Chapter 93: Golden Dragon vs. Useless Pet

I awoke from a sudden, sharp pain.

What happened? Why was I unconscious? My newly awakened consciousness was vague, like a mist.

But even so, I knew that the presence before Me was an enemy. That white, diminutive figure—yet My instincts screamed that it was unequivocally an enemy. It was an existence that must be destroyed. The dragon blood flowing through My veins cried out so intensely.

The things I cannot remember are irrelevant. Now, I must simply annihilate the enemy before Me.

I brought down My golden claws, which cleave all things, upon the white foe. But the enemy dodged My claws with a speed unbefitting its weak appearance, and in the same momentum, charged Me.

Foolish, to think such a small body could wound Me… Guh!

Unbelievably, the enemy’s charge delivered a strong impact inside My tough scales, exceeding My expectation of its power.

“Gyu gyu gyu!” The enemy laughed fearlessly.

Kuh, did I get misled by the opponent’s appearance? It seems this enemy possesses power far beyond what its appearance suggests. Was My own caution lacking for disregarding the warning of My bloodline?

But I will not be negligent a second time!

I soared into the sky to fight like a true dragon. But for some reason, one of My wings hurt. I looked and saw a mark where My wing had been torn off by something! Was that the enemy’s doing? Unforgivable!!

Filled with greater rage, I unleashed a low-power breath attack towards the ground. Being a King, I can fire My breath without needing to build up power, unlike the lower dragons. A slight charge is necessary for a lethal strike, but a breath of this level can be launched as easily as breathing.

Nonetheless, even at this level of power, the breath I, the Golden Dragon, unleash is far more potent than what lower dragons fire. I continued to rain down breath upon an area impossible to evade, from an altitude the wingless foe could never reach.

I wielded overwhelming violence casually, something only permitted to a King. Heh, heh. If you must hate something, curse your own misfortune for being born without wings. And as a reward for wounding Me, I shall grant you the honor of becoming My sacrifice. Though, only if there are even meager pieces of flesh remaining on the land swept clean by My breath. Fu hahahahaha!!

“Kyuuuu!!”

But what is this? It was coming towards Me. It was coming towards Me, its body battered, piercing through the curtain of breath. It ran through the sky without wings.

“Gyuuun!!”

The enemy charged into My unprepared wing, and sharp pain shot through Me again. Surprised and in pain from being wounded twice, I fell to the ground in a most unkingly fashion.

“Gyufufu.” And the enemy mocked Me. It mocked Me, from above.

I will not tolerate this anymore! You shall know that I will leave not a single piece of flesh of your body behind!

The game is over. This is where the true fight of a dragon begins! I circulated magic power throughout My entire body, concentrating solely on tearing apart the enemy before Me. Until now, I held back My power so as not to destroy this land, which is My territory, but such concerns are irrelevant now. I will make you regret insulting the pride of a dragon!

My body, filled with power, could move at an incomparable speed to usual. I instantly moved behind the enemy and shredded its defenseless back with My claws. The enemy’s white fur was stained with fresh blood, but I will not be negligent anymore.

As expected, I parried the enemy’s counterattack, which showed no regard for its injuries, with My front leg. The impact was like taking hold of a heavy boulder. But it is not an attack I cannot withstand if I know it is coming.

I slammed the enemy I caught down onto the ground. And then pressed down with My full weight to crush it.

A sharp pain shot through the sole of My front leg. Claws or fangs, it must be counterattacking. But I will not let it escape. I will crush and grind it into paste right here.

But suddenly, the resistance ceased, and the pain subsided. Immediately after, I sensed a faint sound behind Me and instantly jumped sideways. A white shadow shot through the space where I had been standing, with the speed of lightning.

Hmph, it burrowed underground and circled behind Me, did it? But you underestimate My senses.

“Gyuuu!” The enemy’s eyes were stained with rage, telling Me it would kill Me. Hmph, that is mutual.

“Gyuuu!!”

The next attack was a direct exchange of blows. Our fists struck, counterbalanced, knocked down, and were knocked down. No need for evasion; if there is time to dodge, deliver a blow instead.

We simply punched each other. Heh, heh…

A smile naturally formed on My lips.

“Gyu, gyu gyu…” I looked and saw the enemy smiling similarly.

…I understand. That feeling. You, too, feel comfortable fighting with all your might, don’t you? Because you were destined to be the strongest existence, everything around you that couldn’t keep up was boring, wasn’t it?

It will be called the arrogance of the strong. But perhaps we were seeking each other’s existence all along. The existence of a worthy rival with whom we could fight, betting everything we had.

…Interesting! To think I, who have lived for centuries, would be so excited! Then I shall fully enjoy this battle to My heart’s content!!

And after an exchange of blows that felt like it would continue forever, we retreated from each other, seizing a momentary pause in the attack that arose in a blink of an eye. Kuku, it seems I got a little too carried away. I was engrossed during the exchange of blows and didn’t notice, but our bodies were more wounded than expected. Umu, it seems continuing the fight any further is impossible.

In that case, let us conclude with the strongest possible blow.

Looking at the enemy, it seemed to have the same thought; a vast amount of magic power was being refined within its small body. Kukuku, we are in sync until the very end. I, too, refined My magic power for a single, final blow.

The strongest attack of a dragon is, of course, the Breath, and nothing else. Not the loose barrage of breath from earlier, but the single strongest strike encompassing My entire being.

Our magic powers peaked, and all that remained was to wait for the moment to unleash them. Ah, regardless of the outcome, this is the end. With such a massive build-up of magic power, neither of us will escape unscathed. If My attack is overwhelmed by the opponent’s, the magic power I released will be swallowed by the enemy’s, and I will be destroyed by My own force.

But… that is acceptable. That is the respect due to a magnificent foe who provided Me with the ultimate battle!

Here I go!

“GYURROOOOON!!”

My attack and the enemy’s attack were unleashed simultaneously. I was certain of victory, given the power of the refined breath, which surprised even Myself. And our attacks collided fiercely.

The tremendous resistance I felt at that moment. Oh, what pressure!? Power not inferior to My own Breath! But I will not lose!

Nuooh!

“GYUOAAAAA!!”

We continued to unleash our attacks, squeezing out every last bit of remaining magic power. This is the end!!

……

And then, I used up all My strength. I squeezed out everything. I can no longer move even the tip of a wing.

Now, all that remains is to yield to the result. I stared at the final blow released by us both.

And I noticed something strange. My released Breath and the enemy’s attack were stopped exactly halfway between us. And the attacks remained motionless there, forming two magical spheres.

What is it? What is happening? Such a phenomenon does not occur with My Breath. Is this the enemy’s attack? In that case, was My attack completely absorbed by the enemy?

I looked at the enemy, who must have been confident of victory.

“…Gyuun?”

Ah, the opponent also seems confused. It tilted its head as if asking, What is this?

Then what on earth is this…?

“Honestly, that’s dangerous.”

Just then, a voice was heard from between the two magical spheres. A voice that, for some reason, sent a shiver down My spine.

“Gyu!? Gyu kyuu!?”

Hearing that voice, the enemy suddenly let out a cry mixed with surprise, panic, and fear. What is it? Does it know something?

“If attacks like these collide, this whole area will be messed up, and one of you will get seriously hurt. Hey!”

With a casual voice, our magical spheres were flung high into the sky.

Eh? Fling them away? How?

“Double Impulse Break!”

Furthermore, a small arrow of light chased after them, and just as it seemed to pierce the magical spheres that had shot upward, the spheres dispersed without a sound.

……

Eh!? Dispersed!? What!? What was that just now!? The magical spheres, infused with the totality of our magic power, just vanished!

I turned My gaze back to the enemy, demanding it tell Me if it knew anything, and the enemy was trembling with fear, a far cry from its proud demeanor just moments before.

“Kyuu, kyuu~”

It let out a faint cry, staring at the empty space between us where our attacks had suddenly stopped. Following its gaze, I also looked, and there stood a human figure.

“Good grief, you two are a mess. I thought it would be a good playmate for Fluffy, but dragon materials are precious, so you shouldn’t get too hurt. Area High Heal!!”

The human casually unleashed magic, and a vast healing power danced through the surroundings. And it healed not only the enemy’s injuries but Mine as well.

“Alright, that cleans things up.”

The human laughed innocently, but healing Me, a dragon who is humanity’s natural enemy, is the height of foolishness. Healing an enemy who tried to kill you is practically asking to be attacked again. It should be impossible for us dragons to open our hearts to a small human.

Yet, why? When I looked at that human, My trembling wouldn’t stop. That creature, which looked like a mere human child, seemed like an utterly terrifying presence.

Yes, it is the same as the weak humans I encountered earlier, yet completely different.

…Hm? Human?

…………!!

It was then I remembered, I recalled it. That voice I heard when I tried to hunt down the insolent human who had invaded My territory.

“Or rather, you, you’re a little too bright!”

The fact that immediately after hearing that voice, I was sent flying with a tremendous pain and lost consciousness. That means this human was the one who…

“Kyuun!!”

I snapped my gaze back to the enemy, who was letting out a high-pitched cry I’d never heard before, now showing its belly in a position of total surrender and letting out fawning cries. It was even leaking fluid.

What is that pathetic sight!? Is that really the worthy rival who fought Me to the death just moments ago!?

I didn’t think that.

Yes, there are opponents in the world you absolutely cannot defeat. You want to fight a battle staking your life and squeezing out all your strength? And you’d be satisfied even if you died?

No, no way. That’s what people who have never seen true strength say.

“Gyuun!”

So I, too, imitated the enemy—no, My friend—showed My belly, and rolled over. I am not the enemy.