The world suddenly returned to silence. The retreating hybrids sensed something had changed and stopped in their tracks.
High above, the Dragon King who had been performing Shiva Karma Dance suddenly lost all life force and plummeted from the sky.
BOOM!
The massive draconic body crashed onto the summit of Kunlun Mountain with a thunderous impact. Rocks at the mountain's peak continued collapsing from the tremendous force.
In a certain distant Nibelungen, a figure suddenly opened its eyes:
"Farewell, my sibling."
The complete King of Sky and Wind had fallen suddenly, killed by Gustave with a single devastating blow.
The damage caused by this battle wasn't as extensive as when Gustave had fought Ladon, but that was merely coincidental timing. If the Dragon King hadn't used Shiva Karma Dance—leaving himself completely vulnerable—Gustave wouldn't have found the opportunity to deliver that fatal strike. One could only say that fate had played its hand.
"Quick! Mobilize the satellite and see what happened!"
Someone shouted the command, and the technicians who had accompanied the expedition rapidly redirected satellite coverage to scan the battlefield between Gustave and the Dragon King.
Because of the intense battle just moments before, the sky above Kunlun Mountain was now completely cloudless. The satellite clearly captured the Dragon King's massive body lying motionless atop Kunlun's peak, while Gustave leaned against the dragon's corpse, making a victory V-sign toward the sky.
"The King of Sky and Wind... was killed?"
"I don't know, but he certainly looks dead."
"Didn't you see that victory sign?"
Everyone viewing the satellite feed couldn't believe what they were witnessing. The King of Sky and Wind was simply... gone? Just like that?
Never mind the several thousand hybrid troops assembled below. Consider the fighter jets on standby, the missiles in launch mode, and the satellites positioned in outer space, prepared to deploy space-based kinetic weapons at a moment's notice. With so much firepower prepared, why hadn't any of it been needed?
But after just a brief moment of stunned silence, tremendous cheers erupted from the assembled forces. Gustave had killed the Dragon King alone, which meant many of them wouldn't have to die. After all, waging war against a Dragon King would have required enormous sacrifices.
"Let's go meet the dragon-slaying hero!"
Someone shouted again, and the hybrids who had just been retreating immediately turned around and headed toward the location where the Dragon King had fallen.
"Cassel Academy, prepare food immediately!"
Anjou, cooperating with Gustave for the second time, knew exactly what Gustave needed most right now—replenishing his energy. Last time, after killing Ladon, Gustave had been able to stand up and demand food. This time, he couldn't even stand upright and could only lean against the Dragon King's corpse, which demonstrated his consumption had been absolutely massive.
The snow on Kunlun Mountains had either avalanched or melted when the Dragon King had activated Candle Dragon. Without snow obstructing their path, the hybrids ran remarkably fast. Soon, Chu Zihang—leading the charge—reached Gustave.
"Are you alright?" Chu Zihang asked after helping Gustave sit up properly.
"Stop with the pointless questions and give me food!"
Gustave felt that Chu Zihang was deliberately playing dumb. Among this entire group, Chu Zihang knew him best, yet here he was asking irrelevant questions instead of simply handing over sustenance.
"Alright, alright!"
Chu Zihang smiled, helped Gustave settle back against the dragon's body, then opened his backpack and extracted all the chocolate, dried meat, biscuits, and other provisions inside. He tore open the packaging and brought them directly to Gustave's mouth.
Although utterly exhausted, facing food so close at hand, Gustave still opened his mouth wide and devoured everything Chu Zihang offered in just a few massive bites.
"Would you like some water?"
"What water?! Just keep the food coming!"
"Understood!"
Chu Zihang couldn't help but admire Gustave's constitution. After eating even a little of these dry provisions, most people would desperately want water, but Gustave had consumed half his backpack without showing any interest in drinking.
After finishing all the food Chu Zihang had brought, Gustave finally possessed enough strength to stand up. At that moment, the others arrived as well.
"Mr. Gustave!"
Principal Anjou led the group, accompanied by representatives from official forces and hybrid families, all greeting him respectfully.
Gustave nodded slightly, then asked:
"Is there more food available?"
The officials and hybrid family representatives looked confused, but Anjou simply smiled and said:
"Yes, of course! I've already had someone bring it!"
"Excellent! Take me there immediately!"
"Right away! I'll escort Mr. Gustave to the food now!"
Anjou took over from Chu Zihang with a smile and led Gustave to where the Cassel Academy personnel waited. Various types of food were already prepared for Gustave's arrival.
Gustave gently pushed Anjou aside without ceremony and immediately began eating—bread in his left hand, roasted chicken in his right. Thanks to the experience from their previous cooperation, Anjou had specifically ordered his people to purchase genuinely delicious food before departing for Kunlun.
"Then, Mr. Gustave, you eat here first while I go examine the King of Sky and Wind?"
"Go, go! He's completely dead—there's no possibility of resurrection!"
Gustave waved his hand dismissively, signaling Anjou not to disturb him during his meal.
Anjou was in an extraordinarily good mood now, not only because his great revenge had been achieved and the enormous burden pressing on his heart had finally lifted, but also because Cassel Academy had gained such tremendous benefits without suffering any casualties whatsoever.
Moreover, since Gustave had been able to kill the complete form of the King of Sky and Wind single-handedly this time, Anjou believed that even if the complete form of the Black King appeared, Gustave could still defeat it alone. From this moment forward, there was no need to worry about dragon revival. What dragons should worry about was humanity—because the offensive and defensive dynamics had completely reversed!
When Anjou returned to stand before the Dragon King's massive corpse, he couldn't help but sigh deeply. Figures appeared in his mind one after another—all first-generation members of the Lionheart Society. After a hundred years of hardship and loss, Anjou could no longer shed tears. Now, all he felt was the smooth satisfaction of great revenge finally achieved.
"Well? Are you certain he's dead?"
However, Anjou still wanted to confirm the Dragon King's death one final time.
"Principal, according to our detection equipment, the King of Sky and Wind is definitively deceased!"
A member from Cassel Academy's Equipment Department answered confidently.
Meanwhile, while most people's attention remained focused on the dead Dragon King, a man approached Gustave and extended his hand:
"Hello, Mr. Gustave. I am Yuan Zhisheng, Executive Director of Cassel Academy's Japanese Branch."
Hearing the voice, Gustave looked up to see a handsome man addressing him. Yes, handsome—in Gustave's opinion, Yuan Zhisheng appeared almost too refined and elegant.
"You don't mind, do you?" Gustave asked, extending his grease-covered right hand.
"Not at all," Yuan Zhisheng replied, grasping Gustave's hand without hesitation.
"I'm curious—what does Director Yuan Zhisheng wish to discuss with me?"
"I would like to inquire about the price for securing Mr. Gustave's assistance in the future."
Yuan Zhisheng went straight to the point, asking directly without preamble.
Gustave was momentarily stunned. He'd expected Yuan Zhisheng would engage in some preliminary small talk before broaching business matters, but he hadn't anticipated such directness. However, when it came to people essentially offering to pay him, Gustave definitely preferred this straightforward approach.
"Simple—just pay the fee."
"How much?"
"Twenty billion dollars," Gustave said, gesturing toward the Dragon King's corpse. "The rest depends on the specific situation and circumstances."
"Understood. How should I contact Mr. Gustave in the future?"
Hearing this question, Gustave thought for a moment before responding:
"Go through your Principal Anjou. He has my contact information."
After all, Anjou was his established client, so Gustave felt obligated to respect his position in this arrangement.
"Excellent!"
Yuan Zhisheng nodded with satisfaction. As long as he could achieve his ultimate goal, he didn't care whose channels he needed to use to contact Gustave