Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: The Third Way to Fight a Dragon
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One of the front legs that took the full brunt of the attack snapped right off, sailing through the air, and the joint connecting it to the body collapsed.
Under the immense pressure, some entrails burst out through the sunken joint, and Hekab was sent flying dozens of meters away.
Mazdari shook off the debris and crawled out.
"Damn it... Basen? You okay?"
"So-so... Not great."
Mazdari whipped around in surprise.
Basen was trying to stand, but his leg was twisted at an odd angle.
"Shit. Is it broken?"
As Mazdari crouched down and reached for his bag, Basen waved him off.
"Mazdari, we have work to do."
"Yeah, better to carry you and run than waste time healing."
"That's not it."
"Then what?"
Basen glanced at Ashurada swinging his sword at the explorers who hadn't escaped yet.
"The situation's changed."
"I can see that much."
"No, you don't get it. We're not losing."
"Then what?"
"Just... the situation's changed. Means we need to adjust the plan."
Mazdari let Basen speak first, then called over a nearby explorer.
The troll explorer hurried over and supported Basen.
Mazdari took the other side, helping him retreat to the rear.
"Whatever we're doing, we need to move first."
"That's your job."
"Me?"
"Yeah, Mazdari."
Mazdari scowled.
"What is it?"
"I was going to do it, but with my leg like this, no can do. Doesn't matter who, though—you're qualified. Good talker, fast on your feet."
"What the hell are you asking me to—"
Basen limped along as he explained his plan.
Mazdari figured it out before he even finished.
"Are you insane?"
Basen said nothing.
"Guess not."
"You in?"
Mazdari released his grip on Basen without a word.
He glanced at Basen's back for a moment, then turned and sprinted off.
Basen spoke to the explorer supporting him.
"Just get me up that hill over there. I can walk after."
"Captain, your leg's broken."
"I know. Just this once."
But Ashurada showed no sign of giving even that much leeway.
Aside from the few adventurers who'd fled ahead, most of the party had been swept up in the natural disasters Ashurada was unleashing.
-If your civilization had reached its full potential, you might not have known.
Ashurada gripped his sword with both hands and raised it high.
-But if you'd been just a bit wiser, you'd thank me later for sparing you that curse.
As if building to maximum acceleration, Ashurada pulled his sword back with all his might.
-Right here, to me!
But Ashurada couldn't swing.
The sword was stuck fast, locked in place.
When Ashurada turned, he saw the white spider Hilrob had wrapped the blade and a massive boulder in layers of webbing.
-...So there's one more, huh.
Ashurada tried ripping through the web with brute force again.
But realizing it wouldn't give easily, he released the sword and turned toward Hilrob.
Hilrob circled him swiftly, eyes locked on Ashurada.
The moment Ashurada lunged for Hilrob's leg, the spider leaped onto the dragon's arm and scrambled up toward his neck.
-You dare climb my body!
Hilrob stabbed his legs into Ashurada for purchase as he climbed, aiming next for the cervical vertebrae.
But Ashurada's hand wrapped around his neck first.
Hilrob tried pulling free to target lower, but one leg caught on Ashurada's finger bone.
Ashurada sneered.
-Don't be a nuisance, bug.
Ashurada grabbed several of Hilrob's legs with his other hand and yanked them forward.
Then he seized the rest with his opposite hand.
Just that snapped several legs with a sickening crunch.
-Did you think living by the gods' will meant eternal life? Ha, I'm living proof otherwise.
Hilrob retorted.
-Do you know what my eight eyes see?
-What?
-An ignorant lizard who thinks he knows something.
-Lame last words.
Ashurada opened his maw and brought his head down.
He meant to bite Hilrob's head off.
-Stop, dragon!
Ashurada felt a burning sting at his tail tip.
He'd thought he'd blasted the longhorn beetle away and killed whatever was wearing Koprik's shell, so curiosity piqued him.
Clinging to Ashurada's tail end was a massive anteater.
-...You?
-I am Katulu! Here to aid my friend!
Katulu yanked the tail with all his strength.
Ashurada lost balance, flailed, dropped Hilrob, and crashed ungracefully.
-You bastard! I remember now—you were meant to be my sacrifice!
-That day will never come!
Ashurada scrambled to his feet on all fours and turned on Katulu.
A small voice shouted from afar.
"Fire!"
Ashurada whipped toward the hilltop.
A thousand Pangolians in formation had matchlocks trained on him.
At their front stood Mago, sword raised, personally commanding.
-Boom!
Ashurada collapsed under the pain slamming his whole body, blinded by white smoke, and choked by the acrid gunpowder stench.
Katulu toddled up and wrapped his arms around Ashurada’s neck, squeezing tight.
Ashurada's eyes snapped open and tried lifting his head, but could only raise his body.
-Mutt!
-The mutt's you, dragon!
Katulu snarled back.
Ashurada bared his upper fangs threateningly to retort.
"Fire!"
Ashurada howled in agony as explosions hammered his flank amid the deafening blasts.
The rapid volley came from the Black Scale Party's main force of 500.
Tione Itimo ordered reloads and supported Basen.
"Took us a bit to handle the Rakshasas—should've come sooner. You look rough."
"I'm fine. We weren't getting steamrolled."
"I was talking about your leg."
Ashurada hunched low, then lashed out with his long tail from afar.
-Gah!
Katulu had no choice but to loosen his grip from the blow to his head.
Ashurada seized the opening.
-I'll show you numbers mean nothing.
Ashurada rose, snatched up his sword with his jaws.
As the second rank of reloaded Pangolians prepared to fire, Ashurada formed hand seals with his free claw.
-Boom!
The shots rang out, but Ashurada's transparent barrier of protection blocked all bullets and smoke.
Mago of the Pangolians yelled urgently.
"Roll back!"
Ashurada's sword grazed the hill.
The earthen mounds forming the hill and mobile inner walls crumbled in a cascade, sweeping up Pangolians too slow to roll away.
Tione held fire and ordered her party to retreat as well.
Ashurada looked down at Katulu.
-You first.
"The third way to fight a dragon,"
Runda said.
"Three ways, huh?"
"Even other players acknowledge it. How'd you beat dragons in the game anyway?"
"Just took the loss and incarnated directly or sent apostles...?"
Seong-un stared silently at Runda.
Runda met his gaze, faltered briefly, then turned to the other players.
"He's trash-talking me, right? Didn't say a word, but that look screamed 'that's why you lost, loser'."
"I didn't say anything."
"So I'm wrong?"
"Hm."
"Deny it at this point, you relationship-ruiner."
Wisdom raised a hand.
"I'll field this."
Seong-un pointed out.
"You weren't saying anything."
"Curious how it'll end. Gotta focus."
"And?"
Wisdom answered.
"Stay one step ahead of the dragon."
It sounded like a pun at first, but Seong-un saw real value in this third tip.
Dragons were among the rare entities in Lost World that acted strategically.
Not just smart—they opposed players, luring them into traps.
But dragons and players saw the world differently, wielded influence differently.
One could turn a dragon's trap against it—or if not...
'A trap the dragon thinks we fell for' could be reused.
Ashurada's lips curled back again, baring red gums.
Katulu tensed, ready to be flung off any second.
-...Hm.
Dodge the breath, then the sword.
Evade the stomping foot next, and maybe scratch the thigh.
-...But I, Katulu, am no ungrateful beast.
Just before Ashurada exhaled his fiery breath, he hacked and spat flames onto the ground instead.
-You! Mage! Interfering again!
Katulu sensed someone approaching from behind.
A Garuda mage.
Mazdari shouted.
"Run!"
Katulu took the chance.
Ashurada, breath ragged, swung sloppily and stomped wide.
Katulu sank his long claws deep into the dragon's thigh.
-Insolent!
But Katulu's claws weren't sharp enough.
Ashurada whipped his tail at the hilltop gunners to keep them from firing, then slammed his left hand down on Katulu.
-Die!
He meant to crush and strangle Katulu's neck.
-And you too!
Ashurada brought his right hand down on Mazdari.
Or tried to.
A massive human hand rose, matching Ashurada's own, and gripped it tight.
Ashurada recognized the spell.
-Thalazin!
"You'll regret this, dragon."
-Think I'll lose to a mage who can't fight hand-to-hand?
Mazdari quickly traced another spell with his staff.
-Thought both hands were tied?
Ashurada neither released Katulu with his left nor escaped Thalazin with his right.
Instead, he stretched his long neck forward.
"...!"
Ashurada swallowed Mazdari whole.
Mazdari heard a voice from within the body.
-Aren't you afraid of me? You can't even comprehend what I am to you.
'I am.'
-Then what erases your fear? Courage as a Garuda? Arrogance as a mage?
Mazdari pondered, then replied.
'Faith.'
-Faith.
'Faith in Yacheon and you, his child. Faith in my comrades.'
The voice fell silent, then spoke.
-...A koan worth pondering.
'Besides, I already get along fine with another friend in my body. No reason to refuse one more.'
Mazdari's rotten hand spoke.
-Damn it. Who'll care if you die like this?
'I won't die.'
A third voice from within Mazdari's body—Gordius—spoke.
-Right. You won't die.
Mazdari opened his eyes.
In Ashurada's slimy, reeking maw.
Before the writhing tongue could drag him down the throat.
Mazdari clutched the tongue's flesh and wedged his staff to keep the jaws from closing.
Then he thrust his right hand up against the palate.
-Thanks for the ride, Mazdari.
Gordius, burrowed into Mazdari's palm, unfurled and burrowed into Ashurada's palate.