"...You don't seem to be lying."
The White Dragon Emperor's voice had grown much heavier ever since realizing something was wrong with Ddraig.
They were eternal rivals locked in endless conflict; however, through that long struggle, a strange bond had formed between them.
If Ddraig had truly been inexplicably harmed, or even fallen into eternal slumber—
Albion would not rejoice. He would only seek vengeance for his suddenly faltering rival.
"Of course. Sincerity is a virtue. I wouldn't choose deceit unless necessary."
"...Would you mind letting me check on him?"
"I don't mind, but let's wait until after the fight."
Zeroy raised her fist, taking the stance she used when wielding the Earth Blade.
Image: "Earth Blade Starting Form," Location: "Images/1751152435-100438681-113530710.jpg"
"Without Ddraig's assistance, Longinus can't unleash its full power... never mind, it doesn't seem necessary."
Albion had intended to remind Zeroy that she should clarify, even restore Ddraig's condition first—only then would her battle with Vali be fair, only then would the destined clash of the Heavenly Dragons not be skewed.
Although midway, he realized—
It wasn't necessary. She was already far stronger than Vali.
"Albion, you...!"
Vali gritted his teeth, his face twisted with resentment.
How could he not hear the implication in Albion's words?
"Kid, pride is good. As my host, you should have pride in standing at the peak. That said, blind pride is dangerous. Whatever happens, don't die."
"..."
Vali fell silent, no longer voicing his feelings.
He could see the gap between himself and this Red Dragon Emperor. He just found it hard to accept—especially being called out to his face.
It was no different from being insulted, told outright that he was weak. Even if he really was weak, couldn't Albion have phrased it more tactfully, or just kept his mouth shut?!
"Come, fight!"
"Hoho, charging at me? Good, very spirited!"
Zeroy answered Vali's fighting spirit with her own blazing will.
The result wasn't surprising.
Vali was indeed strong, his talent unquestionable—hence his title as the strongest White Dragon Emperor in history.
Even so, the gap was still too wide.
Even without her Longinus, Zeroy had been suppressing him. If not for her wanting to play with recoil-free automatic sniper cannons, Vali might never have gotten the chance to use Divide against her.
And as a weapon created for war, Zeroy's natural gifts were no less than his.
Even without using a Longinus, throughout their fierce battle, her skills and experience had been steadily climbing, widening the gap.
Much less now, with a Longinus that doubled her power every ten seconds.
Could he defy such power?!
After only a few more exchanges, Vali was left being pummeled one-sidedly.
Another whip-kick sent him crashing into a mountain, blasting out a massive crater. The white armor on his body vanished.
His Balance Breaker was forcibly canceled.
"Looks like this is about as far as it goes."
Zeroy spoke as her mind already wandered toward her next opponent.
Vali hadn't grown enough yet. Without her Longinus, he was useful for sparring. Anyhow, with it, the training value dropped sharply.
She needed stronger adversaries.
Bloodied and battered, Vali noticed her distraction. Already unwilling to accept defeat, his frustration and fury ignited.
"Albion... I want to use that..."
"That...? Wait! That's not something you can control right now—don't be reckless, boy!"
Albion's reprimand came instantly.
"You're not obligated to throw yourself against someone you can't possibly defeat! She's not even an enemy—she has no killing intent!"
"Can't possibly defeat... I don't understand."
Vali coughed up blood, yet he laughed.
A laugh filled with bitterness, resignation, and self-mockery.
"Calm yourself, boy!"
Now Albion was truly alarmed.
Neither he nor Ddraig usually cared much for their hosts. Arrogant Heavenly Dragons, if one host died, they'd just find another.
Regardless, Vali was different. This host suited him perfectly, with talent that eclipsed all previous White Dragon Emperors.
Perhaps Vali might even win this generation's Heavenly Dragon duel.
—Though after meeting Zeroy, Albion had all but abandoned that hope.
Still, that was precisely why he wanted to see it—the clash of the strongest Red Dragon Emperor and the strongest White Dragon Emperor.
Their battle, no matter who won, would make the Heavenly Dragons' name resound once again!
I was counting on you to revive our glory—why waste yourself recklessly against someone you can't beat?!
"....."
Vali gazed at the crimson figure standing high in the moonlit sky—the place that had been his.
And the place he stood now, it was the place of the defeated—the place of those he had once beaten.
Now, he was the defeated.
Ah... how long had it been since he last felt this? This painful feeling of looking up from below...
"No, Albion. I've reached my limit! I'll press it now! I'll begin the struggle called Juggernaut Drive!"
"I awaken as—
Heavenly Dragon who steals away everything with the principle of domination—"
"Brat, you—!"
"Body filled with envy, heart longing for illusion—I, become the ultimate White Dragon Emperor of domination—"
As he chanted the incantation, strange phenomena began to occur around Vali.
His power rose, yet at the same time, it felt as though he was fading, like a candle in the wind, or the rising sun.
Juggernaut Drive—the ultimate domain of a Longinus was Balance Breaker. That said, each Longinus sealed monsters within, and usually only drew power through those seals.
For the Heavenly Dragons' Gears, the seal could be forcibly broken, unleashing their true power. This was Juggernaut Drive.
For a short time, it granted power rivaling the gods.
Despite that, at a great cost. Afterward, the host's lifespan would be drastically shortened, their mana and life force drained constantly while in use, and their sanity lost.
Albeit before Vali could complete his chant and enter Juggernaut Drive, Zeroy instant-transferred to his back.
"Inviting you to—"
Vali's chant was cut short.
Zeroy smacked him on the head. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed unconscious.
Of course, she couldn't let him enter a self-destructive state like Juggernaut Drive.
She was only here to spar, not out of malice or hostility. Afterward, she even planned to heal his wounds.
There was no need to push him to a life-or-death struggle, even if it would help her test her strength.
"Oooh!!! Thank you so much, little one."
"When he's stronger, let him come challenge me again."
"No problem. But that Ddraig... really drew a lucky card this time... tch!"
Albion's voice brimmed with envy, jealousy, resentment, and unwillingness.
...
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