After defeating the Disaster Dragoon, we took a break and headed to the night island. There, we hunted two Moonlight Dragoons and one Stardust Dragoon. On our return trip to the guardian’s island, on the Rain Island, we hunted two Spark Dragoons. While crossing a bridge, we were attacked by one Aqua Dragoon. We then hunted three Thunder Dragoons on the Thunder Island, located south of the guardian’s island, where thunder roared and lightning flashed. With that, our exploration for the day concluded.
Our campsite was therefore in a safe area on the Thunder Island, though normally we wouldn’t set up camp in such a place.
Our beast carriage was designed with soundproofing in mind, so the thunder didn’t bother us.
The next day, we proceeded to the Cave Island, which was characterized by sheer cliffs and entirely subterranean passages. Similar to the Night Island, it was shrouded in darkness, and though parts were covered in ice, the aurora spread across the sky. This island continued from the Thunder Island. We then moved to another island, the Aurora Island (the name of which I just decided on). There, we hunted two Dark Dragoons, three Cave Dragoons, four Ice Dragoons, and three Aurora Dragoons.
Upon returning to the guardian’s island, we were attacked by a Gust Dragoon, but we successfully hunted that one as well.
After returning to the guardian’s island, we set up camp in a safe area and decided to challenge the guardian the next morning after making our preparations.
“Wow! This is my spear!”
Thanks to Ed’s hard work, Athena’s spear was also completed. It looked like a cross spear, but apart from the dragon motif on the tip, it was an ordinary spear. Athena, who had evolved into a Hydragonian, urgently needed a weapon made of Lapis Laz, but I hadn’t rushed its completion, assuming that a quickly made weapon would only be shoddy.
“It’s true that Athena won’t be able to get close to the guardian. But that’s beside the point. We can’t have her using Prim’s prototype forever.”
That’s what Ed said, and it’s certainly true. Until yesterday, Athena had been using Prim’s prototype Jade Silver halberd. Since it was made of Jade Silver, it was suitable for High Class adventurers, but its design was the same as Prim’s Scarlet Wing. As the name suggests, it was a halberd, so it felt different to Athena, who was used to a pure spear. Furthermore, even as a prototype, it was made for Prim, so its overall balance was adjusted to suit her, making it even more difficult for the petite Athena to use.
This is just a side note, but among the women, Eos is the tallest at 175 cm, the same as me. Prim is next at 170 cm. The others are as follows:
Mana: 163 cm
Yuri: 146 cm
Rika: 166 cm
Meena: 158 cm
Flam: 162 cm
Lydia: 165 cm
Ludia: 165 cm
Athena: 153 cm
Ed: 160 cm
Marina: 148 cm
Fiana: 158 cm
Raus: 156 cm
Rebecca: 147 cm
Carol: 156 cm
Marisa: 167 cm
Viola: 161 cm
Yuria: 148 cm
Apricot: 164 cm
Yuri, Raus, Rebecca, Carol, and Yuria are still in their growth spurts, so they’ll likely get taller. Ed, being a Fairy Half-Dwarf, is taller than a regular Dwarf, but considering the Fairy lineage, he’s quite tall. Conversely, Marina, a Fairy Half-Dragonewt, is on the shorter side for a Dragonewt.
This is also just a bit of trivia, but regarding bust size: Prim (95) > Eos (92) > Apricot (90) = Mana (90) > Athena (87) > Flam (85) > Meena (83) > Ludia (82) > Rika (80) > Yuri (77) > Lydia (75). Besides my wife and fiancées, Apricot and Eos are people I’ve had many opportunities to see directly and know their measurements, but for the others, I certainly don’t.
“Athena, what are you going to name that spear?”
“Hmm, I was thinking of calling it the Dragon Spear.”
It’s literally a dragon spear, and considering the tip, it’s a fitting name.
“Athena, since you can’t really fight in practice, I’ll spar with you.”
“Thank you, Prim.”
Yes, it would be incredibly reckless for the Dragon Spear’s first real combat to be against the guardian Gold Dragoon. Even a simple spar, if Prim can handle that role, it’s a great help to me.
“So, the assault will be after Athena’s spar is finished?”
“That will be the case. Though, the main fighters will be Yamato and Prim, and we’ll probably just provide support with magic.”
“That’s the only way.”
The Gold Dragoon is an A-Rank monster. It bears the name of gold, which is both a color and a mineral, and it’s an extremely troublesome monster that uses all types of magic. It can fly, of course, and it can run at considerable speed on the ground. Its scales, let alone its hide, are incredibly tough. Whether its breath weapon uses one attribute at a time or is an all-attribute breath is unknown, making it difficult to deploy A-Rank Tech beforehand. We plan to use the layered barrier of Niflheim and Vanaheim, but since we won’t know until we fight, I intend to keep other techniques ready for immediate activation.
“After all, the moment we enter, you and Prim are going to go all out and decide the fight, aren’t you?”
“Of course. If we drag it out, who knows what might happen.”
Ed opened his mouth with a look of exasperation, but neither Prim nor I intend to prolong the battle unnecessarily. Therefore, we plan to use Wing Burst and Extreme Flame Wing at full power to settle the fight in one go. However, since I’ve only developed Ice Edge Javelin as an offensive Unique Magic, I feel at a disadvantage in terms of offensive power compared to Prim, who has developed Flare Penetrator, Flare Needle, and the yet-to-be-completed Flare Tornado. I do have some ideas, and trying them out might be an option.
Side: Prim
After Athena finished checking the feel of the Dragon Spear, and Yamato donned the Arc Order’s Coat, we charged into the guardian’s chamber. Of course, before entering, Yamato didn’t forget to activate Wing Burst, and I activated Extreme Flame Wing. We’ve heard that if we wait until we’re inside, we might get taken down before we can even cast spells. The others are riding in the beast carriage pulled by Spica and Breeze. While there are combat-oriented beast vehicles, our beast carriage is ordinary, so the High Class members will disembark from the carriage specifically for this fight.
“Graaaaaaaargh!”
As we entered the guardian’s chamber, the Gold Dragoon was waiting, roaring. It didn’t immediately unleash a breath attack, but everyone except Yamato and me was intimidated by the roar. Support magic would be impossible like this.
“Hmph, you think I’ll let you?!”
The Gold Dragoon then fired ice and stone spears. However, Yamato shattered them with light emitted from Vanaheim, a Light Engraving Magic.
“It’s still a distance away, and yet they keep coming!”
Without pause, it then sent a wind blade imbued with lightning towards us, but I countered it with my Flare Needle. It’s only just entered the guardian’s chamber, and it’s already launching such fierce attacks.
“Here’s a taste of my own!”
As a retort, Yamato froze the Gold Dragoon with Niflheim and then unleashed Ice Edge Javelin. Since the opponent possessed all attributes, even Niflheim melted quickly. However, for that brief moment, its movements were completely stopped, and the Gold Dragoon took the full impact of Ice Edge Javelin without being able to react.
“Tch! As expected, when the target is large, the effect is diminished!”
However, that Ice Edge Javelin didn’t have as much effect as I thought. Yamato mentioned that against large opponents, not only is Blood Shaking less effective, but even Mist Solution, one of his trump cards, has reduced efficacy. Still, this is bothersome. But it hasn’t had *no* effect, and Ice Edge Javelin is embedded everywhere, so let’s finish this quickly! I wrapped myself in Flare Penetrator and accelerated towards the Gold Dragoon.
“Gurrrrrr!”
It’s tough, as expected. I never thought it wouldn’t penetrate. The Flare Penetrator was lodged in its chest, but unfortunately, it didn’t pierce its body. However, the tip was completely embedded, and while its scales and hide are tough, its insides aren’t necessarily the same. Undeterred, I fired Flare Needles relentlessly.
“Shielding!”
The Gold Dragoon swung its arm down towards me, but Yamato deflected it with the Knight Magic Shielding. Furthermore, by slashing at that arm with my Azure Silver Sword – Pale Green, he inflicted a significant wound, rendering that arm unusable.
“Ho!”
Taking advantage of the opening, I pulled out my Scarlet Wing and used Accelerating Magic to create distance. Then, I unleashed Flare Tornado, a Unique Magic which, though incomplete, involves swirling extreme flames and firing Flare Needles from a suspended Flare Sphere. The Gold Dragoon was continuously attacked from all directions by extreme flame needles within a tornado of extreme flames, but it remained on the ground instead of being swept upwards as it normally would be. That’s impressive, I suppose.
“This will be the end!”
Yamato, regenerating Multi Edge, activated what was under development: the Genderless S-Rank Non-Elemental Engraving Magic, Ice Mist Explosion.
Yamato’s Ice Mist Explosion targeted not only the wounds from my Flare Penetrator but also the wounds from Ice Edge Javelin. Small ice particles created a mist that completely froze the wounds, and in the next moment, they exploded from within, tearing the Gold Dragoon apart. Even the Gold Dragoon couldn’t withstand this.
“Grrr…”
With a final, weak roar, the Gold Dragoon slowly fell.
