The Genius Blacksmith's Game
Ancient Dragon. (2)
“Blade Assemble, are you really going to go with that team name?”
“Then shall we go with the latter?”
“……Blade Assemble would be better.”
China's largest company.
Cheonryong's director, Cheongjeo, sighed after hearing Pond's words.
"Does it really not matter how much it costs?"
Yes, it doesn't matter how much you spend.
Heavenly Dragon
It is the largest company in China and is involved in a vast number of businesses within the country.
The market capitalization easily exceeds hundreds of trillions.
The money going to the rankers for such companies was nothing more than pocket change.
However, all raid teams must wear our Heavenly Dragon Group mark.
"of course."
Cheonryong saw this raid as an opportunity.
also.
Because of Pond's interview, powerful figures from around the world were contacting him.
“This raid will belong to your team, Blade Assemble, and our Heavenly Dragons. With infinite money, there is no way we can lose.”
Cheonryong's director, Cheongjeo, was confident.
They say there is nothing in this world that money cannot do.
Pond's expression turned strange at that.
You don't know that in Ares, there are things even money can't buy.
Cheongjeo did not hear Pond's small murmuring.
***
Ancient Dragon
In the setting of Ares, it refers to an old and weakened dragon.
You can find plenty of information about ancient dragons.
Under the assumption that they are top-ranked fighters reaching the Bahalana or Cabel class.
Bahala met the ancient dragon Gronit in pursuit of such information.
The weakened dragon's level had dropped significantly.
Its body was too old to be called scales and had lost its luster, and its wings were wrinkled and could not fly well.
Even the heart that held the mana heart had aged, and its magical power was only half of what it used to be.
However, even though it was old, a dragon was still a dragon.
Old rare.
It is a place that has been practically abandoned because young dragons no longer visit it.
Dragons follow the laws of nature.
They do not go out of their way to chase after and worship an old, dying dragon, nor do they kill it.
Just leave it as it is, allowing it to return to the embrace of nature.
Even Gronit tried to end his life by becoming a handful of earth.
That is, until Bahala appeared.
[Dragon Fear.]
[Dragon Fear suffocates the target, rendering them unable to breathe and causing their entire body to convulse.]
[Causes Extreme Convulsion status effect.]
[Causes Extreme Bleeding Status Ailment.]
The intimidating aura emanating from the white-bearded ancient dragon Gronit tightens its grip on him, dressed in white and holding his sword.
The entire lair vibrated, and I thought the creature would soon slump over, bleeding from all over its body.
however…….
[Pride of the Sword God.]
The energy rising from him and the power of the ancient dragon Gronit clashed.
Whoosh!
If Gronit's power is like a red blade tearing things to shreds… … .
Shhhhhhh-
His strength was like a gently blooming sea.
They are unable to inflict status ailments on each other, and their power simply fades away.
Bahala was relieved, but Gronit was shocked.
"A human… … resisting the power of a dragon?"
Of course, if it were my younger days, it wouldn't even be a mouthful.
“O walker of the Sword God… what is the reason you have come to find me?”
The supreme sword left behind by the Sword God.
Immature, but remained in the world.
The dragons also knew that fact.
However… … .
When the ancient dragon learned that he was one who walks the path of the Sword God, he was disappointed.
Because I wasn't as great as him to seize that name.
“I intend to obtain the Dragon Heart Core and Dragon Blood from you, as well as the Dragon Slayer Steel.”
"Do you mean you want my heart and blood?"
Because you have less than a year left to live.
“…….”
This was also the reason Bahala came to find Gronit.
It is only natural that it is not easy for Bahala, a mere individual, to kill an ancient dragon and obtain the Dragon Heart Core, created from its cooled heart, and Dragon Blood, the dragon's blood.
This is because the Dragon Heart Core can only be obtained if the target dies.
Although Bahala's swordsman's eyes were invisible to ordinary people, he glimpsed the remnants of magical power scattering around him.
What if we were to visualize the ancient dragon Gronit in the form of a human today?
Although the Gronit that Bahala is looking at right now is a dragon, it is like an old man reaching 100 years of age.
All the muscles in his body had wasted away, leaving him emaciated, and a foul odor emanated from his flesh, and his eyelids had turned pure white.
Also, that voice was weak.
Yes, the ancient dragon Gronit was clearly dying.
“What is Myeolryonggang?”
Among the items Bahala listed, there was one that Gronit could not understand.
Even a dragon that has lived for thousands of years is hearing it for the first time.
Bahala was silent for a moment, then spoke.
Do you know what a blast furnace is?
“Isn’t it humans who light fires to melt iron?”
Your breath becomes a furnace. Dragon breath is the exclusive property of dragons. Dragon Slayer Steel is made by melting minerals with that breath.
Gronit was dumbfounded.
It is because he suddenly imagined himself melting minerals with his breath.
“Why must I do that?”
The ancient dragon Gronit had no intention of fighting Bahala.
It is because there is no need.
Of course, if he tried to kill him, he would resist desperately, but the aging dragon had no reason left to attack him first, nor was there any reason to grant his request.
Furthermore, there is absolutely no reason to spend the remaining lifespan on an uninvited guest who has suddenly arrived.
“Because it is your duty. As a former Dragon Lord, you must punish those who disrupt the order, mustn't you? I understand that you failed to stop the Dragon Varga in the past as well. The mistakes you made in the past are driving other races into crisis.”
Dragon Barga.
Gronit's eyes wavered upon hearing his name.
Yes, dragons have rules too.
Although there are no specific rules for governing a tribe, one must not attempt to harm any tribe at will.
Gronit also heard about Varga's tyranny through the Dragon Language.
“……How ridiculous, descendant of the Sword God. Can you call that the fault of us dragons? If there is a mission, isn't it the mission of the descendant of the Sword God? Yet to speak of it as if it were our fault is utterly laughable.”
Apart from that, Gronit still did not feel a reason to intervene.
In fact, Bahala also knows how absurd it is to ask us for help when he is going to die anyway.
I will grant your wish.
Bahala said.
However, Bahala does not know what his wish is.
I know that everyone has a few regrets before they die.
It would be common to at least any living creature capable of thinking.
"A wish… …there is something I really want to achieve."
The dragon, which was the greatest species.
Although Gronit was now over 3,000 years old and approaching death, the regrets from long ago clearly existed.
However, Gronit could not easily believe it.
[The Eye of the Ancient Dragon gazes at you.]
A huge gaze scanned Bahala's body.
It was a power that even Bahala could not refuse.
A privilege granted exclusively to ancient dragons facing death.
It is the power to see through all things.
You are looking for the dragon's scales.
“……!”
Bahala was rarely surprised, and Gronit scoffed.
“The dragon scale? If it falls into human hands, it vanishes without a trace.”
Bahala was greatly shaken.
If there is no Dragon Scale in the first place, crafting the Dragon Slayer Sword itself is impossible.
[The Sword God's eyes see through the truth.]
[It is the truth.]
Bahala despaired.
A Dragon Raid event broke out worldwide today.
Should I change direction?
It might be better for you to become one of the team members of that grade as well.
The crafting of the Dragon Slayer Sword is a failure.
However, Gronit also wanted to fulfill his own wish.
“The White Sea Divine Beast. The noblest divine beast in the sea possesses the true 'Reverse Scale.' If you retrieve it, I will join you. However, there is not much time left.”
Gronit's lifespan, and the time remaining until the Dragon Raid, too.
Furthermore, Baekhaesinsu is a being that has not revealed itself for a long time.
I have also only seen Bahala in books.
To meet such a being within time and obtain his wrath?
It was impossible.
A massive sense of shame enveloped Bahala.
From the beginning… … .
When you realize that it is a hopeless task that cannot be accomplished.
[Hyunsu: Look at this. It's the White Sea Divine Beast's Reverse Scale. I heard from the Dragon King that humans cannot wield a Reverse Scale. So the White Sea Divine Beast gave us this one. With this Reverse Scale, we can create an even more superior Dragon Slayer Sword. It means we now have a chance. (Screenshot)]
A wide smile formed on Bahala's lips.
Bahala hasn't laughed much since Sophia left like that.
However, Hyun-su always made himself laugh.
Whenever he was in despair, he was always standing behind him.
Sometimes, even when he couldn't do it himself, he did it for them.
When Gronit looked puzzled at that radiant smile.
“Let us go to the Land of the Hyun, Lord Gronit.”
“The Land of Hyun? Why do you want to go there?”
My friend brought back the White Sea Dragon Scale.
Gronit was shocked.
Bahala particularly emphasized the 'friend' part of the speech.
[Gronit declared that he would join if the White Sea Scale was rescued.]
[Verbs must be preserved.]
Is it unavoidable?
Bahala set off for the country of the prefectures with Gronit.
It is now 10 days away from the Dragon Raid.
Hemolymph (Dragon Blood Silver).
It is the blood of an ancient dragon.
When this ancient dragon's blood is infused into the Dragon Slayer Sword, it acts as an inhibitor that suppresses the Dragon Varga's abnormal regenerative power.
Dragon heart core.
It grants the power to split dragon scales and the power to protect oneself from mana.
Murryonggang (滅龍剛).
Dragon Slayer Steel, made from dragon breath, allows you to slash dragons.
It is an ingredient that isn't even sold in stores.
Bahala said he would get this, and Hyunsu was waiting for Bahala.
And soon… … .
Bahala appeared.
An old man was with him.
The white-haired old man was as huge as I was, and his eyes were losing their vitality.
Only the name Gronit floated above his head.
[Hyunsu: … … What if you bring the Ancient Dragon?]
[Bahala: Then how do you melt the minerals without bringing an ancient dragon?]
[Hyunsu:… … ]
I had nothing to say since it was true, but I was bewildered.
I never imagined that an ancient dragon would actually enter the country of Hyun.
Of course, it has been greatly weakened, but…
A dragon is a dragon.
“Can you see the White Sea Divine Beast’s reverse scale?”
Hyunsu soon took out the scales.
Unlike the ordinary white reverse scales, the blue reverse scales of the White Sea Divine Beast scattered a radiant light.
Bahala and Gronit were surprised by the immense power felt within.
“How on earth did they get this?”
The White Sea Divine Beast's Reverse Scale.
It is no different from Gronit's Mana Heart.
Hyunsu explained the whole story.
Gronit was surprised as he listened to him.
It is said that the Pirate King is a subordinate and that a man named Hyun-su saved Talassian.
It is said that the White Sea God gave him the Dragon Scale.
'… … Divine Beast of the White Sea, surely you haven't seen the possibility that they can stop Varga?'
Gronit looked at the two people.
The power of the Sword God was felt from the two people.
Is that so? Has the Sword God fallen into rest because of them?
Gronit nodded.
“They said that if I go to you, my wish will be granted.”
“Who?”
Your friend.
Smiling broadly
Friends overcome crises together.
Hyunsu wanted to smack Bahala on the head for laughing.
“What is your wish?”
“……Let me see my wife again.”
Perhaps the most impossible wish in the world. That was the last wish of the ancient dragon Gronit.
