The Cardinal Hero Of Magic Chapter 20: Dragon's Apathy, a rising of the shield hero/盾の勇者の成り上がり fanfic

Balthasar gazed into the dark, silent city, his magic hero eyes scanning the surroundings. Behind him, Gray, Lily, and Emiko lay fast asleep in their beds, undisturbed. Returning his attention to the night skies, the weary magic hero let out a deep sigh. Ever since the trial, Balthasar had been plagued by unsettling flashbacks from his past—memories he wished to keep buried. Merely the thought of those memories caused his dragon features to instinctively flare up.

"I need to clear my mind," Balthasar muttered to himself.

Closing his eyes, he focused intently on conjuring his wings. Once his wings were fully formed, Balthasar cautiously stepped onto the balcony before leaping into the air. Soaring through the sky, the Dragonoid gradually felt his racing thoughts begin to subside.

As Balthasar soared higher, the city below faded from view. The cool night air rushed against his face as his wings cut through the darkness. It was a momentary escape from the weight of his past. The starry sky whispered secrets, reminding him of his power. With each wingbeat, he shed his troubled memories, growing stronger.

Gliding gracefully through the heavens, Balthasar felt a surge of determination. The tranquility of the night enveloped him, offering respite from his trials. The vastness of the sky reminded him of his strength. Clearing his mind, he found calm and rejuvenation, rediscovering his purpose.

His flight became a metaphorical ascent, symbolizing his unwavering determination to overcome adversity. Bathed in the moon's glow, Balthasar felt connected to the world, knowing he possessed the strength to overcome any challenge. With newfound hope, he soared toward his destiny, driven to protect what he cherished.

Balthasar's serene flight abruptly halted as a barrage of arrows tore through his wings. With a pained scream, the Dragon descendant plummeted to the ground. Struggling, he attempted to stand and painfully folded his damaged wings.

"Gah..." Balthasar groaned. "It's been ages since someone managed to knock me out of the air."

Footsteps echoed around the fallen Dragonoid, prompting Balthasar to swiftly retrieve his scepter from his back. Before he could react, a sharp object pierced his neck. Retrieving what appeared to be a blow dart, he widened his eyes upon recognizing the paralysis status effect. Though Balthasar possessed immunity to poison, his resistance to toxins couldn't shield him from paralysis if the dosage was potent enough.

"Bold move, facing me alone," Balthasar grinned defiantly, channeling his magic despite the numbness creeping into his free hand.

" Fortune favors the bold," one of the assailants taunted, as yet another dart pierced Balthasar's arm.

The Dragonoid's arms weakened, causing him to drop his staff. "Starting to go numb," Balthasar muttered to himself, sensing the effects.

"Even the weakest man can defeat a downed dragon," another assailant jeered, their laughter echoing. A third dart found its mark in the Dragonoid's body.

"Three darts... seems excessive," Balthasar slurred, his senses dulled by the spreading numbness.

Without warning, all five assailants unleashed a barrage of countless darts.

"You guys... are... dicks..." Balthasar managed to slur out before collapsing onto his wings. "Ow..."

"We had to employ a more potent substance this time," one assailant mentioned, stepping forward and thrusting his foot onto Balthasar's chest. "How does it feel, Dragon?"

"I... smell colors..." Balthasar slurred as his entire body grew numb.

The man withdrew his foot, then unsheathed his sword and pierced the Dragonoid's left arm. Balthasar let out a cry of pain as the assailant withdrew the blade.

"Who... are... you... all?" Balthasar inquired.

"We hail from the Serpent Blade," announced the attackers with a menacing smirk.

Balthasar's response was a derisive groan. "Why am I not surprised?" he muttered, his words cut off by a fresh scream as a spear ripped through his dragon's newly healed stomach. "That just healed!" he protested in anguish.

Undeterred, the remaining four attackers followed suit, their weapons finding their marks in the dragon's resilient hide. Amidst the brutality, a discernible notification manifested, clear enough for Balthasar to read.

͝C̳͐ha̭o̳ṡ̖ ̾Con̚f̙i̤͒g͎ur̭a͕t͛iͩo̞n̬ͥ ̱̉Ùn͎l̿oc̱ḳ͂ḛd͛:
D̤ͯͧa̔ġ̊ĝͭerͪͣ ̎oͨ̍f͍̅̽ ̄̏S̳̓̾ͅl͐o̬̚t̞̻̾͛h

Fueled by the seething pain, the Dragonoid's armor and weapon virulently transformed. The once-mighty staff altered its structure, assuming the form of a subtly menacing dagger. Its blade bore a blood-red edge, starkly juxtaposed against the sleek, mysterious black of its blunt side. The junction between the blade and handle was tastefully adorned with glittering gold accents, radiating an uncanny allure. The dagger's handle, shrouded in sleek black leather, tapered elegantly and culminated at a modest spike at the hilt's end, exuding a hint of latent danger. Serving as a keystone in the dagger's design was the black hand guard, strategically nestled on the hilt.

"The protection of your armor is useless," sneered one of the members of the Serpent Blade. The man was a daunting figure, powerfully built, and armed with an imposing axe which he hefted off the ground with visible effort.

With a guttural roar, he swung the weapon down onto Balthasar's armored chest. The formidable impact produced an echoing 'Gong', reverberating throughout the space, a grim testimonial to the mighty blow.

This sound acted as the trigger. Almost in unison, the remaining combatants plunged their weapons into the chinks of Balthasar's armor, seeking to exploit any exposed vulnerability. However, in the middle of this relentless assault, Balthasar's attention was captivated by an unexpected occurrence.

Something materialized within his line of sight, vying for his attention amidst the chaotic showdown. The notification that had once appeared before now resurfaced, hinting at an imminent change and the untapped power that lay within his grasp.

Cursed Skill unlocked: Apathy

Balthasar, despite the pain, quietly uttered, "Activate the Cursed Skill."

To activate the Cursed Skill, the Cardinal Hero of Magic would have to forsake his humanity. Will you proceed?

"Activate Apathy!" Balthasar shouted.

An invisible field enveloped the Dragonoid and his attackers, causing the members of the Serpent Blade to glance around before bursting into laughter directed at the hero.

"What kind of skill is this?" the man with the sword jeered. "All it did was create a... barrier..."

Gradually, the man relinquished his weapon, his body surrendering to the strain, causing him to collapse onto his knees. "What's... happening..." he uttered in confusion.

One by one, the members of the Serpent Blades succumbed, their bodies drained of any remaining strength, causing them to crumple to the ground.

"I feel... so exhausted..." the man whispered wearily, before finally collapsing onto the unforgiving earth.

"What... have you... done to us?" the Axe user muttered, directing his words to the Magic Hero.

Balthasar groaned, feeling the numbness in his body gradually recede as he responded, "I have no idea. I just acquired this skill, and in desperation from your attack, I activated it."

"You can't... keep this... skill up forev..." the Spear user whispered softly, closing her eyes as her breath faded away.

"I just need it to last long enough," the Dragonoid replied, determination etched in his voice.

"The Serpent... Blades... will succe..." the sword user uttered before joining his comrade in death.

One by one, the remaining members of the Serpent Blades succumbed to the formidable skills of the Dragon Decedent. Balthasar, filled with weariness, grimly fought against the numbing sensation, struggling to move his exhausted body. Even though the Dragonoid managed to roll onto his stomach and muster every ounce of willpower to rise onto his hands and knees, he was abruptly seized by a surge of excruciating pain.

"What the..." Balthasar's words were cut short as the pain intensified, causing him to collapse to the ground and release a gut-wrenching scream filled with agony.

Over the course of the next hour, Balthasar's body underwent a terrifying transformation. The excruciating pain engulfed him as sky blue and obsidian black scales gradually replaced his skin, spreading across his entire body. With every passing moment, the scales grew stronger and more resilient, matching the unmatched armor of the mythical dragons.

As the transformation continued, Balthasar felt an intense pressure building within him. His teeth elongated and sharpened, becoming fierce fangs capable of effortlessly tearing through even the most formidable defenses. A long, serpentine dragon tail forcefully emerged from his lower back, swaying with an ethereal grace as if it possessed a mind of its own.

Amidst the tumultuous storm of pain, Balthasar felt a piercing sensation on his forehead. As he reached up to touch it, he discovered sharp, menacing horns breaking through his flesh. However, the most drastic change occurred in his hands and feet. They contorted and shifted, transforming into powerful dragon claws and scaled feet.

Breathing heavily, the bloodied Balthasar slowly rose to his feet. The Dragonoid stumbled a few times but managed to find support from a nearby building.

"Frustrating..." Balthasar groaned, closing his eyes and attempting to concentrate. "I need to calm down."

Balthasar took slow, deliberate breaths in an effort to regain his human appearance. However, a sharp pain suddenly erupted from his head, causing him to cough up blood.

"This is not good," Balthasar muttered, attempting to change back again but experiencing the same result. "I... I can't change back."

the sounds of armored feet stomped toward the Dragonoid, turning his head Balthasar spotted the knight's of Melromarc. Balthasar's cursed armor and weapon vanished as the knight's stood before him, the Dragonoid didn't hear what they had said as he collapse and blacked out

Awakening to the sound of bickering, Balthasar opened his eyes to find the Four Cardinal Heroes and his own team engaged in a heated argument.

"He probably didn't have a choice," Gray shouted at the Bow Hero.

"A killer like him?" Itsuki scoffed and shouted back. "He most likely just killed them for fun."

"I agree with Gray on this," Ren said, placing his hand on the Bow Hero's shoulder. "I'm convinced the Dragon had a reason."

"Killing someone, let alone five people, is never justified," Itsuki shouted.

"He was drenched in his own blood, Itsuki!" Lily responded with a shout.

"For all we know, that could have been someone else's blood," Motoyasu retorted.

"According to the queen, none of the bodies had any wounds," Naofumi defended.

"Do any of you even know how to have a civilized conversation?" Balthasar groaned as he sat up. "Or is arguing the only way you communicate in your worlds?"

Upon hearing his voice, Emiko's face lit up with joy as she scurried onto the bed. "Papa!" she exclaimed happily. "I'm so glad you're awake."

Ren approached cautiously and inquired, "What happened?"

"I was attacked," Balthasar explained, his voice tinged with weariness. "In an attempt to clear my mind after recent events brought back some unpleasant memories, I took a night flight. But unexpectedly, my wings were pierced by several arrows, forcing me to the ground. There, I was ambushed by a group of five assailants. They shot me with darts that had a paralyzing effect."

Gray interjected, trying to make sense of the situation. "Wait, if you were paralyzed, how were you able to defeat all five of them?"

Balthasar's brow furrowed as he replied, "I don't remember..."

Suddenly, a sense of foreignness washed over him. His hands instinctively grasped at something unfamiliar protruding from his head. It didn't take long for Balthasar to realize that they were his dragon horns. Pushing aside the pain coursing through his body, the Magic Hero sprang to his feet, disregarding the concerned pleas from his teammates. He scanned the room for a reflective surface and made his way towards a full-length mirror. What he saw there filled him with a mixture of horror and disbelief.

Staring back at the Dragonoid was his hybrid form in the reflection, Balthasar backed away as his memory began to rapidly return. The attack on his paralyzed body, unlocking both the Dagger of Sloth and it's skill: Apathy, his assailants deaths at the hand of Apathy and lastly the intense pain and the permanent state he was in.

"I remember..." Balthasar whispered. "They attacked my still body, during their attacks I acquired another Cursed Configuration and the skill to go with it"

"Which one?" Gray asked his voice filled with concern for his surrogate brother

"The Dagger of Sloth" Balthasar answered with regret in his voice. "It's skill: Apathy allows me to generate a barrier around myself, those caught in this barrier will be drained of their strength to the point they can't even stand"

"And I'm going to assume they died due to the draining effect of your skill?" Naofumi asked crossing his arms

"Yeah, but when I tried to activate the skill, a message popped up in my status screen" Balthasar explained not tearing his gaze from his reflection. "It said that I needed to forsake my humanity to activate Apathy"

"Which means..." Motoyasu said only for the Dragonoid to cut him off confirming his question.

"I'm stuck like this" Balthasar looked to the other heroes. "If I even try to turn back, I'll receive a sharp pain in my head and start to cough up blood" The Dragonoid hardened his gaze to the other heroes. "Like I said at the meeting. these weapons possess incredible power but come at a heavy cost to wield,"

Lily, her voice laced with worry, questioned, "Will you recover in time to accompany us to the Archipelago?"

Balthasar's response was communicated through a cheeky smile, prior to summoning his cardinal weapon with an agile snap of his fingers. The Dragonoid then concentrated on his magical prowess, ripping away his bandages.

He began an incantation, "Revitalize", which surrounded his creature-like form with a soft, bluish radiance.

Onlookers were spellbound as his injuries gradually healed, a sight that was astonishing despite the unexpectedly sluggish speed. When his injuries were entirely mended, Balthasar let out a sigh of relief.

"I should be up to it," Balthasar asserted confidently, patting his newly restored abdomen.

Motoyasu, intrigued, posed a question, "Do you have a regeneration spell?"

"Indeed, I do," confirmed the Dragonoid lowering his staff. "Bear in mind, though, the magnitude of the injury determines the mana required to heal it, and correspondingly the time it takes."

Inquisitive as ever, Itsuki interjected, "And just for my understanding, what is this spell's cost?"

"Close to two thousand mana points," revealed the Dragonoid, resting his scepter. "Avoid unnecessary risk in battle, I'm not about to expend my mana on curing imprudence."

Ren acquiesced, "Reasonable enough," before departing the room.

Balthasar then realized his usual attire was missing, "Where has my clothing gone?"

Gray offered an explanation, "It's undergoing cleaning and mending. Yosaiya has mentioned having some spares of your Magic Thread, but as she currently has a backed with orders, it'll need a few days."

"Terrific!" Balthasar grumbled, before utilizing his crafting skill to create a pair of black pants using his staff. "These should suffice."

"What about a top?" Itsuki queried, raising a brow.

"Show me a shirt that can accommodate these," retorted the Dragonoid, gesturing toward his horns and wings, "and I'll bow before you, pledge my loyalty, and heed your commands until the end of time."

"Asshole," muttered Itsuki in exasperation, promptly followed out of the room by the Spear Hero.

Naofumi then asked the Dragonoid, "So, Balthasar, what's you next plan"

"I intend to head to my village," Balthasar announced while dressing in his newly crafted pants. "There, I'll work on a few more spells, better equip my wardrobe, and afterward, meet with you at the Archipelago."

"Can we go home, Papa?" queried Emiko innocently.

However, Lily did not seem convinced, she addressed Balthasar, "Do you truly believe that's wise? The Serpent Blades continue to haunt you."

"In the Capital, they seized the opportunity and surprised me," Balthasar replied, his expression somber. "Whereas in open ground, I will have the upper hand."

"So you're just going to walk?" Lily inquired, perched on Emiko who was currently in her fox form.

"Emiko can't carry all three of us," Balthasar answered, keeping his eyes on the road ahead. "Besides, I'd like to get used to my body's now-permanent change."

"Isn't it within your kind's ability to take on a hybrid Dragon form or even fully morph into a Dragon?" A tone of bewilderment found its way into Lily's voice.

"Yeah, we can," Balthasar confirmed as he turned to address the Panda Demi-Human. "But we need to channel our anger and hate to do so," His focus shifted back to the trail. "But once we calm down, we return to our human appearance."

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by the sound of rapid footsteps echoing through the silence. Almost simultaneously, the ears of all four present twitched, and their focus shifted towards the surrounding forest. Soon after, Balthasar detected a particular scent.

"Blood," the Dragonoid alerted them in a low growl, hearing the increased volume of the footsteps.

Startled by the rustling of leaves and the snapping of twigs, a girl burst forth, piercing the tranquil green veil. Tall and fair-skinned, she bore the unique features of lilac eyes and long, voluminous golden hair, fading to a pale hue at the tips, crowned with a distinctive cowlick. Her clothing was but tattered remnants, and her form was marred with countless wounds. Clutching an arm skewered by three arrows embedded deeply, her grip was unyielding. She was panting heavily, a dire situation exacerbated by the arrows that appeared to be coated with a toxic substance, as evidenced by the sickly green veins spreading like tendrils up her arm, neck, and creeping across her entire left side..

In a brief moment, the eyes of Balthasar and the girl interlocked, casting a spell of paralysis on the both of them. Affixed to her head were two distinct yellow horns, a set of dragon wings protruded from her back, and a tail trailed behind her—a mirror image of his own Dragonoid form

Suddenly, Balthasar experienced something he hadn't in years, ever since he had been marked in his realm. His dragon heart pulsated within him, a beat that echoed a primitive reminder of his lineage.

"Could it be...a Dragonnewt?" The utterance by Gray snapped both the Dragonoid and the girl out of their shared stupor.

"Os gwelwch yn dda... Helpwch fi!" pleaded the woman, her eyes wide and filled with fear as she approached Balthasar.
[Please...Help me!]

"That's Welsh!" Noted Balthasar, identifying the language as he scanned past the girl. Disconcertingly, several men were rapidly emerging from the wooded area. "Mynd ar fy ôl," he ordered firmly.
[Get behind me]

The woman stared at Balthasar in surprise, but quickly obeyed and scurried to shelter behind the Magic Hero. Readying himself for a potential confrontation, the Dragonoid held his scepter aloft as the men cautiously came into view, momentarily halting their advance.

"Hey!" one of the men called out, an intimidating smirk plastered across his dirt-covered face. "Don't interfere, stranger. This ain't your battle."

Balthasar, unmoved by the threat, mustered an icy glare. "Every innocent's plight is my battle," he retorted. "You best leave, or prepare for a fight you won't triumph."

"That girl is ours," another chimed in, presenting a wicked-looking whip from his side.

"Slavers," Balthasar identified, a gruff growl echoing in his throat.

"Hey, boss, reckon he's a Dragonnewt?" another muttered, directing his gaze towards the apparent leader.

"Nah, he seems to...regal," the Boss retorted, unsheathing his sword with a wicked gleam in his eyes. "I'd wager we've snagged ourselves an Aotatsu."

"So, do we net them both?" the fourth man queried, his hand poised around a blow-dart gun.

"That's the plan" the Boss affirmed, giving the fourth man an approving nod.

The man punctuated the resolution by firing a dart, hitting Balthasar cleanly in the neck. However, his countenance remained impassive as he easily extracted the dart.

"Presumably, your plan was to either paralyze or put me to sleep," he remarked casually, examining the dart with a bemused look. "Pity the dosage is so trivial that it's being neutralized the moment it enters my system."

"Get him!" the Boss commanded in a fit of rage.

In response to their attack, Balthasar held his position, virtually unfazed. Instead, he summoned his magical prowess.

"Umbric Dark-Spears!" His booming voice echoed through the woods as three shadowy spears materialized before him.

The slavers were caught off guard, having no chance to evade the attack. The shadowy spears were unerring, finding their targets with lethal precision. They pierced the hearts of the three attackers, ending their lives within seconds. The Boss could only gape in horrified disbelief at the swift destruction of his crew.

"How?! They were all level 23?!" he stammered, his bravado shattered.

"Because I'm Level 68," Balthasar responded coolly. He menacingly advanced towards the Boss, snatched him by his neck, and hoisted him off the ground. "And I, am the Cardinal Hero of Magic."

"That woman...belongs to...me," the Boss managed to gasp out between suffocating chokes.

"Freedom is every being's birthright," Balthasar spat, a plume of smoke ominously billowing from his mouth.

"These creatures aren't human, they need to be tamed!" the Slaver rasped, his clawing hand scratching frantically at Balthasar's steely grip. "You and that Woman were born to be..."

Having had enough of the Slaver's despicable words, Balthasar's grip on his neck tensed, allowing him to finish the sentence abruptly with an ominous crunch of bone. Without a shred of remorse, he discarded the lifeless frame like a piece of trash. He then turned to the woman he had steeled his hands to protect.

"Wyt ti'n iawn?" He inquired, concern belying his harsh exterior.
[Are you okay]

"Diolch fy Dragonoid," the woman responded, barely conscious. Then, she succumbed to her exhaustion, collapsing into the Dragonoid's arms.
[Thank you my Dragonoid]

"Did she just call you a Dragonoid?" Gray interjected, his voice laced with shock and curiosity.

"We'll address your questions later, Gray," Balthasar dismissed, supporting the limp form of the Demi-Human. "Emiko, come closer," he instructed.

At his beckoning, the Kitsune approached the duo, her fine-tuned senses piqued as Balthasar's scepter began to emanate a soft glow. "So I get to test this ability after all," he considered with a pensive tone. "Teleport Dragonspire," he incanted, employing his magic for transportation.

As they warped from the location, Balthasar found himself flooded by a torrent of questions. Who exactly was this woman? How had she identified his native language? And most confounding of all, how was she aware of his being a Dragonoid? For now though, Balthasar shelved his queries, prioritizing the pressing urgency to seek a healer's aid for the woman within his village.

Wow pals and Gals, once again we've got basically another filler chapter, but I promise you it's all for the good of the story.

Now since I've mentioned this before, Balthasar is Lv 68 but never once gave out his stats. Well the wait is no longer here

Name: Balthasar Black
Race: Dragonoid
Class: Legendary Magic Hero
Level: 68
EXP: 629,164/1,046,880
Skill Points: 134

Stats:
-HP: 5,000
-MP: 14,500
-Physical Attack: 70
-Magic Attack: 1,230
-Physical Defense: 200
-Magic Defense: 1,150