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OPI Chapter 368: Dragons, Empires, and Voids
🕑 Added 2025-05-01 23:59:07 +0000 UTCIn the Zero Magic World, the current situation was both chaotic and strangely orderly.
The chaos stemmed from the fact that the Kingdom of Albion had just allied with the Kingdom of Tristain to defeat the joint forces of the Kingdom of Germania and the Kingdom of Gallia.
On top of that, the Pope of Romalia publicly declared support for Albion to become the one and only sovereign nation on the continent.
He also unilaterally announced the revocation of Romalia’s status as a nation and declared the integration of the 'Brimir Church' as the sole state religion under Albion’s banner.
These monumental geopolitical events had already stirred deep unrest and anxiety throughout the Halkeginia continent.
But then, waves of noble uprisings began to emerge, with high-ranking nobles leading minor ones in open rebellion.
This left King Wales, no longer under the control of the Ring of Andvari, with no time to be angry with Amatori Biba.
He could only rely on the help of two major figures—former King Joseph of Gallia and former Marshal Gramont of Tristain—to campaign across the land, quelling the noble rebellions one after another.
Just as the young King Wales had finally suppressed most of the uprisings—having barely spent any time with his new bride—Amatori Biba spread news of the so-called 'Windstone Cataclysm'.
He urged people across the continent to gather in the former capitals of their respective nations, where special airships would take them to Albion’s floating islands to escape the coming disaster.
This caused massive confusion among the already unsettled populace.
But when World Government personnel, following Biba’s plan, broadcasted footage via visual Den-Den Mushi in public squares—showing the surrounding lands of the continent cracking and beginning to rise into the air—
The initial shock quickly turned into fear, and soon long caravans of people, entire families in tow, began pouring toward the designated capitals.
At the same time—
When King Wales returned and furiously demanded answers, Amatori Biba finally revealed everything.
That the 'Windstone Cataclysm' was real. And what exactly the World Government was.
There’s no need to describe how shocked King Wales was, or how he struggled to process and accept the truth.
After all, whether he accepted it or not, reality would not change.
This world was destined to be taken over and ruled by the World Government.
So, no matter how helpless King Wales felt, the only thing he could do was carry on and begin preparations to accommodate the influx of refugees from across the continent.
One could say that, like everyone else in the Zero Magic World, he had been utterly played by Amatori Biba.
Once all this was handed over to the Other Worlds Strategic Committee, Biba, along with Levi, Horobi, Chelsea, and others, departed for the Canberra continent of the Titans’ World.
Next, they would return to Starfish World to receive commendations, decorations, and promotions from the World Government.
However, two things left Amatori Biba with some regret.
First, he likely wouldn’t get to witness the moment when all the Voids converged into one.
Ever since they found the 'half-elf' Tiffania in Westwood Village, they had only been missing the final Void Familiar yet to be summoned.
Second, he hadn’t been able to personally lead the human army to storm the Elven Kingdom hidden deep within the Sahara Desert. Had he done so, his merits would have surely increased even more.
After all, the main Windstone vein was located right there.
But regardless—
Now that the order had come down, Biba had no choice but to accept it. And so, under the complex gaze of King Wales, he slowly departed from this fascinating magical world.
Still, Amatori Biba could never have expected that not long after his departure, this world would face yet another world-shaking event.
One that now sat directly before Imu.
“Revival of the Ancient Demon Dragon?”
Imu fell silent as he watched the holographic projection, which showed an entire city engulfed in flames—reduced to a scorched hellscape.
As for this so-called ancient dragon...
Imu recalled that in the original storyline, its black external shell granted it extremely high resistance to magic—so much so that even Holy Light Magic and other conventional spells had no effect.
That’s why Saito used a Japanese F-2 fighter jet he had stolen from an air force base to fire a missile at it.
The strike shattered its black outer shell, revealing the magma-based body inside. Only then did Louise use Void Magic to destroy it completely.
"The Ancient Demon Dragon is an exceptional treasure..."
Imu smiled as he examined the photos and footage of the dragon captured by the Zero Magic World’s air force.
The World Government would undoubtedly encounter more magical worlds in the future, and the dragon’s black shell was an exceptional anti-magic material.
And most importantly—it was a renewable resource.
So long as it had access to magma, the dragon could regenerate both its injuries and its black shell!
While thinking, Imu began typing everything he knew onto a virtual keyboard summoned in front of him.
He then introduced a new directive on the virtual screen:
[Order: Reassign General 'Golden Lion' Shiki, currently stationed on the Moon, to replace General 'Kizaru' Borsalino in the Zero Magic World. Task General Shiki with subduing the resurrected Ancient Demon Dragon and providing protection and support to the Science Division’s research operations.]
Borsalino had already crushed the Elven Kingdom and secured the Windstone vein for the World Government.
He had spent enough time stationed in the Zero Magic World, so pulling him back after forcibly awarding him some merit didn’t seem like a bad deal.
After all, as long as he got the credit, it didn’t really matter how big the accomplishment was.
...
High above the city of Aquileia in the Zero Magic World, now reduced to a blazing inferno and scorched ruins.
It was already approaching dusk.
At that moment—
With a quick sound of the air tearing—
Countless golden beams rained down like a torrential downpour, striking a massive dark demon dragon below. A series of explosions and deafening booms swallowed most of the dragon’s enormous body in fire and smoke.
After three minutes, the bombardment of light beams stopped.
“Is it finally over?”
Down below, Borsalino, his body regenerating through photon condensation, let out a long sigh.
Wearing a thoroughly exasperated expression, he looked at the thick black smoke rising from below, where the demon dragon’s roars were still echoing.
“What is that thing?”
“Even Haki can’t kill it. Blasting it doesn’t work either. The best I can do is peel off a layer of its skin—nothing more. What a terrifying dragon~”
Borsalino was getting a headache.
...
Just as the World Government was mobilizing to capture the Ancient Dragon…
The Shinobi World was becoming increasingly chaotic as the war between Sunagakure and Iwagakure escalated across the Sea of Sand.
At this very moment—
Konohagakure had entered its highest state of military readiness.
Except for the border patrol shinobi who absolutely could not be recalled, and those who were away on missions and unable to return in time—
Nearly every Konoha shinobi had already made it back to the village.
As a result, the atmosphere in the village had grown incredibly tense.
Jiraiya, appointed by Hiruzen as supreme commander, knew exactly how powerful the enemy they were about to face truly was.
What’s more, the sudden loss of contact with Mount Myōboku had left him with a growing sense of unease.
So, unlike his usual laid-back self, he now approached everything with utmost seriousness. Drawing upon his military experience, he had nearly ten thousand Konoha shinobi form two defensive lines to the south of the village.
“Still haven’t found Tsunade?”
Inside the Hokage’s Office, Hiruzen looked at the ANBU kneeling before him and asked.
Minato’s leg injury turned out to be far worse than expected.
Not only had the end of his tibia been punctured—his foot and part of his calf muscles had withered.
This was already beyond what the medics at the Konoha Hospital could treat.
Their only hope was to bring Tsunade back to handle the healing herself.
Right now, in Konoha’s situation, they absolutely could not afford to lose a powerhouse like Namikaze Minato.
“Not yet—”
Just as the ANBU was about to answer, another one leapt in through the open window.
Without waiting for Hiruzen’s inquiry, the newcomer immediately reported loudly: “Hokage-sama! The Haneda Squad just sent a message via messenger hawk—they’ve spotted Lady Tsunade and Shizune inside the Land of Snow. They’re currently making contact!”
“The Land of Snow?”
“What are they doing there?!”
The Land of Snow was situated at the far northwestern edge—even if they started heading back right now, they wouldn’t make it in time. The realization left him frustrated.
The ANBU replied, “Apparently, Lady Tsunade went there to escape gambling debts she owed in the Land of Bears… and to sample a famous local liquor called ‘Snow Sake’.”
“…”
Hiruzen was speechless. A moment later, he slapped his forehead and sighed helplessly: “Fine. Then send one of Minato’s kunai to them at top speed—and have Minato try to bring Tsunade and Shizune back using Flying Thunder God.”
That was the only solution he could come up with for now.
“Yes, sir!”
The next moment, with a soft rustling sound, the ANBU vanished without a trace, leaving Hiruzen alone in his chair, deep in thought.
