Chapter 57
Chapter 57
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 057
Chapter Title: Dragon Butcher
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Crazy, they're trying to bake pizza in here!"
"Swallow it! Swallow, you bastard Walter!"
"Urk..."
"Bag! Anyone got a bag!"
In the midst of the panicking guards and inmates lifting their legs to dodge the pizza, Lieutenant Roden shook his head and radioed in.
"Hey. The smell's brutal—open the hatch."
[Urk... J-just a sec...]
"......"
'What a mess.'
Shaking his head, Roden finally skirted past the pizza and manually opened the front hatch.
Cold, crisp air rushed in immediately.
"Disembark first!"
"Get out! Hurry!"
"Ugh, fuck, the smell."
"Can't even complain since it's Clark bro's right-hand man, fuck."
The inmates scrambled out like they were fleeing, only to freeze at the surreal sight before them.
"No way..."
"What the hell is that?"
Stretched across their path was a curtain of fire slicing through the snowfield.
The remnants of the dragon's freezing magic, still burning strong—they all gaped in awe.
"So you're saying Clark bro did this...?"
"H-he's a heretic mage?"
The fresh arrivals from the Gulag wore stunned expressions.
But remembering their first day there, a chill rapidly crept down their spines.
"...He didn't even use magic back then."
In other words, he'd gone ridiculously easy on them.
That realization sent cold sweat trickling down the backs of their necks.
Maybe the sporty-haired guy who ended up as mush that day got off lucky.
A few newbies shuddered, recalling how close they'd come to joining him.
"Holy shit."
One of them muttered.
"...We almost got fucked."
No one argued.
Meanwhile, an unnatural silence hung over the command and control room monitoring the situation.
Everyone stared at the fiery barrier on the screens until a guard snapped out of it and shouted.
"Status reports from each platoon!"
[Static... 1st Platoon all clear!]
[2nd Platoon, one guard injured but otherwise fine!]
[3rd Platoon reporting no issues aside from the vile vomit stench.]
[4th Platoon...]
He compiled the reports and delivered them in a trembling voice.
"A-all units report no major issues aside from a handful of minor injuries!"
"No armored vehicle losses!"
"This is a miracle...!!"
Honestly, when the dragon appeared out of nowhere, they'd all thought it was over.
A dragon, no less.
Most had left the material plane by now, making sightings rarer than rare in this era—only scattered records remained.
Legends of sky kings, their bodies tough but their magic unmatched.
They soared freely, unleashing magic on an unbelievable scale, inspiring terror and awe in equal measure.
So when thousands of ice spears blotted out the sky, they'd braced for the 141st Unit's annihilation.
"And the Butcher pulls it off again..."
"Where does this guy end?"
"What even is that spell? Never seen a fire wall like that."
"He's way beyond your average heretic mage."
"...Could a Moonlit Path exec pull that off?"
"Doubt it. Hard to say for sure..."
The newly transferred police brass felt the same.
"Hah..."
"Heard the rumors about the Butcher."
"Seeing it for real? Words fail. How did he block a dragon's magic...?"
"And from a speeding armored vehicle, no less."
"Guts aside, what kind of focus...? A monster?"
These were the officers set to command the expanded battalions.
Joseph, the team leader, addressed them.
"So remember this: Treat the Butcher as completely separate from the other inmates. Especially you, Eddie."
He nodded to the young, bronze-skinned officer, Eddie Kent—who'd oversee the Butcher's 1st Battalion.
Eddie nodded gravely.
"Yes, sir. I'll keep that in mind."
That's when it happened.
■■■■■■■...!!
The dragon's cry echoed from beyond the fire wall.
The pyramid departed, and the beast slammed down onto the snowfield with a BOOM!—monitors lit up.
"...! Team Leader!"
A pale-faced guard shouted.
"Unknown dragon type...! It's right in front of the Butcher!!"
"!!"
Eddie, staring at the bodycam feed, urgently turned to Joseph.
"Team Leader! Order a retreat now—!"
Anyone who'd heard even one dragon tale knew:
"Magic doesn't work on dragons!"
He knew the Butcher's mainstay was multi-element magic—he'd crushed foes with it so far.
But Joseph just shook his head.
"No need."
"Huh?"
"Look. Is the Butcher backing down?"
"!!"
Eddie gawked at the screen.
The Butcher wasn't retreating—he was facing it head-on.
"Here's a tip for running any unit with Kyle Clark."
Joseph eyed the main monitor.
"No matter the situation, trust the Butcher's judgment first."
Magic ineffective against dragons?
Joseph knew that much.
But Kyle Clark always exceeded expectations.
If he wasn't retreating, he had a plan.
"Don't forget."
Joseph told Eddie.
"That's how Kyle Clark works miracles."
"...!!"
That's when Kyle's voice faintly carried over the wind through their earpieces.
[You... a real dragon?]
"...?"
A bizarre question to a dragon.
Joseph, with an earpiece in one ear, ordered:
"Boost audio to me only."
"Yes!"
They circled slowly, ice dragon and man facing off.
[Hold on, let me guess.]
Joseph narrowed his eyes at the odd vibe.
Instinct kicking in, Kyle asked:
[...No way, but you're Reberk, right?]
[?!]
The ice dragon reacted visibly.
Joseph's eyes widened.
'Reberk?'
Kyle couldn't explain exactly why "Reberk" came to mind for this dragon—or what sparked it.
But the beast knew his moniker "Butcher" despite just being summoned.
And the thick emotions aimed his way.
Suspicious, he activated [Nebras's Heightened Senses]—pure intuition hit.
This winged lizard was Reberk.
[......]
The dragon's reaction sealed it for Kyle.
'Nailed it.'
He let out an incredulous chuckle.
"Now it's dragons? Magic Tower never ceases to amaze."
Who knew what those mages hid—but spot on.
'Whether it's transformed into a dragon or whatever.'
If this thing was Reberk, no holding back.
Lightning intensified—Franz, possessing the dragon, bellowed.
[S-so what if I am!]
Face twisting savagely, he whipped his tail, blasting snow skyward with a BOOM!
White powder exploded.
[I'm a dragon now—soon the skies! You're just a pathetic human mage...]
Franz growled low at Kyle.
[Think your puny magic touches me?]
Kyle shrugged.
"Gotta try to find out."
[Hahaha! Vermin. Know your place. How long can you keep that arrogant mug?]
BOOM! Lightning stake hurtled through the snow like a thunderbolt.
The dragon countered—ancient runes flared on its wings.
"......"
"......"
Tension thickened amid the worsening blizzard.
Against the burning wall, in the empty snowfield: ancient dragon versus one human.
"...Gulp."
The control room held its breath at the powder keg vibe—as helicopters thundered overhead, mana erupted.
[Die, Butcher!!]
The dragon lunged, summoning massive ice pillars mercilessly.
A dozen columns bombarded Kyle's position like airstrikes.
KABOOM!!
Shockwaves pulverized the frozen ground.
[Hahaha!!]
Direct hit, no doubt.
"That psycho...!"
Horror rippled through the watchers—
BOOM!!
Kyle burst from the shattering pillars, swinging lightning wildly.
Franz's eyes bulged.
[You...! How!]
He vanished—the pillars crashed after him.
But Kyle was faster, dodging as he slammed a fully charged stake into the ground.
RUMBLE, BOOM!!
Snow erupted violently upward.
Steam flash-boiled, blasting him away—
Reset with [Baal's Minor Curse], he yelled:
"Now!"
[......!!]
Arctic winds howled on cue.
Surrendering to them, Kyle shot toward Franz like lightning.
WHOOSH!
[Useless!!]
Dragon runes flared—wind spirit veered sharply.
A 20m ice blade summoned, grazing Kyle perilously.
"Fuck, what is that!!"
"Dodge!!"
Inmates scattered from the colossal greatsword plummeting overhead.
BOOM!!
The blade cleaved the fire curtain, extinguishing embers with frigid aura.
The pyramid's forefront cleared, revealing the scene.
Other vehicles' occupants gaped through open hatches.
"...Fuckin' hell."
"Am I seeing this?"
Man versus sky dragon—like ancient myths.
All eyes locked—
[Where are you...!]
Franz scanned the storm.
[Where, Butcher!]
"Here."
[......!!]
He spun—the Butcher stood atop the greatsword's flat.
He dashed along the blade toward the ice dragon.
Closing in a blink, Kyle leaped with full force.
"Got it. You Magic Tower mages' weakness."
[What...?]
"Holed up in your tower researching."
His lips curled.
"Not much combat experience."
[!!!]
Even flustered, this was sloppy.
Summoning oversized ice blades blindly against one agile foe?
Impressive scale and power, sure.
"But not for this."
Perfect footholds, though.
Franz flinched, roaring:
[S-so what! Your magic still won't touch me!]
Wings beat—a massive gust blasted at the charging Kyle.
But wind couldn't stop him.
"Told you."
He hijacked the gale for extra speed, unleashing lightning from his palm.
CRACKLE!
"Only one way to know."
[...?!]
Sliding down the dragon's spine, he smashed lightning into its nape with everything.
[Lightning Stake]
[Dragonkin Slayer]
THUD...!!
Ominous sound—crimson aura spread through the air.
Condensing to a point—
The stake pierced the dragon's hide like butter.
BOOM!!
[AHHHH!!]
Franz thrashed in agony he'd never known.
Eddie in the control room gaped.
"Magic on a dragon..."
His jaw dropped.
"Worked?"
Joseph clenched a fist unwittingly.
'Knew it...!'
He grinned.
'Kyle, you always have a plan...!'
"■■■■■■■...!!"
Franz screeched like a banshee.
[How...! How did you pierce dragon hide!]
Kyle shot back:
"None of your business. Bite down hard."
CRACKLE!!
"Two more left."
[?!]
[Lightning Stake]
[Can be cast 3 times in succession.]
Terror gripped Franz—he rocketed skyward, flailing wildly.
[G-get off!!]
Solar-bright lightning ramped up relentlessly.
BOOM!
[AHH! Get off!!]
The chopper squadron leader yelled as the ice dragon surged up.
"Crazy, scatter!"
[Scatter!!]
It tore through them—a massive shadow ascending.
But Kyle clung to the reverse scale.
"One more."
BOOM!!
Roaring blasts and shockwaves peppered the snowy sky.
[AHH! AHHH! Please, get off!!]
Desperate, Franz unleashed freeze magic on himself.
"...!"
Ice storm poured—Kyle was flung off.
Franz beat wings frantically toward the pyramid.
[Summoner!! Summoner!! Hurry—reverse summon now!!]
[What...? You know reverse summons aren't instant!]
[Make it happen, you vermin!!]
Possessing the dragon meant its death was his.
Terror twisted Franz's face as he screamed.
[This way, I'll die!!]
That's when—
A chilling mana grazed the reverse scale.
[...!!]
Falling, Kyle smirked.
"Nice, flying right into my sights."
Target: the torn hide from the stake.
His hand gripped endlessly charging solar lightning spear.
Maxed out—
Dragonkin Slayer spear cleaved the white snowfield.
[Thunder Bolt]
[Dragonkin Slayer]
WHOOSH!!
Instinct screamed death—Franz Reberk muttered in disbelief.
[N-no. Not me, Franz Reberk, born of dragon mana...!]
Heir to great Reberk...!
[Die here? Like this? Pointlessly? Impossible...!!]
But end it was.
Flash.
Solar mana exploded skyward.
Yellow-red glow rained over the snowfield.
Everyone watched, eyes wide—
Thud! Kyle landed.
Behind him, charred ice dragon corpse tumbled in slow motion.
RUMBLE, BOOM!!
"......"
"......"
"......"
Silence fell.
The overwhelming scene left all speechless.
"Hah, I..."
The helicopter squadron leader, watching from above, covered his mouth and whispered.
"What the hell did I just see...?"
