The Only Life
There's this term 'battle junkies'. Probably coined though.
Those kinds love fighting more than anything, they can't help themselves from always seeking out stronger opponents. It's an illness in a away.
Though rather than loving the fight itself, I think most of them are more 'fighting a tough opponent and coming out triumphant in the end'.
Same with that darned Black Dragon. I mean he's unwilling to go against truly strong opponents that can make a short work out of him like Alma's parents. Small fry~.
I made a life force-infused mana hand slip past the lava dragon's claws, fangs, and breath, and launch it at its face hard.
The dragon vomited blood as his fangs broke, yet it laughed.
『Guoooa!? Va, vahaha! Interesting! You're really interesting!』
"...Man, you're a tough one. That hit just now broke a few of your fangs. What's so fun about that?"
『Vahahaha! Who knew someone this strong existed! These pain and wounds are nothing for this exhilaration!』
True Battle Junkies are probably like this dragon.
Undaunted about suffering injuries and even the risk of death as he fights like he's having the time of his life.
...No, he might have found something else if not for his circumstances, but when fighting is the only entertainment you have left, I suppose you can't avoid turning into a battle junkie.
『Vaooooooaaaaaaaaa!!!』
"!"
The dragon spewed out a barrage of fireballs everywhere.
Then all the fireballs home in on me. A homing breath huh.
Every single fireball is as powerful as Alma Mama's spell. But as someone who's gone through similar spells, I know how to deal with them.
In fact, Alma Mama's magic is much more treacherous. I mean, she'd keep shooting clearly fatal spells like no tomorrow even though it was supposed to be a training, hahaha.
Suddenly, a gust of wind.
And I don't mean a strong breeze or anything, it's really like a hard hitting storm assailing me.
Must be the same Dragon Skill Black Dragon used, Dragon Wing!
"Guh...!!"
O, oh crap, this is some power alright...! This wind is far stronger than Black Dragon's.
How can he generate a stronger wind when he's weaker than Black Dragon?
<<It is estimated to be the effect of Master Skill [Aura Overlord] that buffs the dragon's Attributes.>>
<<By activating [Aura Overlord], user consumes Mana or Stamina, and optionally Life Force to boost their Attributes by five times at least.>>
Five times by consuming life force!? Let me use that too!
Wait a minute, how much life force you use up per usage again?
<<Each activation consumes 10% of user's life force at a minimum. There may be no clear wound externally despite the damage on muscles and bones. Once user's life force damage goes over 50%, internal organs begin losing their functions and at 0%, brain will cease functioning.>>
W, what...!?
『Vahahahaha! Keep daydreaming and you will find yourself inside magma! Gaaaa!!』
The dragon shot [Standard Dragon Breath] while laughing.
Caged in the storm, I can't get away. I have to block it!
Gotta put up a mana shield, no wait, this breath is clearly much stronger than before, he must've consumed life force to boost it!
Defending against this attack with a paper thin mana shield is asking to get burned.
I need thickness to stop this torrent of energy.
But I gotta minimize the hit zone as well.
I'll form the shield into a sharp shape that parries away the breath...
My mind is turning fast like a revolving lantern.
Probably thanks to my high Intelligence attribute. I'd take having a smarter brain under duress.
The result of my brain wrack was a drill.
A drill-shaped barrier that pierces through the gigantic bedrock that is a dragon breath... Can you even call this a barrier anymore?
The cone shaped body nicely parried away the breath, then I added a spin to repel better.
Despite the impromptu idea, this barrier was excellent. I got away with practically zero damage.
『Vahaha, to think you suffered no damage from that! Average humans would not leave even a single bone!』
"...Quit shooting that willy-nilly. You're taking more damage than me."
『...Hm. I assume you have an idea the price I must pay.』
Despite looking unchanged outwardly, the dragon's Stat shows his greatly reduced HP and with State: [Muscle Damage - Pain].
That shot only leaves him with some muscular pain but it'll be fatal before long if he keeps it up.
This dragon was born, given intelligence, as well as a self-destructing skill without consent. There's a limit to bad taste.
God of this world, I am grateful for bringing me here.
But, I can't help but think you're awful if only in the duration of this fight.
~~~~~~~~~~Magma Dragon's POV~~~~~~~~~~
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
Fun.
Fun, fun.
Ah, I have been cursing god my entire existence, but now I am almost thankful for this fight.
Thank you for letting me meet such a powerful man (friend) in my final battle.
"...Now you've done it! My turn next!"
『Ou! Come at me!!』
Despite his ill-humored sounding yelling, he carries not the slightest tinge of anger.
As a proof, the man is turning a sorrowful eye at me.
"Oraaa!!"
『Hrmphh!!』
He's unleashing a merciless barrage of attacks as if trying to hide his pity. Coming at me, unceasingly.
That will do. Holding back out of pity would only make me miserable.
I shall respond his kindness in kind.
『Kaah!!』
An ability to unleash a shockwave around oneself, 'Qi Extended Strike'.
Using this ability in this area naturally sends all the magma around flying.
『Gaa! Kaah! Gaaaaaa!!』
I kept using Qi Farstrike to generate waves upon waves of magma toward the man.
I have also added light elemental supplemental damage on 'Seething Thunder Claw', 'Mana Claw Farslash' and 'Mana Claw Crescent Moon'.
Lines of light shot out of my claws and stood still mid air. My knowledge tells me these are akin to an object called 'Laser'.
Those who touch these lines will be incinerated to death instantly.
I'm preparing my trump card behind the barrage of magma and laser.
I need ten seconds for it. Normally, that is done in a flash, but I only realize how that feels like an eternity in a battle.
A fact I would have never come to understand if not for this man's arrival.
My mental state is in disarray between wanting to finish the preparation as soon as possible and keeping this moment forever.
I feel a wave of fulfillment as the count in my head reached ten.
Ah, it's done.
This is the end.
『Vaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!』
The majority of my mana, stamina and life force is unleashed in the form of a torrent from my mouth.
Dragon Skill Lv 7 [Charging Dragon Breath].
It can't be stopped once it's used. It cannot be shot until a count of ten, and it consumes fifty percent of one's maximum mana and stamina upon usage. A truly difficult ability to peruse.
However, its firepower stands above the rest of Dragon Skill Abilities. A power so destructively incomparable to standard breath.
I've boosted its firepower even further with 'Aura Overlord'. The destruction left in its wake would have been unthinkable if it weren't in a dungeon.
Take this, receive this! This is my ultimate move!
I know not how you stopped my first breath, but this one carries my entire being on it!
My entire power is shot out of my mouth.
Mana, stamina, life force, and perhaps even my blood are getting spewed out, riding on this attack.
All my curses toward the god, my hatred, anger, everything.
I lost count how long I kept the breath up.
I cannot tell if it was hours or even a few seconds.
My body feels heavy.
A dreadful sense of emptiness assailed me after spewing everything out.
Did that man manage to bear through.
Or did he burn into nothingness.
I do not see him.
Ah, that, cannot be--
"I got you."
『...!!』
The man stood next to my leg.
He staved off my breath!? No, I should have witnessed him if he pushed through my breath!
Could he, dive inside the magma...!?
"Raaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
I could feel something piercing through my chest, and heart.
The man lunged and penetrated my body.
『Gaaaaaaaaaa...!!』
Pain. My body crumbles down afterward.
I cannot stand. No, I cannot even lift my finger.
Is it, my defeat.
Am I, to die.
Am I, finally allowed to die.
『Va, vaha, haha. Superbly, done.』
"What, are you laughing for."
『How can one not laugh after such a blissful battle. Ah... That was fun.』
"If only you weren't born a boss here, you could have found so much more fun--"
『Please not one word more... Right now, I am content. I am fine trading my whole life for the few minutes of that fight. Please do not say 'if', or 'be happier in my next life'.』
"...You..."
『Even if I were to reborn, this is the only life 'I' have led. I beg of you, please do not deem it to be without meaning.』
"...I see."
『Can, I have, your name, as my, last wish.』
"Kajikawa Hikaru."
『Kajikawa, Hikaru. I shall remember you. Even if, only for, the next, few seconds... Thank, y, o, u....』
~~~~~~~~Kajikawa Hikaru's POV~~~~~~~~~~
...That leaves a bad taste.
Watching the dragon dying with such a peaceful look on his face is making me all the more sentimental.
<<Level has reached a certain point confirmed. Updating Menu Function.>>
I mulled over the dragon's dying word while watching Menu Update's progress bar.
The dragon lived his life to the fullest without giving in to the thought of getting another go.
『Even if I were to reborn, this is the only life 'I' have led』, huh.
That hero who reincarnated into the demon king has so much to learn from this dragon. Oh and I don't mean Neora-kun because his case was outside his power.
That dragon lived a much prouder life than me even though it was only for a few years.
Wonder how much that past hero hated his life.
Or maybe there was something he needed to get done even if it meant starting anew.
<<Update finished. New Function 'Spacetime Progression' ready to use.>>
<<Items stored in Item Screen originally do not undergo the passage of time. This function allows such items experience passage of time in a desired environment. There is virtually zero time loss.>>
Eh, so like I can instantly make pickles in an ideal environment inside Item Screen?
<<......That is largely correct.>>
That's godly. I can age all the meat I want now.
<<However, the amount of consumed mana changes depending on the amount of transpired time as well as environmental setting such as humidity, temperature and altitude. Therefore, the setting is not without limits.>>
Ah, so like the mana I use for heating rocks by a few degree isn't the same amount as heating rocks into magma.
I'm gonna test it out later.
<<It is advised to store Lava Dragon's body and make it experience 2000 year time by Spacetime Progression Function after exiting dungeon.>>
Eh, why?
It's gonna rot if I do that.
I'd like to eat it. We went through that fierce combat and all.
<<...As it makes for an extremely useful item in the creation of Kajikawa Hikaru's new weapon. It is advised to only set aside a few kilograms of meat for consumption.>>
<<It is estimated that using proposed materials will drastically improve equipment.>>
O, okay... I guess that'll make it like I'm fighting alongside this dragon then.
Guess I got no choice. I'll put aside a little to cook and turn the rest into my weapon.
...What kind of material is it gonna be anyway.
Posts
