Chương 231: Chapter 16: “The Strategy of the Masked Group”

The military exercise ground, Orir Great Forest, is a vast forest located a little beyond the forestry town of Orclock, which is situated roughly halfway between Sacris and the Capital Dandama. Due to its immense size, the depths remain an unexplored region untouched by human hands. Apparently, the Nesla village, Inea's hometown, is also located there. Because of that, Inea had marked the Orir Great Forest, so we were able to arrive instantly without using a train thanks to her Teleportation Magic.

Of course, I marked it myself as well while we were at it. Checking the map and heading to the meeting place, about a hundred soldiers were already assembled. Standing at the head and commanding was the man with a scar on his cheek. The hero, Clam Selenberg. Noticing the two of us, he greeted us with a polite demeanor.

"Inea and Yu. Thanks for coming."

"I'll be in your care for the next two days." Inea responded like an adult, but I didn't feel like doing that. Instead, I spat venom.

"Why hold an exercise on a day like this? You'd want manpower for the security of the Stardust Festival."

"Sorry. This was the only schedule available. Tomorrow, I plan to leave the command to a substitute and return to Sacris to join the security." How transparent. But this guy is a hero, after all. If we make a move without proof, we'll be the ones in a bad position. I kept a sharp eye out, but nothing in particular happened that day. At night, we pitched a tent and went to sleep with Inea while staying alert. The next day. The day corresponding to the third day of the Stardust Festival.

The incident happened after Clam left. The soldiers were making a commotion about something. Eventually, a report like a scream went up.

"Rhinos! A horde of Rhinos is attacking!" Rhinos Biliganda. A ten-meter class large herbivore with two large horns on its forehead. They should be docile as long as you don't approach their territory, but why? Could it be? I exchanged looks with Inea.

"Damn Clam. He set them on us."

"Rhinos, huh... Depending on the number, they are somewhat troublesome opponents." As Inea says, they are a bit troublesome, but they are just herbivores. Not much of an opponent. If he thinks he can dispose of us with something like this, it's quite a letdown. That's exactly why something feels off.

"Inea. Let's split up and clean them up quickly."

"Alright. Half each." But at that moment. Something accompanied by immense Qi and Magic Power flew in from the sky at high speed. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. When they recognized its figure, the soldiers fell into a panic. And for good reason.

"Waaaaahhh! It's a Fire Dragon!"

"Run awaaaaaaay!"

"Wha- A Fire Dragon!?" A red shadow covering the sky. Countless spines lining the spread wings. A head like a lizard. Undeniably, that Fire Dragon Voldrakron. The ruler of this forest and the strongest creature.

"So that's the main act! A Dragon is trouble." Inea, who had some composure until then, heightened her vigilance at once. She seems to have experience fighting a Thunder Dragon, but that was probably just a match. This time it's not like that. That Fire Dragon seems to have lost its sanity for some reason. I haven't fought a Dragon yet either. I don't feel like I'll lose, but I can't be sure.

"Let's leave the Rhinos for later. We have to do something about that Dragon first—" The hovering Fire Dragon inhaled deeply. That movement—a breath is coming. At this rate, even if I'm safe, the surroundings won't get off lightly. People will die. I have no choice but to do it. Faster than the breath comes, I deploy magic at godspeed. Water Guardian.

"《Tilaura》" Originally, this magic is cast on individuals, but that won't make it in time. I cast a water barrier over the entire area, enveloping everyone present. Immediately after, a fierce fire that threatened to burn everything around was blown down from the unreachable sky. Just in the nick of time. The flame breath, which would undoubtedly have caused numerous casualties, was repelled by the barrier I set up and vanished. To be able to unleash an attack of this magnitude with almost no charge time.

Dragons are indeed existences beyond humans. Inea, who had raised her Qi and braced herself next to me, breathed a sigh of relief.

"That was dangerous. You saved us, Yu."

"I cast Water Guardian over this area. The power of fire breaths should be considerably weakened for a while."

"In the meantime, we have to think of a way to drag him down from the sky."

"Yeah." However, at that moment—. Bad things come in threes. The ore I had hidden in my pocket began to vibrate violently. I gasped. It means something happened to Alice or Milia. There, I finally realized my own carelessness. I knew something was wrong.

"Damn it. The main act isn't here. It's over there!"

"What's wrong!? Yu."

"Alice and Milia are asking for help. Sacris is in danger." Clam never intended to do anything to us from the start. He probably only thought 'if possible'. Just stalling us was enough. His intention was to do something over there during that gap. Because malice was directed directly at us, I completely assumed we were the targets. —He got me. I clenched my fist tightly.

"I'll go check the situation. Sorry, but hold out for a bit."

"Yeah." Teleportation Magic. To Sacris....... What!? However, Teleportation Magic didn't activate. No matter how many times I tried, the floating sensation specific to teleportation didn't occur at all.

"What does this mean? I can't use Teleportation Magic."

"What!?" Inea tried too, but it seemed there was no response. I don't know how he did it, but it seems he made it unusable. Knowing Inea can use Teleportation Magic, I can only think he made a move in advance.

"... Don't screw with me." Then I just have to go directly.

"Kaaah!" The matter is urgent. I released all the magic power I had been suppressing to avoid standing out at once. There was an illusion as if the earth shook. Perhaps the forest creatures instinctively feared it. The breath of life stopped moving as if dead. The Mana that could no longer be suppressed within myself overflowed, becoming an aura of concentrated Mana's original color—deep green like the sky—and leaking onto the body surface. Is this my current power? I was surprised myself.

It was a power whose potential even I felt terrified of. But to this extent. Inea is wide-eyed, directing an expression of disbelief at me.

"You. That much magic power...!" I wanted to smile wryly. Indeed, this might no longer fit within the level of humans.

"First, him." I glared up at the sky and held up my hand. Aiming, I fired Wind Magic from both hands simultaneously. Cut them off.

"《Rafalus》" A pair of wind blades sliced through the sky. It was an interval of just a blink of an eye. By the time it passed, both wings of the giant Fire Dragon had been cleanly severed from the base. A Dragon's magic resistance is supposed to be very high, but such resistance didn't matter at all. The Dragon, with its wings torn off, raised a roar of agony and crashed headlong into the trees. With the sound of trees snapping and the earth rumbling, it fell to a spot not so far away.

"He shouldn't be able to fly anymore with that. Can you fight a wounded Dragon alone?" When I asked seriously, Inea nodded firmly. If it's a lizard fallen to the ground, there should be a chance of winning with Qi Sword Art. Knowing her cautious nature. At least she won't be killed.

"I leave this place to you."

"Umu. Leave it to me!" Flight Magic. I broke through the trees and soared high into the sky. Towards Sacris, I fly at full power. The speed generated by immense magic power left even sound behind lightly. BOOM! With a sonic boom. Crossing lands, crossing mountains, I rapidly closed the distance that takes more than half a day by train. I'm coming right now. Be prepared.