Chapter 456

Chapter 456: Reunion with Risen

Galantis?

When Midi mentioned visiting someone, Mason and Zaknavan first thought of the capricious yet beautiful priestess.

They were mistaken.

Though Midi did detour to the Wolfspider tribe’s shop during the journey, instructing stationed personnel to deliver potions he’d brewed, this trip served grander ambitions.

Soon, a colossal cavern appeared before Midi’s group—home of the Flame Serpent family.

An established power in Mososbury City, the Flame Serpent family had lingered beneath the Death Scorpions’ shadow for decades yet retained its city council seat as the third-ranked family. They also stood as the true supporters of the Fire Lizard Tribe.

Here resided Risen the Black Dragonkin.

During the bonfire gathering clash, Alexis had implanted over a dozen Psychic Explosion Seeds in Risen before detonating them, leaving the dragonkin unconscious and thoroughly defeated.

But rare Black Dragonkin blood held value regardless of disgrace. After the gathering, the Flame Serpent family discreetly took him in.

As a fallen warrior, Risen now held no stake in Mososbury City’s upcoming Fighter Selection. His sole purpose became siring offspring to perpetuate his dragon bloodline—this being both public opinion and the family’s official stance.

Midi disagreed.

Having skirmished with Risen, he recognized the dragonkin’s true prowess. This was no blustering fool but a genuine expert whose misfortune lay in facing overwhelming opposition.

Others missed it, but Midi—a fellow psychic user—understood: against any foe lacking Dragon’s might, Alexis would’ve triumphed faster. That Risen endured multiple rounds and forced Alexis to deploy Psychic Explosion Seeds proved remarkable.

Thus, Midi chose to gamble on Risen. Not purely from calculation either—the dragonkin’s forthright nature appealed to him, spurring this goodwill gesture.

"Never imagined you’d visit," Risen said, studying Midi and his companions with conflicted eyes.

The fallen champion now endured scornful gazes within his new family, tasting life’s bitter truths. That his former opponent sought him out stirred unexpected emotions.

"Didn’t you tell me to come after the gathering?" Midi smiled faintly.

"So I still have worth." Risen’s bitter sigh shook the air. "Ask what you will."

"Questions come later. Arad’s customs demand reciprocity." Midi produced a sky-blue vial—a seventh-tier Calming Potion.

Risen’s current state spoke volumes: unfocused gaze, dimmed fighting spirit, scattered attention. To observers, this confirmed irreversible defeat—a broken warrior fit only for breeding.

However, Midi knew Risen wasn’t the type to collapse from mere defeat.

The Black Dragonkin’s current dazed state stemmed not from lost confidence, but psychic corruption.

The simultaneous detonation of a dozen Psychic Explosion Seeds didn’t end with temporary unconsciousness. Through his psychic sight, Midi saw cracks spreading through Risen’s mind as Alexis’s lingering energy continued gnawing at his psyche. Within two years at most, this warrior would either waste away in despair or take his own life – another casualty dismissed as having "weak character".

This exemplified mind-related abilities’ true horror – their insidious, irreversible nature. Yet the Level 7 Calming Potion in Midi’s hand could purge all traces of Psychic Explosion Seeds.

Gasps rippled through the Flame Serpent chamber when the potion appeared, followed by stunned silence. Even Risen stared in disbelief. "You’d give this… to me?" The Black Dragonkin’s voice wavered. He’d anticipated bargaining chips, not a vault-worthy treasure even his affluent clan would covet.

"This was brewed specifically for your condition." Midi’s tone remained even. "Who else needs it?"

"What’s your price?" Risen’s eyes narrowed.

"Secure Mosobsury City’s fighter qualification. Then ally at Crystal Dragon Fortress." Midi counted points on his fingers. "Fail the first step, consider this potion spilled."

"Fighter qualification?" Risen barked bitter laughter. The demand mocked his current disgrace. Yet the human’s steady gaze held no mockery – only cold pragmatism.

After tense silence, thunderous laughter shook the room. The cloudiness lifted from Risen’s eyes as he slammed the table. "No excuses remain! I accept!"

Midi nodded. He’d expected no less from dragon-blooded resilience.

"Wait." Risen grew solemn. "A Level 7 potion’s worth outweighs mere promises. Let’s discuss Dragon Heritage."

Midi’s pulse quickened. Dragon Heritage – the art of shaping draconic aura into combat skills. Currently, his untamed energy resembled a Demon Swordsman randomly leaking coldness instead of proper Demon Slashes. Heritage would forge this chaos into focused techniques.

The despairing warrior spoke freely now. At the bonfire gathering, Risen had envied Midi’s thin but pure bloodline. Eighth Apostle Rot later revealed Risen’s diluted sub-dragon lineage couldn’t access higher-tier Heritage without complete blood replacement.

But Midi’s True Dragon bloodline, though weak, held limitless potential through purification. Each advanced Heritage would accelerate this process, creating exponential growth – faster than daily Radiance of Darkness doses. For someone hunted by level-70 demons under Death’s Pursuit Order, this snowball effect proved irresistible.

First, he needed that initial Heritage.