The flow of magic can be smoother...
There is still considerable room for improvement in material strength…
The core Dragon Slayer Crystal should utilize a combination of multiple attributes…
...
In just a moment, Daphne had a long list of improvement plans for the dragoons in her mind.
As a resident of Silent Town, Daphne naturally possessed the magic of "concealment," and was highly skilled in it; otherwise, how could she have used methods to prevent anyone in the town from breaking free of her concealment?
Despite possessing such exquisite "concealment" magic, Daphne showed no intention of fleeing even as her partner's forces were being crushed and routed.
She just stood there blankly beneath the shattered dragon rider, listening to the sparks flying from the malfunctioning artificial dragon, speechless for a long time at the sight of her years of hard work.
For Daphne, the moment the Dragoon was easily defeated by Natsu, her dream was shattered, and she couldn't help but doubt her childhood self.
Was that enormous black figure soaring through the sky, now somewhat blurred in my memory, really a dragon?
If it's true, will it be easily defeated by Dragon Slayer Mages like the Dragon Riders? If it's false, then what's the point of all my research over the years?
For a moment, Daphne was in a daze, muttering to herself.
"Do dragons still exist in this world...?"
"There must be one!"
It was a confident and resolute answer, and the tone of conviction made Daphne look up.
The cherry-haired boy stood atop the remains of the artificial dragon, his eyes filled with confidence. He touched the white scarf around his neck. "Dragons must exist in this world. Ignir and I will definitely meet again one day!"
So that's how it is; he's seen dragons before.
Daphne slowly lowered her head, a forced bitter smile appearing on her lips. She took the initiative to lift the restrictions placed on the townspeople, allowing those who had been forced to hide because of her to finally return to their normal lives.
After doing all this, Daphne sat down on the spot, ready to accept the punishment she deserved.
Before the residents could gather around, Noah walked over to the bespectacled girl whose dreams had been shattered. He had learned the reason for Daphne's obsession from a note exchanged between residents of the small town.
A creature resembling a black dragon.
Coincidentally, 400 years ago, Noah's ancestor, the then King of Edolas, discovered a terrifying black dragon while observing the world of Asland using the magic "Anima," which led to the creation of the "Dragon Riders" who imitated its power.
Legend has it that dragons have great vitality, and some can live for eight or nine hundred years, or even a thousand years.
Could the black dragon that Daphne saw when she was a child be the same terrifying black dragon that her ancestor observed 400 years ago?
Suppressing his doubts, Noah looked at the bespectacled girl who had already surrendered and asked, "Can you give me your artificial life technology?"
Without any attempt to conceal it, Noah was quite frank, because Daphne's spirits had been broken and she no longer had any interest in the study of magic and technology.
Daphne pulled a thick notebook from her pocket, containing all her research data from over the years, including the "artificial life" technology that Noah had requested.
This technology is still in its embryonic stage. Due to a lack of the specific energy required, Daphne originally planned to continue developing this technology on the dragon riders only after capturing a fire-attribute dragon slayer mage.
Now that the dragon riders are destroyed, Daphne doesn't want her hard work to be buried and forgotten. Since someone is interested in her research, she generously gives the notebook to Noah.
Thank you.
Although Noah could have openly taken it, since the other party was so straightforward, he naturally had to express his gratitude verbally.
Gray used magic to conjure a pair of ice handcuffs and cuffed Daphne. He glanced at the increasing number of townspeople around him and pointed at the honest Daphne.
"Noah, what did she do?"
According to the rules of the Magic Council, colluding with the Dark Magic Order is a serious crime, punishable by at least twenty years in prison.
What Daphne did to Silent Town was enough to keep her in the prison of the Kingdom of Fiore for ten or twenty years.
However, Noah left the choice of how to deal with her to the local residents; whether to send her to the Magic Council or the Kingdom of Fiore was entirely up to them.
"There's someone here! He's badly injured!"
Lucy's voice came, and a humanoid cow carrying a double-edged giant axe carefully dug a blood-soaked man out of the rubble under Lucy's command.
Natsu and Gray immediately stepped forward to help, and together with Lucy's Golden Celestial Spirit "Taurus Talos", they rescued the man.
Looking closely at the man's body, which was covered in horrific wounds left by torture instruments, Noah also sensed the presence of various types of magical erosion on him.
Noah recalled the information given by the residents: those members of the dark magic masquerade disguised as missionaries had indeed brought such a person.
At the time, it was unclear whether he was friend or foe, but now it is obvious that the man who has been so cruelly tortured is not a member of the Black Magic Cult. The thick scabs on his body are proof that he is a victim.
Despite being severely injured, the man still retained a sliver of consciousness and stubbornly refused to faint, demonstrating remarkable willpower.
Pushing aside Lucy's bandages, the man grabbed Natsu's clothes, his eyes wide, and with the last of his strength, cried out, "Tell...tell Lahar...the higher-ups...they have people there..."
After struggling to finish speaking, the man finally collapsed and fainted.
Having witnessed Natsu smash an artificial dragon the height of a small building with a single punch, and daring to openly oppose the Dark Magic Cult, such a righteous and powerful mage is worthy of trust.
Therefore, the man regarded Natsu as his hope and entrusted him with important information.
Unfortunately, Natsu didn't understand a single word.
Not only Natsu, but Gray, Lucy, and even Happy were also completely bewildered.
Who is Lahar? And from which high-ranking officials are these "high-ranking officials"? And who are "they"?
And most importantly, who are you?!
Natsu hated riddle-makers more than anything else, but seeing the man's injuries, he still couldn't shake him awake.
Although his companions didn't know, Noah knew who the man was referring to.
It seems that Lahar's title as the captain of the council's action force is not big enough. Despite being the head of a violent law enforcement department, none of his own guildmates know who he is.
But it doesn't matter, even those high-ranking councilors, Natsu and Gray don't know their names.
Upon hearing the name Lahar, Noah deduced the man's identity: a member of the action team sent to gather intelligence on the dark forces.
That's really interesting.
Someone from a dark force has infiltrated the upper echelons of the Magic Council and become one of the ten most powerful figures in the magical world.
One speaker, nine members of parliament...
Nine old men who have held high positions for a long time, and one powerful young man—who among them could it be?
Noah's lips curled up slightly. He was really hard to guess. The youngest member of the council in history, "Zek Rein".
If Laharl knew that his boss had a problem, what would he do?
This looks like it's going to be interesting.
However, the most important thing right now is to keep this man from dying, since I'm just guessing.
Noah looked at Cheese the snow cat perched on his shoulder and grabbed the hamster off its head.
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