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Just as Mantou was about to strike Wagner, the latter remained motionless, even laughing maniacally.

“Hahaha, hahaha!”

“Finally, the perfect test subject has come to me!”

From beneath his hood, a pale, scaly face, almost inhuman, emerged, sending chills down one’s spine.

Wagner raised his hand gently, a faint red magical glow flashing in his murky eyes, the power flowing to his fingertips and onto his target.

【Telekinetic Control】

Mantou, in his young dragon form, was halted midair, manipulated by the overwhelming psychic force.

Despite his newfound red dragon strength, as a mere young dragon, he was no larger than a horse and had no means to resist such a powerful spell. He thrashed and writhed in the air, spitting flames and curses alike.

“You bastard! When I get free, I’ll sew your mouth to your—!”

“You ********!”

Wagner paid no attention, his obsession solely focused on the dragon body, ignoring Mantou’s words completely.

What captivated him wasn’t Mantou, but the physical vessel that had perfectly absorbed dragon bloodline power. He was utterly entranced.

“From my awakening a century ago to now, through 36,714 experiments...”

“I’ve never encountered a specimen so perfect.”

“This is the will of the world itself. It’s granting me the path to supreme evolution!”

His voice trembled with the fervor of witnessing a divine miracle. His gaze on Mantou turned increasingly ravenous, as if preparing to devour him whole.

“Go ahead, child, resist me.”

“Let me marvel at this intoxicating power—like a true dragon.”

“I’ll uncover your secret and make you the foundation of my ultimate evolution.”

Mantou noticed Wagner’s gaze and felt his skin crawl. For the first time, he understood the chilling sensation of being the object of a madman’s obsession.

Singo called out from the distance: “Mantou! Don’t forget what I gave you!”

That reminded Mantou—he still had the rune-explosive bombs!

Wagner, smug in his perceived victory, stood carelessly before him.

Such a perfect opportunity couldn’t be missed!

Gritting his teeth, Mantou pulled out the explosive device midair and bellowed:

“I’ve had enough! Time to blow us both to hell, you lunatic!”

“Rua! Activating backup power!”

“No—!”

Wagner sensed danger but failed to act in time. Mantou activated the bomb, triggering a self-detonation.

The peculiar metallic spheres lit up with runic brilliance before detonating.

A deafening explosion erupted, engulfing Mantou, Wagner, the hounds, and the entire area in a massive fireball. The intense blaze consumed everything in its path, shrouding the lab in a thick cloud of smoke and debris.

As the smoke cleared...

A massive crater had formed in the floor. If not for the reinforced structure built to restrain dragons, the explosion might have collapsed the entire tower.

Mantou’s young dragon form lay mangled and motionless amidst the wreckage.

The draconic hounds had been incinerated, reduced to charred chunks of flesh.

Yet, Wagner stood unharmed, hovering midair, protected by a shimmering, orb-like magical barrier.

It was a hallmark defensive combo of high-level mages: 【Contingency Spell】 linked to 【Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere】, effectively granting them an extra life.

“As expected of a mage boss. That wasn’t going to be easy,” Singo muttered, watching Wagner emerge unscathed.

However, Wagner’s face was twisted in rage. His grotesque features contorted further, veins bulging on his forehead as his eyes burned with fury.

“Damn it! Damn you!”

“Why resist?! I need you alive!”

“I’ll uncover your secrets, no matter what!”

“No... I still have a chance. His companions—they must be captured alive!”

Wagner turned sharply, preparing a spell to immobilize the remaining players.

But he saw the two of them each holding an active rune bomb, emitting ominous beeps.

Singo grinned wickedly and taunted:

“How’s the blast treating you, old bastard?”

“Enjoy the fireworks!”

Wagner, panicking, fired a green disintegration ray at the bombs.

【Disintegrate】, a six-circle spell capable of reducing objects to dust, could have neutralized the bombs instantly.

But he was a fraction too late.

The bombs exploded in dazzling fireballs, consuming Singo and Born Battle Maniac in the inferno and obliterating the surrounding lab equipment.

“You... damn pests.”

“I... I will find a better specimen!”

Wagner collapsed onto the ground, trembling in frustration, his maniacal obsession pushing him to the brink of madness.

“Roar—!”

A loud roar echoed in the distance.

The white dragon, sensing an opportunity, struggled fiercely against its restraints. The repeated detonations had damaged portions of the 【Wagner’s Dragon Binding Array】, giving the dragon a sliver of hope.

Seizing the moment, the dragon channeled all its strength, determined to break free from its centuries-long captivity.

Wagner’s face darkened as he pounded the ground in frustration, his voice trembling with rage and disbelief.

“Tinia, even you... you dare defy me?!”

“Why? Why won’t any of you contribute to my evolution?!”

“Catherine, Valena, those intruders... and now even you?!”

After his outburst, Wagner’s expression grew cold. Rising to his feet, he glared at the struggling dragon with chilling resolve.

“It seems you need a lesson in obedience.”

He raised his hand, summoning a grotesque array of dismembered, scale-covered limbs from the ground.

“Roar—!”

In the cold winds of the Kolka Mountains, snow fell steadily, blanketing the rugged peaks.

White snow blanketed the undulating mountain ranges

The cries carried far and wide, sowing fear and birthing legends among those who heard them.

Deep within the mountains, from the black tower known as the ” Polar Night Demon Tower,” came piercing, mournful roars, unending and reverberating for ages. If any passing traveler were to hear them, countless terrifying legends would surely arise.

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