Chapter 382 Equal Exchange (2)
Returning his gaze to Layland, Toraquin's eyes widened in horror as Layland spread his wings. It was at this moment that they felt Layland's true prowess. It reminded them of that time their Liege briefly showcased his power to destroy a Dwarf city because of their unwillingness to cooperate. It lasted no more than ten seconds but everything disappeared by the end of it. Before such power, they could only hope for the best to survive.
"People react interestingly to Dragon Intent," Layland spoke sagely. "Some do their best to resist it whereas some lower their heads and get crushed. Given your reaction, I assume you have been exposed to Dragon Intent before."
"I haven't…" Toraquin answered at the same time the Generals on his sides threw up a mouthful of blood.
"Ah, an honest one. How rare," Layland remarked. "Then, you should be exposed now."
Toraquin's heart clenched when the Dragon Intent which had been focused on the other Generals hit him. His viscera twisted as if forcing their way out of his mouth. His nose bled as he kept the Dragon Intent from crushing his soul. He was faring better than his fellow Generals, but he could do nothing nonetheless.
With sheer determination, he fought the urge to roll his eyes to the back of his head and looked at Layland. His heart almost exploded when noticed Layland was already in front of him. He desperately used his Origin on Layland to no effect. Layland's power didn't even waver in the slightest. His Origin which many Demons had come to abhor was useless before Layland.
"Someone with your Origin should have possessed good fighting skills. I fail to see that in you, so I presume you use others to defeat your opponent for you…or maybe luck," Layland remarked in fascination. "How could you get stronger?"
Against his better judgment, Toraquin answered the question. "Power… after… defeating… opponent."
"Ah, so you gain a portion of their power after you defeat them. That is interesting. Can the effect be shared?"
Toraquin didn't answer, but Layland knew the answer was a no. He might act like he could defy Layland's will, but his eyes didn't lie. Layland extended his hands, pushing Toraquin away and pulling the four Generals closer with his Mana. Toraquin was spared from Layland's soul-crushing Dragon Intent but didn't dare do anything to help his fellow Generals. He remained there and watched as Layland whispered something in Dragon Language.
The four Generals went still and stopped spewing blood. Layland waved his hand dismissively and they immediately disappeared from view. They didn't glance at Toraquin. It was as if they didn't register his presence.
Toraquin stilled when Rexorem flew into Layland's hand. The blood covering it was quickly absorbed, leaving it spotless in the blink of an eye. Toraquin glanced down and found the blood spikes melting. Blood pooled on the ground for a brief moment before it was frozen by the low temperature covering the area.
The air hummed, causing Toraquin to snap his eyes back at Layland. The Draconic Demon was weighing Rexorem out, causing the air to tremble every time it moved up and down.
"It has become quite heavy. I like it," Layland remarked with a tinge of mirth in his tone. Appearing before Toraquin, he said, "Lead me to Winerva."
Toraquin only nodded his head and flew in the direction of the laboratory, leading the Demon who was five times his size. The thought of leading Layland to an ambush flashed in his mind, but it disappeared just as fast as it came. He didn't know where the four Generals had gone to and he didn't want to think about it.
Once they were close to the laboratory which was within the castle complex, Toraquin glanced at Layland. This was the moment when he noticed that Layland was carrying Helia in his arms. She was wide awake but immobile. There was a deep bruise on her cheek and it didn't show any signs of healing. Given how she was not emitting even the slightest hint of Mana, the bruise wouldn't heal at any time.
Toraquin shivered as he looked at the needles piercing through Helia's joints and torso. Dragon Spells had an unrivalled prowess. They needed to enhance their Spells with a huge amount of Mana to make up for the power disparity between their Spells and the Dragon Spells. The only Spells in history that were said to rival Dragon Spells were Ancient Demonic Spells. Then again, those Spells were more effective on Gods, so they might not hurt Dragons much.
"This is the place…" Toraquin said respectfully as soon as they were standing before the laboratory's door.
Layland who had shrunken his form so he fit perfectly in the building gestured at the door with his chin. Toraquin nodded and opened the door for him. An unpleasant smell assaulted his nose, but it was not one that he was familiar with. Upon entering, his eyes were planted on the nine full-body skins displayed on the wall. He didn't need to smell them to know to whom they belonged.
Boom!
"Gahak!"
In the blink of an eye, Toraquin's head was planted in the wall. Across the room, Helia's body splattered against the wall.
"What the fuck did you do to her? Where is she!?"
It was the first time Layland had raised his voice. It was also his first time almost losing his cool ever since becoming a Warrior. Toraquin gurgled, unable to provide an answer. His head was crushed along with his windpipe. The wall was made out of a reinforced Magic stone that was strong enough to withstand a Demon King's General's Mana Pool explosion. Layland had crushed it with his head, so such a result was expected.
Letting go of his hold on the crushed head of the helpless Demon King's General, Layland went to the splattered Helia. Her blue blood was furiously trickling down the wall. She almost looked like a paste, but she was still alive. Even if her power was sealed, her body was sturdy enough to withstand a head-first free fall from the sky. The throw Layland had done was more dangerous than that, but she withstood it regardless.
Just as he was about to ask the writhing Helia, he heard a sniffle from the side. He was surprised but not alarmed. Whatever it was didn't have the power to scratch his skin. He still reprimanded himself, though, for not noticing the presence earlier no matter how weak it was. Turning to the side, he was met with a familiar face. His red eyes burned even brighter as dark thoughts overwhelmed his mind.
His killing intent made the figure scream in horror before throwing up a mouthful of blood. The smell of ammonia hit his nose, pushing the dark thoughts away. He couldn't kill the blonde no matter how much he wanted to. He had to make sure whether she knew something that he didn't. He would end her in the most painful way possible later.
"I can smell Winerva's scent on you, bitch. What did you do to her?" he asked spitefully.
The blonde raised her head weakly, staring into her ex-boyfriend in horror. "I- I tried my best to help, b- but she didn't let me." She pointed a trembling finger at Helia. "She kept telling me she needed to cut Winerva open and torture her, so her regeneration rate could increase."
"Stop beating around the bush. What did you do to her?" Layland repeated coldly.
"I- I didn't do more than hitting—"
Bam!
The blonde got kicked in the head and thrown to the wall. It was nothing more than a playful kick for Layland, but it managed to split her head open. Layland extended his hand, lifting the motionless blonde from the ground with his Mana. Grasping her neck, he injected his Mana into her veins. Her split head quickly reattached. Her consciousness returned when her head was fully healed.
"You have become somewhat of a Demon," Layland remarked when the blonde opened her eyes. "What deal did you make with Rusceus? I doubt he cured the curse Maxine had cast because he fancied a cum dump like you."
The blonde cried hysterically and wet herself. "Please, don't make me go through that pain again. Just kill me. I don't want to suffer any more pain." She choked on her breath. "End my life already. Please, Layland. I hate this world. I don't want to live this life anymore. Waah!" She wailed pitifully, pouring everything out of her heart.
"Ah, you shouldn't have cried, Brianna. I get off with torturing such a pitiful girl like you," Layland replied mirthfully.
Brianna cried louder at Layland's lie. She fully believed him considering what he had done to her. Layland wasn't so twisted to revel in such a despicable act. He only relished inflicting pain on his enemy. Even so, more often than not, he ended his enemy as quickly as he could. No matter how fun the activity was, he still thought it was a waste of time.
"Why don't you tell me where Winerva is?"
"I will tell you, but please kill me quickly," Brianna pleaded, eyes puffy from the crying.
"I will let Winerva decide your fate."
Layland's reply made her eyes light up. Layland noted in amusement how eager she was to be tortured by anyone but him.
"A flash of light engulfed her when that earthquake shook this place. My Mana was sealed at the same time, so I believe she is with Rusceus right now."
"I see…"
Just as his indignation was about to settle, Layland had to restrain himself from destroying everything in his surroundings again. Once he calmed down, he cleaned Brianna up with Magic and then undone one of Helia's seals to let her regenerate. Putting them on the shoulders, he exited the building.
Once outside, he spotted Millonia and Aurelia in the sky, overlooking the kingdom tensely. He flew to them and met their wry gaze. They seemed a little bit shocked by the chaos he had caused. Their shock was amplified when he summoned the four Demon King's Generals he had brainwashed. Their shoulders tensed upon noticing one of them holding the head of a child Demon.
"Blow yourself up and turn the castle to dust," Layland ordered coldly. Dismissing the four Demons with a wave, he spoke to the two women, "Bring these bitches to Verniculos and lock them up. I am going to the Demon Kings Summit and collect some heads."
Aurelia wordlessly received Helia and Brianna and watched as Layland left. A blinding explosion shook the earth, but the two women's gaze was still focused on Layland's broad back.
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