Spiral of Madness: Ascension of the Villainous Dragon Prince-Chapter 166: Saving Frostbane [1] — Swatting Some Flies
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"You attacked just when our Kingdom had spread its forces too thin, but even with the Queen resting, you shouldn’t underestimate us," Stella said. She released half her power and suddenly transformed into a living divine holy spirit.
"Dad always said I don’t have to hold back against you people," Althea replied. Her long pink hair grew longer and shifted to green. Her arms and legs extended into countless spiritual wooden branches shaped like long draconic claws and legs. A tail and wings sprouted as well. She was very close to her true form. "And Mom always said to show no mercy to the wicked."
"So?" Stone asked, crossing his arms. He became a giant composed of hard stone and gleaming metals that covered his body. "Do you understand, or are you going to keep staring?"
"Heheh... Can’t we just kill them already?" Elias asked. "I’m itching to fight strong foes... well, not me—he is." The shackled saint’s other half longed to be unleashed upon the world once more.
"..."
"..."
"..."
The Malevolent Fly Lords slowly retreated toward the black hole behind them. A pair of crimson eyes gazed upon everyone from beyond.
A demonic presence of immense power and authority watched.
However, Louis stood tall. He met that gaze with his golden draconic eyes. His holy power allowed him to resist the demonic pressure.
"This isn’t the end, Frostbane. There is much to come. Your queen’s mercy shall be your undoing. Remember that."
The demon’s voice echoed and lingered in everyone’s hearts as the three Fly Lords vanished and the black hole closed. It could no longer anchor itself in this space without Seraphine acting as the catalyst.
The tension in the air remained, but then...
"Haaa..."
The vast majority of those present sighed in relief and dropped to the floor. This included Mirai and most of the agents. However, Louis remained silent and stoic. He continued staring at the spot where the hole had been. Eventually his transformation reached its limit, and he collapsed onto the ashen desert below—which scattered, revealing the ruined VPI floor.
"I did it..." he sighed in relief and closed his eyes. "I... We did it..."
"Louis!"
Mirai was the first to run to him, followed by everyone else nearby. They helped him stand even though he kept telling them to leave him alone.
"We did it, Louis!" Mirai cried. "We did it! Nobody... nobody died...!"
"No," Louis sighed and offered a bitter smile. "Many died, my people..." He looked into the distance.
"We can recover," his father said, patting his shoulders. "As your mother always said, as long as we stay together, we can overcome anything."
"Hah... since when have you spoken that way, father?" Louis laughed, revealing a genuine smile that surprised everyone. "Hm? What’s wrong?! Can’t I laugh sincerely every now and then?"
"Heheh, it’s just surprising, my lord," Catrise chuckled adorably. "You... you have a very beautiful smile, like your mother, and very kind eyes."
"...Hmph, again with that. I am very different from my mother!" Louis said. "Stop comparing us."
"But come on, that dragon form?! Amazing!" Eduard said. His radio head buzzed. "Did you just finally awaken your dragon powers, boy?!"
"Uncle?!" Louis groaned as he was lifted by his uncle. "L-Let go of me! Argh! You’re going to break my bones! I’m not in the best condition!"
"Hoho, my bad, my bad!" Eduard laughed.
Tisha walked toward Louis with a confident smile. "Prince Louis, thank you for not giving up on us and even saving our lives. I feel like if you hadn’t arrived in time... we would have all likely died."
"You, Mirai, and Zorba saved us all," Pekorine nodded. "You’re heroes!"
"Yeah, that’s right!" Helena agreed. "Though who is that guy? Zorba?"
"Long story short, he is a defector from the Vultarn High Dominion. He joined me," Louis explained. "Don’t worry—he has proven his loyalty plentifully while we fought the forces of his former army."
"I-I see... well, I’ll still have to interrogate him and make sure there are no devices on him," his father sighed.
"Hahah, well, anything so you can trust me better," Zorba said with a gentlemanly smile.
"Half the city is in ruins though. Should we really be laughing around?" Althea asked. "I mean, I hate to be that person, but... we have to go help the people, make shelters..."
"Yeah," Stella nodded. "A lot of people need our healing as well. My King, we’re not as tired as everyone else, so please leave these tasks to us."
"I will use my Esper Ability to clear the city of debris and repair some of the inner walls and pavement," Stone said. "I’ll need some help though. I’ll bring a couple of magicians and espers."
"Hoho, indeed. Please, brother—you and your son should go rest. Thankfully the castle isn’t completely destroyed... I think your rooms are fine?" Eduard wondered. "Anyway, leave the rest to us."
"The castle isn’t in the best state right now," Louis sighed. "But I’ll fix it... I’ll need Niflheim. Tisha, can you help?"
"Eh? Okay? But how?" she wondered.
"Follow me. We’ll repair the Ice Walls as well," Louis said.
After that, Louis, Mirai, Zorba, Gustaf, and Helena walked upstairs to the Frostbane castle. With Niflheim in his hands—held with Tisha’s permission—he pierced the ice floor with her blade and then...
"Niflheim, repair it."
"Yes!"
The ice blade spread her power through the entire castle. Its divine ice walls rapidly repaired themselves. All the destruction the castle had suffered vanished instantly, and it grew even more resilient and larger than before.
"Now, to the walls."
He did the same with the walls—stabbing them with Niflheim and infusing his power through it. The walls healed quickly, and he used his authority over them to make them expand, incorporating the Nameless Streets as part of the capital.
"We’re... we’re finally done..."
Louis sighed in relief and almost fell to the floor, but Mirai and his father caught him.
"Louis, you’ve pushed yourself too hard..." his father said with worry. "Please, let’s go rest..."
"Yeah!" Mirai nodded. "You need to rest..."
