We Live in Dragon’s Peak – Chapter 262

We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.

The Stolen Dragon King’s Sword

Suddenly, a man in black armor appeared.

The one we looked at with surprised eyes was Orta, the very person who plunged Dragon Peak into chaos.

The black armor covering Orta’s entire body was, upon closer inspection, beautifully tanned leather. Just looking at the joints that bent smoothly with Orta’s movements, it was evident it was the finest leather armor.

From his tall head to his toes, he was completely encased in black leather armor with no gaps. The only skin visible was his face.

His handsome, almost too-perfect face was contorted with hatred.

His eyes, reflecting nothing but hatred, shone sharply, glaring at Mistral and us as if to shoot us dead.

And in Orta’s hands, dominated by hatred and anger, he held a wide, double-edged golden greatsword in each hand.

The length of the blade was about Orta’s height, and just by looking at them, one could tell they were far too heavy to be wielded with one hand.

Orta held these twin greatswords as if dragging them on the ground.

No explanation is needed.

What Orta held was the Dragon King’s Sword.

In stark contrast to Orta’s malevolent presence, a divine aura emanated from the golden Dragon King’s Sword.

“Orta, please. Hand over those twin swords to us.”

It was a futile plea. Anyone could tell that only rejection would be the answer. But Mistral couldn’t help but say it.

Orta responded with silence, his face still contorted with hatred, without breaking his expression. Then, he shifted his cold, sharp gaze from Mistral to me.

“I know you. You interfered with me in early spring.”

Orta exuded a chilling killing intent.

If I let my guard down for even a moment, I felt like I would be killed by the mere killing intent.

“I remember you too, and I know you. But I won’t sympathize. I will stop your scheme.”

We only know Orta’s superficial side. Until I heard Mistral speak earlier, it was as if I didn’t know him at all, and I could never hope to understand the depths of someone who never opened his heart to anyone.

However, Orta’s situation is not something I can ignore.

Someday, perhaps, Mistral and I might have children. To teach those children the right path, I must stop Orta’s hatred here.

I readied my white sword and the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword. Orta snorted when he saw my stance.

“What do you know? No, you know nothing. Not about me, not about the Dragon Race, not even about Mistral.”

Orta laughed as if something was amusing.

“It is not for mere humans to interfere. Wait in the flatlands, trembling, for my fangs to reach you.”

“I cannot do that. I swore to walk the path with Mistral. Therefore, the Dragon Race’s problem is my problem!”

“Walk together? Kuku. So that’s how it is. Mistral, you are, after all, a dirty and foolish member of the Dragon Race. Will you deceive humans like Yoaf, toy with them, and discard them?”

“No, I…”

“You are not mistaken. In any case, you haven’t told this brat the truth about the Dragon Race, have you?”

What is the truth about the Dragon Race? I have a vague sense that Mistral is hiding something. Is that what it is?

“Well, it doesn’t matter. You will die here anyway. It’s a good omen to be able to hunt the heads of the Dragon Princess and the Dragon King first.”

The exchange was mere whim. The content didn’t matter. In the end, he intended to kill us all. The sharp glint in his eyes told of Orta’s intentions.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“Your words are just running in circles.”

“However, if a battle is unavoidable…”

“As Elnea’s wife, and as Mistral’s family, I will fight with all my might!”

The Twin Princesses, Ruiseine, and Laira also took their stances.

Mistral looked at us, weapons at the ready, and closed his eyes deeply once. Then, he drew his jet-black one-handed club.

“Orta, your way of thinking is wrong. We will stop you with all our might.”

“You will be the first rust on the Dragon King’s Sword. Show me your head before me!”

The conversation, which had not intertwined, came to an end, and a fierce battle began where blades clashed.

Orta effortlessly lifted the giant twin swords that seemed impossible to handle with one hand. Then, with a single swing.

A blade of dragon energy was unleashed from the sword.

“Haaah!”

Mistral instantly erected a powerful barrier around us, blocking Orta’s preemptive strike.

At that moment, I performed a Spatial Jump behind Orta.

Go all out from the start!

Even though I thought I had flown into his blind spot, Orta reacted quickly.

I deflected his side-swing with my white sword as he turned. While thrusting with my Spirit Tree Wooden Sword, I activated a Spirit Tree spell.

The vines that had wrapped around the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword whipped out like a whip, attempting to bind Orta.

Orta swung his other greatsword, trying to shake off the vines. But the vines instead entangled themselves around the greatsword.

Pulled by the vines, Orta’s movements faltered for a moment. I seized the opening to strike with my white sword.

Orta deflected it with his other greatsword, to which the vines were not attached.

Against Orta, who wielded his two Dragon King’s Swords with brute force, I countered with flowing movements focused on deflection.

There was no need to confront a strength-focused opponent like Orta, who was overwhelmingly superior in physique, with pure power head-on.

Orta’s unskilled techniques could not contend with the light movements of the Dragon Sword Dance.

I evaded Orta’s heavy blow by circling to the right and slid forward, thrusting my white sword. Orta narrowly evaded, but my consecutive sword strikes gave him no room to escape.

I disrupted his vision with countless scattered leaves created by a Spirit Tree spell, and deflected the great swords with my Spirit Tree Wooden Sword. Then, I thrust my white sword towards Orta’s chest.

A dull, hard sensation as I pierced something transmitted to my right hand.

The white sword sliced through the black leather armor and was absorbed into Orta’s chest.

“Damn it!”

But it was I who panicked.

The white sword I had thrust in was unmoving. I couldn’t budge it whether I tried to swing or pull it. Looking closely, the black leather armor I had pierced seemed like a living thing, clinging to the white sword and restricting its movement.

Orta grinned grotesquely.

Judging himself inferior in technique, Orta lured me in using his immortality.

With my right hand immobilized, and with confusion spreading through me, the twin Dragon King’s Swords approached from both sides.

I had no choice but to let go of my white sword and evade. Just as I made that decision, a shadow slid into Orta’s range.

Mistral slammed his jet-black one-handed club mercilessly into Orta’s torso. Orta’s chest caved in, and he was blown backward. As I was pulled along, the Twin Princesses grabbed me from behind. The white sword was pulled from Orta’s chest by the impact.

Despite his chest being caved in, Orta, who had been blown backward, regained his posture without falling. At that moment, an arrow of sorcery was fired at him.

Orta convulsed in pain.

The final blow came from Laira’s full-powered strike.

She charged forward, her Spirit Tree two-handed staff glowing yellow.

As Orta readied himself to block with the Dragon King’s Swords, she unleashed a dragon energy-infused blow from overhead.

The moment the crossed Dragon King’s Swords and the Spirit Tree two-handed staff met, a massive explosion occurred.

The blast raised dust, and the vibration shook the ground beneath our feet.

A part of the deep valley collapsed from the impact.

“Now, let’s escape while we can!”

“But…”

Laira hesitated at Mistral’s judgment.

I had been in danger for a moment, but I wasn’t falling behind. With everyone’s support, I could fight well.

The gazes of the women directed at Mistral said as much.

“Please, listen to me. Now that the Dragon King’s Sword has been stolen, we cannot defeat Orta without a plan!”

Mistral’s point was correct.

“Everyone, evade!”

At Ruiseine’s scream, which sounded like a shriek, everyone instantly leaped with all their might.

Immediately after.

A golden beam of light shot through the spot where we had been standing.

It instantly dispelled the rising dust, turned the houses scattered along the cliff into charcoal, gouged the ground deeply, and the beam stretched far ahead. Then, it struck the opposite side of the winding valley and caused a large explosion with a roar.

We, who had narrowly escaped, were speechless.

That attack was like Yugra’s light breath.

“The Dragon King’s Sword holds the power of the Dragon Race. The current Orta can endlessly use the dragon arts of his dragon form, contained within the Dragon Jewel. So please, focus on retreating now.”

Seeing Mistral’s desperate voice and expression, we decided to retreat. However, Orta would not allow it.

That attack was a thrust; Orta glared at us in a posture with the Dragon King’s Sword pointed forward. Then, he grinned an insolent grin.

It’s no good. If he can repeat that breath of light, let alone retreat, we’ll be in real trouble. I have to buy time!

I have Spatial Jump. I can move faster than everyone else. If necessary, I can escape deep into the valley with consecutive jumps.

“Everyone, hurry to Revalia’s location!”

Saying only that, I charged at Orta without confirming their consent.

I unleashed a full-power Dragon Lance and, at that moment, closed the distance with a Spatial Jump. I circled behind Orta and unleashed a series of spinning slashes from a low stance.

Orta reacted quickly, turning to deflect the slashes. Then, a moment later, the Dragon Lance I had fired first approached Orta.

Orta ignored the Dragon Lance and swung his twin greatswords with brute force to counter my Dragon Sword Dance.

I was convinced the Dragon Lance would hit Orta’s back. However, just before it could hit directly, it was blocked by something that suddenly grew from Orta’s back and exploded.

Having blocked the Dragon Lance, Orta went on the offensive. We managed to deflect the Dragon King’s Sword, which was swung down diagonally, with our twin swords. Confirming that the heavy blow had been diverted, I slid sideways and tried to swing my white sword.

But immediately after. Following Orta’s blow, claws of dragon energy attacked me.

The claws approached with a ferocity akin to those of a dragon.

I instinctively erected a barrier and prepared to evade.

But it was too late!

A violent impact struck me first, and then, the claws of dragon energy, breaking through the barrier, swept across my upper body.

I screamed from the intense pain and was blown away.

I tumbled like a broken piece of wood on the ground, hitting the cliff face with my back and stopping.

I endured the intense pain as if my upper body had been deeply raked, trying not to lose consciousness.

If I hadn’t offset the power with my own barrier and the protective jewel I received from Asher, I would have certainly died.

Enduring the rising fear, I turned my gaze to Orta.

Orta, not missing the opportunity, kicked off the ground and approached me.

I had to get up and counterattack. But my body wouldn’t move properly due to the pain in my upper body. My clothes were torn, and my upper body, swept by the dragon energy claws, was covered in numerous welts and had turned bluish-purple from internal bleeding.

“Elnea!”

Mistral intervened between Orta and me.

Mistral blocked Orta’s strike with his jet-black one-handed club. However, with each swing of the Dragon King’s Sword, dragon claws and jaws attacked Mistral.

“Elnea, Mistral!”

In my peripheral vision, I sensed Laira and the others preparing to fight.

“No. Everyone, escape! We will definitely join you later!!”

It’s frustrating, but we have to escape now. It’s impossible to fight an opponent with such absurd power head-on. We need to make a plan and face him in full readiness, otherwise, there is no chance of victory.

“Elnea, you run too!”

“I can’t do that. To hold Orta back, my strength will surely be needed.”

I refused Mistral’s plea and stood up.

In my field of vision, Laira and Ruiseine appeared to be unsure of how to proceed. But it was the Twin Princess who made the decision to forcibly pull their hands and leave this place.

As expected of a top-class adventurer. Her decision was quick and unwavering.

“If you don’t come back, you’ll be punished!”

“We’ll be angry if you don’t come back!”

Saying that, the Twin Princess disappeared with Laira and Ruiseine.

Mistral continued to endure Orta’s slashes and dragon arts. I also began to gather my dragon energy again, regaining my posture.

Revalia’s roar echoed in the distance, and I saw her flying form.

Orta, while fighting Mistral, pointed one of the Dragon King’s Swords at Revalia.

“I won’t let you!”

I closed the distance to Orta with a Spatial Jump and attacked.

However, my upper body pain made it impossible to put strength into my hands. My weak blow was easily deflected by Orta, and I was blown away again.

While being blown away, I still managed to buy enough time to activate a wide-ranging Spirit Tree spell.

The Bewildering Technique. It dazzles the vision and causes one to get lost.

Mistral quickly noticed my spell, put distance between himself and Orta, and came to my side.

Orta’s figure blurred and disappeared into the illusion.

If I move even a single step, Orta will be sent flying somewhere in the valley. The further he walks, the more he moves, the more he gets lost in the Spirit Tree’s Bewildering Technique.

“Elnea…”

Mistral looked at my injured figure with a pained expression.

“Nonsense. Do you intend to continue this charade?”

However, before we could escape, Orta broke through the Bewildering Technique and revealed himself.

“No way…!”

Orta stood with a confident demeanor, unconcerned by my speechlessness.

“How long will you continue to deceive? Are you that afraid of revealing your true self to humans? Come now, show us your monstrous true form.”

Orta grinned a grotesque smile, looking at me and Mistral with amusement.

“Don’t call Mistral a monster! What do you know of Mistral, who never opened his heart to you!!”

“Kuku. You are the one who doesn’t understand. Now, show your terrifying true form in front of your partner!”

At Orta’s insane words, Mistral tightly closed his eyes.

I could sense his wavering heart, on the verge of something, from his tightly clenched fists trembling.

“…I’m sorry. Elnea.”

Mistral murmured softly.

Immediately after. An intense surge of dragon energy, unlike anything I had ever felt, emanated from Mistral.

Mistral’s outline, enveloped in near-golden dragon energy, wavered. And from Mistral’s back, something spread out and began to flap its wings.

Dragon wings.

As I stared in surprise, Mistral began to transform. Scales appeared on the back of his visible hand, and sharp claws extended.

Seeing Mistral’s changing form, Orta turned to me, sneering but with an unpleasant expression.

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