Chapter 78
The killing intent it exuded was so ferocious that my whole body froze.
The Leviathan was believed to have gone extinct 300 years ago.
Because its power was so overwhelming, the Four Great Houses had decided to exterminate these monsters.
After a hundred-year-long campaign, only two remained.
The heads of the Arcada and Taylors families hunted one, while the head of the Halo family slew the other—only to succumb to his wounds and die soon after.
From then on, the Leviathan vanished from history.
Then why…
I stared at the Leviathan, which looked as though it might devour me at any moment, and desperately unleashed my skill.
[Skill ‘Black Dominion (LV.5/SS)’ activated.]
But like a single snowflake trying to quench a blazing inferno, my skill had no effect.
The Leviathan’s crimson eyes glowed ominously—
And then, before my eyes could even register it, that massive body lunged at me.
But then—BOOM!
My vision shifted.
“…Are you alright?”
Instead of those chilling red eyes, a pair of cool, dark-green eyes filled my sight.
My feet touched the ground again.
“Brother…”
Jin had snatched me away.
If not for him, I would’ve died without even realizing it.
“Damn it, the entrance collapsed!”
“When is the Head coming?!”
Amidst the chaos of the shattered ground, shouts rang out.
The only entrance—the iron gate—was bent and its lock ruined.
We were completely trapped.
“Fetch Duke Ricardo!”
The Leviathan was far too powerful for branch-family members to face.
Even being in the same space as it was enough to make those without powers faint.
“There’s no time to wait for Father,” Jin said, setting me down and stepping forward.
The black cloak draped across his back swayed with his advance.
“So we’re to fight that monster ourselves?!”
Bashron rasped in protest.
Though of a branch line, he had inherited Hector’s blood and possessed considerable ability.
Not enough to rival Ricardo, of course—but at least comparable to Jin and Othello, who were still in the midst of growing.
Judging from the intensity of his flames, that much was clear.
“If anyone knows a better plan, speak up.”
Jin’s cold gaze swept the group.
The Leviathan, its head lowered, slowly raised it again.
Permetis averted his eyes, horror twisting his expression.
“…”
No one spoke.
Shhht—
There was no one here who could face the beast alone, and fleeing was impossible.
“My ability is the strongest here,” Jin said.
An arrogant claim for a fourteen-year-old—but it was true.
“I’ll take the offensive. Baron, cover me.”
Bashron’s brow twitched.
“You know its weakness?”
“…”
“Heh. Times are different now. When the Great Duke was alive, children were taught about extinct beasts. But now, the education is pathetic.”
Glancing briefly at Permetis, Bashron continued:
“The Leviathan has an inverted scale on its belly.”
The dragon’s fatal reverse scale.
“Unlike the rest of its blue body, that one gleams black.”
Dark energy welled up around Bashron’s body.
Though an enemy by bloodline, he was undeniably powerful and experienced.
“Everyone else, focus on opening an exit.”
He moved to follow Jin, and for once, he seemed every bit a Winchester.
“Soul Ball!”
I pulled out Kater’s Soul Ball from my inventory and gripped it tightly.
A rift split open—and a three-headed hound leapt out.
“Th-That’s…!!”
“Aaaaagh!!”
People shrieked, thinking yet another monster had appeared.
But I shouted:
“Kater! Help the people!”
Growling, Kater lumbered toward the iron gate and began ramming its heads against it.
Though terrified, the others quickly realized the beast was on our side.
“…You’ve already tamed Kater too?”
Bashron’s brows furrowed in what sounded like begrudging admiration.
“What are you waiting for? Help it!”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
At his command, people rushed to assist Kater, hammering the iron gate.
Shhht—
The Leviathan’s colossal twenty-meter frame, armored in scale-plate, loomed over us.
Half its belly scraped against the ground, hiding its weak spot.
Seeing Jin rush toward it, the Leviathan raised its tail.
Then, at blinding speed, it struck.
BOOOOM—!
Dust exploded everywhere. I squinted anxiously into the cloud.
What happened?
As the dust thinned, I saw Bashron—his black flames coiled around the Leviathan’s tail, holding it.
But the beast, enraged, lashed once—shattering the black fire as if it were nothing.
“Urgh!”
The backlash sent Bashron sprawling.
But in that instant, Jin slipped inside, his hand ablaze with dark flames, and slammed it into the Leviathan’s belly.
I saw it—the black scale shining among its blue body.
Sparks erupted with hundreds of times the force of flint striking steel.
Though black flames could be cast at range, their power weakened with distance.
Jin had risked everything for a direct strike.
Enough to slay several Behemoths at once.
But—
“Brother!”
I screamed as the Leviathan’s eyes flashed.
There was no doubt—my warning was too late.
KWOOM—!
Freed, its tail whipped Jin with monstrous force.
He slammed into the ground, the floor cracking like bombs had gone off.
“Aaah…”
Jin was wrecked.
Though still conscious, his eyes blazed fiercely while blood streamed from his lips.
“Brother!!”
I rushed toward him.
Then—
“The gate’s almost down! Everyone, pour your powers into it!” someone shouted.
I hastily pulled a potion from my inventory and tipped it into Jin’s mouth.
“This is… cough…”
“Medicine.”
Even I could see his shattered ribs beginning to knit back together.
Shhhht—
But I knew.
Even healed, Jin couldn’t beat the Leviathan.
He had struck its reverse scale with full force, yet it had only chipped slightly.
Without Ricardo, victory was impossible.
And fleeing meant putting Maya, Rowen, and everyone at the estate in danger.
“Sha-Sha…”
“Don’t speak, Brother.”
“Don’t you dare… You—”
Ricardo, Jin, Othello, Evan. These four knew that whenever I used my ability, it tore at my body.
“I…”
Jin’s eyes flickered coldly, but I couldn’t ignore the last chance to turn the tide.
“…I have to.”
I met his gaze.
His eyes, always shadowed in darkness, wavered violently.
Shhht—
The Leviathan was staring at us, baring its teeth again.
I focused, pouring my power into Jin.
Recalling the moment I had saved Othello—
[Ability activated.]
[Bestowing power upon target.]
White light flowed from my hand.
So bright that even those working on the gate turned to stare.
[Target’s causality rate is low. Efficiency reduced.]
As expected. My bond with Jin wasn’t strong enough to draw out the ability’s full effect.
But still—this was the power that had let Othello, drained of all strength, slay a Behemoth in one stroke.
Surely it could do the same for Jin.
KWOOM—!
A thunderous explosion rang out midway between us and the Leviathan.
As loud as when it had flung Jin before.
Everyone’s eyes turned, spellbound.
So did mine.
For through the dust—Jin was standing tall.
“Wh-What… is this…”
Voices trembled with disbelief.
Moments ago, he had been broken and battered, beyond hope of recovery.
But now—restored by the potion, empowered by my ability—Jin stood cloaked in fiercer dark flames than ever, facing the Leviathan head-on.
“For a second, I thought Ricardo Winchester himself had arrived,” someone murmured.
The intensity of Jin’s flames was enough to make the mistake believable.
And then—
The black scale on the Leviathan’s belly, its reverse scale, was half-shattered.
“The weak point!”
Bashron, sitting injured, shouted to Jin.
We couldn’t see his expression, but we all felt it—Jin stood his ground, unyielding before the Leviathan’s might.
“…Jin,” I whispered without meaning to.
At that moment, flames gathered in Jin’s hand again.
At least twice as large as his first strike.
