Chapter 94

The "Huge Fire Dragon" lay sprawled in the crater of the volcano, feeling the approach of Yugan.

A terrifyingly agile swordsman.

According to the report from the "Flying Dragon" who had been on reconnaissance, this was the characteristic of the approaching enemy.

The "Huge Fire Dragon" glanced around at the subordinates sleeping around it.

There were about a hundred "Fire Dragons," who would awaken instantly at the "Huge Fire Dragon's" call and come to its aid.

Still, would that be enough preparation against an enemy with godlike agility?

If the "Fire Dragons" formed a wall of flesh and covered the ground, it might be possible to defend against Yugan's agility, but it would be impossible to avoid taking damage.

The "Huge Fire Dragon" pondered for a while, then dipped a dull, glowing gemstone called the "Dragon Core," along with wolf bones and dragon scales, in its own blood and submerged them in the magma.

After a while, a monster with dragon scales and a wolf's fangs, along with supple limbs, crawled out of the magma.

This marked the birth of a new species of dragon specialized in agility.

Racing through the barren wasteland, Yugan finally reached the area where the "Huge Fire Dragon" resided, a vast expanse of gray ground. He felt his sixth sense warning him of danger.

(Not good.)

This was the intuition that only someone who had survived countless battles could possess.

His intuition told him that the enemy waiting ahead was not just the "Huge Fire Dragon."

A new threat awaited.

(If I go now, I'll definitely be killed!)

Moreover, the enemies were not just the "Huge Fire Dragon" and its subordinates.

Even if he managed to escape from them, Yugan would still have to race through the barren wasteland alone and face the thieves beyond the "Metal Line."

It was hard to imagine that he could survive such tough battles, especially after fighting the "Huge Fire Dragon."

With this in mind, Yugan turned around and fled back the way he came.

The "Huge Fire Dragon" sensed the approaching threat retreating.

It seemed to have narrowly detected its movements.

The "Huge Fire Dragon" tilted its head, wondering why it was detected, but decided to release the new species of dragon it had just created to pursue Yugan.

The monster, equipped with a wolf's legs and dragon scales, climbed the steep crater in an instant and chased after Yugan.

At the mining site, the deputy of the "Crescent Knight" was being questioned by the local adventurers.

They had noticed that Yugan was not present.

"Hey, what's going on? Explain yourself."

"Why isn't Yugan here?"

"Please calm down. Yugan will be back soon. He hasn't gone far."

"Then tell us where he is."

"That... I can't say..."

"Why can't you say? That's strange."

"Surely, he didn't run away alone, did he?"

"This isn't a joke. Without Yugan, this alliance is just a mob. How are we going back?"

"Please calm down. We guarantee your safety."

The deputy sighed as he tried to calm the local adventurers.

(Really. They're useless but full of demands. And Yugan, going ahead alone in this situation...)

The deputy's concerns were not just about the local guild's unrest.

The young members of the "Crescent Knight" were also frustrated by the local adventurers' attitude and could not hide their growing anger, with some openly cursing.

A conflict was inevitable.

The deputy glanced towards the mountain top.

It had been five days since Yugan left for the mountain top.

If everything went smoothly, he should have encountered the "Huge Fire Dragon" by now, but there was no sign of a clash between an S-class monster and an S-class adventurer.

(What's going on, Yugan? Surely, he hasn't been defeated?)

As the deputy worried, a black shadow accompanied by swirling sand approached from above at high speed.

It was Yugan.

"Yugan! Thank goodness. You're safe."

The deputy's relief was short-lived as his face tensed.

Yugan was drenched in sweat and out of breath, looking like he had just escaped from a life-threatening situation.

"Sorry. I kept you waiting."

"No, but are you okay? You don't look well."

"I'm fine. But we need to leave here immediately."

"Huh?"

"The "Huge Fire Dragon's" subordinate is chasing us."

(The "Huge Fire Dragon's" subordinate? There's another strong enemy besides the "Huge Fire Dragon" and its "Fire Dragons"?)

"Probably an A-class monster. It will be tough to fight while also battling the thieves."

(That was a mistake. Trying to take down the "Huge Fire Dragon" alone. It's not an opponent that can be defeated solo.)

"The preparations for departure are ready."

"Good. Then let's hurry."

The alliance, now joined by Yugan, hastily packed their belongings and started descending the mountain.

The thieves immediately launched an attack.

The battle unfolded similarly to the previous one.

First, the "Fire Dragons" attacked, and the "Crescent Knight" responded.

From the opposite side, the thieves' archers fired arrows, and the local guild defended.

One of the local adventurers blocked the arrows with his shield.

(Heh. No matter how many arrows they shoot, they can't hurt me from this distance. With my shield up, Yugan will take care of the rest. Easy work. Huh?)

As he peeked through the shield, he saw a magical light flash between the archers.

A fireball immediately flew towards him, piercing his shield and shattering his armor.

"Ugh, aaaaah!"

The warrior was severely damaged and writhed on the ground.

His minerals scattered around.

"What was that just now!?"

"Impossible! The 'Dragon Head Gauntlet'!?"

"Nice shot."

Zain, the attack mage wearing the "Dragon Head Gauntlet," smiled at the sight of his fireball hitting the enemy warrior.

"How does it feel?"

Jamil asked.

"Feels good. Raul did a great job."

"The power is impressive."

Jamil said, looking at the writhing warrior.

Zain's "Dragon Head Gauntlet" might not have the power to one-shot a "Fire Dragon" like Sain's, but it was sufficient to pierce the shields and armor of C-class warriors and deal significant damage.

"Good. Let's take them down one by one."

"Got it!"

The "Dragon Head Gauntlet" fired again, blowing away another warrior's shield.

Panic spread among the alliance.

"Ah!"

"This isn't a joke."

"The 'Dragon Head Gauntlet'? We didn't hear about this."

They visibly became flustered.

"Move! I'll go."

Yugan broke through the ranks of the local adventurers.

(I'll take down that 'Dragon Head Gauntlet' user!)

The thieves reacted quickly.

"Yugan's coming."

"Concentrate your attacks."

Arrows rained down on Yugan, who deflected them with his sword as he charged forward.

Jamil sensed a slight offness in Yugan's movements.

(Slightly, but he's consuming agility?)

"Zain, try hitting Yugan."

"Huh? My job is to take out the shield bearers, right?"

"I want to test something."

"Interesting. Sure, here goes."

A fireball mixed with the rain of arrows was fired at Yugan.

"Haah!"

Yugan cleaved the fireball in two with his magic sword Granir.

"Damn. He cut through the explosion magic."

"The power of the magic sword is still intact. No choice. We'll retreat for now."

Jamil and Zain turned and fled from the battlefield.

"Not a chance."

Yugan pursued them with all his might, but the disarmed thieves blocked his path.

"Yugan, we surrender."

"Take us as prisoners."

"Get out of my way!"

Yugan kicked the surrendering thieves away, but the attack mage with the "Dragon Head Gauntlet" had already disappeared from the battlefield.

(An agile attack mage. Damn, this is troublesome.)

Yugan felt his legs becoming heavy as he stopped.

(Damn. The burden of running up and down the mountain at full speed is finally catching up.)

"It seems we've lost them."

Zain confirmed the situation and spoke to Jamil.

"Yeah, the 'prisoner takers' did their job well."

"But, isn't Yugan slower than last time?"

"Seems he's slightly consumed his agility."

(I wondered what he was doing for five days, but it looks like he had some trouble. However, if that's the case... Hehe. Maybe I can take down the double S-class Yugan with my own hands.)

The "Fire Dragons" attacked the alliance again as they descended the mountain.

This time, they came from the left.

(From the left! ...So the thieves are on the right!)

Yugan jumped over the ranks and ran to the right before the thieves could fire their arrows.

He identified a high position suitable for shooting and, as expected, saw the enemy appear there.

(They keep repeating the same attack like a broken record. I won't take it again!)

However, what flew at him this time were not arrows but countless iron spikes.

(What's this?)

They were about the size of acorns, with spikes extending in four directions, forming a tetrahedron.

Yugan tried swinging his sword, and the iron spikes were easily blown away by the sword pressure, falling to the ground.

"Hah. Do they think they can hurt me with this?"

Yugan continued forward without concern, but the thieves kept spreading the iron spikes around.

(What are they doing? They should know that these won't hurt me. And they're throwing them in all directions. What are they...? Ow!)

Yugan stopped, feeling a sharp pain in his foot.

Looking down, he saw an iron spike embedded in his foot, blood flowing.

(Could this be... caltrops!?)

By the time he realized, the area was already covered with caltrops.

"Damn!"

Yugan tried to blow away the caltrops with sword pressure, but it was ineffective.

(Damn. They're trying to seal my agility. But... if that's the case, the enemy can't attack me either, right?)

Contrary to Yugan's prediction, the thieves walked calmly over the caltrops and approached him.

(What? How can they walk on this bed of spikes? Impossible!)

The thieves were wearing thick, black-soled boots that nullified the damage from the caltrops. They were equipped with "Iron Boots," which allowed them to advance without taking damage.

The thieves, with their bows drawn, descended the valley and positioned themselves at close range.

Jamil, from a high vantage point, smiled.

"Hehe. Now he's like a rat in a bag. Fire arrows and explosion magic from all directions!"

Arrows were shot at Yugan from close range.

"Damn."

Yugan tried to move to avoid them, but new caltrops pierced his feet.

"Ow!"

The pain in his feet increased, and his agility was being drained.

(Damn. My agility is being drained...)

Reluctantly, Yugan deflected the incoming arrows and fireballs with his sword.

The thieves were surprised.

"What? He's still blocking?"

"Calm down. Shoot from closer range. His sword can't reach us anyway."

The thieves moved closer to shoot from even closer range.

But they were now within Yugan's reach.

As Yugan swung his sword, the thieves' bows were destroyed without even touching the blade.

The magic sword Granir could deliver slashes to enemies several meters away.

The thieves quickly retreated.

"Back off. Don't get close to him."

"Damn. Even with his agility sealed, we can't take him down?"

Jamil cursed.

"Hey, this is bad. If we keep this up..."

"I know."

While dealing with Yugan, the "Crescent Knights" were finishing their battle with the "Fire Dragons" on the other side.

If they continued, they would receive reinforcements.

"Can't be helped. Give up on Yugan and target the ones cowering behind. Deploy the warriors."

Warriors equipped with "White Wolf" armor, long spears, and "Iron Boots" passed by Yugan and the archers and headed towards the local adventurers.

Yugan could only grit his teeth as he watched the enemy warriors pass by.

With his agility sealed, turning his back on the enemy archers to rush to his allies' aid was too dangerous, even for an S-class swordsman.

(We can't keep defending like this.)

Yugan, aware that his agility would be further drained, charged into the enemy archers, stepping on the caltrops.

Soon, both sides were engaged in a fierce battle, causing significant casualties on both sides.

Blood and broken equipment flew, and screams and roars filled the air in a gruesome scene.

The alliance and the "White Wolf" fought for hours, inflicting considerable damage on each other, but they held back at the last moment to avoid total annihilation.

Afterward, both sides, protecting their wounded, marched down the mountain without the energy to harass each other, carefully watching each other's movements.

Eventually, they returned to the city.