Chapter 190

Chapter 190: New Allies

Midi didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward and grabbed the whip.

The Starfall whip looked plain, almost like a regular long whip without any decorations. Yet across its pitch-black surface crawled faint threads of lightning, flickering like fish in dark water.

When his hand closed around the smooth jade-like hilt, Midi felt his mind connect with the weapon. It became an extension of his arm, lengthening or shortening at will, locking onto targets with a single thought.

In Arad, even the finest materials couldn’t craft such a weapon with its own spirit.

This wasn’t a problem with techniques; human alchemy surpassed that of this Dragonkin branch in Sky City. The difference lay in materials.

Ordinary magic infusion couldn’t compare to treasures nurtured by pure magic. Only Sky City held wonders like the Starfall whip.

The Aether Stones were an added bonus for Midi.

As he inspected the gifts, a Dragonkin guard hurried into the chamber, muttering urgently to Xena. The female Dragonkin warrior’s face hardened.

“What’s wrong?” Lucas, the chieftain, asked with a frown.

“Tanius. He somehow learned Midi’s here. Now he’s blocking the Palace of Dragon Horn’s entrance!” Xena spat through gritted teeth.

Tanius, the arrogant Dragonkin warrior, still lived.

Midi had spared him.

Midi had pushed himself to the limit, even unleashing three strikes of the Breaking Army Rising Dragon Whip, to finally defeat this foe who’d mastered both attack and defense. Holding back would’ve cost him the chance. Yet despite Tanius’ contempt for humans, Midi respected his fearless resolve.

Compared to the Empire—twisted enough to perform human experiments—this Dragonkin seemed almost honorable.

An enemy, yes, but not one to hate.

So Midi’s final blow shattered stone instead of skull.

“I’ll drive him off,” Xena said apologetically, rising.

The Dragon Platform duel had been to the death. By tradition, the victor claimed everything—titles, honors.

Though Tanius lived and Midi’s status as “Dragonkin Warrior” remained unconfirmed, Tanius had lost all rights. He couldn’t question the chieftain or enter the Palace now. Even sympathetic fire-type guards couldn’t help him.

Xena’s task was simple.

But Midi stopped her. “He’s here for me. Let him in. I’ve nothing to fear.”

Xena gave him a puzzled look but nodded. When she returned, the towering Tanius followed.

While Midi grew stronger post-battle, Tanius had lain bedridden. Despite the Dragonkin’s strong recovery, the Breaking Army Rising Dragon Whip’s damage took days to heal. He still moved stiffly.

Yet arrogance burned in the warrior’s eyes.

Seeing Midi, fury blazed in his dragon-like pupils.

To Dragonkin, power ruled all. Fear didn’t exist.

Humans? Weak. Treacherous. Prone to betrayal.

Tanius loathed their very presence in his tribe.

Yet he’d fallen to one—a human who’d held back!

Tanius was utterly furious.

He felt anger toward Midi for sparing him.

He burned with shame at losing his Warrior title before the tribe.

He raged against the lightning faction for bringing a human into their midst and attempting deals.

Above all, he despised his own failure.

“Human!” Tanius growled, stepping forward. “Why didn’t you kill me?”

“So eager to die?” Midi countered, his gaze sharpening. “Tell me—do you even understand death?”

Midi did. He’d died once, watched two women he loved perish before him. He’d endured every blow, failure, and despair imaginable. In death, he’d found fleeting relief.

Because of this, Midi now treasured every opportunity and fought fiercely to protect those close to him.

Tanius fell silent. The Dragonkin warrior had no answer.

Words weren’t his strength. He’d stormed here driven by rage, yet under Midi’s calm stare, his fury faltered. Though he still saw humans as cunning vermin, he couldn’t muster arrogance before the black-haired youth who’d crushed him.

“One defeat isn’t worth this drama,” Midi shrugged. “Here’s some clichéd advice—true Warriors rise from failure.”

He stood, ending the conversation.

After briefing the Dragonkin chieftain and Xena, Midi prepared to depart. Though he hadn’t mapped all rifts, securing the tribe’s alliance, Aether Stones, and a legendary weapon sufficed.

Sky City couldn’t hold him longer. The Lionheart Arena needed its True Expert, pieces required moving on the West Coast’s battlefield, and the Sea King Festival demanded his presence. Time was scarce.

But as he slipped away via a hidden path, two figures blocked his exit.

“If we’re opening trade routes, I’ll verify the rifts and see this ‘Hawk Brigade’ for myself,” Xena declared, her rehearsed speech flawless. “We’ll hunt other rifts too—the Dragonkin keep their word.”

“Fair,” Midi nodded, then eyed the hulking red-scaled figure. “You?”

“I’ll see your world,” Tanius rumbled. “Refuse, and I’ll find a rift alone!”

No courtesy, only demands and threats—the Dragonkin’s “negotiation” amused Midi.

“Come then,” he warned, “but expect deadly foes and no rest.”

Xena’s brow furrowed. “Don’t mock the Lightning Fire Wings.”

Tanius’s eyes blazed. “Perfect!”

Days later, magic surged over Deep Rock Island. As violet-gold energies faded, three figures emerged.

“Midi-sama!” Paladin Dickson hurried forward, tension easing. Managing the Delos Empire’s pressure alongside Kelvin had strained him, but Midi’s return steadied his resolve.

Then he froze. The raw power radiating from Midi’s companions felt… draconic.

“Our new allies,” Midi introduced. “Xena and Tanius of the Lightning Fire Wing tribe.”