Chapter 146: Single No More (1)
Dragon breath.
Fwoosh! Solitas, the red dragon, opened his giant mouth, and a searing heat gushed out of his throat like torrential waves, burning and destroying the whole area.
“…!”
Javier’s eyes widened in surprise. His instinct signaled danger and commanded him to avoid it at once. Instinct preceded reason, and sense preceded instinct. Javier was already moving before he sensed danger.
Swish!
Javier held out his right hand but didn’t draw his sword. Instead, he grabbed Lloyd’s right shoulder, ducked down, slipped his left hand between Lloyd’s legs, and stood up, carrying Lloyd on his shoulders. Lloyd was taken in the air like a bag of rice. The lifting method was similar to the patient transfer technique taught by South Korean armed forces.
“Eh?”
Javier heard Lloyd’s surprised breath, but he had no time to respond. He jumped to his feet instantly.
Thwack!
He flung his body high with Lloyd on his shoulder, and the dragon breath swept the very spot the two were standing on.
Boooom! The breath overwhelmed the whole place, and Javier felt his hair rising from the horrendous spectacle. At the same time, he noticed something odd.
It’s not hot…
Javier had meant to haul his sword and block the attack with his aura shield as the breath was passing right beside him. That was the only way to block this terrible heat. He was grabbing the hilt of the sword when…
Why isn’t it hot?
Javier didn’t feel the heat at all, even as the gust of breath brushed just several feet away from him. It simply felt warm and nothing more.
How?
It was truly odd. Sitting in front of a small bonfire would be hotter than this. His face used to get hotter while grilling meat on a pan. But now wasn’t the time to entertain his curiosity.
Tap! Jump!
Javier landed only to leap high once again, growing more distant from the series of breaths coming at him. Just then, he suddenly recalled an event that happened about two hours ago.
Is it because of the cream Master Lloyd had given me?
Right before he entered the fiery den of the dragon, Javier was left rooted to the spot as the intimidating den appeared in his eyes. Lloyd then held out a large bottle to him and spoke.
“Apply it on your body. Make sure to cover every corner of it unless you wish to burn to death.”
Javier didn’t notice what it was until he opened the cork. An aroma assaulted his nose. It was the Elensia sap Lloyd had acquired from the elves’ forest.
“It’s not mixed with bean oil. It’s in its purest form.”
Lloyd spoke as though he was doing a favor to Javier, and he instructed him to remove his clothes and smear every corner of his body with the lotion. He made him slather his clothes and even his sword. Not a single spot was missed.
“Apply it generously. Don’t even try to be frugal. I know it’s precious, but it doesn’t cost more than your life. So go all out! Smear it so thick that it not only blocks the heat but any human interactions.”
So, Javier did what he was told to do. Not a single strand of hair was left uncoated with the oil. Even the cuticles of his nails received a layer of the lotion.
All that was… for this moment.
Now, it dawned on Javier that this Elensia Tree sap was much more effective than he had vaguely imagined. He could feel it in his bones.
I suppose that was why he was so confident.
Javier actually wondered what it was that made Lloyd swell with confidence when they were entering the dungeon and how he could maintain such composure in the face of the dragon.
“Did you already expect that applying the Elensia sap would protect me from the dragon’s breath?” asked Javier.
“Well, yeah, something like that,” replied Lloyd.
Javier put Lloyd down as soon he landed and hid between the rocks. Lloyd, who was treated like a cargo load a moment ago, scoffed, thinking how right Javier was when he asked if Lloyd believed the sap would work.
“I heard about it,” added Lloyd.
“What do you mean?”
“This method was used by the knight of blood and iron.”
“The knight… of blood and iron?” repeated Javier, dazed.
“Yeah.”
It was true. Javier used this same method in the novel. He smeared his body in the Elensia Tree sap and made armor by solidifying it. Then, he confronted that red dragon, Solitas. The result? He was A-OK even when he was engulfed by his breath. The fight lasted for three days straight. At last, Javier succeeded in snapping the horn of the dragon, making him run for his life when the defeat was near. So, in other words, the act of smearing the Elensia Tree sap was verified to neutralize the red dragon’s breath in the novel.
“But I have a question.”
Javier’s eyes glimmered as he looked at Lloyd.
“I think you mentioned him the other time as well,” said Javier, “Who on earth is this knight of blood and iron?”
“Oh, him? ” asked Lloyd.
“Yes.”
Who else? It’s you.
Lloyd put on a grin and nonchalantly replied, “Someone who’s way more handsome, stronger, and more popular than you.”
“Are you sure?” Javier’s eyebrow quirked.
“Wow. Look how quick you are to doubt me,” said Lloyd.
“Fine, even if there is such a knight, this is just outrageous,” defied Javier.
“How is it outrageous?”
“This, fighting against the dragon.”
Javier’s eyes grew more serious. The discharge of the dragon breath was thinning now, and he quickly glanced around before speaking.
“It is beyond me what you are after that you should fight the dragon, but he’s never to be taken lightly. Let me correct myself. You will have to risk your life, but that won’t be enough. Did you not consider this risk at all?” asked Javier.
“Well, I did,” drawled Lloyd.
“Then why did you-”
“I had you, so I thought it’d be fine.”
“What?” Javier furrowed his brows, sending a confused gaze at him. He then looked around, and his face suddenly looked urgent. Lloyd continued to speak as he looked at Javier.
“I know that you feel pressured because it’s your first time fighting the dragon, but don’t get scared.”
“What are you saying-”
“I mean, go out and fight,” said Lloyd.
“Eh?”
Tap. Lloyd slightly pushed Javier. He staggered from the unexpected attack and was thrown out in the open.
“Master Lloyd…?”
Javier stared at Lloyd, wide-eyed. Lloyd clenched his fists and cheered the latter.
“You can do it!”
“…!”
Javier cursed his young master under his breath even though he wanted to ream Lloyd out aloud. But he just didn’t have any time for it as he locked his eyes with Solitas.
Whoosh The dragon’s tail flew down like a giant whip just then. It was as though Solitas wasn’t interested in finding out why they barged in. The dragon simply wielded his tail like how humans swatted flies with their hands.
“Hmph!”
Javier drew his sword, but he didn’t think of taking the blow of the giant tail with this sword.
I must ensure Master Lloyd’s safety first.
Jump! He leaped high to tear himself far away from the crack of the rock where Lloyd was hiding. To Javier’s relief, the dragon’s tail pursued him, crashing down on him like a mountain falling down from the sky.
Boooom! The ground shook, and the inside of the dungeon blared. Javier, who closely avoided the splattering rocks and overwhelming shockwave, started to sprint ahead.
The dragon’s much faster than I’d thought.
Javier became nervous. He could feel his back breaking out in a cold sweat. The tail blow came half a second earlier than Javier expected.
If I had been a little slower and tried to induce him to attack me, he’d have killed me.
Javier’s hair stood on end. One blow, and he was done for. It didn’t make any difference that he was a sword master. From then on…
Then I must speed up as well.
Zing! He activated his three mana circles and made his movement faster.
Tap! He jumped to his feet, throwing himself as he dashed like the wind. Going against gravity, he ran as he used the wall as his footing. Solitas started to attack him.
Rumble! He whacked him with his tail and struck down with his front paws. Then, he spread his wings to create a storm, flying high and using magic against Javier. Fiery and icy blasts of wind wreaked havoc in the place. But Javier managed to closely avoid all the attacks and succeeded in drawing the dragon far from Lloyd. As he watched the fight from a distance, Lloyd brimmed with confidence.
I knew it.
Javier was strong, and he was now more powerful than when he fought against the dragon in the novel. So, there was a zero chance that Javier would lose to that red dragon.
That’s why I brought you here. And besides, that dragon should be a surprisingly easy opponent.
The red dragon Solitas was a powerful dragon. There was no debate about it. But at the same time, he was not that powerful.
Sure, he’s naturally powerful because he’s a dragon to the point that no living creatures could dare compete with him. But he’s weak when compared with the other dragons. He’s almost the weakest, actually. The reason is simple. He’s young. Just a fledgling.
The Knight of Blood and Iron’s plot suddenly came to Lloyd’s mind. It must have been the episode where Javier went on an adventure in the woods of the elves. The last part of the episode tackled the confrontation between Javier and Solitas, and it mentioned something about Solitas.
He’s young. About 1,050 years old. Just 50 years since he outgrew the hatchling phase. He’s about as old as a high school student.
A dragon’s power was directly proportional to its age. That is, the older they were, the stronger they became.
It’s similar to a human’s wealth. People normally advance in their careers and make more money over the years on the condition that they get a job and work consistently. So, comparing a dragon’s combat power to a human’s wealth, he’d be on a similar level as a high school student’s bank account at the moment.
That was the combat power of Solitas.
So, Javier, you can win. Don’t cower. Trample him. Dampen his spirit and show that you’re more powerful.
Javier’s task for today was clear: highlight their difference in power and prove that he was on another level. That was the only way Lloyd could proceed to the next step of his plan.
Humans and dragons alike, it’s the same. They all become meek and modest in the presence of the strong. That’s why he must discourage him. So, that the red dragon will be ready to hear my offer. From there, I can start the negotiation.
Lloyd needed help from the red dragon to efficiently take care of the sludge that would come out from the sewer he would build next. And so, the dragon’s help couldn’t come without negotiation and persuasion.
Javier, don’t just avoid his attacks! Whack him!
Lloyd stared at Javier, internally waving his cheer sticks at him. Javier was crisscrossing the area, closely avoiding Solitas’s attacks that came incessantly. Suddenly, there appeared a light of determination in his eyes.
Dragging things will only put me at a disadvantage. It’s going to put Master Lloyd at risk. I must barrage the dragon with attacks. I should do a hit-and-run. Knock him out and retreat.
Running away like this wasn’t going to achieve anything. But it was equally foolish to fight the dragon head-on. It was more foolish to drag things to no end. Therefore, he ought to go all out in one stroke to stop the dragon from attacking. The moment the dragon flinched, he would take Lloyd and run to somewhere safe.
I can do it.
Evasion instead of direct confrontation. Javier’s eyes flashed with determination after he decided on his tactic. His execution had to come without hesitation, and his offense had to be unreserved.
Grip! The moment Javier tightened his grip, the counterattack began.
Ziiing! Three mana circles rotated, sucking the mana around him. After he amplified it, he transferred it to his manaheart.
Crash! Boom!
His manaheart thumped with his heart, racing fast in rapid beats as the latter took in the amplified mana. The mana then was pressed and compressed with intense pressure, and it started to grow denser and purer. Javier shoved the mana once again.
Swoosh!
The highly purified mana that was compressed through the manaheart hung once again at the mana circle. It was amplified in that compressed state three times through the three strands of the circles. It went berserk as it rushed along his veins and muscles and cells and nerves and joints. All his senses were awakened. His energy turned fierce.
Fwoooosh!
Two contrasting auras appeared around Javier. They were sharp, clear, and vivid. But at the same time, they were soft, hazy, and vague. The two contrasting auras invaded the other’s space, mixing, pulling, pushing, and resisting each other. But a second later, they collided at last.
Kaboom!
There came about a massive explosion in the sword. At the same time, an explosion similar to Javier’s heart took place. It was a mana blast.
Boom!
The two strands of the mana circle crushed, wrapping around the heart, and the powerful surge of the giant mana ran along his veins like turbulent waves. They passed his hands and swirled around his sword to meet the collision of the two auras. The aura collision. Explosive mana blast. The two powers, which were likened to enraging waves, were mixed and worked to amplify each other. This explosive synergy became a torrent that swept everything away, and it came out of the sword’s end to fearlessly aim at the shoulder of the dragon.
Thwack!
Javier’s aura-charged mana blast, his trump card, pierced the dragon’s shoulder.