"Since that's the case, then I have one condition."
(7)
As he spoke, he turned toward Shane.
"Didn't you say the old man taught you for a few days? If I die, you have to take care of him in his old age and see him off properly."
Take care of a dwarf in his old age?
Take care of the Dwarven Warrior King, whose average lifespan was over four hundred years, in his old age?
Shane wondered if he'd eaten so strange mushrooms for breakfast.
Or maybe Stark had eaten them instead.
"I think... Mr. Eisen will probably live for a very, very long ti."
"Do you agree or not?"
Stark insisted stubbornly.
Looking at the serious expression on the stubborn little brat's face, Shane could only sigh helplessly.
"Fine, fine..."
"And if I fail to kill the dragon, you all still have to kill it. You can't let it keep threatening the village."
"Didn't you say there was only one condition?"
"Do you agree or not?"
"Fine, fine..."
Before long, the group arrived at the canyon beside the village.
This was the lair of the [Solar Dragon].
On the first day they arrived at the village, Frieren and Fern had already co to investigate the dragon nesting here. Its scales possessed strong resistance to magic, its flight speed was extrely fast, its claws were razor-sharp, and it could spew blazing dragon breath from its mouth.
It was a very powerful monster indeed.
If the three of them worked together, killing it instantly probably wouldn't be a problem.
But if Stark fought alone, he'd likely have to struggle for a while...
"He's gone down."
"He's entered the dragon's attack range."
The three of them stood high above the canyon, watching from afar.
Fern was visibly nervous.
Shane knew this was her first ti seeing a dragon, and also her first ti witnessing a battle between an adventurer and a dragon.
"Don't be scared. Stark will be fine."
Shane comforted her softly.
Fern frowned, her eyes fixed tightly on the valley below.
"I'm just worried he'll go overboard and destroy the dragon's nest."
"?"
"There's a grimoire inside the nest. Lady Frieren has been coveting it for a long ti. If it gets destroyed, she'll definitely cry."
Shane: "..."
As they spoke, Stark stepped directly in front of the [Solar Dragon].
The giant dragon exhaled scorching breaths through its nostrils. Its massive golden slit pupils locked tightly onto the young warrior before it. Its claws dug into the ground, back arched in vigilance.
Stark took a deep breath.
The fearful, complaining expression from before had vanished completely from his face.
'Big brother always believed in . Master too... that's nice.'
With that thought, he flipped his wrist, dragging the massive axe behind him as he charged toward the dragon, launching the first attack.
The battle had begun!
The dragon gathered flaming breath within its throat and fired toward Stark's charging path, trying to stop him from approaching.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One massive fireball after another smashed into the ground, spraying debris everywhere.
Under the bombardnt, the earth itself split apart.
But Stark didn't retreat. The years of training and guidance from his master finally revealed their true worth at this mont.
He ran across the uneven, shattered ground, sliding beneath flying debris while never slowing down, accelerating forward instead.
[When facing gigantic enemies, the key to victory is closing the distance in a single charge.]
His master's teachings echoed clearly in his ears.
And he carried them out without the slightest hesitation.
Seeing its fire breath fail to stop him, the dragon slamd its claws into the earth, kicking up an enormous cloud of dust mixed with shattered stones, blanketing everything nearby.
Stark slightly raised his arm to shield himself from the incoming rocks, his speed unchanged as he continued forward.
Finally, the young warrior broke through everything blocking his path.
And arrived before the dragon.
He pushed off with all his strength, leaping into the air. The battle axe in his hands gathered overwhelming montum as he swung down toward the dragon.
A mory flashed through his mind.
Back then, standing atop the mountain beside his master, watching the sunrise together.
[Stark, you'll beco an incredible warrior soday.]
Boom!
The battle axe shattered the dragon's raised claw.
Using the impact of the strike as a foothold, Stark flipped upward and rushed straight toward the dragon's head.
The distance was too close.
The dragon instantly fell into a disadvantageous position.
The mont Stark landed atop its head, the Solar Dragon let out a furious roar and spread its wings, soaring into the sky in an attempt to throw off the terrifying opponent clinging to it.
Stark jamd his axe into one of the dragon's horns and held on with all his strength.
Man and dragon entered the most primal kind of struggle.
Because its horn was being restrained, the Solar Dragon could no longer control its movents properly and slamd directly into the nearby canyon walls.
The earth trembled violently.
Even the three spectators could barely keep their footing.
Then, taking advantage of one violent shake of the dragon's head, Stark released the horn and allowed himself to be flung higher into the air. Raising his battle axe with both hands, a sharp red light flashed through his eyes.
[Lightning Strike]
This was the final technique his master had taught him.
The greatest combat technique his master had forged through an entire lifeti of battle.
Boom!
Stark transford into a straight beam of light, piercing through everything as he crashed toward the earth...
Shane watched the scene before him.
A feeling of indescribable envy welled up inside him.
This was the pinnacle that soone born with a warrior's talent could achieve.
The kind of exhilarating combat every man dread of.
"Eisen, you don't need to worry anymore. Your disciple is incredible."
Beside him, Frieren softly spoke.
She truly felt happy for Eisen.
————
When the dust finally settled...
Frieren grabbed Shane by the collar, and the three of them slowly descended into the canyon.
The dragon's corpse was gradually dissipating.
Stark stood there in place, chest heaving violently, though his expression remained sowhat blank.
Frieren walked over and patted his back.
"That was amazing, Stark. You exceeded expectations. Truly impressive."
Shane also patted his shoulder.
"Welco to the party."
Even Fern, who'd argued with him yesterday, gave him an approving smile.
Then Frieren imdiately grinned mischievously and ran toward the dragon's nest nearby.
"Treasure, here I co!"
Honestly, those stories about dragon lairs being treasure troves weren't exaggerations.
They were realistic.
Inside the enormous nest made of piled-up branches were mountains of equipnt, armor, and all kinds of colorful ores and miscellaneous junk.
The dense sea of [Attributes] nearly made Shane dizzy.
Frieren threw herself onto the treasure pile, smiling like a thousand-year-old child.
Even Fern couldn't resist picking up a slightly damaged staff to inspect it. Its design was very unusual. Back in its pri, it had definitely been high-grade equipnt.
Standing beside Shane, Stark gradually cald down from the lingering excitent of battle.
Looking at Frieren enthusiastically rummaging through the treasure, he asked,
"They're just piles of scrap tal. Why is she so obsessed with this stuff?"
Shane smiled.
"Isn't that a good thing? It makes the journey less boring."
Hearing that, Stark paused.
"Master once said that, for various reasons, their adventure had been long and boring. But every ti he talked about those boring stories, his eyes would light up..."
"But he's old now. He can't even swing his axe properly anymore. From now on, there won't be any new stories waiting for him."
Shane looked toward Stark.
The young warrior's expression carried a trace of sadness, his gaze seeming to pierce through the present and look toward soone far away.
"Stark, co experience new adventures with us."
"Soday, when you return to Bredt again, you'll be able to happily tell Mr. Eisen all about them. I think that'll make him really happy."
Hearing Shane's words, Stark opened his mouth slightly.
A mont later, he quietly responded,
"...Yeah."
Right at that mont, Frieren's puzzled voice echoed from inside the dragon's nest.
"Shane, co take a look at this. What is it?"
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