vncnus Chapter 298 Descend, Dragon-Slaying Hero!
Chapter 298 Descend, Dragon-Slaying Hero!
Chapter 298 Descend, Dragon-Slaying Hero!
The beam of light lasted for about half a minute before slowly dissipating.
In the center of the open space, Pedro knelt on one knee, breathing heavily, his single eye filled with exhaustion, but even more so with shock.
Where the badge was originally placed, a figure was standing.
The newly arrived Servant remained silent for a moment.
He was a tall man, clad in heavy silver armor, which was covered with marks of battle and repairs, as if it had witnessed countless fierce battles.
He had long, light silver-white hair, a resolute face, and a calm gaze, even carrying a hint of lingering melancholy.
Most striking features are the pair of bone-like protrusions on his back, resembling dragon wings, and the ancient-looking, wide-bladed two-handed greatsword in his hand.
Ancient runes were engraved on the sword, which gleamed with a dark luster under the moonlight.
He stepped forward, planted his longsword in the ground, and then solemnly gave Pedro a standard knightly salute.
I'm sorry if I've let you down.
"I am merely a warrior skilled in slaying dragons, not some renowned hero. May I ask what your purpose is in summoning me?"
Pedro met his gaze, a glint of light gathering in his single eye.
"To protect," he said resolutely, "to protect my country, to protect my comrades, and to protect the truths and future that are worth protecting."
The man slowly raised his hand, palm facing upwards. A scar, as if torn apart and healed by some powerful force, ran across his palm.
"Protect—is that it?" His voice was deep, with a metallic quality. "That's a heavy word, young man."
He planted his greatsword in the ground in front of him, rested his hands on the hilt, and looked at Pedro.
"I apologize for not introducing myself properly earlier, Master."
"My name is Siegfried. The dragon slayer of the Netherlands, the hero from the Nibelungenlied who bathed in dragon's blood and gained immortality."
"He was also a tragic figure who ultimately died due to betrayal and curse."
He paused, a complex emotion flashing in his steady eyes.
"In my lifetime, I fought to protect—to protect my country, to protect my loved ones, and to uphold my vows."
"But in the end, everything I protected vanished amidst conspiracy and betrayal. My immortality became my greatest weakness."
"My kindness and trust have become the sharp blade piercing my heart."
Pedro listened quietly without interrupting. He could feel the real heaviness in the words of this heroic spirit.
However, he could also sense that the spirit was not saying these things out of regret or hatred, but as a vivid piece of advice.
Siegfried looked at Pedro, and the light seemed to penetrate his body, revealing the same heavy yet still burning awareness deep within his soul.
"You have injuries," Siegfried suddenly said, his gaze falling on the scar on Pedro's left eye.
"It's not just physical injury, but also emotional one. You've lost something important and carry a past you can't easily let go of."
Pedro did not deny it, but simply nodded slightly.
"But you still chose to protect," Siegfried said slowly, "even knowing that you might lose it again, might get hurt again, might—repeat the same mistakes."
He pulled the greatsword from the ground, and the massive blade felt as light as a feather in his hand.
"Then answer me, Pedro." Siegfried's gaze sharpened.
"When what you protect conflicts with the life of someone you cherish, what will you choose?"
"When you discover that protecting others requires betraying trust and getting tainted, what will you choose?"
'
This is a question so sharp it's almost cruel.
Pedro remained silent for a long time. The night wind blew through the woods, ruffling his golden hair.
He recalled many things: his encounter and parting with Roger in his youth, his promise to the Poneglyphs, his responsibility to Zou, and his anxieties about the future—
Finally, he raised his head and stared directly at Siegfried with his one eye.
"I don't know." His answer was unexpectedly honest.
"If I were really faced with that choice, I might hesitate, I might suffer, I might make mistakes. But..."
His voice suddenly became firm.
"I believe that the meaning of protection lies not in making the right choice all the time, but in the courage to draw your sword for what is worth protecting, even knowing that you may make a mistake, get hurt, or lose everything."
"If darkness falls, I will light myself as a torch. If paths diverge, I will choose the one that allows more people to continue. If I must be tainted—then let me bear the burden alone."
"This is my resolve, Siegfried." Pedro clenched his fist, the Command Seals glowing slightly in the moonlight.
"Imperfect, not smart, maybe even stupid. But that's the path I, Pedro, have chosen."
The forest fell silent.
Siegfried looked quietly at the fur warrior before him, at the undisguised light in his eyes, a light that was a mixture of pain and determination.
After a long while, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, a warm and approving smile.
"Foolish—is it?" Siegfried murmured, as if talking to himself. "Perhaps. But it is precisely this foolishness that gives the word 'protection' warmth."
"I'm sorry, I am such a foolish person."
He shouldered the greatsword again, the heavy armor making a soft metallic scraping sound.
"Understood, Master." Siegfried nodded slightly to Pedro.
"Then, at this moment of the signing of this contract, I, Siegfried, am willing to use my body and this sword to become your shield and your sword."
"Until this body is shattered again, when this wish is fulfilled."
The radiance of the contract flowed silently and solidified between the two.
And at that very moment—
"Pedro!!!"
"King of the Night!!!"
Two urgent shouts came from the edge of the forest.
Immediately afterwards, Duke Inuarashi and Nekomamushi burst through the bushes, with Wanda close behind.
Almost instantly, they all appeared in the open space.
When they saw Pedro and the unfamiliar armored warrior beside him who exuded a heavy aura, they were all stunned.
"This is—" Inuarashi's hand rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist, his eyes behind his sunglasses filled with vigilance.
The cat viper bristled, baring its fangs and growling, "Hey! Pedro! Who's this guy?! What was that strange energy fluctuation just now?!"
Pedro took a deep breath, stepped forward, and stood between Siegfried and the two leaders.
"Duke Inuarashi, Manager Nekomamushi." His voice was calm and clear. "This is Siegfried, my—partner."
"As for the fluctuation just now—" Pedro raised his left hand, revealing the three bright red Command Seals on his wrist.
Both Inuarashi and Nekomamushi's pupils contracted simultaneously.
As the leaders of Zou, they naturally also learned about what was happening in the outside world through special channels.
A massive upheaval known as the Holy Grail War.
"You—" Inuarashi's voice deepened, "You've been chosen?"
"Yes," Pedro readily admitted, "and I have already made my choice. Zou—the furry principality—may not be able to remain unscathed in this storm that is sweeping the world."
"We need strength, we need allies, and we also need to be prepared to face any challenge."
The cat viper stared at Siegfried for a long time, then looked at Pedro, finally scratched its head, and clicked its tongue.
"Honestly—one problem after another. But since it's your decision—"
Inuarashi remained silent for even longer. He carefully examined Siegfried, sensing the tragic yet still upright aura emanating from him, and then looked at the unwavering determination in Pedro's eyes.
Finally, he slowly loosened his grip on the knife.
"The Holy Grail War—we don't know much about it," Inuarashi said in a deep voice.
"But now that you're involved, Zou will naturally stand behind you. However, Pedro, remember this—"
His gaze became extremely serious.
"Power is a double-edged sword. The desire to protect can also lead to destruction. Never lose sight of your true self."
Pedro nodded emphatically: "I understand."
Siegfried watched all this quietly from the side without saying a word.
He could sense that this kingdom, built on the back of a giant elephant, had close bonds and unique wisdom for survival.
His master clearly enjoys great trust here.
Just then, Siegfried suddenly raised his head and looked towards the sea in the southeast. A glimmer of light flashed in his steady eyes.
"Master," he said softly.
"What's wrong, Siegfried?"
"A ship is approaching," Siegfried said with a certainty.
"A small boat is approaching from afar, carrying two people—one of whom exudes the aura of a Servant, making no attempt to conceal it."
Pedro, Inuarashi, and Nekomamushi all changed their expressions at the same time.
A ship from afar? And another heroic spirit?
Under the moonlight, the outline of Zou moved slowly across the distant sea.
In the depths of the sea, where moonlight cannot reach, a small sailboat is cutting through the waves, resolutely heading towards the giant elephant.
On the ship, Kozuki Hiyori's purple eyes were fixed on the increasingly clear, mountain-like figure of the giant elephant in the distance.
In her hand, she tightly clutched a token symbolizing the ancient alliance between the Kozuki family and the Mink tribe.
The dawn of Zou came silently.
The colossal elephant, with its unchanging steps, walked across the sea shrouded in the morning mist. The forests and towns on its back were still asleep, with only the early-rising furry sentries yawning from their watchtowers.
At the edge of the Western Forest, Pedro and Siegfried stood on a high cliff overlooking the coast.
After a brief discussion with Duke Inuarashi and Nekomamushi last night, the two decided to stay on the outskirts of the forest for the time being. This was to avoid Siegfried's presence causing unnecessary panic among the ordinary Mink Tribe members, and also to make it easier to observe the movements of the sea.
The ship that Siegfried mentioned has yet to be found.
"Could it be that I'm misperceiving it?" Pedro asked in a low voice, his golden hair fluttering slightly in the morning breeze.
He maintained his half-human, half-beast form, which was the optimal state for balancing agility and perception.
Siegfried shook his head, his silver armor gleaming with a cold, hard luster in the gradually brightening morning light.
"There's no mistake. That guy's aura is completely undisguised and extremely flamboyant." His voice remained calm.
"It might be a King-like Heroic Spirit, and—it's approaching. But the ocean currents and wind direction seem to be working against them, and they're moving slower than expected."
He paused, his steady eyes gazing towards the dissipating fog in the southeast.
"In addition, I also sensed some—uncooperative gazes."
Pedro narrowed his one eye slightly: "One of Kaido's men?"
"I can't be sure," Siegfried said honestly.
"But there was indeed a kind of malicious perception that briefly swept across this sea, like a venomous snake lurking in the dark. Though fleeting, it was unpleasant."
Pedro's heart sank.
Although Kaido's territory is mainly in Wano Country, his influence extends throughout the New World.
Zou has never been directly controlled by the Beasts Pirates due to its unique geographical location and the strength of the Mink Tribe warriors, but this does not mean that Kaido will leave it unattended.
If Kaido has already sensed the impact of the Holy Grail War on Zou, he might even know that new participants have summoned Heroic Spirits atop the giant elephant.
"We must act quickly." Pedro clenched his fist.
"Before Kaido's people officially intervene, we need to gather more intelligence, and we also need to—find allies. After all, it's a battle between the Red and the Black—"
His gaze fell upon the sea, where the rising sun was slowly tearing through the mist.
And that ship, carrying the unknown and the possible, continues to sail through the waves.
"Cough—cough cough!"
Hiyori Kozuki was suddenly jolted awake from her brief slumber and began coughing violently as she leaned over the ship's railing.
The bitter seawater choked me, carrying a salty, fishy taste.
She has been at the helm for more than ten hours straight.
After sailing from the secret waterway of the submerged harbor into the open sea, the journey, which was originally expected to take a day and a night, was greatly extended due to sudden changes in weather and unfavorable ocean currents.
The sea was rougher than expected. Although the sailboat that the Kozuki family had carefully prepared was sturdy, it was still difficult for Hiyori, who only had basic nautical knowledge, to steer it.
Worse still, she began to experience symptoms of dehydration and dizziness.
Since leaving the Flower Capital, she has hardly rested or eaten anything properly, and her physical strength is already exhausted.
A hand was placed on her shoulder.
"Hey, little girl, go and rest, I'll take care of the boat."
Oda Nobunaga had somehow appeared at the stern of the ship. He was still wearing his red jinhaori, but now the sleeves were rolled up, revealing his well-defined forearms. The nonchalant expression on his face had also been toned down, replaced by the focused attitude of a pragmatist.
"Lord Nobunaga—you can sail a ship?" Hiyori asked, somewhat surprised.
In her mind, this Sixth Demon King should be more skilled in land warfare and city defense.
"When I attacked Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple, the navy was also an important part of the operation." Nobunaga took the helm and adjusted the sails.
"While we can't compare to professional trolls, we can still keep this thing from capsizing."
"Go lie down over there. If you don't rest now, you'll faint when you see those hairy guys."
Hiyori wanted to persevere, but a strong wave of dizziness hit her, almost causing her to lose her balance.
Nobunaga frowned and simply lifted her with one hand to the makeshift bed next to the cabin.
"Lie down and stop talking nonsense. Kaido only gave us three days, and two days are almost over. We don't have time to let you get sick."
His tone was still rude, but his actions were not violent.
Hiyori lay on the still damp bed, watching Nobunaga's busy figure at the stern of the ship, a complex feeling welling up in her heart.
This seemingly rough and unrestrained man is surprisingly reliable at times.
She closed her eyes, forcing herself to rest. Her body had truly reached its limit.
As Nobunaga maneuvered the sailboat, he squinted at the increasingly clear, massive outline on the distant horizon.
"That's Zou—" he murmured to himself.
"It's bigger than I imagined. How has this huge creature survived until now? What does it eat to grow so large?"
He wasn't really thinking about the ecology of the giant elephants; he was estimating distances and course.
Since late last night, he had been vaguely feeling uneasy about being watched, as if a needle tip was gently grazing his skin.
That was an instinctive intuition of danger.
"There are eyes watching this place—" A cold glint flashed in Nobunaga's red eyes.
"Is he one of Kaido's men? Or something else?"
He was not afraid of fighting, but things would get complicated if the enemy chose to attack at sea.
"We need to find a way to get ashore as soon as possible."