afar, more Elves continued to die under the Dragon’s Dragon Breath and claws.

"Bringing trouble upon the whole of Dewensen."

With each assault, the district continued to collapse.

"I have failed your teachings!"

Leopold finally voiced the decision he had made on his journey. He looked towards the sky:

"I am willing to give up everything!"

"Give up control of my body and soul."

"I only beg you to take them, eliminate my foes."

"Now... they are yours." Leopold’s voice choked up as he stared at David, spreading his arms that held his sword.

In that moment, even though David could not see The Wandering God, I can almost imagine It’s wearing a satisfied smile.

The next moment, a crimson pillar of divine power unlike any before descended upon this former Godchosen, who had forsaken everything for vengeance against him.

It erased all that was Leopold, twisting the vessel into a form that pleased It.

This was punishment.

This was divine retribution.

This was deprivation.

Now, he, or rather It.

Was truly...

the incarnation of a deity.