Ancient Red Dragon Subjugation (2): A Fellow Dragon?

Sudden dragon-tongue echoes in my mind. Terra flinches, her shoulders jerking as she looks up at me.

"…Should we try talking first?"

I'm a bit reluctant, sure. But chatting with someone I might have to fight to the death with?

Sharp instincts. Figures.

That thing…? I shake my head at its words, gaze fixed on the World Tree.

Its pupils narrow at that. But I don't feel a thing…?

Grooooowl!— Like it was done listening, the beast whips its massive body around. Wings unfurl wide as it rears up.

"Figures. Can't talk to other dragons like normal folks."

It slams a gigantic foreleg down toward us.

The enormous shadow engulfs us, the ground quaking. I clench my fist tight. Toss Hermes's Fragment to Ha-eun.

"Round up the surviving elves with Terra. …And don't die."

My body glows brighter than ever before. Light as a feather, I shake out my hands and launch forward.

Bang!— Tiny compared to it. But the radiant burst makes me look like I could swallow it whole.

I smirk at chat, channeling energy into my fist. Slam it into the dragon's oncoming sole.

Kaboom!—

Blinding explosion. The dragon's colossal body reels back.

Flap!— Wings sprout from my back. I steady my near-fall and soar higher.

Shing!— A chill sword cry rings from behind me. Moonlight Slash.

Slash!— Razor traces scar its scales. I glance back to see Bern, somehow leaping up here.

I summon a crude rock platform right under it for a steady landing.

"I'll join the fray."

And behind him, another swordsman catches my eye.

"…My thanks for the aid."

A man with a sword nearly identical to Bern's. That's… the hero Kairan?

"How'd you even…"

Shing!—Clang!—

Ah, not the time. Subdue this thing first, think later.

"Fall back."

"What?"

"Don't wanna get crushed by my attacks? Back off."

I shove the platform away. Any scraps falling off that beast are mine.

"Hey guys, gonna burn cash hard soon. Hit those donations."

Chat scrolls by. I lock eyes with the massive red dragon's pupil. Filthy huge and pure, like a kid who's never known fear.

"Guess you've never felt fear in your life. But really, first strike on me?"

It chuckles, amused.

"Lemme show you what rank difference means."

My sneer sharpens its glare. Dragons and their egos.

Snap!—

Finger snap—dozens of massive magic circles bloom everywhere. I clench my fist, yanking invisible ropes downward.

Crash!—

Golden thunder crashes from clear skies, smashing its body. As it staggers, I flap in close, palm to its chest.

Small size has perks. To it, I'm a mosquito now.

Bam!—

"Oof."

It doesn't budge from the solid hit. Tough scales. A million not enough?

Fine, harder—

Hummm!—

"Huh? Hey, no!"

Its foreleg rockets straight at me. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Gonna squash me flat?

Platform behind me. Pump physical enhancement into hands and feet. Thrust palms forward.

Boom!— Block the incoming claw dead-on.

The red dragon's flesh halts. It pushes harder in confusion.

Creak—grind!— I push back, forcing it away.

Whoosh!—

"…!"

Maybe sensing danger, heat erupts from between its scales like an explosion. Steel-melting inferno.

I could ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tank it… but my clothes'd burn. Real danger. I pull back.

"Whew… almost got my stream banned."

Shing!— A blue blade flashes beside me. Moonlight Frenzy.

Slash-slash-slash!—

"Oh."

One swing in view, but dozens of slashes erupt after. Heat energy slices and scatters at the blade's edge.

From within the frenzy, Kairan shouts, sword leading.

"Path cleared! Advance!"

"Uh…?"

Didn't need to, but…?

What're they on about?

"Less yapping, more donating!"

Flap!— I dive back into the gap, toward its chest. Left hand over right like a prayer grip, mana surges wider, stronger.

"Hah!"

Boom!—

———!!

Hit solid this time. It blasts back, scales shedding.

…Wait, those sellable?

I zip in, snagging a few. Activate Treasure Digitalization.

"Ha… yeah, that's it."

Profit beats cost. Winning trade. Thrilling.

Suddenly pumped. Rip 'em all off? Teeth? Eyes? Bones? Organs? Meat?

"Heehee… what's all that worth?"

Excited giggle slips out. It hears—pupils pinprick tight as it regains balance.

It knows now. What kind of dragon I am.

Snnnnniff!— Deep inhale.

Obvious intent. Viewers'd guess from the sound alone. Torch the whole area, me included?

Not losing that. Flap!— Pull back, suck in air hard.

Snap!— Five circles glow and vanish.

Fwoooosh!— Twin massive breaths collide, flames so fierce they'd devour the surroundings—locked in stalemate.

And from behind me—

Kaboom!—

Two support heat beams engulf the red dragon.

Flinch!—

"T-Terra!"

Ha-eun scouting nearby senses something, yanking Terra aside.

"Eek?! What?!"

"This way!"

She kicks open a building door, diving in.

Fwoosh!—

"Ugh… ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠almost died…."

Whirling flames rage outside. Then—

Kaboom!—

Ear-shattering roar.

"Breath…? That mana surge earlier… How'd you know?!"

"Huff… huff… Dunno… Unnie's buff maybe…."

Gasping, she stands shakily. Sudden instinctual life-threat.

This physical enhancement… boosts senses too?

Rustle!—

"…!"

Presences nearby. Ha-eun and Terra whip around.

"Wh-who are you…?"

"Hic… Mommy…."

"Elves…?"

Survivors: one adult elf, many kids. Daycare…?

Clang!—Boom!—

Impacts and earth-shaking blasts resume. Then—

"Damn… hey, human!"

"Y-yeah?!"

"That big dragon's gonna unleash its bound beasts!"

Shriek!—Grrr…!— Magic beasts snarling outside.

Crunch!—

"Terra…?"

Terra shifts arms and legs to dragon form, glaring out.

"I'm fighting. Goldie-nim ordered me to protect the elves here."

Ha-eun glances back at terrified kids.

"…."

Fight? Protect them?

'But I don't have the power….'

Not a safe D-rank gate. Unknown everything.

A-rank out there? Ten B-ranks? Could die, like unnie said.

Without enhancement, that breath would've ended her.

Obviously… doesn't wanna die.

'That's why I wanna get stronger….'

Yesterday, Bern said during training: To survive without dying, paradoxically prepare to die.

Knowing doesn't make stepping up easier. Death ends all.

Wish Association emailed orders… But superiors stay silent then.

They don't micromanage lives. Just guidelines.

Self-choice moments keep coming.

"If oppa went through this too…."

To surpass him, can't waste this chance. Stake life for growth.

"…B-rank hunter Park Ha-eun. Engaging for special green gate raid and subjugation. Battle… begins."

She hits record on her hunter watch, voice resolute. Follows Terra ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out, sword drawn.

Boom!—

High above, red dragon and Goldie clash. Roars and shockwaves reach here.

She's low compared to them. But position doesn't matter.

What counts: she stands here by choice.

She hasn't noticed yet amid the flames everywhere.

Her artifact evolved a step. First raw gem condition met.

Flicker!— Goldie's gaze pauses here.

At Ha-eun's blade tip: dark crimson flames dance.