Coiling Dragon: Reborn As The Armored Razorback Wyrm

Sadius had no intention of returning to the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts.

Roaming across the Yulan Continent was his true desire.

He wanted to attract Beirut's attention. He refused to believe that Beirut wouldn't take an interest in a genius with a Soul Mutation of three elements.

After all, he possessed a strong Earth affinity.

As long as he grew stronger, before Linley achieved his Four-Way Soul Mutation, he would undoubtedly be the best candidate for an Earth-type Lesser Sovereign spark.

"Let's go to The Anarchic Lands. That's the most chaotic place in the entire Yulan Continent. The influence of the Four Great Empires and the two major alliances is weakest there. We can secretly support a Duchy and have its citizens worship me as a divine beast. Hey, Doehring, I'm telling you, mortal faith is an incredible thing—even Deity-level experts covet it."

"I know, I know. Fine, let's go to The Anarchic Lands then."

But Sadius wasn't just interested in mortal faith.

That region was close to Beirut's territory—the Forest of Darkness. By establishing himself there, Sadius was creating an opportunity to catch Beirut's attention.

Though Beirut was the true mastermind behind much of Yulan Continent's affairs, he was also a Sovereign.

Sadius naturally wished to gain his favor.

"The Anarchic Lands is indeed a good choice. The neighboring Forest of Darkness is the domain of Beirut, the legendary ruler of magical beasts. He loves rodent-type magical beasts—there are even Saint-level Violet-Gold Rat Kings there. You should spar with them when you get the chance."

Sadius rolled his eyes.

Those three weren't just ordinary Saint-level magical beasts—they were Beirut's direct descendants and Mid-God level powerhouses.

If they had been born with affinity for Water, Fire, or Earth, Beirut would have long since refined them into Highgods and even let them fuse with a Sovereign spark to become Sovereigns themselves.

The world believed them to be mere Saint-level magical beasts only because they never revealed their true strength.

Sadius didn't bother explaining all this to Doehring Cowart. Instead, he led him as they tunneled out from underground.

"We'll head north through the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts, enter the O'Brien Empire, then continue toward The Anarchic Lands."

"Isn't that the same as returning to the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts first?"

"Well… I suppose it is."

With that, Sadius soared into the sky, flying northwest.

Before long, he entered the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts.

"You're flying so openly. Aren't you worried a Saint-level expert will notice you?"

"Notice me? So what? Do they want to fight?"

Sadius was actually eager for battle.

He had yet to truly test his strength.

In the original story, Olivier, with just a Dual-Element Soul Mutation, was able to effortlessly crush the Yulan Continent's peak Saint-level gatekeeper—Haydson.

But Sadius had a Tri-Element Soul Mutation. His power should far surpass Olivier's at the time.

At this point in the Yulan Continent's history, unless those hidden Saint-level powerhouses emerged, Sadius was undoubtedly the strongest.

Even if they did appear, he was confident he could hold his own.

Just as Sadius was thinking this—

A massive fireball came hurtling toward him from the distance.

"Doehring, you really have a crow's mouth."

Sadius swung his claw, unleashing a terrifying Destruction Sword Intent.

The fireball detonated upon impact.

Soon after, Sadius spotted a human riding atop a Saint-level Golden Dragon, flying toward him.

"Human, are you courting death?" 

"Armored Razorback Wyrm! I've finally found you! So, you've actually advanced to the Saint-level!"

Sadius narrowed his eyes at the human. He didn't recognize this man.

But when he heard the human refer to himself as "Pontiff," realization dawned.

"You're the Pontiff of the Radiant Church?"

"So it was you, vile beast, who slew our bishop and six enforcers."

Sadius immediately understood the situation.

Previously, he had killed seven Rank-Nine powerhouses from the Radiant Church. It seemed they had now traced the culprit back to him.

"Yes, I killed them. What of it? They attacked me first. Was I supposed to let them live?"

"No need for further words. I will grant you one chance—submit to the Radiant Church, and I may spare your life."

Losing seven Rank-Nine experts had severely weakened the Radiant Church.

As Pontiff, he had no choice but to act—lest the Darkness Covenant seize the opportunity to invade.

"Enough nonsense. If you want to fight, then come!"

Sadius eyed the Pontiff and his Saint-level Golden Dragon.

Taking on two opponents at once? The advantage is mine.

Sadius's body expanded rapidly, transforming into a hundred-meter-long behemoth.

Thus, a titanic battle erupted in the skies above the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts.

The Saint-level Golden Dragon struck first, unleashing a powerful Radiance spell—"Divine Suppression."

A pillar of blinding white light, over ten meters wide, shot toward Sadius.

Though not an advanced Radiance spell, when cast by a Saint-level Golden Dragon, its might was devastating.

Sadius wasn't intimidated. He countered with a blast of Darkness energy.

Black and white beams clashed, but Sadius's power quickly overwhelmed the dragon's attack.

The Pontiff then cast a terrifying Fire spell.

This Pontiff wasn't Heidens, the one from Linley's era. He was an earlier Pontiff, one never mentioned in the original story.

A massive fireball streaked toward Sadius once more.

Sadius swiped his claws, sending a wave of Destruction Sword Qi to intercept it.

The fireball exploded in midair.

"A Dual-Element magical beast?!" The Pontiff's eyes widened in shock.

"Dual-Element? I guess you've never seen Tri-Element Saints before!"

Sadius activated his Earth affinity, encasing himself in a thick layer of Saint-level stone armor.

He charged forward, aiming to eliminate the Saint-level Golden Dragon first before dealing with the Pontiff.

If the current Pontiff and his contracted magical beast die here in the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts, won't that send shockwaves across the continent?

Like a streak of darkness, Sadius lunged at the Golden Dragon.

Confident in its own defense, the Golden Dragon opted for direct combat.

It flapped its massive wings and swiped at Sadius with its claws.

BOOM!

With a deafening impact, the Golden Dragon was sent flying.

The Pontiff hurriedly dismounted, taking to the air himself.

"This beast is stronger than I expected." The Pontiff frowned, though he remained fearless.

He waved his hand, summoning a long spear.

This was a legendary artifact passed down through the Radiant Church.

Holding it, the Pontiff felt invincible.

With a swing of his spear, he launched an attack at Sadius.

"A Deity artifact?" Sadius immediately sensed the aura of divinity from the weapon.

As for its exact grade, he wasn't sure.

Flames coiled around the spear—

"Serpent Dance of Fire!"

Augmented by the artifact, the Saint-level spell roared to life, forming fire dragons that surged toward Sadius.

Sadius's body blurred—

In an instant, he split into three identical dark figures.

Each one unleashed beams of Darkness energy, clashing against the fire dragons.

Yet the Pontiff's spear thrust directly at Sadius's true body.

"Damn it!"

Sadius cursed. This Pontiff was clearly taking advantage of the fact that he lacked a proper weapon.

True, he had already bonded with Bloodviolet.

But drawing it carelessly wasn't an option.

"Fine! Let's see whose power reigns supreme—your Deity artifact or my Tri-Element fusion!"