Chapter 57

“…Step back!”

The giant brothers stepped back at the voice that erupted through the pain.

“It was a pity. That last strike. It would have been quite burdensome for me to allow a direct hit,” the voice of the dragon echoed quietly in the now mostly cleared part of the forest, as if the mythological battle with monsters had been a lie.

“I had no intention to kill, but just an arm. I never thought such a small creature would resist me in its own world.”

The anger from the battle moments ago had completely vanished, replaced by an admiration in the dragon’s voice.

Yet, to me, it felt like nothing more than mockery.

Clang-!

The ancient sword fell from my right hand, which had lost its strength.

It was inevitable. The right arm that had unleashed the Priegoss was so grotesquely twisted that it could not perform its original function.

The Priegoss, fully unleashed, was perfect.

Even if the master of the grand spear were to unfold it before me, I would have the arrogance to believe mine was superior.

And fittingly, the unleashed Priegoss had enough strength to pierce the golden body of the dragon, which had seemed impregnable.

But there was just one thing.

Before the Priegoss was fully unleashed.

The dragon, which had been roaring in rage, suddenly calmed down and simply uttered one word.

“Twist.”

The dragon’s utterance came from its core, a rhythmical heartbeat that followed its command.

It felt as if the world was rearranging around the meaning of that single word.

Obeying the dragon’s command, the world began to invade me.

A principle that transcended even the deepest intricacies I had not yet grasped.

Whatever law was invading seemed to seize my entire body.

For the first time, the spirit in my upper dantian resisted.

And under its command, the energies in the middle and lower dantians also fiercely resisted.

The slight success in resisting was due to instinct.

It was a principle that could not be articulated by the mind or theory.

Yet, my right arm only pierced through the membrane of the dragon’s opened wings, not through the original core of the dragon.

‘Is this… a command?’

I had created and used a similar martial art called the Araya Technique, but I could not understand the principle behind what the dragon had used.

To think that a mere uttered word could slightly reshape the rules of the world?

‘…It couldn’t be a god.’

“Upon closely examining this small creature, I find it to be one that has strayed from the flow of life. Little one, what is your name?”

I severed the pain and sensations relayed from my right arm.

With my own internal energy recovery struggling now, I had no power left to heal my right arm.

The state bound by the position of my hand had long passed.

As I extended my left arm, the broken hilt of the ancient sword floated and entered my grasp.

“It seems I had asked the question first.”

With the overwhelming physical performance that could surpass even the giants and that commanding control over the surrounding mana, the situation felt increasingly desperate due to the additional powers I had shown, but I did not falter as I directed the sword toward the dragon.

“Is answering the previous question a rule among small creatures? I have no obligation to follow such rules, but I find you to be quite pleasing.”

The dragon spread its wings in a display and proclaimed.

“I am the one and only being on this planet, the ruler who oversees all from above. The perfect being of a perfected species. I am the Gal Dragon!”

With the dragon’s wing beats and roar, the surrounding air trembled.

“…The seventh daughter of the Earth Mother El Prigion. I am El Araya.”

In response to the dragon’s introduction, I answered with a proper courtesy.

But the dragon laughed as if it found it ridiculous.

“Hahaha! ‘God’. How absurd. Do you worship your mother as a false idol? There are no gods on this planet. Only omnipotent beings like myself, who are infinitely closer to gods. To be revered as a god by the beings you have created—how laughable.”

“…Do not insult my mother.”

“Come to think of it, before my second slumber, I did see a giant tree with a similar aura to yours. It looked like a monkey, but truly… was it a being derived from her?”

The dragon continued with a tone close to mockery.

“Did you create small creatures to perform your duties because you lacked power yourself? What a crude existence.”

As energy gathered in my left hand gripping the ancient sword, the dragon scoffed.

“Release it, little Araya. Though your power is impressive for a small creature, you must realize you cannot defeat me. Even your mother could not defeat me.”

“At least the possibility is not zero.”

“As I said before, I find you pleasing. Become mine.”

In an instant, my left hand clutching the ancient sword went slack.

“…What?”

“I told you to become mine.”

I had not misheard.

I frowned and opened my mouth.

“…Do you mean to become my mate?”

“Hahaha!”

The dragon snickered roughly.

“Do not overstep just because you placed high regard on yourself, Araya. You small creatures cannot conceive life by yourselves, must pair up, and due to your mortal fate, you have to risk your lives to transfer the knowledge of life to the future to survive.”

“I am immortal, eternal through time, a completed being who needs not seek answers from the outside. Let alone that a small creature could be a mate.”

“When I desire you, it simply means I need you as one of the treasures I have accumulated.”

“Rejoice. In all my long years, you are the only trivial being I have found worth as a treasure.”

Feelings of insult surged within me.

“…This is insulting.”

“It would be a favorable proposal for you. I shall provide ample food and water so that you won’t go hungry. I will protect you from dangerous enemies. If you crave a relationship, I might share some affection with you. Isn’t this all a lifelong wish for mortal beings? I mean to take on your harsh mission, so you would merely enjoy the remainder of your life under my protection.”

“There’s no point in talking. It’s not worth considering.”

The ancient sword was once again aimed at the dragon’s neck in response to my answer, and the dragon spoke with a tone of mockery.

“Come to think of it, I have enjoyed myself a bit, but it seems to have become ridiculous.”

The energy from the dragon’s core moved once more.

“I shall become perfect.”

With that word, as the Priegoss had twisted, the world around began to change.

A principle that could not be contained even in deep exploration dominated the entirety of this space.

After what felt like an eternity had passed.

The wounds I had engraved all over my body from the previous battle vanished without a trace.

As if I had just appeared for the first time.

“…Was I being watched over?”

“Were you somewhat entertained? Did you feel like you were putting on a show against me?”

As I watched the dragon speak with apparent joy, I tasted blood in my mouth.

Unconsciously, I had been biting my lips.

An unfamiliar yet familiar feeling had arrived alongside anxiety.

Despair.

Araya Technique

Mirage

I did not want to acknowledge that feeling and instinctively moved.

A movement that an ordinary human wouldn’t even be able to chase after in its remnants.

Yet, the dragon’s eyes followed precisely the direction of my movement.

As my left body twisted within that motion, the dragon sighed with a bored expression and once again uttered a mantra.

“Your attack shall never reach me.”

Squeezing every bit of dwindling energy, I unfolded the Priegoss with my left arm.

However, the dragon did not evade the lethal blow aimed at its neck.

“Those who cannot construct their own completed world can never defeat me.”

What wise words were spoken by a kind voice, wanting to impart wisdom to a foolish and silly being.

The sword’s energy, which had aimed to pierce the dragon’s neck, paused and trembled for some time before vanishing.

“And that is forever impossible for worthless creatures like you.”

Was it due to exhaustion?

Or some other reason?

The left hand, which had been casting the Priegoss, fell helplessly.

“Hmm. Is it because of aesthetic beauty? I liked your initially arrogant expression, but I also find your current expression pleasing.”

…What expression am I making now?

I wish I had a mirror.

I stared blankly at the dragon.

The dragon’s pupil constricted vertically, showing a joyful emotion.

And the dragon’s gaze reflected a small elf, clumsily holding a sword with a bewildered expression.

…Is that me?

Right now, I should be fighting before the formidable foe known as the dragon.

If I hold the sword like that, no matter how skilled I am in controlling mana, I can’t convey the power properly.

Am I even thinking about winning? How foolish.

But even in its perfect state, could I defeat the dragon in front of me?

No matter how exceptional my techniques are, if the attack doesn’t even reach…

No matter how much I struggle, I cannot win.

To be honest, wasn’t just fighting this long already a considerable feat?

At only 17 years old, I am fighting a dragon and have created the Priegoss, an extraordinary breakthrough, from nothing in just a brief time?

Isn’t that enough?

I already know.

That some things in this world, no matter how much one tries, cannot be changed.

Friegoss, other humans, other beings on this land, and even my past life.

Everyone faces and accepts a certain level of absurdity.

This life turned out well, but it’s just that such a time has arrived.

There is no escaping.

The sword aimed at the dragon pointed downward.

“It seems you have broken hearted, Araya. There’s no need to be so sad-”

“AAAHHHHH!”

With a roar that erupted unexpectedly, the dragon’s body shook.

The earth trembled, and the air burst with my loud sound.

“Run! Master!”

The giant Silv jumped up and struck the dragon’s head, then sat atop the dragon and shouted.

But it was impossible to hold back the dragon, which was already much larger than even the giant.

“You filthy, large monkey’s remains…!”

“AAAHHHH!”

“I will not let you die peacefully!”

The dragon’s claws pierced into Silv’s shoulder like a skewer.

“Run… run…”

Even as his shoulder was skewered and wounds opened up, Silv continued to murmur for them to flee.

While lifting Silv, the dragon looked at Golb, who was searching for an opportunity to pounce, and laughed.

“Blood kin? If you don’t reclaim him quickly, he might die.”

“AAAHHH!”

As the dragon waved its hand, Silv screamed.

Despite his younger brother’s pain, Golb merely bit his lips, not charging forward.

Golb’s eyes briefly turned to me.

There was no reproach or resentment toward my incompetent master who had lost the will to fight.

For a fleeting moment, Golb silently shaped his mouth into words.

I will buy time. Please escape.

And then he charged towards the dragon.

I stared blankly at that scene as something surged within my withered heart.

How foolish, even if you two block the dragon, how long could you hold out?

Even if I tried to escape, the dragon would just deal with you and come after me.

Where could I go to avoid the dragon’s gaze?

Elven Road? Or the Room of Worlds?

I cannot know how much blood of others would flow just to save a young elf, who fled disgracefully from a battle.

Most importantly.

A master who cannot protect their students, how can a student protect their master?

I looked at the dragon, who was enjoying a cruel game against its two giant students.

“Those who cannot construct their own completed world can never defeat me.”

If that is the case, then I will complete it for you.

You would have been better off killing me just now.

I remembered a part of the flow that I had examined profoundly.

I imagined the Outer King’s Sword of the Namgung Clan, the steps of the Mastodon’s Sorrow.

I recalled the thread that connected the mind and space while handling the Deus Ex Machina in the Room of Worlds.

Everything was rough and jagged, not properly coming together as one.

If I took time to mature it, perhaps it would be completed eventually.

But what I needed now was something to weave together immediately, more than a future that would come someday.

The energy of the upper dantian stitched together fragments of inspiration that were jumbled together, like ragged cloth.

This will do.

After all, I never truly sought something perfect.

Araya Technique

Quick as a Command

Oh, vile world.

Listen, not just the winged lizard.

“All things—submit under my name.”

The will-filled invocation resonated throughout the world.

Araya Technique’s Path of Creation

All is Mind’s Fabrication, Araya’s Dependent Origination

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