Chapter 36: Perugius, the Armored Dragon King (Patreon)

That night...

Rudy laid out the whole truth of the Fittoa Territory's coming Teleport Incident to Eris's family. He told them the benefits, and he told them the risks, too.

Lord Sauros wasn't a man given to indecision. Having lived so many years, he possessed a breadth of vision and understanding far beyond ordinary people.

So the whole process of persuading him turned out to be far simpler than Rudy had imagined.

The final decision: the Sauros family would move in and live with Paul. They would stay hidden until after the Teleport Incident, then emerge to deal with the aftermath — and face whatever trial the royal family might bring with an unshakably firm stance.

Everything was settled. All that remained now was to wait for the Fittoa Territory's Teleport Incident to arrive.

It didn't keep them waiting long. Five days after Rudy's tenth birthday celebration, thick clouds of magic power began gathering in the skies above Fittoa Territory.

Faced with this sudden development, the Armored Dragon King of the floating fortress hovering above Fittoa Territory sent down one of his Twelve Familiars — Almanfi the Radiant.

But what Almanfi the Radiant could never have anticipated was this: the instant he appeared, a beam of light pierced clean through his limbs. Before he could react at all, his consciousness was snuffed out entirely.

At that moment, another figure — identical to Almanfi — appeared at his side.

It was Rudy, disguised as Almanfi. He looked down at the real Almanfi the Radiant, now unconscious at his feet.

"I've been teleporting quite a few people away, so you can serve as their replacement," he said with a smile. "Besides, it's only polite to return a visit — and since your sky fortress has been hovering overhead this whole time, I suppose I've earned the right to pay a call on the Armored Dragon King, Perugius."

The next instant, Rudy — still wearing Almanfi's form — vanished from the spot.

In the blink of an eye, he appeared inside the vast hall of the floating fortress, right in front of the Armored Dragon King, Perugius.

"So? Wait — you're not Almanfi!"

"No, I'm not,"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Rudy's figure was already standing beside Perugius.

Looking at the powerfully built white-haired old man before him, Rudy smiled. "Nice to meet you, Armored Dragon King Perugius."

Not fully grasping the situation, Perugius didn't act rashly. Instead, he asked bluntly, "Just who are you?"

Rudy smiled. "Who I am doesn't matter. What matters more is whether you're willing to hand over your summoning magic research."

"Heh." Hearing something so outrageously presumptuous, Perugius laughed out of pure fury and raised a hand to strike.

But instead, an eerie, unsettling sensation surged through his mind.

Rudy smiled again. "Sorry, I forgot to mention — the moment I arrived, I used a particular deadly poison on you. You're already being consumed by it."

"From here on, you have only two choices: submit to me, or die!"

"I'm actually a very cautious man. Since I've already offended you, I have to make sure you're finished off for good."

"I really am curious about your summoning magic, but if you refuse, that's fine too."

"Worst case, I'll just go find the Dragon God, Orsted. He knows every piece of magic in this world."

Hearing this, Perugius, furious, tried to cast a spell — but his body responded sluggishly. The instant he raised his hand, Rudy twisted his limbs clean off.

As crimson blood spread slowly beneath him, Perugius watched Rudy raise a hand as if to finish him off. Faced with that terrifyingly cold, murderous gaze, he truly felt afraid.

He swallowed hard, throat clicking, and forced himself to speak, trying to negotiate terms with Rudy.

But unfortunately, Rudy's time was precious, and he couldn't be bothered to negotiate.

With a simple push of his hand, he tore off what remained of Perugius's limbs entirely.

Then, looking at Perugius — now reduced to a limbless trunk — Rudy smiled. "Last chance. I know your support magic is formidable."

"But if I destroy your entire body completely — obliterate it down to its most basic material composition — I don't think you'll have any way to revive yourself."

"My time is precious too. I'll ask you one last time — yes, or no?"

Perugius seethed with rage beyond measure, but faced with Rudy's raised hand, he had no choice but to nod in reluctant agreement.

The next instant, Rudy directly reshaped Perugius's body.

In an instant, he was brought along to where Eris and Sylphiette waited.

The two girls stared at the strikingly beautiful white-haired girl gripped in Rudy's hand, and asked, puzzled, "Rudy, is she going to travel with us too?"

Rudy nodded and smiled. "That's right. I found myself a teacher."

Perugius slowly sat up, staring in disbelief at his transformed body. He looked up at Rudy, demanding furiously, "Just what are you trying to do?!"

"What am I trying to do?"

Rudy raised a hand with a smile, and under Perugius's puzzled gaze, pointed toward a massive pillar of light that had appeared ahead, its range steadily expanding.

"You—" Before Perugius could finish, the pillar of teleportation light had already swallowed all four of them whole.

In the instant just before the light consumed them, Rudy had already reached out and taken hold of Eris, Sylphiette, and Perugius.