Ways to Slay Dragons Gently

In the darkness where the former king's body disappeared, Ulan Boke felt that he was going to change from a human form back to a dragon's original form inevitably.Because of the death of the former king, a large amount of "Qi" accumulated in his body was released. Therefore, the balance between Yin and Yang lost in the chaos was almost completely restored.

Dragons are the only creatures that can accumulate Qi in their bodies that does not belong to the two realms of Yin and Yang.After other creatures die, their souls fly to the kingdom of eternity, and their dead bodies return to dust.

Although the balance can be restored as long as a real dragon moves from the Yin world to the Yang world, a dragon that has been eroded by Yang Qi will go crazy sooner or later.Therefore, the Dragon King has to die as a victim, which is the best solution to restore the Qi of nature.

The Demon King Dandarion didn't know that the other party was a sacrifice to the two worlds, so he fell in love with the Dragon King deeply, and the dragon he loved died in order to protect the world where the Eudemons lived and the world where he lived.In order to prevent the young dragon who inherited her blood from dying in the same way, he killed the hidden phantom beast, the Dragon King, as a substitute sacrifice.

but--

The yang energy that the former king had absorbed into his body and made him mad was also liberated in his death.Originally, as long as the yang energy that left the body of the creatures in the yang world was not released on the distorted land like the ancient battlefield, it would just disappear naturally.However, the large amount of yang energy that made the dragon crazy was enough to make him completely lose his mind for Ulan Boke who was in it.

The urge to kill and destroy breaks through the rational device, and it is like an uncontrollable transformation, which can no longer be stopped.In the blurred vision, a white phantom flashed.Always with some lonely eyes, standing on the edge of the forest, a unicorn with a long mane.

--Yarkenjell...!

You have to protect Arkenjell, protect him from the mad dragon, and protect him from the mad self.

Desperately resisting the consciousness that he was about to fall into the blood-red abyss, Ulan Boke shouted: "... promise... fulfill our promise, my friend...!"

All comrades who landed on the ground heard this cry.

"What did you say? Ulan?" The girl who took the monkey doll from Doma asked in puzzlement.

The feeling of something huge falling.Before he could see it clearly, the thing landed, and the hall, which was so damaged that it was almost invisible, shook.Fragments of the wall fell again on the fallen crowd.

Thomas, holding the girl in his arms, stood up with a grim expression.

The coercive and powerful creatures appeared again in the hall that had just been restored to void.The light coming in from the cracks in the wall reflected the armor-like black skin of the whole body, which had a colder metallic luster than the tea-brown former king.

In the far overhead direction, there is something shining with a blood-red light.That ominous light was exactly the same as the crazy former king's wink that he saw just now.Because it is from the side, only one eye can be seen. Judging from the movement of the head looking around, it is more agile than the previous king.

"...How could it be? He was already dead just now?"

Somewhere in his heart refused to admit it, and Crotia talked to himself half-absently.

The same is true for Arkenjel, but he cannot ignore his important dragon.

"…No, that's—"

"Sorry, Jake."

The brawny mercenary put his hand on the shoulder of the young man who was going to continue, apologized briefly, and then punched him in the heart.

The young man passed out without a sound. Thomas hugged his body and said to the monk, "Gaith, take Yake and Crotia back to our boat. I will catch up after a while."

"What about Ulan Pok?"

"...Did you hear what I said just now? That's our agreement. If there is an emergency, please ask me, and the so-called emergency is now."

Although there were many things he wanted to ask, Gus shook his head lightly and took over the unconscious body of the young man.

The clever girl immediately understood more than half of it.

"--When you lifted the former king's petrification, you said the oath, that there are three of us, is that what you meant?"

"Yes. Humans with the blood of the holy king can kill the dragon with one blow when this happens. You can't do it, let alone Yake, so I'm the only one left."

"...Is it no longer possible?"

"Ah. I don't want to do it either, but letting the crazy dragon reach the ground will kill more humans than during the chaos, and it's a pity to lock him in the abandoned city."

While he was talking, the young dragon king, who was smaller than the previous king, was prowling the hall in search of an exit.

"Ulan is a big idiot! To have a partner who wants to kill him is really the worst interest! You, you--we like you--...!"

The girl cried, wiped her tears with her sleeve, sniffed, and looked at Thomas again.

"Is it okay? Don't force it, don't force it... kill Ulan."

"Okay, Gus, the two of them are begging you."

"...Yes... By the way, I can't do anything for you."

The monk with the young man on his back looked up at the black dragon melting into the darkness, and bowed deeply.

Crotia stopped again and again, looking at Thomas and the dragon.

The figures of the three disappeared through a large crack in the wall.

After watching them leave, Thomas looked at the dragon slapping the wall with its tail and muttered to himself.

"What's 'Fulfill our agreement, my friend', isn't it good for you to call my name and order me? Isn't that more accurate?... I also said, man killer, just kill Yake, you can also Don't you remember..." The end of the sentence trembled, and he, who couldn't speak for a while, clenched his trembling fists.

Then he raised his face and scratched his head.

"By the way, if the 'Oath Spear' is produced from the blood of the descendants of the Holy King, how should it be produced specifically?"

After confronting the crazy Dragon King alone for so long, there was no sign of it appearing at all.Could it be that I have to cut where to get blood?There is no one here who can use healing spells, and it is best not to suffer unnecessary injuries in order to maintain combat effectiveness.

"Will it only appear when you are in a life-threatening crisis? This is not optimistic..."

He scratched his head in bewilderment when he noticed that the dragon, unable to find an exit, was blowing its dragon's breath toward the ceiling.

Yet another headache.When the former king's hot wind raised the room temperature, Ulan and Crotia's water spirit magic cooled it down. Now it is impossible.

However, this problem was immediately resolved.After the hot wind, Ulan Boke breathed out a breath of cold air, destroying the material with a sharp temperature difference.

"...It will snow in the house too."

Use the palm of your hand to catch the snowflakes in the darkness, and the snowflakes that fell on the palm of your hand melted immediately.Even though he has almost no understanding of the ecology of this phantom beast like a dragon, Thomas knows that the dragon in front of him is also exceptional among its kind.If the spells that can use all the four great spirits of the same level are different, then only the possession magic of the ancient dragon ancestors that he can use is a supernatural ability, and he has changed back to his original form, so he should be able to use a variety of dragon breaths.

"This is not the time to enjoy the snow. If the 'Oath Spear' appeared, Ulan would have already left the palace."

Speaking of which, defeating the former king was the result of the concerted efforts of the partners.Without the "Oath Spear", no matter how you think about it, it would be impossible to defeat the Dragon King alone.There was still a spear left in his hand, and most of the weapons and armor left by the Demon King had been buried under the rubble.However, I still picked up the battle ax and a few swords with special effects, so I put them in my belt first.

Thomas began to consider in his mind possible ways of fighting with the weapons in hand and with his own power.Jump onto the dragon's head with this gun and drive the gun deep in with the force and weight of the fall.

The death of the former king has revealed the weakness of the dragon. Even if the spear misses, you can still use an ax to cut open the skin and stab the sword in.

--...But, Ulan won't obediently remain still.

And the biggest problem with this combat method is that he doesn't have wings that can fly that high, and he can't fly spells.

"Oh, by the way, just jump from a high place."

Go out of the hall and go up there, wait for the opportunity, and jump when Ulan makes a hole in the ceiling.This is simply a nonsense method that can never be done without a lifetime of protection from the four-phase god, but it is all there is to it.

"Oh, I have to do what I can't do... I'm not Crotia, but if I die, I will curse you for the rest of my life, Ulan boy."

Doma lamented that he had bet his life on an ugly battle with too much disparity in strength, and thought about the dragon who was busy destroying the ceiling.

Crotia and the others who left the hall walked up the stairs and headed towards the second floor, which is usually as high as three floors.Because of the deep fatigue and longing for Ulan Pok, the two walked very heavily and did not speak.

Suddenly, the girl felt movement behind her, and suddenly turned her head to see the stone statue guard who was about to swing down the ax and spear.

"Gase!"

To warn her companions, she herself fell down the stairs without hesitation in order to avoid the attack.

The long-handled ax and gun grazed her slender body, cutting the carpet on the stairs.The girl rolled down to a step lower than where the stone statue stood.

"your Highness!"

Gus, who became the next target, dodged the murder weapon, and quickly put the young man on his back next to the stairs. He wanted to be lighter, but in the end he threw it out.

It seems that there is only one of the mobile stone statues that should have been used as a mechanism when we first went to the hall.

With no weapon in his hand, Ghaith tried his best to protect Yake and the girl who were unconscious. He fought with his own speed and martial arts.

However, the stairway where the remains of the stone statues that were destroyed before was scattered is very inconvenient to use, and it is impossible to fight without distraction.

Crotia didn't know the spell that was effective on the stone statue, so she could only watch from the side.

It is obvious who is more disadvantaged after a long time, he who has consumed a lot in the battle with the former king, or the stone statue who does not know fatigue and pain.

Use the height difference of the stairs to knock it down, there is a girl below.If you go to the second floor, which is convenient for you to stay, you are afraid that Yake will be attacked on the way.

Accidentally stepped on a fragment of the stone statue on the ground, and the monk who lost his balance fell down.The stone statue holding an ax gun cut the ax at him who fell down a few steps, and he turned over to avoid it.Immediately afterwards, the spear on the head stabbed again.

Gase stepped on another piece while trying to get up to dodge the second blow, and was stabbed when he lost his balance.The gun was stabbed in the left thigh, and he wobbled and grabbed the armrest, aiming at his neck, and the stone statue swung the axe.

"Gase!" the girl cried out in grief.

However, the chopped ax stopped where his head was.The stone statue floated in the air and moved to one side. When it reached the outside of the steps, it fell to the floor of the first floor as if dropped by an invisible giant.

Even though it was carpeted, the floor was made of stone, and falling from a height as high as the third floor would shatter even the stone statue cast with movement magic.The magic on the stone statue, which had been broken into large and small pieces, was invalidated, and it turned back into ordinary stone.

"Yak! Thank you."

After the young man woke up, he used ancient magic to save the monk. He looked at the place he was in through his long silver hair.

Seeing a girl whose leg was broken when she fell on the broken stone statue and couldn't move.Although the monk's injury is not serious, he should not have a problem as he can use recovery spells.Since he was fine, the girl's pain would not be prolonged.

Pressing one hand on the chest that had been punched by Thomas, he stood up a little shaky.Then, suddenly jump over the banister of the stairs.Using the magic of moving in the air, after lightly landing on the first floor, he ran to the hall from the door broken by Ulan Pok.

"Yake! No, Yake!"

Ignoring the sound of broken bones, Crotia screamed half-crazily.

350 years ago, a decisive battle to determine the fate of the continent took place near this ancient abandoned capital.The exact same thing as the tragedy that happened after the end of that war will be repeated now.The man who survived alone turned into a monster that cursed the world in extreme grief and regret -- Arkenjell was too much like that man.

"...Four-phase god...too much, such a thing...too much...!" The girl covered her face with her hands.

That dragon is the incarnation of Ulan Pok.Without thinking about it, he knew that the purpose of Thomas knocking himself out was something he would never welcome.

But—no, so, no matter what happens, you can't leave Ulan Pok.Otherwise, it seemed like he would be lost forever.Ignoring Crotia's stop, Yakenjell ran.

The place that bears the marks of the death fight is still so dark.In the darkness, the ominous blood-red eyes floating far away from the head are so eye-catching.The real dragon at the apex of all phantom beasts, because of the Yang Qi that is incompatible with himself as a creature of the underworld, the "Qi" has completely gone crazy.

--Ulan Polk...!

Yakenjel, who couldn't help but want to call him, felt a sharp pain in his right hand, and turned to look.Like a coat of arms drawn by light, a figure appeared in the palm of his hand.Why on earth does this happen?Contrary to his doubtful will, his arm moved.

As if reaching out to someone, the luminous palm of the right hand stretched forward.The light turned red, spurting tall columns of blood.The blood column condensed in the air, turning into a bright red spear from the handle to the tip.Then, the spear was shining with the same brilliance as the coat of arms, and it moved sideways, and slowly fell in front of his eyes.

Yakenzel was still confused, but he still grasped the floating spear with both hands as if asking him to pick it up, so light that he couldn't feel the weight.The strange lightness reminded him of the blood-red sword he had borrowed from Ulan when fighting the Chimera.The gun was a little longer than his height, just the size of his hand.

--Why does this kind of thing come from my body...?

Think of the next moment of the answer.The blood in the whole body froze immediately.

"...how, how could..."

He raised his head in fear, and saw the crest shining with the same light as the gun.On the blood-red eyes of the dragon, it is the same position where Ulan Boke stabbed the blood-red sword into the former king--I am afraid that is the weakness of the dragon.

Yakenjal let out a low scream and dropped the gun.

"This...this is...! What...the legendary oath of love! This kind of thing is definitely not a vow...it is hateful...the most terrible curse in the world!"

The young man who was in a state of panic under the excessive impact flinched and shouted.Thomas, who saw the light in the distance, ran towards this side.

"Damn it! It really is like this—you big idiot! Why did you come back? I was afraid of becoming like this, so I knocked you out!"

"You know...? You know it, Thomas! You bastard, are you going to kill Ulan!"

Yakanzel lost his usual calmness and called with a changed face.

The strong man easily dodged his fist and slapped him mercilessly on the face.

"Don't get dizzy. Ulan asked me to do it. If I'm crazy, I'll kill me. Can I ask you or Crotia for this kind of thing!"

"Why did the Holy King and that red-haired random guy make an oath arbitrarily 1000 years ago, and Ulan must die!? Why...!"

"The King of Phantasmal Beasts is a sacrifice to save the world from a catastrophe. In order to restore the balance of collapse, there must be a lot of 'Qi', and there is a lot of that thing stored in the dragon's body. A lot of humans died in the chaos, For this reason, the Phantom Beast King came from the underworld—”

Arcenzel shuddered at Thomas' words.

"That is, Ulan came here to die from the very beginning...?"

"Yes, bound by the oath, I can't return to the underworld."

"...He loves me... If he said he loved me and wanted to die from the beginning, would he say such a thing?"

The brawny mercenary showed an anxious expression.While the two were talking, the crazy dragon was still spitting out flames that would destroy the ceiling.

"Did you forget that 'Lover of Destiny' is also one of the oaths? You heard what the former king said just now. Dragons hate humans very much, but if it is for the object of love, you can even give up your life." .”

"I don't want this kind of thing!"

"Whispering, how long are you going to talk about these women! That's the way of life of the King of Eudemons!"

If you change your position in Yake, you will definitely not be able to accept it immediately.Although he knew this very well, Thomas couldn't help roaring out in a hurry.

He knew it was just venting his anger, but the young man yelled back. "There is no need to kill Ulan anymore! The previous Phantom Beast King died for him. Killing the two Dragon Kings will destroy the balance again!"

"Then can you leave the crazy Dragon King alone! Ulan will kill many more people than the victims of the chaos! Do you think that guy would want this to happen?"

"How many dragons have been sacrificed, this time it's human's turn to die--"

Thomas once again slapped the young man in the face who had said these words. "You are human, don't forget. You are also one of the human beings who survived the sacrifice of the Phantom Beast King."

"Even so, I won't be able to live with this kind of sacrifice in the future!"

"...Yes, that's right, I am... No, so are the holy kings who made the oath. I never think that this is good. However, there is nothing else to save more lives with the least sacrifice. The method. The one who can make such a decision is the real king... Well, this is what I should do from the beginning."

Yakenjal has changed.In the past, he was not close to people and had deep friendship with people, but now he laughs often and takes active actions.And it's not pure politeness, but a natural expression of gentleness that cares for others from the heart.He will express these original qualities because he has trust in the world.

The serious injury in his heart is the source of his fear, just like his mother who abused him when he was young, the world just hurts him all the time, even if he desperately offers love like a sacrifice, he will never get love--

He has had too many painful experiences, and the pain is beyond words.

It is Ulan Pok who tells him that the world is not just full of malice, but can give him warmth and love.Time and time again, just kept whispering "I love you", guarding his side.

This world, which has finally opened its heart, is now sacrificing Ulan Pok's life. There is no more cruel betrayal than this.Even if he couldn't kill Ulan Pok, Thomas wouldn't blame him.Thomas stretched out his hand, trying to pick up the "Oath Spear" thrown by Yake.

There was a sharp sound accompanied by sparks, and there was a sharp pain in his left hand.

"...So that's the case, only I can do it."

He pressed his numb wrist and said.At this time a part of the ceiling was broken, and stones kept falling on the floor of the hall.

Those fragments also flew towards him.Although it is not big, but the acceleration of the fall is enough to hurt people.If I blow it once or twice, it will probably open a hole that can pass through the whole body of the dragon.

Thomas made up his mind to draw out his sword. A two-handed sword can also be held in one hand for a short time.

"--Yak, pick up the gun. If you can't throw that at him anyway, it's up to me. But in order to produce a gun I can use I have to kill you."

The sword pointed at the young man trembled like his heart.

"...You and Ulan are my friends no matter which one is. Although the work is not easy, there is no happier than this time. We are the strongest team. But... it has become like this, it is not as good as It’s good to be torn apart alive...I think so from the bottom of my heart. Is it because our fate is too bad...or is it an inevitable fate."

Yakenjel silently picked up the gun.I understand Doma's painful feelings very well, and even if he is really torn apart alive, he will complete the task because he has already made an appointment with Ulan Pok.

Now I fully understand the feeling that the Sorcerer King has turned into a demon wishing for the world to be destroyed.If you kill someone you love with your own hands, then everyone will feel that death is better than death.But he can't go crazy and can't die, he can only curse the world and wander, he is another self.

"I'm sorry, compared to you who everyone loves, you did the cruelest thing..."

Thinking of what the queen who fell in love with Dandarion had said, Arkenjell smiled darkly.That's right, is there anything crueler than this in this world?

"As the inheritor of the blood of the Holy King--"

Holding the "Oath Spear" and taking a few steps to run up, the young man threw the spear at the crazy dragon.Then, he looked up at the spear that was attracted by the coat of arms on the dragon's forehead and flew out straight through the darkness, and shouted with the loudest voice:

"--Declaration destroys all the vows made between the Holy King and the Phantom Beast King at this moment!"

The bursting flashes turned the hall into a pure white world without shadows.The dragon whose eyes were injured by the strong light roared in pain and anger, and Thomas quickly covered his eyes with his forearm and whispered.

"...Used this trick, that bastard!"

Seeing how determined his command was when he defeated the former king, Thomas thought, with this young man's mind, he must be an extremely hateful enemy to fight against.From this point of view, he is worthy of being the grandson of the demon king who won the decisive battle and ruled the entire land of the mainland and established a unified kingdom.

Yake, whose vision returned to normal after the glare disappeared, looked up at the dragon who was still trapped by the afterimage of the light and was shaking his head.On the forehead, there is neither a luminous coat of arms nor a spear of oath.

Yakenjell showed a supremely happy smile.If the gun took Ulan's life, he would immediately follow him.However, he and he are both free, and have nothing to do with the world, the oath, or anything else.

"The world will only torture me cruelly, and has never been gentle. Even what I have worked so hard for is easily taken away. I hate that kind of world, and I hate humans too!..."

Tears overflowed from his upturned eyes.

"Only you, just, love me, love me without asking for anything in return."

"I love you"--

When he said these words to himself, the old wounds engraved in his heart disappeared one by one.Sad, painful, miserable things.Just thinking about it makes me sad, but I can't forget it, it's like swallowing poison.

"I love you"--

His words made the poison gnawing at Yakenjel's heart magically disappear.

"...I love you, Ulan Pok. I love you more than the world, more than human beings, and more than my life. It doesn't matter if the world without you is destroyed, because it is worthless to me. Even if it is crazy, Even if it's a dragon, it doesn't matter. I love you. I love you more than anything..."

He whispered the last words that contained all the thoughts.

Even if he was killed by a mad dragon, he didn't have any regrets.

However, the dragon did not move at all.

"Arkenzel, that word is the strongest spell that can bind me."

The boy's calm bass sounded in his mind.

"Ulan Pok...!"

The dragon who returned to normal due to the flash of light when he broke the oath narrowed his dark eyes like the winter night sky and smiled.

"Even though the oath has been broken, I still love Yakenjel. He is also a man, young, and he is a dragon. Yakenjel may feel very unwilling, but this is also fate, give up."

The young man was half crying and half laughing.

"If you say that, then I'm also a man, I'm old, and I'm still human. But since you knew from the beginning that you were still chasing me, don't complain in the future."

The proud dragon that never bows to the king hangs its long neck in front of the young man:

"As long as I'm alive, I'll love Arkenjell, and I'm here to renew my vows."

A human being whose fate was changed because of his strong yearning, the world returned his beloved dragon to him.

Because the ancient battlefield that distorted the nearby "Qi" has also regained its balance, the lake breeze blowing on the Inawash White Lake is refreshing and pleasant.The wind blew the long hair of the young man standing on the roof of the palace jutting out of the lake.The oath is gone, but the sacrifice of the former king has restored the balance of qi in the yin and yang realms.Although he is already sane, it is still very dangerous for Ulan Boke to stay in Yang Realm like this.

Archenziel also climbed onto the roof to watch the boy who was going back to the underworld from the roof of the palace.

"Sorry to bother you two farewells."

The snickering Thomas and others were waiting on the boat.

The young man took the sword from his belt and handed it to the young man.

"This is for you. It is useless to me in the underworld, but it can contribute to the protection of Yakenjell. Moreover, it is a part of me. If Yakenjell encounters any danger, I will immediately I will know, and I will definitely come to help you.”

"Thank you, this is the real 'Sword of the Oath'."

Ulan Boke put his hands around the body of the young man who had received the sword, hugged him and said: "I live in a different world from Yakenjer, and I cannot live with you. This is helpless. However, if there is I will definitely come to help you, so-"

"so?"

"Don't shut yourself in a small room where only your mother lives. As long as Yacanjar wishes, there are countless doors in front of you. Beyond the door, someone who cherishes Yakanzel is waiting. Even if there is no Find that love is still there. Don't force yourself, slowly, open that little door. When something painful happens, I will definitely rush there."

Yakanjel hugged the boy's body tightly.

"I believe in you. Therefore, I am not afraid of anything. As long as I have the most important thing, I will never be unhappy again. Even if I am not around, I still love you."

The two engraved each other's warmth in their hearts and left.

The young man smiled faintly, nodded slightly, turned around and ran out.He used the stone railing on the roof of the palace as a platform and jumped into the air.His figure disappeared, and after a while, there was the feeling of something huge rising up.

The youth couldn't help approaching there.In front of his eyes, a pitch-black dragon appeared.

"...!"

The black armor that reflects the sun has a metallic luster.Like the one-piece armor worn by knights, except for the parts that are always moving, the whole body is armor.

It has a gracefully stretched head, huge wings spread sideways, a streamlined body, and a long tail.It is not so much the forehead as it is near the back of the head, with two long horns growing backwards.In the pitch-black body color, only the horns are golden yellow.

Heterogeneous, gigantic, and overwhelming presence of the Phantasmal Beast King--

When it appeared in the lobby, it was almost invisible because it melted into the surrounding darkness.

gorgeous.A dragon is a creature that combines metal weapons and armor, horses and birds, and is a beautiful existence of divinity.

Yakenjal watched silently.The black dragon looked at him face to face, and finally said:

"I love you"

The dragon flying with the power of wind spirit soared into the sky.Hovering above the head of the young man looking up at him covering the sun with one hand, and then ascending to a higher space.

The black figure could no longer be seen from between his fingers, but the young man still stood there, letting the wind blow.After finally putting his hand down, he smiled happily.Then, he turned around and walked towards the place where his companion was waiting for him.

15 years later --

As a saint who caused a purification miracle in the ancient battlefield, the young man holding the legendary "Sword of Oath" received strong support from the Four Gods Sect and won the final victory in the chaos.

Counting from the era of the holy king who launched the world's second-largest magic, he established a unified kingdom for the fourth time. Because he was a holy knight in the past, he is revered as the holy warrior king.