Chapter 144 : Chapter 144

Chapter 144 : Dragon's Vault (3)

Krakoom—! Kra-ka-krakakooom—!

Lightning struck from all directions and I, too, transformed into a single bolt of lightning.

The speed of light.

I was delighted by the change in my body, which swept through everything as if there were no limits.

When would I ever get to roam the world at such a speed?

Hahaha—!

My laughter is heard from behind where I have already passed.

Realizing I had easily surpassed the speed of sound, laughter flowed out once more.

When I was confronting the God of Deception, I was so focused on the battle itself that there was something I failed to recognize.

The fact was that when I turned into lightning, it wasn't just my body that had reached the speed of light.

‘My senses, the speed of my perception, have also become incomparably faster than before.’

Not just my body, but my entire being had turned to light.

I could prove it.

A bolt of lightning struck and embedded itself in a nearby tree.

From the top of that tree, a small spark flew out.

I accurately perceived the small spark and turned to move.

I stretched out my hand, which had become light, and grasped the spark in my hand.

Pzzt—!

I had discovered and snatched the spark before it could even be extinguished.

To be able to sense and think at the speed of light was an astonishing thing.

Moving and thinking at the speed of light offers many advantages.

Because one can far surpass the sight and thought of ordinary beings.

It was no different from me having more time than those who would face me.

Those who face me will not even be able to react to my speed.

Even as I was processing this realization, I was flying faster, farther, and bringing down lightning upon the world.

At a speed that a mere human body could not reach, I had become a being that transcended humanity.

I felt like I could take on anyone, and I believed that no one could follow my speed.

As I was enveloped in such a feeling of exhilaration…….

Snatch.

Someone snatched my wrist.

A strong electric current that felt like it could burn everything away was released from my caught wrist, but it couldn't even leave a scratch on the hand that held me.

I turned my head and looked at the being who had snatched my wrist.

“Are you planning to burn down the entire forest?”

It was Hike.

Her emotionless voice lingered in my ears.

I immediately reduced the electric current being emitted from my entire body.

But I couldn't control the current that had already spread.

A strong spark flared up over Hike's body.

But Hike showed no particular agitation.

“Baden is displeased.”

I remembered when I first met Baden, he had called me a noisy fellow.

This is bad.

Pzzzzzt…….

I quickly deactivated the Fourfold Transformation and dispersed the lightning that had imbued my body.

***

I looked around.

The green forest was gone without a trace.

Flames were soaring from all directions, and the trees struck by lightning had lost their vitality and were broken, charred black.

“Lady Bea! Please send some spirits this way.”

“Ugh, yes, I understand.”

Everchen and Bea were moving busily.

Everchen was striking the flames with his shield, struggling to put out the fire somehow.

Still, it seemed to be too much for him, as he requested support from Bea.

The World Tree's spirits that Bea called for help extinguished the flames that had spread to the trees.

Keldric was staring at me with his mouth agape.

Even though the spirit of the World Tree was fluttering past him, he couldn't take his eyes off me, just standing there in shock.

I cautiously asked Hike a question.

“Is your arm okay?”

“No problem.”

Hike truly had not taken any damage, even though she had grasped lightning.

It seemed that even lightning could not penetrate a dragon's hard scales and this was despite Hike being in her Draconian form, not her true form.

Even after realizing Hike was unharmed, I was still worried.

“By any chance… What did Lord Baden say?”

“He didn't say anything in particular. Seeing him snort smoke enough to make the nest rumble, he seemed annoyed.”

This was a big problem.

There were many times I would need Baden's help in the future.

If he refused to perform the next Heart Engraving, it would disrupt my future plans.

“I should also go and put out the fire……”

“There's no need for that.”

Hike cut me off. Then she began to chant in Dragon Speech.

– Water, enough to drench the forest, falls from the sky.

Having completed the second Heart Engraving, although I didn't know how to use Dragon Speech, I could understand the meaning of the words Hike recited.

But I doubted my ears.

‘She can even make it rain?’

I didn't know Hike could even control natural phenomena.

Then again, since she can even open the World of Recurrence, perhaps it's a given.

But it still felt mystical, so I lifted my head and looked at the sky.

Even though Hike had used Dragon Speech, not a single cloud had gathered in the sky yet.

However, the effect of the Dragon Speech soon began to appear.

Rain started to fall from the clear sky, drenching my face.

Swoooosh—!

A heavy rain poured down.

The rain subdued the fire I had caused near the High Dragon's Nest.

It seemed Hike had truly become a dragon that one would only see in myths.

This must be the power of a dragon that has reached the level of a coordinator.

‘……I was arrogant.’

Because I could move and think at the speed of light, I had rampaged as if the world were mine.

But there was also a being who could catch my lightning-transformed body without any trouble. And without even getting a small scratch from the flaring sparks.

There was no guarantee that there wouldn't be such beings among the high-ranking demons of Myeolji.

Even if they couldn't use Dragon Speech, they had the unique demonic skill, [Power].

When I first met Rodos, I experienced his [Power] that folded space and allowed him to emerge.

At that time, I couldn't even react and gave him my back.

That said, I couldn't just be discouraged.

I will continue to grow, just as I am now.

And in the end, I will behead the demons of Myeolji and the Demon King.

“It was lightning I haven't seen in a very long time.”

Hike's low voice mixed with the sound of the pouring rain.

Her voice sounded gentler than ever before.

“It was a level that was by no means inferior when compared to Adjak's lightning. You might even be able to surpass him.”

Hike's gaze was also much warmer than usual.

Was it because of her longing for Adjak?

But it didn't seem to be just because of that.

Hike's gaze was directed straight at me.

Not at Adjak's shadow, but at me.

Hike erased the faint smile she had been wearing and shouted again in a dignified voice.

“Everyone, gather here.”

“Yes, ma'am!”

Keldric, Bea, and Everchen came running over. We exchanged glances with each other.

– Did you get something good?

– Of course.

Even without speaking the words out loud, we could now communicate with just our eyes.

“With this, the Dragon's Trial that I bestow is completely over.”

Everyone bowed their heads as if to express their thanks to Hike.

But Hike's gift did not end there.

“I will assess each of your levels.”

A peculiar light shone in everyone's eyes.

Because there were not many opportunities to receive teachings from a being of Hike's caliber.

“Everchen, from you first, show me everything you have.”

“Yes, it is an honor.”

Everchen raised his shield and sword.

Then he stood side by side with Hike and caught his breath.

But Hike stopped Everchen.

“Try to attack me. It will be easier to see that way.”

Everchen was startled.

But he did not refuse.

Everchen would know that even if he attacked with everything he had, Hike would be fine.

Everchen showed his respect and faced Hike.

Unlike Everchen, who took a stance aiming his sharp sword, Hike just stood there indifferently.

Even so, I could find no opening in her.

How would I attack, I wondered, then dismissed the thought. Now was not the time to think, but to watch.

I was curious how much Everchen had grown.

“Haap!”

Everchen let out a shout and rushed at Hike.

Advancing with his shield at the forefront, Everchen looked more solid than anyone.

Hike still stood still, watching Everchen's charge.

Only just before they were about to collide did she loosely extend her hand.

Kooong!

Everchen's shield was blocked by Hike's hand.

However, a divine power spread from the shield, and for a moment, a light so bright that it illuminated the surroundings burst forth.

Everchen did not stop and swung his sword.

Hike casually pushed the shield away.

It wasn't a big movement, but Everchen couldn't withstand Hike's strength and was pushed back.

Hike took advantage of the gap and nonchalantly grabbed Everchen's sword, which was filled with divine power, with her hand.

To retrieve his sword, Everchen put strength into the arm holding it.

A vein popped on Everchen's temple, and soon, his body began to transform, becoming enormous.

Kugugugung—!

Only after seeing that did I guess the identity of the Tune Everchen had been obtained from the Dragon's Vault.

[Gigantification].

It was a Tune that went beyond simply making the body bigger, greatly increasing strength and body hardness as well.

It was an especially necessary Tune for a tanker, a Tune with such outstanding effects that it was a shame only one existed in the world.

But Hike did not lose out in strength even when competing with Everchen who had used [Gigantification].

Everchen would know that too. He shouted in a loud voice.

“Titan Blade!”

Three huge greatswords fell towards Hike.

The Fourfold Transformation that Everchen had become able to use through the second trial.

For the first time, Hike moved her feet to dodge the greatswords.

Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga!

As the greatswords fell, a cloud of dust rose.

When the dust settled, the deeply gouged ground was revealed.

I could face the power of the Fourfold Transformation that Everchen had unleashed.

Greatswords filled with divine power falling from the sky.

Even after falling from the sky, the Titan Blades did not disappear and were stuck in the ground like giant pillars.

Hike stabbed a greatsword with her sharp claws.

A cringe-inducing sound like scratching a blackboard with fingernails flowed out, but it did not break easily even with Hike's strike.

Everchen, who had even used his Fourfold Transformation, was breathing heavily. Hike looked up at Everchen and said.

“Your Fourfold Transformation has the advantage of being capable of both offense and defense. But you need to increase the number of swords, and you must train so that you can continue to fight even after using the Fourfold Transformation.”

“Yes, I understand!”

Everchen answered with a booming voice.

After that, Hike continued to give Everchen detailed advice on combat.

“When you charge with your shield, your body should not cower behind the shield. Train by thinking of your body itself as a giant shield.”

I too had observed Everchen's movements closely, but there were quite a few parts I had missed.

Only after conveying her teachings for quite a long time did Hike take her eyes off Everchen.

“Keldric and Bea attack me simultaneously. Bea, from 100 paces away, and Keldric, start right in front of me.”

“Yes! Understood.”

“I will move immediately.”

The two of them were also full of fighting spirit.

They seemed to have been stimulated by the amazing change Everchen had shown and they seemed excited at the thought of receiving Hike's teachings.

Keldric bowed to Hike and then immediately rained down his fists.

Pababababak!

Despite the fists pouring down at a tremendous speed, Hike blocked them with one hand.

But Keldric's fist speed became faster and faster.

The artifact he obtained from the Coming-of-Age Ceremony's maze also had the effect of increasing fist speed, but this was a speed that far surpassed that effect.

As the tremendous barrage of blows continued, I sharpened my senses and watched Keldric's attack.

At that moment, a change occurred in Keldric as well.

His fist began to change to a rainbow color.

‘I bought those gauntlets for nothing.’

Among the artifacts I had asked Balan, who participated in the Imperial Capital auction, to get was a pair of gauntlets.

It was gift to Keldric, but looking at Keldric's fist, it seemed he no longer needed such things as gauntlets.

[Form: Orichalcum]

It seemed Keldric had obtained a Tune that transformed a part of his body into the legendary metal, Orichalcum.

Sweeeek!

Bea also kept firing light arrows from a distance and Bea's light arrows would re-propel themselves and fly again even after Hike deflected them once.

[Rocket Arrow]

It was a Tune with an ability that could grant arrows renewed propulsion, a perfect ability for Bea.

Everyone had brought out the Tunes they desperately needed from the vault, even without my advice.

‘It should be time for the Fourfold Transformations to come out.’

Just as I was thinking that, a fiend-like form shot out from Keldric's fist.

Ssssssssss—!

The fiend instantly struck Hike and at the same time, a giant arrow was shot, then split into thousands in front of Hike and poured down.

The Fourfold Transformations manifested by the two simultaneously swallowed Hike.

The fiend bit at Hike's body, and a countless number of light arrows shredded Hike's entire body.

In front of the two Fourfold Transformations, Hike no longer arrogantly used only one arm.

Hike also moved her arms and legs busily to deal with the two's Fourfold Transformations.

In the end, Hike broke the fiend's neck and deflected all the arrows pouring towards her.

“Thank you!”

Keldric bowed his head as he saw this.

Bea also ran over very quickly and bowed next to Keldric.

“Excellent. If you two attack together, there will not be many who can block you.”

While Hike was encouraging Keldric and Bea, reviewing the fight, and giving advice, I was contemplating how I would face Hike.

I didn't want to just stop at receiving teachings from Hike.

I know I can't win.

But just once, could I show her a blow that would surprise even a coordinator?

‘Pour everything into a single strike.’

The answer was found.

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