*Necrotic Poison.*
Theo was bewildered. Why was the energy that once transformed Umbra into a shadow dragon now emanating from the Sea King?
‘Something’s not right.’
Theo’s spiritual sight sharpened as he focused more intently.
*Boom, boom, boom, boom!*
A powerful roar echoed through the deep sea as the Sea King, consumed by madness, lifted its head high, its gaze falling directly on Theo.
But in its frenzied state, the Sea King didn’t see Theo—it saw Crimhilde, the one who had imprisoned it in this desolate abyss.
“Crimhilde! Crimhilde!” the Sea King’s voice was laced with rage and anguish as it fixated on Theo, baring its maw.
“Look out!” Pontus cried, moving to shield Theo from the impending attack.
‘There’s no need to worry.’
“What are you talking about?”
Pontus froze as an oppressive force suddenly descended, and he raised his head.
*Boom!*
A massive, crushing pressure forced the Sea King to the seabed, stirring a cloud of silt.
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“Let go of me! Let go!” the Sea King cried out.
“How pathetic, Leviathan. To think you were once a *Guardian* who saved and protected this world,” the voice said with a mocking laugh.
A dragon—smaller in size than the Sea King but exuding an incomparably intense presence—extended its wings in a display of sheer power.
“Who is that...?” Pontus stared in awe.
‘Rodbrock,’ Theo thought, feeling a surge of strength as he recognized his companion.
“My guardian dragon.”
“So that familiar presence I sensed from you came from that one!” Pontus had only heard of Rodbrock by name, but the stories were legendary.
Rodbrock was the pinnacle of the *Guardians*, a warrior who stood alone against the *Nameless Monarch*, the true ruler of the Winter Mountains, and the last of the ancient dragons.
‘Though this isn’t her full form; she’s only here in spirit.’
Rodbrock’s body appeared translucent, her true form too weakened to leave her nest fully. Even so, she was more than powerful enough to subdue the Sea King in this state.
Seeing a glimpse of Rodbrock’s true strength, Theo couldn’t help but tremble in awe.
“My companion, why have you come all this way? I told you to rest easy, that I’d handle things here,” Rodbrock said, turning toward Theo with a playful grin.
“Did you come all this way because you were worried for me?”
Theo chuckled and nodded.
‘As your companion, it’s my duty to care for you, isn’t it?’
“You really are quite the charming trickster. You’re not using lines like that on every woman you meet, are you?”
‘I would never. I’m very careful about such things.’
“Is that so?” Rodbrock laughed heartily, her eyes glinting with mischief.
Pontus, meanwhile, was astonished as he listened to Theo and Rodbrock exchange lighthearted banter.
Even standing in the overwhelming presence of both Rodbrock and the Sea King, Theo remained perfectly composed.
“My companion, I’ll handle this. It could be dangerous, so stand back.”
Rodbrock’s tone was gentle but firm.
Theo shook his head.
‘No. I’ll stay.’
“What do you mean?”
‘I have a promise to fulfill—a request left to me by Crimhilde.’
“Crimhilde... You mean the dragon slayer who imprisoned this friend of mine?”
Theo nodded, and Pontus’s eyes widened.
Rodbrock’s expression shifted, her gaze sharpening.
“My condition isn’t at its best. I may not be able to protect you while subduing him.”
‘I understand. Don’t worry about me. I’ll fulfill Crimhilde’s last wish myself.’
“Hmph. I can never understand your thinking,” Rodbrock muttered, clicking her tongue but smiling slightly as she turned back to the Sea King.
“Still, there must be a reason for your stubbornness. I hope it’s the same as always.”
Theo bowed in gratitude and turned to Pontus.
“You are truly a remarkable human,” Pontus muttered in amazement at Rodbrock’s display of trust in Theo.
‘Pontus, can you help me get closer to the Sea King?’
“Help you? How?”
‘I need you to control the currents to create a path.’
Pontus thought for a moment and then nodded.
“I believe my kin and I can manage that once, though we can’t resist that poison. It’s plagued us for ages.”
‘I’ll take care of the poison. Don’t worry.’
“Very well.”
Pontus exhaled deeply, then raised his head and let out a powerful roar.
*Rumble!*
Though sound doesn’t travel underwater, the vibrations from Pontus’s call reverberated, summoning countless sea creatures.
“All of you, clear a path for this human to reach our father!”
*Rumble!*
Hundreds of sea creatures responded, expelling breaths that pushed the currents outward, forming a path straight to the Sea King.
‘Thank you.’
Theo propelled himself forward.
*Tempest Slash!*
Using the *Death Beat* as a foothold, he gained even more momentum.
A white trail formed in his wake as he approached the Sea King, who was shrouded in dark mist.
[Warning: Approaching necrotic poison.]
Theo plunged into the shadowy fog, and the shadow within, Umbra, shrieked as if recognizing something familiar.
‘So this is why you’re here. I don’t know how it ended up here, but it’s convenient.’
Drawing the wind he’d left behind, Theo surrounded himself with a whirlwind.
Tempest Form, the third stage of the *Storm Lightning God*, activated.
With Crimhilde’s legacy, his mastery over mana had improved significantly, allowing him to elevate his power.
[Allocated 25 additional points to intelligence.]
[Intelligence: 79 → 104]
[Skill proficiency has increased.]
[Mana control enhanced.]
[Intelligence has exceeded 100.]
[New skill unlocked: *Premonition*.]
---
**[Premonition]**
*Type*: Special Ability
*Effect*: Enhanced judgment and insight allow for swift predictions of future events.
---
Having spent roughly a month battling countless foes and mastering the *Nibelung* technique, Theo had accumulated substantial experience.
*Storm Lightning God – Gale Pull*
Theo extended his arm, drawing in the dark poison that enveloped him.
Thanks to his resistance to necrotic poison and the predictive capabilities of *Premonition*, he could deftly dissipate the poison whenever it intensified.
Slowly, he separated the poison from the seawater, concentrating it into a dark sphere.
A near-pure concentration of toxic energy.
Normally, Theo would discard it, but he hesitated.
‘Seems a waste to throw it away.’
An idea crossed his mind, and he turned to his shadow.
‘Umbra.’
*Screech?*
‘Want to eat it?’
*Screech!* Umbra recoiled, as if horrified.
‘The poison is mostly removed, so it’s safe to consume.’
*Screech?*
‘If you don’t, I’ll just discard it.’
*Screech!* Umbra protested, and after some hesitation, it relented.
‘Alright then.’
Theo released the purified poison into the shadow, where Umbra devoured it eagerly.
Given its potency, Umbra might even become a new shadow dragon, free from madness.
As Theo continued purifying and feeding the poison to Umbra, he soon reached the Sea King’s neck.
Between the rows of scales, he spotted a single scale growing in the opposite direction.
The reverse scale.
‘I found it.’
Crimhilde had once given him guidance.
“When you see the reverse scale on Levi’s neck, pierce it with *Balmungr*. That’s where the madness originates.”
Raising the Dragon Slayer sword, Theo focused all his intent on its blade.
—What lies there to torment the Sea King so?
—A disgrace. An ancient curse embedded within him when he was imprisoned in the depths.
The curse left by the *Nameless Monarch*.
Taking a deep breath, Theo infused the sword with every ounce of his will, thrusting it toward the reverse scale.
*Claw of Nibelung.*
*Slaaash!*
With a downward slash, the scale split open.
*Crack.*
Then,
*Fang of Nibelung.*
Theo drove the blade deep into the wound.
*Thrust.*
The claw slashed downward, while the fang struck deep.
The Sea King convulsed in agony, thrashing its head.
Yet, it couldn’t break free under Rodbrock’s restraint.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
Theo clung to the wound, driving the sword deeper, pouring all his mana into the blade.
With each strike, the dragon’s heart and core resonated, releasing bursts of heat.
As sparks and steam erupted, the wound on the reverse scale deepened, and the curse of the *Nameless Monarch* began to burn away.
*Whoosh!*
A wave of powerful intent surged, enveloping Theo.
[Forced activation of skill: *Hatchling Sync*. Listening to the Sea King’s voice...]
“I... I...”
Memories flashed before Theo’s eyes.
The Sea King’s cherished moments.
Fleeting images of his time with Crimhilde.
She would place flower crowns on his head, heal his wounds, and listen to his worries.
The joyful times they shared.
For ages, he had clung to those memories, lost within them as his mind deteriorated.
And now...
‘You’re worried, aren’t you?’
Theo sensed the Sea King’s concern.
He feared that his only friend might despise or reject him, that she would hate him for the destruction his madness caused.
‘No, she wouldn’t.’
Theo shook his head, calling out.
He hoped Crimhilde’s words would reach him.
‘She had a message for you.’
“Levi...”
The Sea King lifted his head slowly.
“Levi.”
The nickname Crimhilde had given him, which he adored.
The one she would use even as she’d tease him for pronouncing her name wrong.
“Cr... rim...”
Like whipped cream, she’d joke.
That memory lingered in his gaze.
—I was happy to be with you.
‘I was happy to be with you.’
The fog in the Sea King’s eyes lifted, his gaze softening as if he could see Crimhilde’s image.
—So don’t...
‘So don’t let these nightmares trouble you any longer.’
As the voices blended, the Sea King shut his eyes.
A single tear slipped free, swept away by the current.
Then...
“Brother.”
*Crunch!*
Rodbrock pressed her snout to the Sea King’s neck.
When she raised her head again, a large, gleaming orb was clenched in her jaws.
A dragon heart.
The essence of ancient dragon power.
“Your legacy lives on through me. Return to nature, and grant us your blessing.”
*Roar!*
With a fierce cry, Rodbrock swallowed the dragon heart.
*Flash!*
Brilliant light encased Rodbrock’s ethereal form, illuminating the dark depths.
[Congratulations! You’ve subdued the Sea King, who was driven mad by necrotic poison, and safely delivered his heart to Rodbrock. Scenario Quest #4 completed successfully.]
[Grade: S+]
[As a reward, your affinity with dragons has increased by 100, and you’ve awakened a talent for dragon blood arts.]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[The locked talent of the *Dragonborn* has been unlocked.]