Arena of Legends: Hero vs. Black Dragon
"An arena? Yeah, that concept works."
A space where I could fight a dragon? Hmm. I see. Mideronde's one crazy bitch. My guess was it was some transparent hemispherical dome you couldn't escape from the inside. What is this, a dogfight or cockfight? A circle...
"What the hell made you come up with something so ridiculous?"
"A showdown between the world's strongest human and the world's strongest dragon. Who wouldn't be curious?"
"That's your reason?"
"That's my reason."
Mideronde acted like it was the most obvious thing in the world, and I could only laugh in disbelief.
"Even one of them is hard enough to find a match for in this world, and now they've crossed paths in the same place. Might as well give it a shot, right?"
"Who the hell decides what's 'right'... Anyway, so?"
She caught the spark of interest in my eyes and set down her sandwich.
"I'm going to warp space. Size-wise... considering your powers, it'll need to be at least a few kilometers in radius minimum."
"Sounds about right."
"Any shockwaves from inside won't leak out at all. Otherwise, the whole area would be obliterated."
Hmm... if it absorbs the shock... not bad. But that means no one from outside can get in either. Can't use the Holy Sword then. Dragons count as monsters anyway, so the sword would overwhelm it outright—better to go pure strength against strength. Been a while since I could cut loose for real.
The problem was... how to broach it with this refined black dragon. He didn't seem the aggressive type at all; it'd come off like I was arrogantly showing off. I just wanted a pure clash of power, but how to propose it...
Right on cue, Ergaduk's carriage rolled into the backyard parking lot after touring the Monster Zoo. Tall, with jet-black hair and eyes, he stood out sharply even among the crowds. He waded gracefully through the throng and approached us.
"Ah, boss. Here you are."
"Welcome back, Ergaduk. Try some of Mideronde's sandwiches."
Ergaduk sat, picked one up, and thanked her.
"Much obliged. I'll dig in, Elf Mage."
"No trouble at all. Enjoy."
Ergaduk was seriously tall—his eyes were even higher than mine or Mideronde's. I was big, and she was a pureblood elf, tall as any man, but still. Thinking of little Aterugar in her true form... just how massive was this black dragon...?
Wait a sec. Were we fighting in polymorphed form or true form?
He demolished one sandwich in seconds and reached for another.
"Delicious. Human food is... no, elf food?"
"Human recipe."
"Best part of the continent is getting human food anytime. Never dreamed there'd be so many kinds, so endlessly tasty."
He turned to me.
"The inn's head chef's dishes are the finest I've had—best since hatching, bar none."
"Francois is top-tier. Trained at a place that only takes the best human cooks."
"These past few days have been pure bliss, boss. I'd love to settle in and work here forever. Not feasible, of course."
"Can't have a future lord tied down to a dump like this."
Mideronde shot me a questioning look.
"Ergaduk dreams of becoming a lord."
"A lord...? Turning noble...? A black dragon, why?"
Ergaduk smiled and explained why he wanted to be a lord—news to me too. He'd fled his clan's oppressive, freedomless habitat for the human world to build his own nest. His bloodline's tracking magic forced him to stay polymorphed, so he aimed for lordship: total independence, his territory as his lair.
I thought again: Lordship ain't a playground... not a free ride...
"That's why I'm heading to the Tarda Kingdom."
Mideronde slowly shook her head.
"Tarda's east of Verabche—not a great spot, Ergaduk. Weak crown, fierce lords; could collapse any day."
"I know. That's why I'm going. Chaos is where you make your big score, right?"
Definitely something ex-saintess Liana said. Where else'd he pick that up?
"True, but becoming a lord won't be easy. Actually, claiming one isn't hard—just squat a ruined minor noble's land."
"Liana said the same."
"But the other nobles will hound you. Tarda survives on those battle-hardened lords."
"I've got that covered. No need to worry."
Mideronde dropped it. A black dragon with a plan? Fine.
We ate in silence for a bit. Mideronde snapped her fingers for cider, stared at Ergaduk, then blurted madness.
"Ergaduk. Fight Balder here."
"Pardon...?"
"Balder's the strongest human alive. Only opponent a black dragon could go all-out against."
"What on earth do you mean...?"
Ergaduk looked like the sensible elf had snapped.
"Balder. Mind if I tell him about your past?"
"Uh... sure...?"
He won't fight otherwise. Unlike brutal dragons, he won't kill—but you need to prove you're human enough to match him. Then it'll happen.
Mideronde's voice echoed in my head; I half-stood in shock.
"What the—magic...?!"
Trust me.
"Hmm... yeah, makes sense."
With my okay, she explained my exploits to him. Ergaduk's smile faded to stone as she went on. At Lurtjog's decapitation, his eyes widened in horror at me.
"What... are you? Did all that alone? With a mere human body?"
"Got lucky a bunch."
"Human world's full of wild shit..."
He stared at the table, stunned.
"I am curious, though."
Me and Mideronde exchanged antsy glances; then he spoke.
"About the limits of power in this polymorphed body. Maybe you can show me, boss."
"So... you're in?"
He nodded at her question.
"Yes. Gotta live in this form forever—good chance to test it fully."
"Right. I'll set the venue."
She replied calmly, but I saw her arms trembling, suppressing a victory pump. Not some kid pitting stag beetles—not an elf millennia old...
* * * *
Mideronde bustled all day crafting our arena. Portaling across the continent, scouting plains, hauling promising ones wholesale to the Monster Zoo, then twisting space into a hemispherical field. She explained the principle simply; I got zilch. I'd flunk out of magic college in a month flat.
Only spectator? Mideronde. Staff and dwarves were swamped with crowds—no time. Couldn't charge civilians either; black dragon rumors might draw his bloodline's hunters. Liana? Ergaduk begged secrecy— she'd nix it flat.
So, a once-in-a-millennium duel for one elf.
We portaled to her site: abandoned village amid ruins. No clue where—no signs of life.
"No-man's-land. No deaths, whatever you do."
She conjured a plush sofa, small table, snacks with a gesture.
"You planning to watch from there...?"
"Yup. Problem?"
"Nah... just... whatever."
She lounged; a transparent barrier shimmered around her. Creepy eye-like orbs floated—scrying spell like Brione's lich tracker.
"In case you go invisible-range."
"Ah, yeah, sure..."
Monster Zoo critters' dread? Totally got it.
Ergaduk stretched quietly.
"Ready when you are, boss."
"No prep needed. Let's go?"
We faced off at a fair distance.
"Hold up."
A voice cut in.
"Scoot over. Make room."
Turning: a stunning blonde with lush curves hip-checked Mideronde aside.