Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Aranvalon vs Giant Dragon (1)
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Aranvalon's Dragon Fang Soldiers numbered roughly 300.
Compared to the approximately 1,000 drakes summoned by the Giant Dragon, their numbers were woefully insufficient.
But their quality was different.
The soldiers' blades were sharp, and especially the crossbows firing in rapid succession were ferocious.
Screeech! Screeech!
The drakes screamed as bolts tore through the air toward them.
Boom! Boooom!
Blood sprayed into the air, and one by one, they collapsed to the ground.
I shook my head.
'Those things.'
I knew from experience.
Seeing those horrific bolts that had once been aimed at me now from a third-person perspective brought fresh emotions.
- Kya aaaah!
- Kie, kieeee!
But the drakes weren't pushovers either.
Thud thud thud!
They didn't just sit still; dozens at a time formed packs and charged, spewing red breath from their nostrils.
The sight of them weathering the bolt barrage, knocking swords aside with their teeth, and headbutting was truly spectacular.
"Whew."
I let out a breath at the evenly matched spectacle.
Indeed.
These weren't the low-level drakes we'd caught in the elf village back then.
Of course not—these were elite drakes personally summoned by the Giant Dragon itself.
They couldn't be ordinary.
Kwaaang!
The two forces clashed.
The Dragon Fang Soldiers and drakes collided as if they were mortal enemies.
Stabbing, biting, tearing at each other.
"Whew."
Vladimir whistled.
"This is something else. It's like a war straight out of a fantasy novel? Team leader, so who are we supposed to root for?"
The air was thick with the smell of blood everywhere.
"Wait, before that, is it really okay for us to just stand here watching?"
"Hold on a moment."
I raised my hand.
I didn't even turn my gaze toward Vladimir.
My eyes were fixed solely on the two entities ahead.
Aranvalon and the Giant Dragon.
Grooooar!
The two massive dragons, brimming with enmity and murderous intent, eyed each other warily.
Just that was enough to whip up gusts of wind all around, making my chest feel tight.
"For now, let's watch and gauge who has the upper hand."
Based on aura alone.
I slightly favored Aranvalon.
But with evenly matched skills, you never know until they actually fight.
A moment's judgment.
Or a moment's mistake.
Could decide the victor.
"Of course, just sitting back and watching won't cut it."
I clenched my fist tightly.
"We need to balance things out, make them drain each other as much as possible."
If one overwhelmed the other with a decisive gap, our fisherman's gain plan would shatter like broken glass.
As I glared with wide eyes, scrutinizing the situation.
Kwaaaaaang!
Finally, the two beings began clashing directly.
The Dragon Fang Soldiers wielding their blades flinched at the Giant Dragon's initial headlong charge.
Even the drakes charging ahead halted momentarily.
"Ugh."
Olena made a face of disgust.
"Just one clash, and it's like the world is ripping apart?"
Rumble rumble!
This time, Aranvalon moved.
The Greed Dragon's sharp foreclaws aimed for the Giant Dragon's torso and struck.
Splaash!
Blood fountains sprayed in all directions.
- Krahaha! Burn! Invader!
High in the sky.
Red magic circles etched themselves across the air.
Fwoosh! Fwoooosh!
Blazing beams of heat shot from each one, exploding on impact.
Winds howled, and thick clouds of dust rose.
'Tch.'
What if I'd been there in between?
I probably would've turned to dust without even dreaming of blocking it.
- …….
But the Giant Dragon didn't vanish into dust.
It still maintained its massive body.
- Hmph. Is that all you've got?
A vague shape shifted within the dust.
- Impressive strength, but that's it. Is that the extent of your skill, daring to indulge in such presumptuous greed?
The Giant Dragon bared its teeth.
Forget surviving that, it was even acting nonchalant?
I couldn't grasp how the situation would unfold.
- Hmm, not bad for a dragon from beyond the realm. But.
Aranvalon chuckled.
- That's not something to say with that sorry state of yours.
The Greed Dragon's yellow eyes turned toward the Giant Dragon's torso.
Covered in sticky blood and scorched red skin.
It definitely looked damaged.
- In comparison, what have you shown? Just summoning drakes? Or mindlessly ramming your head in? Your actions don't match your words—it's utter nonsense.
- As if. True power requires patience to build.
Woooong!
This time, a black magic circle etched itself in the air.
Far larger than the one Aranvalon had made.
- My primary ability is gravity. Feel the weight of a superior class, you greedy vermin!
Flap!
The Giant Dragon's massive bulk took to the skies.
At the same time, its extending foreclaw carried a different aura than before.
The weight symbolic of the Giant Dragon.
- Hm?
Aranvalon furrowed his brow.
- Impressive, not falling for the provocation.
His teeth also parted menacingly.
- But trying to crush me with mere weight? Laughable. Gravity only shines with a vast difference in power. It won't work on me.
The Greed Dragon didn't dodge.
Its eyes gleamed as it countered head-on.
At the same time.
Kwaaaaaang!
A deafening explosion tore through the sky once more, rattling eardrums.
And this time.
The shock alone crushed nearby drakes and split Dragon Fang Soldiers.
Truly immense power!
"Urk!"
"Damn it, get down! Duck and brace!"
"I-I'll reinforce the shield!"
Even we, at a decent distance, weren't unscathed.
Once, twice, thrice.
Each clash sent waves that shook our insides to the core.
'Crazy.'
I was in awe.
Not of the dragons, but of Eldrin and Demir.
Those guys.
They'd sealed beings like that?
No matter how tough uniting the races was, how the hell did they seal something like that?
Boom! Kwaaaang!
Their battle continued.
- Fire attribute, now water attribute. Not a fire dragon or water dragon—just a vague thing that only knows greed?
The ground shook.
- Quiet. All bulk, no substance. And you? Just a vaguely heavy dragon?
The earth flipped.
- Crushed under that weight, can't do a thing. Yeah, go ahead and catch your breath.
- Hmm, more worried about your excessive bleeding. I admit your weight brings power, but too slow?
Even as they traded barbs.
Each and every attack was cautious yet sharp.
"……."
I kept watching.
Focusing, probing their full strength.
I pictured them in my mind, running hundreds, thousands of simulations.
And my conclusion.
'As expected, Aranvalon has a slight edge.'
The Giant Dragon's attacks were powerful, but inaccurate.
Aranvalon's were somewhat weaker, but precise.
The longer it went.
Wounds would fester, fatigue accumulate.
The already slow Giant Dragon would slow even more.
'Then.'
Right now, side with the Giant Dragon.
"Everyone, get ready."
I said to the team members behind me.
"We're taking out the Dragon Fang Soldiers from now on."
"Decision made?"
"Yeah, getting too close right now is a death sentence, so let's do what we can."
I looked toward the front left.
Drakes and Dragon Fang Soldiers still tangled in combat.
More than half the original drakes lay dead on the ground.
The Dragon Fang Soldiers were down to half as well.
The perfect balance.
'But.'
Now we tip it.
"Taeyang."
"Yes, my lord!"
Whoosh!
Taeyang approached, drawing his spear.
"Eldrin."
"Yes, Master."
"Those guys. Have them handle it themselves, nice and coordinated. Just like we practiced."
"Understood."
"Got it."
I left the skeletons to them.
"Alright, let's get started!"
"Better than just standing around watching. At least this eases the mind."
"Charge first."
The team members drew their weapons and began running.
Grip!
I transformed my weapon into a spear and gripped it.
At the same time, I charged.
The drakes' massive bodies blocked the Dragon Fang Soldiers' crossbows, making approach easier.
- Grrr!
One drake snorted and bared its teeth at me.
But I rolled under its trajectory to evade.
'Sorry, but you guys later.'
Priority: Dragon Fang Soldiers.
"Hu, hu!"
I breathed hard as I kept running.
Thanks to training.
Or the weapon's effect.
My body felt light.
Almost like flying?
Before long, a Dragon Fang Soldier firing a crossbow appeared before me.
It met my eyes and hurriedly drew its sword.
But I thrust my spear with full momentum.
Puk!
The spear tip pierced under its jaw, shattering its head.
The might of Godslayer, killer of gods?
Even those supposedly tough dragon teeth shattered.
'Not bad?'
The sensation in my hand felt good.
Never done much melee as a necromancer.
But this had its own charm?
Proof my skills had leveled up.
I kept swinging the spear.
Not just the spear?
When too close, I switched to sword.
When two or more rushed in, shield to deflect.
"Whoa, my friend."
Judgment Spear, watching, stuck out his tongue.
"How is even your fighting style so unique? A warrior who switches weapons mid-battle."
"It's called Myriad Arts."
"Myriad Arts. Master of all, eh?"
"Yeah, something like that. Focus!"
Clang!
I deflected a Dragon Fang Soldier's sword with my shield and twisted my waist.
Whoosh!
As I twisted, the spear reformed and lunged for its heart.
Crack!
The spear tore through roughly.
But even with its heart pierced, the soldier kept attacking.
Like a skeleton.
Fearless, painless.
'But.'
I reformed the spear still lodged in it.
Fwoosh!
The sealed fire essence easily emerged, forming a shield again.
Clang!
As its great force struck the shield, reformed once more.
This time, the sword-form pierced its throat.
"Die, you bastard."
I kicked it hard, toppling it.
Already critically hit in heart and throat, it soon stopped moving.
"Hu, ha."
"Are you alright?"
A gentle hand touched my side.
Warm light erased wounds and bruises, easing pain.
['Bone7' uses skill, 'Intermediate Healing' (Lv.2).]
Bone7's healing helped too.
Bone7 and Myo Hana.
They'd teamed up, roaming the battlefield.
Funny thing.
Bone Doctor guarded their flank.
'Impressive.'
Taeyang's sensible command.
"Yes, I'm fine now. Go help others."
"Got it!"
As she left, I surveyed around.
The drake and Dragon Fang Soldier battle was nearing its end.
Our involvement had completely flipped it.
Almost all Dragon Fang Soldiers wiped out, the few remaining surrounded by countless drakes under concentrated fire.
'Giant Dragon's quick on the uptake.'
Curiously.
After a certain point, drakes stopped attacking us.
It knew.
We were helping it.
'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.'
Thud thud thud!
The drakes that had surrounded the Dragon Fang Soldiers.
Ignored us, charging straight at Aranvalon.
'It knows.'
No matter how much I hated it.
How much I wanted to rip it apart.
The situation was that desperate.
'Alright then.'
I shook out my sore arms.
'Time to switch to Aranvalon's side?'
The scales had tipped.
Time to balance again?
I put strength back into my legs.