The Second Match (1)
The day of the showdown between the prince's team and Erynias, led by Austin, had arrived.
A huge crowd had gathered, creating a raucous atmosphere, but Owen calmly reviewed his team's strategy.
"This terrain has a forest in the middle of the plains. Only small dragons can enter the forest, so we'll split left and right to attack the enemy."
Owen assigned his forces logically.
Hueid on the black thorn-tail dragon would take the left plain by the forest.
Leon on the savanna dragon and Dento on the plate dragon would handle the right plain.
The rider would stay as before with Alania, while Owen planned to head into the forest, leveraging his small dragon's advantage.
"That's the basic formation for now."
"But it'll change flexibly depending on the situation, right?"
"Exactly, Sir Hueid. If three of them swarm to target the black thorn-tail dragon, retreat to Sir Bentra's position and fight together."
"Understood. You'll move based on the situation?"
"Yes. I'll support wherever needed."
Alania cautioned him to be careful.
"The enemy team has a Similis dragon. It's medium-sized but slender, so it's likely to enter the forest."
"Don't worry. I won't push too hard."
Even as he said that, Owen expected to clash with the Similis dragon in the forest.
Suspicious guy. One of those Albert family bastards.
The Similis dragon and its rider from the Albert family had an intimacy of 0.
Yet they'd ridden out normally, which meant some shady method was at play.
Are they after something specific?
He even wondered if the Albert family identity itself was a disguise, but the documents checked out on paper.
Still, there wasn't time for a full investigation.
If we meet in the forest, I'll probe and see what they're thinking.
Owen was confident in his eloquence.
Talking might reveal some clues.
Just in case, he'd bought a dragon scroll yesterday for 600 gold coins.
It was a luxury afforded by his recent windfall of gold.
Bwooooooo—!
The horn signaling the start of the match blared out.
The prince's team of five gathered at their flag-marked starting position.
For now, they observed how the enemy would move.
"They're moving."
Two medium dragons appeared on the right plain by the forest.
The other three weren't visible yet.
They were probably still waiting near their rider.
The enemy seemed to want to observe a bit too.
Owen sent Leon and Dento forward on the right, and Hueid to the left.
"We'll proceed with the plan for now. Sir Hueid, since you're alone, focus on defense. Even if the left looks vulnerable, it could be a trap—don't advance until the enemy's numbers thin out."
"Got it."
The strategy had been thoroughly planned before the match.
All that was left was to trust the dragon knights' skills.
Once they split left and right, the central forest would block their view of allies, making it even more crucial.
"Alright, then I'll head into the forest."
Owen mounted Grenville and plunged into the woods.
The forest was filled with tall oaks.
Sunlight filtered through the high canopy, illuminating the damp earth below.
It wasn't a huge forest, but whatever happened inside was invisible from outside.
"Grenville, keep flicking your tongue out."
"Eung!"
Owen tried to gauge the surroundings by scent, but it was tough.
The dense trees were the problem.
This time, Grenville's specialty wasn't working.
"Looks like we'll have to rely on sight."
Climbing trees wasn't feasible.
The oaks were thick, but not enough for a 10-meter dragon.
"Grenville, keep a good lookout around us."
"Eung!"
At least, despite Grenville's size, its specially structured footpads made almost no sound.
Owen held his breath, scanning the surroundings as he ventured deeper.
From outside the forest came the roars of large dragons.
They were probably trying to seize the initiative before full engagement.
Owen gauged the enemy numbers on left and right from the sounds.
Two on the right, as expected. None on the left?
No sounds came from the left, where the black thorn-tail dragon was positioned.
Did that mean the remaining three dragons were still with their rider?
"Grenville, high chance someone's entered the forest. No fighting on the left at all right now."
"Gek! Eung."
Grenville understood and let out a sharper cry.
Swoosh.
Then, a shadow seemed to flit by in the distance.
"Stop."
He hadn't seen it clearly, but sunlight pouring into the forest had been briefly blocked.
Owen had Grenville hug the ground completely.
They froze, watching cautiously.
No bird calls or insect chirps in the forest.
Everything held its breath in tension.
Owen stared unblinking ahead and spotted the enemy.
"Here it comes."
At a glance, it was a dragon over 30 meters long, moving silently through the woods.
It made no sound unfit for its bulk.
Its body was elongated, like a long snake with four legs attached.
That let it slither through the trees.
Its face was fierce, muzzle pointed.
Unlike Grenville's cute round tongue, it flicked a forked snake-like one.
Grenville sensed the Similis dragon approaching and bristled.
"Eung!"
Owen considered a surprise attack.
No good. Similis dragons live in forests, after all.
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Besides, the Suffolk Duke had ruled that the forest couldn't be damaged, making it impossible.
No breathing fire, even as a threat.
So Owen stuck to his original plan: talk and retreat.
"Greetings, Sir Albert."
The rider on the Similis dragon was Luke, who had suffered humiliation at Owen's hands before.
But now disguised as Bellio Albert.
"Shaaak!"
As Grenville revealed itself, the Similis dragon gaped wide.
Ferocious, as if ready to snap them up.
"Whoa! Whoa!"
Luke yanked the reins to hold his dragon back.
His visor was up, and his appearance had changed from body modification.
Owen didn't recognize him.
"Leire."
Luke's voice dripped with hostility.
To Owen, a total stranger, he had no idea why the glare was murderous.
"I've waited for this day. Owen Leire. The day I'll crunch your bones between my teeth!"
Owen frowned at the venom-filled attitude.
He truly had no clue who this was.
"Because of the 2nd Dragon Stable manager Albert?"
"Hmph! I don't care what happens to that fool."
"Strange. The only Albert I've crossed is that one. You're new to me today."
"Curious? Ponder it in hell. Who killed you!"
With that, Luke fired his pre-loaded crossbow.
Twang!
The bolt flew at tremendous speed with the string's snap.
Owen swiftly blocked with his left gauntlet.
Clang!
The projectile shattered on impact, the arrowhead ricocheting toward his helmet.
Ting—!
The clamor rang in Owen's helmeted head.
His visor was up for visibility—nearly disastrous.
Cold sweat beaded on Owen automatically.
"This psycho? Real weapons!"
A clear dent marked the gauntlet.
Cheap armor would've been pierced clean through.
The enemy clearly intended to kill, not just compete.
"Hahaha!"
Luke laughed triumphantly.
His only regret: the Similis dragon's long, thin build prevented a ballista setup.
One shot would've skewered the arrogant Owen.
But with death decided, options abounded.
"Tail strike!"
At Luke's command, the Similis dragon whipped its whip-like tail at Grenville.
Of course, direct hit avoided in the forest.
Instead, oaks struck by the tail toppled, crashing toward Grenville.
"Dodge!"
Owen yanked the reins; Grenville leaped aside.
Match rules banned forest damage, but the enemy ignored it.
Swaaack!
Another tail whip shattered nearby oaks into chunks.
Boom!
Owen urged Grenville to flee with all its might.
The Similis dragon's tail alone outlengthened Grenville entirely.
One hit would shatter bones.
"Grenville! Run!"
Realizing he couldn't win head-on, Owen pulled the reins to retreat.
"Eung!"
Grenville wheeled without hesitation and bolted.
"Kuhahaha! Running away?!"
Luke pursued, laughing heartily.
Grenville fled desperately, but in the forest, the Similis dragon kept pace.
Unfortunately for Owen, no chance to breathe fire.
He'd need to light a torch from the saddle with flint, then hold it to Grenville's maw—Luke wouldn't wait.
They were barely escaping as is.
"Think you can flee the forest?!"
Luke was dead set on no escape.
Straight-line speed favored his Similis dragon.
So Owen zigzagged Grenville left and right.
"Tch! Damn it!"
This made shaking pursuit and exiting the forest impossible.
Luke quickly grasped it.
"Hahaha! How far do you think you'll go?!"
He herded Owen like a hunting dog.
Capture seemed a matter of time.
But Owen stayed calm.
"Grenville, stop in front of that rock."
"Eung!"
Fleeing Owen halted Grenville before a massive central boulder. Luke sneered, stopping his dragon.
"Giving up, you wretch?!"
Luke switched tactics now that flight had stopped.
Previously chasing for a bite, now tail strikes were better with distance.
Tokay dragons had big heads and strong bite force—bad to grapple.
He'd win, but might lose an arm-equivalent.
Wiser to batter with tail from afar.
"I'll kill you and your dragon together! Owen!"
"Wait! I surrender!"
Unexpectedly, Owen dismounted, raising both hands.
Luke's sneer deepened.
No intent to accept surrender.
Pretend to, then torment thoroughly.
Perfect. I'll repay the humiliation you gave me.
His cruel eyes gleamed at thoughts of humiliations for a life.
"Surrender?"
"Yes! I surrender. Can't beat you, so I surrender. Spare my life, please!"
"Oh ho! All that arrogance, now tucking tail like a scared mutt?"
Despite Luke's curses, Owen tossed his sword, knelt, and groveled obsequiously, rubbing hands.
"Please spare my life. I don't know who you are, but I hope you vent your grudge."
Luke pondered tortures for the bowing Owen, then beckoned closer.
Plan: lop limbs one by one, feed to Similis dragon.
"Heh heh heh."
Just thinking was delightful.
Then Owen unexpectedly offered his dragon scroll as atonement.
Extremely valuable—Luke perked up.
"A dragon scroll?"
"Yes."
"Good. Hand it over."
At Luke's approval, Owen pulled a dragon scroll from the metal case at his waist and unfurled it as if to show.
Luke, watching, tilted his head.
"Hm?"
A dragon image was drawn on the scroll.
Empty scrolls showed nothing.
Only when a dragon was stored did its image appear.
What? Didn't he already summon his dragon?
Luke froze, confused.
He hadn't imagined Owen had two scrolls.
But that wasn't the issue now.
"Oh no!"
As Luke faltered, Owen had already summoned the second dragon inside.
"Hyper!"
It was Hyper, the A-rank potential Murish dragon.
Acquired from the 5th Dragon Stable, dragon despite calf-like smallness.
But fiercer than Grenville.
Hyper materialized exactly where Owen wanted: atop the Similis dragon's head.
"Kek!"
Naturally, a dragon appearing before him shocked Luke.
"What?!"
Luke fumbled for his saddle lance, but Hyper was faster.
Patpatpat!
Hyper charged straight across the Similis dragon's neck, slamming its hard head into Luke.
Clang!
With a metallic crash, Luke's body flew into the air.
"Aaaah!"
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