Read Novel Full Vol 9. Chapter 41: Countermeasures
Vol 9. Chapter 41: Countermeasures
Lionheart Order headquarters, underground laboratory.
This place had once been where the former Imperial Royal Mage Corps attempted to turn Constantine into a stitched monstrosity.
After the Fallen Queen was overthrown, the Lionheart Order took over the site and converted it into a facility for detaining special prisoners.
But to this day, there had only ever been one prisoner held here.
Leon and the other three stopped in front of a glass observation window and looked into the laboratory beyond.
At the very center of the room stood a block of transparent crystal.
And inside that crystal—was the corpse of the ambitious man who had once nearly usurped the power of the Dragon God.
The left side of the corpse’s chest had been completely torn open. The wound was jagged and uneven, exposing soft inner bone and ruined internal organs.
That was the wound Leon had inflicted back then, when he fused holy light with Rimefog power and smashed straight through him—ending years of painstaking scheming in a single blow.
Several years had passed since that decisive battle.
Yet the shadow he left behind in everyone’s hearts had never fully faded.
And the oppression lingering after the war was just like his name—it pressed straight into bone and soul.
“Over the years, the Lionheart Order has tried all kinds of methods, but none of them could destroy Shadow’s body,” Rebecca said.
“We can’t exactly have you launch another ‘Night-Roost’-level attack just to erase it. Who knows what kind of backlash that would cause. So we’ve kept Shadow’s corpse stored here this whole time.”
Morgan narrowed his eyes and said:
“The entire room has been sealed layer after layer, completely cut off from the outside world. And after we realized Shadow’s corpse couldn’t be destroyed, and then learned he also came from the Void Realm, the Lionheart Order’s mages started researching it.”
Noa continued slowly:
“Since we couldn’t be pushed around, and since—in a way—we’re similar to that... ‘unpushable thing’ in the end, we wanted to try looking at Shadow and see if we could find a breakthrough.”
After listening to everyone’s account, Leon didn’t say anything.
He just stood in front of the glass window, quietly watching that corpse inside the crystal.
He opened his arms slightly and lowered his head, his dry, weed-like hair hanging down, his posture resembling a punished god standing in a temple.
The wound left by the Thundercloud Blade in Shadow’s chest was extremely conspicuous.
Just looking at it was enough for Leon to recall the life-and-death battle they had fought back then—vivid as if it had happened yesterday.
Seeing Leon remain silent, Rebecca asked:
“So, Captain, you wanted to see Shadow—was there a reason?”
Leon slowly pulled himself out of the memories weighing on his mind, let out a long breath, and finally spoke.
“That Demon Eye has the ability to possess others. Yesterday, at the Sea Dragon Clan, it took over the body of the Sea Dragon King Poseidon and used him to fight us. But during the exchange, I could clearly feel that the Demon Eye wasn’t able to fully bring out Poseidon’s bodily strength.”
Noa raised an eyebrow.
“Because it wasn’t familiar with Poseidon’s body yet? Does it need a long period of possession before it can fully control and unleash the original power?”
Leon shook his head.
“No. It felt more like... Poseidon’s body was incompatible with the Demon Eye. After all, one is a Dragon King of Samael, and the other is a former Void sovereign. Whether it’s methods of using power, ingrained habits, or the degree of fit between soul and flesh—they’re bound to differ greatly.”
Rebecca’s eyes shifted slightly. She quickly understood Leon’s meaning.
“So, Captain, you’re saying that if the Demon Eye makes another move, it will definitely look for a Void-origin body that’s more compatible with it.”
Leon nodded.
“That’s right. At present, there are four that meet the conditions. Safina—she’s in the Time Palace. The Demon Eye can’t reach that place at all, so there’s no need to worry. Kaiser—there’s even less to worry about there. If he sees the Demon Eye, he’ll blast it to pieces. And the one right in front of us: Shadow. Even though it’s just a corpse, it’s still from the Void. If the Demon Eye can’t act on the first two, it will consider Shadow.”
Morgan scratched his head and went over Leon’s words twice, then noticed something.
“Captain, that’s only three. Didn’t you say four?”
“Mhm. But strictly speaking, the fourth can’t really be counted as a ‘person.’”
Leon continued:
“The people of the Void homeland living in Wuconstantine’s territory. Even though their strength and physical bodies can’t compare to the first three, we still can’t rule out the possibility that the Demon Eye might target them. So after I finish arranging things on the Empire’s side, I’ll head to the Red Flame Dragon Clan as well.”
After saying that, Leon paused, then added in a low voice to himself:
“Let’s hope that fire-breathing dragon isn’t busy chasing girls this time...”
Chase one more, and his house might really get stolen out from under him.
After hearing Leon’s analysis, the three of them nodded in agreement.
“Then go ahead and arrange it, Captain. We’ll definitely catch that damn eyeball!”
...
Over the next few days, Leon personally led the Lionheart Order in deploying countermeasures against the Demon Eye.
Only after confirming that all arrangements were in place did Leon say goodbye to everyone and head to the Red Flame Dragon Clan together with the Eagle Squad.
This time, Constantine didn’t disappoint.
“Yo. I thought you married into the Blazing Sun Clan and weren’t coming back.”
Inside the Red Flame Dragon Sanctuary, Leon started mocking him the moment he walked in.
“I was even thinking about whether to have my wife take over your Red Flame Dragon Clan for you.”
Constantine sat on the throne, looking utterly drained, one hand propping up his forehead.
Faced with his friend’s teasing, he didn’t respond, simply closing his eyes to rest.
Leon walked over. Seeing Constantine stay silent, he pressed on.
“What’s wrong? You look like you’ve been hollowed out—oh~~”
He suddenly realized.
“I get it.”
Listening to Leon’s tone, Constantine somehow felt it was especially infuriating...
He opened his eyes and looked at Leon in disbelief.
“What do you get? It’s not what you’re thinking at all.”
Leon shrugged.
“It’s fine. After being single for a few hundred years, suddenly getting a beautiful girlfriend—anyone would be worn out.”
“However, Orion and I agreed that nothing like that would happen before the wedding.”
Leon narrowed his eyes with a grin and asked instead:
“Then why do you still look so tired?”
Constantine leaned forward slightly and rubbed his brow.
“These past few days in Blazing Sun City, I’ve been helping Orion with this and that. And in my free time, I’ve been陪着 her...”
Leon raised an eyebrow.
“Spending time with her?”
“Uh... dating?”
Leon rolled his eyes.
“Dating is dating. What’s there to be embarrassed about? So you’re tired because of dates?”
“Well... not exactly. For me, dating a girl is more exhausting than fighting.”
Hearing that, a lightbulb went off over Leon’s head. He raised an index finger and said with grave seriousness,
“I have a way to balance out your current predicament.”
“What way?”
“Since dating Orion is exhausting, but fighting isn’t—then you should—”
Constantine listened intently.
“Fight Orion instead.”
“...”
Constantine closed his eyes again and sighed.
“So did you come to see me for business or not? If not, go home and take care of your kids.”
Leon dropped the joking tone and spoke seriously.
“Of course I did. It’s about the Demon Eye—and the Void homeland people on your side.”
Leon explained his thinking and the upcoming plan to Constantine in full.
After hearing it, Constantine agreed to cooperate completely.
After dinner, Constantine invited Leon to stay for the meal. Leon didn’t refuse.
In the dining hall of the Red Flame Dragon Sanctuary, the two of them ate together.
With business settled, the conversation drifted to idle talk.
Mostly more teasing about Orion and Constantine.
But after a while, Constantine seemed to have exhausted the gossip. He took a bite of food, swallowed, and didn’t continue.
“By the way,” Constantine said, “I heard from the guards that you came looking for me a few days ago too. Was that also about the Demon Eye?”
Leon shook his head.
“No. It was about Noa. She’s advancing to the academy’s adult dragon tier. I originally wanted to write her a recommendation letter.”
Constantine gave a soft “Oh,” then asked:
“Do you still need one? I can write it right now.”
Leon waved his hand.
“It’s fine. No need. Odin already wrote one for her, and he also agreed to teach Noa some new magic.”
Hearing that, Constantine smiled slowly.
“That old man is always like that when he sees a talented young person.”
Leon smiled as well.
“Yeah.”
He lowered his head and looked at the food on his plate, unable to stop thinking about his daughter.
“I wonder how she’s doing with her studies. And in another day, she’ll be reporting to the adult dragon tier. I don’t know if she’ll be able to adapt to her new life.”