We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Burning Highlands
Things took an unexpected turn. It’s true that I asked Zan for advice about my movements, but I never imagined he would offer to train me.
I’m still forbidden from sparring with dragon people, so this was completely unexpected.
But this is a good opportunity.
I readily accepted Zan’s offer and got into a stance with my weapons. At that moment, Zan disappeared.
He was in my guard in an instant and threw a punch. However, I calmly dodged and retaliated with a kick.
“Hoh, your reaction to a surprise attack is good. But that was a weak kick.”
I had my weapons ready, but I hadn’t expected to be so close so quickly. I was completely caught off guard, but perhaps it was the result of my training with the magic beasts; my body reacted instinctively.
If it were me from a little while ago, I would have panicked and been defeated in one blow.
However, my counter-kick was easily blocked by Zan’s arm.
Still, I moved with the flow of my evasion, and it was still my first strike in setting up for the Dragon Sword Dance. I swung the swords in both hands as if dancing, launching a series of attacks at Zan.
But Zan easily distanced himself from me and let out his usual grin.
“Why would I need to fight on your terms?”
“Eh!?”
Weren’t you going to spar with me?
Zan shrugged at me, who was dumbfounded.
“A battle is about how you dominate the situation within your own domain. It’s foolish to constantly adapt to the opponent’s preferred moves.”
Indeed!
“Your Dragon Sword Dance’s strength lies in its continuous attacks and rapid succession of blows from flowing movements in close combat. So, I just need to avoid getting close.”
Exactly!
But then, what was the meaning of you saying you’d spar with me?
Sensing my confusion, Zan assumed a stance again.
“You said you wanted to practice how to deal with situations when you can’t dance. In that case, first learn how to deal with an opponent who is not within your reach.”
With that, Zan punched out with a burst of ki.
Flames erupted from Zan’s fist like a raging fire, bearing down on me.
While dodging, I advanced to close the distance with Zan. But for every step I took forward, Zan retreated.
In this wide plain, Zan had countless places to retreat. And Zan’s movements were overwhelmingly faster.
With a frontal assault, I couldn’t even get close, let alone enter his range.
I used dragon arts to spectacularly detonate the incoming flames. For a moment, the scattering flames filled my vision. In that instant, I used Spatial Jump to appear behind Zan.
However, just as I felt the jump complete and tried to swing my sword with all my might, Zan wasn’t in front of me.
“Your next move is too predictable.”
Zan was standing where I had been moments before. The two of us had simply switched places.
“I know your moves. Use your head a little more.”
Mmmph. Right. My movements are too honest. If I don’t confuse the opponent more, I won’t be able to do anything against a seasoned fighter like Zan.
Zan’s long-range attacks. I dodged the flying flames, searching for a way.
I tried firing dragon arts myself, and feigning Spatial Jump. I tested various moves that came to mind, but Zan read them all and blocked them.
The intense long-range battle unfolded on the plains, and the deer and boars had already fled.
And sometimes, the earth dolls that would suddenly spring from the ground were instantly incinerated by Zan’s flames.
Even while dealing with me, Zan had the余裕 to eliminate the earth dolls.
There wasn’t a discernible difference in our Dragon Power. In fact, I should have been superior, possessing the Dragon Jewel. While Zan was certainly faster than me, I wasn’t completely unable to keep up. Yet, I was outmatched, and Zan had the余裕. It might be due to the difference in combat training and experience.
“I’m getting a little bored.”
Grrr, what a rude remark. To me, who couldn’t land a single blow, that was a merciless statement.
Zan leaped far backward. I kicked off the ground powerfully, trying not to let the distance widen.
But immediately after. Zan, who should have jumped backward, approached me with terrifying speed.
Damn it, it’s a trap!
My body was off the ground from kicking off, and I couldn’t react properly. Zan closed in and struck me.
I narrowly defended with my arm, but a dull, heavy impact traveled from my arm to my torso, and I was sent flying.
I rolled across the ground a couple of times. As my momentum weakened, I quickly got up and confirmed Zan’s position.
Then, Zan fired flames at me from a distance again.
I evaded, and then Zan approached me again. This time, he was ready with no openings and swung his sword.
Zan blocked my sword strike with his right gauntlet and then punched with his left fist. I twisted my body to dodge and, using the momentum from the twist, swung my sword again.
However, Zan was no longer there.
While unleashing flames, he took advantage of my opening for a hit-and-run attack. From a long distance, he toyed with me again.
I was tossed about by Zan’s tactics.
This was a tactic I could have employed myself. While firing dragon arts, I could have watched for an opening and used Spatial Jump to close in instantaneously when my opponent was off balance.
But this was just mimicking Zan’s tactics. Even if I tried to do it by eye, Zan could read everything.
While referencing Zan’s fighting style, I need to find my own tactics!
Now on the defensive, I searched for a way to break the stalemate and experimented. But nothing worked.
I realized how painful it was to be unable to fight within my own domain. If this were a real battle, I would have been killed without being able to do anything. Thinking that, a bad sweat broke out all over my body.
“Shall we rest for a bit?”
Sensing I was at a dead end, Zan lowered his fist.
Zan’s breathing was undisturbed. In contrast, I was completely exhausted, both physically and mentally.
I released the tension and Zan walked towards me.
“You are by no means weak. You just lack experience.”
Was I making a tragic face? Zan gave a wry smile and ruffled my head.
It wasn’t as pleasant as the women’s touches, but the gentleness was certainly conveyed.
“Intervals are important, aren’t they?”
Zan reacted to my murmured words.
“You are wasting your abundant Dragon Power.”
“Mmmph, what do you mean?”
I tilted my head.
“You are the Dragon King, and you possess the Dragon Jewel inherited from Lord Jiludo within your body, correct?”
I nodded.
“Originally, you should have a level of Dragon Power that I can’t even compare to. Yet, your combat is too plain.”
“Plain?”
“Yes. Whether it’s your ranged dragon arts or your physical ability enhancements, it’s all too plain.”
I had never considered flashiness or plainness. I had always chosen and used the techniques that were usable and effective at the moment, but I had never thought about other factors.
In the first place, is special flashiness necessary in a battle? Of course, powerful techniques look flashier than weaker ones, but there’s no performance art involved. It’s simply flashiness that results from the outcome, like a big explosion or a giant pillar of fire.
When I voiced my question, he told me it wasn’t like that.
“You only use your power on what’s in front of you. That’s why your movements are so easily read.”
“You mean I should use techniques and arts, even if they’re wasteful, to deceive the opponent?”
“That’s part of it… You’ve learned various arts from Lord Jiludo, haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
I’ve learned a variety of things, from physical abilities to barrier arts and ranged attacks.
“But dragon arts, in their essence, can be combined infinitely through one’s ability and imagination. For example, like your Spatial Jump.”
He said that dragon lances and physical ability enhancements are the most famous and commonly learned due to their effective results. But beyond that. In battle, one must develop and refine their own suitable techniques, Zan explained.
My Spatial Jump. Zan’s flames. Both are unique dragon arts in themselves. It seems I need to develop more unique techniques that suit me.
“Flashiness, well, you could say it’s about having a variety of unique arts. Unfamiliar arts have unknown effects, and they appear flashy to the opponent.”
“I see.”
So that’s what Zan wanted to say? Use more unique arts and confuse the opponent. Seize the battlefield with techniques that suit you.
There’s nothing wrong with being plain, but to advance further, I need to try things that are different from before.
“From what I’ve seen, your weaknesses are the scarcity of unique dragon arts and the poor application of existing ones. If you can resolve these, you will become stronger than anyone else. An opponent whose attacks don’t work? An opponent outside your range? With your immense Dragon Power, you can handle anything.”
One of the requirements for the true value of the Dragon Sword Dance is dragon arts. To master this means developing and skillfully using unique arts that suit one’s own fighting style.
The forms of the Dragon Sword Dance have remained unchanged since ancient times. It is said that the founder learned them from the Kensei and passed them down intact. But the users are varied. There have likely been people of all sizes, from petite individuals like me to those blessed with large physiques, and their preferred tactics also differ, whether they emphasize strength or speed. Within that, to make the Dragon Sword Dance one’s own while respecting its basic forms, developing unique techniques suitable for one’s own tactics is indispensable.
Alright, I’m fired up!
I made a fist, filled with fighting spirit. And I asked Zan for another match.
“No!”
“Huh!?”
My fighting spirit went nowhere when he flatly refused.
“I’ve given you my advice. Now you figure out the rest yourself.”
Saying that, Zan started to leave without waiting for my reply.
“W-wait a minute!”
I hurried after him.
I want to continue practicing, but it’s lonely to do it alone. If I’m going to do it alone, I’d rather do it at the Moss Garden than out here on the plains!
Still, I don’t know if Zan is kind or cold. But he did put up with me this far, so I’m grateful.
As I walked behind Zan, thanking him, he bopped me on the head.
“From now on, consult Mistral, not me.”
“But it’s embarrassing to ask a girl about fighting.”
“Fool. Being weaker than a woman is more embarrassing.”
“Mmmph. If you say that, then all dragon people are weaker than the Dragon Princess, so they’re all embarrassing.”
“You shouldn’t say that.”
Zan smirked, lifting only one corner of his mouth.
It doesn’t take much thought, but Mistral is the strongest among the dragon people. She’s the Dragon Princess because she’s stronger than the Dragon King.
Ah, but being strong doesn’t necessarily make you the Dragon King, does it? Even with ability, if you lack the right qualifications, you won’t be recognized as a Dragon King.
I wonder if there are any dragon people stronger than Mistral.
When I asked Zan, he replied briefly, “No.”
I see, so Mistral really is the strongest.
My goal is to surpass Mistral and become someone she can rely on. If that’s the case, I’ll be the strongest, surpassing all dragon people.
“Why are you grinning like that? It’s creepy.”
Zan, who had turned around, bopped me again.
That’s harsh, you don’t have to hit me. Ignoring me as I puffed out my cheeks in protest, Zan walked away.
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