r18novel Chapter 435 - 368: Moonlight’s "Magic Energy Collar" and a Visit to Lord Astra
Chapter 435 - 368: Moonlight’s "Magic Energy Collar" and a Visit to Lord Astra
They passed through the clouds, and a stretch of dark green, primeval mountains came into view.
Deep within the mountains, a massive rift tore the earth open. A poisonous miasma filled the valley, glowing an ominous emerald green.
"Stand by at the mouth of the valley."
Raylo gave the order and gently patted Baofeng’s neck.
Baofeng understood and landed smoothly on a clearing at the canyon’s edge.
The Griffin Knights all reined in their mounts. They quickly formed a temporary defensive formation, their eyes vigilantly scanning the surroundings.
"My lord, should we..."
A Personal Guard stepped forward.
"That won’t be necessary. I’m going in alone."
Raylo waved his hand dismissively and leaped off Baofeng’s back.
He rested his hand on the hilt of the Divine Weapon Broken Flow at his waist and walked toward the poisonous miasma.
Raylo smiled, then stepped into the poisonous miasma.
A silver gleam flashed in the eyes of Moonlight on his shoulder, and a Magic Shield instantly enveloped Raylo.
The canyon was dark and damp, littered with strange plants and the bleached bones of Magical Beasts.
The stench of decay permeating the air made Moonlight wrinkle its nose in disgust.
Soon, Raylo reached the depths of the canyon, and a massive cave came into view.
Coiled at the cave’s entrance was a giant snake over twenty meters long. Its entire body was covered in emerald-green scales, and its vertical pupils glinted with cruelty and greed.
A Tier Four Magical Beast: the Green-eyed Poisonous Serpent.
The Green-eyed Poisonous Serpent had clearly spotted the intruder. It raised its triangular head high, its forked tongue flicking in and out as it let out a threatening hiss.
The next moment, it moved.
Its massive body shot forward like a green bolt of lightning. It opened its cavernous maw and lunged at Raylo, its two sharp Poison Fangs glinting menacingly in the dim light.
Raylo didn’t even spare it a glance.
He drew his sword effortlessly and made a light slash forward.
A translucent sliver of Sword Qi appeared.
It made no sound, nor did it carry an intimidating aura; it simply swept through the space ahead, calm and swift.
The Green-eyed Poisonous Serpent’s attack came to an abrupt halt. Its massive head, still in a lunging posture, froze in midair.
Then, a thin line of blood appeared on its neck. Its massive body silently split in two, the cut as smooth as a mirror.
Scalding snake blood and viscera gushed onto the ground, and the thick stench of blood instantly filled the entire cave.
Without a glance at the giant snake’s corpse, Raylo walked straight into the cave.
In the deepest part of the cave, in the center of a nest built from various skeletons and glowing Magic Stones, lay a single collar.
The Collar was forged from an unknown metal, engraved with ancient, complex Magic Runes of Mithril. It emitted faint waves of energy.
"A Tier Four wondrous item, the Magic Energy Collar."
Raylo picked up the Collar. According to the system’s intel, it was a piece of equipment for Magical Beasts. Wearing it would amplify a Magical Beast’s Magic Power by twenty percent.
It was perfect for Moonlight.
"Here, Moonlight. This is for you."
Raylo squatted down and offered the Collar to Moonlight.
Moonlight moved closer and sniffed it, seeming quite satisfied with the Magic Power it contained.
But when Raylo tried to put it on its elegant neck, it immediately took two steps back.
’How could a noble Silver Dragon tolerate its neck being bound by such a thing?’
Raylo was a bit exasperated. Moonlight was a headstrong little creature, and even he had a hard time persuading it to do something it didn’t want to.
Just as he was wondering how to persuade it, he saw Moonlight extend a furry paw and tap the Collar lightly.
A silver halo flashed, and the once-thick Collar visibly shrank and reshaped itself, ultimately becoming a small, exquisite anklet. Its Magic Patterns pulsed with a mysterious light.
With a satisfied air, Moonlight raised its right forepaw. The anklet automatically flew up and clasped itself around the paw, fitting snugly amidst its white fur. Far from looking out of place, it added an air of mystery and nobility.
It waved its paw smugly, as if showing off its new accessory.
Raylo chuckled and shook his head. ’This little one is certainly particular.’
The journey over the next few days grew quite interesting.
Raylo was in no hurry. He led his retinue according to the map, making various stops along the way.
In an ancient ruin, they found a small pool of Life Spring Water; on the slope of a volcano, they mined a fist-sized piece of Tier Four Fire Crystal Stone; they even casually wiped out an Ogre Tribe and confiscated a scale from some kind of Giant Beast—as large as a Shield—that the ogres had been worshiping in their Divine Hall.
On the afternoon of the sixth day, Thunder Dragon City finally appeared on the horizon.
Baofeng let out a resounding cry, heralding their arrival.
On the massive plaza in front of the Royal Palace, Raylo and his retinue landed smoothly.
The Griffin Knights’ movements were perfectly synchronized. They landed without a sound, their grim, imposing presence drawing sideways glances from the surrounding Royal Palace Guards.
A Court Minister, dressed in fine robes with his hair impeccably styled, hurried forward to greet them.
"Your Highness, welcome."
He bowed, his attitude respectful but not sycophantic.
"The Duke has prepared accommodations for you and your attendants. Please, follow me."
Led by the Court Minister, Raylo walked through opulent corridors.
Huge tapestries depicting the Duchy’s glorious history hung on the walls. The corridors were lined with lifelike statues of the Duke and the Thunder Dragon Astra.
They were assigned to a private courtyard. The rooms were luxurious and comfortable, and the view from the window overlooked most of Thunder Dragon City.
The night was as black as ink, and Thunder Dragon City was shrouded in tranquility.
Raylo pushed open the window, and the night wind, carrying a hint of chill, brushed against his face.
He looked toward the highest point of the Royal Palace, at the imposing tower that, like a sharp sword piercing the night sky, pointed straight at the Stars.
From memory, he knew that was the lair of the Thunder Dragon Duchy’s Guardian, the Thunder Dragon Astra.
He slipped out of his quarters without alerting anyone.
But just as he stepped out the door, Moonlight, who had been sleeping on the bed, suddenly appeared on his shoulder.
Raylo gave a resigned smile and affectionately rubbed its head.
The Royal Palace was heavily guarded at night. The footsteps of patrolling guards in full Armor echoed through the empty corridors.
But to Raylo, these defenses were meaningless.
He avoided all the sentries and patrols, relying on his familiarity with the Royal Palace to make his way up a secluded staircase.
The higher he climbed, the more active the surrounding Elements became. Wisps of the Power of Thunder and Lightning arced through the air, letting out faint crackles.
This Power was domineering and pure, filled with majesty, instilling a natural sense of awe in any mortal who dared to draw near.
Finally, he set foot on the top of the tower.
It was a vast, open platform paved with hard marble and engraved with runes for gathering Lightning’s Magic Power.
A fierce wind howled at this altitude, making Raylo’s robes whip and snap.
In the center of the platform rested a colossal being.
Its body stretched over six hundred meters. Each scale looked as if it were forged from pure Thunderbolt, shimmering with a deep blue electrical light.
Even while lying prone, its mountain-like body emanated an overwhelming pressure.
This was a powerful being at the Domain Level Peak, the Thunder Dragon Astra.
Its breathing was like a bellows; with every breath, fine arcs of electricity danced at the tip of its snout.
However, it wasn’t the sleeping Astra that caught Raylo’s eye.
At the edge of the platform stood another Thunder Dragon.
It was much smaller, its scales a brighter, sky-blue color, gleaming with a youthful, vibrant luster.
At this moment, however, the young Thunder Dragon appeared rather forlorn.
It stood quietly at the edge of the tower, its massive head bowed. Its pale golden eyes gazed out at the distant, dwindling lights of Thunder Dragon City, a trace of confusion and sorrow in its gaze.
Naturally, Raylo recognized it.
It was Crown Prince Eliot’s former bonded partner.
’With Eliot dead by my hand, it has become a masterless Giant Dragon once more.’
Clearly, the young Thunder Dragon had yet to move on from the grief of losing its partner.
Raylo’s arrival had, of course, already awakened the slumbering Thunder Dragon Astra.
"HUUFF..."
A heavy exhale sounded, like a clap of muffled thunder.