For ordinary people, a dragon was a terrifying creature. With its massive, muscular body, fearsome claws, and gaping maw, it could trample countless lives without the slightest mercy.
But for players, the moment they heard the word "dragon," their eyes would widen, their breathing would quicken, and their hearts would pound!
Why?
Because dragon = filthy rich = dragon's lair full of treasure = rare equipment!!
Whether on some primitive planet or out in the stars, anything related to dragons was something players would never miss.
And now was no exception.
"Bang!!"
The dragon's body slammed to the ground. It lifted its head in fear, staring at the black-armored knight pressing his foot down on its skull.
"M-monster…"
The arrogant pride it had shown before was gone, replaced only with trembling terror under Duanmu Huai's gaze. And it was no wonder—the other dragons that had come with it were already dead.
The first black dragon that had boasted so loudly was impaled in one blow by the great spirit knight Anne had summoned in her fury. Another dragon beside it hadn't even managed to say its cliché villain line of "How dare you…" before Guleya leapt and raked it aside with her claws, tearing deep gashes into its supposedly impenetrable scale armor.
As for the others? One was sliced into steaks by Olgis with just a flick of her finger. Another had thought Lorena looked easy prey and tried to attack her—only to be smacked in the head with her holy book so hard its skull twisted a full one-hundred-and-eighty degrees. Needless to say, there was no "after" for that one.
From start to finish, the entire fight hadn't even lasted two minutes. If not for Duanmu Huai's intention to leave one alive, this last dragon would already be dead too.
"Now, I ask and you answer. Understood?"
Duanmu Huai removed his helmet, pressing his chainsword to the dragon's throat while glaring coldly at it. Seeing his face only made the dragon's pallor worsen.
"N-no! Don't come any closer! I'll do anything! Please!!"
As the dragon wailed, a stench spread through the air. Anne and Guleya wrinkled their brows and glanced downward at the dragon…
"Ugh… it peed itself."
"Anne, it's a dragon. It doesn't wear pants."
"Still, dragons really are cowards. Just like Sir Knight said—their courage is smaller than a pine nut."
"…A disgrace to dragonkind…"
Ignoring the princesses' whispers, Duanmu Huai acted as if he hadn't heard a thing, keeping his eyes fixed on the dragon.
"Answer my question."
"Y-yes…"
"You're subordinates of Fafnir?"
"Yes… we are members of the Evil Dragon Legion…"
"The attacks on villages—were those orders from the Legion?"
"Not exactly. The Legion is busy with another mission. We… we were just bored at the rear…"
"What did you just say?!"
Anne's face flushed red with fury, nearly summoning her spirit knight again. Luckily, Guleya and Lorena held her back.
"A mission?"
Duanmu Huai raised his brow.
"What mission?"
"This…"
The dragon faltered. Without hesitation, Duanmu Huai pressed a button.
"Vrrrmmm!!"
The chainsword roared to life. Feeling death's shadow over its throat, the dragon broke immediately.
"I-I'll talk! I don't know all the details, but… I heard they came for a tower in the Frozen Valley! They say beneath it lies a Flame Demon Dragon from ancient times! Lord Fafnir intends to make it his vassal, so he sent the Evil Dragon Legion to break the seal!"
"What!?"
Everyone was stunned. Duanmu Huai turned sharply to look at Anne and Guleya.
"You didn't know?"
"I never heard of such a thing! There's no record of it in the library…"
Anne shook her head rapidly, clearly shocked by the news.
"What about you, Guleya? You're a Dragonborn, aren't you? Ever heard of this?"
"I've never heard anything like it either…"
Guleya looked utterly bewildered. Clearly, neither of them had known such a secret existed.
"Whatever the case, we must stop that dragon from being revived!"
Duanmu Huai made his decision instantly. What kind of script was this? A final boss reviving and recruiting his Four Heavenly Kings? If that happened, things would be beyond saving.
"Do you know where that tower is? Take us there!"
"I… but…"
"Vrrrmmm!!"
"I'll take you! I'll take you! Stop shoving that thing in, please!!!"
As the dragon shrieked, Anne leaned closer to whisper in Guleya's ear.
"Guleya, this dragon really is just as cowardly as Sir Knight said…"
At last, under Duanmu Huai's threats, the battered dragon spread its wings and carried the group toward the towering structure deep within the Frozen Mountains.
It was already late at night, but the moonlight lit up the peaks in stark clarity. Seated on the dragon's back, Duanmu Huai scanned the surroundings—and soon spotted their destination.
Not that he had sharp eyesight. It was just… impossible to miss.
Flames shot skyward from a massive crater in the mountains. Within it stood a towering white spire of ice, as though carved entirely from frozen crystal. Bathed in moonlight, the tower's surroundings were littered with dragon corpses—dozens of them, shattered and strewn about. Fires still burned across the ground…
And at the base of the ice tower, a gaping hole had been blasted open. From the looks of it, the other dragons had already gone inside.
"We need to hurry, quickly—"
Before Duanmu Huai could finish, a freezing gale burst from the tower, rushing straight toward them!
"Watch out!"
Duanmu Huai grabbed Olgis and Lorena, leaping high into the air. Anne and Guleya also took flight, and in the next instant the freezing wind swept beneath them, instantly freezing their dragon mount solid. It didn't even manage a scream before crashing to the ground, shattering into fragments.
"This place is no joke."
Duanmu Huai's chest tightened. He hurried the others to land. Now he finally understood why so many dragon corpses lay scattered around the ice tower.
Its defenses were terrifying.
Which also meant… something truly dangerous must be sealed beneath it. Ordinary things did not command such power.
Gripping his warhammer tightly, Duanmu Huai stared toward the dark hole in the tower.
"Let's go!"
Under his lead, they rushed inside. But the moment they entered, a wave of bone-piercing cold slammed against them.
"So cold!"
"H-how can it be this cold?!"
The girls shrieked, unprepared for the icy blast. Fortunately, someone was ready.
"I have coats. Your Highness, Lady Lorena, Lady Olgis, please take these."
Oh, you're here.
Seeing Owen suddenly appear with armfuls of coats, Duanmu Huai blinked in surprise.
The guy had so little presence he'd completely forgotten about him.
And where the hell were you carrying all these?
"Sir Knight? Do you need one…"
"I'm fine. But if you've got black tea, save me a cup for after this is done."
Duanmu Huai declined, then turned back to the path ahead. The interior of the tower was a mess, corpses of dragons and dragon-beasts strewn everywhere. Fortunately, the carnage had cleared a path for them. All they had to do now was follow the trail of bodies deeper inside.
"Alright, move out. Let's hope we're not too late."
(End of Chapter)