Chapter 78

Leon stood and compared the fallen 'Fire Dragon' on the ground with Hans and the others.

(What a guild, 'Arrow of the Pegasus.' They defeated a B-class monster, the 'Fire Dragon,' so easily... From the number of people, it should be a small guild like ours. Is this the result of Roland's training?)

"Are you okay? That person looks like they have serious injuries..."

Clair said, looking at Jeff.

"It would be better to cast a healing spell or return to the city for treatment."

Alice said while examining Jeff's wounds.

"Hey! More importantly!"

Cecil interrupted the conversation.

"Elio is still fighting the 'Fire Dragon' alone!"

Even before Cecil finished speaking, the loud roar of the 'Fire Dragon' echoed from the distance.

"Hmm. There's still a Fire Dragon. Alice, Clair, let's go. We need to help the man in blue armor."

Elio stood facing the 'Fire Dragon,' shield in hand.

(Damn. I want to rush to Leon and the others...)

The 'Fire Dragon' circled in the sky but didn't let Elio out of its sight, attacking with its 'Fire Breath.'

Elio couldn't turn his back and run, so he remained in a standoff, unable to move.

(The coating on my armor is starting to wear off, isn't it?)

Elio had been feeling the weakening reflective function of his armor.

This meant that the durability of his shield and armor was nearing its limit.

At that moment, three red arrows pierced the 'Fire Dragon.'

(What!?)

Elio looked in the direction the arrows came from and saw a man and two women with bows.

The 'Fire Dragon' found a new target and shifted its attack from Elio to Hans and the others.

(Are those red arrows... Could it be them?)

"Hmm. We couldn't take it down with one hit."

"This Fire Dragon seems to be a level higher than the one we faced earlier."

"Then we need to deal more damage. Let's go."

Alice ran to flank the 'Fire Dragon.'

The 'Fire Dragon' tried to burn her with its 'Fire Breath,' but it couldn't catch her.

(So fast! Against a flying 'Fire Dragon,' they are agile and superior. Who are these three...?)

Alice not only dodged the 'Fire Breath' but also prepared to shoot another arrow.

(Skill 'Rapid Fire'!)

Alice's arrows pierced the 'Fire Dragon.'

"Roar!"

The 'Fire Dragon' glared at Alice.

It should have also paid attention to the other two, but it couldn't take its eyes off her because she kept dodging and shooting arrows.

(Alice's skill 'Rapid Fire.' The power is halved, but she can shoot arrows with half the usual preparation time. Her agility is outstanding among us, so she can draw the enemy's attention. She's perfect as a decoy to gather hate. Now...)

Thanks to Alice gathering the 'Fire Dragon's' hate, Hans could move unnoticed to its blind spot.

(Now, I just need to finish it with a regular 'Bow Shot.')

Hans shot an arrow, but the 'Fire Dragon' noticed and dodged at the last moment.

(Hmm. I missed.)

The 'Fire Dragon' turned its long neck and aimed its mouth at Hans.

"Fire Breath is coming! Run!"

Elio shouted in alarm.

However, Hans, in his shooting stance, couldn't move quickly.

The 'Fire Breath' attacked Hans.

At that moment, the red gem embedded in Hans' bow and arrow glowed.

It absorbed the 'Fire Breath.'

(That's... a 'Fire Absorbing Ore'!?)

"Alright, I've set the stage. The rest is up to you, sisters."

Clair loaded three arrows into her bow.

(Skill 'Multi-Shot'!)

The 'Fire Dragon,' still spewing 'Fire Breath,' couldn't react to Clair's shots.

All three of Clair's arrows hit the 'Fire Dragon.'

Alice followed up with 'Rapid Fire.'

However, the 'Fire Dragon' was still alive.

It charged at Hans.

"Beautiful form, Fire Dragon. But this is the end!"

Hans loaded an arrow into his bow, and the 'Fire Absorbing Ore' reacted.

It was Hans' skill 'Magic Shot,' different from a regular shot.

A red arrow, enveloped in fire breath, hit the 'Fire Dragon's' forehead.

The 'Fire Dragon,' shot with its own fire breath, fell to the ground.

Elio watched their battle in amazement.

(These three defeated the 'Fire Dragon' so easily. What agility, anti-air firepower, and coordination!)

"Phew. We managed to take it down."

"Hans, are you hurt?"

Clair asked worriedly.

"No, I'm fine. The 'Fire Absorbing Ore' absorbed the fire well. But what about him... Hmm?"

"What's wrong?"

"I sense people in the bushes."

Hans focused his eyes on the bushes.

A group of sword-wielding thieves approached.

"That's the 'White Wolves'!?"

Alice said, her face tensing.

"Looks like we'll have to fight in close combat."

Hans's face also hardened.

(Our tactic is hit-and-run. Roland's order is to run if it looks like a close combat. But Elio and the others can't escape the thieves with their agility. What should we do? Abandon Elio and the others? No, but after helping them once, it would be uncool to leave them behind.)

While Hans was having this not-so-cool internal conflict, the 'White Wolves' sword-wielding thieves approached from the shadows.

Elio suddenly rushed out.

"Elio!?"

"Leave the ground battle to me!"

Elio charged into the group of approaching sword-wielding thieves, using the reflective effect of his blue shield and armor to break their weapons.

The 'White Wolves' sword-wielding thieves were quickly defeated.

"Wow, that guy. He drove away several thieves by himself."

"Amazing defense."

Alice and Clair said, impressed.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Hans ran to Elio and offered his hand.

"Your defense was incredible. Nice fight."

"No, you guys are amazing. Defeating a 'Fire Dragon'... But still..."

Elio looked at Hans and the others' equipment.

They only had the minimum necessary equipment besides their anti-air weapons.

Could they survive in the dungeon with such equipment?

"We use hit-and-run tactics and immediately run away from anything other than aerial combat."

Hans explained, noticing Elio's gaze.

"So we can only hunt flying monsters. But combining your ground combat skills with our abilities... It could be interesting."

Hans said with a friendly smile.

"Y-Yeah. Um, who are you guys exactly..."

"Elio! Are you okay?"

"Are you hurt?"

Leon, supporting Cecil and Jeff, approached from the bushes.

"Leader, everyone, are you alright?"

"Yeah, you look fine too."

"Leader, who are these people?"

"Ah, they just happened to pass by. They helped us because they're affiliated with the same 'Spirit Factory.'"

"Huh? 'Spirit Factory'?"

"Ah, yes. Let's put the details aside for now. Shouldn't we return to the city? The archer is seriously injured, right?"

"Oh, right."

"Wait, what's this shaking?"

Clair said, puzzled.

Indeed, the seven of them had been feeling a weak vibration for a while.

The shaking wasn't the only thing.

Birds were flying out of the trees, and the 'Fire Dragon' and other dragons were making loud noises.

It was as if a natural disaster was about to occur.

Meanwhile, the 'Giant Fire Dragon,' having defeated the great alliance, was now angry at the adventurers who had disturbed its comfortable sleep.

It jumped and stomped near the volcano's crater, continuously stimulating the volcano.

As it did so, magma began to rise from the crater, and eventually, the volcano erupted.

The overflowing magma flowed down the mountain, melting rocks and forming new deposits.

The dungeon's terrain changed, and the lava crossed the forest around the volcano, reaching the city.

The 'Giant Fire Dragon,' satisfied with the disaster it had caused, went back to sleep.