Chapter 227

As Newitz was about to speak, the ground trembled violently.

Boom!

The surrounding chaos made it clear they couldn’t continue their conversation here.

"This place isn’t suitable for further discussion. Let’s move to a safer location."

With a casual wave of her hand, Lodbrok summoned a gust of wind that enveloped them. In an instant, they were transported elsewhere.

*

"Where… are we?"

Newitz looked around, wide-eyed.

Moments ago, they had been in the heart of a battlefield, surrounded by chaos and destruction. Now, they stood within a cavern, the air cool and still.

"My nest," Lodbrok replied, cradling Theo as she approached a bed and gently placed him down.

Theo was burning with a fever—a divine fever.

The overextension of his mana circuits and the excessive opening of the Lightning Gate had caused a severe mismatch between his body and soul.

If left untreated, his physical body could collapse, unable to contain the enormity of his soul, or his soul might tear itself free.

"Th-the Guardian Dragon’s nest…!"

Newitz’s breath hitched as he realized where they were.

As a scholar of martial arts and history, he had studied numerous ancient texts, including accounts of the Guardian and Primeval Dragons. Now, standing in a place described only in legend, he couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed.

Are there truly countless relics and ancient texts here?

Could there be lost records of the ancient demons? Grimoires? Artifacts?

Curiosity flared in Newitz’s mind, but he quickly refocused on the matter at hand.

"M-may I request rare medicinal herbs for the treatment?"

"Take whatever you need," Lodbrok replied with a nod of approval.

Had Newitz allowed his curiosity to distract him from Theo’s condition, Lodbrok would have discarded him without hesitation.

"What about Perington City—"

"Do not concern yourself with that. I informed them I would be leaving to aid my companion. They will have handled everything in my absence."

Newitz exhaled in relief and approached Theo carefully, checking his pulse.

"It really is like the Dragon’s Heart," he thought, astonished.

While there were some differences from his theoretical model, the core design was identical—no, it was even more advanced.

Theo’s Dragon’s Heart had been refined through countless battles, upgraded and perfected into its current form.

"Could it be that Theo derived this from my papers and research?"

The thought was both exhilarating and daunting.

The only relief Newitz felt was knowing Theo hadn’t yet attempted the final form—the ultimate model he had only theorized and never shared.

Had Theo ventured down that path, Newitz doubted he could have treated him at all.

"I believe I can treat him. However, I will need your assistance, Guardian Dragon. My work is theoretical, and I’ve never had the chance to test it. Mistakes could happen."

"Mistakes can be corrected as we go. Explain the procedure so I can determine how best to assist."

Newitz nodded and began to share the knowledge he had kept hidden away for so long.

The Final Form of the Dragon’s Heart.

The Heart of an Ancient Dragon.

"This… it looks like…"

"Yes. It’s a modified version of the ancient breathing techniques described in surviving records of Primeval Dragons."

Who could have predicted that Newitz would one day present his modified dragon breathing technique before the last Dragon King?

His face flushed with excitement, betraying his scholarly passion.

A secret few knew about Newitz:

He was a dragon enthusiast.

Even in the timeline before Theo’s regression, Newitz had joined the Ragnar clan despite his mismatched personality, lured by the promise of access to their dragon-related records.

"Dragons… especially the ancient ones… are said to breathe mana instead of oxygen, correct?"

"That’s—"

"Thus, the bronchial tubes are merely a part of their respiratory system. They absorb mana through their pores and microvessels across their entire bodies, immersing themselves in mana and exhaling any unnecessary negative energy. This process connects them to the great mana stream, making them one with nature. Just imagining it is exhilarating!"

"Well, that’s not—"

"This innate connection to mana makes ancient dragons natural conduits and manipulators of it. Every word they utter resonates with the mana stream, producing the mystical phenomenon of Word Spirits (Eonryeong). This inspired my idea!"

"Word Spirits? That’s not how—"

"The Lightning Gate serves as the soul’s dwelling, a conduit that bridges humanity to nature’s mana. By using it as a gateway, mana can be drawn gradually into the body, channeling its tributaries through the mana circuits and even the limbs."

"Wait a second—"

"Additionally, with dams to regulate the flow at intervals, one could manage mana more effectively. The chosen dams, of course, are the heart and the dantian!"

Newitz’s torrent of words left Lodbrok overwhelmed.

She had intended to interject, but the scholar had already fallen deeply into his world, engrossed in expounding his theories.

The fervor of a researcher eager to boast about their accomplishments!

Lodbrok sighed, already weary, but her brilliant mind couldn’t help but process his concepts.

Newitz’s system of mana circuits, inspired by ancient dragons, was fundamentally different from theirs.

His theory proposed the addition of a third core to the traditional two—the heart and the dantian.

By reinforcing the Lightning Gate, which housed the soul, one could draw closer to the mana stream itself, artificially pulling its tributaries into harmony with the body.

This integration promised limitless mana, a dream cherished by every swordsman and mage.

However, unchecked usage of the mana stream’s tributaries could lead to bodily collapse, necessitating control mechanisms.

Thus, the three cores would act as dams, with the mana circuits functioning as the conduits.

"Of course, strengthening the Lightning Gate is no easy task. For most, it would lead directly to madness. But Theo Ragnar is different. His problem is that it’s already too open."

"So instead of forcing it closed, we turn it into a core connected to the heart and dantian?"

"Precisely!"

Lodbrok nodded thoughtfully, recognizing the logic.

"No one has ever considered connecting the Lightning Gate to the other cores. With the heart acting as an intermediary, this theory seems feasible…"

Lodbrok reevaluated Newitz, whose eccentricity now appeared to mask genius.

A true prodigy.

His perspective was fundamentally different from ordinary individuals. No wonder he had garnered a reputation as an oddball, always causing commotion wherever he went.

"I’ve named this concept the Natural Body. Finally, I have the opportunity to test it in practice!"

The only problem was that his idea had never been tested outside theoretical experiments.

"That’s why I need your guidance, Guardian Dragon! If anyone embodies the natural integration with mana, it’s you!"

Newitz, brimming with confidence, was convinced this would work, especially with Lodbrok’s knowledge augmenting his theory.

But then…

"No."

"…Pardon?"

"Your Natural Body concept isn’t accurate."

"???"

Newitz blinked in confusion, his enthusiasm momentarily dampened.

Lodbrok sighed heavily, furrowing her brow.

"It seems there’s been a misunderstanding that I must correct."

"???"

"I’ve long been aware of humanity’s fascination with ancient dragons and the myths surrounding us. But breathing through our skin? That’s new to me. We breathe like any other lifeform—through our bronchial tubes."

"!!!"

"Of course, we’re closely attuned to mana, but that’s simply an evolutionary adaptation. Otherwise, why would our hearts serve as cores for mana circuits?"

Newitz froze, utterly stunned.

"Then… everything I’ve imagined… was just… fantasy…?"

His face contorted with disbelief and disappointment.

"Still, your breathing technique, derived from such imaginings, is impressive," Lodbrok added, her interest piqued despite herself.

She saw the potential in Newitz’s idea. If perfected, it could elevate Theo to an unparalleled realm, perhaps even matching the perspective of Kyle, the monstrous swordsman who had transcended human limits.

Newitz shook off his dismay, reorganizing his thoughts.

Despite the blow to his beliefs, his priority was saving Theo—and maybe, just maybe, turning his once-vague dream into reality.

"Let’s proceed. Somehow, we’ll make it work."

Newitz and Lodbrok began preparing for the procedure.

"The key is channeling the expanded consciousness from the open Lightning Gate into the mana circuits, directing it first to the heart and then to the dantian."

"But Theo’s consciousness is immense. Can his heart withstand it?"

Lodbrok pointed to Theo’s chest.

"It will hold. Fortunately, his heart is a vast vessel, capable of enduring great strain."

"Very well. Let’s proceed. I can assist with this."

Lodbrok placed her hand on Theo’s crown, closing her eyes.

Directly manipulating Theo’s Lightning Gate was too delicate a task, but through their pairing, she could guide his consciousness with precision.

"Companion, can you hear me?"

Theo, consumed with the effort of maintaining control over his body, had barely any awareness of the outside world. Yet, Lodbrok’s voice resonated within him.

"Lodbrok?"

"Follow my guidance. Direct Nirvana as I instruct."

Theo, unable to hear Newitz and Lodbrok’s conversation, hesitated briefly.

But understanding the gravity of his situation, he complied. Slowly, he directed his Nirvana technique according to Lodbrok’s guidance.

Rumble…

Theo’s body trembled violently as his expanded consciousness began to shift.

"Think of containing your consciousness here. Anchor it and stabilize it."

Move his consciousness… to the Dragon’s Heart?

Theo, who had always considered the Dragon’s Heart a secondary power source, found the idea startling.

Still, he had nothing to lose. Pouring his consciousness into the heart, he braced himself for what seemed an impossible task.

To his astonishment, the Dragon’s Heart absorbed the vast consciousness like a black hole, showing no sign of reaching its limit.

"Yes, slowly…"

Guided by Lodbrok’s calm voice, Theo poured all his focus into the process.

His mouth was dry, his body trembling with exhaustion. Yet, he continued.