Chapter 439: Uncontrollable

In the Rock Sand City of Huaibien Kingdom.

The people were still immersed in celebratory atmosphere. In this barren desert, any form of happiness was hard to come by, especially for the impoverished commoners at the bottom of society – even slight changes in grain prices could keep them joyful for days.

Not to mention they were now celebrating genuine “national affairs.” Although matters at the level of Kingdom Protectors remained extremely distant for most commoners… seizing every bit of happiness was an essential skill for those at the bottom.

For this reason, even three days after the kingdom’s announcement was issued, pedestrians on the streets still tirelessly exchanged blessings with one another. Drunken shouts of “Long live Huaibien Kingdom” could frequently be heard from taverns. Thanks to this cheerful mood, the working enthusiasm among the kingdom’s people had noticeably improved this year.

However, probably no one except Aisha – not even Prince Dick – could have imagined that their proclaimed savior, the great and benevolent Master-Level powerhouse Ovakain, was now standing at the northern gate of Rock Sand City.

“So, you’re still determined to leave? Look at these joyful faces, at the innocent smiles of children, at the hopeful eyes of the poor. Even after witnessing all this, you still won’t change your mind?”

Her emerald-green eyes fixed on Ovakain’s handsome face, Aisha, who had been following the black dragon, bit her lips before making one final attempt to persuade him to stay.

But… unfortunately, she alone couldn’t change Ovakain’s resolve.

Watching the girl’s fragile figure standing helplessly in the gentle breeze, Ovakain released an almost imperceptible sigh before slowly turning around:

“It’s truly regrettable. I can sense my enemy drawing closer to this place. Honestly, if this foe weren’t so terrifyingly powerful, I would be more than willing to stay and provide shelter for the innocent while recovering from my injuries. But now…”

Gently wiping away the tears on the girl’s face, the bitterness in Ovakain’s heart intensified. Seeing this helpless girl before him, he remembered that airheaded lab assistant who had followed him for years back in Dragon Roar Kingdom. He wondered if that girl had also prayed helplessly for rescue from this incompetent black dragon when facing destruction.

Shaking his head imperceptibly to dismiss these meaningless thoughts and futile nostalgia, Ovakain gently pried open Aisha’s fingers that were tightly clutching the hem of his garment.

“Perhaps you never believe me, or dare not believe me, but I must tell you this: the more worthy this kingdom is of love, the more kind and innocent its people are, the more imperative it becomes for me to leave. I… Ah, forget it. I’m leaving. Your King Tandak should still have over a decade left. Go back and tell him to treat his talented grandson well, and to stop scheming with such underhanded methods all day long.”After uttering his final words, Ovakain had already begun preparing to cast acceleration and flight spells on himself. He didn’t know what would become of Huaibien Kingdom’s future, nor what suffering the poor commoners would endure under the Nightmare Cult’s rampage.

But what makes humans noble is self-awareness – when something is beyond one’s capability, it simply is. After his foolish impulse had once brought destruction upon his kingdom, Ovakain believed he had profoundly understood how to “write” the concept of self-awareness, which was the core reason for his decision to leave Huaibien Kingdom now.

However… while Ovakain had just comprehended the existence of “self-awareness,” the black dragon who had always occupied a position of power didn’t yet know there were four other words even more lamentable – “helpless against one’s will”!

Just as the desert breeze began stirring up fine sand particles again, just as Mila and Chikasa’s radiance illuminated the cliffs of Rock Sand City, just as Ovakain’s foot made its first imprint in the desert outside Rock Sand City… with his extremely acute hearing, the black dragon clearly caught the sudden outburst of battle cries coming from the southern part of Rock Sand City.

“What’s going on?”

Canceling the prepared spells, Ovakain frowned and turned to look at Rock Sand City bathed in sunlight.

In that brief moment, the previously peaceful southern part of Rock Sand City was now engulfed in towering flames, with thick black smoke forming swirling pillars high in the sky. The panicked cries of people had replaced their usual cheerful laughter, while throughout Rock Sand City, the savage roars of goatmen echoed unrestrained.

“Have these goatmen gone mad? Judging by the scale of this assault… probably half the goatmen from the Raging Wave Desert have gathered… But do they really think they can breach Rock Sand City like this? Ridiculous! Even at his weakest, Tandak is still a Master-Level warrior. These goatmen forces without a single Master-Level expert and only two or three Formal-Level fighters are just seeking their own doom.”

Shaking his head with a light laugh, Ovakain had no intention of offering assistance.

He was waiting for that hot-tempered King Tandak to descend upon the battlefield in rage. As Ovakain had said, even at his weakest, Tandak remained a Master-Level warrior. Not to mention that only half the goatmen from Raging Wave Desert had arrived – even if all the goatmen from the entire Raging Wave Desert gathered, as long as there were no Master-Level experts, Tandak alone would be enough to slaughter them all.

But… as time passed minute by minute, the mockery and smile quickly vanished from Ovakain’s expression, replaced by anxiety, because…

Tandak hadn’t appeared!

In just a few minutes, the goatmen’s slaughter had unstoppably advanced from the southern city gates to the center of Rock Sand City.

Yet even with the Royal Palace exposed before the goatmen’s blades, King Tandak still hadn’t made his appearance as Ovakain had anticipated. Not only had Tandak failed to appear, but even the resistance from Rock Sand City’s Defense Army seemed utterly chaotic and bewildered, as if… all the commanding officers had vanished, leaving only scattered soldiers fighting individually!”Something’s wrong, something must have happened. Damn it, where did these goat-men get such nerve?!”

As the goat-men army rapidly advanced, Ovakain’s mood quickly grew increasingly furious.

Watching the city burning in multiple locations, listening to the very people who had just been singing and laughing in his praise now screaming as they fell to the ground, the black dragon—uncertain what to do—even found himself recalling the scene of Dragon Roar Kingdom’s destruction once more…

“That Tandak guy… Fine, fine, I’ll play the savior then. I truly can’t just stand by and watch tragedy unfold without taking action.”

Finally, after repeated hesitation, Ovakain made a decision that couldn’t be called rational but aligned with his conscience.

Though he had keenly detected something amiss, after sensing that the tavern owner’s family—with whom he had at least spoken before—had been brutally slaughtered, the no longer bearable Ovakain gritted his teeth and turned to head toward the southern part of Rock Sand City.

At this moment, though Ovakain mentally mocked himself… as a mage of the good alignment, he simply couldn’t continue standing by indifferently.

“Indeed, maybe that bastard Punk wasn’t wrong—I’m a complete fool through and through. Perhaps… I’ll die without a proper burial because of this foolish kindness? But letting me flee as if nothing happened… I still can’t do it.”

Wearing a self-mocking bitter smile, Ovakain grabbed the still-dazed Aisha and flew rapidly toward the southern part of Rock Sand City.

“Alright, my lady, whether I want to or not, I’m playing the savior now. You’d better follow along quickly too. When the time comes, those panicked refugees will need their Queen’s Majesty to soothe them. Really, there’s no helping it… We’re both destined for hard work!”

(End of Chapter)