"We won't be as easy to deal with as the old ones of our race."
Gold Dragon Bartius concentrated lightning in his palm.
"They've been on the battlefield for too long, relying only on mana accumulated through the ages."
He raised his cold eyes as if to say they were different from the Ancient Dragons.
"Then let's begin."
Raon let out a thin smile as he kicked the edge of the peak. The moment he stepped into the Supreme Harmony Steps, his solid body pierced through that instant and reached right before Bartius's eyes.
"Huh...?"
Bartius could only widen his eyes, seemingly unable to imagine a human moving this fast, and failed to react.
"T-teleportation..."
He tried to activate a dragon's unique language magic to teleport, but Raon's sword was already at his throat.
"Ah..."
Bartius trembled his smooth chin, apparently never having anticipated such an anticlimactic outcome.
"Didn't I tell you?"
Raon looked down at Bartius with arrogant Red Eyes.
"That it wouldn't take very long."
He curled his lips and made a shallow cut on Bartius's neck with the Heavenly Drive. The red blood from Bartius's neck slid down the blade of the Heavenly Drive and fell to the ground.
"I can't believe this."
Bartius bit his lip firmly, as if the pain from the slight cut on his neck had finally brought him back to his senses.
"To think I couldn't even react..."
He stared at the Heavenly Drive stained with his own blood, his expression still showing disbelief.
"Damn, he's fast! I'll fight this time!"
"Woaaaah!"
"His body seems faster than his sword. He has transcended human capabilities."
"His skills justify his 'dangerous' ranking. It would have been dangerous even if Bartius hadn't let his guard down."
The Dragons showed various reactions as they watched Raon decide the outcome much faster than expected.
"That's the face of someone who can't accept defeat."
Raon smirked and pulled back the Heavenly Drive that was pointed at Bartius's neck.
"What are you doing?"
Bartius frowned as he touched the spot on his neck where the Heavenly Drive had just been.
"I acknowledge my defeat..."
"That's not the look of someone who acknowledges defeat."
Raon shook his head as he looked at Bartius's eyes, which still clearly held a competitive spirit.
"Let's go again."
He flicked his finger while shaking off Bartius's blood from the Heavenly Drive.
"This time, you attack first."
He took his stance again, telling Bartius to fight properly so he could acknowledge his own defeat.
"If I go first, your turn will never come."
Raon curled his lips as he made this dismissive remark toward Bartius.
"Fine."
Bartius bit his lip until it bled and spread his hands wide.
"This time I'll show you my full power!"
His entire body was dyed with light, and a massive pillar of mana rose up.
"Come!"
Bartius didn't attack first, but jerked his chin as if telling Raon to come at him again.
"As you command."
Raon twisted his lips and stepped in Supreme Harmony Steps toward Bartius. He moved even faster than before, thrusting the Heavenly Drive toward Bartius's neck. A loud whoosh filled the air!
Bartius watched Raon's sword with both eyes before disappearing in a flash of light, by the narrowest of margins. His presence could be felt behind Raon. His quick reaction and magical operation were seamless.
As Raon turned around, sensing Bartius's aura, the spear of lightning that Bartius had concentrated in his hands was flying toward him.
After cutting through Bartius's lightning spear with his Frost Snap that spread two blades, this time a sphere of black flames surged toward him. Though it looked like a fireball, it was actually a spell that summoned Hellfire.
With a fierce sound, Raon summoned the flames of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation onto his Heavenly Drive and cut through the Hellfire spell Bartius had summoned. But the fired Hellfire wasn't just one. Like a sudden downpour, a rain of Hellfire was pouring down on his head.
The Hellfire, which could pierce through aura and burn flesh and bone with just one hit, was descending like a waterfall.
'Where is Bartius?'
Even in the storm of Hellfire, Raon didn't panic and searched for Bartius's presence.
'He's not around here. Then...'
He slowly raised his head to look at the massive amount of Hellfire that had approached right in front of him.
'He must be hiding in there.'
If a being like Bartius suddenly disappeared, it would be noticeable. Given that he couldn't be sensed nearby, he must have concealed himself within that Hellfire.
"Your combat style is quite skilled."
Raon curled his lips and drew the Wooden Ring Sword with his left hand.
"You've earned the right to talk big."
He raised the Heavenly Drive upward and tilted the Wooden Ring Sword downward. It was the Heaven and Sea stance that cut through sky, earth, and sea simultaneously. The Flame and Ice Unification of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, which called forth red and blue waves, clashed head-on with the Hellfire Bartius had summoned.
Magnificent explosions erupted one after another, making the sky crumple and shaking the nameless mountain as if it would collapse.
Just as Raon was catching his breath after unleashing the Flame and Ice Unification, Bartius rose from within the crumbling Hellfire. Bartius fired a thin, small dagger of light toward Raon's neck. It was a perfect moment, perfect magical execution, and a perfect strategy.
Unlike Ancient Dragons who only spread powerful magic and breath attacks, Bartius thoroughly understood the strategies needed to win in battle.
'Even so...'
Though it was meaningless. Raon raised the Wooden Ring Sword he had tilted downward. A relaxed response. The rapidly raised blade of the Wooden Ring Sword split the light dagger Bartius had fired in half. But Bartius had anticipated even this. The sound of cutting air pierced through!
The light dagger, which was falling in two pieces, transformed into sharp spears targeting Raon's chest and neck simultaneously. It was a tactic designed to exploit complacency built upon complacency.
Even as he saw spears shooting out from the split dagger, Raon didn't panic but erected a wall of flames with his Heavenly Drive to block Bartius's offensive.
"Ah..."
Bartius gaped in shock at Raon, who had effortlessly blocked even his final measure.
"I-impossible..."
As he tried to step back, Raon emerged with a subdued light. Raon aimed the Wooden Ring Sword at Bartius's neck.
"That's already two losses?"
He jerked his chin, telling Bartius to try more if he could.
"O-of course."
Bartius bit his lip hard and nodded.
"I..."
"That's enough!"
"It's my turn now!"
The other Dragons who were behind rushed forward, shouting that they wanted to fight too.
"Hmm..."
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at these young Dragons, clearly different from the hideous Ancient Dragons he had seen until now.
'So there is still some hope on this side too.'
***
"Hmm."
Evelyn clicked her tongue briefly as she watched the battle between Raon and Gold Dragon Bartius.
"That guy fights like a human Magician, not like a Dragon."
Instead of reverting to his original form to unleash powerful magic, Bartius was engaging in fierce combat with Raon in human form, utilizing his mobility.
"His magic skills are considerable."
Dragons can handle high-level magic as naturally as breathing. However, despite their tremendous power, dealing with them wasn't particularly difficult.
'They lack experience in life-or-death situations.'
Dragons never needed to engage in combat as they could slaughter enemies with their powerful magic and absolute breath attacks. Due to this innate Martial Prowess, they rarely experienced battles against strong opponents, making them relatively easy to deal with if one had countermeasures against their breath.
'But these mature dragons are different.'
Despite his human form, Bartius possessed powerful Mana that didn't fall short of his original form, continuously improved and used his magic, and maximized mobility by utilizing the human form. He was a Dragon with abundant practical experience.
[Indeed. He's not completely brainless.]
Lust sent a thought wave with a thin smile.
[If he revealed his true form to a demon king like Wrath, his neck would be cut off or he'd be frozen solid. Good choice.]
She let out a small exclamation, noting that the Dragon's practical experience seemed considerable.
"He's not a demon king, not Wrath, he's Raon."
Evelyn snorted as she muttered for Lust to say Raon's name correctly.
[It is Wrath, you know? You don't even know your loved one's name properly. How foolish.]
Lust sneered, suggesting Evelyn was mistaken.
"The fool is probably you."
Evelyn shook her head and turned back to watch the battle between Raon and the Dragon. After three defeats, Bartius retreated, and this time a Red Dragon in the form of an Orc came forward to start combat with Raon.
'Hmm...?'
Although Raon could easily subdue the Red Dragon, he watched until the end as the dragon's magic was activated.
'Even if he's giving them a chance to fight, there's no need to wait for the magic to activate... Ah!'
As she tilted her head thinking it was strange, Raon's gaze briefly turned toward her.
'Could it be...'
To show me the Dragons' magic? No, that possibility is correct. Come to think of it, Raon could have easily cut down Bartius's magic but didn't interfere with the flow of his magic until the end.
At first she thought it was to check the Dragon's abilities, but now it seemed like he was trying to show her the Dragons' magic.
'Because Dragon magic is unique. Was he telling me to reference it?'
Those Dragons weren't using existing magic, but rather new magic they had created themselves. Raon seemed to know this and was giving her the opportunity to observe and learn from those spells. Realizing his thoughtfulness, her chest—no, her heart—was stirred.
"Ahahaha!"
Evelyn burst into laughter while covering her mouth with trembling hands. She focused on the battle, determined not to miss a single opportunity Raon had given her.
[Are you crazy?]
Lust frowned as if finding her behavior absurd.
"Yes. I'm crazy."
Evelyn nodded vigorously as she watched Raon's back, effortlessly deflecting the Dragon's magic.
"Because without being crazy, I couldn't endure it."
***
The fifth Black Dragon, in the form of a goblin, trembled all over as he was slammed into the ground.
"C-crazy!"
The Black Dragon named Dariauran stared at Raon with wildly shaking pupils, as if in disbelief.
"How is it possible that we can't even touch the tip of your finger?"
He swallowed dryly as he faced the reality that even with numerous spells from five Dragons, they couldn't damage even a single edge of Raon's clothing.
"Our magic was all developed specifically for combating demon kings, and yet how could it come to this!"
Dariauran trembled his powerless fist, saying he couldn't believe it.
"Not bad."
Raon spoke as he shook off the Black Dragon's poison aura that remained on the Heavenly Drive.
"It would have been fairly effective against a demon king as well."
"What? But it didn't work on you either?"
"I'm an expert at defeating experts in human combat."
He shook his head, recalling the countless mages and dragons he had slain.
"I've defeated all five of you, so now tell me."
Raon jerked his chin toward Gold Dragon Bartius.
"Or do you want to try more?"
"May I ask for one more match at the end?"
Bartius came forward, manipulating his mana.
"I've developed a new magic after watching your combat."
He nodded, saying he would acknowledge defeat if he lost again this time, or rather...
"No, I've already acknowledged it. I just want to see if my magic works."
Bartius revealed calmly subdued eyes as he asked if Raon could grant him one last duel.
"Fine."
Raon raised his sword toward Bartius with a faint smile.
"I rather like you all."
Unlike other Dragons, they didn't use dirty tricks, weren't cowardly, and understood what fighting was about. He hadn't expected to find Dragons who were so much like Martial Artists.
"Here I come."
Sensing he was at a significant disadvantage, Bartius raised both hands first. The atmosphere gathered in his grip, and he released a tremendous beam of light with immense air pressure. Bartius was unleashing a Gold Dragon's breath from a human body.
"You really do try everything!"
Raon curled his lips and struck down with Crimson Slash toward the oncoming breath. The blade burning with flames split the Gold Dragon's ferociously incoming breath in half. But Bartius's offensive wasn't over yet.
From the sky, spears and blades of light fell at mystical angles and varying speeds. It seemed he had arranged his magic to read Raon's movements and make it difficult to dodge.
"What a troublesome Magician."
Raon unleashed the Fangs of Insanity and Blizzard Sword Art with his Heavenly Drive and Wooden Ring Sword, knocking away all of Bartius's magic by instinct alone before charging toward him.
"You said it was new magic, but it doesn't seem much different from before?"
Saying there was no difference, he swung his sword down at a speed Bartius couldn't react to.
"Is that so?"
But Bartius turned his body backward to avoid the sword strike, as if he had predicted it.
"Hmm?"
Raon frowned and thrust his sword faster and more fiercely. Bartius again dodged his sword by the narrowest margin and counterattacked with light magic.
"The magic you said you newly developed..."
Raon let out a dry laugh as he was pushed back.
"It wasn't attack magic."
"That's right."
Bartius calmly nodded.
"I cast a reaction spell on my nerves so I could respond to your sword."
He spread his hand, saying he had created magic that automatically made his nerves react to the sword.
"With this... Huh?"
Just as Bartius was about to say he could fight properly now, Raon's fist, which had been ten steps away just moments ago, was suddenly touching his face. Bartius, struck by Raon's fist, crumpled like a falling leaf and slammed into the ground.
"Guhhh!"
Bartius forced open his bleeding jaw and parted his lips.
"H-how..."
"If you cast magic on your nerves, I just need to crush you before those nerves can react."
Raon shrugged as he sheathed the Heavenly Drive.
"Your body could never match my physical abilities."
"Ha..."
Bartius let out a hollow laugh in disbelief and tightly closed his eyes.
"So I was just dancing in the palm of your hand."
"No, as I keep saying, it wasn't bad. In fact, it would have worked against a demon king, just not against me."
Raon said his sparring with the Dragons had been fun as he extended his hand. After such an intense sparring session, he felt somewhat familiar with Bartius and the other Dragons.
"Hmm..."
Bartius stared intently at Raon before taking his hand and standing up.
"Now tell me. What did you come to find me for?"
Raon sat on a half-cut, flattened rock and jerked his chin.
"To get to the point..."
After checking the Dragons behind him, Bartius slowly parted his lips.
"We came to you to defy the Lord's orders."