Chapter 42: Operation “Fireworks”

“Now then, all the people getting in your way have left.”

Facing the Iron-Blooded Princess Fiona alone, Xingxuan was still smiling, but her tone was filled with clear impatience.

“Bost, if you still can’t give me a proper explanation… then even the esteemed princess will not be able to rescue you today.”

Xingxuan’s bluntness was clearly provoked by Fiona’s earlier arrogant outburst.

No matter what, Xingxuan was one of the Empire’s few high-level archmages.

Being insulted to her face by Fiona—this was a first in decades.

“Hurry up and speak! You stole my research, created countless hybrid dragon clones of the same type, and went out of your way to torture and kill them one by one—what exactly was your purpose?!”

“Don’t waste the last bit of teacher-student bond we still have!”

At these words—perhaps truly recalling their long mentor-student relationship—Xingxuan’s tone softened.

But even after all that, Bost still did not respond.

Not with words, not with movement, not with anything.

Seeing she couldn’t move him, Xingxuan assumed he was afraid of punishment and tried again:

“As long as you admit what you did, apologize sincerely, and promise never to repeat it, I will help you plead for leniency.”

This was the greatest concession Xingxuan could make.

She did not want to lose another beloved disciple, flawed as he might be.

She refused to believe that after more than thirty years of teaching and companionship, Bost would really turn on her, as Rain had warned.

Thirty years!

Even a spiky walnut would have been polished smooth by then.

Surely Bost’s sharp edges would have softened too?

But while Xingxuan confronted Bost, she did not notice Princess Fiona behind her quietly signaling two assassins—who had been waiting on the stairs—to move in silently.

Their daggers glowed a faint ominous purple, clearly poisoned.

Their mission was clear: approach Xingxuan quietly and strike while her attention was diverted.

Their stealth seemed flawless.

Even as they raised their daggers and stabbed downward, Xingxuan showed no reaction.

Until—
Two steel spikes suddenly shot up from the floor beneath them, impaling both assassins clean through.

Xingxuan, without doubt, was the one responsible.

“How bold of you, Princess.”

Turning to Fiona after eliminating the assassins, Xingxuan’s eyes held no politeness now.

Only fury.

“Sending just two little rogues to kill an archmage… isn’t that way too optimistic?”

Princess Fiona did not flinch.

Her job—drawing Xingxuan’s attention—was already complete.

In the next moment, as Xingxuan gathered wind blades in her hand, she heard the sound of steel sinking into flesh from behind her.

A heartbeat later, pain exploded from her back through to her chest.

She looked down to see the blade of a dagger sticking out from her body.

Held by the only person who could have gotten behind her—

Bost.

Instantly realizing something was terribly wrong, Xingxuan tried to deploy her shield and blast Bost away with magic.

But the spell—something that normally activated in a single thought—failed.

Only then did she notice the blue marks spreading from the wound across her chest and skin like glowing veins.

“My magic… it’s disappearing… impossible!”

Bost yanked the dagger out.

Even the blood spurting out turned blue.

Xingxuan collapsed, clutching her chest, finally understanding why she could no longer use magic.

“You… you used your own blood—”

“My apologies, Mentor.”

Bost calmly sheathed his dagger and looked down at Xingxuan—whose skin was nearly fully covered in blue markings—with no emotion whatsoever.

As if she were just a stranger.

“Since you must not be present for the next phase of the plan… I’ll trouble you to remain here for a while.”

“Of course, if you choose to stay here forever, that’s fine too.”

“As long as you don’t interfere.”

As Bost spoke, Princess Fiona rushed over, lifting her gown as she approached, and eagerly pulled something from the layers of her heavy royal dress, handing it to him.

“You could’ve worn something else!”

“What can I do? If I don’t wear this, how would I smuggle this thing in?”

From their tone alone, it was clear—none of this was accidental.

Everything had been arranged by Bost.

“The dignified princess of the Empire, cooperating with a hybrid dragon… disgraceful.”

Though Xingxuan couldn’t move, her mouth remained sharp.

But interrupting her was not Fiona—
It was Bost, toying with the object in his hand.

“You’ve misunderstood one thing, Mentor.”

“You don’t deserve to call me ‘Mentor’!”

Xingxuan’s eyes turned icy cold.

If she could move, she would have torn her treacherous disciple to pieces.

She lost—lost to her own hesitation.

Though she could only speak now… revenge would come later.

She had plenty of ways.

Bost knew that his attack would not kill Xingxuan, and he even rejected Fiona’s suggestion of finishing her off.

Not out of sentiment—but because:

“If she dies now, something far more terrifying will appear soon after.”

He paused, then continued:

“You misunderstood, Xingxuan.”
He clenched his right fist.
“I am no longer a hybrid dragon.”

“What?!”

“I said—
I am no longer a hybrid dragon.”

Contrary to his calm tone, he unleashed his dragon magic without holding back.

Within moments, in Xingxuan’s mana-sensing vision, something emerged behind Bost—

A phantom dragon silhouette formed of magic.
The same as when she first met Sal.

Something only pure-blood dragons possess.

(When did he—)

(Wait.)

(Clone technology… hybrid dragons…)

Xingxuan finally understood.

After taking several deep breaths, she glared coldly.

“You will regret the choices you made today, Bost.”

“I await the day you personally end my life, Xingxuan.”

“Someone will end you—but it won’t be me.”

“You mean Rain?
Don’t make me laugh.”

Bost—architect of everything—smiled as he crouched in front of Xingxuan, showing her what he held.

A small metal remote.
With a single red button.

“Remember that design blueprint you once showed me?”

“The thing you said even you couldn’t build?
I made the prototype.
It’s in the artificial lake.”

Xingxuan’s pupils trembled violently.

Bost’s smile widened—warped, twisted.

“And now… it’s time to test it.”

He pressed the button without hesitation.

A surge of magical activation rippled through the underground base.

Before leaving, Bost left one final, chilling line:

“Please wait here, Mentor.
For the most magnificent Fireworks, released to celebrate the birth of a King.”

“Operation Fireworks—please enjoy.”