The Royal Capital at Night was burning.
Houses were engulfed in flames everywhere, and terrified people fled screaming.
Striding through the chaos was Keter, one of the “Ten Dragons Divine Artifact Generals” and a Longsword User.
He unleashed fire magic upon houses, or with a single sweep of his Dragon God’s Sword, he cut down soldiers and Adventurers who tried to defend themselves, slowly advancing while building a mountain of human corpses.
This was shortly before Douglas and the others stepped into the dragon’s maw.
Keter, also the leader of the “Ten Dragons Divine Artifact Generals,” had come all the way to the Wentworth Kingdom, one of the human nations, to take lives.
The lives Keter took were absorbed into the Dragon God’s Sword he wielded, becoming a source of power to break the Dragon Queen’s Seal.
His objective was to gather sacrifices for the Queen’s complete revival.
However, as he proceeded, Keter soon found himself surrounded by a large number of soldiers.
On the Royal Capital’s main street, there were about fifty in front and about fifty behind.
Among them were several Knights clad in Plate Armor, mounted on warhorses.
One of the Knights shouted.
“Demon, how dare you! But your rampage ends here! Soldiers, attack as one!”
” ” “Oooooooh!” ”
Soldiers, clad in chainmail and wielding swords and spears, raised a war cry and attacked Keter.
But the young Dragon person remained unfazed, spitting out, “Hmph, pathetic.”
He first unleashed fire magic towards the rear.
The created fireball flew into the center of the approaching soldiers and exploded with a massive blast.
About ten of the strong soldiers were blown away together, and screams of agony filled the air.
Furthermore, he engaged the soldiers attacking from the front with his sword.
Dodging thrusting spears and descending swords one after another, Keter severed the neck of one soldier with every swing of his Dragon God’s Sword.
In less than thirty swings, a mountain of over thirty corpses was created.
During this time, even Keter had taken several hits, but his body, protected by a thick Fighting Spirit, did not suffer serious injuries, and his minor wounds were healed by his Healing Ability.
Seeing this, the soldiers hesitated.
Even soldiers who were prepared to risk their lives for their mission could not help but have second thoughts when they witnessed their comrades dying fruitlessly while achieving no significant results.
Keter, with healing light emanating from several wounds, directed calm, provocative words at the soldiers.
“What’s the matter, humans? This much is not enough to kill me.”
“Grk… Imp-impossible!? Damn you, demon! Move, I’m going!”
One exasperated Knight pushed the soldiers back and charged forward himself on his warhorse.
But even that was meaningless.
As the Knight on the warhorse crossed paths with Keter, the Dragon God’s Sword easily pierced the Knight’s armor, impaling his Heart.
Only the warhorse galloped past Keter and caused the soldiers on the other side to hastily make way.
The Knight, spitting blood, glared hatefully at Keter and uttered his dying words.
“Damn you, demon…! Die…!”
But faced with those words, Keter’s expression changed for the first time.
His Eyes filled with loathing, the young Dragon person roared.
“You are the demons, humans! I haven’t forgotten how many of your comrades you have brutally murdered!”
“Wh-what are you talking about…? *Gah*!”
As Keter withdrew his sword, the Knight collapsed to the Ground.
A red stain spread, and the dead Knight’s soul was absorbed into Keter’s Dragon God’s Sword.
One of the remaining Knights hastily called out.
“Damn it…! All troops, temporary Retreat! Let’s regroup!”
“Hmph. You think I’ll let you escape, fool?”
Keter pursued the retreating soldiers.
Just as one of the soldiers who lagged behind was about to become prey for the Dragon God’s Sword—
“Wait! I’ll take you on!”
—*CLANGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!*
Someone interceded, deflecting Keter’s descending Dragon God’s Sword at the last moment, saving the soldier about to be cut down.
The rescued soldier quickly fled the scene.
The one who saved the soldier was a young Swordsman.
A gleaming bronze Adventurer’s Guild Card shimmered on his Chest.
Keter frowned and asked the young man,
“…Who are you?”
The young man grinned and replied.
“Ha! If you don’t know who I am, you’re a nobody in this Royal Capital. My name is Luke! I wouldn’t be exaggerating to say I’m the super genius Swordsman who became a C Rank Adventurer in this country the fastest! Adela, Sheryl, cover me!”
“Yes, Lord Luke!”
“Understood, Luke!”
Responding to the Swordsman’s voice were two young female Adventurers, dressed as a Priest and a Mage.
They began to chant Magic Spells—
Upon seeing the three, Keter sighed.
“…What, jesters? Stay where you belong, jesters—Tentacle Bind.”
” “—Kyaaaaaaaah! T-tentacles again!?” ”
“Wh-what!? —*Gokko*!”
Keter’s magic bound the two female Adventurers with tentacles, while the young Swordsman was kicked by Keter and crashed into a nearby residence, losing consciousness.
Ignoring the Adventurers, Keter continued to stride through the Royal Capital as if he owned it.
There was no one to stop him—or so it seemed.
But then, five figures stood in his path.
Two of them were Beastmen, Monks.
One was a young man of the Wolf Fang Tribe, the other a young Woman of the Cat-ear Tribe.
On the neck of the Cat-ear female Monk was a silver Adventurer’s Guild Card indicating B Rank.
And on the neck of the young Wolf Fang Tribe man gleamed a gold Adventurer’s Guild Card, the mark of an A Rank Adventurer.
The Wolf Fang Tribe young man stood directly in front of the slaughterer Keter and clapped his fists together.
“Well, well. Come to the Royal Capital once in a while and stumble upon quite an interesting scene. Who the hell are you?”
Meanwhile, the Cat-ear female Monk next to him whispered to the Wolf Fang Tribe young man.
“…Darling, he’s dangerous, Nyan. My skin is tingling, Nyan.”
“Yeah, I know. And stop calling me Darling.”
“That’s not up for discussion, Nyan. Darling is Darling, Nyan—Ouch! Ouch!”
“Can we stop with the comedy act for a moment?!”
The female Monk’s ears were pulled by another female Adventurer, and she looked teary-eyed.
Seeing this, the remaining two Adventurers gave a wry smile.
Meanwhile, Keter, the Dragon person slaughterer, showed a flicker of caution.
“Adventurers, and those of considerable power. —Wolf Fang Tribe, I shall ask for your name.”
“Hey hey, didn’t your mom teach you to introduce yourself first when asking someone’s name?”
“Hmph. My name is Keter. Keter, the Longsword User of the ‘Ten Dragons Divine Artifact Generals’.”
“Is that so? I’m Gilram, a Wolf Fang Tribe Monk, as you can see. But I feel like I’ve heard of ‘Ten Dragons Divine Artifact Generals’ somewhere—but oh well. Titles aren’t necessary to clash fists. Let’s get started.”
“Very well. Warrior Gilram of the Wolf Fang Tribe, your life is not what I seek, but if you interfere with me, I will show no mercy. Come at me with your entire party.”
“Draw your weapon—!”
Gilram, the Wolf Fang Tribe Monk, kicked off the Ground.
With agile footwork and unpredictable movements, he moved towards the slaughterer with terrifying speed.
