The owner of the first gate was a Drake.
A dragon that cannot fly.
Thus it can’t use dragon breath and magic, but it’s a monster that attacks fiercely with its large wings and tail.
“The six tails are the main weapon. If you get hit by the tail, you’ll faint at the least, and if you’re unlucky, you’ll die instantly. Be careful.”
The group of warriors, led by Karan, stood about a meter away from Elise and Leber.
At first, Karan wanted to keep Elise and Leber at a distance when dealing with the owner of the gate.
However, since monsters could suddenly jump out from behind, they inevitably moved together.
Karan glanced back at Elise. Seeing her nervously swallowing repeatedly, Karan decided to wrap things up quickly.
“You have to protect your own body.”
Karan, who gave a command or advice, turned the corner.
A space as large as the largest circular stadium on the continent appeared. It’s a stadium that can accommodate tens of thousands of people.
Even though it’s a closed space where no wind can enter, it felt like the wind was blowing fiercely.
In the middle of the gale, the Drake, who had curled up in a hemispherical shape, was sitting squarely.
It immediately noticed the arrival of the uninvited guests. The Drake slapped the floor lightly. Then the floor vibrated and a pile of stones fell from the ceiling.
-Intruders.
The Drake, being a high-intelligence monster, spoke in human language.
“We’re not intruders, but messengers.”
Karan kicked off the ground. His body shot up into the air, even though he had no wings and didn’t use any flying magic.
-Foolish humans who bring about their own death.
The Drake, speaking in a tone that suggested it was hardly worried, spread its large wings. A gust of wind blew.
“Ah!”
Despite firmly planting his feet on the ground, his body was pushed back and slammed into the floor.
-Annoying creatures!
While the Drake was shaking his tail and scattering his focus, Karan climbed onto the Drake’s head.
He felt scales as hard as steel. This is why they say you need hundreds of steel swords to fight an adult Drake. But even the Drake has weaknesses.
[It’s under the chin, Karan. The Drake’s heart is hidden under the chin. It’s the only soft spot on the Drake’s body.]
Karan, recalling the Drake’s weakness that Elise had told him about, slid down under the Drake’s neck.
-This little bug!
The Drake’s struggle intensified as he realized that Karan was aiming for his weak spot.
The Drake, who had gotten up, swung its arm. Its tail continuously slammed the ground. The ground began to crack and split everywhere.
“Your Highness, be careful!”
Karan, who had momentarily lost his balance, slipped. Elise shouted sharply.
“Your Highness!”
Haltbin stepped on the Drake’s foot and knee one after the other and climbed up to catch Karan.
But Karan had already regained his balance after sticking his sword between the Drake’s scales.
The Drake’s pain-filled scream echoed through the space. The loud sound was very aggressive.
Karan, unable to cover his ears and grimacing, drew the dagger from his waist.
“Haltbin! Try to draw the Drake’s attention!”
“Understood!”
Haltbin let go of the Drake he was holding onto and threw his body backward. His body drew a graceful semicircle as he landed on the ground.
“Everyone, cling to its toes!”
Haltbin issued a battle command. Those who gave up aiming for vital points or inflicting fatal wounds poked between the Drake’s toes, tormenting it.
-Come at me head-on! Fair and square!
What’s fair and square when there’s a weight difference!
Karan chuckled and quickly approached under the Drake’s chin.
The moment he was close enough to reach out with his sword, the Drake’s short front paw cut through the air.
The Drake, whose front paw was short and had a narrow range of motion, had very long claws. If they even grazed him, his skin would be torn to shreds.
Karan let go of the dagger handle he was holding. He kicked off the Drake’s body and jumped into the air. Karan landed on the Drake’s short front paw.
The Drake shook his front paw to shake Karan off. His front paw barely grazed under his own chin. Karan didn’t miss that moment and raised his sword.
Whoosh.
The feeling of flesh being split by a sword was vividly transmitted to his palm.
-Ah, ah, just a mere human!
The Drake wildly swung his front paw. The cracks in the floor grew larger.
“Hold your balance!”
Karan, looking at the people floundering around, shouted.
‘Where is Elise?’
He quickly assessed the situation below. Fortunately, she was leaning against a wall far away from the Drake.
As soon as he confirmed that Elise was safe, Karan drove his sword deeper.
-It can’t, ugh, it can’t be like this. I’ve waited a hundred years, it can’t…
The Drake gasped. The flapping wings fell down. The sound of the tail thumping the ground slowed down.
Drake’s body fluid flowed down the sword. Its body fluid was slightly acidic.
So if coming into contact with a large amount of body fluid, the skin would melt.
Fortunately, the Drake’s body fluid that was flowing steadily disappeared before it touched Karan.
It was the magic power that Elise had specially applied to Karan’s sword.
‘Was it because of this.’
The fact that she had put a special magic on his sword. Karan couldn’t even guess how far Elise was looking ahead.
-Don’t think it’s over here, intruder. The great Ragnaros will never fall.
With those words, the heavy body tilted down. Karan pulled out his sword with all his might and landed on the ground.
Boom!
Following the loud noise, thick dust rose like smoke.
“Your Highness! Are you safe?”
People, including Haltbin, rushed over.
“You guys?”
Karan was fine. He had minor injuries, but compared to the injuries he had suffered so far, it was like a scratch on a baby’s fingernail.
“We’re fine too. Joseph did faint after getting hit by the tail.”
Haltbin turned his head. At the end of his sight, Joseph was sprawled out. Leber was treating him.
“He has a broken arm. Looking at the not protruding bone, he should be able to wield a sword.”
For a warrior, whether they can continue to live on the battlefield or not is very important.
As long as the bone is put back in place, Joseph can also go into battle in the future. It meant there was no need to worry.
Karan nodded his head. Karan checked the fallen Drake for the last time.
“Is it over like this?”
Haltbin couldn’t believe it.
Until now, the gate was an object of fear for them. They had been told from a young age that there would be a great sacrifice for conquest.
But only six people conquered the gate without anyone being fatally injured.
Moreover, it belonged to the easiest category of battles that Haltbin had fought.
It was so easy that it ended, it was almost empty.
“So, it’s over.”
Karan, who was sure that the Drake’s breath was completely cut off, turned his body.
Now all he has to do is go home with Elise. Karan was happier than the fact that he caught the Drake and conquered the gate.
“Your Highness…”
Elise straightened from leaning on the wall. She smiled and slowly approached Karan.
Her smile was as warm as the spring sun and as rich as the autumn wind.
But suddenly her face hardened. A chilly winter wind began to swirl around Elise, who had stopped walking.
“That, that, Your Highness?”
Elise stuttered, looking behind Karan. Karan, who felt a chill, turned around.
Black smoke was rising from under the Drake’s chin.
“That, what is that?”
Leber, who had just finished treatment, trembled in fear at the sight of the black smoke.
The black smoke that had risen like a whirlwind began to form a shape.
The smoke mass, which had been stretching, attaching, and breaking, eventually turned into a jelly-like substance and completed its shape.
It was Ragnaros, with three necks, two pairs of wings, and an anchor-shaped tail.
“Ra…Ragnaros…”
Elise muttered.
“Ragnaros already appeared?”
Karan asked. Karan and Haltbin immediately drew their swords.
Leber hid Joseph behind him. Von put strength into his shaking legs.
“No, that’s not Ragnaros.”
Elise answered.
“Then what is it? Elise, do you know what that is? Have you seen it before?”
Elise shook her head. She had called it Ragnaros because it looked exactly like the picture she had seen in the past, but it was also her first time seeing that creature.
-Regressor… it’s you…
It has no eyes and no mouth. That thing, which only had a huge shape, opened its mouth.
“What are you saying?”
Karan moved his foot swiftly and prepared to attack.
-You’ve caught the beast.
One of the three heads was facing Karan. Then two heads stretched out towards Elise.
-Regressor, do not interfere with my work.
“Is it, is it Ragnaros?”
-Time flows and what is to happen will happen.
“Get that filthy head away from Elise.”
Karan, who had quickly blocked Elise’s front, swung his sword. Ragnaros’s neck and head were separated.
Haltbin’s eyes widened.
“Did you kill Ragnaros?”
No way. Karan looked down at his palm that felt nothing and raised his head.
Ragnaros’s head was still attached.
-The lineage of the traitor. Filthy beast… It’s not worth keeping alive.
Karan’s eyebrows twitched greatly.
Ragnaros’s head rushed towards Karan. Karan, who was trying to dodge, stopped moving. Elise was behind him.
“Your Highness, dodge!”
Elise shouted, but he didn’t flinch.
That’s when it happened. A big shock was felt from behind him. Due to his carelessness, Karan’s body bent forward.
Karan stepped forward to regain his balance and turned his head.
“…! Elise…!”
Elise’s body and Ragnaros’s head collided.
At that moment, Ragnaros’s head turned into a jelly-like substance and flowed down, wrapping around Elise.
“Miss Elise!”
Haltbin’s shout shook the gate.
-Foolish… you, regressor… never interfere with what I am trying to do again.
A gloomy voice rang in Elise’s ears. Then Ragnaros’s figure turned into smoke again.
Elise’s vision began to blur. She saw Karan through her eyelids.
She couldn’t hear what he was saying at all.
‘Karan…’
Elise reached out to him. But in the end, she couldn’t grasp him and Elise’s body fell to the ground.
Her consciousness was the same.
