Chapter 68: Chapter 68

JONEA

Before I could reach Aland, Daran had already jumped and charged at the shadow dragon still on Aland’s back. I was so shocked to see the terrifying sight. Daran almost hit Aland if the dragon hadn’t protected him.

“Daran!” I shouted desperately.

Daran turned so brutal. He opened his jaws wide, filled with sharp, large fangs, to tear Aland’s dragon apart.

The dragon was torn apart by Daran’s sharp fangs. When I was about to approach, black blood splashed right on the tip of my shoe. It was the dragon’s blood. I thought it was just a magical creature and wouldn’t have any effect, like the shadow wolves that often attacked me. However, this dragon was bleeding black blood as dark as the night. It was like a living creature.

Aland’s previously calm face suddenly turned cold and hard. Even so, he didn’t do anything.

Was Aland enduring pain? Impossible! Was the dragon connected to him? My thoughts and feelings became very chaotic.

“Even though I made it with great difficulty. The materials I collected weren’t easy either,” Aland muttered. “But, you destroyed it with just one attack.”

“TIAMAT!” Daran hissed in a deep and angry voice at Aland.

Tiamat? I thought. Why did Daran call Aland by that name? The Tiamat I know is a mythological creature, a five-headed dragon goddess with eternal power.

Strangely, when that name was mentioned, Aland’s face immediately turned angry. He, who was previously calm, now became restless. Aland’s pair of blue eyes opened wide and looked darker.

“Don’t call me by that name! I never even knew her. You’re just a monster who uses human flesh.”

Daran opened his snout and let out a long howl. Hot steam came out of his mouth. He looked so angry and was about to attack Aland again.

I ran without thinking. I hugged Daran’s legs and gripped the remnants of clothes that were still attached to his body. Although my two hands couldn’t reach his entire body, I tried to hold him back.

“Daran, please stop!” I hugged his legs tightly and hoped he would listen to me.

At that moment, I heard someone pull the trigger of a gun. I saw Miller appear while pointing a gun at Aland’s head from behind. I panicked even more, seeing the sight.

“Enough for now, Aland,” said Miller.

Aland just glanced at the gun that Miller was pointing at his head and grinned. “I knew you wouldn’t do it! And I won’t stop until I end all of this.”

"Aland Hamilton!” Miller hissed in disappointment.

“Why do you still mention that name? Why do you keep mentioning names that have nothing to do with me?!” shouted Aland angrily.

I was shocked. I had never seen him that angry. Aland was always gentle and kind. He had changed a lot. I was sad. I almost didn’t recognize him. What bad things had happened to him all this time? This was all my fault!

“I wanted that guard dog because it seemed like a good material for achieving our goal. I could make something enjoyable by using that dog as chimera material.”

“He’s not a guard dog,” Miller argued without taking off his gun.

“Ah… I see,” Aland muttered. “It seems like the guard dog’s spirit has possessed the baby lycan. So troublesome.”

Miller gritted his teeth. “Aland, you should leave. You shouldn’t interfere with lycan affairs. That’s the unwritten agreement.”

“I won’t let you!” Daran shouted. “I won’t let you take my family away. Not Owen, not even Jonea!”

“Jonea isn’t your family. Haha! Jonea, how about you come with me? I won’t bother them as long as you come with me.”

I… couldn’t answer and couldn’t move either. Why was I feeling sad? Aland was standing in front of me. He was the one I had always been looking for. Even my life’s goal was to find him. I was even willing to sell myself at auction to find and save him.

Now that he had appeared in front of me, I felt helpless. He really surprised me. Behind me was Daran, who was always there and helped me when I was in trouble. I didn’t know whose side to stand on—Daran or Aland? I couldn’t make up my mind.

“Aland… What really happened? Why are you on the side of the dragons?” I asked in fear.

Aland didn’t answer me and just smiled. His gaze held many mysteries.

From the sky appeared a blue-green dragon. Its size was huge. The flapping of its wings created a whirlwind around us. I recognized the dragon. It was the dragon that appeared in the fragment of my dream, the dragon ridden by the silver-haired man.

The dragon floated a few meters above us. Aland had already jumped into the trees and climbed onto the dragon’s back when we were all amazed by its figure. They started to fly.

Before leaving, the dragon circled once above our heads. “Jonea, I will definitely show you who the monster really is!” shouted Aland, then flew away with the dragon.

I felt like I was slapped by the consciousness that had been missing. Now I could see everything clearly. The fragments of memories that had been filling my mind were not dreams but memories that had been erased.

I didn’t feel any resistance from Daran’s body. He began to soften and calm down, and it seemed that his consciousness had also returned.

“Jonea, are you still alive?” asked Daran in disbelief.

“I… Actually… Yes, it hurts a lot, but I’m still safe,” I answered softly yet relievedly.

“It was surprising,” Daran said.

“I was a little surprised, too,” I replied unconsciously while hugging Daran. I was afraid that if I let go, he might turn back into a scary monster.

Daran rejected me. He let go of my hug and took a step back. I stepped forward and tried to grab him, but he avoided me again. It continued like that for a few times. I didn’t understand what he was really doing.

“Jonea, you’re scared of my form, right?” he asked. “I’ll be back soon, so let go.”

I was still gripping the remains of Daran’s clothes that were still on his body. With a heavy heart, I let go of my grip.

“You’re right. I don’t think you’ll fit through the door looking like this,” I said, trying to sound funny. “You should come back soon. I’ll be waiting for you!”

I looked at Daran with a smile, but tears flowed from both eyes.

Daran bent his body slightly and said, “I will definitely come back. I don’t want to break my door.” Then he kissed me with his snout.

Now, his body gradually shrank and returned to the size of an average man.

“Uncle, are you okay?” Owen approached and checked Daran’s entire body with both hands. He was without panic and fear.

“This is so strange,” said Miller.

“L!” called Arabel, who looked so happy to see Miller appear.

“Arabel,” replied Miller as soon as the girl stood before him. Miller immediately punched Arabel quite hard.

“Miller, what are you doing?” I scolded. “Since when can you use your fists? Do you only use them to hurt women?” I shouted.

Miller sighed and apologized. “I didn’t really hit her. I was just annoyed and wanted to teach her a lesson. She never listens to my words. What if something bad happens to her?”

“But, if I just keep quiet and wait, then you will…” Arabel grumbled.

“You are my partner. You must stay by my side.” Miller held out his hand to Arabel, and she took it.

I grabbed Miller’s hand and dragged him away. I stared at him sharply. “Tell me, do you know anything about Aland? Was he the one who took one of your arms? Tell me, what really happened? Where is he?”