Chapter 397

"Have the Sea Dragon race lived here for generations?" Losweiser asked.

"Yes, in order to adapt to the underwater environment, the ancestors of the sea dragon gradually evolved our dragon form into what it is today."

Claudia's voice was transmitted into the bubble through magical ripples.

Leon's thoughts stirred slightly, and he asked, "Senior Claudia, you know my master, don't you?"

Judging from Claudia's behavior just now, and the two magic manuals her master took out earlier, they must know each other. Otherwise, Claudia wouldn't have agreed to save her master so readily.

Claudia paused for a few seconds before replying to Leon's question.

"I'd say we know each other."

"And you are—"

"Don't ask any more questions. Someone else will tell you the whole story later."

Leon was taken aback. "Others?...?"

Could it be that besides Claudia, there are other people in this Sea Dragon race who know him or Tiger?

Filled with questions, Leon and his group reached the deepest part of the ocean—

"Welcome to the palace of the Sea Dragon race — Atlantis."

After a period of darkness, a bright new vista opened up, revealing a secluded paradise hidden behind the endless underwater reefs and deep ravines.

Atlantis.

Claudia transformed back into human form, and with a gentle wave of her hand, the magical bubbles surrounding everyone disappeared.

Rebecca quickly covered her mouth and nose, and mumbled, "Oh no! Captain, the blue-haired auntie is going to suffocate us!"

"... You haven't been crushed into a pulp by the underwater pressure yet, so why are you worrying about breathing?"

"Huh?"

Rebecca tried lowering her hand and took a breath. "Is... I can actually breathe normally?"

"The Sea Dragon race is ultimately a branch of the Dragon Race, and it's impossible for them to truly breathe freely underwater. That's why there's a barrier around the Atlantis Palace, with enough oxygen inside for us to breathe," Claudia explained.

"I see..." Rebecca nodded, seemingly understanding.

Rossweisse looked up at the barrier above, then calculated the distance from the sea, and then sighed a little in her heart,

"What a wonderful place to escape the world."

"Come on, everyone, let's hurry up and save them."

Leon responded, picked up his master, and quickly followed Claudia.

"Cough cough... Kid, have we... have we arrived...?" Tiger asked weakly.

"We've arrived, Master. We've reached the Sea Dragon race. You'll be alright soon."

"Ah... I'm glad we've arrived, I'm glad we've arrived."

Hearing his master say that, Leon felt a little strange.

The master didn't seem to care whether there was anyone here who could save him; what he cared more about was... whether he could really reach the Sea Dragon race.

He came here specifically for this purpose, not to save his own life.

However, Leon didn't have time to think about it further. No matter what his master was planning, he had to save the old man.

Claudia led the group around the palace and into a secret room at the back.

Inside the secret chamber was an ice bed with a base of ice. Claudia pointed to the ice bed and said, "Put Tiger on this."

Leon did as instructed, then asked, "Is this some kind of magical material?"

"Abyssal Profound Ice, used to prolong life," Claudia explained succinctly.

Tiger lay down and began coughing up blood, which flowed onto the ice bed.

Claudia immediately began to give him a more thorough examination.

"Leon, and that human girl, go to that shelf over there and find me two boxes labeled 'Nether Lotus Herb' and 'Frost Bone Powder'."

The two immediately complied and quickly retrieved what Claudia needed.

"Nether Lotus Herb... Frost Bone Powder, and Abyssal Profound Ice... Your Sea Dragon race truly has a rich heritage. Most Dragon Race probably haven't even heard of these things," Losweiser praised.

"One of the advantages of living underwater is that you can find all sorts of rare treasures from tens of thousands of years ago."

The combination of the Nether Lotus Herb and Frost Bone Powder simultaneously channeled a certain amount of Magic Power into Tiger's magic circuits to ensure he could properly absorb the medicinal effects of these precious herbs.

Claudia frowned, not daring to relax for a moment.

Any mistake she makes will have irreversible consequences.

Leon and the others stopped talking and interrupting, allowing Claudia to focus on her treatment.

At this moment, Leon and Rebecca's hearts were in their throats.

If Tiger were to sacrifice himself, it would undoubtedly be a huge blow to both of them.

Leon needs no introduction; he was raised by his master from a young age, which is why he has achieved what he has today.

Rebecca's parents also passed away early, and it was Tiger who helped her many times, allowing her to successfully complete her studies at the Dragon Slaying Academy. Every time she called him "Dad," she was referring to Tiger as if he were family.

He absolutely cannot fall like this, on the eve of dawn.

After the treatment, Claudia leaned wearily against the edge of the ice bed, cold sweat dripping from her forehead.

But Tiger didn't react at all.

"Senior, how is my master?" Leon asked anxiously.

Claudia slowly stood up, remained silent for a moment, then shook her head.

"His heart is damaged beyond repair. Even a healing elixir like the Nether Lotus Herb cannot prolong his life."

Like a bolt from the blue, Leon stood frozen in place.

He opened his mouth, as if trying to say something, but it was as if something was blocking his throat, and he couldn't make a sound.

He knew that thing... was a mixture of despair and sorrow.

Losweiser walked quietly to his side and took his hand tightly.

She could clearly feel that these hands, weathered by countless battles and hardship, were trembling uncontrollably.

"No... no, my master wouldn't just—"

"Leon".

Before he broke down, Claudia said,

"Tiger knows better than any of us that his injuries are incurable, and he didn't come here to find a way to survive."

"Then why did my master insist on coming to the Sea Dragon race? There's no way to save him here, so why did he still come?"

"Because--"

Before I could explain, a commotion erupted at the entrance to the secret room.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, you cannot go in. Princess Claudia has given orders that we—"

"Let me in! Sister, he's here to see me, isn't he? I know he's here to see me! Let me in!"

"Your Highness, Your Highness Charlotte!"

Charlotte...

This name—

Leon looked toward the entrance to the secret chamber, where a familiar figure was rushing in despite the guards' attempts to stop him.

He stared in disbelief, muttering to himself.

"Master's wife..."

105 Dragon Returns to the Sea

Charlotte rushed into the secret room, her face filled with anxiety.

Leon and Rebecca immediately went to meet them.

"Master's wife? What are you doing here?" Leon asked, bewildered.

Rebecca covered her head with both hands, her big eyes darting around. "I'm completely dumbfounded. First, Dad was coming to the Sea Dragon race, and now Aunt Charlotte has suddenly appeared. I feel like I'm missing a part of my memory compared to others."

Charlotte looked at Leon, whom she hadn't seen for many years, feeling both anxious and relieved.

But now is not the time for reminiscing.

Charlotte didn't have time to explain anything to Leon and Rebecca, and quickly walked to the ice bed.

When she saw Tiger lying on the ice bed, barely alive, she felt as if all her strength had been drained away, her legs went weak, and she almost collapsed to the ground.

Claudia caught her from behind.

Charlotte stared incredulously at the old man before her, her hand trembling as she reached out and gently touched Tiger's weathered cheek with her fingertips.

My body temperature was gradually dropping, and I could hardly feel my breathing, heartbeat, and pulse anymore.

Charlotte's lips trembled uncontrollably, and tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.

"Tiger... I'm here, Tiger... please open your eyes and look at me."

The sound of her crying was heartbreaking.

As if hearing Charlotte's call, Tiger slowly opened his eyes.

But as he approached the end of his life, his eyes felt as heavy as if they weighed a ton.

But he still tried his best to see the person in front of him clearly.

His wife, Charlotte.

A smile finally appeared on his pale, weary face as he weakly called out his wife's nickname.

"Xia... you've finally arrived."

Tiger wanted to raise his hand to poke his lover's cheek.

But life is slipping away too quickly; even breathing is difficult now, let alone having the strength to lift an arm.

Charlotte, however, took Tiger's hands in her own and pressed his palms tightly against her face.

"I'm here, Tiger. You can feel me, right?"

The moment his face touched her cheek, Tiger felt the warmth of her tears.

"Are you crying... Xia, don't cry... you'll look ugly if you cry... cough cough! -- cough cough --"

Before Tiger could finish speaking, he coughed up several mouthfuls of blood.

Tiger's heart was so shattered that it could no longer pump blood; he was only clinging to life thanks to healing magic and Claudia's earlier resuscitation efforts.

Once the effects of the magic and the potion wear off—

"Why is my master's wife here?"

Leon walked over to Claudia and asked in a low voice.

"Your master must have told you that after you decided to rebel against the Empire, he sent Charlotte to a safe place."

Claudia said, "A safe place is right here."

Leon's memory flashed back to the past, and his master had indeed said that.

But...

"My master said that his wife had gone back to her parents' home, so the Sea Dragon race is—"

Leon was startled by his own guess halfway through his sentence.

Claudia slowly looked at him and said the answer that had been on his mind, "That's right, Tiger, like you, married a Dragon Race as his wife."

"... How... what happened—"

He was momentarily speechless.

This information may not be much, but it is impactful enough.