Charles's opponent was a hornless giant dragon with alloy-like scales and a conical head. Its attribute was adamantine, boasting overwhelming offense and defense.
One sweep of the Adamantine Dragon's wing sent Charles flying, smashing straight through a clock tower.
Yanking his arm free from the rubble pinning it, Charles stared at the Adamantine Dragon, eyes blazing.
Setting aside dragon-shaped monsters from other worlds, this was already the third time Charles had fought a true dragon.
The first was Acnologia—Charles had to admit he only stalled him briefly while Acnologia wasn't even serious.
The second was Ignia. Though Charles achieved his goal, he still hadn't truly beaten that "elder brother" in a sense.
This time was different. Compared to back then, Charles had grown by leaps and bounds.
And the Adamantine Dragon was far weaker than the Black Dragon or the Fire God Dragon.
The Adamantine Dragon looked down at Charles. The scales on its shoulder had shattered in a wide patch and still throbbed with pain.
Injury meant little to dragons, whose blood ran thick with violence—but being hurt by a human was another matter.
"This power is that of my kin," the Adamantine Dragon rumbled. "I've heard the fools of the coexistence faction shared power with humans. That's where yours came from, isn't it?"
Charles met the dragon's gaze without flinching. "That's right. This is Dragon Slayer magic—taught by dragons, made to hunt dragons.
So, in return for answering your question, you should clear up a doubt of mine."
"Presumptuous human, do you think that merely having our power lets you speak to me as an equal?" The dragon lowered its head. "Still, as a reward for breaking my scales, I'll allow a question."
"Why did you come here?" Charles asked. "In other words, what do you want?"
In the original timeline, the dragons were summoned to this era by Future Rogue's Dragon Control magic. This time, for some reason, they had still passed through the Eclipse Gate.
"Why?" The Adamantine Dragon laughed. "For magic, of course! I don't know what that sudden portal was, but we sensed the abundant magic beyond it crystal clear.
I don't know what this place is, but it's been a long time since I breathed air this rich in magic!"
It clicked for Charles. The Dragon Slayers had been sent to this era because the magic here, compared to four hundred years ago, was more abundant—allowing faster growth.
"That's why I said the coexistence faction are fools," the dragon went on. "With magic so limited, they still shared it with humans. In a place like this, letting humans continue to eke out a living doesn't matter."
Charles's brow rose. So there was more behind the war between humans and dragons.
He'd thought a mere difference in attitude toward humans wasn't enough to spark such a brutal conflict.
Dragons weren't exactly communal by nature. Even with disagreements, they could have simply kept to themselves; launching a war over it made little sense.
The stronger one was—human or dragon—the more one craved magic. Four hundred years ago, magic was scarce. Dragons didn't have enough even among themselves; why would they let humans take a share?
So some dragons despised humans, even sought to exterminate them. Others had long lived alongside humans, forging bonds.
Irreconcilable contradictions led to war.
In the end, limited resources couldn't meet everyone's needs. Nothing new there.
Charles sighed. "You may not understand how things are in this era, but as you said, we have no reason to fight anymore now."
He meant it. Raised by a dragon, Charles believed with certainty that humans and dragons—both sentient beings—had no need to fight to the death.
With Acnologia—an enemy to both humans and dragons—still out there, they could even cooperate.
"Human brat, are you surrendering to me?" the Adamantine Dragon sneered.
"Not surprising. Humans were our slaves and food to begin with!"
Charles exhaled. The moment he sensed hostility without malice, he knew talks would go nowhere—but he had to try.
Dragons sat at the peak of the world, their unmatched bodies and magic giving them incurable pride.
That pride made it hard for them to coexist with "weak" humans.
Most dragons felt as this one did; they didn't even think there was anything wrong with persecuting humans.
Charles had no other choice. He would use his magic for its intended purpose—to hunt this dragon.
Flames roared skyward. Charles activated Dragonflame Armament and Dragonblood Body, and even the Nibelungen Ring stirred.
Draconic traits surfaced across Charles's frame, and the Adamantine Dragon's mocking look turned grave.
The era beyond the Eclipse Gate was unclear in the timeline of the war—at least Dragon Slayers hadn't yet risen to prominence.
So this was the Adamantine Dragon's first time fighting one—but in that instant, it was already cursing its kin in the coexistence faction.
"Those fools actually created a monster like this!"
It no longer dared think of the foe as a mere human. The threat it felt surpassed that of some powerful kin.
With his skill Dragon Slayer running at full power, Charles's draconic transformation deepened; even his voice took on a dull undertone.
"Here I come."
As Charles lunged, the Adamantine Dragon saw a gigantic phantom rise behind him—one it knew well.
"Igneel!"
The name rumbled from between its fangs. It had faced this mainstay of the coexistence faction on the battlefield.
The Fire Dragon King—at the pinnacle even among dragons—who fought his own kin for humans.
The Adamantine Dragon loathed Igneel, but couldn't deny his strength far outstripped its own.
The phantom's fist swung—and Charles's own fist mirrored it.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
The punch smashed into the dragon's head; shattered scales and broken fangs flew.
The Adamantine Dragon twisted, vertical pupils flushing red with killing intent, and slammed down a claw.
Its adamantine attribute imbued the talons with unstoppable destructive force. Charles, of course, didn't take it head-on; he climbed with superior agility, evading the blow.
The dust kicked up blew aside at once, revealing the dragon's open jaws. Ferocious magic coiled and condensed in its maw—the gust itself cleared the grit.
"Adamantine Dragon's Roar!"
Charles steadied himself—and opened his own mouth.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
A metallic torrent and a spiral of flame blasted toward each other, colliding and erupting into a terrifying explosion.
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