The First Time.
Raon thought that someone might die in front of him.
"No!"
Raon didn't even realize what he was saying.
Our human is bleeding. No, not just bleeding, he's using a terrifying power. The power he shouldn't use again. Our human might die.
Thump, thump, thump.
And he saw it. The large platinum dragon that was disappearing while holding Neo, blocking the purple mana. He didn't need to ask who it was.
It was the Dragon Half-Blood.
Because he saw something black in the middle of the platinum.
He could feel the energy of the Dragon Half-Blood there.
The Dragon Half-Blood might die.
Thump, thump, thump.
And suddenly, in the time that had returned, many voices were heard.
"What is this-?"
"Raon-!"
"No, Cale-nim, Cale-nim! Mila-nim! Where is Mila-nim-?"
"Damn it! We have to stop that explosion!"
And Neo's Dragon's Rage reached its end. The explosion occurred.
Our human too. Our Dragon Half-Blood too. Our family too. Our comrades too.
They could all die.
No, maybe someone could be saved. But someone is going to die.
Thump, thump, thump.
"Raon!"
The voice of the Gold Dragon, Eruhaben, called him.
Kaaa—booom!
That voice was swallowed by the explosion.
Thump, thump, thump.
What should I do?
Raon, unconsciously, turned his head.
The one who always teaches me and whom I always observe, yes.
Because he was the one who first showed me the light of the world.
Even the light of the stars in the night sky.
The person who first showed it to me, and whom I still have to learn from.
Raon turned away from the explosion and looked at one person.
He met Cale's gaze.
No.
His eyes were already unfocused. His eyes were covered in blood, and he didn't seem to be seeing the world properly.
"Heh."
Raon began to laugh. Cale's hand had a faint silver glow.
That's it.
Our human couldn't see or hear anything at that moment. He was probably on the verge of losing consciousness. Even so, he was extending the silver glow. Creating a shield.
Because he has to protect this. Because he has to stop it.
Yes.
I learned well.
I am a Great Dragon, so I learn better than anyone.
"Heh, hehe-"
It's strange. He couldn't stop laughing. And he felt energy coursing through his body.
None of the comrades tried to flee. They all cared for each other. Seeing this, Raon finally realized.
Thump, thump, thump.
It wasn't a hell-like it seemed. It wasn't a nightmare-like present.
Thump, thump, thump.
What I can do. What I can do for my family. Before regretting, getting angry, and feeling helpless, what I must do first. Raon finally understood.
Thump, thump, thump.
At that moment, Raon looked at his front paws. This heartbeat isn't the beat of my heart. It's not my heart pounding from fear and terror.
Whoosh— whoosh—
I hadn't checked my state while watching the others.
Whoosh—
The black mana wrapped around his front paws and body. It was warm. Raon realized his body was cold. The black mana warmed his body.
"Heh, hehe-"
He laughed.
Raon saw the hand of the Gold Dragon, Eruhaben, trying to grab his front paw.
Yes, Goldie Gramps was trying to hide Raon behind him.
But…
'No.'
Now isn't the time for that.
In this turbulent world. Raon found what he could do.
Thump, thump, thump.
He felt the enormous heartbeat. As if it were his own heart.
The world throbbed. No, the mana of the world throbbed. In sync with his heart.
Raon dodged the Gold Dragon's hand and stretched out his two front paws.
Kaaa—booom!
The light of the approaching explosion. The light different from the platinum protecting him and the silver shielding him.
A light that didn't seem grand at all.
Raon cast magic toward that light.
Shield.
The spell he's used the most. The spell he's practiced the most. The spell he trusts the most.
Because, secretly, I always thought our human looked the coolest when using the shield.
So, Raon practiced and studied that spell the most. And that shield is the power we need the most right now.
Whoosh—
A large shield enveloped the wall.
Rumble—
The huge explosion struck the shield. It seemed like the shield would break. But Raon wasn't worried.
If one isn't enough, I'll make more.
'But before that-!'
Raon looked through the translucent black shield at the platinum that was cracking. The platinum holding the epicenter of the explosion. The light that seemed like it would break but didn't. No, the light that would hold on until the end, even if it broke.
'It's similar.'
To our human.
To me.
To our family.
That light is similar to us.
That means the Dragon Half-Blood is one of us too.
He saw something black in the center of the platinum. A hunched black mass. It didn't shine. And it didn't seem terrifying. It looked extremely pathetic. Raon saw that mass of black smoke breaking.
'It can't be!'
It really can't be.
Whoosh—
The mana trembled. He created a shield. A black shield around the black mass.
One layer.
It's not enough.
Two layers.
Three layers.
He kept creating shields.
Crack!
Of course, even if he made more shields, the outermost layer would break.
'It doesn't matter!'
I can't create an indestructible shield like our human.
I can't use defense as an attribute like my mom either.
But-
I can use magic now.
Thump, thump, thump.
The mana coming toward me.
All the mana of the world approached Raon.
And it responded to the beat of his heart.
Thump, thump, thump.
Yes.
This world is my mana.
And if the world's mana helps me.
Like our human changed my destiny by helping me.
'I can change it!'
At that moment.
Crack-!
The translucent black shield around the wall shattered.
Crack, crack—!
The shields around the Dragon Half-Blood quickly broke, at least five of them.
Drip.
Raon ignored the blood dripping from his nose. His head felt hot. He ignored that too.
I don't intend to resemble our human.
Should I learn the bad habits of adults?
Pain hurts.
Effort is effort.
Raon will know how to say it, how to rest when he's hurt, and how not to push himself too hard.
And he will also know how to protect his loved ones.
'Definitely!'
The moment he clenched his fists with his two front paws extended.
Thump
The world vibrated. The air around the wall trembled strongly. No, the mana vibrated.
"Oh my!"
No, the mana wasn't vibrating.
"This brat!"
Eruhaben's voice, full of sadness and joy, was heard.
"This clever little one!"
Crack
The shield surrounding the wall broke.
Smile
Still, Raon smiled.
Immediately, the Ancient Dragon Eruhaben shouted, stretching both arms forward.
"The mana has stabilized!"
Raon had learned something by watching Cale trying to carry the burden alone. He learned that he wasn't alone.
If the world's mana helps me. My comrades will also help me. Then, Raon only had one thing to ask the mana that follows his will.
'Stop agitating.'
And help me and my comrades raise shields.
Drip~
Despite the blood dripping from his nose, Raon smiled.
"Raise the shield!"
Eruhaben was already raising his shield as he gave the order.
A beautiful golden shield appeared.
Whoosh~
Whoosh~
That was the beginning.
The stabilized mana near the wall responded to the dragons' will.
Rasheel's gray shield. And then the crimson and scarlet shields of the enemy dragons. Everyone except Dragon Mila raised shields of various colors.
The human mages joined in as well.
Everyone, enemies and allies, started protecting the wall together.
Seeing this, Eruhaben not only raised shields around the wall but also toward the center of the explosion.
Layer after layer.
Incessantly creating shields.
Dragon Half-Blood.
I must save him.
His soul is breaking.
Before it disappears, I must protect him within the explosion.
"This brat!"
The Ancient Dragon Eruhaben trembled.And he was filled with euphoria.
'The mana!'
Freely using magic, I thought he would try to save us all by himself.
'And he's stabilizing the mana?'
These agitated manas?
'Damn it!'
He couldn't help but curse.This young one was more extraordinary than he thought.
What is mana?For dragons, mana is like their heart.The only power they know how to handle from birth without needing to learn, like breathing air.
'And he knows how to handle mana this well?'
It's not just using a lot of mana and casting big spells.
Eruhaben felt his whole body tremble. Never in his life had he seen so many dragons using magic simultaneously. The overlapping shields created an overwhelming impression that even made the Ancient Dragon tremble.
'And Raon created the foundation for this situation.'
Hah.
It's incredible.
I've always said Raon has the potential to be a Dragon Lord.
But now I think this young dragon is already a true Lord.
Because the center of the mana used by so many Dragons was this small and young dragon who created the entire foundation.
Attribute: Present.
Raon knows how to use his magic in any situation.
This is natural.
Mana is Raon, and Raon is mana.
For a child whose container is the world, this is the most natural thing.
'Ah.'
The Ancient Dragon bit his lips.
He couldn't stay paralyzed by the euphoria.
Cale-
The Dragon Half-Blood-
Raon-
In a situation where it's uncertain what will happen to them.
'I can't survive alone.'
If someone has to die, it should be me first.
So-
Whoosh~
Whoosh~
The dust and magic spread in Eruhaben's hands.
Drip
Raon couldn't even wipe the blood dripping from his nose as he watched all this.
The explosion continued.
When will it end?
Boom~
Boom~
Whoosh~
He didn't know what was happening outside the wall. He couldn't see.
Shine~
Shine~
Whoosh~
Multiple shields overlapped, blocking the view outside.
Shields of dozens of interwoven colors.
"Hehehe-"
Raon smiled.
It's black. When all the colors overlap, even the light fades, turning black. There are no more Raon shields in those black shields. Raon's shields only envelop the Dragon Half-Blood's soul.
Crack
He felt his shield break. Even without seeing it, he knew. The explosion still enveloped the Dragon Half-Blood.
Eruhaben and Raon continued creating shields non-stop.
Drip~
The sweat ran. Raon ignored this too and concentrated. He couldn't calm all the world's mana. He still can't do that. But he stabilized the mana around him without stopping. And he kept creating shields for the Dragon Half-Blood. Doing all this without rest.
"..."
Raon closed his eyes, concentrating.
He couldn't rest.
Yes.
Let's keep going.
I also need to set aside my worries for our human for now.
I can't do anything if I go to where he is.
So I'll do what I can.
Raon focused more deeply.
In the world with closed eyes.
Thump, thump, thump.
He focused so much that he could only hear his heartbeat. The sound of the surroundings disappeared. Raon focused on the sound of his heart.
He didn't stop.
Thump, thump, thump.
Creating shields.
Stabilizing the mana.
Yes.
He won't stop.
Thump, thump, thump.
And he could still hear the beat of his heart.
"Ah."
Raon stopped.
'No.'
Raon realized.
'It's calm.'
The surroundings had calmed down.
'It can't be-'
Raon slowly opened his eyes that he had closed.
Just then, he felt a hand on his shoulder.
The darkness disappeared.
"Ah-"
The black shield surrounding the wall was no longer there.
The world was still chaotic from the era of changes, but.
Through the gray clouds, he could see sunlight.
Whoosh--- whoosh---
Furthermore, he saw the black soul wrapped in the shield mixed with black and gold.
It was cracked, but it still existed.
"Little one."
The Ancient Dragon spoke.
"It's over."
Raon's face contorted.
His chubby cheeks squished like a bun.
But neither the Ancient Dragon nor Raon could afford to enjoy this calm after surviving the explosion.
Cale.
And the Dragon Half-Blood.
Raon and Eruhaben quickly moved toward one person and one soul.
The enemies had disappeared.
But our family must not disappear.
This calm was truly terrifying.
The peace after a fierce battle.
Amid it, Raon looked at Cale.
"Huff. Huff."
Cale still hadn't passed out. He hadn't lost consciousness. He could see the Dragon Mila trembling, trying to hold everything together with thin beige threads.
"Huff."
At that moment, Raon met Cale's gaze.
Actually, that wasn't possible.
Cale's eyes couldn't focus properly.
Only, they just happened to meet by chance.
Raon saw his human, who couldn't see him, open his mouth.
Our Human, full of irritation, spoke.
"…Dragon Half-Blood… this guy, without listening… can't die… absolutely…"
Raon felt those words were for him.
"…Do you really think I'm going to die… like this…?"
With that weak and broken voice, Raon smiled brightly.
"That's our Human!"
Thump
And the world vibrated.
"!"
Raon felt a chill run through his whole body. Amid a huge wave of energy he had never felt before, the young dragon didn't know what to do.
Not just Raon.
Everyone in this place was experiencing a wave of energy like they had never felt before.
Life.
An immense energy, like the very essence of life.
How to describe this?
When confusion covered everyone's eyes.
Thump
The world vibrated again.
And then,
"Huh?"
The sky opened. The earth split.
Between them, a light of bright colors began to descend from the sky and sprout from the earth.
"…Damn…"
Cale, feeling that energy, was filled with irritation.
The Source of the World.
It was that energy that wanted to use Cale as an air purifier.
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