Chương 93: Chapter 60:”Flame Dragon vs. Black Dragon / Inea’s Past”

Black Dragon / Inea's Past" Around the time Yu and the others arrived at the Floating City Edel, a fierce battle was unfolding on the ground. The enemy consisted of 2, 700 Magic Machine Soldiers and 500 Rhinos and Likelgers each. The opposing Sacris Defense Team numbered about 1, 200. Despite facing an enemy force nearly three times their size, the Sacris Defense Team was putting up a good fight.

At this point, there were already about 200 casualties, which is one-sixth of the total, but the damage to the enemy forces amounted to about 30%.

The reasons they could fight this far were the high morale of everyone, the coordinated cooperation of individuals even in a melee, and the success of dozens of Dreet's disciples led by Inea. They were the ones Inea occasionally instructed, and they could handle Qi Sword Arts to some extent. Qi Swords were effective even against sturdy enemies like metal or large beasts with high magic resistance.

Especially Inea's individual performance was tremendous, and she defeated Rhinos and Likelgers one after another with superhuman work. Also, she knew where to use her power. She concentrated her power on subduing large beasts that were threats, rather than Magic Machine Soldiers that anyone here could fight satisfactorily. If she weren't there, the large beasts would have overrun the allied soldiers, and the current situation would have turned into something much more miserable.

As Tor Guief planned, an overwhelming massacre should have unfolded. But in fact, it didn't happen. Tor's concern from some time ago was correct. The most troublesome one was her, and she was an existence he should have killed no matter what. But he and Clam Celenberg failed due to composure and conceit. Prioritizing enjoying the despair show of the laboratory explosion, they didn't finish her off directly. Certainly, if it went according to calculation, she would undoubtedly have died.

However, an irregular named Yu slightly disrupted the gears. As a result, everyone who should have been disposed of at that place escaped safely. And the ones he despised as mere students are now entering Edel and cornering him. Thus, it has become a somewhat ironic situation for him. That's not all. He, who has knowledge but doesn't know the live battlefield, underestimated it. How the morale and unity of people influence the flow of the battlefield.

It is not easy to defeat the Defense Team fighting as one centered on Inea. The calculation that if he simply aligned overwhelming forces, he could easily annihilate them, was causing considerable miscalculation here. However, even with that much miscalculation, it is difficult to completely overturn the situation. To that extent, the power of Edel was overwhelming.

"Don't think badly of me. I don't have the means to cancel brainwashing." Thus, Inea, who pierced the brain of the dozens-th Likelger, looked up at the sky while regulating her breath, which had finally started to run out. Wondering if Yu and the others were able to enter safely. Then what was reflected was the sight of many Dragon Knights approaching from the sky. Scattered by the Flame Dragon, they changed their target to the ground. The number is not less than two or three hundred. Inea clicks her tongue.

Amidst the fierce battle, even she couldn't detect the approach desperately. Furthermore, the sight of the Black Dragon and the Flame Dragon fighting fiercely while diving from the sky also entered her eyes. The Flame Dragon looks slightly struggling. No Qi is felt from the Black Dragon at all. It must be manipulated by magic mostly. Then, is the Flame Dragon opposing it an ally? Probably the opponent Yu mentioned fighting in the Great Forest of Oril.

Inea instantly derives the correct answer from the information she obtained herself and the situation. Eventually, the wounded Flame Dragon lands near Inea. The almost uninjured Black Dragon landed on the other side of her as if chasing it. The allied warriors buzzed greatly at the threat that suddenly flew from the sky. At this rate, it will affect morale. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Judging so, Inea decides to confront the Black Dragon.

She ran to the side of the Flame Dragon with quick speed and spoke in the Language of Dragons she remembered as knowledge of the forest.

"Are you okay?" 『Hoh. You understand the language of dragons too? 』 The Flame Dragon replied in a calm tone while out of breath.

"I am a Nesla, after all." 『A Nesla, huh—Umu. That visage and Qi, I recognize them. Perhaps you are the one who was beside Jilph Arise at that time? 』 At those words, Inea gasps.

"Are you the Flame Dragon from that time!" [Flashback: 300 Years Ago] It was more than three hundred years ago. Inea was an abominable child born between a Nesla mother, who originally shouldn't be able to go out of the forest, and a human father. Therefore, she was hated by the forest and looked at coldly by her own kind. Neslas are very strict with commandments and never forgive those who deviate from them. Her father was executed, and her mother was confined for life.

Inea was not directly executed, but she was never allowed to see her mother again. Finally, she was ordered to leave the forest. It was when she was still six years old. Expelled from the village, Inea began to walk aimlessly unsteadily. Eventually, she wandered into a dragon's nest by chance. There, a young Flame Dragon was sleeping curled up. Noticing the intruder, the Flame Dragon woke up, stood up, and intimidated. But it didn't work on Inea, who had a fearless personality despite being young.

She said "It's Mr. Dragon" and walked closer peta-peta. Normally, it is natural to burn all insolent intruders to death, but... Seeing her innocent face, and further sensing power as a member of the same forest from her, the Flame Dragon overlooked her and sat down again. Inea went to the side of the Flame Dragon, leaned her back, and sat down petan. She must have walked for quite a long time. There are painful scratches here and there, and terrible fatigue is visible. Silence dominates the place for a while.

Eventually, Inea opened her mouth softly.

"You know... I was told I can't stay in the forest anymore. I was told I can't meet my mom anymore either." The Flame Dragon listened quietly to the voice that sounded like crying speaking to him, and watched over her silently. It happens rarely among Neslas, the Flame Dragon thinks. If expelled from the forest at this young age, she probably won't survive. De facto death sentence. But he didn't intend to sympathize. The weak die. Because that is the law of nature. However, her fate of death changes completely.

By the arrival of a certain man at that place. This large man with short black hair and muscular build was a strong man whose strength was sufficiently conveyed just from his appearance. His name was Jilph Arise. A FabL with the special ability [Secret of Qi]. He wondered about the faint Qi of a young human in such a remote place and came to the dragon's nest to see the situation. Against the intruder emitting terrifyingly strong Qi, the Flame Dragon strained his whole body's Qi and was vigilant.

As expected, normally, it is natural to burn the intruder to death immediately. This time he couldn't move. He is not an opponent he can attack poorly. The Flame Dragon sensed something equal to or greater than himself in this man far smaller than himself in front of him.

"Wait. I don't intend to do anything to you." He urges to relax vigilance. The tense atmosphere was slightly resolved. 『You. Can you speak? 』"For a certain reason." He said curtly and looked at the blonde little girl widening her eyes blankly beside the Flame Dragon.

"It seems the young lady next to you is safe." And when he approached her and tried to take her out immediately, 『Wait. 』 A stop is put. The Flame Dragon, who was in the prime of his youth at that time, challenged the strong man emitting unusual Qi to a duel. Jilph, who prides himself as a warrior, has a nature to accept the match sold. Putting Inea aside. With both sides about twenty meters apart, the battle began. The match was settled in the blink of an eye, truly in an instant.

The man repelled the Flame Dragon's proud Raging Fire Breath with only his surging Qi. Approaching fiercely as is, he flew in the air without using magic. And before the Flame Dragon's guard could catch up at all, he placed a Qi Sword perfectly on his neck. It was the moment the Flame Dragon admitted defeat in ability against a human for the only time. 『It is my loss. I never thought there was such a human. If you don't mind, could you tell me your name? 』" Jilph Arise."

Putting away the Qi Sword and landing on the ground, he named himself with a face not sweating a drop. 『I see. Jilph. I shall keep your name in my memory for eternity. 』"Is that so. That's an honor." The duel between the two solitary beings. For powerless Inea, it was a world too dazzling. They have the power to live freely in the world. In contrast, she was abandoned by this world. Just waiting to die. For her who felt that in her heart despite being young, a certain thought sprouted. I want to become strong.

I don't want to die yet.

"Young lady. It's dangerous to be alone in a place like this. Go home."

"I don't have a home. Because I can't stay in the forest anymore." Jilph guessed all the circumstances with that one word. A young Nesla expelled from the forest. If left as is, she will undoubtedly die. He stared into her eyes. She has the will to try to live. It is unbearable to let her die as is. Taking out a World Clock from his pocket, he checks the remaining time in this world. About thirty years. He thought this much time was enough. He didn't have anything to do anyway.

It might be good to make enabling her to live alone his purpose in this world.

"Young lady. Name?"" Inea."

"Inea. Want to come with me?" The man reaches out his hand. To Inea, it seemed like a saving hand, bigger and warmer than anything else. She reached out her small hands as much as possible and took his hand. That was the first encounter between Jilph and Inea. 『That little girl from that time has become quite magnificent. 』"People change if this much time passes." Though some things don't change. Inea recalled the strict but warm days raised by her master and immersed herself in nostalgia for a short while.

Admiration, respect, and. The feelings she holds for her master do not change even now.

"More than that. I heard you had a fight with my disciple in the forest. He was quite a tough guy, wasn't he?" 『Umu. My proud tail was cut off. Well, it will grow back soon though. 』 The Flame Dragon growls happily. 『Even so, to think the master of that child of man is you. Fate is an interesting thing. 』 For her and the Flame Dragon, extra words were no longer necessary to cooperate.

"I'll lend you a hand." 『Appreciated. 』 Inea jumped on the Flame Dragon's back and released the Qi Sword from her right hand. The opponent is that Black Dragon, but since it's dead and has no Qi power, its rank drops. As my master showed at that time, do I have the power to cut a dragon now— This was a challenge for her. Could she approach even a little to that state where she had no choice but to watch his back silently at that time?

It was a challenge where failure is never allowed amidst everyone's lives at stake. But she has no unnecessary pressure. With confidence as a first-class warrior and determination to accomplish it, she said powerfully.

"Let's go. Flame Dragon." The Flame Dragon roars and starts running towards the Black Dragon. At the same time, the Black Dragon also starts moving. From the Black Dragon, a Black Flame Fireball is released towards the Flame Dragon's back. However, Inea is not shaken. Swinging through the forged Qi Sword, the Black Flame was cut in half. The separated fragments of flame pass left and right of her body respectively, causing no pain or itch. Soon, the two dragons clash their bodies. The impact shakes the atmosphere.

Although the Flame Dragon is huge, he is smaller compared to the Black Dragon. Still, biting the enemy's belly, he was competing with stubbornness. While the Flame Dragon stops the Black Dragon's movement, Inea jumped out towards the Black Dragon's back.