CHAPTER 177: EX 177. EPISODE

Leon arrived at the table, with a satisfied look on his face.

"I’ve gotten us a place to stay," he said. "I also signed you all in, so we can move in now."

Elizabeth looked up from her seat, concern flickering across her features.

"What about the altar? Have you found a suitable one yet?"

Leon shook his head. "Not yet. But the settlement’s commander promised he’d keep me updated once something worthwhile shows up."

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Alright."

There was a reason for her caution, and Leon shared it. They couldn’t waste time clearing lower-tier altars. Once they entered a trial, there was no telling how long they would be trapped inside. Worse, the rewards of a lesser altar would never align with what Leon truly needed. To him, anything short of the Tier VII altar wasn’t worth the risk.

So they waited.

Nikko finished devouring her last spoonful of ice cream, smacked the bowl down with a satisfied sigh, and finally rose from her chair. The others exchanged weary glances, but none bothered to comment. Together, the squad left the ice cream bar and stepped back into the bustling streets of the settlement.

But the moment Elizabeth crossed the threshold, her steps faltered. Her body shuddered as if struck by some unseen force.

"Lizzie!" Leon was already there, his arm wrapping around her waist before she could collapse. His voice carried a sharp edge of panic. "What’s wrong?"

Elizabeth didn’t answer. Her eyes were distant, unfocused and dark, with, dragon marks, etching themselves across her skin beneath her eyes, and glowing faintly as if alive. She managed to steady herself for a breath, clutching at Leon’s arm.

"I... need to rest," she whispered, her voice thin but resolute.

Nikko stepped closer, her usual playful arrogance gone, replaced by uncharacteristic worry. "What’s happening to her?" she asked, her tone sharper than she intended.

Leon didn’t waste words. He lifted Elizabeth into his arms, holding her in a princess carry, his jaw tight with concern. "I don’t know. But we need to get her to a healer now."

Elizabeth stirred weakly, her hand gripping the fabric of his jacket. "No... that’s not necessary," she said, straining against the weight of exhaustion. "Just... take me home. I need rest. Nothing more."

Her words cut against his instinct to rush her to safety, but the determination in her tone gave him pause. He met her gaze briefly, searching her eyes, and then exhaled.

"Alright, Lizzie. Hold on."

With that, Leon bent his knees and dashed forward, carrying her toward their newly acquired residence. His speed was controlled, measured and fast enough to get her home quickly, yet careful enough not to strain her further. The wind swept past his face, but all he could focus on was the fragile weight in his arms and the fire of worry burning in his chest.

****

Far beyond the reach of mortals, where the skies bled starlight and the air itself warped under pressure, a presence slumbered. Nestled deep in the Divine Zone, past the faint borders of the Ascendant territories, a creature of nightmare stirred. Its form stretched endlessly, a black titan whose scales shimmered like obsidian oceans, each plate vast enough to rival a soccer field. The ground trembled faintly with every exhale, as though the world itself remembered its name.

The creature’s eyes snapped open. Vertical slits glowed in the dark, sharp and unyielding, cutting across the abyss around it. For a moment, it lay still, listening, tasting the threads of power running through the universe. Then its pupils narrowed, and its massive jaw twisted into a grin lined with teeth like jagged cliffs.

"I can sense it," the beast rumbled, its voice reverberating across unseen planes. "A newly awakened bloodline of mine."

The words dripped with amusement, yet carried an edge of curiosity. The dragon, Ignatius Sol Tarhim, Dragon of the Void and Chaos, rose slightly, the weight of his presence alone shaking the currents of the Divine Zone.

"Why don’t I send a little present," he mused, lips curling into a grin. "If she survives, it will be a blessing beyond measure. If not... she was never worthy."

With that, the beast began to chant. Its tongue twisted in the ancient cadence of the dragon race, syllables harsh enough to fracture stone. The air split as a spear of light, raw, violent, and chaotic, burst from his jaws and shot across the heavens, vanishing into the distance. Ignatius’s grin widened, a deep rumble of laughter echoing like rolling thunder.

"Let’s see," he murmured, lowering his massive head once more. "After all these years... will you surprise me?"

And with that, the Dragon of Void and Chaos closed his eyes, returning to his fathomless slumber.

****

Meanwhile, back in the fragile safety of the Mortal Zone, turmoil gripped the human settlement. Unit 1 had barely stepped into their new residence before crisis struck. Elizabeth was writhing, her body trembling with unbearable pain, with her breath short and broken. The room felt stifling, her cries cutting through the air sharper than any blade.

Outside, Adrian stood stiff with unease, arms folded tightly as he kept one wary eye on Bal’ark. Eden paced, restless, his fists clenching every few steps.

Inside, Leon was kneeling by Elizabeth’s side, helplessness gnawing at him. Nikko held Elizabeth down, her expression sharp, and focused despite the emotional strain of restraining the girl.

"Are you sure we shouldn’t take her to a healer?" Nikko demanded, her voice clipped but betraying a sliver of concern.

Leon’s gaze flickered over Elizabeth, her sweat-slick skin, her trembling lips, the agony etched across her face. He felt his chest tighten. He loved her. He had power enough to crush armies, yet now, he couldn’t even ease her suffering.

"What should I do?" he whispered, the words cracking under the weight of his desperation.

Then something stirred within him.

It wasn’t his Attack Talent, nor any stat-driven Boost. No, this was deeper. The air thickened around him, every breath pulling fire through his veins. His vision blurred as a pulse of instinct rippled outward.

His Primordial Dragon Art.

The moment it activated, Leon froze. Because what he saw, what the Art revealed, drenched him in cold sweat. His heart pounded in his chest, every instinct screaming at him that this was no ordinary episode.

This was bloodline.

This was dragon.