The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 348

225. Dragon Hunt (2)

[Kugh…!! Keugh?!]

Python frantically shook its head, trying to dislodge Karil. But the more it thrashed, the deeper Lakna dug in.

“Listen up, everyone! For this moment, you are not the Free Army but hunters of the Great Plains.”

Karil shouted from atop Python’s head.

“Show them the hunt of the South.”

Waaahhhhhh—!!!

Simultaneously with Karil’s cry, Kinu Mukari drew his bow, pulling the string with all his might.

Whooosh!!!

Then, a small vortex, as if wind were gathering, appeared at the tip of the arrow and vanished.

Thwang-!!!

As he released the string, the arrow flew from his grasp with a fierce sound, followed by Beykan’s shout.

“Everyone, follow the Horned King!!”

The tribes of the Great Plains, facing the king of the great hunt, a hunter more skilled than anyone, were ignited with unprecedented fighting spirit at the word ‘hunt,’ not war.

“If it’s hunting, no one can talk without us. Rahu! Deploy the Mist Formation!!”

“Hoo!!!”

“Hoo!!”

The Rahu tribe, who made their living hunting monsters in the Demon Nest, were thrilled by the word ‘hunt’ and began to scatter in all directions.

“Heh heh… A tiny tribe is the first to get excited.”

The chieftain of the Risu tribe, his face covered in bizarre patterns, sneered at the sight.

“Isn’t that the same for your Risu tribe?”

“Wh, what?!”

“Stop the chatter and just follow closely.”

The chieftain of the Risu tribe turned his head, about to retort, but stopped himself.

The one who spoke was none other than Swan Mukari, the father of Kinu Mukari and the chieftain of the Bigung tribe.

“Understood? Even though I’m old, I have to show that I’m not inferior to the young ones. At least when it comes to hunting.”

How long had it been since he felt this exhilaration?

The chieftains of the four Great Plains tribes, ironically, felt as if they had returned to their youth at this moment.

“Hmph, I was going to do that without you saying so. Risu, strike mightily!!”

At the chieftain’s cry, the warriors of the Risu tribe also began to charge with their weapons.

The two tribes aimed for Python’s left and right, enveloping him like waves.

“Battalion! Defensive formation!!”

It was then.

At Anthem Howard’s shout, the two tribes instinctively held out the bracelets on their arms, and translucent shields unfolded.

These were magical tools made from the attribute stones of the Magic Ore Mountain, first provided to the three kingdoms of Istria.

“Defense line! Maintain formation!”

The warriors held out their shields, creating a wall, and the remaining warriors behind them set their spears between the shields.

“The Tu tribes aim for the dragon’s rear. Cut off its tail and make it lose its balance!!”

The warriors of the Great Plains, who had been rushing at Python as if competing, began to move in perfect order at Anthem’s command.

“This, this… Those who have returned to being hunters are following orders. Our young military lord is amazing at handling soldiers.”

Swan Mukari narrowed his eyes, watching the scene and stroking his chin.

“Even if we hunt, we must do it in a way that befits the name of the Free Army. Our lord told us to return to being hunters, not to fight recklessly.”

Swan Mukari gave a faint smile at his words.

“I am not denying your methods. However, instead of the dignity of hunters, I value the lives of all of them more.”

“Is there any doubt?”

The mysterious tactics he had shown so far were enough to amaze the warriors of the Great Plains.

“Kinu, let’s go. Hyah!!”

“Yes.”

Finally, following Swan Mukari, the Bigung tribe unleashed another volley of arrows and began to scatter.

“We also need to support…!!”

The adjutant of the Imperial Army shouted to Bran Gaunt, watching the Free Army charge.

[Get out of here!! You lowly things!!!]

However, Python, as if not caring about the Imperial Army behind him, shrieked and spread its wings to the left and right.

Whoosh-!!

The intense wind pressure shattered the Imperial Army’s formation, and soldiers were trampled by the dragon’s feet every time Python moved to shake off Karil.

“Aaaagh!!”

“Keugh!”

At the screams heard from everywhere, Bran Gaunt’s face turned pale, and he shouted.

“Retreat! Everyone, return to the castle.”

“…What? But.”

“If we stay here, we’ll be trampled to death by the dragon without even fighting. Such a defeat, not even fighting and losing… I cannot accept it.”

He bit his lip.

He thought that the battlefield had become heavily unfavorable from the moment Karil, a strongman, appeared, but at least he didn’t want to lose pathetically without even using all his capabilities as a strategist.

“Wingel.”

Karil said in a low voice, standing on Python’s torso.

[Kuaaaaaaaa—!!!]

The moment his command fell, Rebol raised its massive fist upward. The armor on its elbows opened, and the attribute stones embedded in a circle inside began to shine.

-Auxiliary propulsion flare activated.

The magic screen in the cockpit turned red, and a warning sounded. Wingel Hart looked ahead with a tense face.

Kwagagagagag—!!!

With a roar, a pure white light erupted from its elbows, and the giant god’s fist slammed into Python’s torso with unbelievable speed.

[Keok…!!]

The Red Dragon’s hard scales were crushed, scattering like powder in all directions. But Rebol’s attack did not end there.

[I will destroy the magic shield on the dragon’s scales.]

With those words, Wingel quickly pressed the complexly arranged buttons in the cockpit.

Clank! Zzzzzing-!!

The armor on the upper part of its chest opened to both sides, and dozens of gun barrels protruded forward.

-Enemy attribute confirmed.

-Magic bullet attribute conversion.

Inside the gun barrels were attribute stones of various attributes, and a round cylinder moved, as if changing a magazine, and a blue Cradle Stone was loaded into the gun.

Bang! Bang-!!

Tatatatatatatata—!!!

Fire erupted from Rebol’s chest, and dozens of bullets struck the Red Dragon’s body.

[Kyak!! Kyaak!!]

Unlike before, Python began to scream in genuine pain each time a bullet struck its body.

[Who made that? It’s completely insane. They’re pouring money into it. Heh heh heh…]

Aln Zabis laughed in disbelief, watching Rebol’s attack.

The attribute stones in the magic bullets that Rebol was firing were all top-grade, eight-sided stones.

An item whose value was unimaginable was now being used as bullets.

It was something that even the Empire could not dare to do.

But the result was even more surprising.

The Red Dragon’s shield magic was shattered by the magic bullets, and even its scales were torn off, revealing its flesh.

Click-!!

Without rest, Wingel Hart pulled the lever in the cockpit with all his might.

Clank-!! Zzzzzzzng-!!

Then, once again, the armor that had been covering Rebol’s legs was planted on the ground like pillars. And then, through the shattered shield, its fist gripped the Red Dragon’s flesh as if to tear it off.

“Huuuh!!”

Wingel placed both hands on the handle of the lever that wouldn’t budge and gave it strength once more.

Chik!! Chiiik!

Pure white steam erupted from behind Rebol’s back.

Keudeudeudeudeudeuk……!!!

At the same time, the Red Dragon’s massive body slowly began to lift.

“……!!”

People were so surprised by the sight that they lost their minds.

[Heuaaaaaaaa!!!]

With Wingel’s roar, Rebol raised Python’s body above its head and shouted.

[Now is the time! My lord!]

As if waiting for it, Karil readjusted Lakna, which he had embedded in its wings, and threw himself down.

“How much regenerative ability does a dragon have? I don’t know for sure, but it won’t die from just one wing, right?”

Chwaaaaaak!!!

As if paper were being cut, Karil’s sword sliced off Python’s wings as he fell.

Kuuung……!!

The ground shook as if there had been an earthquake as the giant dragon’s wings fell to the ground.

[Kuaaaaaaaak!!!]

At the same time, blood spurted from the severed back, along with a scream mixed with pain.

The severed wings writhed like living creatures, and blood splattered everywhere each time they thrashed.

[Y, you…!! How dare you!! You!!!]

The dizzying pain, beyond what he could bear, was something that even a dragon who had lived for hundreds of years had never experienced.

The pure white bones of the severed wing area were clearly visible on its back, like horns, and the flesh was clumping together as if trying to regenerate, but it was not easily recovering due to the charred black wounds.

It might sound ironic that a Red Dragon with the power of fire had wounds from being burned, but that meant that Karil’s attack was not made up of just one simple attribute.

“Magic Knight Brigade! Prepare to attack!!”

The attack did not end there.

Not missing the opportunity, Anthem’s shout was heard towards the fallen Python. Before they knew it, small golems were arranged as if surrounding Python.

“Fire!!”

Tudatadatadadak……!!

Tudatadada……!!

The magic artillery mounted on the golems’ arms and shoulders spewed fire.

With a loud explosion, dust soared.

“Stop.”

Karil, who had landed on the ground, slowly raised his body and said. As he swung his sword once, the dust that had been blocking his vision was instantly cleared with a sharp wind.

[Huk… Heoeok…….]

No longer could the majesty of a dragon be found in Python, who was breathing heavily. The tens of thousands of soldiers on the battlefield were simply silent at the sight of the tragically collapsed strongest race on earth.

[Me… Would I, a dragon, die so easily!!]

Jeobeok- Jeobeok- Jeobeok-

Despite Python’s cry, Karil slowly walked towards him.

Everyone’s eyes were on him.

“I know. You won’t die. But don’t you get it? I only did enough to keep you from dying on purpose.”

Python, his face covered in blood, raised his head and opened his mouth as if trying to bite Karil.

Seogeok-

But the sharp fangs were cut off by Karil’s sword so easily that it felt futile.

[K, Kyaaaak!!]

Python screamed, but the cry did not last long. That’s because Karil stepped on his massive tongue and aimed his sword at the roof of his mouth.

“But from now on, it will be different.”

Puk-!!!