――Arrogance――
Within a consciousness bound in darkness, that was the first word the being uttered as “language.”
From the moment it came into this world, that being was one of the “strong.”
It knew no parents. For beings like it, strong from the very instant of their existence, there was no need for parents to raise their young as fragile creatures do.
Even as a juvenile, a being that broke free from a shell harder than steel could not possibly be weak. From the moment it first stood on its own legs, that being raced across the land, assailing the prey before it solely to sate its hunger, and devoured the flesh and blood of an unlucky Orc.
It did not take long for it to mature from a juvenile to an adult. The more it ate, the larger its body grew. The next day, it was twice the size, and the day after, larger still. Before it knew it, there was no one in the vicinity who could contend with it.
And so, the being, having undergone its first molt and reached adulthood, realized that intelligence was beginning to grow within it.
High-dimensional beings like Phantasmal Beasts retain generations of “experience” within their blood. When they reach adulthood and a Magic Stone forms from their blood, they gain “wisdom” and “ego” from it.
It was a creature called a “Phantasmal Beast,” the strongest of all. Learning such knowledge from its own blood, the being stopped merely devouring like a base beast as it had until then, and began to explore reaching a higher state of existence by taking in Magical Element.
How much time had passed since then? The sun had risen tens of thousands of times, it had gazed up at the moon just as many nights, and on rare occasions, it had spent its days devouring the flesh and blood of living creatures for sport. Then one day, a diminutive creature appeared before it.
It knew of these small creatures. They were beings that Monsters called “Humans,” weak in strength but using their petty cunning to hunt Monsters and animals. It had eaten Humans several times before. Some individuals protected themselves with iron “shells” and wielded long iron “claws.” To the being, they were merely animals, more troublesome to eat than Monsters and not providing much elemental Magical Element.
Humans were divided into types, such as the numerous “Plains Humans,” the long-eared “Forest Humans,” and “Cave Humans.” But those “Black Humans” visited the being’s dwelling and offered up a young individual, one without an iron shell or claws.
The being was also intrigued by a liquid in a jar that exuded a rich aroma, and it surmised that the Black Humans were worshipping it.
This was not its first such experience. If it spared a pack of Goblins or Kobolds, worthless to eat, out of amusement, individuals among them would sometimes act in such a manner afterward.
But… that being did not know the bottomless “malice” of the fragile Human species.
On that day, the being was captured, its body and mind bound.
The meat and wine offered by the Humans had been laced with sorcerous mediums. And to make matters worse, the Humans had rummaged through its nest, using its molted claws and fangs as mediums for “Sorcery,” and over a period of ten years, they had subjugated the being.
In a constant, hazy, dream-like state of consciousness, it served as a tool for the Humans, striking down their enemies.
It was constantly fed ore, and the Humans arbitrarily tried to decide its path of evolution—the one it had been seeking—as a wingless, earth-attribute, steel form.
They treated the being, a high-ranking Phantasmal Beast, like livestock, and for their amusement, even fed it different types of Humans alive.
Devouring their screams, pain, and curses along with their flesh and blood, the being came to understand the language the Humans used, and thought:
――Arrogance――
Who do these puny creatures think they are? I swear it. I swear I will devour you all alive, just like this.
Scream and cry, writhe in agony. I will surely break these cursed chains and devour every last Human on this continent.
＊＊＊
“――Earth Dragon (Dragon)!!”
Hearing the Earth Dragon’s Roar, Jesha, whose comrades had been killed, grit his teeth as if baring his fangs, his eyes changing color.
The Evil Race army numbered around fifty. But the Intimidation from that single Earth Dragon clearly surpassed them all.
What should I do…? If we retreat now, there’s a chance we can escape. But how far would we have to fall back for it to give up? If we retreat too far, the pro-war faction that Aisha-san had been suppressing might start to move again. And even if we avoid this place and take another route, there’s no guarantee the enemy there will be weaker than the one before us.
“Taciturn Disciple (Aria). You decide.”
“…………”
Master entrusted the decision to me. I’m the one with the most reason to press forward. That’s why Master said he’d go along with me. Retreating or avoiding this fight both have downsides. Still, it would probably be a smarter choice than fighting the Earth Dragon head-on. But—
“Let’s go.”
Retreating doesn’t guarantee the situation will improve. If the pro-war faction makes a move, everything Aisha-san and Camille-san are trying to do will be for naught. Besides…
“Alright! That’s our Aria!”
Jesha, who joyfully readied his two-handed axe upon hearing my words, would have stayed behind alone even if we had decided to retreat. The old dwarf who had been Jesha’s aide, who fell in the battle against the Earth Dragon to allow her to escape, had been Jesha’s caretaker since she was little, or so I heard.
Who could possibly stop Jesha now, as she stepped forward to avenge him?
Master shrugged, looking at Jesha and me as if exasperated, while Nero took a step forward, fixing his gaze on the Earth Dragon, a Phantasmal Beast like himself.
I have no intention of fighting a battle I plan to lose.
“They’re coming!”
Simultaneously with Master’s warning, dozens of arrows and fire magic spells were launched from the still-distant Evil Race army. It was clearly not an attack one would make on suspicious individuals encountered by chance, but an attack made with the understanding that it was us.
So, it’s an ambush, tipped off by the pro-war faction at the fort, just as I thought.
“――【Typhoon】――”
Master immediately stepped forward and unleashed Level 5 wind magic, scattering the arrows and fire magic.
The moment the Armored Dragons carrying the Evil Race soldiers faltered in the raging storm that kicked up dust and sand, an immense amount of heat was unleashed from behind them.
『GROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!!』
A breath of fireballs unleashed by the Earth Dragon broke through the very magic power constituting 【Typhoon】, flew over our heads, and scattered explosive flames behind us, cutting off our retreat.
“Looks like they never planned on letting us escape!”
“Seems so.”
Leaving Master’s protection to Jesha, Nero and I dashed forward. If that breath attack is used from long range, we’ll have no way to counter it. But in a melee, the Earth Dragon shouldn’t be able to use its breath. With that thought, I leaped out, and Master’s voice reached my back.
“Be careful when you use that!”
“Understood.”
【Earth Dragon (Dragon)】【Species: Dragon】【Phantasmal Beast Rank 6】
【MP: 325/350】【HP: 788/820】
【Total Combat Power: 4557】
As I got closer, the Earth Dragon’s massive body and combat power came into view, and I narrowed my eyes slightly. Seeing it up close like this, I could understand why it was called the strongest Phantasmal Beast.
I’ve reached Rank 5, and my combat power has increased considerably. Even so, fighting the strongest Phantasmal Beast species would likely require 【Iron Rose (Ability)】. However, 【Iron Rose】, being a Battle Art and not a Divine Protection, has a time limit. And even if I could fight with it, I didn’t have a decisive blow to defeat the Earth Dragon.
It wasn’t a matter of a difference in combat power. It was the difference in species Status that couldn’t be compensated for by skill, and the sheer size of the Earth Dragon itself that was the problem. Obstructed by thick muscle and bone, neither its heart nor its brain was within reach of my knives.
Therefore, my role is to eliminate obstacles and create an opening for someone else to land the finishing blow. For that reason, too, I couldn’t carelessly rely on 【Iron Rose】.
Kiiin!
I deflected an arrow from an Evil Race soldier who had quickly recovered from the storm with my knife. Multiple arrows followed, but I slashed them away with my Black Knife and dagger without slowing down.
“Don’t let That Woman get close!”
“Target her with magic!”
A man who seemed to be the commander shouted. Immediately, Fire Arrows rained down from the Evil Race army, and just as I momentarily slowed, Nero leaped in front of me.
『GRAAAAAAAAAR!!』
The tentacles extending from Nero’s ears crackled with electricity, whipping away the Fire Arrows like lashes. The widely dispersed electric sparks disrupted the mages who were about to launch their next attack.
“Nero!”
――Got it.――
Nero grabbed my body with his tail and threw me forward. Before the archers, momentarily stunned by my airborne form, could nock their arrows, the General-Purpose Type Pendulum I had thrown sliced through their bowstrings and their throats.
“Damn you!”
One of the approaching soldiers thrust his spear. While still in mid-air, I used the tip of my toe to deflect the spearhead, and at the same time, my Slashing Type Pendulum, kicked off its Thread, slashed across the soldier’s face.
“Gugh!?”
I landed right on an enemy’s face, snapping their neck as if slamming it into the sandstone. The elite of the Evil Race army immediately surrounded me.
As I dodged the spear thrusts and axe slashes coming from all directions by leaning back, I executed a spinning kick as if doing a handstand, striking the spear shafts and the flat of the axes. Simultaneously, using the Pendulum entangled with Thread grasped by my toes, I slit the throats of the surrounding soldiers.
“Consider her to be stronger than a War Oni! Don't approach carelessly!”
At the voice of the middle-aged Dark Elf commander, the Evil Race Soldiers fell back. The commander then turned his gaze, filled with anger and hatred, towards me.
“A human woman! A counterfeit prince with mixed human blood! Telling us to abandon our anger and hatred... our dearest wish to annihilate the human race! As if we could ever give up on that!!”
The commander shouted and pointed the sword in his hand at me, as if about to swing it down.
“I'll take your heads and shove them in the faces of those who prattle about peace, and show them reality!“
A Shadow fell upon the spot where the soldiers had retreated, and the Earth Dragon’s massive claw came crashing down.
GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!!
“Ngh!”
I instantly leaped aside, but the impact of the strike momentarily made my legs tangle. Seeing this, the Earth Dragon snapped its fangs as if to bite, and in that instant, it collided with a black Shadow that leaped in.
GOOOOONNN–!!
GUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!!
GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!!
With a deafening roar like heavy metals crashing together, Nero’s body and the Earth Dragon’s neck recoiled.
Seizing that moment, I whipped out a knife as my skirt swirled and threw it. However, the Throwing knife was deflected by the Earth Dragon’s eyelid, which it had shut in an instant.
Grooo...
“Tch!”
The Earth Dragon turned its eyes towards me, the one who had attacked. I felt a chill from its gaze and instantly leaped away. At the same time, a massive flame blazed within the Earth Dragon’s mouth. But–
“--Stop!!”
--------!!
Stopped by an Evil Race Soldier from behind, the Earth Dragon extinguished the flame as if crushing it in its jaws. Indeed, if it had unleashed that breath, the surrounding Evil Race Soldiers would have been annihilated. I wasn’t even sure if Nero or I could have completely dodged it. But–
“Nero, fall back!”
Grah!
I leaped back, moving away from the “darkness” that was accumulating like mud in the Earth Dragon’s eyes. Nero had probably seen the same thing.
That darkness was the Earth Dragon’s endless hatred and fury. The moment I saw it, I felt a chill run down my spine and instinctively put distance between us.
Our initial plan was for Nero and me to draw it into a chaotic melee to limit the Earth Dragon’s attacks, then for Iron Rose to create an opening, after which either Nero or Jesha-san would deliver the finishing blow.
That’s why I hadn’t attacked the beast tamers behind the Earth Dragon.
…However, that premise had now shattered.
Seeing me retreat, the Evil Race army commander shouted triumphantly.
“Go, Earth Dragon! Our dearest wish, our hatred and suffering, upon the human race--”
Gusha…!
The next moment, the Earth Dragon’s descending fangs crushed the commander’s upper body like a sack filled with blood.
The Evil Race army froze at the sudden event. But as the Earth Dragon tore off and devoured the upper body, as if to show them this was reality, panicked screams could be heard from the Monster tamers at the merciless scene.
“...Wha-!?”
“Why is the dragon!?”
“Strengthen the Sorcery, hurry!!“
<<--Insolent-->>
It was heard in a “voice” that seemed to resonate from the depths of the earth, in the common tongue used on this continent.
DOOGOOOOOOOOOOON!!
Immediately after, the Earth Dragon’s tail smashed the beast tamers with a single sweep.
The Earth Dragon’s gray eyes turned blood-red, its dark green scales chipped and fell away… revealing a “black” darker than darkness itself.
–Insolent–
The entity felt an inferior emotion called “anger” swirling within itself.
Why should inferior creatures dominate “Us”?
Why must “We” become the livestock of insignificant beings?
Day by day, a murky, dark emotion accumulated like sludge…
The species of that entity, after reaching adulthood, spends a long time acquiring Magical Element of an attribute, evolving into individuals aligned with their respective attributes, and forming a distinct “ego.”
That was the way of their species, and also their pride.
But the insignificant and vile creatures called humans defiled the pride of “Us,” a high-ranking Phantasmal Beast, and trampled upon “Our” dignity.
And when even the one thing permitted, “battle,” was interfered with, “We” finally abandoned “Our” pride and surrendered to hatred.
The earth-attribute Magical Element, which “We” had been forced to consume and accumulate from ores, was being dyed with the dark attribute by the “Spirit of Fury (Hyūrī).”
Old scales peeled and fell. Claws and fangs, harder than steel, crumbled and scattered as if trembling with rage.
The new scales were the black of darkness. As if to reveal the depth of its hatred, even its fangs and claws were dyed “black.” Wings that had previously degenerated spread wide upon its back, large enough to cover its colossal body, and it took flight into the vast sky.
–Die. You foolish humans–
[Black Dragon] [Species: Elemental Dragon] [Phantasmal Beast Rank 7] 1UP
[MP: 312/400] 50UP [HP: 742/1035] 215UP
[Total Combat Power: 7879] 3322UP
A lightning breath, unleashed by the Black Dragon that had become an evil dragon hating everything in this world, struck the ancient ruins like the wrath of heaven.
I didn’t make it to what I previewed last time!
The cause was inadvertently starting to write about the Earth Dragon’s feelings…
A Rank 7 has finally appeared. How will Aria fight against an Elemental Dragon, the strongest on this continent?
Next time, who are those who will intervene in that battle!