Chapter 91

(4)

7.

Meanwhile, at that moment.

When Ulan rushed in alone.

Noa looked at his back with a worried face while constantly recalling information about the Frost Dragon that appeared in the original.

‘Lord ranking 5th, Frost Dragon.’

A monster that freezes all magic power within a 3km radius just by existing.

In other words, if you’re within that range, you can’t use any magic or divine powers. Noa’s sorceries were no exception.

‘The guy’s weak point is……’

It’s divided into two main parts.

First, this applies not only to the Frost Dragon but also to other Lords.

That is, Spirit Art.

Among them, if the power of the highest-level spirit is used, it can damage the Frost Dragon and weaken its unique abilities.

‘So, to tackle the Frost Dragon, a Bard is absolutely necessary.’

The seventh Hero of the party.

The last to join, the Bard is a Half-Human Half-Spirit.

Thanks to her innate talent for Spirit Art, she can weaken the power and abilities of the Frost Dragon just by singing with spirits.

‘Next, the second one is……’

Another weakness of the Frost Dragon.

It’s physical attacks.

‘The Frost Dragon has low defense.’

It’s not an exaggeration to say it’s the weakest among the Lords of the Abyss.

Of course, it’s not something to be ignored.

The fact that it has low durability is only true compared to the Lords.

‘So if it’s the Master’s skill, dealing damage is possible without much trouble.’

Up to this point, it seemed there was a chance of winning.

However, just because the attack works doesn’t mean it leads to victory. To win, sufficient personnel and tactics are needed.

‘We can’t just fight blindly.’

There’s an order to tackling the Frost Dragon.

Setting aside other places, the first spot to attack is undoubtedly the scales growing under its chin.

Commonly referred to as the reverse scale.

Only by attacking here first can they remove the scale and make the other scales lose their firmness.

‘In other words, if the reverse scale isn’t destroyed……’

The Frost Dragon’s defense is similar to that of other Lords. Remembering the tactical information, Noa hurriedly looked at Ulan.

This fact needed to be conveyed, but unfortunately, she had no way to tell him.

So she was just pacing around anxiously.

Suddenly, Ulan swung his axe.

Crack! Whack!

With the sound of the axe blade clashing against the scales.

Noa’s eyes widened in surprise.

“……Huh?”

The massive body of the Frost Dragon, which was as big as a mountain, suddenly floated in mid-air.

What’s happening? What am I looking at?

Noa blinked her astonished eyes.

What followed was the sight of the Frost Dragon’s body flying and crashing into a corner.

Boom!

With a thunderous sound, a violent vibration erupted.

Watching the thick dust rise, Noa muttered in a daze.

“He just blew the Frost Dragon away?”

Without even breaking the reverse scale? How on earth?

Just when all sorts of questions were surging up.

Something suddenly dawned on her. The distinctive trait that symbolizes Ulan. That is, his incredible strength.

“Could it be he did it with brute force…?”

Shock filled her blue eyes.

But she could no longer continue her thoughts.

Rumble!

With the ground shaking again as a signal.

The battle resumed.

8.

Immediately after the Frost Dragon was cornered.

Beyond the rising dust, nine eyes flashed sharply. As if to prove there was no damage done.

Then the creature opened its mouth.

【I’m surprised.】

Different eyes fixated on Ulan.

Soon after, as it flapped its wings, all the dust was swept away. The Frost Dragon’s eyes turned sharp as if piercing into the depths of one’s soul.

【I thought you were just a common bug, but to think you would be a ‘descendant of Rudrik.’】

Just before it was cornered.

The Frost Dragon clearly saw. The familiar shape of the enchantment carved into Ulan’s back.

And in that instant.

Malice surged in the nine gazes.

【I can’t let the descendant live.】

Originally, it stepped into the world to catch the scent of the ‘one loved by mana.’

Just by consuming their existence, the rank of a lord would elevate. But at this moment, a new purpose was inscribed in the Frost Dragon’s mind.

【First, I’ll get rid of you!】

By any means necessary.

It aimed to eliminate Ulan.

With a furious shout, the nine eyes swept the surroundings. But the Ulan that had just been there had vanished without a trace.

【Did it just escape…】

Just as that speculation arose.

A sudden pain shot through its back.

As if flesh was being sliced. It wasn’t an illusion. Because the Frost Dragon’s flesh was indeed being sliced.

Bam! Bam! Whack!

While the Frost Dragon was making a fuss.

Without a hitch, Ulan had climbed onto its back. Then he swung his axe wildly, stripping off scales and butchering the flesh.

【You—impertinent—brat!】

Was it angry from the sudden attack?

Letting out a deafening roar, the Frost Dragon shot up into the sky in one go.

Whoosh! Wham!

Intense pressure collapsed on Ulan.

The fierce wind whipped around, trying to fling Ulan off the Frost Dragon’s body. However, Ulan held on and did not let go.

【Let’s see if you can keep holding on!】

This time, it twisted its body like crazy.

But Ulan remained steadfast.

Simply keeping his axe embedded in the dragon’s body, he persistently held on.

【You leech!】

Even after a long time, the situation didn’t change.

Clearly frustrated, it growled. Meanwhile, Ulan faced the creature with burning determination in his eyes.

“This time, I won’t let you escape.”

For his future companions he would meet again.

Moreover, for the many lives that would perish at the hands of the Frost Dragon and its minions in the distant future.

He had to cut off its breath here.

“No matter where you try to flee, I’ll follow you to the end.”

Even if that place is the Abyss!

His crimson eyes turned a deep red.

And at that moment, a chill raced down his spine.

Because he faced obsession and madness.

In response, the Frost Dragon twisted its body again.

【Get away! I said get away!】

Of course, this was merely its wishful thinking.

Ulan absolutely refused to drop off. This was how one fights against the Frost Dragon alone.

If you stick closely and attack, you won’t have to face the breath of ice. Furthermore, due to its short limbs, attacks wouldn’t reach its back or chest.

But this was only a battle style that was possible for Ulan.

To use this method, one needed incredible strength and willpower to withstand the Frost Dragon’s violent resistance and counterattacks without falling off.

As it started to tire little by little.

Ulan moved his body again. Climbing and crawling as if rock climbing.

‘The target is its chest.’

The place where the Frost Dragon’s source is located.

Did the Frost Dragon realize Ulan’s objective?

For a moment, it hesitated but then began to twist its body much more violently than before.

‘But……’

It was already too late.

The distance to the source was within twenty steps.

That should be close enough. So he didn’t hesitate to unfold his domain.

The ultimate strike that transcended the Master’s Domain.

‘Transcendent Domain.’

The unique technique of the Seven Heroes.

Each of them had reached the mastery or high mage level; the sole reason they created such a technique was one thing.

‘To eliminate the Lords of the Abyss.’

Perhaps it would be different if they were monsters of the Abyss.

The Lords themselves would not be touched by the Master’s Domain.

Moreover, among the Lords of the Abyss, some were even capable of overwhelming Masters.

Because of their ignorance, in his past life, five Masters lost their lives in vain.

‘So they created it.’

The domain within a domain.

A decisive strike that transcends both time and space.

After forming a fleeting gap, the technique is to forcefully insert the weapon. Thus, he began to make the maximum gap possible.

『Half Step』

And as a result.

He precisely carved into the center of its chest.

Crunch! Squish!

However, what he carved through was only scales and flesh.

There was no sensation of breaking the source.

Ulan clenched his teeth.

‘……Too shallow.’

A half step was not enough.

Just as he realized this fact.

Crack! Crunch!

To make matters worse, the Gula axe shattered.

After repeated use since that last duel, it couldn’t withstand the aftereffects of the Transcendent Domain.

‘But……’

It was still okay.

He still had the Axe of Devouring, Gula.

Thus, accepting the burden to his body, he intended to use the Transcendent Domain again.

But in that moment.

Rumble!

The fleshy piece Ulan had cut off fell heavily. Forced off by the Frost Dragon itself.

A sudden self-harm.

But the creature had a purpose.

It tore away even the fleshy piece Ulan was clinging to and threw it away.

“……!”

During the fall towards the ground.

Ulan’s eyes met those of the Frost Dragon.

Soon, he saw nine eyes, each filled with different emotions.

Panic, horror, fear, and more.

They weren’t unfamiliar emotions. Most lords had similar responses when they first tasted the Transcendent Domain in their past lives.

Just as he recognized the imminent threat.

The Frost Dragon immediately turned its body.

“No way, it’s escaping again……”

Ulan’s guess was correct.

Without looking back, the Frost Dragon flew straight toward the Abyssal Rift.

Witnessing this scene, Ulan clenched his teeth.

‘I can’t let it slip away like this!’

If it returns to the Abyss, it would strengthen itself through repeated molting, just like in his past life.

Thus, immediately after landing on the ground, Ulan chased after it.

But in that moment.

Wyverns poured out from the Abyssal Rift.

More than a hundred of them.

Obvious ambush.

‘Stalling for time.’

Their goal was to halt Ulan’s pursuit.

Moreover, buying time for the Frost Dragon to return to the Abyss was exactly what they aimed for.

And the creature’s plan succeeded.

With a suicidal attack made at the cost of their lives, Ulan’s assault briefly halted. And in that time, the Frost Dragon reached the Abyssal Rift.

‘If I just get one more chance……!’

If just once more an opportunity arose.

This time, he could surely eliminate it.

Ulan’s expression was drenched in longing.

Then, a sharpened gaze, just as he reached out his hand.

The coveted opportunity was finally presented.

[Aroooooo―!]

The howl of wolves echoed across the battlefield.

From the thickening mist, hundreds of wolves emerged.

Wolves familiar to Ulan.

They were none other than the Clones of the White Wolf.

Rumble! Crack!

The clones mercilessly tore apart the wyverns.

That wasn’t all.

Suddenly, a massive White Wolf collided into the Frost Dragon, which was attempting to return to the Abyss.

THWACK! Boom!

With a forceful tackle, the Frost Dragon was once again sent crashing into a corner. The White Wolf glared at it with a menacing aura.

[Grrrrowl!]

As if not allowing it to return to the Abyss. Bearing witness to the White Wolf’s unexpected appearance, Ulan looked at it in astonishment.

“You……”

So many questions filled his mind.

He wondered how it knew to come here, and he was curious about the much greater amount of magic power than the day before.

But those thoughts didn’t linger for long.

[Gaaahhh!]

Howling and charging towards Ulan.

As if telling him to snap out of it.

Thanks to that, just as Ulan was freed from his musings.

A path toward the Frost Dragon opened up.

The way created by the Clones of the White Wolf.

Soon, the wolves devouring the wyverns all turned to look at Ulan. At this moment, Ulan finally understood what he needed to do.

Just then.

【Rudrik’s hound!】

The Frost Dragon rose again.

Its eyes glinted with hatred and fury. As if it knew the identity of the White Wolf.

【Step aside! I don’t have time to deal with you—.】

However, it couldn’t finish its sentence.

It spotted Ulan, who had closed the distance without him realizing.

Immediately, the Frost Dragon widened its nine eyes and opened its mouth wide.

Crackle!

What followed was a breath of ice.

Completely different from what the wyverns released.

Before they could even react, the.White Wolf and Ulan were instantly frozen.

But it didn’t matter much.

Just before the breath of ice could wrap around him.

The Transcendent Domain activated first.

‘……The opportunity is only once.’

A half step alone won’t reach the source.

To eliminate it for good, he had to pour everything into it. So Ulan stepped forward with a resolute face.

Remembering the ultimate strike he poured into the Giant King Rargtan when he stayed behind in the Giants’ Cave to save his injured companions in his previous life.

He leaped forward, ready to face death itself.

Step!

And finally.

In the moment he surpassed his current limits.

Blood poured from every hole in his body—eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

That wasn’t all.

Pain resembling a crushing overload seized him, and his head roared as if overwhelmed.

An indescribably intense agony.

Yet Ulan smiled.

Finally, he had taken a complete step forward.

『One Step』

Not a half step, but a perfect whole.

The instant he surpassed his limits.

The world surrounding him expanded.

Then Ulan glimpsed a scenery he had only seen once in his previous life.

‘That is……’

The sight beyond the wall he saw just before the death that followed his epic battle with the Giant King Rargtan.

It was none other than the Realm Beyond Mastery.

At the cost of both body and mind, just as he was tipping his toe into that threshold.

Finally, he saw what he desired.

‘The Source.’

The Frost Dragon’s weak point and vital point.

The moment he discovered it,

Without hesitation, he shoved his axe in.

【―――!】

In that instant, he felt a silent scream of despair.

Hearing the Frost Dragon’s soul wailing, Ulan swung the axe repeatedly.

And at that moment.

CRACK!

Something shattered.

The sound he longed for throughout his life.

It was the sound of the Frost Dragon’s source breaking.

Chapter 23. Declaration of War