REAPER SCANS
Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan
[Translator – Mr.Ghost]
[Proofreader – Harley]
Chapter 60 - Nomination Ceremony (5)
Death-bits seamlessly positioned themselves beneath Theo's feet with every stride.
His «Psychokinesis» and physical movements were now so fluidly intertwined that he could sprint across the sky with this gimmick.
Fwhoosh—
“Is that his…?!” Evelyn was stunned.
Julius had told her about Theo awakening «Psychokinesis» during the Awakening Ceremony, though the reason remained a mystery.
«Psychokinesis» was a supernatural ability supposedly only attainable through innate talent. She had expected it to be rudimentary at best. That was why she was stunned by his natural proficiency!
“Let’s hurry! Otherwise, Young Master Theo will leave us in the dust!” Evelyn shook off her surprise and slapped Rangus’s flank, urging the Wyvern onward.
Screech!
As if understanding, Rangus roared and beat its powerful wings, ascending rapidly.
***
Closing in on Umbra, Theo stamped down hard on a Death-bit to propel himself higher. Simultaneously, he commanded the other Death-bits.
‘Go.’
Fwip! Fwip! Fwip! Fwip!
Four daggers shot out like bolts, trailing streaks of heated air and crackling with lightning.
Rumble!
Four Thunder Dragons spawned in their wake.
Graah?
Grrr!
The Wyverns harassing Umbra finally noticed the incoming Death-bits and snapped their heads around. In that fleeting moment, the four Thunder Dragons lashed out with their claws.
Slash!
«Thunder Dragon Breathing – Dragon Mark»
Kiiiegh!
Blood erupted as the Wyverns suffered deep wounds. Most were of the weaker Aviarai and Velociraptor species, so they were overwhelmed by the sudden attack.
One, however, was of the Optirex species.
Recognizing Theo as the true threat, it bared its fangs and lunged. However, Theo was already descending, Drake Blade in hand.
«Triple Dragon's Claw – Dismemberment»
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The magic power-infused Zweihander radiated a power that gave even the Optirex pause.
Psshk—
As the blade grazed its neck, the Optirex shrieked in pain and desperately beat its wings, trying to escape higher into the sky.
A wild Wyvern might have continued to attack, but as it was partially trained, it recognized Theo's power and mistook him for a member of the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry—someone it absolutely should not challenge.
The other Wyverns quickly followed suit, fleeing in a panic.
Finally, Umbra could breathe.
“Are you alright?” Theo tried to approach, stepping on his Death-bits.
However…
“Grrrr…!”
Umbra regarded him with deep suspicion. He couldn't decipher Theo’s intentions behind rescuing him.
‘What should I do?’
While Theo hesitated, Umbra seized the chance, turning and fleeing in the opposite direction.
“Ah…!”
Theo started after Umbra, but Evelyn quickly intercepted Theo, pulling him back onto Rangus. She realized Theo’s «Psychokinesis» was fading.
“He’s wary, so it’ll be difficult to approach directly. I believe a slower approach might be better,” she advised, concerned.
However, Theo shook his head. “No. That’s exactly why I need to be beside him right now.”
“But…!”
Umbra hadn't even warmed up to the professional trainers of the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry. Evelyn couldn't imagine Umbra accepting Theo, a complete stranger.
But Theo, having been an outcast himself, understood Umbra. What Umbra needed more than anything right now was compassion.
Theo was well familiar with the loneliness he saw in those sharp eyes.
‘The reason he lingers around the Nest of White Dragons despite constant rejection… He’s lonely and hurting. Emotional wounds are far deeper than physical ones.’
Theo remembered his own past, ostracized by his brothers and practically exiled from his family for being an illegitimate child.
“Please, follow him. He’s injured. He couldn’t have gone far.”
Evelyn sighed and steered Rangus in pursuit.
Theo’s gaze remained unwavering.
* * *
Reaper Scans
[Translator – Mr.Ghost]
[Proofreader – Harley]
Join our discord for updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/reapercomics
* * *
As Theo predicted, Umbra wasn't hard to find. He had landed in a nearby rocky area, breathing heavily.
“Grrrr…!”
He continued to eye Theo and Evelyn warily as they approached. Even though they kept their distance and moved slowly, Umbra remained vigilant, offering no opening.
‘Should I try luring it in with food?’ Evelyn wondered.
She looked at Rangus in exasperation, silently pleading for help. However, her partner seemed unconcerned, scratching its head with a hind leg.
“Wait here. Let me give it a try. This is my aptitude test, after all.”
Before Evelyn could even reply, Theo slowly approached Umbra.
Screech!
Umbra bared his fangs, threatening to attack if Theo came any closer.
The Monster Dragon species blood in him was evident, and the killing intent radiating from its 10m frame was incredibly intimidating.
It was using «Wyvern Fear».
‘His neck is badly mauled. It’ll be dangerous if it’s not treated soon,’ Theo noted.
Luckily, Theo had a solution.
‘Shop.’
[Accessing Shop.]
He quickly located an appropriate healing item.
[Tamer's Healing Potion
· Type: Medicine, Potion
· Requirement: Level 5
· Effects:
- Rapidly heals aggravated wounds.
- Partially restores stamina.]
[You have purchased 2 ‘Tamer’s Healing Potion’ for 2 Coins.]
‘The problem is how to apply it…’
He was only 20m away, but Umbra’s vigilance made it difficult to get closer.
‘…I have no other choice.’
Theo didn’t like this method, but healing the wounds took priority.
[Activating ‘Skill: Lesser Drake's Fear’ to suppress the «Wyvern Fear»!]
Fwooo!
Theo's Dragon Killing Intent instantly dispelled the «Wyvern Fear», causing Umbra to flinch in surprise.
Umbra glared back defiantly, venom filling his eyes—an impressive display of spirit. However, Theo used the opening to close the distance, grabbing Umbra’s foreleg and pulling Umbra towards him.
Theo’s Strength, amplified by [Colossal Might], was too much for Umbra to resist.
“Hiss…!”
Umbra struggled, trying to break free.
“Hold still, you dummy. You're making your wounds worse.”
Theo had no intention of letting go. He pressed down firmly and poured the potion onto the wounds.
Sizzle!
The bleeding stopped, and the wound began to close.
Umbra seemed to sense the change and stopped resisting, but his eyes still darted around nervously.
“Feels better now that the pain’s gone, doesn’t it?”
Amused by Umbra’s shift in demeanor, Theo chuckled and opened the second potion, treating the other wounds.
“Kiiih…”
Umbra twitched with each sting of accelerated healing, but he offered no further resistance.
“......”
“......”
A brief, peaceful silence settled between them.
Ba-thump! Ba-thump! Ba-thump!
Ba-bump…! Ba-bump…! Ba-bump…!
Umbra’s frantic heartbeat gradually slowed, synchronizing with Theo’s.
Theo, sensing the shift, smiled.
Umbra’s breathing also slowed down.
Throughout the process, Theo sensed Umbra’s various emotions.
Loneliness, sadness, agony, anger, desperation, self-hatred, regret, yearning…
The annoyance and sadness at being cast out.
The tension and loneliness of a long, solitary life.
He felt Umbra's suspicion of Theo’s sudden warmth, as well as Umbra’s contradicting wish that Theo wouldn't leave.
As he tended the wounds, Theo remained silent. He understood that actions spoke louder than words, especially when conveying sincerity.
“…How did you do that?” Evelyn, amazed by the scene, approached in disbelief.
She had never seen Umbra so docile. Many riders of the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry had tried to partner with Umbra. Despite its ostracization, no one could ignore its size and strength as an Optirex combined with the Veaper traits.
However, Umbra had rejected every attempt, vehemently resisting saddles and reins.
Yet Umbra remained calm with Theo. It was truly baffling.
“I don’t know.” Theo offered a cryptic smile.
‘Maybe my contract with Lodbrok helped make it easier for him to open up to me,’ he theorized.
Dragons instinctively recognized their own kind. Of course, Theo couldn’t reveal that, so he quickly changed the subject.
“More importantly, Evelyn, could you get some food for him? He looks like he hasn’t eaten in days.” He gestured to Umbra’s ribs, visible beneath his thin hide.
Evelyn nodded solemnly. “Yes, Young Master.”
She mounted Rangus and took to the skies.
“I think we’ve dealt with the immediate danger, but I wonder if the scars will fade?”
As Theo gently stroked Umbra’s neck, he noticed Umbra’s gaze fixed on his chest. More precisely, it was the brooch pinned on his chest—Kirson’s graduation gift.
‘Well, well. What do we have here?’
On a hunch, Theo unpinned the brooch and held it up. Umbra’s large eyes followed the movement.
Theo swung his arm to the right. Umbra’s eyes tracked the brooch.
Then to the left. Umbra’s eyes followed again.
Up, down, up, down, left, right…
Umbra’s eyes darted back and forth as Theo moved the brooch.
“Haha! What? Were you being quiet not because of Lodbrok’s scent, but because of this?”
Theo suspected that wasn’t the only reason, but it was amusing to see the old adage about dragons loving treasure hold true. The brooch, beautifully designed and studded with glittering gems, sparkled enticingly.
“Do you want it?”
“Kiiiih—”
Umbra met Theo’s gaze, then shyly turned its head, feigning disinterest while sneaking glances at the brooch.
Umbra’s behavior was so at odds with his size that it was endearing.
Chuckling, Theo purchased a 5m long iron chain from the Shop, attached the brooch to the end, and fastened it around Umbra’s neck like a necklace.
Klang!
As Theo let go, the brooch chimed against Umbra’s scales.
“Kyuu…?”
Umbra nuzzled the brooch with his foreleg, then looked at Theo questioningly, as if asking why Theo was giving it away.
“It’s a gift.”
“Kih?”
“If you follow me, you can have more things like this… What do you say?”
Theo didn’t miss the flicker in Umbra’s eyes.
“This isn’t all. Have you ever seen a ruby the size of my palm? The color is magnificent. I think it would look great attached to your claws. And then there’s the tiara mother has…!”
Umbra’s pupils dilated with each item Theo described.
“I could decorate the reins and saddle you hate so much to look like them.”
“Kiii—!”
Umbra sprang to its feet, letting out a long cry towards the sky, as if demanding to see these treasures immediately.
Ding!
[You have been successfully recognized by the Veaper Wyvern as their master.]
[New skill acquired.]
[Wyvern Taming
· Rank: C-
· Mastery: 1%
· Effect: Higher mastery increases a tamed dragon’s trust. When mounted, grants a 10% power boost to both rider and mount.]
Theo couldn’t help but burst into joyous laughter.
He had completely won Umbra over and gained a new skill. Not to mention, this skill would be invaluable to his future as a dragoon.
A 10% power boost was significant. That meant that not only his stats but also the effectiveness of his skills would increase.
‘Also the skill description says dragons… Does that mean it will work on dragon species other than just Wyverns?’
If so, he could potentially tame the Death Wyrms of the desert, Drakes of the land, and Sea Serpents of the ocean. It was a massive addition to his arsenal.
Of course, there would probably be specific conditions to tame each species, but he wasn’t too worried. There was also the vast amount of treasures required to appease Umbra, but Theo had a plan for that.
‘Madam Kirson can handle it for me.’
He had already decided to leave the expense to the Elf of Capitalism Incarnate. Perhaps that was why, at that very moment…
Brrr!
Kirson, counting her gold coins, shivered. A sudden chill ran down her spine.
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