DogoOOOOOOOOOOONNN!!
“Kuh!”
A lightning breath unleashed from the Black Dragon soaring in the sky pierced the earth, and Nero’s tentacles ensnared me as I tried to leap away.
“Nero!!”
『GaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAA!!』
The moment Nero used his entire body to kick off the ground, a shock enveloped our entire bodies. Even so, as we broke through the billowing clouds of sand and retreated, Jesha and Master’s faint voices reached my ears.
“Aria! Nero!”
“—High Heal—!”
Master’s Cure Magic enveloped me and Nero. As my skin, reddened by burns, regenerated, I stood up and stepped forward, aligning myself with Jesha, who had jumped out to protect us.
“Aria, can you move!?”
“…I’m alright.”
The injuries aren’t as deep as they look. The damage was lessened because Nero, who manipulates electricity with his tentacle-like whiskers, took on most of the electric shock for me.
Nero, having received another High Heal from Master, stood beside me, and as I stroked his fur, he purred softly as if laughing. At that moment, a voice filled with resentment, as if crushing my heart, echoed.
《—Humans, not a single one of you will escape—》
Jesha flinched slightly at the words of hatred, spoken in the common language of this continent, rather than a roar, from the Black Dragon soaring in the sky. Seeing Master frown in the corner of my vision, I remembered what Master had taught me.
There are only a few Elemental Dragons on this continent. However, most of them reside in places different from the human habitat, and they will not antagonize us unless we intrude. The exception is the Fire Dragon, said to have a violent temperament, but when hunting in the central plains of the continent, known as the Dragon Hunting Grounds, it would only playfully attack human caravans.
The highly intelligent Elemental Dragons know that even though they are the strongest, they would suffer losses if they antagonized a group of humans.
However, the Black Dragon is different from the other Elemental Dragons.
Dragons evolve to become stronger. To do so, they devour Elemental Mana Particles, evolving into Fire Dragons, Ice Dragons, Wind Dragons, or Steel Dragons. However, the Dark Attribute Black Dragon evolves through intense emotions. Most of them become ‘Man-Eating Dragons’ filled with hatred for humans.
Dragons basically don’t see humans as enemies. Dragons fight other dragons, and the Dark Attribute is not suitable for fighting other dragons. However, the Black Dragon, which does not target its own kind but instead targets humans, relentlessly targets only humans, destroying several countries until it is defeated and dies out.
The ‘Evil Dragon’ that fights to the death with the Hero in fairy tales is a Dark Dragon that has evolved from this Black Dragon to Rank 8.
《—Perish—!!》
Spreading its black wings to block out the desert sun, the Black Dragon attacked the surviving Evil Race Army.
It descended from the sky. Just by doing that, the ancient ruins collapsed, the earth shattered, and the flesh and blood of the Evil Race soldiers caught in it scattered.
Instead of unilaterally attacking with breath from the sky, it tore them apart with its claws, devoured them with its fangs, and crushed them as if to eat them, showing the strength of the Black Dragon’s hatred.
“—Bless—”
Seeing that, Master used Level 4 Light Magic on us. Bless slightly increases both physical and Magic resistance, but it would be better to use that Mana for attack against normal enemies. But using it means that we are facing a formidable enemy that we cannot survive against without raising our resistance even slightly.
“Aria! Put all your Mana into attack! Nero, attack with Aria! Jesha, be ready to unleash your Combat Art at any time!”
“Got it!”
Master gave instructions while drinking the highest-grade Mana Recovery Potion without regard for appearances, and Jesha shouted back, putting so much force into her Magic Steel Two-Handed Axe that it creaked.
The Black Dragon will attack the moment we try to escape. Even if we manage to escape by some miracle, it will definitely come after us.
By that time, it will be even stronger than it is now. If it evolves further into a Dark Dragon, several countries on this continent will be destroyed. The only chance to defeat it is now, when it has just evolved and its HP and combat strength are not at their peak.
“Let’s go.”
—End—
Nero and I kicked off the sand-mixed ground and ran towards the Black Dragon, followed by Jesha. The Black Dragon’s combat strength is nearly three times that of me and Nero, even in its current state. But if there is a chance to defeat it, it is really only now.
I eliminated the impurities of the Elemental Attributes from the Mana within me, allocated Body Enhancement to Agility, and shot out like an arrow. As the scenery flowed by, I identified the Black Dragon attacking the Evil Race soldiers, leaped onto its back in one bound, and slammed a blow from my Black Dagger into the base of its wing.
Gakiin!
『Guaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!』
The scales covering its muscles chipped, and the Black Dragon, realizing it had been attacked, flicked me away with a swing of its wing.
“Tch!”
The Black Dragon’s claws, swung around, carved cracks into the earth, and I immediately released my Blade Scythe Style Pendulum at its wing. As I was swung around like a pendulum, I circled around to the Black Dragon’s head. Noticing this, the Black Dragon reflected me in its bright red eyes and bared its fangs.
『Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!』
Gooooooon!!
At that moment, Nero’s blow, catching up, struck the Black Dragon’s cheek with a deafening roar.
With my strength, it would be difficult to inflict a deep wound on the Black Dragon even if I used Iron Rose. That’s why I made myself a decoy and left the attack to Nero.
However, the Black Dragon’s eyes moved wildly and glared at Nero. Even after receiving Nero’s blow, which would cut off an Ogre’s head in one strike, only the scales chipped, and the attack did not reach the flesh. Even so—
“—Dark Mist—”
Black mist covered the head of the Black Dragon, which had turned its attention to Nero, and my heel, circling around again with the pendulum, kicked the Black Dragon’s eyeball.
Gakiin!!
“Tch!”
『Goaaaaaaaaa!』
The Black Dragon roared and shook off the Dark Mist. There was a slight scratch on the Black Dragon’s eyelid, but that was all. The Black Dragon swung its claws as if swatting away insects flying around it. As if aiming for that gap, Nero thrust his fangs into its wing.
《—Insignificant beings—!!》
DogoOOOOOOOOOOONNN!!
The Black Dragon flapped its huge wings and struck us away. Just by doing that, the ground cracked, a Cyclone raged, and within it, the Black Dragon set its sights not on Nero, who was launching attacks, but on me, who was an eyesore.
But that’s what I wanted. I try to engage in close combat to prevent the Black Dragon from using its breath.
“—Shadow—”
Creating three Phantoms to trace my movements, the Black Dragon’s claws tore the hem of my skirt and one of the Phantoms that was half a step behind.
『Gooooaaaa!』
The Black Dragon, roaring in anger, shook its head like a snake, trying to crush me along with the Phantom with its head.
“—Armor Break—”
Gakiiiiiiiiin!!
『Goaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?』
As if timing that moment, Jesha, who had been watching for an opening, jumped in and unleashed her Combat Art, tearing through the scales on its neck, and for the first time, the Black Dragon’s fresh blood splattered.
Combat Arts can penetrate the Black Dragon’s defense. I drew its attention and created an opening, Nero inflicted damage, and Jesha inflicted a severe blow.
【Black Dragon】【Race: Elemental Dragon】【Mystic Beast Rank 7】
【Mana Capacity: 271/400】【HP: 692/1035】
【Overall Combat Strength: 7879】
But it’s not over yet. Only a small amount of HP has been shaved off.
We need something decisive…
A powerful “strike” to finish it off, and a “technique” to create an opening for it.
“Now, fire!!”
At that moment, Fire Magic was unleashed from the surviving Evil Race.
“Tch!”
The moment I leaped away to avoid the attack that was unleashed to engulf me and Nero, the Black Dragon dyed its eyes with hatred and opened its mouth wide.
“This is bad!”
Boom!!
The lightning breath unleashed from the Black Dragon mowed down the surviving Evil Race soldiers.
“…………”
…They did something unnecessary. Knowing that me and Nero would be on the verge of death if we took even one hit, the reason we were still engaging in close combat was to prevent the Black Dragon from firing its breath.
And with the Evil Race Army killed, the “shackles” of hatred that had been holding the Black Dragon to the earth loosened slightly.
《—Insolence—》
The Black Dragon muttered, using its wings as its massive body gradually lifted off the ground.
The reason we decided to fight here was because the Black Dragon, lost in anger and hatred, was fixated on devouring the Evil Race Army. If the Black Dragon started attacking human and demi-human nations, it would choose to fight in the sky due to their sheer numbers. If that happened, it would no longer be an opponent that an Adventurer in a scout job like me could fight. The Evil Race Army, which triggered the Black Dragon’s birth, had ruined the last chance to kill it.
“——【Typhoon】——!”
Master’s wind magic, releasing the stored Mana, interfered with the Black Dragon’s attempt to take off. Jesha also fired earth magic rock bullets, but even that couldn’t completely prevent the Black Dragon from flying, and finally, the Black Dragon flapped its wings in the sky.
But at that moment—
『Goooooaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?』
Suddenly, the Black Dragon lost its posture and roared. As if in sync with Master’s wind magic, a giant Hurricane enveloped the Black Dragon.
Is that wind magic 【Hurricane】…? No, that’s not it. My eyes saw Mana Particles in the shape of a giant “bird” inside the Hurricane. That is…
“A high-ranking Wind Spirit…?”
Not only that, but at that moment, an arrow that flew in burst on the Black Dragon’s head—
“Uoooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”
Along with a roar that echoed from somewhere, a spear thrown pierced the Black Dragon’s wing membrane, and the Black Dragon, losing its balance, crashed to the ground with a deafening roar.
“——Aria!!”
Hearing my name called with a nostalgic feeling, I raised my face, and their figures with weapons in hand jumped into my eyes.
Dolton, aiming with multiple spears.
Mira, continuing to chant wind Spirit Magic.
Viro, nocking multiple arrows and holding a bow.
Feld, calling my name while holding a Greatsword.
Everyone from the Rainbow Sword came to help!
Finally reunited with Rank 5 party, “Rainbow Sword”.
Next time, Aria’s power will be unleashed!