Chapter 19:
What did Lucas mean when he said The Sky King is too powerful?
The truth was… this man was about to face a Tier 9 beast—an ancient Dragon.
And in this fight, there would be no winner or loser.
It was a confrontation destined to end in a stalemate, but that wasn't the only reason Lucas was watching.
There was a moment he had been waiting for—one he didn't want to miss.
Not just because of the battle, but because of her.
The woman he called beautiful.
Lucas was buying time.
He had roughly two hours before the Dragon was fully suppressed and sealed.
Just enough time to see her in her element.
The Sky King was indeed powerful. After today, he would step down from the throne.
His son—the second strongest individual in the Sky Empire—would return from the mission to claim the title of Sky King.
Even so, the current King would survive the recoil of the ancient technique he planned to use, a technique Lucas was considering studying himself.
There were only three people in the entire world capable of killing this man: the Leader and Sub-leaders of Abyssal Moon. That's how strong he truly was.
Eventually, he would fall into a deep slumber, only when Orion turned ten.
He would then pass on his strength before dying—a moment still far in the future.
So if this man, even now, was so formidable… imagine his power in his prime.
Even the other Kings of the hidden lands wouldn't dare act arrogantly before him—weak or strong.
He held too many secrets.
He was tied to nearly every major event shaping this world—Orion's growth, the death of his own son, the rise of Abyssal Moon, and even Lucas's personal quest for power.
It had all begun because this man led to wage war against Sky City.
Lucas respected his strength, but he also found him... suspicious.
The more he learned, the more he wondered: "Is he connected to the Great Sage?"
It was one of Lucas's theories, but he hadn't yet found a way to confirm it.
For now, he would leave it be.
After all, the Great Sage could only perceive the world through chosen vessels, and Lucas wasn't strong enough yet to seek answers.
But his thoughts were interrupted—because there she was.
His eyes sparkled like stars as he saw her.
Crimson hair flowed down her back, catching the light like fire.
Her icy red eyes burned with cold focus as flames roared around her body.
She dropped into a low stance, gazing at the barrier that enclosed the battle between the Sky King and the Dragon.
As a colossal sword of light formed above them, she began to chant:
{Fire Spell: Beastly Flames – Body Enhancement}
{Fire Spell: Inferno Fist}
Flames burst from her form as she launched forward at superhuman speed.
Her body spells were among the strongest known—each punch like a monster's blow.
She leapt from rooftop to rooftop, her red hair whipping behind her in the wind. Moving around 120 Meters per second, Which very few could see her movements.
Then, from the top of a tall building, she jumped—leaving a crater in her wake—and soared high above the battlefield.
As she descended, her fist smashed into the Dragon's head with a thunderous impact.
BOOOM!
"Damn… this is even better than watching it in the novel," Lucas whispered, eyes wide in awe.
She was truly one of a kind—an unmatched Saint-class fighter and a beauty like no other.
But he knew the Dragon would be sealed soon.
Without wasting time, Lucas leapt down into the building below. Landing silently, he moved like a phantom, his aura barely detectable.
Through shadows and corridors, he navigated the interior with precise steps, heading straight for the hidden archive—the vault where the Sky City stored rare and powerful spells collected from other Hidden Cities and their own.
He whispered an incantation:
{Mana Spell: Mana Clone}
A duplicate of himself appeared instantly.
Lucas handed the scrolls to the clone to begin copying techniques.
They had thirty minutes.
The clone nodded and focused on breaking the seals guarding the archive door while Lucas disappeared down another path.
His destination: the underground lab.
But when he arrived, he stopped in his tracks.
There, standing silently, was the masked man—the same one who had just fought Logan.
They stared at each other in tense silence.
"Damn it… in the novel, it never said he'd be here too," Lucas thought, gripping his sword.
Could he defeat this man?
No.
Could he run?
Maybe.
But would he back down?
Absolutely not.
His Mana eyes glowed as he stepped forward.
He knew the masked man had just fought Logan and was likely injured and drained of mana.
Lucas himself was also weakened—half of his mana was with the clone.
Neither of them was at full power.
Without a word, both summoned their swords. They clashed instantly.
Ting! Ting! Ting! Ting!
Lucas gritted his teeth.
The masked man was clearly more skilled, physically stronger and was just testing the waters. If not for his mana eyes, Lucas wouldn't have lasted even a few seconds.
Both jumped back.
"We can't waste time fighting," Lucas said flatly.
The masked man nodded. "True. With that woman's help, they'll seal the Dragon soon enough."
"Then you do what you want, and I'll do the same," Lucas replied, sheathing his sword.
The masked man followed suit, then walked through the nearby door—phasing through it like a ghost.
Lucas sighed. "I hate that ability… but it's damn useful."
He approached the sealed door and placed his hand on it. The seal broke in less than five seconds.
And what he found inside?
A scientist's dream.