Ch.3434. Lord of Dragons

Long ago, there was one who was called the wisest among humans, and he said—

Dragons are the first living beings that originated from an era of only light and darkness, even before the world was properly born.

They were so perfect and complete that nothing could threaten them, and they had such strong self-love that they frequently tended to be hostile toward one another despite being the same kind.

Their role was to guard the balance.

They existed to protect the still unstable world by clearly establishing boundaries between light and darkness.

And among these beings, the most powerful dragon became a brilliant star, becoming their father and a constellation.

【Lord of Dragons】

An incarnation of the most intense life force, representing the nature of unquenchable fire.

Truly a noble constellation worthy of being ranked among the strongest.

“O dragons, you who bear the breath of the Creator. Please plant order in chaos and become a bridge between darkness and light.”

“Shine for eternity.”

-From the research journal of the sage, ‘Reneto’.

#

「The constellation ‘Lord of Dragons’ recognizes your existence.」

As soon as I saw the message window, a memory came to mind.

Another fond recollection.

“Nice to see you.”

As I spoke, a message window immediately appeared.

「The constellation ‘Lord of Dragons’ is very angry with you!」

There are too many reasons why the constellation governing dragons would be angry with me to count easily.

I had invaded dragon territories and lairs to show them what a true human anthem was.

I had also dismantled many of their kind to collect various trophies.

‘Should’ve been born cheaper.’

The value of dragons as game currency was sky-high.

There were even occasional complaint posts about dragon hunting in the user community.

Anyway.

While there were many reasons and occasions for that constellation called the ‘Lord of Dragons’ to be angry with me.

In terms of the current progress situation, I had already resolved most of those bad relationships to some extent.

‘After I pushed through all those quests for nothing.’

I still can’t forget the nightmare of quests I completed in the name of proving friendship.

They demanded offerings of monster trophies from the ends of the continent, or gems that could only be obtained with extremely rare probability.

Quest lines of hellish difficulty from the dragon faction, seemingly designed deliberately to scrape one’s insides raw.

‘But I cleared them.’

Still, I didn’t give up.

And as a result, I was able to obtain one beautiful follower who was the goal and motivation of my game.

A dragon-kin follower with two pretty horns on her head.

‘How can I resist that?’

Since I hadn’t forgotten the romantic thrill filling the depths of my heart, when I saw the name Lord of Dragons, I naturally thought of her name first.

But now.

「The constellation ‘Lord of Dragons’ roars for you to return his daughter whom you abandoned!」

“What nonsense is this?”

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Hiiieek…!!」

The Black Sun makes a fuss, responding to my bewildered feelings.

“And what’s wrong with you?”

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: It’s a d-dragon…! You’re the strange one for not being scared…!」

“Ah, is this your first time seeing a dragon?”

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Of course…! Facing a dragon means you’ve greatly interfered with providence or violated the rules of the world!」

I see.

In the story, dragons properly appear in the very late stages of the work.

Fitting their title as guardians of world balance, they’re only built up throughout the story before finally appearing at the end.

Of course, their corresponding pressure and presence are no joke, making them a race rated as high difficulty among users.

‘Hmm, I guess that’s about right.’

But for me, it’s all in the past.

Whether they’re strong or whatever, I’ve faced them several times in previous playthroughs, and I’m confident I can handle them easily now.

「Child of the Lost Star: Dragons, how interesting. Absolute One, have you confronted them before?」

Star Child seems to feel great curiosity about the current situation and asks without hesitation.

‘It’s a love-hate relationship now.’

The time when we fought fiercely is long past, and now we have a grudging attachment to each other.

Meaning we dislike each other but not enough to openly antagonize and attack.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: B-but… why would that constellation to you-」

The Black Sun, who was sending that chat, suddenly realized something and hurriedly blurted out different words.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: No way, no way. Did you even make that constellation’s child your follower…?」

‘Isn’t that obvious?’

A beautiful dragon-kin follower, how could I resist that?

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Y-you’re crazy. Absolutely crazy…!」

‘Stop making such a fuss.’

Taking a dragon as a follower.

Of course, it might sound insane to natives of this world, but in the game, it was clearly established as one of the challenge objectives.

The biggest goal was to bring powerful followers into the cult and expand influence.

So, no matter if they were world guardians or powerful absolute races, that possibility was always open.

“So.”

The part that makes me perplexed is the last message window.

Who did I abandon?

「The constellation ‘Lord of Dragons’ is greatly angered by your shamelessness!」

“No, what did I do?”

I’m feeling just as confused about this.

Me abandoning a follower I personally took in?

That’s absolutely impossible.

“There must be some misunderstanding?”

「The constellation ‘Lord of Dragons’ is angry and tells you not to lie!」

His fiery temperament hasn’t gone anywhere, showing no signs of calming down since earlier.

But if he just keeps getting angry, I can’t properly understand the situation either.

“Stop being angry and explain properly.”

So I asked.

Since I would never cast away a follower with my own hands, about the situation currently happening—

「The constellation ‘Lord of Dragons’ wants to meet with you face to face.」

And what comes back is a request for a physical confrontation.

“Hmm.”

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: No…!」

“What?”

The Black Sun urgently tries to stop me.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: You can’t go, surely…!」

“It’s just a meeting. We’re only going to talk.”

It seems the fear of dragons deeply embedded in his mind is enormous.

I’ve long passed the stage where I should be afraid, so I don’t really understand.

「Would you like to move to the location?」

To the system’s question asking if I would move there.

“Yeah.”

I decided to accept it to properly understand the situation.

#

“Kraaaa!!”

And as soon as I arrived at the location, the attack of angry dragons welcomed me.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Kyaaaak!!」

“Oh, damn.”

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: I told you not to go!!」

「Child of the Lost Star: This is, quite dangerous.」

A place filled with volcanoes bubbling with lava, as if matching the angry constellation’s mood.

And from the sky and ground, numerous dragons target me with hostile gazes.

There are so many types, it’s as if all the dragons in the world have been gathered here.

‘I guess that makes sense.’

This is the homeland of the constellation governing dragons, so there would be even more gathered here than those spread throughout the world.

“Wow…”

Though I’ve seen this sight many times in the game, it’s several times more thrilling in reality.

The stage that was limited to a computer screen is now the living, breathing domain of dragons.

The masters of this land, once monsters, each with their own individuality, fire their maximum attacks at me.

Just how far have I come?

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: D-dangerous…!」

「Child of the Lost Star: Run away, Absolute One. Even for you, this scale is-」

Messages of concern for me appeared in a corner of the message window, but the dragons’ attacks were even faster.

It’s as if they had already set up a trap, catching me with perfect timing as if they had anticipated my arrival.

“Hmm.”

Strangely, the body manifested through divine manifestation felt no sense of crisis from such attacks.

Intense heat that seemed like it would melt everything instantly, and numerous other murderous breaths of various properties.

“This is nice.”

It was truly a magnificent sight that made my heart swell.

If only it weren’t a situation where the attacks were directed at me, it would have been a good spectacle.

「Casting skill.」

「Divine Veil (S)」

「Celestial Armor (S)」

「Absolute Defense (S)」

I apply defensive skills of appropriate level to leisurely block the attacks.

Not only covering my entire body with the highest grade divine power, but also creating an ‘absolute zone’ that doesn’t allow a single attack within the distance.

-Kwaaang!!

The dragons’ all-out offensive against that state.

While phenomena that seem to turn the world upside down are occurring outside, the area centered around me remains peaceful.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: …Ah.」

The Black Sun, who had been trembling in the urgent situation, finally reacts belatedly.

“Why are you so scared?”

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: N-no.」

「Child of the Lost Star: Perfect. Actually, I expected you to block everything without any difficulty from the beginning.」

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Don’t talk nonsense…! Damn, after telling me we should run away together…!」

‘What are you guys doing?’

Leaving the constellations who were performing their own skit among themselves, I decided to simply organize the situation.

While searching hard for an appropriate attack skill, I had a good idea.

‘Should I try using the holy sword?’

The situation where our Elli used the holy sword briefly comes to mind.

「Covenant of Heaven and Earth, Secratis

-Grade: Mythic」

I insert my hand into the interdimensional space opened from the void.

Soon, I grasp a handle with a good grip.

What I then drew out was—

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Hiiieek…!」

The trigger for the constellations’ seizures and object of their fear.

「Child of the Lost Star: Ooh, beautiful. So beautiful…」

It was my exclusive holy sword, personally bestowed by Star Child.

“Oh.”

Elaborate decorations extending from the handle, and above them.

A beautiful blade made of star power was in place.

“This is self-defense, right?”

-Kraaaaa!!

Smiling back at the dragons still glaring at me with fierce eyes.

I lightly swung the holy sword, just as Elli had done.

-….!!

Divine power in a violent form spreading across the attack range.

What follows is.

「Fire Dragon, ‘Ignis’ has been slain!」

「Ice Dragon, ‘Glacia’ has been slain!」

「Earth Dragon, ‘Terra’ has been slain….

The clear notification sound announcing the slaughter of dragons.

“That feels good.”

And it was a sight of massive bodies that had been crowding chaotically disappearing without a trace.

「The constellation ‘Lord of Dragons’ is very angry at your tyranny!」

「The constellation ‘Lord of Dragons’ uses ‘Divine Manifestation’.」

Eventually, the sky split open and the father of dragons revealed himself.