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The Black Dragon Zaerkan possessed a certain pride.
While he wasn’t on the level of Yuren even in his prime, a warrior considered equal to the Dragon Lord, Zaerkan held a position of power.
He was known for his destructive tendencies, earning him the moniker “The Raging Dragon.” The title was a testament to his formidable strength.
Zaerkan held an unshakeable belief in his own invincibility.
He was certain that no one, aside from another dragon, could defeat him. And yet, this human…
‘Decapitated in an instant? Me?’
A dragon’s scales were an impenetrable armor, an unyielding fortress. It was no exaggeration.
Piercing a dragon’s scales was an incredibly difficult feat.
That was how Yuren had managed to hold off countless demons single-handedly.While Zaerkan wasn’t as powerful as Yuren, his defenses were still formidable.
However, this had also been the source of Zaerkan’s arrogance.
He had believed himself invulnerable, allowing the human to attack, leading to this humiliating defeat.
Zaerkan felt his life force ebbing away.
He would die here.
Not at the hands of a fellow dragon, but by a lowly human, a creature he considered beneath him.
[I, Zaerkan, will not allow this!]
Ironically, his pride, bordering on arrogance, extended his life.
Tendons from his severed neck writhed like tentacles, reaching towards his body.
His severed head slowly lifted, reattaching itself to his body.
As if the decapitation had never occurred, Zaerkan regenerated, his body restored to near perfect condition.
Even dragons couldn’t survive decapitation. It was an undeniable fact.
Yet, Zaerkan felt no unease, no sense of the unnatural.
[Very well, I’ll admit it. Mortal, you almost killed me. Though it was nothing more than a pathetic, insect-like struggle.]
“You’ve surpassed the realm of living beings. You’re closer to a demon. What have you done?”
Despite the unbelievable sight before him, Hans remained calm, his question directed at Zaerkan.
Even Zaerkan was impressed by the human’s composure.
He was like a finely honed blade, a sharp contrast to the other races, especially the humans Zaerkan so despised.
The dragon chuckled.
[I made a deal. They tampered with my body, but it doesn’t matter. Thanks to them, I can tear you to shreds.]
‘So it was them again!’
Hans felt a sense of dread.
He had become accustomed to seeing demons regenerate from fatal wounds, but the issue here was the cooldown period.
Thanks to the holy sword, Hans hadn’t needed much time to climb onto the dragon and deliver the fatal blow. But the time stop ability had a cooldown, and he needed to stall.
He had achieved his objective.
Zaerkan, believing the fight was over, began to move.
[It was fun, insect. Thanks to you, I’ve become even stronger. With this power…I can even kill the Dragon Lord and his daughter.]
Zaerkan’s arrogance was boundless. He believed he had transcended death.
He had been decapitated and yet, here he was, alive and well.
But transcending death was impossible. One could cheat it, delay it, but true victory over death was unattainable.
Hans knew this.
“No. I assure you, you will die here.”
Hans pointed at Zaerkan with his index finger, a taunting gesture.
The dragon roared in fury, flames erupting from its maw, threatening to consume everything.
A fiery breath scorched the earth and air. Zaerkan laughed.
In that moment, Hans stopped time.
His index and middle fingers touched.
In the stillness of frozen time, Hans moved alone. Decapitation wouldn’t kill the dragon. That meant the source of its regeneration lay elsewhere.
A core, perhaps.
If he could destroy it, he could kill the dragon.
Hans considered his options briefly.
Where was the core?
But his contemplation was short-lived.
‘I’ll just cut everything.’
Hans tightened his grip on the holy sword.
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The holy sword possessed a will of its own. It was a strong, unwavering will, though its excessive pride had been a flaw.
Meeting its current master had changed that.
A true swordsman doesn’t rely on his weapon.
It was true.
One who depended solely on a superior weapon wasn’t a true knight. Even the holy sword couldn’t argue with Hans’s words.
But it hadn’t accepted this truth readily.
Initially, it had been so flustered that it had become a hindrance. It hadn’t trusted Hans completely.
‘Does this man truly possess such skill?’
He had passed the trial in the ruins, but perhaps it was just luck.
Moreover, Hans had ignored its attempts to communicate, further fueling the sword’s doubts.
It was difficult to ignore its presence.
Could he not hear it?
But its doubts were short-lived. It had witnessed Hans’s actions firsthand.
The Mud Guardian had been a formidable monster, even in the era the holy sword had originated from.
But Hans wasn’t simply strong.
He had seen through the Mud Guardian’s true nature, and had indulged its desire for a final, honorable duel.
‘He’s not just strong. He possesses the virtues of a true hero.’
He was on the battlefield, risking his life.
Facing the possibility of death, could anyone show mercy to a creature reduced to a monstrous form?
Logically, there was no reason to.
Even if it had once been a hero, it was now a man-eating monster.
To engage it in an honorable duel was strategically foolish.
Yet, Hans had done so without hesitation.
And in that moment, the holy sword had witnessed Hans’s true strength.
He possessed not only heroic virtues, but also overwhelming power.
He had cut down the Mud Guardian with speed the holy sword couldn’t even perceive. It was swordsmanship at its pinnacle.
But what truly impressed the holy sword was Hans’s character.
He so readily gave away what he had earned.
– Child, you have no name. Only your master can bestow one upon you.
– But…what if my master is a bad person?
– I foresee you will become a hero’s sword. He appears noble, but he is lonely.
– “…”
🚨 Important Notice 🚨
); }
– I hope you will become his friend, his companion in this world.
The holy sword hadn’t understood those words then, but it did now.
Even now, facing a dragon, one of the strongest creatures on the continent.
It recognized this Black Dragon. It had witnessed it in the mythical age, a monster that had preyed on countless races.
The Raging Dragon.
And yet, against this legendary monster, Hans fought without fear. Against a creature that couldn’t be killed by decapitation.
Was he truly fearless?
[N-no…Impossible! I…defeated by an insect…!]
The holy sword didn’t register the dragon’s death.
One moment, the Raging Dragon was a formidable foe, the next, its body lay in pieces. Hans calmly pierced its heart, ending its life.
The Raging Dragon was dead.
And Hans stood above it, victorious.
He was the embodiment of a mythical hero.
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[Translator Notes]
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