Chapter 20: “Dragon’s Cradle,” and to the Beastkin Village 11
Floors 21 and 22 of the dungeon were filled with Were Dragons.
At most, 25 appeared at once, but as we progressed while gathering information, we were able to annihilate them with ease, even without me stepping in. Knowing the enemy’s weaknesses, in particular, greatly improved the accuracy of the rear guard’s magic attacks. I reaffirmed the importance of experience and knowledge.
On floor 23, an even larger Were Dragon appeared… or rather, a monster that looked more like a small, bipedal dragon. However, its limbs were closer to those of a human, making it clear that it was a higher-ranking species of Were Dragon.
It was apparently called a “Were Dragon Leader.” It had a long neck, stood over 3 meters tall, carried a sword and shield, and even breathed fireballs, making it a rather distinctive monster.
However, the vanguard could handle them one-on-one without any problems, so I thinned out the numbers while gathering experience and information. A large amount of scales dropped as material, but Geshura speculated that they were much smaller than ordinary dragon scales, so they might be useful for creating interesting armor or other items.
As expected, a normal adult dragon appeared on floor 25.
It was a “Flare Dragon,” with reddish-black scales, a lower-ranking species of the “Dark Flare Dragon” and “Chaos Flare Dragon.” It was a monster that appeared as a boss in B-Rank Dungeons, but here, of course, 3 or 4 of them appeared together as regular enemies.
Everyone wanted to fight, so I thinned them out enough to prevent a free-for-all, and then let them fight as they pleased.
Even defeating one would earn the title of “Dragon Slayer,” but for “Soul’s Guidance,” they were now only opponents to measure their strength against, or test subjects for their Skills.
Dorozitte also experimented with her “Light Magic” in various ways, and said with a wry smile, “Since meeting ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ my common sense has completely crumbled.”
In any case, partly because we proceeded while investigating, it took us about 5 hours to reach the boss room on the 25th floor. We took a long break in front of the door and then entered the boss room.
The vast floor was about the size of four soccer fields, and the ceiling was probably 50 meters high. This location clearly indicated that the boss was enormous.
“Since all the small fries were dragons, isn’t it obvious?”
Responding to Larni’s words, a huge amount of mist appeared in the center. Moreover, there were two locations.
Emerging from the mist were two giant dragons with bluish, metallic, jet-black scales, each with a total length of about 50 meters. I recognized those golden eyes and the long, twisted, crimson horns. There was no doubt, it was the “Chaos Flare Dragon” I had fought before coming to the Imperial Capital.
“To think we would encounter Chaos Flare Dragons again here,”
“We didn’t get a chance to shine last time. We have to make sure we get to fight properly this time!”
Shizuna and Karma said this with voices that still had room to spare, as they looked up at the majesty of the monster king. On the other hand, Dorozitte,
“Damn it. With ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ I can’t tell if this boss is normal or a Rare Boss.”
She made a bitter face as if she had just realized it.
“Anyway, let’s fight. Frei, prepare ‘Absolute Barrier Magic’ and then ‘Divine Light.’ After that, Sfenia, take care of the rear guard, and Marishielle, give instructions to the vanguard and fight. I’ll focus on defense.”
“Yes, Soushi-sama.”
“Understood. Leave the magical support to me.”
“Understood. Let’s defeat them one by one, for sure.”
As is customary in dragon battles, I stepped forward. When I used the “Provoke” Skill, both Chaos Flare Dragons turned their faces towards me. In those golden eyes, there was no intelligence at all compared to the one I fought on the ground. The monsters in the dungeon and the monsters in the field are subtly different after all.
The two spread their wings and craned their necks back, preparing to breathe. We were still more than 50 meters away, so my “Crushing Wave” wouldn’t reach.
Before they could both breathe at the same time, two bolts of lightning, one beam of light, and over 50 spears of fire pierced one of the Chaos Flare Dragons. These intense spells from the rear guard tore apart the spread wings, peeled off many of the scales on the main body, and inflicted considerable damage on the monster king.
The other one, unconcerned with its partner screaming, thrust its neck out and unleashed a breath of extremely colorful flames, the “Chaos Flare Breath.”
“Hmph!”
I unleashed “Shockwave” in rapid succession, canceling out the torrent of flames that was stretching straight towards us. When the extremely colorful flames scattered, they scattered their energy around, causing a phenomenon close to an explosion. However, neither the impact nor the heat inflicted any damage on me, who was wearing the “Summit of Divine Peak.”
“Here we go!”
With Marishielle in the lead, the four members of the vanguard, Larni, Karma, and Sakurahime, approached the Chaos Flare Dragon, which was reeling from the damage, with “Swift Run.”
The black giant dragon, noticing their approach, tried to sweep them away with its tail in a counterattack, but Karma cut the tail, which was as thick as a bundle of logs, head-on with “Tiger Fang Slash.”
Gyaaa! In the gap created by the scream, Larni jumped and struck a blow to the head.
Marishielle and Sakurahime each attacked the legs, cutting them off almost simultaneously.
The Chaos Flare Dragon, which had fallen sideways to the ground, could do nothing and was sunk before the concentrated attacks of the four.
Meanwhile, the other Chaos Flare Dragon, whose breath had been blocked, sensed the danger and flapped its spread wings, lifting its huge body into the air.
“I won’t let you fly.”
However, before it could finish taking off, Geshura’s large wind blade sliced one of the Chaos Flare Dragon’s wings in half. Its posture was greatly disrupted, and its huge body tilted and lost altitude.
By that time, the pitiful Chaos Flare Dragon was already within range of my “Crushing Wave.” The monster king’s body was twisted into an unnatural shape by the invisible giant’s hand that was emitted from below.
Both of the remaining treasure chests were gold.
“The fact that they’re gold treasure chests means that the Chaos Flare Dragons were likely Rare Bosses,”
When Mariane analyzed this, Dorozitte sighed and said, “Hmm.”
“Then what is the normal boss? If it’s lower than the Chaos Flare Dragon, then it would be the Dark Flare Dragon. It’s a B-Rank, so it feels a bit lower in rank.”
“Even though it’s a B-Rank, it’s a monster close to A-Rank, so I don’t think it’s that strange. Or maybe there’s another type in between.”
“For now, let’s assume that A-Rank Dragon species… like Sky Dragons, will appear. The types are slightly different, though.”
Dorozitte took notes while saying this. As it was information about the unexplored floors of the “Dragon’s Cradle,” which we were entering for the first time, she was focused on collecting it.
Anyway, the treasure chests. When Larni and Shizuna, who were eager to open them, opened them, what appeared was a rapier with a bluish-black blade, and a bluish-black staff. Mariane immediately “Appraised” them.
“This rapier is ‘Thousand Scales Piercer,’ and has the effects of ‘Penetration・Extreme +3, Honshin +3, Agility +3.’ The staff is ‘Signpost of Spirit Beckoning,’ and has the effects of ‘Spirit Resonance +1, Spirit Evolution +3, Adamantine Strength +3, Adamantine Body +3.'”
“Both are powerful. And I think this color is a metal I’ve never seen before, but do you know the material?”
“Not that far. However, it feels similar to the color of the Chaos Flare Dragon’s scales.”
“Indeed. Geshura, what do you think?”
Geshura approached, wriggling her snake lower body, and stared intently at the rapier “Thousand Scales Piercer.”
“Hmm… This is also a metal I’ve never seen before, but it seems to be an alloy of mithril and something else. Judging from the color, it certainly looks like the scales of the dragon from earlier…”
“Unfortunately, we don’t have the actual Chaos Flare Dragon scales with us. Let’s have them show us the ones we presented to the Imperial Family later.”
“That’s right. Perhaps the scales are metal, and it’s an alloy with that.”
While we were talking about this, I noticed that Dorozitte and Shizuna were looking at me restlessly.
“Ah, sorry, of course this rapier is for Dorozitte. And this staff is for Shizuna. Please use them.”
When I handed them over, the two received them with faces like children who had been given Christmas presents. Well, Shizuna is still that age, but Dorozitte is… it’s better to stop there as an adult.
“Fufufu, this is a wonderful rapier. I’ve never seen metal with such brilliance. If it turns out to be made of an unknown material, its value would be immeasurable. Is this also due to Lord Soushi’s strong feelings?”
“I sense not only the power of the ‘Spirits’ in this staff, but also a strong magical force. With this, my magical power will likely increase even further. I will definitely respond to Soushi-dono’s feelings.”
While I appreciate them both emphasizing my feelings so much, the fact that we’re getting exactly what we were aiming for is undoubtedly thanks to the ‘Divine Fortune’ Skill… Well, there’s no point in saying it. No one knows to what extent a Skill’s effect reflects the Skill holder’s intentions.
“Speaking of which, Soushi-san, didn’t you ‘Plunder’ something again just now?”
At Karma’s words, everyone’s eyes turn to me.
“You were watching closely.”
Actually, the Chaos Flare Dragon that fell after being hit by the ‘Crushing Wave’ was barely still alive, and I was able to use ‘Plunder’ at that moment.
What I took out of my ‘Item Box’ was a forehead protector, a hachigane, of the same bluish-black color. It was a work of art that seemed valuable as a craft, with intricate carvings of a dragon—not a Western dragon, but an Eastern dragon from my previous life.
“‘Azure Dragon Scale,’ a piece of protective equipment. It has the effect of ‘Adamantine Body +3, Adamantine Wall +3.'”
“Honestly, national treasure-level items keep appearing one after another, so being with Soushi-san completely numbs my senses.”
Dorozitte shrugs and jokes at Mariane’s appraisal result. I myself am completely numb, but the value of just these three items that came out this time would be terrifying. They are all items that would normally be presented to the Imperial Household.
“Anyway, this armor is for Sakurahime. Does it suit Sakurahime’s taste?”
When I offer the ‘Azure Dragon Scale,’ Sakurahime nods with blushing cheeks. She takes it and puts it on her forehead, replacing the one she’s currently wearing. The Eastern dragon suits the Japanese-style Sakurahime very well.
“Lord Soushi, I am very grateful to receive such a wonderful item. For some reason, I feel a sense of nostalgia and familiarity with this dragon’s appearance, which is strange.”
“Perhaps it’s a dragon from Oz Country’s culture? Shizuna, what do you think?”
“Hmm, I was a little curious, but indeed, the dragons that appear in Oz’s legends had such appearances. Soushi-dono is sharp.”
“It’s just a hunch. But if that’s the case, I can understand why Sakurahime feels nostalgic.”
“That may be so. Perhaps that memory is etched into the blood of the House Zanzagil.”
It seems that the ancestors of Sakurahime’s family, the House Zanzagil, were a group who came from Oz Country long ago. The culture of Oz Country is Eastern, so I feel very familiar with it, and that’s why my hunch worked.
Well, we spent a little time on floors 21-25, so we could call it quits for today’s exploration, but since today is the last day, the party agreed to challenge another five floors as planned.
Honestly, I’m a little concerned about Sfenia and Freinir’s gazes. I hope something good comes out on the 30th floor.