novelraw Chapter 89 : Annihilation Flame Dragon ‘Arianne’
Chapter 89 : Annihilation Flame Dragon ‘Arianne’
Chapter 89: Annihilation Flame Dragon ‘Arianne’
Kang Yohan activated the ‘Engraved Ring of Crimson Lotus’.
Fwoooosh!
Dense, pure flames began to overflow.
Walls of fire spread, forming layers upon layers.
A masterpiece infused with top-tier engraving sorcery, Sambok, and the spirits’ flames.
This was a hidden card that surpassed even the Brooch that Evokes the Golden Land.
At the same time—
Wooooong!
The Collector extended his arm.
A green flash cut through the air.
BOOOOOOM!
An immense shock struck the entire ship.
Clouds and sea split apart, and all mana in the atmosphere evaporated.
“Ghh…!”
Kang Yohan swallowed his scream as a sensation tore through every single cell.
Compatibility? Combination? Timing?
None of that meant anything in the face of overwhelming power.
If even a trace of killing intent had replaced the Collector’s playful mood, his body would have been reduced to dust instantly.
Just a little more.
Just a little longer…
Kang Yohan endured that agonizing second that felt like eternity.
Flames and fire mana raged wildly in all directions.
BOOOOOOM!
His consciousness was fading—he felt like he could collapse at any moment.
The brain, overwhelmed by excessive mana, commanded his body to shut down.
‘Just… a little… more.’
It would react.
It had to react.
He had bet everything on that single possibility.
Crackle!
At last, all barriers disappeared, leaving his body exposed.
Nothing remained to protect him.
Death—
That inevitable conclusion loomed over him.
And then—
Tap!
As if by a lie—
The Collector’s beam never reached him.
It wasn’t that the attack had stopped.
Someone else had taken it instead.
Yes.
You finally came.
He had almost died.
“Someone was using flames similar to mine, so I came to take a look… and I found quite a catch. By the way, our little collector still enjoys bullying the weak, I see?”
A beautiful woman with blazing red hair and crimson eyes.
A bright smile peeked through her neatly aligned teeth.
[The 16th Abyss manifests!]
One of the Champions of the Abyss.
An Ancient Dragon.
Annihilation Flame Dragon (滅火龍), Arianne.
In countless past cycles, she had taught Kang Yohan how to wield fire—
His ‘master’.
‘Ha… you’re the one who enjoys bullying the weak.’
Kang Yohan shut his eyes tightly, recalling the past.
＊
Dragons—the strongest of all races.
Among them, there existed beings who stood beyond comparison.
Ancient Dragons who were granted titles—
Praised for their very existence.
Arianne Ignite.
The woman before him was a transcendent at the very pinnacle.
“A mere lizard dares come this far into my playground? You should know I hate being interrupted.”
The Collector growled.
Though his tone was sharp, his expression revealed clear unease.
The difference between Changwol (11th Star) and Napwol (12th Star) was an entirely different realm.
Of course, in a life-or-death battle, even Arianne would suffer heavy damage—
But such an extreme outcome was unlikely.
“Well, I don’t usually enjoy wrecking someone else’s playground either… but this time’s an exception.”
Arianne looked at Kang Yohan, who was gasping for breath.
Crackle… crackle…
A flame barely flickering, almost extinguished.
Yet within that faint spark lay an essence that could not be ignored.
‘That….’
Arianne narrowed her eyes.
Pure and beautiful.
It shared a similar origin to her own flames, yet the subtlety within that heat—
It was closer to the destination she herself sought.
Innate talent.
And extraordinary sense.
Without both pillars, such a result would be impossible.
To say she wasn’t tempted by that raw gem would be a lie.
“You there.”
“…Me?”
“What were you thinking, picking a fight with that thing? If I hadn’t stepped in, you’d be dead.”
“Well… I thought it was worth a try. Life or death—fifty-fifty odds.”
“What? Ahahaha! Wow, you’re really something. I like you.”
Arianne burst into laughter like blazing fire.
Then, as if making a decision, she nodded.
“Take your friends and go.”
“Are you sure?”
“It’s not free. I’ll come to collect this debt later.”
“……Hmm.”
“What’s with that reaction? Is it wrong to ask for something in return for saving your life?”
If it were a normal price, he would have gladly accepted.
But the one asking was Arianne—
A researcher and training fanatic.
* Oh my. Your fire affinity must come from your heart, right? Let me take it out for a moment and put it back. Don’t worry, I’ll make it painless.
* Warm up, zap! Heat up, zap!
* It’s fine, it’s fine. Crispy outside, juicy inside is trendy these days. And if you’re about to die, I’ll revive you with a healing skill! I’m pretty good with timing!
The nightmares of the past resurfaced vividly.
How could anyone forget memories engraved into their pain receptors?
‘Honestly… dying here at the hands of the Collector might be cleaner.’
He seriously considered it for a moment.
“…Anyway, thank you. I’ll see you later.”
Preferably much later.
Like, 500 years later.
Considering a dragon’s lifespan, that wasn’t even that long.
Kang Yohan prepared to move with Scarlett de Juliard and Park Yeri.
“Who… said you could leave?”
RUMBLE!
The Collector released killing intent.
A chilling sensation froze everyone in place.
Even with [Flame] and [Blood Vessel] fully activated, it felt like their blood was freezing.
Damn.
He really was insane.
That was just a fraction of his true power.
Once again, Kang Yohan realized just how absurd the strength of a Champion of the Abyss was.
At that moment—
“I… permitted it.”
Arianne slowly raised her hand.
Fwoooosh!
Unimaginable Karma Flames spread outward.
As the Ancient Dragon’s presence materialized, crimson lines filled the sky.
It was like rain made of fire.
“KIEEEEK!”
“ROOOOAR!”
The ancient creatures in the sea were torn apart by the fiery downpour.
The ocean turned red.
Tornadoes and tidal waves surged—
The storm announced the beginning of battle.
It was time to escape.
If they got caught between those monsters, not even their bones would remain.
Ah, but before that—
Kang Yohan boarded the lifeboat and waited for the perfect timing.
RUMBLE!
At the center of the storm where mana clashed—
With both the Collector and Arianne focused entirely on each other—
[You use ‘Secret Manual of the Thief’!]
[You use ‘Orb of Amplification’!]
A small variable was introduced.
Crackle…
Perfectly synchronized mana.
Two separate gears meshed into one.
[‘Trait Plunderer’ has been upgraded to ‘Trait Usurper’!]
‘Good.’
The culmination of everything he had gathered.
This—
Was the hidden card among hidden cards.
Clink!
Golden chains shot out and burrowed into the Collector.
In an instant—
They seized something.
“You!”
The Collector’s face twisted with shock and rage as he looked at Kang Yohan.
In a situation where he was already confronting another Abyss-level being—
He had never imagined a mere insect would make a move at such a moment.
Naturally, one should have been desperately clinging to survival.
Acting purely on instinct like a bug.
But—
His opponent had turned crisis into opportunity.
A perfect strike.
“Your generosity and mercy—I will never forget it for the rest of my life!”
Kang Yohan firmly grasped what had been pulled into his hand.
And at almost the same time—
“Hahaha! You’re really entertaining.”
BOOOOM!
Arianne’s wind blasted all survivors away.
“I’ll kill you!”
The Collector’s final roar echoed—
…and then—
His vision completely changed.
＊＊＊
WHOOSH!
A violent gale carved a new path.
People were scattered in all directions.
SPLASH!
A massive column of water erupted far out at sea.
“Is everyone okay?”
Kang Yohan checked his companions.
“S-somehow…”
“We’re alive! We’re alive!”
Scarlett and Park Yeri cheered.
At least those two were safe.
Kim Geunsik was nowhere to be seen.
Did he get blown somewhere else?
Now that his identity as a double agent had been exposed, his usefulness had dropped—
But until dismissal, he was still technically an ally.
‘It would’ve been nice if Riley came along.’
That would’ve made getting to the Hestia Empire much easier.
Well—
Escaping the Collector alive was already an achievement.
That alone was something to live off for a lifetime.
‘But getting to the Empire from here… that’s the problem.’
Relying on currents and wind alone wouldn’t cut it.
The distance was too great.
And outrunning the Empire’s navy at such a slow speed was nearly impossible.
Not to mention—
Sharks were everywhere.
Sss…
After a brief moment of thought, Kang Yohan came up with a solution.
Fortunately—
He had the perfect summon for this situation.
The Sea Otter Trio.
“Hooeeeh! What is the matter, Comrade Division Commander?”
Otter No. 1, 2, and 3 saluted.
…Hmm.
No matter how you looked at it, these guys had never served.
Back in his 333rd cycle, he had enlisted as a vampire and completed service in the 22nd Division.
Based on that experience—
A lot about this felt off.
“Recite the creed.”
“Hooeh!”
“C-clam resolve!”
“We pledge loyalty to clams and shells…!”
The otters stammered nervously.
Sigh…
Well, that wasn’t important right now.
“A warship has run aground. We require brave soldiers for mission execution.”
Operation Name: ‘Rescue Robinson Lifeboat.’
They needed biological propulsion to reach the Hestia Empire quickly and safely.
“Comrade Division Commander.”
“What is it?”
“T-there are sharks! Really big ones with lots of teeth!”
The otters trembled, pointing at dark shadows beneath the water.
Tch. Smart brats were troublesome.
“What happens to disobedience on the battlefield?”
“I-it’s summary execution!”
“Correct. You’re an excellent soldier.”
Kang Yohan patted Otter No. 1’s head.
“It is an infinite honor to be praised by the Division Commander.”
“Good.”
Kang Yohan’s gentle smile turned cold.
What are you waiting for?
Unless you want to be executed—move.
“E-entering the water!”
“Hooeeeh!”
Splash! Splash! Plop!
The three otters paddled desperately, gripping ropes tied to the lifeboat.
Their struggle to avoid being eaten made the boat move much faster.
Exhausted, Scarlett and Park Yeri soon fell asleep, clinging to each other.
‘Now… I finally have time to check.’
Kang Yohan looked at the item in his hand with trembling anticipation.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
His heart pounded wildly.
He had obtained countless opportunities before—
But never felt this tense.
After all—
Rank 98.
He couldn’t even imagine what kind of item a Champion of the Abyss possessed.
[Trait Usurper] had a 60% chance to steal a trait.
30% for a rune.
9.9% for an item.
And—
0.1% to steal one of the target’s unique armaments.
Any result would be incredible.
But—
There was something he truly wanted.
Kang Yohan slowly opened his hand.
And carefully opened his eyes.