[Take Over: Examon!]
Raizel turned into white light and shot into the sky.
The bright moon above the mountain peak was suddenly swallowed by dark clouds.
In an instant, lightning seemed to crackle through the heavens.
Thunder rolled, and the clouds covered the sky, making the night even darker than before.
Within the clouds, the shadow of a giant dragon seemed to stir.
Rumble—!
A bolt of crimson lightning lit up the sky and earth.
A pair of red dragon claws broke through the clouds, appearing first before Kurnugi's eyes.
Kurnugi's mouth fell open, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"No way... This can't be real, right?!"
Then came the body.
The claws.
The wings.
And the enormous lance held in the right claw!
"A dragon?!!!"
"I've never seen a dragon like this!"
"And you're carrying a weapon?! That's illegal!"
Raizel slowly descended before the Sword Saint Dragon Kurnugi, flapping his wings.
In front of Raizel, Kurnugi looked like a tiny little dragon.
"So tall!!!"
Kurnugi's jaw practically refused to close as he stared up at Raizel in a daze.
Even if Kurnugi stood on his hind legs, he would probably only reach Raizel's abdomen.
Of course, that was partly because Kurnugi had not yet reached adulthood.
Though even after adulthood, he still would not be as tall as Raizel.
Raizel had the sentient giant wings Caledfwlch, and in his hand was the massive lance Ambrosius.
Caledfwlch was a special pair of wings made entirely from Chrome Digizoid.
According to Caledfwlch's own judgment, it could transform into wings during flight, then become a shield to protect Examon during defense.
The giant lance Ambrosius was loaded with special shells, each implanted with viruses carrying different effects.
This was Lucy's first time seeing Raizel in this form.
She covered her mouth to stop herself from making a sound.
Ultear and the others, however, had seen it before, so they were not especially surprised.
Although Acnologia would indeed not appear in Guiltina, the Five Dragon Gods of Guiltina had always been watching one another and keeping an eye on any abnormalities across the continent.
Raizel's appearance was far too sudden.
Aside from the Schrödinger's Gold Dragon God, who had no physical body, the Wood Dragon God, who was sleeping while repairing his wounds, and the Water Dragon God, who had lost control of his own power, both the Fire Dragon God and the Moon Dragon God were currently observing the place where Raizel and Kurnugi were.
Raizel seemed to sense something and raised his head, looking toward the directions where Selene and Ignia were.
Ignia noticed Raizel's gaze.
The corners of his mouth split into a grin before he withdrew his attention and continued pretending to sleep.
...
Moonview Mountain.
This was one of Selene's bases in Guiltina.
The Blackmoon Mountain of the near-magic world Elentear was one thing, but Selene naturally had more than one base.
At the top of the mountain, the Moon Dragon God Selene was soaking in a hot spring pool.
She paused slightly when she noticed Raizel's movement.
Her pale golden hair was wrapped in a towel. Her pupils were also a faint golden color, and her plump, fair body was hidden by the drifting mist.
"Did he notice me? Well, with that level of strength, I suppose it's not strange. But what kind of dragon is he?"
The Moon Dragon God Selene licked her lips.
She had never seen a dragon carrying such a giant lance, and that pair of huge horns was also very different.
Normally, if someone realized they were being secretly watched, the observer would stop out of courtesy.
But the Moon Dragon God Selene was different.
She did not understand much about social tact.
If she wanted to look, she would look.
And she would keep looking!
Raizel did not care either.
If she wanted to observe, then let her observe.
It would also be a good chance to show Selene a little of his strength.
"Are you a dragon?!" Kurnugi asked tentatively.
But the scent on Raizel's body was completely different from the dragons of Earth Land.
Different dragon races had different scents, but there were still common traits between them.
Raizel, however, was like some alien dragon, there was not even a trace of similarity.
"No. I'm human."
"Then you're a Dragon Slayer?"
"No. This is Take Over Magic. His name is the Dragon Emperor, Examon."
"Human. Take Over Magic. Dragon Emperor Examon?"
Selene narrowed her eyes slightly.
She had to admit, that was an extremely arrogant name.
Selene became more and more interested in Raizel!
Of course, that was only if he did not hate dragons.
If Raizel was the type to despise dragons and kill every dragon he saw, then for her own safety, Selene would also kill him without hesitation.
As one of the beings worshipped by humans as the Five Dragon Gods, she had her own pride.
"Dragon Emperor!"
Kurnugi, on the other hand, was different.
He glanced at Raizel's huge body, his overwhelming aura, and the giant lance.
Kurnugi was certain of it.
That name was not an empty boast.
Raizel shifted from Examon into Omnimon and faced Kurnugi.
After all, looking down at Kurnugi in the Examon form was tiring on the neck.
"Why did you attack the Council?"
Kurnugi breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Raizel change forms again.
But when he saw the cold gleam of the Grey Sword, he stiffened.
Kurnugi stammered, "I-I just wanted to fight. I've never eaten humans!"
He was not lying.
Raizel could confirm that.
Kurnugi's answer had only gone a little off-topic because he was too nervous.
If you wanted to fight strong opponents, why the hell did you go to the Council?
Although Raizel had scared Kurnugi badly enough that his words came out broken, his eyes did not lie.
He was just arrogant!
He was probably the same toward humans and dragons alike.
On top of that, the Council had spoken up for Kurnugi before, so Raizel decided to let him go.
Raizel released his Take Over and spoke to Kurnugi with the tone of someone giving heartfelt advice.
"You can go, don't challenge the Council again. And stop acting so arrogant, especially when you're still an underage dragon."
"You're not killing me?"
Kurnugi froze.
In Guiltina, humans and dragons could basically be described as irreconcilable enemies.
If they found a chance, they would kill each other without mercy.
Raizel pointed at Wendy with his palm.
"She was raised by the Sky Dragon Grandeeney. Our guild also has two other Dragon Slayers who were raised by dragons. I know some dragons belong to the faction that wants to coexist with humans, and some are close to humans."
"We do not intend to exterminate every dragon."
"As long as a dragon does not massacre humans or attack human cities and villages."
"I said I won't kill you, so I won't. Go."
"Um..."
Kurnugi was such a large dragon, and earlier he had acted so arrogant.
Yet now, he was hesitating and fidgeting.
"If you have something to say, then say it. You're a male dragon!" Raizel snapped irritably.
"Can I follow you?" Kurnugi looked at Raizel with hopeful eyes.
"No."
Raizel refused without even thinking.
"Why?"
"We're from the continent of Ishgar. The Black Dragon Acnologia is still there right now. If you go there looking like this, it's no different from sending yourself to die."
"Ishgar? You're from Ishgar?!"
Kurnugi was shocked.
The dragons living on the northern continent, including the Five Dragon Gods, all knew one saying very well:
You could act recklessly here.
But do not go to Ishgar.
Acnologia, who had slaughtered thousands upon thousands of dragons during the Dragon King Festival, was not an opponent dragons could face.
But who was Kurnugi?
This guy was a pure hothead!
"I can turn into a human form!"
The moment Kurnugi finished speaking, his body gradually shrank.
A shota with pale golden, messy short hair and large eyes appeared before everyone.
He wore a white robe similar to Zeref's, stood around one and a half meters tall, and had twin swords at his waist, both hidden inside their sheaths.
Kurnugi's human form had inherited traits from his mother, the Moon Dragon God Selene.
Although he was still young, it was already clear that when he grew up, he would be the handsome idol type.
"So you really are short..." Raizel silently looked down at him.
"Your words hurt people! Believe it or not, I'll jump up and punch your dick right now!"
Kurnugi was like a powder keg being lit, instantly growing furious.