The Wizard of Fairy Tale World

Chapter 137: "The Princess I Cursed?"

"I’ve heard something very upsetting," Maleficent suddenly said, feigning sorrow. "I heard that you and your teacher want to kill me and break the curse on the Rose Kingdom. Is that true?"

"Every single person in the Rose Kingdom wants to kill you!" Aurora snapped.

"Of course. That’s only natural," Maleficent chuckled. "Over the years, I’ve destroyed dozens of kingdoms on a whim—maybe even hundreds. I’ve lost count. And in every kingdom, there were always so-called heroes just like you."

She smirked with dark amusement.

"Take a guess, little girl—how many of those heroes actually succeeded?"

"One is about to," Aurora shot back without hesitation.

"Then let’s see for ourselves…"

A manic grin stretched across Maleficent’s face. She spread her arms wide—

Compared to the Eastern Witch’s imitation, Maleficent’s true dragon transformation was far more terrifying. The dragon she became was even larger, more powerful—radiating an aura of overwhelming dread that no mortal could match.

With a single beat of her wings, she sent a violent storm raging across the ship, knocking soldiers off their feet.

The Queen ducked into a corner, but realization struck—if they lost this fight, she wouldn’t escape death either. Gritting her teeth, she reached into her pouch, pulling out potions and spellcasting materials, ready to battle.

Above the sea, the Sea Hag floated, her seaweed-green hair whipping wildly in the wind. Her deep eyes reflected the vast ocean’s depths.

Having risen to become the Sea Kingdom’s court magician, its royal alchemist, she had already fulfilled her life’s greatest ambition. She feared nothing.

"Even if I die fighting Maleficent today," she thought, "history will remember me as a hero, not a monster."

Aurora, the youngest among them, stood unmoving amidst the raging winds.

Her emerald eyes remained calm. Not a trace of fear marred her flawless face—only anticipation.

Her fated enemy now stood before her.

She had waited far too long for this moment.

—

Meanwhile, in the White Kingdom’s forest.

Enderland’s Chief Magician, Magrito, stood alongside a hundred elite warriors, encircling a large, darkened gourd.

"Magician Rhine is too quiet," one warrior muttered.

"He hasn’t even tried to break out."

More than once, Magrito had suspected Rhine had already escaped.

But divinations and tracking spells confirmed it—Rhine was still trapped inside the gourd, growing ever closer to death.

—

Inside the dark, rotting prison.

In the foul-smelling, humid space, Rhine could feel the malevolent magic closing in.

A soul-deep chill seeped into his bones.

"Good. In a few more minutes, this gourd’s magic will activate, consuming me completely—reducing me to blood and nothingness."

Rhine accepted this fact with a smile.

He showed no panic. Instead, he reached into his coat—

And pulled out a straw effigy.

[Fate’s Substitute.]

One of the three Fate’s Substitutes he had prepared.

This straw figure had been pre-enchanted, transformed into a voodoo doll capable of exchanging fates with another.

A single, dried, blackened hair was tied around it—representing the person who would take his place.

In theory, Rhine could have chosen any soldier or commoner from the White Kingdom to be his substitute.

But he had no intention of sacrificing an innocent.

He had a better choice.

The hair on this effigy wasn’t taken from the living—

It came from a corpse.

Normally, such a trick wouldn’t work. Fate’s Substitute couldn’t swap places with the dead.

But today…

"You’ve been dead long enough. It’s time to settle this."

Rhine whispered to the effigy, smiling.

The chilling magic within the gourd reached its peak. In mere seconds, it would consume him.

Now!

With a single thought, Rhine activated Fate’s Substitute.

Not even this twisted, inescapable prison could suppress fate itself.

His body faded—

And in his place, a phantom remained.

—

Back at sea—

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Sword against scales. Claws against steel.

Sparks erupted as Aurora and Maleficent clashed at blinding speed.

The Queen, the Sea Hag, and the soldiers did their best to interfere—shooting arrows, casting spells—

But deep down, they knew the truth.

They were supporting players in this battle.

The only

Was the golden-haired girl who looked no older than twelve.

Aurora’s emerald eyes were wide, reflecting the full, terrifying glory of the dragon before her.

The day had finally come.

She had waited far too long for this.

For countless nights, she had imagined where they would meet again, picturing the scene of their battle.

When she fought the Eastern Witch, the only thing on her mind was another dragon!

Whoosh!

Aurora thrust her sword forward, her attack as fierce as a raging storm, forcing Maleficent to retreat and dodge.

"You dodged?" Aurora's lips curled into a grin, excitement flashing in her eyes.

"So, even someone like you, who destroys a country on a whim, is afraid of getting hurt?"

"You feel pain, despair, and sorrow, just like a human. And you can be killed, can't you?"

Aurora laughed loudly, her dwarven-forged sword slashing and stabbing in a relentless storm of attacks.

The black witch, Maleficent, now in her dragon form, frowned.

The young girl before her displayed combat skills and strength that truly exceeded her expectations.

She had slain countless powerful warriors, many of whom possessed greater strength, swordsmanship, and weapons than Aurora.

But none of them moved like Aurora—her rhythm was flawless, switching between offense and evasive maneuvers, constantly searching for openings.

It was as if…

She could predict Maleficent's moves in advance.

Every tail swipe and wing strike of the dragon was anticipated with uncanny accuracy!

Aurora felt a surge of joy.

"It works! It really works!"

"Everything I learned from fighting the Eastern Witch is paying off."

During her battle with the Eastern Witch in dragon form, Aurora had honed her ability to rapidly analyze and adapt to the rhythm of a dragon’s attacks.

Now, the dragon Maleficent had transformed into was undoubtedly more powerful, but her attack, movement, and defensive patterns remained the same.

In her mind, Aurora had already slain Maleficent thousands of times in countless simulated battles.

Maleficent’s thoughts raced.

"This girl… She’s so young, yet possesses such incredible skill. Unbelievable!"

"Who is she, really?"

"If she’s allowed to grow any stronger, that could be a real problem."

A hint of killing intent flashed through the black witch’s heart.

Until now, she had not been fighting at full strength—she had merely been testing how capable this seemingly young girl truly was.

"Enough. This boring fight ends now!"

The dragon flapped its wings, sending Aurora flying back, then spewed forth a torrent of blazing emerald flames.

Whoosh!

The scorching green fire engulfed Aurora.

But the next moment, Maleficent's dragon eyes widened in shock.

Reflected in them was the sight of the girl emerging from the flames, completely unharmed, her sword thrusting straight toward her!

"Impossible!"

"She's completely immune to fire?!"

Maleficent was forced back by Aurora’s relentless assault.

During their battle, she had already noticed that Aurora’s skin was as tough as steel—neither claws nor fangs could pierce it.

"And now, not even fire works against her?"

Such an ability couldn't be natural—it had to be some kind of supernatural blessing!

"Little girl, tell me—who are you?"

Maleficent roared. Her voice was so powerful that the soldiers on the ship collapsed from the sheer force of it.

"I'm the one destined to kill you!"

Seizing the moment when Maleficent was stunned, Aurora launched herself forward.

Gathering all her strength, she poured every ounce of her fury and determination into a single, devastating thrust!

The sword pierced through the dragon’s chest scales.

Green blood spilled from Maleficent’s massive body.

For the first time, she felt pain.

"So, even you can bleed, oh mighty witch," Aurora mocked loudly.

Maleficent froze.

She should have been able to block that strike.

But when Aurora charged at her, she had sensed something… something eerily familiar emanating from the girl.

It was the scent of a curse—one that was bound to her very soul.

"No way…"

"That’s impossible…"

"It can't be her!"

The dragon stood motionless, like a petrified statue.

Aurora did not let this opportunity slip away, launching another flurry of ruthless attacks.

Maleficent could only defend and dodge, unable to counter.

"Yes! Aurora has the upper hand!"

Seeing Aurora forcing the black dragon back, the soldiers erupted into cheers, and even the queen cried out in excitement.

Alongside the Sea Hag, she cast spells to weaken Maleficent or strengthen Aurora and her enchanted sword.

"Aurora…?"

That name—one she hadn’t heard in years—stabbed deep into Maleficent’s heart like a needle.

"How… how could it be her?"

Shock, disbelief, rage, and resentment exploded within the black witch all at once.