TOP 65

Chapter 65

Dragon, Human, Dwarf

Overwhelming.

There was no other way to describe the sight.

“Insane.”

The existence of a dragon… was extraordinary?

I had expected as much, naturally.

Even judging by the powers I possessed, it wasn’t difficult to deduce.

But still…

“In an instant, tens of thousands disappeared.”

I hadn’t anticipated it would be to this degree.

It was a massacre.

No, could you even call it a massacre?

Just as humans don’t call dusting a massacre, humans were like that to dragons.

In an instant, with the simplest action, everything could be wiped away.

A being as insignificant as dust.

So this wasn’t a massacre.

It was merely cleaning.

“G-Goodness…”

All the remaining humans had lost their will to fight.

Even among them, only a small number had been fighting the dwarves at the castle walls.

“….”

“….”

The dwarves had lost their fighting spirit as well.

They had endured for a long time and even won battles, yet they could not cheer.

Within sight, there was only one being moving normally.

Only the dragon.

The dragon with its deep blue body.

It flapped its wings and descended to the ground.

Guuuuuuuh!

The heavy vibrations reverberated through the ground.

And then…

“…!?”

Its gaze met mine.

Bright yellow eyes.

Pupils elongated vertically, like a reptile’s.

Those eyes, larger than my own body, stared directly at me.

[Interesting creature.]

It even spoke.

My heart raced violently.

Tension.
Anxiety.
Impatience.
Helplessness.
Expectation.

All of it swirled together.

I waited quietly for the dragon’s mouth to open.

[What is your name?]

“…Eugene.”

[I am Dragon Lord Tenauges.]

“…!”

I was shocked.

Not only because it was my first time encountering a dragon, but also because the name sounded familiar.

‘I knew it…’

Tenauges.

The upgraded status window I was currently using was called the “Tenauges System.”

Additionally, whenever I sought out a dragon’s power, the dungeon name was always “Tenauges’ Arrangement.”

In other words, the being who had helped me grow the most was the dragon right in front of me.

Tenauges slowly asked me a question.

[I will ask. Are you human?]

“I am…”

The question felt strangely familiar.

‘Damn it. I have to think about this again.’

It was obvious what they were asking.

Whether I was human or dragon.

I had faced similar questions when I first met Frill, and when I confronted the Mithril Golem.

Looking back, it seemed like a necessary step to acquire a dragon’s power.

‘In both cases, the answer was the same.’

I was a dragon.

I could say it and prove it with my “One Punch” ability.

This time, the correct answer would likely be the same: dragon.

But…

“…just by saying it?”

Would simply claiming to be a dragon be enough?

Did I need to show “One Punch”?

But then again, maybe Tenauges had come to me and spoken because it sensed I had powers.

I struggled at this crossroads.

But I couldn’t waste too much time.

I had to decide.

‘For now, just claim it.’

“I am a dra—”

Ding!

[Ability: Dragon’s Eye of Truth detected.]
[Dragon’s Eye of Truth is the ability to see through lies.]
[Caution!]

“…Human.”

I almost got caught.

If it could distinguish truth from lies, falsehoods were useless.

Better to tell the truth and see how the situation unfolds.

[A human with a dragon’s power… curious.]

Tenauges slightly raised the corner of its mouth, seemingly amused.

Was it because I had tried to lie?

Its subtly exposed fangs looked terrifying.

‘Good thing the Tenauges System noticed this.’

It was highly likely that the dragon in front of me had created the Tenauges System.

Therefore…

‘I thought it might malfunction or favor the opponent, but…’

That possibility had drastically decreased.

Fortunately.

[You possess the power of Breath.]

“One Punch” was originally “Breath.”

‘Didn’t it trigger something and transform for human use?’

I recalled something like that.

[And this… what is this ability?]

‘Could it be that the Tenauges System hasn’t analyzed this?’

I currently possessed two dragon abilities:

“One Punch” and “Tenauges System.”

‘Then why don’t they know? Oh, wait…’

This was a “Fragment of History.”

Meaning, a point in the past.

It made sense if the “Tenauges System” didn’t exist yet.

And…

[It’s clearly of dragon origin, yet I don’t know it.]

Tenauges muttered.

It was chilling.

‘This… doesn’t feel like a friendly laugh and joke kind of moment.’

[Confess everything truthfully.]

Thump.

An incomprehensible force settled on me.

Heart pounding.

An immense sense of intimidation.

As if naturally, I had to follow their words.

[Dragon’s Word ability detected.]
[A force that shakes the laws themselves!]
[Caution!]

[How a human possesses our powers.]

It felt as though my inner self was completely visible.

[And what these powers are.]

No matter what I tried, I could not escape the gaze or control of this being.

A feeling of complete overwhelm.

“…No.”

I rejected the sensation.

No matter how overwhelming the being, I refused to submit.

It felt as though submitting would be like giving up revenge on Gaia and joining the cult.

Until I ended my revenge with my own hands and will, no one could control my heart.

I resisted.

“I-I cannot… say…”

[A human resisting Dragon’s Word… Today I am surprised multiple times.]

“Ugh…!”

The pressure intensified.

Yet the more it pressed, the clearer my resolve became.

‘I will not submit!’

Ignoring the instinctive fear.

At first, it felt questionable.

Something felt deeply wrong, instinctively.

But I recognized the path I had to take.

The path of revenge.

The clearer that path became, the stronger my will to resist.

My eyes burned with determination.

[Amazing.]

Honestly, I had a backup.

‘The trial is over.’

To hold off human forces for six hours?

Success.

Currently, the trial ranking was being processed.

So this was essentially a bonus stage.

No need to fear a mere bonus stage.

[No need to speak. I will find out myself.]

Dragon Lord Tenauges raised its massive foreleg.

Crackle—

A deep blue paw with imposing claws.

Lightning wrapped around it.

Crazy.

It came crashing toward me.

I need to block…!

At that moment.

“Absolute Shield.”

Boom!

A barrier appeared, blocking the massive claw.

What…?

Incredible defense.

To withstand a claw of such overwhelming mass, wrapped in lightning?

None of the magic I knew could compare.

Suddenly, an elderly human appeared by the castle wall.

A white-haired old man in a worn robe, leaning on a long staff.

He stood upright and spoke gently.

“Lord. Please, pause for a moment.”

[Metheus. What is this appearance? A human form instead of the proud dragon body.]

The old man called Metheus smiled kindly and replied:

“Ha ha. Are humans not intelligent beings as well?”

[Compared to us, they are still inferior.]

“If we do not respect the intelligent beings of the world, we too should have surrendered to the gods.”

[Unpleasant.]

Tenauges did not hide its emotion.

Everything around it trembled in accordance with that emotion.

Displeasure spread through the air and ground, reaching everywhere.

Especially toward me.

‘…Overwhelming, damn.’

The pressure I felt earlier was child’s play.

Dragons were truly formidable creatures.

Yet the old man remained fine.

Instead, he smiled warmly and tried to persuade Tenauges.

“Lord. Now, rather than that, allow me to speak of this human.”

[Does he know something? Well, with prophetic power, maybe he does.]

“Yes. This human is destined to become the savior of our dragon race in the future.”

Pfft.

Tenauges snorted.

It seemed like the most ridiculous thing it had ever heard.

Honestly, I thought the same.

‘What nonsense is this!?’

I’m supposed to be the savior of dragons?

I only wanted revenge on the Gaia cult.

[The funniest story in nearly five thousand years.]

“It is no joke.”

[Metheus.]

“Yes, Lord.”

After that, the two beings stared at each other for a long time.

As if engaging in a silent conversation.

After a long while.

[Good. I leave the handling of this place to you.]

“Thank you for trusting me.”

[You will pay the price.]

“I understand.”

And so.

Whoooosh—!

Tenauges spread its massive wings and departed the battlefield.

In the blink of an eye.

“…Phew.”

The suffocating pressure vanished.

“I-I survived!”

“W-We won, right?”

“Father!”

The dwarves, who had also been frozen in place, exhaled in relief.

“We won! We won!”

“Vulkano Viktora──!!”

“Vulkano Viktora──!!”

They cheered, finally reveling in their victory.

And then…

“What is your name?”

The old man, Metheus, approached me.

I couldn’t fully relax yet.

“…Eugene.”

“Your family name?”

“‘Kim.’”

“Speak truthfully.”

“…‘Do.’”

Unlike earlier with Tenauges, there was no message about using the Dragon’s Eye of Truth.

But I still told the truth.

It wasn’t that important, and Metheus had saved me.

Metheus, smiling kindly, asked:

“Is this place within a fragment of history?”

“…!”

“It seems so.”

“H-How…?”

“There’s no time to explain. Hmm. I see.”

He thought briefly and said:

“Come find me. Without fail.”

Suddenly, telling me to find him.

I couldn’t understand.

“Excuse me?”

Metheus existed in a “Fragment of History.”

A figure from the past.

And this was not Earth.

Judging by the presence of dwarves and dragons, it must be another world.

I couldn’t imagine how he and I connected.

“Have you never heard my name?”

“This is my first time seeing the elder.”

“Think carefully. There must be a connection.”

I didn’t know.

How could I know such a being?

“…Ah!”

“Remembered?”

“Impossible?”

“That impossibility is correct.”

At the onset of the great catastrophe with gates and monsters, prophets appeared on Earth.

El Gaia, founder of the Gaia cult.

Yang Muhui, who spread martial arts.

And…

‘Metheus, founder of the Magic Tower!’

The one who established the tower and the concept of magic.

‘That Metheus is this old man?’

My head spun.

Could it really connect like that?

Was it true?

“You’ll understand more when we meet. Ah, and if I in your time do not recognize you, show this.”

Metheus handed me an item.

Before I could even check it properly…

“There is truly no time now.”

“Excuse me?”

“Then we shall meet next time.”

He disappeared.

As if his first appearance hadn’t even registered, he vanished instantly.

“….”

I was confused.

I had merely come to find a dragon’s power, yet I had heard an unbelievable story.

Then.

Ding!

[Trial pass grading complete!]
[Final grade: S]
[Amazing achievement!]
[Trial rewards have been upgraded.]
[Reward is…]

The trial-end message appeared before me.

Many messages appeared.

Among them, one caught my attention.

[The trial will end in 1 minute.]

In 1 minute, the trial would end.

Meaning I would return to reality in 1 minute.

“Crazy.”

There was something I had to do inside.

I quickly scanned my surroundings.

Not far away, I spotted the Dwarf King embracing his son Keldric, enjoying the victory.

I hurried to him.

“Dwarf King!”

“Oh! Human warrior. Your performance was most impressive. My reward will surely be—”

“About that reward, I need it immediately!”

It wasn’t extortion.

I was just in a hurry.