Chapter 34
Long ago, someone called the wisest of all mankind said this—
Dragons, they said, were the first lifeforms, originating from an era of only light and darkness, before the world was properly born.
So perfect and complete, nothing could threaten them, and their self-love was so great that they often showed hostility towards each other, despite being of the same kin.
Their role was to maintain balance.
They existed to clearly define the boundary between light and darkness, protecting the still unstable world.
And among them, the strongest dragon became a brilliant star, their father and Constellation.
【Dragon Lord】
The Incarnation of the most intense life force, a nature that represents an unquenchable fire.
A noble Constellation, truly worthy of ascending to the ranks of the strongest.
“Oh Dragons, you who are imbued with the breath of the Creator. Please instill order within chaos, and become a bridge between darkness and light. Please.”
“May you shine eternally.”
-From the research journal of the sage, ‘Reneto.’
#
[The Constellation, 'Dragon Lord,' acknowledges your existence.]
As soon as I saw the message window, a memory surfaced.
Another bittersweet memory.
“Nice to meet you.”
As I spoke, a message window immediately popped up.
[The Constellation, 'Dragon Lord,' is extremely furious with you!]
There are too many reasons to count why the Constellation governing Dragons would be angry with me.
I invaded the Dragons' territory and their Lair, showing them what a true human anthem was all about.
I've also dismantled many of their kind and collected various trophies.
‘Should've been born less expensive.’
The value of Dragons as in-Game currency was sky-high.
Even back then, brag posts about Dragon hunts often appeared in the user Community.
Anyway.
There were many reasons and occasions for the Constellation called 'Dragon Lord' to be angry with me.
However, at this point in the Progress, all those bad relationships had been resolved to some extent.
‘After I cleared all those Quests for you.’
I still haven't forgotten the nightmare of the Quests I had to roll through in the name of proving our friendship.
Offering trophies of monsters from opposite ends of the continent, or rare gems obtainable only with slim chances.
Quests of the Dragon forces, seemingly designed to deliberately grate on my nerves, with hellish difficulty.
‘But I cleared them.’
Still, I didn't give up.
And as a result, I was able to get a beautiful Follower as a reward, the very Goal and motivation of my Game.
A Dragonkin Follower with two lovely horns on her Head.
‘How can I resist this?’
Since I haven't forgotten the romantic feeling that filled me deep inside, naturally her name came to mind when I saw the name 'Dragon Lord.'
But now.
[The Constellation, 'Dragon Lord,' roars, demanding you return his abandoned daughter!]
“What the hell is this nonsense?”
[Black Sun's Incarnation: Eeeek...!!]
As if echoing my bewildered feelings, the Black Sun Incarnation made a fuss.
“What’s with you?”
[Black Sun's Incarnation: A, a Dragon...! It's strange that you're not scared...!]
“Oh, is this your first time seeing a Dragon?”
[Black Sun's Incarnation: Of course...! Facing a Dragon means you've greatly interfered with providence or broken the world's rules!]
I see.
Story-wise, Dragons don't properly appear until the very end of the Game.
Fitting their title as the world's balancers, they only show up at the end after a lot of build-up.
Of course, the accompanying pressure and force are no joke, so they're also rated as a high-difficulty race among users.
‘Hmm, is that so?’
But again, it’s all in the past for me.
Strong or not, I've faced them countless times in the last playthrough, and I'm confident I can easily handle them now as well.
[Child of the Lost Star: A Dragon. How very intriguing. Absolute Being, have you also confronted them before?]
The Child of the Lost Star seemed very curious about the current situation and asked without hesitation.
‘Now it's more of a love-hate relationship.’
The time when we fought tooth and nail has long passed, and now we’re stuck with a grudging affection for each other.
We dislike each other, but not enough to openly be hostile and attack.
[Black Sun's Incarnation: B, but... why is that Constellation demanding you to—]
The Black Sun Incarnation, who was sending messages up to that point, suddenly exclaimed as if realizing something.
[Avatar of the Black Sun: Don't tell me, don't tell me. You, even the Constellation's Child as a Follower....?]
‘Isn't that obvious?’
A beautiful Dragonkin Follower, how can I resist?
[Black Sun's Incarnation: C, crazy. You're crazy...!]
‘Stop overreacting.’
Taking a Dragon as a Follower.
Of course, it might sound crazy to the natives of the world, but within the Game, it was firmly established as one of the challenges.
The biggest Goal is to bring powerful Followers into the Religious Order and expand your forces.
So, no matter how much they're called protectors of the world or a powerful absolute race, that possibility was always open.
“So.”
The part that perplexes me is the last message.
Abandoned who?
[The Constellation, 'Dragon Lord,' is greatly enraged by your impudence!]
“No, what did I do?”
I’m just as confused.
Abandon a Follower I personally recruited?
That’s absolutely impossible.
“There must be some misunderstanding?”
[The Constellation, 'Dragon Lord,' roars at you to stop lying!]
His fiery temper seems unchanged, showing no signs of calming down.
But if he just keeps yelling, I can’t grasp the situation properly.
“Stop getting angry and explain it properly.”
So I asked.
Since there’s no way I’d abandon a Follower with my own hands, about the current situation—
[The Constellation, 'Dragon Lord,' wishes to meet you.]
And the response I got was a challenge to a duel.
“Hmm.”
[Black Sun's Incarnation: No...! ]
“What?”
The Black Sun Incarnation urgently tried to stop me.
[Black Sun's Incarnation: You can't go, it's definitely...! ]
“It's just a meeting. Just talking, what's the big deal?”
It seems the fear of dragons ingrained in his mind is immense.
I've long passed the stage where I needed to be afraid, so I don't really get it.
[Would you like to move to the location?]
To the System's question asking if I wanted to move.
“Yeah.”
I decided to accept, to properly grasp the situation.
***
“Rooooar!!”
And as soon as I arrived at the location, the enraged dragons' attacks greeted me.
[Black Sun's Incarnation: Kyaaaak!!]
“Oh, shit.”
[Black Sun's Incarnation: I told you not to go!!]
[Child of the Lost Star: This is a bit… dangerous.]
As if matching the enraged Constellation's mental image, the place was filled with volcanoes overflowing with lava.
And from the sky and the ground, numerous dragons targeted me with their glares.
There were so many different kinds; it felt like all the dragons in the world had been gathered here.
‘Is that surprising?’
This was the home ground of the Constellation who handled dragons, so it was likely that there were even more gathered here than those scattered throughout the world.
“Wow...”
It was a sight I had seen countless times in the Game, but experiencing it in reality was several times more thrilling.
The stage that was confined within the computer screen was the living, breathing habitat of the dragons.
The masters of this land, who were once monsters, each with their own unique characteristics, launched their strongest attacks at me.
Just how far have I come?
[Black Sun's Incarnation: Dan… dangerous...! ]
[Child of the Lost Star: Run, Absolute Being. Even you wouldn't be able to handle this scale—]
A message of concern popped up in the corner of the message window, but the dragons' attacks were faster.
It was perfectly timed, as if they had anticipated my arrival, leaving no time to react.
“Hmm.”
Strangely enough, the body manifested through Summon felt no sense of danger from these attacks.
The intense heat that felt like it would melt me at any moment, and countless other deadly breaths of various properties.
“Nice.”
It truly was a breathtaking sight.
If it weren't for the fact that these attacks were directed at me, it would have been a great spectacle.
[Casting Skill.]
[Divine Barrier (S)]
[Heavenly Armor (S)]
[Absolute Defense (S)]
I casually cast defensive skills of an appropriate level to block the attacks.
Not only did I clad my entire body with the highest grade Divine Power, but an 'absolute domain' was created, not allowing a single attack within a certain radius.
-Kwaaaang!!
The all-out assault of the dragons crashed against me.
While the world outside seemed to be turning upside down, the domain centered around me remained peaceful.
[Black Sun's Incarnation: ...Ah.]
The Black Sun Incarnation, who had been trembling in fear amidst the urgent situation, finally reacted belatedly.
“Why are you so scared?”
[Black Sun's Incarnation: N-no.]
[Child of the Lost Star: Perfect. Actually, I expected you to block it without any trouble from the beginning.]
[Black Sun's Incarnation: Don't bullshit me...! Damn it, you told me to run with you earlier...! ]
‘What are you guys doing?’
Leaving the Constellations to their little skit, I decided to quickly resolve the situation.
While diligently searching for a suitable attack skill, a good idea came to mind.
‘Should I try using the Holy Sword?’
The scene of our Ellie using the Holy Sword briefly came to mind.
[Oath of Heaven and Earth, Sekratis
-Grade: Myth]
I reached into the subspace that opened in the air.
And grasped the familiar, comfortable hilt.
What I drew out was—
[Black Sun's Incarnation: Hiiiik...! ]
The Constellations' panic button and the object of their fear.
[Child of the Lost Star: Ohh, beautiful. Beautiful...]
The Holy Sword, bestowed upon me by the Child of the Lost Star himself, exclusively for my use.
“Oh.”
The ornate decorations extending from the hilt, and above it…
The beautiful blade, formed by the power of the stars, was situated.
“Self-defense, right?”
-Rooooar!!
Smiling back at the dragons, who still glared at me with fierce eyes.
I lightly swung the Holy Sword, just like Ellie did.
-....!!
The violent form of Divine Power spread across the attack range.
And then I heard.
[Fire Dragon, 'Ignis' has been slain!]
[Ice Dragon, 'Glacia' has been slain!]
[Earth Dragon, 'Terra' has been slai....]
The clear notification sound announcing the massacre of the dragons.
“Refreshing.”
And the sight of the massive bodies that had been swarming me disappearing without a trace.
[Constellation, 'Dragon Lord' is enraged by your tyranny!]
[Constellation, 'Dragon Lord' is using 'Summon'.]
Finally, the sky split open, and the father of the dragons revealed himself.