Dragon Blood.
The blood of a dragon.
This was a legend passed down through generations in the Borfur tribe.
In the distant past, long before the Borfur tribe had even formed its current name, and when they barely survived by hunting and gathering deep in the mountains, before they had even established a proper tribal identity, there was a time when they wandered through the wilderness.
The dragon Arowana, the great ruler of the mountain, acted as their umbrella, helping them survive the threats of the wilderness and the world.
He also shared fire with them and taught them language, becoming their revered "god."
The Borfur tribe saw Arowana as their guardian dragon, dedicating their bravery to him and spreading his greatness as their mission.
And that tradition continued, even after Arowana disappeared and his nest remained only as the tribe's Holy Land.
Batu, in his childhood, was one of those who believed in such legends.
—I will inherit Arowana's power! I will be chosen by him and become a great Dragoon!
The Dragoon was another legend related to Arowana.
It foretold that one day, a great warrior who inherited the dragon's blood would appear and lead the tribe to glory and prosperity.
Batu, who was an orphan, always yearned for strength and was willing to do anything to become stronger.
His connection with Sailor, who happened to stumble upon the tribe, began in the same way.
When the tribe's greatest warrior was defeated by Sailor, Batu stubbornly demanded to be taught swordsmanship.
—Why do you want to wield a sword?
—Yeah, I'm asking why.
—Isn't it obvious?
—Tell me.
—If I become strong, no one can challenge me. I can also protect Sarnai!
Sailor recognized Batu's talent instantly and became intrigued.
However, Sailor asked that question because he wanted to test whether Batu's zeal might someday consume him.
If Batu had simply said he wanted revenge on those who had tormented him, Sailor would have rejected him on the spot.
But Batu's answer was different.
If he became strong, no one would challenge him.
And he would be able to protect the blind Sarnai.
Since Batu gave these realistic reasons, Sailor raised both hands in surrender.
After all, his own reason for picking up a sword had been similar.
—Sailor… I'm sorry. I couldn't protect you.
Sailor recalled his foster father's wry smile and closed eyes as he looked at him, then turned his gaze back to Sarnai.
It had been twenty years since he last saw Sarnai, and now it was hard to find traces of the child she used to be.
Yet, parts of her old self remained.
Her gentle heart that cared for others, her soft-spoken manner, and the insight in her eyes that seemed to see through everything, even though she kept them closed.
"He always boasted that he'd rush into the Holy Land, and it looks like he finally got power from there."
The dragon's nest, where the guardian dragon had once lived, was a forbidden area for the Borfur tribe.
It was considered such a holy place that no one who entered it ever returned.
"Batu was the only one who went in and came back out."
"And you're the one who helped him?"
Sarnai smiled silently.
But Sailor knew.
Even under the white cloth that covered her eyes, countless visions were flickering in and out at that very moment.
Sarnai's remarkable ability was clairvoyance.
She could see all that was happening under the sky. Events unfolding, events that had happened, and events that were yet to come.
The past, present, and future—without regard to time's sequential flow or physical location—everything was reflected in her vision, mixed and chaotic.
Many people had once tried to exploit Sarnai's talent, having noticed her unique gift early on.
The Eyes of Azure Sky.
Those who knew her power called it by this name.
They said the god of the sky granted a beautiful human special eyes, eyes that resembled the sky itself.
But Sarnai hated the term "beautiful."
Because of these eyes she never asked for, she had unjustly lost her family. No, her entire village had burned to the ground. After barely escaping with Batu, he had vowed to grow stronger.
To Sarnai, this power was like a curse. But for Batu, it had become his greatest support.
It helped him obtain the Dragon Blood and gain control over the tribe.
She was now the tribe's priestess, a title given to her by the Borfur people.
"I suppose that's why you called us here."
Sarnai's steps faltered for a moment.
"...You knew?"
"I may not have the great power of the Eyes of the Azure Sky, but after living this long, I've seen and heard enough to make my own judgments."
A smile spread across Sailor's face.
Sarnai lowered her head.
"I'm sorry."
Sarnai's words were an admission. In other words, there was a reason behind the decision to provide shelter to the Star's Legion.
But Sailor didn't seem to mind much.
"You once called me Father. And you know, children need to be able to rely on their parents sometimes. If you grow up too fast, it's a bittersweet feeling for a parent—thankful, but also a little sad."
With a chuckle, Sailor's words touched Sarnai deeply.
She bit her lower lip for a moment, then slowly began to speak.
"Please... stop Batu."
"How?"
"He's too intoxicated by the blood."
"Hmm?"
This time, it was Sailor's turn to stop in his tracks.
He sensed the gravity in her words.
"He will continue to grow stronger. Eventually, no one will be able to stop him."
"Explain in detail."
"How long do you think it took Batu to obtain the Dragon Blood and become the chieftain?"
"Hmm. Ten years?"
"Five years."
"What?"
Sailor's eyes widened.
Five years. In that short time, Batu had become strong enough to take one of Herman's eyes. He had also turned the Borfur tribe into one of the most prominent among the mountain peoples. And he had done all that in just five years?
As far as Sailor knew, the fastest person to grow in strength was Elric. But Batu's growth rate might even surpass Elric's—it could be faster.
"The effects of the Dragon Blood exceeded my expectations. The problem is... because of that…"
"Batu is intoxicated by power?"
"Not just intoxicated. The blood is giving him the traits of a dragon. Dragon-like intellect, reasoning, judgment, thinking... As time passes, the real Batu may disappear, leaving only a Batu who has become a dragon."
Sarnai took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
"And the speed of the Dragon Blood's awakening is accelerating."
"Hmm."
"Moreover, Batu has even shared some of his blood with his followers."
"That's a problem."
Sailor fell silent, finally realizing the gravity of the situation.
When he had briefly clashed with them before, he had noticed that the Borfur tribe had grown unusually fast. Now he understood why.
"...."
"...."
A short but deep silence settled between them.
A tear slipped from under the blindfold covering Sarnai's eyes.
"Please save him."
"…."
"Please, save him from the dragon's grasp, Father."
The hand of evil.
The word grasp touched Sailor's heart.
Given the influence the guardian dragon held over the tribe, it could be considered blasphemous.
But to Sarnai, this was the truth.
"I understand. I'll do everything I can. If my son is straying from the right path, then it's a father's duty to bring him back. So, don't worry too much, my daughter."
Father. Daughter. Though they weren't connected by blood, the bond they shared through fate was strong. They didn't need to say much more to feel the deep connection between them.
"So, what should I do?"
Sarnai hesitated for a moment before speaking in a heavy tone.
"Take the dragon's power... please."
She must have agonized over those words for a long time.
She knew better than anyone how hard Batu had worked to obtain the Dragon Blood.
But to Sarnai, what mattered most wasn't Batu, who had become consumed by the blood.
Nor was it her lofty position as priestess.
All she wanted was a peaceful home where she could live quietly with Batu.
That alone would be enough.
Sailor nodded silently.
"So, first, tell me everything about the guardian dragon you serve…"
Just as Sailor was about to ask about the dragon Arowana to find a solution—
"Kyaaaah!"
A scream suddenly echoed from the direction of the village.
Sailor and Sarnai quickly turned toward the source of the sound.
Something was definitely happening.
***
The cause of the incident that was about to unfold stemmed from the tensions that had been simmering within the Star's Legion for the past month.
"How about turning it to the right? But rotate the mana to the left."
"You mean to create rotational force?"
"Exactly."
"That's a good idea. I'll have to ask the lord about it later."
Brian smiled lightly as he watched his friend, Ate, deep in thought while gripping his spear.
A friend he had met after joining the Star's Legion.
Though they hadn't known each other long, Ate felt like a close childhood friend.
Ate was often too quiet and reserved, which could sometimes be frustrating.
But his passion for magic and his thoughtful consideration of the family made it easy for Brian to feel close to him.
Look at him now.
He was comfortably referring to Elric as "the lord."
Because of this, Brian believed that Ate shared the same thoughts as he did.
'Although, I don't know much about his personal story.'
The only regret was that Brian didn't know much about Ate's background.
Since Ate didn't like to talk about it, Brian didn't pry. He assumed there was a reason for Ate's secrecy.
After all, everyone had their own unspoken stories they didn't share with others, himself included.
He hoped that one day, when Ate opened up more, he would tell him everything.
At that moment—
"Spear?"
"That's cool."
The two were suddenly startled when members of the Borfur tribe appeared.
Carrying a dead boar on their shoulders, likely after returning from a hunt, they gestured and spoke to Brian and Ate.
Their imperial language was rough, but understandable if one listened closely.
Although the two groups had been ignoring each other as per the tribe's request, it seemed the Borfur people had become curious after watching their martial arts training.
Before displaying any hostility toward the Empire, they too were warriors, after all.
'What should we do?'
Brian looked to Ate for guidance.
Since Ate wasn't one to enjoy talking to others, Brian was ready to send the tribesmen away if Ate seemed uncomfortable.
However,
"Your spear technique. It was impressive. Elegant, even."
Ate spoke to the tribesmen in their language. Though his words were short and simple, Brian was surprised at how well Ate pronounced them.
The tribesmen, also surprised, soon responded with laughter and began talking to him again.
Speaking in their language had reduced the psychological distance between them.
Before long, Brian, Ate, and the tribesmen sat together, chatting.
Though the language barrier remained high, their desire to connect was stronger, so it wasn't a problem.
Their conversations mainly revolved around martial arts, magic, and spells, which helped them quickly bond.
And
After that day, the small conversations between the Star's Legion and the Borfur tribe continued and eventually turned into exchanges.
Various groups mingled.
The members of the Star's Legion would teach the tribesmen some of the martial arts they had learned from Elric, while the tribesmen shared their own combat experiences.
However, as always.
There were those who were displeased by such scenes.
[T/L: Please support me and read extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]