Chapter 833 – Final Chain

Lux rolled his shoulders, unfazed.

"If you’re going to try to kill me," he said to the dragon, voice calm yet resolute, "you’ll have to do better than that."

[System Notice: Curse Release Imminent]

[Warning: Upon full liberation, the dragon’s curse is expected to activate at maximum capacity.]

[Threat Assessment: Comparable to Sin Lord-Class Entity.]

[Recommendation: Prepare for potential termination or subjugation.]

[Additional Note: This would be an excellent time to reconsider your life choices, Sir.]

Lux exhaled slowly through his nose, lips curving into a faint, amused smirk.

’Sin Lord level, huh?’ His heartbeat didn’t spike. If anything, it steadied. There was a strange thrill humming beneath his skin, anticipation wrapped in danger, like signing a contract that could bankrupt the world but doing it anyway because the return would be legendary.

"I see..." he murmured.

He raised his daggers once more, eyes blazing with determination.

"Let’s break the rest of these chains."

The battlefield felt suspended in time. Ely’s barrier shimmered behind him, Naomi’s stance grounded and ready, Rava’s tentacles coiled with tension, and Mira... Mira watched him like he was both salvation and disaster wrapped in a tailored suit. Lux felt their gazes, their trust, their silent belief that he would handle this.

’No pressure,’ he thought dryly.

He moved.

Lux blurred forward, closing the distance to the nearest chain in an instant. His daggers struck in a precise, crossing motion. The impact sent a shockwave of Sin-infused energy through the binding. Cracks spiderwebbed across its surface before it shattered into fragments of corrupted light.

The dragon roared.

Not in relief.

In fury.

The sound slammed into Lux like a physical force, vibrating through his bones. He tasted iron at the back of his throat but didn’t slow. He couldn’t. Each chain pulsed with increasing instability, and the dragon’s power surged violently with every break, as if she were resisting her own freedom.

’She doesn’t want this,’ Lux realized, a flicker of empathy threading through his thoughts. ’Or maybe... she’s afraid of what she’ll become once she’s free.’

He teleported.

Lux reappeared atop the dragon’s coiled body, boots landing lightly on shimmering pearl-like scales. Up close, the damage was unmistakable. Cracks marred her majestic form, each fissure leaking black demonic energy. Blood trickled from wounds where the chains had bitten into her flesh for centuries.

His jaw tightened.

’Yeah... this wasn’t a choice. This was torture.’

He drove both daggers down.

Another chain snapped.

The dragon’s body convulsed, sending a violent surge of energy outward. The force tried to hurl Lux away, but he reacted instantly.

[Teleportation Activated]

He vanished before the blast could connect, reappearing beside the next binding mid-air. His coat snapped behind him like a banner of defiance.

"Almost there," he muttered.

Behind him, the girls provided just enough support to keep the battlefield stable. Naomi deflected stray shockwaves with brute strength, Rava redirected destructive energy currents with swirling water, Ely reinforced barriers to prevent collateral devastation, and Mira’s draconic flames countered the spreading demonic corruption.

Lux noticed it all in fragments, a silent appreciation blooming in his chest.

’They’re incredible,’ he thought, a brief, warm smile tugging at his lips. ’And they trust me. No backing out now.’

He lunged again.

Daggers flashed.

Another chain shattered.

The dragon’s roar intensified, echoing with rage, pain, and something heartbreakingly close to desperation. The chamber trembled. The void above rippled. The last chain remained, thicker, darker, pulsing with sovereign authority.

Lux hovered before it, suspended by controlled bursts of teleportation. He inhaled deeply, centering himself.

[System Advisory: Final Chain Detected]

[Curse Stability: Critical]

[This is the dramatic moment, Sir. Do try to look impressive.]

Lux chuckled under his breath. ’Always do.’

He surged forward.

"Midas Touch."

His palm slammed against the final chain. Gold spread rapidly across its surface, disrupting its demonic structure and freezing its regenerative capability. In the same motion, he spun and drove both daggers into the weakened core.

"Kingbreaker."

The explosion of twin Sin energy fractured the chain completely.

Shatter.

For a single heartbeat, the world went silent.

Then...

The dragon was free.

A deafening roar erupted, filled with rage and ancient hatred. Her colossal eastern form unfurled, stretching across the chamber like a living storm. Pearl-like scales shimmered beautifully despite the visible cracks, each fracture bleeding demonic energy into the air. Her elongated body coiled and twisted, filling the space with overwhelming presence.

Lux landed gracefully on the ground, staring up at her.

’Wow,’ he thought, momentarily awed. ’She’s magnificent. Also extremely likely to kill me. But still... magnificent.’

The dragon’s massive eyes snapped open fully, locking onto Lux with terrifying intensity. Pure draconic power clashed violently with the lingering demonic curse within her, creating a chaotic aura that distorted the surrounding space.

Lux could feel it pressing against him, testing his resolve, searching for weakness.

He didn’t look away.

Instead, he straightened his posture, rolling his shoulders as if preparing for a boardroom negotiation rather than a battle against an ancient cursed dragon.

[System Warning: Hostile Intent Confirmed]

[Recommendation: Engage or Neutralize Target]

Lux smirked.

’Relax. I’ve handled worse meetings.’

Despite the danger, a strange calm settled over him. He could feel the demonic energy he had absorbed circulating smoothly within his body, reinforcing his strength, sharpening his senses. Fear was present, but it was distant, controlled, transformed into focus.

He glanced briefly at the girls behind him. Their concern was palpable, yet none of them moved to retreat. They believed in him. That belief wrapped around Lux like armor far stronger than any spell.

’Alright,’ he told himself. ’Time to earn that trust.’

He stepped forward, meeting the dragon’s furious gaze head-on.

Confidence radiated from him, not arrogance, but absolute certainty in his own ability.

"Welcome back," Lux said softly, voice carrying through the charged atmosphere. "Let’s see if we can solve this without destroying the mountain."

Internally, however, his thoughts were far less diplomatic.

’Okay, Lux,’ he mused with a mental grin, ’you just freed an ancient cursed dragon who may or may not want to murder you. Fantastic life choices. Truly. Five stars. Would recommend.’

The dragon’s body coiled tighter, demonic energy crackling along her scales as she prepared to strike.