章 71: Book 3: Chapter 11 – Another Lizard
"As you can see, things weren't as they seemed," Cowart said as he turned back to face Ace. "I apologise for everything your family had to endure, but I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive them."
Hearing the explanation of Lina's descent into darkness, Ace's desire for revenge waned slightly. He knew it wasn't their fault, and by the sound of things, the rest of the family didn't know about her plans to have them killed. Still, Ace wasn't a saint who was willing to simply turn the other cheek.
If her plan had been successful, he, Lance, Killian, and his beloved mother would have all lost their lives. A simple sorry wasn't enough to right that wrong.
It was then that Linley did something that caught everyone present by surprise.
"I understand no sorry could ever be enough to curb your anger over such a vile act, so instead, I offer you my head," Linley said as he prostrated himself before the dark-haired teen. "Just allow me to save my mother's soul and uproot the church. Give me 50, no, 30, give me 30 years.
In 30 years, after I finish handling my family's matters, you can do whatever you want with me. Whether you wish to kill me or have me serve as your personal guard, my life will be yours to command as you see fit."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Bebe began squealing in protest, but Linley remained kneeling with his forehead firmly pressed against the ground.
Though surprised by Linley's decision, Cowart didn't say anything to dissuade his disciple. Instead, he just patiently waited for the young warrior to make his decision.
If it were anyone else who'd made a vow like that, Ace would never have believed them, especially as Linley, an ignorant teen, was vowing to destroy a behemoth like the radiant church in only three decades, but when he heard the sincerity and resolve in his voice as he made his promise, Ace subconsciously believed he might just do it.
"Ahh, whatever, do what you want," Ace replied before turning his attention back to the old ghost hovering above Linley. "What were those ingredients you mentioned to heal the soul of someone with a tainted pure soul?"
An amused smile hung on the old ghost's lips as he saw Ace's response or lack thereof in this case. Though he didn't come out and say it, judging by the fact that Ace's killing intent had all but vanished, it was clear that he no longer felt a need to seek out vengeance.
Doehring believed that in the future, these two youngsters would grow to become true experts who would one day stand at the very apex of this world. He couldn't help but look forward to seeing that day with his very own eyes.
"Oii, ghost," Ace called out once again upon seeing the distracted expression on his illusory face. "The ingredients!"
"Ooh, right, yeah. They're as follows Blueheart Grass, Cloudsoul Root, Phoenix Heart Ginseng…" Cowart said, listing over a dozen ingredients. "… Like I told Linley, many of those can only be found in the depths of the wi-"
"I don't need you to worry about me," Ace snorted, still not completely having forgiven him for attacking Amira and Julius earlier.
"Oii, Fatty," Ace called out, kicking the overweight mage in the side. "Stop pretending to sleep. Get up. We're lea…"
"Why did you kick me? I'm still injured, you know," Julius complained as he rolled to his feet, only to see the grave expression on Ace's face. "What is it?"
It wasn't just him who noticed the sudden change in Ace's demeanour, they all did, but only Doehring Cowart was able to understand the reason behind it.
"Mira, fatty, we need to leave. Now!" Ace said hurriedly as he took Mira and Julius by the hands and pulled them to run in the opposite direction he had just been looking.
Unfortunately, it seemed Mira and Julius still weren't 100%. They barely ran three steps when both of them stumbled over.
"Their souls are still a little shaken," Cowart explained apologetically.
"For fuck sake, old man. If anything happens to either of them, I'm holding you personally responsible!" Ace said as he grabbed his old glaive. "Mira, you and fatty need to try and escape whilst you still can."
"What is it? What's coming our way?" Mira asked, unwilling to leave Ace on his own to face whatever threat had him so worked up.
"A magical beast of the fifth rank," Ace stated as he turned to the approaching magical beast.
"Fifth rank?" Julius asked, his body relaxing when he heard that. "If it's only at the fifth rank, why are you so nervous? I've seen you defeat beasts at the seventh rank."
"Because even though it's only at the fifth rank, the aura it's giving off is just as potent as that little rat," Ace said, pointing to Bebe on Linley's shoulder.
"Divine Beast?" Amira asked in shock.
"It should be," Ace answered helplessly.
During his time at the Pavilion, his master told him about the various types of beasts they might come across in the future.
Magical beasts were the most common. They would reach varying levels of strength depending on their bloodlines.
Above them were Mystic Beasts, who would automatically reach the saint level upon reaching maturity. They were also able to jump a rank when fighting other creatures of the same level whilst still a mortal.
Finally, there were the Divine Beasts Amira mentioned. According to Aiden, the chances of running across one were slim to none, as they were too rare. Whilst Mystic Beasts matured into saints, Divine Beasts automatically reached the Deity realm upon reaching maturity. If that wasn't shocking enough, they were also capable of jumping at least two realms as mortals.
Though neither he nor Amira had seen or heard of a Divine Beast matching Bebe's description, for it to be able to fight Ace on par whilst only at the fourth rank as well meant it had to be a Divine Beast. And an extremely powerful one at that, considering it was able to jump not two but three ranks.
Just seeing one Divine Beast was exceedingly rare, so to see two in one day was nothing short of shocking.
Ace guessed it smelt Bebe's blood and rushed straight over to kill and eat the future deity-level rat, knowing it would greatly enhance its strength.
Ace had half a mind to kill the little fellow and take Amira and Julius to escape, but firstly, he knew if he tried, the ghost would likely target his classmates again and secondly, he doubted the incoming divine beast would still let them escape anyway. It would more than likely see the rest of them as a dessert.
"Oii, Linley," Ace hurriedly called out. "Your mouse, can it still fight?"
Linley was still in a daze after hearing everything Ace and Amira had said about Bebe. He'd never even heard of Divine Beasts before, so how was he to know that his unassuming little partner was one? It made sense, though. He'd never heard of any rat-type beasts anywhere near as special as Bebe.
"We don't have time to waste like this!" Ace shouted in frustration. "Can it still fight?!"
"Errm," Linley didn't want to let Bebe fight again in its current condition, not against a beast that was likely stronger than him even when he was at its best, but Bebe told him to let him fight, and even his master mentally told him that this was their only chance of getting out of this alive. "Yeah, he can fight."
"Good, tell it to support me," Ace hurriedly commanded. "The rest of you get back!"
From the bottom of her heart, Amira desperately wanted to stay by Ace's side to face this new threat, but she also knew that in her current condition, she would only get in the way.
"What are you doing?! Stop!" Ace commanded as he heard her begin to chant, and her face pale.
"[Supersonic]," Amira voiced before wiping the blood trickling from her nose. "I told you; we do this together!"
"You idiot," Ace said softly as he gently stroked her pale cheek with his thumb.
Ace felt his body become as light as a feather, but if the cost was her health, he wished she never did it. Still, a warm smile appeared on his face as he nodded and passed her to Julius for him to support her as they walked back. But, unfortunately, they didn't have time to get very far.
"ROOAAARRRR!"
Looking up, they saw a giant dragon Chinese dragon over 15 meters long hovering in the sky above them. It had beautiful crystalline azure scales, two branch-like milky white horns sticking out of its head, a thin but long strip of glistening white hair travelling right across the length of the back of its winding body, and an enchanting pair of glistening wings that flickered in colour, alternating between azure blue and crystal white depending on the angle you looked at it from, slowly flapping behind it to keep it in mid-air.
Its electric blue reptilian eyes coldly swept over them until it locked on to Bebe, who was standing on all fours beside Ace.
"What am I, a fucking lizard magnet?!" Ace cursed as yet another creature with dragon blood targeted him.
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P.atreon.com/AceInCoilingDragon - Book 4 - Chapter 14
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