I saw her—she was flying right above me, wild with rage. Her anger was as clear as the sun above her. At that moment, she started breathing fire, but this time it wasn't at me or Etomi—it was at the trees. She kept burning them down, her flames growing more and more intense. Ash floated through the air, and the smell of burning filled the place, mixing with the scent of blood. The whole area felt cursed.
"What are you doing?!" I shouted.
"Show me what you can do, human. Come on, protect these trees instead of just yourself," Slytha answered.
Fuck you. She's planning to burn down Yavan. That would be a huge problem. I still felt some pain, but I could still fight. Still, what could I do against a dragon flying around erratically and spewing fire at the trees? I tried launching some attacks, but she dodged them easily.
"You damn dragon," said a cold voice from behind.
In that instant, I heard a strong stab up high. When I looked up, I felt a few drops of blood touch my face, and Etomi fell to the ground, holding her blood-covered swords. Slytha was still in the air, but now with a huge wound in her abdomen. What a fast strike—I didn't even see it. So this is the speed of my rival, Etomi Selva.
"I had no other choice. I had to step in. This idiot is going to burn the whole forests," Etomi said as she turned toward me.
"Alright…" I whispered.
At that moment, Slytha dove at me, but with a quick reaction, I dashed forward, letting the dragon crash into some trees behind me. The place was complete chaos. I couldn't even move comfortably with all the burning trees around me. Even breathing was getting difficult. Is this dragon really turning the tables on us?
While I was standing there like a dumbass, Etomi jumped high and managed to stab Slytha in the neck. The dragon let out a loud roar and flew higher, with Etomi still clinging to her neck. Slytha started twisting her neck quickly, trying to shake the adventurer off, but she couldn't. Then I noticed something strange—it looked like Etomi was controlling Slytha's flight path.
"When I tell you to attack, do it!!!" Etomi yelled, her hair fluttering as she held tightly to the dragon's neck.
It was almost like Etomi was steering a dragon. After a while, she started directing her down toward the ground. I understood—she was forcing her into position so I could land clean hits and prevent Slytha from dodging them. Etomi… That's tuff, I'm not gonna lie. After a while, Slytha's head was right in front of me, and Etomi shouted: "Attack!!"
"COLD SPIRAL!!!!!" I screamed, pointing my sword at her.
Water swirled around my blade, then launched with explosive force at Slytha. A huge splash of blood followed. What the fuck is happening? Is this really the power of the kingdom's strongest dragon? She's weaker than I expected… Or is it because she's not a real dragon, but a demon? I see. Guess I'm lucky to get such an easy opponent.
Suddenly, Etomi fell—seems like she couldn't hold on any longer. Before she hit the ground, Slytha's tail smacked her with terrifying force. Damn! She flew a long distance and crashed into several trees. But I saw her stand up in the distance, wiping blood from her mouth. She really is the strongest adventurer.
Etomi returned, now wielding two swords—a short one in her right hand and a long one in her left. Both blades were slim. As she kept running, Slytha suddenly flew up again. But it seemed she forgot this demi-human could jump fucking distances.
And sure enough, Etomi leapt up and reached the cowardly dragon that had flown away. Still, it wasn't the best position for an attack. In a quick moment, Slytha slashed at her with her claws. Etomi blocked the hit with her swords, but the impact was still strong enough to send her crashing down. Alright, my turn!
"Aqua Rains!!!!" I shouted, lifting my sword high.
At that moment, the sky poured with heavy, piercing rain, forcing Slytha to fly around wildly trying to avoid it. Damn! Her erratic flying is really annoying. I tried slashing with the Sea Blade, but just as expected, I missed.
"That's awesome," Etomi said.
"What?"
"If it wasn't for you, I would've had a hard time even scratching her scales. This is great—your magic attacks completely neutralized the power of her scales."
"Well then, don't just stand there—do something!"
While I tried to get Slytha to stay in one place, Etomi jumped and stabbed part of her neck. In that moment, Slytha twisted in pain—but it wasn't a smart twist. One of her wings ended up right in front of me. I got ready, raised Astral high, and using the first form, launched a powerful slash—the same one I used to cut her tail.
The slash shot forward insanely fast and, as I expected, tore through the wing, severing a large part of it. I hope she has trouble flying now. Nearby, Etomi was running, dodging Slytha's massive flames, and striking whenever she found a good chance. Damn… we're doing pretty well.
"You bastards! Your teamwork is pissing me off! One pulls me in while the other attacks—what a pair of schemers," Slytha growled.
But that's not what I want... My true desire is to kill this dragon—not with someone else's help, but on my own. Fuck, I'm feeling awful right now. Like I want Etomi to die—but at the same time, I don't. But I… I want to be the one to kill this dragon! Me alone!! I want to become the number one adventurer!!!
Suddenly, a black aura with red sparks surrounded Slytha. It looked like nemesis power. At the same time, my own blue aura grew larger. It seemed like a battle of power. But what about Etomi? When I turned to her, I saw her struggling. It looked like the nemesis power was affecting her.
Realizing how bad the situation was, she drank some potion. What good would that do? Does it protect her from the nemesis? I hope so. No! I don't hope so. Slytha targeted her after that, probably thinking she's the weaker one here. Great!
Slytha lunged with her mouth wide open. In that crucial moment, Etomi shattered a red gem on one of her swords. Flames surrounded the blade, and with a quick swing, she fired a flaming slash right into Slytha's mouth. Man, it looked hilarious watching it happen right in front of me.
Suddenly, Slytha spat out a ton of blood—she was clearly hurt. In that moment, I had a strange feeling. Yes—it was a reflex! I always have to use Ground Wave when she's on the ground. Good thing I remembered. I activated the fourth form and launched a heavy wave. Slytha fell, driven hard into the ground. Crazy hit!
"Damn you both!!" Slytha screamed as she struggled to stand. Looked like that last attack hurt a lot.
I soared high and began burning the trees again. Suddenly, it let out a deafening roar. I covered my ears, and so did Etomi. It sounded like the whole kingdom would hear that roar. At that moment, something I never expected happened—something that might cost us this battle. A huge number of wyverns were flying alongside her. She had summoned them… FUCK!!!
"This battle isn't exactly fair, so I'll let some of my children join in," Slytha echoed.
The wyverns dove at us. Etomi had no trouble dealing with them, but me… I was paralyzed with fear. I didn't know what to do. There were too many of them. While Etomi sliced through them with ease, I was completely lost. In that moment, I felt claws sinking into my armor, and some even reached my shoulders… no no no no!!!
"You idiot!" Etomi shouted as she glared at me.
Yeah, I was flying—one of the wyverns had grabbed me by the shoulders like I was a sheep. I didn't even want to move, because that would mean falling from a high altitude… and I could die. No no no no! Why was everything turning to shit? After a while, it finally let go of me, and I was left to plummet toward the ground. But it seemed my mind rejected that fate.
"Ground Wave!!!" I screamed.
A wave formed on the ground, and when I landed, it softened my fall. What the fuck—this Minecraft trick actually worked! Man, this is perfect! I survived. Yeah! Damn, I'm really a genius. I was trembling like hell, and my heart wouldn't stop pounding. This is absolutely insane—it really feels like I'm in the middle of a war.
"Hey, I'll take care of the wyverns! You handle the dragon!" Etomi yelled as she slashed off a wyvern's head.
Perfect! The stage is clear now—just me and Slytha. The one I've been aiming to kill. If I can take her down, I can achieve most of my dreams: money, power, fame. All those treasures—this fuck dragon is the key. I have to crush her!
I dashed forward and launched a few slashes. At that moment, pain surged through my entire body. Were my muscles giving out or something? But even with all that pain, I kept going. I unleashed several attacks, and some of them landed on Slytha. Yet, this dragon just wouldn't die. And that pissed me off so much.
"Impudent human!" Slytha roared as she breathed her filthy flames at me.
"Stupid dragon!" I yelled, shielding myself with the Astral Sword.
Her tail whipped around, but this time, it was severed—she'd already lost a piece of it. I dodged back, avoiding the strike, but then she slammed her massive hand into my shoulder. I crashed to the ground and tried to crawl away, only to feel something huge pressing down on me. Shit, she's crushing me!!
"What's wrong? Where are your precious spells now?" Slytha growled in my ear.
I started coughing up blood. Death was closing in. When I looked around, Etomi was still busy with the wyverns. There was no one to save me. Just me… all alone. What now, NPC? Didn't you say you wanted to kill this dragon? Show me what you've got—or are you regretting that decision? Maybe staying in that palace was the right choice after all?
"Never!!!!!!!" I screamed.
Suddenly, Slytha's hand was cut off. I quickly got up and ran erratically while feeling legendary pain in my back. Looks like the stupid dragon was so focused on squashing me that she forgot there was someone else here. Good—now she's lost one of those annoying hands. I drank a pain-relief potion and gripped the Astral Sword tightly.
"Don't be foolish, and try to avoid her physical attacks, because you won't be able to withstand a dragon in close combat," Etomi repeated as she returned to fend off the wyverns.
Yeah, I know that—but it's hard. Blood was gushing from her severed hand. That's when I ran and cast a Water Ball using the fourth form to increase its weight. When it hit her, she fell back and started spinning. I didn't give her another chance to get up—I rushed in like a crazed killer, clutching the Astral Sword.
As I got closer, she was almost back on her feet—her face was right in front of me. One jump would put me on her head! A golden opportunity! I leapt up and clung on after grabbing her snout. She was still regaining balance, so she was too slow to react to my next move. Alright—this is my chance!
Her eye was right in front of me! Even if I failed to kill this dragon, at least I'd be this world's Albert Waldstein… Yes! That eye is mine, dragon! I raised the Super Azure high and plunged it into Slytha's left or maybe right eye—I couldn't tell, I was way too nervous.
Suddenly, from the pain, Slytha began thrashing wildly. I fell to the ground, and her mouth was wide open in front of me. I tried to get up quickly, but I could feel her breath too close—so I jumped instinctively, desperate to avoid any bite, like she was a dog instead of a dragon.
Right after, I felt her fangs touch my foot. No no no!!! I yanked my leg back quickly, but her fangs had already sunk in. I pulled it free and kept running, but when I looked—my foot was still there, yet the sight was terrifying. Blood was pouring from my toes, and the pain was unbelievable… no, don't tell me.
"You coward!" Slytha spat as she coughed something up.
When I looked, there was part of my shoe—soaked in blood—with bits of flesh. Those were… those were my toes!!!! I was paralyzed with fear, my heart nearly stopped. This is the end—I can't fight anymore. As I was thinking, Slytha pointed her claws at me… yeah, this is the end… I'm going to die.
"You idiot! Don't zone out!" Etomi shouted as she blocked Slytha's claws with her swords.
Get a grip, you moron. I grabbed the Astral Sword and tried to run to the other side, so I could launch attacks Slytha couldn't see coming. I positioned myself somewhere while pain surged through every inch of my body—especially my toes. When I found the perfect spot, I pointed the Astral Sword like a staff and yelled: "Cold Spiral!!!!"
A massive spiral formed thanks to the fourth form, then launched at high speed toward the left side of Slytha's face. She collapsed to the ground, and at the perfect moment, Etomi leapt onto her and stabbed her in the neck. Did she kill her?! As I stared in shock, a wyvern suddenly charged at high speed and crashed into Etomi, sending her flying through the air until she slammed into some trees and hit the ground.
I ran toward Slytha before she could get up again, but it seemed she sensed me. As I got closer, she suddenly turned around at a terrifying speed, like a giant snake, and then… yes… she ate me!!!
"AAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" I screamed from inside Slytha's mouth.
No, no—oh god, what the fuck is happening?! She tried to digest me, but I grabbed onto one of her fangs. She was pulling me toward her stomach—it was strong, I was going to die! If I let go of that fang, I'd fall right into her stomach!! My hands started to shake, covered in her slimy saliva, and I almost lost my grip. But just before I fell, I pointed the Astral Sword directly toward her stomach where it was pitch black.
"COLD SPIRAL!!!!!!!!!"
At that moment, I felt her body collapse onto the ground, thrashing wildly. Eventually, she opened her mouth, and I crawled toward the opening. As I got close, I jumped as fast as I could—but her fangs clamped down on me. I felt my chest tear open, but I made it out in the end. I ran away, blood gushing from my chest, pain coursing through my whole body, and I had no strength left to move.
When I turned back, I saw Slytha writhing and vomiting a large amount of blood. It looked like I had caused a serious internal wound. Alright—one last attack should finish this. I raised the Astral Sword, preparing to launch one final strike... Yes, this is it. I… I won. But just then, something unexpected happened—I couldn't launch anything. What the hell?!
"Laos… my power is depleted," Thalesa suddenly said.
Oh! Alright, no problem. I've heard the best way to achieve harmony is by fighting without abilities. Fine, let's see... I approached the struggling Slytha, gripped the long Astral Sword, and looked into her eye one last time… I won. I won.
◆ ◆ ◆
After I killed the last wyvern, I felt a bit of relief. I turned around to see how that white-haired guy was doing—and I was stunned. The dragon was on the ground, thrashing violently like someone had stabbed her heart. He walked toward her calmly, like a beast… no, like a hero from the old tales, holding that enchanted sword of his. His white hair fluttered from the gusts of wind caused by the dragon's frantic movements.
"No!! No!! How dare you… Eydhessa… my sister… please, help me..." the dragon cried out weakly as she thrashed.
The young man ignored her words completely. Then, in the most epic sight I'd ever seen—something I'd never witnessed in my life—he stabbed the dragon in the neck. She stopped moving. I realized she was dead… yes, he had killed her. He kept driving his sword deeper even after it was clear she was gone. He was the same person I saved from that goblin months ago… This is unbelievable. After that, he raised his head, finally pulled out the sword, and said while gazing at the sky:
"I'm absolute."
Quest: Become the number one adventurer | Completed.