◆ Hunter’s Nest – In Front of the Dragon’s Inn ◆
“Then, let us proceed.”
As promised, Anima appeared once again in Dragon’s Valley. Unlike yesterday, there were several Dragonfolk accompanying her. With scales of red, gray, and green, they varied in shape from stout to serpentine. Yet, it was clear that all of them belonged to the same Dragonkin as Anima.
Including Anima, there were six of them—no, six beings. Just Anima alone was enough to instill fear in the Dragon Hunters here, but now there were five more Dragonfolk of equal strength. With this many on the opposing side, even if they were facing a Dragon, the Hunters had completely lost their will to hunt. The expression on their faces was truly pale, as if all the blood had drained from them.
“Lady Kurinka, over here.”
Anima approached us as if it were the most natural thing in the world, reaching out for Kurinka’s hand. There was no way I would let her touch Kurinka with those sharp claws. I stepped in between them, extending my hand.
“…? You were with Lady Kurinka yesterday, weren’t you? Are you a friend? If you wish, I can consider your attendance at the wedding ceremony,” Anima said.
“Kurinka has said she doesn’t want to be the Dragon God’s bride,” I replied firmly.
“Stand down. We do not wish to resort to force either.”
They hadn’t come here to use force? The evidence was clear as a stout yellow Dragonfolk spread his fingers, exuding an aura that suggested he was ready to grab us at any moment. The slender green Dragonfolk coiled its body like a serpent, clearly entering a combat stance.
Among the Dragon Hunters, some were already turning their backs and fleeing in fear.
“Anima, I have someone else who is important to me. So, I must decline your invitation.”
“Hahaha… I see, Lady Kurinka harbors distrust towards the Dragon God. Given that you’ve lived in the human world until now, that’s understandable. But rest assured, the Dragon God intends to spend ample time with you. During that time, you will surely come to understand each other.”
Now the Dragon Hunters exchanged glances. The disjointed nature of this conversation only amplified their fear of the Dragonfolk. I felt that any further words would be futile. Though we had only interacted for a brief moment, these beings believed their master, the Dragon God, was everything, and we were nothing to them. Even if we said something, it would likely not even register as words in their minds.
This was a reflection of their confidence in being far stronger than humans, and it underscored the significance of the Dragon God. Naturally, Kurinka’s will was irrelevant. They had no intention of listening to any answer that was inconvenient for them.
“Kurinka is someone precious to me. I won’t let you take her.”
“Therefore, I will consider your participation in the wedding ceremony. Now, step aside.”
Anima’s attempt to shove me aside with one hand was powerful, even without any intent to attack. If I weren’t me, that force would have shattered my bones and sent me flying like a blade of grass from the inn’s entrance.
Of course, Anima intended to do just that, and when her arm was suddenly stopped by my grip, her yellow eyes widened in surprise.
“Well, for a human, you possess extraordinary strength.”
With that, Anima immediately tried to pull her arm away, exerting far more strength than before. I was almost pulled along with her. It seemed she didn’t need to hold back as she had with previous opponents.
The strength that could crush an ordinary person’s arm would not break the hard scales of a Dragonfolk. Rather than destroy her arm outright, I chose to let go, wanting to see how she would respond. I wanted to avoid unnecessary injury as much as possible. While I doubted this would make her give up and leave, still…
After freeing her arm from my grip, Anima remained in her stance for a moment, seemingly deep in thought. Then, she took a step back, mimicking a motion as if to grasp something with her fingers, and her claws elongated further.
“Valf, Kushion, Iblis, Shibu, Hades. Stand back.”
“…Are you serious about this?”
“Yes, this is an unconventional opponent for a human.”
She was ready to fight. While that was fine by me, I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if she went on a rampage. At the very least, I felt that this Hunter’s Nest would not remain unscathed.
That left me with two options. One was to change the location of the battle, but I doubted Anima would agree to that. The other was to defeat her without causing any damage. Yes, that was the only option. However, I was worried about Anima’s strength. If I miscalculated my restraint, the fight could escalate rapidly, and I found myself at a loss.
If I had to fight seriously, it would be problematic.
“Lady Kurinka, if you are worried about your friend, please accompany me. As for me, I couldn’t care less about humans. In the worst-case scenario, it could end in death.”
“Kurinka doesn’t need to worry about anything. I will finish this quickly.”
“Honestly, I should be fighting too…”
Kurinka understood that if we fought here, the Hunter’s Nest would suffer damage. That’s why she was holding back, standing beside me with her staff in hand.
The other Dragonfolk were relaxed, some with their arms crossed, others sitting cross-legged, completely at ease despite the numerous Dragon Hunters behind them. It was as if they understood that a surprise attack from behind would be futile, as the Hunters were scattering like spiders when faced with the unguarded Dragonfolk.
“Anima, if I win, will you give up on Kurinka?”
“Foolish talk.”
“You lack confidence, don’t you?”
“Stop with the cheap provocation. It shows your level.”
I was at a loss for words; this was truly a dead end. At this point, I had no choice but to fight.
“This is a good opportunity. Let us shake this place with the power of the Dragonfolk, the rulers of the continent from ages past… transcending hundreds of years of time!”
【Dragonfolk Anima has appeared! HP 34,200】
With her wings spread wide, Anima resembled a demon more than a dragon. It was immediately clear that she had no intention of holding back.
【Dragonfolk Anima’s Heat Ray!】
A beam of red and orange intertwined, reminiscent of the lasers fired by the Airships of the Kingdom of Metallica. It shot forth with incredible speed, leaving those around us unable to comprehend what had been unleashed.
Avoiding such an unknown attack was the right choice, but doing so would mean hitting the inn behind me, or worse, the belly of the Dragon. And with that kind of power…
【Rua took 1,293 damage! HP 40,067/41,360】
“Hotttt!”
The memory of accidentally spilling boiling water and nearly crying from the heat resurfaced. In fact, I did cry. But that was because it had been unexpected. The Heat Ray unleashed from Anima’s mouth was indeed hot, but I had braced myself for it, so it wasn’t as overwhelming.
“…What?! You withstood Anima’s Heat Ray?!”
“There’s no need to be surprised, Valf. If it were my Lightning Ray, it would have finished her.”
“Not necessarily, Kushion. Your Lightning Ray and my Ice Ray are not inferior in power to Anima’s Heat Ray. Considering that, she might be overestimating her abilities. I never expected a human to be this formidable…”
“Kukakaka! My Poison Ray doesn’t care about that! Unlike your ‘Breath’ that relies solely on physical destruction, it’s a different story!”
“…Don’t get ahead of yourself, Hades. You and Kushion are the only ones here underestimating her abilities.”
“Huh?! You finally open your mouth and start throwing insults, huh?! Iblis!”
Just from taking that Heat Ray, the atmosphere had shifted dramatically. I wondered how much I had been underestimated, or if the Dragonfolk were simply that weak. Either way, Anima remained in the same stance after unleashing her Breath, indicating that this was no ordinary situation.
“…I am surprised. I had no idea humans had evolved this much in such a short time.”
“Then it’s our turn now.”
【Rua’s attack!】
I charged forward as usual; against a normal opponent, they wouldn’t even know what hit them before falling. But as expected of a Dragonfolk, Anima deftly sidestepped to the left. Her movements were minimal and efficient—Dragonfolk truly were on a different level than humans. Perhaps they were as strong as the S-rank Tiferia and her companions.
【Dragonfolk Anima elegantly dodged!】
“Fast, but… it doesn’t sit right with me. Why not show me your true strength?”
It seemed she had figured out that I wasn’t going all out. Without missing a beat, Anima’s claws came straight for me.
【Dragonfolk Anima’s Dragon Claw! Rua dodged!】
“How unexpected. I never thought I would be held up this long against a human… and yet, for some reason, you are holding back.”
I thought I had dodged it, but the claws suddenly extended, catching me off guard. It seemed they could grow even longer, leaving no room for leniency. Although I had missed my strike, that last blow had enough power to sever a human’s torso. A Dragon, shrunk down to humanoid form while retaining its strength, speed, and the durability of its scales—that’s what a Dragonfolk is, I realized.
It puzzled me why such formidable beings had remained inconspicuous until now.
“Hey! Anima! If you’re just playing around, switch with me!”
“Good grief, if this continues, the rambunctious Kushion will likely jump in, so I’ll finish this.”
【Dragonfolk Anima’s Heat Ray!】
She must have known that the same attack wouldn’t be enough to take me down. Yet, she unleashed it again, which meant she had another target in mind.
【Rua took 1309 damage! 38758/41360】
This was an attack calculated on the assumption that I wouldn’t dodge. In that case, she would likely adopt a strategy of gradually cornering me with that Heat Ray. I could counter it with my Sonic Spear, but I might inadvertently catch the others behind her in the blast. That wouldn’t do. So, I charged straight in. This time, I was serious.
“Ugh…?!”
【Rua’s attack!】
The slightest twitch in her initial movement was impressive. The fact that she attempted to take a defensive stance meant she at least had some reaction. Anima, this one is strong. I had to admit that.
【You dealt 33927 damage to Dragonfolk Anima! 273/34200】
“Gah…! You… fool…!”
But she still wasn’t giving it her all. That was because I hadn’t used my sword yet. I wasn’t skilled at fighting without a weapon, so this was my version of going all out. I needed to hit hard to break through her tough scales. My fist pierced through the layered scales like a board, driving straight into Anima’s abdomen. The sensation of her insides was nauseating, and I quickly pulled my hand back, but it was enough to incapacitate her, which brought me some relief.
“You fool, that’s what happens when you let your guard down.”
【Dragonfolk Kushion appeared! HP 47000】
“Wait, that movement… It’s definitely not human.”
【Dragonfolk Valf appeared! HP 26600】
“If there’s a creature that can withstand absolute zero, I’d love to see it. What about you?”
【Dragonfolk Shibu appeared! HP 17300】
“…”
【Dragonfolk Iburi appeared! HP 44000】
“Kuha ha ha! I’ll make you suffer before you die!”
【Dragonfolk Hades appeared! HP 32900】
As Anima crumpled to the ground, the remaining five charged at me all at once. This was definitely dangerous without my sword, and I needed to take them down quickly; otherwise, the Hunter’s Nest would be in serious trouble. One Heat Ray from earlier had the power to wipe out everyone here without a doubt.
If Dragonfolk like these truly went on a rampage, the Garden of Beasts would seem like a cute little problem in comparison. With Anima included, these Dragonfolk had enough strength to annihilate the Garden of Beasts.
◆ Hunter’s Nest, Inn, In Front of the Dragon’s Belly ◆
“I-I can’t believe it… We, the Dragonfolk… couldn’t even put up a fight…?”
【You dealt 46120 damage to Dragonfolk Kushion! HP 880/47000】
With the stout, yellow Dragonfolk Kushion as the last, the battle came to a close. This Kushion, being quite sturdy, managed to maintain some consciousness while glaring at me from his sprawled position. The other Dragonfolk, including Anima, were barely able to move, let alone speak.
“Seigel… What is that girl…? She can’t be human… It’s just not right…”
“No, I think she is human.”
“Why are you so calm about this…? This has to be a dream… Please wake me up…”
The Dragon Hunter, pressing his head down in disbelief, repeatedly questioned Seigel, who stood silently. The murmurs around us hadn’t quieted, and amidst it all, I could hear words like “monster” and other unsettling phrases.
Anima alone had the strength to kill everyone here without breaking a sweat, yet she had fought five at once, and it couldn’t have been more than a minute since the battle began.
“If that’s human, then what was all our effort for…?”
Those words struck deep within me. Surely, the adventurers who had quit felt the same way. Especially since these people were Dragon Hunters. They must have spent years—no, decades—training and devising strategies to take down Dragons. The words Jag had said echoed in my mind.
“Lua-chan, you’ve taken quite a beating…”
“I couldn’t dodge that Heat Ray… Maybe I should have just used my sword. But…”
“Wow! Your Bastard Sword is in tatters… At this rate, it could break at any moment…”
“Yeah, it’s true. This town probably has some good weapons for sale. Maybe I should look for something.”
“It’s… over…”
The Dragonfolk Kushion, lying on the brink of death, murmured as he stared into the void. I had no intention of killing him, and if he could give up on Kurinka, I’d heal him. Just as I was thinking that…
“Hmm…?”
The Dragon Hunters all looked up at the sky far above Dragon’s Valley. A small dot transformed into a silhouette resembling a bat, quickly growing larger. I wasn’t the only one surprised. The mixed sounds of screams and shouts filled the air, creating chaos at the sight of this overwhelming presence.
“W-What is that…? A D-Dragon…? Is that really a Dragon?!”
Its wings alone were larger than Metallica’s airship, flapping majestically as it soared through the sky.
A massive shadow loomed over the Hunter’s Nest, darkening the midday sun.
With such size, I realized it could destroy everything just by existing. Buildings were swept away by the gusts from its wings, as if a typhoon had struck, taking away everything the people had built over the years.
People were swept into the air, unable to resist, clinging to something but ultimately getting blown away. And when that Dragon landed, the tremors felt like an earthquake, obliterating everything in the Hunter’s Nest.
――――Thud.
A heavy, dull sound echoed, as if it ignored all humanity while it descended. From the buildings crushed beneath its claws, desperate residents crawled out. Of course, the creature that had landed showed no concern for such things. No, it was oblivious. There was a vast difference between it and us, just as a person wouldn’t notice stepping on an ant.
“W-What the hell… Could it be…?”
Seigel was the only one who managed to speak. After the destruction, no one moved to take action. They simply stared up in awe, unable to comprehend the overwhelming presence before them.
“Dragon God…!”
Kushion’s raspy voice finally revealed the true identity of that being.
“Lua… Stop. It’s on a different dimension of existence as a living being…”
Seigel squeezed out those words without drawing his weapon.
◆ Shin Report ◆
I completely crapped my pants.
Monster Compendium
【Dragonfolk Anima HP 34200】
An elite warrior among the Dragonfolk. A leader-like figure who calms other warriors with a gentle tone. Specializes in fire-element Heat Rays.
【Dragonfolk Kushion HP 47000】
An elite warrior among the Dragonfolk. A stout yellow Dragon with a fierce temperament. Specializes in lightning-element Thunder Rays, excelling in combat ability and durability.
【Dragonfolk Valf HP 26600】
An elite warrior among the Dragonfolk. A leader-like figure second only to Anima. Primarily uses wind-element Gale Rays, pursuing enemies with high mobility.
【Dragonfolk Shibu HP 17300】
An elite warrior among the Dragonfolk. Female. While she has a gentle tone, she possesses a cruel side, freezing and weakening creatures before consuming them. Specializes in ice-element Cold Rays but lacks high combat ability, making her the weakest among the six.
【Dragonfolk Iburi HP 44000】
An elite warrior among the Dragonfolk. Usually taciturn, but becomes talkative when excited in battle. Specializes in fire-element Heat Rays, just like Anima.
【Dragonfolk Hades HP 32900】
An elite warrior among the Dragonfolk. Aggressive and more brutal than Shibu. Fights like a snake, coiling his slender body to constrict opponents. His poison-element Poison Rays destroy cellular functions and transfer throughout the body, instantly halting life activities.