Return as a Mythical Archmage Chapter 34 – Dragon Skin is Incredibly Tough #1

Boss room. Everything has an end. And the dungeon's end was embodied by this boss and its chamber.

The entrance to the pitch-black cavern looked ominous at first glance. When Lawrence stood before it, those words appeared.

He knew instinctively. This was a trial from the artifact.

He didn't know what thoughts or will lay behind it, but the intent was clear: to test him.

What monster are they sending to torment me this time?

Unfairness. Something Lawrence had endured countless times before. In his previous life, it had been the most familiar word.

The thought of being thrown back into that irrational hell made chills crawl up his spine.

But things were different now. He couldn't wallow in the past forever.

I'll charge right in. I'm sick of this crap anyway.

He didn't know what the reward was, but he resolved to break through no matter what.

After checking the artifact's capacity, Lawrence strode forward confidently.

Inside the cavern, a monster with gleaming dark green eyes glared at him.

Undead. It wouldn't tire, for starters. A writhing mass of muscle. Unlike the crude weapons of kobolds, this one wielded a properly forged weapon.

Drawing on his knowledge from before his regression, Lawrence identified it immediately.

A monster beyond what his eleven-year-old body could handle.

"An undead orc? Damn... they really made this trial a bitch."

Whether it was a true trial or an attempt to kill him outright, the boss's appearance was ambiguous.

Trolls were slow, and sealing their regeneration made them manageable. But orcs knew how to fight.

Orcs might look smaller and weaker, but the difference between having combat skills or not was life-or-death.

Between an orc and a troll, the troll was the prey.

Scared? That's what the relic seemed to say.

Lawrence bared his teeth in a grin.

Like hell he'd put up with this.

"Bite me."

With the orc's guttural snort, its massive body lunged.

Lawrence's eyes gleamed. The power of the artifacts implanted throughout his body propelled him into motion.

Boom!

Dust billowed up, and the spot where Lawrence had stood cratered deeply.

If his immature body had taken that head-on, he'd have been blasted back to reality in an instant. Terrifying power.

I won't lose.

Listen up. When facing foes faster and bigger than you, first make them get used to you.

Any living thing dies from one hit to its vitals. That's just how life works.

The old assassin's words echoed in his mind. At this point, Lawrence figured he could call the man "master."

Tensing every muscle in his body, he drew on the Eden family's training methods, the remaining artifact capacity, negative energy, and a warrior's movements.

He had to borrow all their power to fell this monster.

A battle that seemed grueling, one he'd expected to suffer through.

But it wasn't as hard as he'd thought.

Huh?

Boom!

The orc's strike missed by a hair again. His body throbbed from the flying debris, but he was fine.

He'd even thought this might turn into a grind for experience.

"Ah, so this is what you wanted?"

The relic seemed speechless, somehow.

"We must stop this now!"

"Wait, let's watch a bit longer."

"What do you mean? There's no need to kill off a noble heir!"

"If he gets overwhelmed, won't he just pop back here? This is a good chance to gauge his true potential."

"Do you think a young master's mind will stay intact after that? Or... is there some reason you're doing this?"

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠atmosphere turned hostile in an instant.

Iron Hanma, master of the Iron Tower, and the Blue Tower master clashed sharply.

Iron Hanma insisted on pulling Lawrence out of the virtual dungeon immediately, while the Blue Tower master wanted to observe more.

The Blue Tower master snapped first.

"I can't let that comment slide."

"Sounds like you've got something to hide."

Rumble...

Excluding Edward, they were the pinnacle of mages—the tower masters. Their confrontation shook the entire vast space.

Fortunately, someone intervened.

"Enough from both of you. We must follow protocol. The trial isn't over yet."

"...Fine. But wake him before a fatal blow."

"We'll handle that."

The Red Tower master and Green Tower master stepped in to mediate. The Tower of Change master joined them.

"Don't worry. I'll keep a close eye."

"Remember, the eyes of Montemer and the world are watching."

"..."

Everyone nodded at Iron Hanma's stern words.

The Blue Tower master snorted disdainfully, his discomfort plain.

What a shame. A perfect chance to crush that monster's bud.

A gem he couldn't claim anyway. Having made a deal with Media Montemer, no performance from Lawrence could bring him to the Blue Tower.

Better to eliminate him here than let him go elsewhere. He'd face reprimands, but Media would cover for him.

She was that kind of person.

"No need to worry. Young Master Lawrence's safety is assured."

"I'll trust you. On a mage's pride."

"We swear on our mana."

The tower masters' commotion settled for now.

The children, trembling as they watched the standoff, included two with shining eyes: one pair blue, one crimson.

Montemer's impressive again.

It was Piaje Bricksir from the Bricksir family. Having defeated her slightly larger kobold boss, she stared intently at Lawrence's crystal orb.

Boom!

Blood filled his mouth. His breath burned in his throat, and his legs screamed in agony.

Though all illusion, it felt more real than reality itself.

Just a bit more.

Halfway to hatchling. Just a little further.

The undead orc moved mechanically, its patterns already mapped in Lawrence's mind.

Time for a counterattack, he thought. The orc seemed accustomed to his speed, showing no variation.

A bit more time, and he'd unleash a fiercer assault.

Whoosh!

The spell manifested at high speed, as always. Lawrence hurled the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fireball into an opening.

Boom!

A strike more powerful than any standard 3rd-circle mage's. As light flashed, the undead orc went berserk.

Crackle!

Three lightning arrows pierced the orc's limbs.

Crunch!

Ignoring pain thanks to its undead nature, it charged. But Lawrence met the attack head-on with sheer force.

"Nngh!"

One arm went numb, his brain ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠burning like fire. Clutching his fading consciousness, a miracle unfolded from the baby dragon's growth.

It doesn't hurt.

The orc's final frenzy and barrage continued. Its bulging muscles writhed, swinging wildly.

But Lawrence's body was now that of the guardian.

Crunch!

The weapon snapped uselessly, ending its brief existence.

"Die, you pig bastard."

BOOM!

With a massive explosion, the orc's head burned away.

Unable to withstand the shock, Lawrence tumbled across the ground.

But he felt no pain.

He'd worried that without mana roads, he'd fall to aura or magic eventually.

But that fear proved unfounded.

Dragon Scale. Dragon's scales, literally.

"Heh... that's more like it."

How about that, relic? I won.

A brilliant light flashed.

Cheers erupted simultaneously.

When he opened his eyes, he saw the children clapping enthusiastically and the tower masters staring in shock.

Blinking to clear his blurry vision, he rose slowly.

"Are you alright, young master?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"Heh, what a show. Impressive battle. Especially seeing the legendary Chantless Casting—never dreamed I'd witness it."

"Thank you."

They seemed convinced already. Their eyes sparkled like galaxies about to burst.

Stretching, Lawrence stood fully and faced the tower masters.

"Is the trial over now?"

"We'll move to the next venue. The sparring test remains."

"Got it."

"..."

Lawrence answered brightly and headed out.

Several watched him intently.

Arthur Goldvein's eyes mixed fear and jealousy; Piaje's brimmed with interest; the Blue Tower master's gaze was displeased.

Iron Hanma, finally, beamed with satisfaction.

Hahaha, what a fine talent. Perfect.

Especially that close-range barrage of ultra-fast spells—it mirrored the legendary battle mages exactly.

Iron Hanma resolved: he had to recruit him.

Meanwhile, Lawrence savored his new changes.

Text scrolled, detailing them precisely.

The physical rewards were sweet enough.

But now came the real prize.

Sweet. So damn sweet.

The reward of victory over a strong foe was sweeter than anything, fueling his next step.

Now, only the sparring remained.

He had work to do here.

Time to fight like a barbarian. Make sure Iron Tower Master takes me in.

He could already feel the joy of gnawing on meat bones.