Chereads / My Hero Academia: The Legacy of Lost Numbers / Chapter 42 - The King of Dragons

Chapter 42 - The King of Dragons

As the heroes were making their way out of the hidden chamber, the ground suddenly trembled. Before they could react, a massive shadow loomed over them. A colossal dragon appeared in front of the group, its scales glistening under the dim light. Its presence radiated sheer power.

Deku stepped forward, his voice firm. "Who are you?"

The dragon snarled before transforming into a humanoid form, towering over them. "I'm Darek," he sneered. "The King of Dragons. It's a shame you found that place, but now you must pay for meddling in my affairs."

Suddenly, a fierce blast of Dragon Breath struck from behind the group, forcing them to leap out of the way. Ken, his Dragonic eyes blazing with fury, growled as he faced Darek. "You said you're the King of Dragons? How could you betray your own kind like this?"

Darek smirked, unimpressed. "Oh, please. The survival of the fittest is the only law that matters. All For One helped me rid the world of those weaklings. Only the strong deserve to live."

Bakugo, bristling with anger, stepped up. "You jackass! Don't forget about me!" With a roar, he launched a powerful explosive attack at Darek.

Darek casually deflected it with a wave of his hand. "I see..." He turned to face Ken.

Before Bakugo could act again, Ken stepped forward, his anger barely contained. "No, Mr. Bakugo. This is personal. I will deal with him."

Bakugo gritted his teeth but placed a hand on Ken's shoulder. "Oi, Beat! You're not alone in this. I'm here for you."

Darek suddenly let out a deafening roar, and in response, dragons from all around began to emerge, surrounding the group. "Let's see how you deal with this!" Darek taunted, as the air filled with the sound of growling beasts.

Ken, however, didn't flinch. Instead, his eyes narrowed, and his entire body began to radiate a terrifying aura. Without hesitation, he let out a roar of his own—Dragon Fear—a primal, overpowering sound that reverberated through the air. The weaker dragons around Darek faltered, some even collapsing under the sheer pressure of Ken's power.

As the other dragons fell, Ken's body began to change. His form expanded, his muscles swelling and his scales hardening. With a tremendous roar, he transformed into his own colossal dragon form, towering even above Darek.

Ken's eyes glowed with a fierce, uncontainable power. "Let me show you what true fear is," he growled, his voice rumbling like thunder as he prepared to confront Darek head-on.

As the tension escalated, the air around them crackled with anticipation. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows—a tall, imposing man with a sinister smile. Karta, Darek's right-hand man, stepped forward, his presence oozing menace.

"I'll take care of the No. 2 Hero," Karta said with a cold, confident smirk as he locked eyes with Bakugo.

Bakugo, always eager for a fight, grinned back, his fists crackling with explosive energy. "Come at me!" he barked, his excitement barely contained.

Without hesitation, Bakugo unleashed his power, his entire body engulfed in a dark aura as he transformed into his Black Form—his ultimate battle mode. The air around him grew dense with energy as his usual explosive sweat took on a much darker and more intense form. His eyes burned with ferocity as he stared down Karta, ready to unleash hell.

"Show me what you've got, extra!" Bakugo taunted, his voice booming with authority. His blackened form radiated a terrifying power, and the ground beneath him trembled with the sheer intensity of his energy.

Karta smirked and cracked his knuckles, clearly unafraid. "You'll regret underestimating me," he growled, as dark energy swirled around him, preparing for the inevitable clash.

As the tension thickened on the battlefield, Shoya suddenly paused, his eyes narrowing as he sensed something in the distance. A strange, ominous feeling washed over him, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

"There are some others coming," Shoya muttered, his voice low but urgent.

Shoto, who had been watching his son closely, immediately stepped forward. "I'm coming with you, and you won't stop me!" Shoto's determination was clear, his fiery and icy powers beginning to flare around him.

Shoya glanced at his father and nodded. "Sure thing."

Without wasting another second, Shoya transformed into his Colossal Titan form, dark energy swirling around him as his massive, shadowy form took shape. Beside him, Shoto activated his Knight form, his armor glowing with the combined power of fire and ice.

The two of them dashed toward the source of the new threat, ready to face whatever awaited them. The ground shook beneath Shoya's feet as his enormous form moved with surprising speed, while Shoto, in his Knight form, kept pace, his sword of flames and frost drawn, eyes sharp for any danger.

Back with the others, Deku felt the growing tension as another dark presence emerged. "01, what's happening?" he called out to Toshinori, his voice laced with concern.

Toshinori's eyes glowed faintly as he focused, his senses heightened. "I'm sensing devils... on the third side. I'll take care of them." His tone was calm but resolute as he prepared to confront this new wave of threats on his own.

After the fierce battle in the sky, Ken stood over Darek's defeated form, his heart pounding with a mixture of rage and triumph. With a final, ferocious roar, he ripped out Darek's heart and devoured it, the act signifying his victory and reclaiming his heritage.

"This is for my kind!" Ken shouted, his voice filled with raw emotion. As the last remnants of Darek's power coursed through him, something extraordinary happened. The heart of the Dragon King unlocked memories buried deep within Ken's mind, flooding him with visions from his past.

Suddenly, an agonizing scream tore from his lips. "Ahhhhh!" The memories overwhelmed him—flashes of laughter, warmth, and family, followed by pain and loss. The truth struck him like a lightning bolt, breaking through the haze of his transformation.

"Bakugo and Camie are my... parents," he cried, tears streaming down his face as the realization solidified. He had been lost for so long, but now the love of his family surged back into his heart.

Without wasting another moment, Ken rushed back toward the battlefield, determined to protect his family from the threats still lurking around them. As he approached, he saw Karta poised to attack Bakugo and Camie.

"Don't you dare hit my father!" Ken shouted, a fierce glint in his eye. He pushed Karta back with an immense force, surprising everyone with his sudden resurgence.

Camie and Bakugo were taken aback, their hearts swelling with emotions as they processed Ken's declaration.

"Ken..." Camie whispered, tears of relief streaming down her cheeks.

Bakugo, his voice rough with emotion, declared, "You remembered everything, my son." His gaze was fierce yet filled with pride.

Ken turned to face them, his dragon form shimmering under the chaotic sky. "I'm sorry for everything," he said, his voice trembling. "I know I'm a monster now... are you okay with this?"

Without hesitation, Bakugo stepped forward, determination in his eyes. "You brat, I don't care. You are my son, and nothing can change that."

Camie nodded, her heart swelling with love. "He is right, Ken. We love you for what you are, no matter what form you take."

In that moment, Ken felt a weight lift from his shoulders. As the warm embrace of his parents surrounded him, he transformed back into his human form, the overwhelming feelings of love and acceptance flooding his heart.

"Thank you for accepting me," he whispered, his voice filled with gratitude as they hugged tightly.

Then, to Ken's surprise, Karta dropped to one knee before him, bowing deeply. "I, Karta, dedicate my life to the New Dragon King. From now on, as you have defeated our previous king, I will serve you."

As Karta and the other dragons transformed into their human forms, they followed suit, bowing before Ken in a show of loyalty and respect.

With a newfound sense of purpose and belonging, Ken stood tall, surrounded by the love of his family and the allegiance of the dragons. "Together, we will protect our kind," he vowed, determination shining in his eyes. The battles ahead would be fierce, but with his family and newfound allies at his side, Ken felt ready to face whatever darkness lay ahead.