Chapter 9 — The Party Finally Works
One week.
That was all it took for Zach to realize something.
Training had changed them.
Not just him.
Everyone.
The party that had once struggled against Giant Toads was no longer the same group that had walked into the Adventurer's Guild weeks ago.
Kazuma could actually handle his sword now.
Aqua had learned to stop wasting her magic.
Megumin's mana reserves had improved.
And Zach…
Zach had become something else entirely.
The final week of training had been brutal.
The gravity chamber had pushed his body harder than anything he had experienced before.
Korin had spent the entire week testing his reactions, his Ki control, his footwork, and his ability to fight while exhausted.
And Zach had adapted.
He still wasn't anywhere close to the monsters of the Dragon Ball universe.
He knew that.
But he wasn't trying to become Goku anymore.
He was building himself.
His own fighting style.
His own strength.
His own legend.
And today, the training would finally be put to the test.
The Mission
The four stood inside the Adventurer's Guild.
Luna stood behind the counter, holding a mission request.
"This mission has been classified as high difficulty."
Kazuma immediately became nervous.
"High difficulty?"
"Yes."
"Maybe we should take a lower difficulty mission."
Zach shook his head.
"We've been training for a month."
"Exactly," Kazuma replied. "And now we're stronger, which means we can take slightly stronger quests without immediately dying."
Megumin nodded.
"A reasonable strategy."
Aqua smiled.
"I agree!"
Kazuma looked at them.
"Why do I feel like none of you understand what I just said?"
Zach took the mission from Luna.
"What exactly are we dealing with?"
Luna explained.
"A mining operation outside Axel has been abandoned because of a monster infestation."
Zach looked at the paper.
"How many?"
"We don't know."
Kazuma's face dropped.
"That's not reassuring."
Luna continued.
"Several mining teams were attacked. The miners reported increasingly dangerous monsters the deeper they went."
Megumin smiled.
"So we're going deeper into a dungeon."
"Technically, it's an abandoned mine," Luna said.
Megumin raised her staff.
"Even better."
Zach looked at the mission details.
Mission: Clear the Abandoned Mine
Objective: Eliminate the monster infestation.
Reward: 30,000 Eris.
Additional Reward: Bonus for eliminating the source of the infestation.
Kazuma's eyes widened.
"Thirty thousand?!"
Aqua grabbed the mission paper.
"We're taking it!"
Zach nodded.
"We'll leave in the morning."
Kazuma sighed.
"Fine."
Then he smiled.
"But we're not training tomorrow, right?"
Zach looked at him.
"No."
Kazuma sighed in relief.
"We're doing a mission."
Kazuma's face dropped.
"Of course."
The Abandoned Mine
The next morning, the party arrived at the mine.
The entrance was enormous.
Old wooden supports surrounded the opening.
The tracks used by mining carts disappeared into the darkness.
A cold wind came from inside.
Kazuma looked into the mine.
"I don't like this."
Zach adjusted his gloves.
"Stay alert."
Aqua held her staff tightly.
Megumin smiled.
"This place reeks of monsters."
Kazuma looked at her.
"How do you know?"
"I have excellent magical senses."
Zach glanced at Aqua.
"She actually has a point."
Aqua proudly raised her head.
"I knew that!"
"No one was talking about you."
"Hey!"
They entered the mine.
Their footsteps echoed through the tunnels.
At first, nothing happened.
Then they heard it.
SCRATCH.
Everyone stopped.
Another sound.
SCRATCH. SCRATCH.
Kazuma slowly drew his sword.
"Something's coming."
Several small monsters crawled out from the darkness.
Zach stepped forward.
"Formation."
Everyone moved.
This was the first major difference.
Nobody argued.
Nobody panicked.
They knew their positions.
Zach stood at the front.
Kazuma stayed on the side.
Aqua and Megumin remained behind them.
The monsters charged.
Zach moved.
BOOM!
His fist struck the first monster and sent it flying.
Another attacked from the side.
Zach blocked it with his forearm.
He grabbed it and slammed it into the ground.
Kazuma darted forward.
SLASH!
He struck one across the side.
Then immediately retreated.
Another monster tried to chase him.
Kazuma sidestepped.
"Too slow."
He slashed again.
Zach glanced back.
"Good hit-and-run."
Kazuma smiled.
"I've been practicing."
Megumin raised her staff.
"I'll handle the next group."
Aqua nodded.
"I'll support you."
Megumin fired a controlled magical blast.
BOOM!
Several monsters were knocked backward.
Aqua immediately followed with another spell.
The remaining creatures were eliminated.
Silence returned.
Kazuma looked around.
"That was easy."
Zach nodded.
"Too easy."
They continued deeper.
Deeper
The farther they went, the stronger the monsters became.
The first creatures were weak.
Then came larger monsters.
Then armored creatures.
Then monsters that could actually use magic.
But something strange happened.
The party kept winning.
Zach blocked attacks that would have sent him flying a month ago.
His body moved instinctively.
His Ki reinforced his muscles.
His martial arts allowed him to redirect attacks instead of simply absorbing them.
He was becoming the party's shield.
But he wasn't the only one improving.
Kazuma had become far more dangerous.
He wasn't the strongest fighter.
He didn't need to be.
He moved quickly.
He attacked vulnerable targets.
Then disappeared before the enemy could counterattack.
A rogue.
That was what Zach had started calling him.
Kazuma didn't like the name.
But he couldn't deny that it fit.
Megumin's magic had also changed.
Her reserves were still limited compared to Aqua's.
But they were larger.
Her control was better.
Instead of immediately wasting everything, she could use smaller spells between major attacks.
And Aqua…
Aqua had become a genuine support member.
She still complained.
Constantly.
But she had learned when to use her power.
Healing.
Protection.
Purification.
Enhancement.
She wasn't simply throwing magic at everything anymore.
The four continued deeper.
Then Zach stopped.
Everyone looked at him.
"What?"
Zach raised his hand.
"Something's ahead."
Kazuma looked nervous.
"How strong?"
Zach closed his eyes.
He focused.
His Ki sensing wasn't perfect.
But he could feel something.
Large.
Heavy.
Powerful.
"Very."
Megumin smiled.
"Excellent."
Kazuma looked at her.
"Why are you smiling?"
Megumin pointed toward the darkness.
"Because I've been waiting for something worth defeating."
Zach stepped forward.
"Stay close."
They continued.
The End of the Mine
Eventually, the tunnel opened into a massive underground chamber.
The ceiling was enormous.
Old mining equipment was scattered across the ground.
Broken carts.
Rocks.
Weapons.
Then Zach saw something that made him stop.
Bones.
Lots of them.
Kazuma swallowed.
"This is where the miners disappeared."
Aqua looked around.
"I sense something."
Megumin raised her staff.
Then—
ROOOOOAR!
The entire chamber shook.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Kazuma nearly dropped his sword.
"WHAT WAS THAT?!"
Something moved in the darkness.
Two massive eyes opened.
A huge creature stepped forward.
Its body was covered in thick scales.
Four powerful legs supported its enormous frame.
Its claws dug into the stone.
And its jaws opened.
A deep growl echoed through the chamber.
Zach stared at it.
The system appeared.
Threat Detected.
Ground Dragon
Danger Level: High
Recommended Party Coordination: Maximum
Zach clenched his fists.
"So that's what's been causing the infestation."
Kazuma looked at him.
"That's a dragon!"
Aqua raised her staff.
"It's enormous!"
Megumin's eyes sparkled.
"A dragon."
She smiled.
"This is perfect."
Kazuma looked at her.
"Why does everyone here have a death wish?"
The Ground Dragon charged.
The Battle
"FORMATION!"
Zach rushed forward.
The dragon's claw came down.
Zach blocked it.
BOOM!
The ground beneath him cracked.
Zach's knees bent.
But he didn't fall.
His Ki surged through his body.
He pushed upward.
The dragon's claw was forced back.
Kazuma stared.
"He stopped it!"
Zach gritted his teeth.
"Now!"
Kazuma immediately moved.
He ran along the dragon's side.
SLASH!
His sword struck between the scales.
The dragon roared.
Kazuma retreated before its tail could hit him.
"Got it!"
"Keep moving!" Zach shouted.
Kazuma nodded.
He darted around the battlefield.
Attack.
Retreat.
Attack.
Retreat.
He wasn't trying to overpower the dragon.
He was distracting it.
Creating openings.
Megumin raised her staff.
"Zach!"
"Do it!"
Megumin began gathering magic.
The air changed.
Zach could feel the power building.
"EXPLOSION!"
A massive blast erupted.
BOOOOOOM!
The dragon roared as the explosion struck it.
But it remained standing.
Megumin collapsed.
"Explosion…"
She fell forward.
Aqua caught her.
"Got you!"
Megumin weakly raised her hand.
"Did it work?"
Zach looked at the dragon.
Its scales were burned.
One side of its body was damaged.
But it was still alive.
"Yeah."
Megumin smiled.
"Excellent."
Aqua immediately began healing Megumin.
"You're getting better."
Megumin smiled.
"I can tell."
The dragon charged again.
Zach stepped forward.
His body moved before he could think.
He ducked beneath its head.
BOOM!
He drove his fist into its jaw.
The dragon's head snapped upward.
Zach followed with a kick.
Then another.
Then another.
His Ki flowed through every movement.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The dragon stumbled backward.
Zach didn't stop.
He wasn't simply punching anymore.
He was using everything Korin had taught him.
Footwork.
Timing.
Angles.
Ki control.
He avoided attacks instead of absorbing every hit.
He struck weak points.
He redirected the dragon's momentum.
But eventually—
The dragon caught him.
Its jaws opened.
Zach barely escaped.
The dragon's teeth snapped shut inches from his body.
Zach rolled away.
"Kazuma!"
"Already on it!"
Kazuma appeared behind the dragon.
SLASH!
The dragon turned.
Kazuma ran.
"Come on! Come on!"
The dragon chased him.
Kazuma smiled.
"That's right."
He led it toward Zach.
Zach understood immediately.
He waited.
The dragon charged.
Kazuma jumped aside.
Zach stepped forward.
His Ki surged.
He planted his feet.
Both fists tightened.
He remembered Korin.
Don't waste movement.
The dragon opened its mouth.
Zach moved.
BOOM!
His fist struck directly beneath the dragon's jaw.
The impact lifted its head.
Zach spun.
His leg connected with the side of its neck.
The dragon staggered.
"Now!"
Aqua raised her staff.
"Strengthen!"
A wave of magic surrounded Zach.
His body felt lighter.
Stronger.
Faster.
Megumin, still recovering, lifted her staff.
"I have enough magic for one more spell."
Kazuma looked at her.
"Are you sure?"
Megumin nodded.
"Just enough."
Zach looked at her.
"Wait for my signal."
The dragon charged.
Zach ran directly toward it.
Kazuma looked confused.
"Zach, what are you doing?!"
Zach jumped.
The dragon opened its jaws.
Zach landed on its head.
He grabbed one of its horns.
The dragon shook violently.
Zach held on.
"NOW!"
Megumin raised her staff.
"EXPLOSION!"
The blast struck the dragon directly.
Zach jumped away at the last second.
The explosion engulfed the dragon.
The chamber shook.
Rocks fell from the ceiling.
Kazuma shielded his face.
Aqua protected Megumin.
The smoke slowly cleared.
The Ground Dragon was still standing.
Barely.
Its legs shook.
It tried to move.
Zach landed.
He took a breath.
His body was exhausted.
His Ki reserves were low.
But he could still move.
The dragon charged one final time.
Zach stepped forward.
No fear.
No hesitation.
He gathered the last of his Ki into his fist.
"It's over."
He punched.
BOOOOOOM!
The dragon collapsed.
Silence.
The four stood there.
Nobody moved.
Then Kazuma slowly raised his sword.
"Did… did we just kill a dragon?"
Aqua stared at the body.
"Yes."
Megumin smiled.
"Magnificent."
Zach looked at the three of them.
Then he laughed.
"We did."
The Team
They stood around the fallen Ground Dragon.
Zach looked at his teammates.
A month ago, they couldn't have done this.
Kazuma couldn't have lasted against something this strong.
Aqua would have wasted her magic.
Megumin would have fired Explosion and become helpless.
And Zach would have tried to handle everything himself.
Now?
They worked together.
Zach was the tank.
The front line.
The heavy hitter.
Kazuma was their rogue.
Fast.
Clever.
Difficult to catch.
Megumin was their artillery.
One devastating attack could change the battlefield.
And Aqua was their support.
Healing.
Buffs.
Magic.
Keeping everyone alive.
They weren't perfect.
Not even close.
But they were becoming a real party.
Kazuma sat down.
"I can't believe I'm saying this."
Zach looked at him.
"What?"
Kazuma smiled.
"We actually make a pretty good team."
Aqua smiled proudly.
"Of course we do!"
Megumin nodded.
"We are a magnificent party."
Zach smiled.
"Yeah."
He looked at the dragon.
"And this is only the beginning."
Return to Axel
The journey back was much quieter.
Everyone was exhausted.
Kazuma complained about carrying supplies.
Aqua complained about being hungry.
Megumin complained that she hadn't been able to use enough Explosion.
Zach simply walked.
He looked back at the mine.
The mission had started as a test.
It had become something more.
Proof.
Proof that their training had worked.
Proof that they could handle stronger enemies.
And proof that Zach didn't have to carry everything himself.
When they finally reached Axel, they entered the Adventurer's Guild.
Luna looked up.
Her eyes widened.
"You're back already?"
Kazuma smiled.
"We cleared the mine."
Luna looked at the mission report.
Then at the four of them.
"Did you encounter anything unusual?"
Zach looked at Kazuma.
Kazuma looked at Aqua.
Aqua looked at Megumin.
Megumin smiled.
"We defeated a Ground Dragon."
Luna froze.
"…You what?"
Kazuma laughed.
"Yeah."
Aqua proudly raised her staff.
"We defeated it together!"
Luna stared at them.
Then smiled.
"Congratulations."
The party had completed its first truly major mission.
And none of them realized it yet—
But their victory had begun to attract attention.
Because in Axel, defeating a Ground Dragon was not something ordinary adventurers did.
And the name Zach Grace and his party was about to become known.
End of Chapter 9