The Max Level Hero Has Returned!-Novel

Chapter 335: Black Wings that Brought Forth Heavy Snow

Claaaang!!!

The metal chains that had tightly bound the black scales of the colossal, slumbering creature were instantly released.

—Grrrrrrr…

The black lid, adorned with the same black scales as the hundred-meter-tall colossal creature, gradually opened, revealing a pair of yellow eyes with razor-sharp, vertical pupils that gleamed with an ominous intensity.

Gargas, the Black Dragon, was once a wise and rational being. However, after being corrupted and brainwashed by the demons, he lost his sanity and reasoning. The entire continent was well aware of the existence of this immensely powerful dragon. Gargas was the monster responsible for reducing two nations, including the Sorvlan Kingdom, to ashes in a mere instant.

"Go. While we may not have precise information on the whereabouts of the human named Davey O'Rowane, if he is not within their main forces, it is the perfect opportunity for us to strike," Astaroth commanded.

The immensely powerful dragon, Gargas, devoid of reason and consumed by violence following the incomplete transfer to the other side of the world, could not be controlled without the intervention of Grand Duke Astaroth's power.

Struggling restlessly, Gargas slowly shifted his yellow eyes toward Astaroth upon hearing his words. A low growl escaped Gargas' throat as Astaroth entered his line of sight, causing Astaroth's face to pale in response to the dragon's ferocious and violent aura.

Fortunately, Astaroth's worst fears did not materialize as the Black Dragon Gargas, observing Astaroth in silence, unfurled his wings and took flight into the skies.

"Ahem... Even though we have corrupted that wretched lizard, a dragon remains a dragon. Their resistance is quite formidable," Astaroth remarked, acknowledging the formidable nature of the dragon despite their attempts to manipulate it.

Controlling the dragon in this manner was not their initial plan, as they would not have needed such measures if Gargas still possessed his sanity. However, since the dragon had lost his reason, Astaroth had no alternative but to exert control over him.

Black Dragon Gargas, in his original state, exceeded Astaroth's capabilities of control. Had the dragon's power diminished? Yes, to some extent. However, his power still surpassed the threshold of what could be deemed a colossal calamity.

In the humans' arsenal stood the formidable monster named Davey O'Rowane, but on this side, they possessed the indomitable Black Dragon Gargas. Regardless of the outcome of this battle, the aftermath would be devastating for both sides. Neither faction would emerge unscathed from the clash.

Grand Duke Astaroth observed the awe-inspiring sight of the colossal dragon soaring away. He then turned his attention to Gluttony, the high-ranking vampire leading their allied forces, and inquired, "What is the status of that peculiar virus?"

"We are already addressing it. However, as we search for a solution, we have chosen to isolate and contain those who have been infected," Gluttony responded.

"Bring forth all the high-ranking individuals and make preparations to advance. We must be willing to stake our lives in this all-out war. Instead of remaining idle, let them serve a purpose in this conflict," Astaroth stated, his words causing a sour expression to form on Gluttony's face, as they seemed to undermine their pride as a noble race. However, Gluttony could not defy Astaroth.

Astaroth possessed immense power and was an ally to the vampires, holding the upper hand in their relationship. Without his support, they would likely have continued hiding under their flawed leader, forsaking their thirst for revenge.

"I comprehend," Gluttony acquiesced.

Astaroth observed Black Dragon Gargas releasing his pent-up anger by creating massive blocks of ice and sheets of snow, inadvertently biting his thumb. A dangerous glimmer flickered in Astaroth's eyes as he murmured, "Regardless of the war's outcome, our victory is assured in the end. No matter how much you try to thwart our terrorism or how much you think you know, you wretched fool will not be able to prevent the resurrection of the Demon Lord."

***

Reina had grown increasingly wary of the peculiar-looking boy who had been trailing her for a considerable period of time. Although there were young men from noble and royal families involved in the war, with humans from various nations uniting under the alliance's banner, Reina couldn't shake the feeling that this particular boy was different from the rest.

The boy was leading the vanguard on behalf of the Korn Kingdom. However, Reina couldn't fathom why the kingdom had entrusted such a young, seemingly naive, and immature boy with such a critical role. Despite her puzzlement, she chose to disregard his odd behavior and ascended the watchtower of the fort in silence, diligently surveying the state of the battlefield.

The victory or defeat of this war would depend on how many cards they have hidden and could still take out. And those cards had balanced the disproportional scale of the fights that they had fought so far. However, if their enemies were hiding something again, then they needed to find a way to counter that and respond accordingly.

Davey, who had revived Reina, had placed a significant amount of trust in her. Having declared herself as Davey's loyal supporter, Reina was determined not to disappoint the trust he had bestowed upon her.

After descending from the watchtower, Reina, known for her cold and distant gaze, turned her attention to the boy named Verran, who had been shadowing her. Verran, thinking he had gone unnoticed, was caught off guard by the sudden address and could only clear his throat repeatedly, attempting to compose himself.

"Ahem! Ahem! It's nothing! I just happened to come across you lost in thought," the boy stammered awkwardly, his eyes darting around as he approached Reina.

"This is none of your concern, Verran of the Korn Kingdom. You have witnessed a side of me unbecoming of a commander-in-chief. Please excuse me," Reina dismissed the boy abruptly. With a turn, she emanated a chilling and silent aura, making it clear that she expected him to cease his surveillance.

However, it appeared that Verran saw this as an opportunity.

"Goodness. I never expected you to remember me, Warrior Reina," Verran spoke cautiously, maintaining a soft tone and a friendly smile on his face. Unfortunately for him, he had misjudged Reina's thoughts and intentions.

"I am currently the commander-in-chief. Please refrain from addressing me as if we are personally acquainted," Reina responded sternly, making it clear that she desired a more formal interaction.

"Ah... I apologize for that. Ahem! Ahem!" Verran replied awkwardly, his face turning slightly flushed as he attempted to discern the meaning behind Reina's gaze. In a quiet voice, he asked, "Why do you have such a complex expression on your face?"

"It has nothing to do with you," Reina replied coldly, dismissing his concern.

"I don't think so. If something is troubling you, please tell me. Though I, Verran, am still young, I will do everything in my power to help you as someone who has been blessed by the gods."

‘Loved by a god?’ Reina thought, regarding Verran as if he was delusional.

"You claim to have received the love of a god?" she asked skeptically.

"Ah, you see, I haven't shared this with anyone yet... but I believe that Goddess Freyja has bestowed her blessing upon me," Verran replied, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and uncertainty.

Reina’s eyes grew wide in shock. She immediately moved the soft and gentle holy power inside her body. However, even after checking with her divine power, she saw nothing special in the boy.

“It doesn’t look like it.”

"Ahem, ahem. Please listen. You see, I have had quite the luck on the battlefield. It felt like more than just simple luck after going through several life-and-death situations. I believe that God has favored and blessed me. Otherwise, there's no other way to explain what happened, right?" Verran eagerly explained, his voice filled with conviction.

Reina let out a sigh, thinking to herself, 'I've heard that there are all kinds of crazy people in this world, but...'

She regarded Verran's claims of divine love as nothing more than his own misinterpretation. However, before she could respond and offer a warning, a calm and familiar voice interrupted their conversation.

"What an interesting young man," the voice remarked, emanating a sense of calm and nonchalance.

"Wh-Who's there?!" Verran exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock as he frantically scanned his surroundings.

Reina turned her head to see Davey, the protagonist of the rumors that had been circulating within the main unit, strolling casually toward them.

"Sir Davey," she acknowledged with a respectful nod.

"Any issues?" Davey inquired, his gaze shifting between Reina and Verran.

Reina maintained her composed demeanor, carefully choosing her words in the presence of others. Deep inside, however, bittersweet emotions stirred within her chest.

"Thanks to your efforts, everything is going well," she replied with a measured tone, offering a smile in response to Davey's own.

This exchange only served to further embarrass Verran, evident by the flush on his face. Though Reina paid no mind to his reaction, it seemed that Davey took notice.

"You mentioned that you received God's blessings?" Davey inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"Ah... Yes! That's what I believe!" Verran responded confidently.

Davey regarded the boy with a smirk, shaking his head at his unwavering conviction. He warned, "You'll come to regret those words."

"Regret?" Verran questioned, his confusion evident.

Davey could only chuckle, finding amusement in Verran's perplexed reaction. It seemed that the boy had yet to understand the weight and consequences of his claims.

Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

“Get ready. The Black Dragon will soon make a move. I’m sure you haven’t forgotten it yet, right?”

The atmosphere shifted abruptly as Davey's words cut through the air.

Reina couldn't forget, for she carried a deep-seated grudge against dragons. It was not the Black Dragon, but a member of the dragon race that had inflicted a severe wound on her face during her escape from the demons' stronghold.

Rage and fury simmered in her eyes, fueled by the memories of that encounter. The dragon race had become her lifelong enemy.

"I have prepared the trap," Davey continued, his tone unwavering. "All you need to do is deliver the final blow."

Reina nodded quietly in response.

***

Davey, in less than a month, had defied the very providence and rules of the world by bringing Reina back to life. While the circumstances of her revival were beyond comprehension, his intentions now were clear.

Reina couldn't help but sigh as she rode at the forefront of countless soldiers. Davey had long since disappeared once again. He had scattered magic throughout the area before announcing his intention to abandon his military duties and departing.

It wasn't that Reina didn't understand what he was trying to do. Despite using harsh words and claiming that they would die no matter what, he was giving his all to ensure that not a single person would perish here. Reina believed that perhaps this was Davey's kindness, an aspect unnoticed by those around him.

"Due to some internal issue, our enemies will be highly vulnerable to our surprise attack. However, that doesn't mean their numbers have decreased. Their forces are still growing even now. We must assume that victory will elude us unless we strike now."

After her brief speech, Reina raised her spear and declared, "Let's swiftly end this and return home. All troops, charge!"

A calm smile graced her lips as she issued the command for her troops to charge forward. The soldiers responded with shouts, surging forward toward the vampire formation. However, their advance came to an abrupt halt as a colossal shadow fell upon them. Looking up, they beheld a massive creature, measuring a hundred meters in length, swiftly soaring through the sky.

The speed of its appearance caught Reina off guard. She had anticipated its arrival in this war, but not this soon. Doubts filled her mind, suspecting that she and Davey had made an error in judgment. She attempted to order a retreat, and even the soldiers seemed paralyzed by fear in the face of the colossal dragon looming above them.

"What are you doing? Press forward!" a voice whispered into Reina's ears.

Startled, she recognized the voice as belonging to Davey.

"Carry out your duty as the dragon slayer. I have played my part from behind the scenes," the whispered voice persisted, audible only to Reina.

"Follow my instructions, Reina."

[God, please listen to my pleas. Lend me the power to subdue this wicked and vicious evil dragon.]

"God, I implore you to grant me the strength to subdue this wicked and malevolent dragon!" Reina's face flushed with embarrassment, yet she swiftly raised her hand and cried out.

In response, immense chains crafted from golden light materialized from the heavens, ensnaring the colossal form of the Black Dragon, which emanated a menacing aura.

"Look, golden chains!" exclamations of surprise rippled through the surrounding soldiers. However, Reina paid no heed to their astonishment. She focused solely on reciting the words whispered to her by the mysterious voice.

[God, please listen to my pleas. Even if this young lamb of yours gets stuck in the devil’s path, I will make sure to pay you back!]

Reina did not know what it meant. She thought that it was better to just recite the lines first.

Boom—

At the same time, the effects of the very, very strange prayer began to appear. Dozens of pure white meteorites began to rain down from the sky above them.