Ch.1170The Battle with Nature

The ancient dragon Leviathan. How should I describe it…

– KWAAAAAAA…!

Yes, it was truly rage of the sea incarnate.

Wrapped in whirlpools, backed by tidal waves, summoning dozens of water spouts that shook heaven and earth—the very embodiment of disaster.

Though there’s a difference in class, if we’re just talking about the scale of power being displayed, it’s almost comparable to Invidius?

At least, it wasn’t an enemy I could feel safe about just because it wasn’t a demigod.

Well, that’s only natural, I suppose.

Ancient dragons are monsters created as mighty dragons from birth, accumulating immense power throughout their long lives.

Because their racial ceiling is so incredibly high from the start, they’re a superior species that doesn’t even need to attain divinity to transcend physical limitations like other races.

Just by being born and growing normally, they can eventually become equal to demigods—the strongest species on earth.

That’s what ancient dragons are.

…A very delicious prey.

—-

【 Sink! 】

A mighty authority that freely controls and rules all water in the area, based on mana so vast its limits can’t be seen.

The previously calm lake water rises as if flipped upside down to block my path, and violently swirling water spouts close in like beasts trapping their prey.

A rock-filled tidal wave that sweeps away and destroys everything.

Water spouts that writhe like snakes, extend like spears, and lash the air like whips.

The ancient dragon’s fierce attack, using nature itself as a weapon, boasted truly overwhelming majesty and contained power as mighty as its momentum.

You might say they’re just streams of water?

…Well, you’d change your mind if you saw them directly.

When rocks and swords caught in the water spouts are instantly torn to shreds, would you still call them “just streams of water”?

– Grrrrrr…!

At least I couldn’t say such things. It’s obvious that even I wouldn’t escape unharmed if caught in that.

So, I need to shake it off before getting swept away.

“KYAAAAH!”

A diagonal slash forward. Then a rising slash while spinning my body. Followed by runic flames and destructive force.

My slashes tear through the tidal wave, cutting and shredding it as they rip through space, while my swirling force collides with the water spouts, scattering water droplets as they cancel each other out.

– CHIIIIIIIK!

The storm of blades surrounding me vanishes against the curtain of flames, and even the raindrops that penetrate are blocked by the dragon scales of my winter armor.

– KAGAGAGAK!

Perfect neutralization. Highly efficient defense. The monster’s first move scattered, leaving only broken water spray and thick steam.

So, what’s next?

【 Capera Eam. 】

Mana spreads widely once more.

Hundreds and thousands of emerald-green chains surge from the undulating waters, and the steam that had spread like fog instantly condenses to form rings of water.

“Tch…!”

Since those rings formed around my arms and legs, I was tightly bound before I could even dodge.

– KADEUDEUDEUK!

Rings of water constricting my body like snakes.

The pressure could instantly crush even black iron, and the stone dust and metal fragments spinning like a blender within it gradually scrape away the dragon scales of my armor with screaming sounds.

“This much…!”

Hagalaz.

The rune of destruction shatters the water restraints along with the mana dwelling within them. The runic mana and the ancient dragon’s mana collide, rupture, and scatter.

– PUEONG!

Water spray explodes outward.

Until it reforms, I stretch that brief moment by covering the world in monochrome.

【 Defying Fate 】

The world grows quiet. The emerald-green chains that had already approached within reach slow down like heat haze shimmering at noon.

Trajectories that were too fast and numerous to fully grasp become clear enough to touch.

Chains extending to block my path, limit my escape routes, and bind my limbs to fix me in midair. A typical binding spell.

And beyond those chains.

The ancient dragon that had been glaring at me through the storm was now opening the mouths of its six remaining smaller heads, preparing to spew something at me.

As expected, all these big creatures act similarly.

First move is to push with wide-range attacks, and if I dodge or block them, they immediately unleash binding or curse-type techniques.

If I get caught or slowed down there, they aim for a decisive blow with a powerful strike.

It’s always been that way.

Those who specialize in physical combat are a bit different, but creatures who can use mana or dark mana all act the same way.

Just like how gamers pursuing extreme efficiency ultimately all end up with identical skill trees.

In other words…

‘…That looks quite dangerous.’

That’s an attack that would kill me if it hits. Even if I tried to block it, I’d likely be crushed and fatally wounded.

So I need to dodge.

– GOOOOO…!

I accelerate forward in the monochrome world.

The slowly extending net of chains.

I throw myself through the small gaps between their trajectories, dodging chains, deflecting them, and sometimes knocking them away with my sword as I charge forward.

Faster, more brilliantly.

And higher.

– KWAOOOOO!

When Defying Fate reaches its limit and time flow normalizes, I’ve soared high enough to look down at the monster with a sound close to an explosion.

– KADEUDEUDEUDEUDEUK!

And a beat later, the green chains, having lost their target, collide with each other and shatter into pieces.

From this position, my companions won’t get caught in its breath. If it’s not confident in hitting me or fears piercing the ceiling, it probably won’t breathe out at all. Right?

【 Krrrrrr…! 】

The ancient dragon raised its head to look up at me, still holding its breath inside its mouth.

Will it shoot? Or will it stop?

【 Spatial cutting, flames, matter destruction… you have many trivial skills. 】

It’s not shooting.

Whether it thought firing would be disadvantageous, Leviathan dispersed the power gathered in its mouth without hesitation.

Then it glared at me and muttered as if mocking my abundance of petty tricks.

“You’d feel really awful. Dying from those petty tricks.”

Such arrogance, as if it’s already won.

Shouldn’t you say such things after at least seriously wounding me?

【 And time compression… then, was that first slash spatial-temporal severance? 】

“Well, if you’re curious, take another hit and find out!”

I kick off the empty air and plunge toward the monster like I’m falling. Cutting, breaking, evaporating, and erasing the emerald-green storm that fills my vision.

In the steam swirling with turbulence, broken water spray and flickering flames mix and dance, fading hazily.

“KYAAAAH!”

The distance closes rapidly. Soon, within striking range even without Sky Slash—

【 I’ve seen enough. Your limits. 】

The next moment, the sea crashed into me.

—-

The ancient dragon Leviathan’s power is to freely control all liquids in the area.

Its main tactic is to use that power to wield the entire Emerald Lake as its weapon and limbs, sweeping away enemies without lifting a finger—or so I had judged.

That was my misjudgment.

It wasn’t completely wrong, but I missed something fundamental.

‘It can… create the sea?!’

Hair floating upward. The sensation of cold liquid touching my skin. My startled breath turns into countless water droplets.

The moment I finally reached within striking distance of Leviathan, I suddenly found myself sinking in the sea.

…What does that mean?

It’s not complicated. It literally means everything around me had turned into the sea.

The monster had expelled an absurdly vast amount of water from its entire body at high speed and pressure. A pseudo-tsunami that instantly quadrupled the water level of Emerald Lake.

Yes. It wasn’t just controlling water—it could create the very water it controlled.

And not just simple streams, but an amount close to an entire sea in an instant.

So that’s what it meant by introducing itself as the “sinking tsunami.”

I’m certain now that experiencing it firsthand—this truly was a tsunami, or even the sea itself, merely wearing the shell of a dragon-like creature.

My companions were far enough away that they probably escaped before getting swept up, but being right in front of the monster, I had no time to dodge.

Anyway, now I understand.

It didn’t settle here to use the lake water as a weapon. It was the opposite—it had created the lake with its power from the beginning.

The fish-people gathered at this lake it created and began worshipping this monster as a god for providing their sanctuary.

…Well, this is just great. I’ve fallen right into a trap, and quite thoroughly at that.

I clenched my teeth, feeling an eerie tension. My instincts told me I wouldn’t be spared from another ordeal.

A situation where everything—up, down, front, back, left, right—was filled with liquid emitting emerald-green afterglow. Literally, the entire world had turned against me.