Chapter 145 : Chapter 145

Chapter 145 : Dragon's Vault (4)

Hike gave advice to Keldric and Bea for a long time as well.

I, too, listened to the advice Hike gave.

“Let’s start with Bea. You are overly conscious of the fact that your companions should not be attacked by your arrows. Such attacks are easily read by the enemy.”

“Then what should I do? Should I shoot my arrows with the resolve to hit my companions?”

“First, you must learn your companions' movements as if they were your own body. If you can read your companions' movements first, you will be able to shoot arrows avoiding them.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“And you need to trust your companions a little more. If you have the faith that your companions will dodge even if you attack, the range of your attacks will widen. In the situation from before, what if you had shot an arrow at Keldric's back, and Keldric had dodged right in front of me? It would have been more difficult for me to block that arrow.”

Bea nodded and listened attentively.

“Next is Keldric. You……”

Every single word was valuable and nourishing.

Afterward, Hike personally demonstrated a few movements.

By that time, I had averted my gaze from Hike.

Instead, I replayed the sparring match with Hike that I had just seen.

In the match, Hike did not use her specialties, including Dragon Speech.

She blocked all of my companions' attacks with just her own sturdy body.

It wasn't that Hike easily blocked them simply because my companions' abilities were lacking. Because even from my perspective, my companions' attacks were outstanding.

But the method was wrong.

Earlier, my companions had attacked by gradually increasing the intensity, ending with their Fourfold Transformations.

They probably never thought they could beat Hike in the first place.

They were just revealing their strengths one by one and being evaluated by Hike.

‘That kind of method just gives Hike time to adapt to the attacks. How should I approach this match?’

Keldric and Bea, having received their advice, bowed to Hike with flushed faces.

Hike calmly accepted their greetings and then gestured to me with her eyes.

No matter how much I racked my brain and thought about it, there was only one way.

To pour everything into a single strike.

I trusted Hike.

Even if I poured all my strength into a single blow, she would recognize the effort I had put in until now and would be able to give appropriate advice.

The goal was simple.

To make Hike retreat even just a few steps.

A slightly more ambitious goal was to make her use Dragon Speech.

“Let's begin.”

“Yes, I look forward to it.”

Using Heaven-Shattering Thunder would be effective, but since I had just used it, it seemed it would be difficult to use it again.

But that didn't matter. Heaven-Shattering Thunder was just a technique I had acquired this time. What I wanted to prove was the time I had accumulated until now.

First, I spread the [Wings of Ainsitel].

Pure white wings unfolded, and white flames burned upon them.

As a result of using the Tune frequently and leveling it up, the color of the flames had changed from before.

The flames of the ancient species, Ainsitel, were different from [Black Flame].

Although they were white flames, they felt neither divine nor mystical.

They merely shimmered with a heat that sought to destroy the target before me.

I held my sword at an angle.

The aura unfolds from the moment I grip the sword.

I activated [Fear].

Of course, Hike, with her high status, would not be affected by my fear to the point of her body freezing.

But I have to do it.

Even if the probability of it working is low, I intend to try everything I can.

I have no choice but to believe that each of these attempts will create a small difference, and in the end, bring about a huge result.

Fwoosh!

Black flame erupted over the blade of the sword.

The black flame and the white flame rising from the [Wings of Ainsitel] mixed.

The two flames did not blend.

They burned fiercely, each trying to take dominance.

But the balance of power did not tip to one side, and they burned as a fire of intermingled black and white light.

The flames spread to Maron.

The size of the flames was smaller than before, but I could clearly feel that the power had increased.

I could feel the surrounding air change just by holding the sword.

“Huup……”

From a distance, Keldric covered his own mouth.

It seemed he was quite surprised by the flames that burned hot enough to incinerate even the mana in the atmosphere.

I did not waver and focused on my intent.

I added [Gravity Manipulation] to Maron.

The Dragon Heart, fueled by my resolve, pumped out mana like crazy.

Finally, I activated my Fourfold Transformation, Star-Devouring Severance.

All preparations were complete.

Until now, Hike had been standing still without taking any particular defensive stance.

But I know. Hike, too, is currently contemplating how to deal with me.

Her pupils narrowed as if wary of me; Hike was no longer wearing the indifferent expression she had before.

Shhhring.

Hike put her hand into the empty air and then pulled out a greatsword.

Hike's beloved sword, Avalanche.

The blue blade shone menacingly, as if it would cleave everything in the world.

Hike was still using the best greatsword in this world, a weapon that Adjak had once gifted her.

I was happy that she had drawn her sword.

However, I had no intention of being satisfied with just this.

There was no need for words to signal the start.

Hike and I looked into each other's eyes and took a step.

I had succeeded in making Hike move her feet before even swinging my sword.

A single clash.

Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-gak—!

There is only a single clash.

Maron and Avalanche collided.

A tremendous roar that seemed to deafen the ears.

A distorting space.

A heat that burns even mana.

Everything was contained in each other's single move.

Neither Hike nor I backed down, and we stretched our swords towards each other until the very end.

Even though Hike's attack was one that distorted even space, Maron, with all of my being layered upon it, was not pushed back.

That wasn't the end.

Thousands of strands of [Red Thread] unfolded and poured down on Hike.

I sent my intent into each and every strand of thread.

– Stop.

In the end, Hike used Dragon Speech.

The dragon's spell, which went beyond interfering with the world to coordinating the world itself, was cast.

The red threads that were pouring towards Hike stopped in mid-air as if they had hit a wall and froze.

Even I could not understand what kind of power had blocked them.

But I did not loosen the grip on my sword.

For this moment, as our swords were crossed, I wanted to show Hike all of my strength.

Krrrrrrrrk—!

At that moment, the red threads that had stopped in mid-air began to advance little by little.

They pressed down on the empty air, burned it, and made it tremble in fear.

The red threads had begun to resist even Hike's Dragon Speech.

The red threads, advancing little by little, albeit at a very slow speed.

Slice.

Hike swung Avalanche once more.

Only then did all the threads fall to the ground and Hike once again reached into the empty air and put her greatsword away.

I, too, sheathed Maron.

“You won.”

Hike smiled brightly.

***

I knew that I hadn't truly beaten Hike.

It was probably just that I had crossed some line that Hike had in mind, and because I had made her swing her greatsword twice, she had acknowledged me.

But that acknowledgement brought me boundless joy.

My companions gathered around me, full of excitement, and patted me on the back.

Thump, thump.

It kind of hurts.

It seems my companions were also too excited to control their strength.

But this wasn't the end.

I looked at Hike and waited for her words.

But Hike just stared at me blankly and did not open her mouth.

“Please give me some advice as well.”

In the end, I spoke to Hike first. Because I, too, needed a clue for growth to advance to the next stage.

“You won, so what is there to advise?”

She had been smiling brightly just a moment ago, but it was difficult to read her expression, which had returned to its original state.

‘……She must be joking, right?’

“You won't be able to fight every battle in that manner.”

Hike soon began her advice.

I nodded and listened to her words.

“But your single strike was excellent.”

I felt joy at her encouragement.

“Do not forget the method you just poured out. You must finish your preparations more quickly so that you can unleash it anytime an opportunity for an attack arises.”

I took her advice to heart.

“It wasn't during a sparring match, but earlier, when you were using Heaven-Shattering Thunder, you didn't hold a sword.”

“Ah, yes. I thought getting used to my body being transformed into lightning was the priority.”

“Even Adjak, when using Heaven-Shattering Thunder, could do no more than hold a sword. But you must be different. First, focus on holding the sword, and then, even while Heaven-Shattering Thunder is active, you must be able to use the things you have, just like now.”

It was something even Adjak couldn't do.

Transformed into lightning, control was difficult, so he was preoccupied with just swinging his sword.

To be honest, there was also the fact that he didn't feel much of a need, as the power of Heaven-Shattering Thunder was formidable even without swinging a sword.

“When you can do that, you will be able to surpass Adjak.”

“Thank… thank you.”

I was overcome with emotion.

It wasn't just once or twice that I had resolved and spoken of surpassing Adjak.

But the feeling when I heard those words from Hike was different.

So much so that I felt a lump in my throat, and tears almost came out.

Hike looked into my eyes and smiled once more.

It was a fainter smile than before, but it was still nice.

“Are you stronger than Lord Adjak now, Lady Hike?”

“300 years ago, Adjak was stronger.”

It was a short sentence, but it was a sufficient answer.

The Hike of 300 years ago was weaker than the half-human, half-dragon Adjak.

It wasn't that Hike was weak, but that Adjak was too strong.

Because Adjak had countless good traits and had set up his Tunes according to a meticulously planned build.

But even from my perspective, the current Hike was incredibly stronger compared to 300 years ago.

It was difficult for me to gauge the power of a coordinator, but it seemed that even if Adjak were in front of her right now, it would be difficult for him to beat Hike.

“In that case, someday I will surpass you too, Lady Hike.”

“Adjak said the same thing when he was young. And he actually achieved it. I will watch to see if you can do so as well.”

“Yes, I will definitely achieve it.”

Hike nodded.

Neither she nor I were speaking empty words.

Someday, no, in the not-so-distant future, I wanted to surpass Hike.

Because I didn't have much time left.

Time had flown by, and there were only about 15 months left until the Dome of Myeolji opened.

I didn't know if I could reach the rank of coordinator in 15 months.

It wouldn't be easy to even reach the 9th-Rank in that period.

But it's not like I absolutely have to reach the 9th-Rank to go to Myeolji.

The battle in Myeolji will also make me grow once more.

“Everyone, you've all worked hard.”

“You were really strong! I think we should really call you captain now.”

“Lord Polarin, that was cool.”

“I know, right? As expected, the Order’s eye for people is never wrong.”

My companions could also confirm each other's growth.

Although all my companions had become able to use Fourfold Transformation by passing the Dragon's Trial, they had never actually seen each other's abilities.

Seeing my companions' growth directly through the sparring with Hike, the feeling was new.

Just as we were reveling in our growth,

Drrrk─ Drrrk─!

At that moment, a foreign sound was heard from the other side of the forest.

“What's that?”

“I don't know… Is someone coming?”

We looked in the direction the sound was coming from.

Soon, a cart crossing the forest came into view and I saw the person riding in that cart.

It was the head of the 9th Autonomous Region, Ims Adjak.

Drrrrrk…….

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