Chapter 758

In the midst of a chaotic battlefield turned into a furnace of death, streaks of multicolored light streak across the sky like comets, colliding with thunderous roars and scattering flames. Blue and crimson lightning bolts clash and explode, while the Reverse Scale of the Fire Dragon is caught and retrieved by the Life Force Technique’s tentacles.

Wings and fire.

Each time the accelerated spear and longsword collide, shockwaves ripple through the air, scattering shattered scale fragments like glittering dust.

—

Unlike slaughtering wingless Dragonkin, fighting the crippled spear-wielder Beherikes was a whole new level of annoyance for me. Fighting a winged Dragonkin meant the battlefield had to shift to the skies, not the ground.

In other words—

【Kaaak! Vous Tuerrrrr!】

Even though he chased me all the way here, he ended up beating up some poor High-Level Spirit instead. Now, he’s roaring with joy, his cracked snout spewing a triumphant howl.

– Gooooooo!

As Nidhogg roars at me, black magic circles appear all around me in the sky. The stench of magic fills the air.

“Where are you looking?!”

Taking advantage of my momentary distraction, Beherikes fires a lightning bolt. Hersela’s Red Scale Saber deflects it, but from the magic circles, dozens of black claws emerge, sharp and bone-thin, writhing like tentacles as they swarm toward me.

– Kyaaaaaaak!

Even worse, the palms of these claws split open like mouths, emitting ghostly wails. The sound triggers my Demon Resistance and Holy Mark, but to me, it’s just ear-splitting noise.

Compared to the claws closing in from all directions—up, down, left, right—it’s nothing.

‘Sheathe the sword!’

Hersela, wielding the Red Scale Saber with the Life Force Technique I gave her, sheathes the saber. At the same time, I switch Durandal to my left hand and unleash Up-hwa with my right.

– Kwaaaaaa!

With flames shooting from my legs, back, and right hand, I perform an acrobatic flight, weaving through the gaps between the claws. The claws I can’t dodge are sliced apart by Durandal in my left hand.

My vision spins so much I might as well close my eyes, and the scales of my armor clatter from the recoil.

– Kyaaaaa…!

The claws that miss me grasp at empty air, their wails fading into the distance.

This kind of complex flight is a first for me, but my superhuman body handles it effortlessly, guiding me through the gaps in the magic.

“Take this too!”

As I break free from the net of ghostly claws, a storm of lightning awaits me.

– Kwarururung!

Beherikes raises his left hand to the sky and brings it down, unleashing a torrent of lightning from the thundercloud above.

“If you’re holding a spear, fight like a man! Don’t resort to cheap magic tricks!”

[Shameless brat.]

I hastily change course, throwing daggers to intercept the lightning bolts.

– Rumble—

The Black Iron Daggers shatter into dust. The power is no joke.

– Kwarururung!

And there are still dozens of bolts left.

‘Block it!’

[Hah, you’ve got no shame.]

Hersela grumbles but draws her Red Scale Saber, slashing through the lightning bolts. Each strike sends Life Force tentacles flying, and new tentacles grab the deflected Dao, swinging it again. Red and blue fragments scatter like petals.

– Kwaang! Kwaaaang!

“Kyaaaaak!”

“Get out of the way! It’s Beherikes’ lightning!”

The stray bolts strike the ground, obliterating fairies, Dragonkin, and specters alike.

“Now I see why they call you Spear Guy!”

I dodge and deflect the incoming bolts, charging at Beherikes at full speed.

“If you’re not confident in stabbing, you might as well get stabbed! What a waste of your size!”

“How vulgar!”

Beherikes twists his one remaining eye in rage, gathering lightning in his left hand and wrapping it around his spear as he charges at me.

The lightning-wrapped spear clashes with my longsword, roaring like an angry giant.

“Savages like you have no respect or dignity as warriors! Even Beastmen aren’t this bad!”

“Respect? Dignity? You’re talking about bowing to a butcher’s block.”

Lightning grazes my cheek. The tingling sensation runs down my arm as I grimace and reach out with my left hand, grabbing his elongated snout.

The mechanical whirring of my prosthetic fingers tightening like a vice crushes his jaw.

“Why do we need that in a life-and-death fight?”

Will the enemy politely die if I bow to them?

Instead of pointless etiquette, provoking them to create openings is a thousand times better.

“Ugh…!”

He doesn’t argue, probably agreeing with me. Instead, he swings his left claw at my face.

“Where do you think you’re aiming?!”

I jerk my head to the side and bite down hard on his hand.

My fangs pierce through his scales, tearing into flesh. The metallic taste of blood and something like chicken fills my mouth.

His claw grazes my cheek, stinging slightly.

“Grrrr!”

Beherikes trembles as his snout crumples and his half-chewed left hand twitches. He swings his claws at my lower body.

– Kwaddeuk!

Three claw marks etch into the scales of my Winter Armor. Asha had mixed Dragon Scale powder into the Black Iron Scales, and the defense is as impeccable as she promised.

I sneer, still chewing on his left hand.

“Struggling like a dying beast, but at this range—”

Just as I’m about to finish him with Hersela’s Red Scale Saber—

– Hoooooong!

A massive surge of magic energy approaches from behind.

If it hits, even I won’t escape unscathed. It’s Dragon’s Breath.

Ah, seriously. I almost had him…!

I grimace, releasing Beherikes’ snout and kicking him away, leaping higher into the sky. The next moment—

【Kraaaaaaa!】

A black river of heat spreads below me, evaporating everything in its path as it surges toward me.

“Damn old fairy bastards! Can’t you control your Insect-Dragons?!”

I turn my head, glaring at the fairies who failed to stop the Dragon’s Breath. Two of them, over fifteen hundred years old, couldn’t even handle this?

“That damn brat!”

Did she hear me? Ereneisia, standing on the shoulder of a half-melted Rock Spirit, shouts in anger.

Her right arm is the only one left, as if she left the other in a new era.

“Don’t engage, Ereneisia! This isn’t the time!”

Tersillius calms her down, summoning a Wind Spirit to ride on even as the Ice Spirit evaporates and falls.

The translucent bird-like spirit flaps its wings, soaring into the sky as Ereneisia jumps onto it from the Rock Spirit’s shoulder.

“Groooar!”

The abandoned Rock Spirit, in its final moments, tries to stop Nidhogg’s breath attack before disintegrating heroically.

…In other words, Nidhogg, who had been getting pummeled by two High-Level Spirits, is finally free.

【Krrhahaahaahaaaak-!】

Is that bastard laughing?

Nidhogg, with its torn wings covered in a layer of magic, spreads its massive black wings.

– Whooosh!

The shadow of its wings darkens the battlefield.

As it flaps its wings, a fierce gale sweeps across the ground, sending everyone tumbling.

“Ah, aaaah!”

“Krrrruk?!”

“The dragon’s escaping! Get on it!”

Fairies, skeletons, and Dragonkin alike roll in the mud, screaming.

“Kyaaaak!”

“Everyone, gather behind me!”

Even Damien’s group, locked in combat with two Guardians, is swept up in the wind, but they manage to avoid rolling in the dirt thanks to quick reflexes.

Milia was already far enough away to avoid trouble, Damien shattered the shockwave with his greatsword, and the rest took cover behind Ophelia’s Mana Barrier.

“I’ll crush your barrier too!”

Taking advantage of the moment, Guardian Iberfalos swings the Rock Spirit’s fist at the barrier, but—

“Don’t even dream of it!”

Damien changes his flight path, charging at the Rock Spirit. He drives his greatsword into its arm, spinning like a drill and sending massive boulders flying in all directions.

“Groooar!”

Next, Guardian Disgelpier summons a Flame Giant, swinging a fiery sword at Damien, but—

“Haaaaah!”

Damien uses the falling boulders as stepping stones, leaping over the flame sword and cutting it in half with his greatsword.

He’s fighting well. I don’t need to worry about them.

I feel reassured by Damien’s impressive performance and turn my head.

“Go ahead, keep barking!”

【Kaaaaaaak!】

“I’ll kill you! Despicable short-lived race!”

My taunts work too well, as the enraged enemies chase after me.