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Chapter 4: Anticlimactic
“WE’LL make it official! We’re gonna be allies! With Mynoghra as the big fish on top! But first comes the rankings. We’ll each put forward our best and prove our mettle. Hell, I know ya outlanders have tide-changing powers. But we need to prove we’re nothin’ to sneeze at either, or else we won’t be able to keep our pride as men of the sea!” Doban spoke with might and main, perhaps to put on a bold front, or perhaps he was just that confident.
Takuto watched with a hint of amusement. He’d been working nonstop for the last couple of days to get everything on schedule. It wouldn’t hurt to enjoy a brief moment of entertainment. He could even consider this a nice respite. Haste makes waste, and no living organism can run forever without rest, after all.
As for accepting this fight, Takuto assumed they should be able to circumvent the Great Ritual’s combat restrictions by considering this a friendly mock battle with a neutral nation they weren’t at war with.
Meanwhile, having finally recovered from his terrible bout of seasickness, Takuto was informed by Atou through a telepathic message that Elder Moltar was acting unusually reserved. He signaled the old sage with a much more empathic nod than usual.
“Hrm. I suppose we could consider it a test of strength. His Majesty…” Elder Moltar glanced over and took Takuto’s nod as approval. “His Majesty has no qualms with your proposal. So, tell us, what great warrior will the mighty Dwarves of the sea put forward to represent them?”
W ӗb̌n о̂vе l̊ Е.ǹŭ m ȧ
Takuto was especially curious about that. It’d be a bad joke indeed if Sutharland simply put forward a run-of-the-mill Dwarven warrior for their champion. Takuto didn’t doubt some among their rank could be considered fearless warriors, but that would only be in comparison to other Dwarves. That would be too weak. In terms of impact and ability…
“Gahaha!” Doban burst into raucous laughter. “Hold onto your hats! Don’t doubt your eyes! For here it comes! The ultimate surprise!”
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Something betraying all of Mynoghra’s expectations appeared.
“King Takuto, something is coming fast. I can smell it.”
“Mm-hm… This unique presence. Some kind of monster? Doesn’t seem like an aquatic creature. What did they prepare for us?”
Takuto and Atou secretly conferred via telepathy. Atou’s superhuman senses as a Hero had alerted her to its presence, while Takuto’s mysterious powers of a questionable origin did the same for him…
Е̊ nù mа
Before long, the presence came close enough for everyone to hear the loud, rhythmic thumps. Takuto and the others turned their gaze toward the presence, toward the huge staircase leading down into the ship, which could be seen between the pillars, just behind the chairs where the Dwarves were seated.
“MEET OUR ULTIMATE WEAPON!”
A dragon appeared with a whoosh right before Takuto’s eyes.
“Oh, a dragon.”
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“A dragon, is it?”
“What a surprise…”
W̃ é b̀ n о̃ v̂ ĕ l̊ Ӗ ń ū m̀а
Takuto, Atou, and Elder Moltar each expressed their surprise. Sutharland had succeeded in catching them off guard. That alone emboldened Doban. Tonukapoli, on the other hand, understood the reality behind Mynoghra’s reaction and felt exasperated on Sutharland’s behalf.
“How do you like that?! This is our trump card!”
Takuto turned his attention to the dragon. Rufous scales covered its nearly thirty-foot-long body and razor-sharp claws. Its gleaming, serpentine eyes and massive wings seemed rather small considering its size. Calling it orthodox might sound a bit cliched, but it certainly resembled the dragons depicted in various legends and video games.
Of course, as Sutharland’s ultimate weapon, it was not just some ordinary dragon.
Now that’s what I’d expect of Dwarven master-craft armor… Excellent equipment that doesn’t restrict mobility while protecting the vital zones.
Takuto was impressed by the Dwarven-made armor adorning the dragon. It appeared to be scale mail—a type of armor made by sewing together small metal plates in a scale-like pattern. Its structure allowed it to adapt to a variety of complex movements, making it excellent for prioritizing agility. And it wasn’t just any scale mail. When it comes to equipping a dragon, they needed an abundance of large, individual scales woven together.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Takuto could only imagine how much outfitting a dragon would cost.
It might seem a little strange for a dragon with its own set of scales to be further equipped with scale mail, but the doubled defense massively increased its effectiveness as a weapon on the field. Your average Paladin wouldn’t be able to dent it.
The dragon let out a rumbling growl of a laugh from deep within its long throat. Something about the noise sounded proud, haughty even. As if the dragon was basking in its superiority over the lesser beings who were surprised by its arrival. Laughing proved it had sentience. Intelligence. An intelligence only further demonstrated by the flash of shock in its clever eyes when it instantly whipped its neck toward Takuto and Atou. The dragon instantly understood the difference in power. And yet it still deigned to act as if it were above them. Arrogant, proud, ferocious. Strong.
A pure embodiment of everything Takuto knew to be a dragon towered before him. Takuto’s seasickness vanished in an instant. In its place, his eyes twinkled with boyish delight, and his heart skipped a beat. He was absolutely thrilled to see a creature plucked straight out of his favorite fantasy stories in the flesh. If he were back in the Accursed Lands, he might have even jumped with joy. But he was in a foreign nation, in the middle of a critical negotiation.
Takuto suppressed his glee and observed the situation. He compared this dragon to what he knew and calmly steered the conversation in Mynoghra’s favor.
“Moltar, what class of dragon is this?”
W е̃ b̌ no vel̈ Еǹ umã
Takuto remembered Elder Moltar’s lectures about dragons being classified by their strength. The classification was broken into Lesser Dragon, Mature Dragon, High Dragon, and Great Dragon. The higher the designation, the stronger the dragon. High and Great Dragons were things of legend, but any dragon posed a threat. Every last dragon on this continent had supposedly been hunted to extinction by the holy nations. Still, at their peak, some dragons were powerful enough to annihilate High Paladins and Saints. If that was true, then dragons were of great interest to Mynoghra.
“As far as I can tell, this is a Mature Dragon, my liege. A truly marvelous sight to behold… It’s been 120 years since I last saw one in person. There used to be quite a few of them roaming the continent until Qualia hunted them down.”
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“I see.”
Elder Moltar’s explanation, colored by his admiration for the great beasts, succinctly hinted at the idea that this dragon may have been imported from another continent. Takuto promptly caught onto the suggestion and quickly processed this new bit of intel.
Mynoghra didn’t have much information about the wider world beyond their starter continent. Takuto didn’t have the time or energy to seriously delve into lifting that fog of war yet, but the dragon was impactful enough to make him want to probe for what information he could.
In any event, dragons were a force to be reckoned with.
Е́n ŭ m̃ а̇
In Eternal Nations, dragons come in all shapes and sizes, from creatures that are no different from ordinary lizards to powerful beasts that can defeat Hero units. In fact, there’s even a dragon empire with a dragon Hero, and dragon NPCs you could recruit into your own nation.
In that respect, Takuto was more than just a little interested in this military asset. How powerful was this dragon? How could it be incorporated into future strategies? He assumed Sutharland would have an ace or two up their sleeve, but this was more entertaining than what he’d anticipated. They had managed to surprise and impress him. Of course, he would never admit that.
“A Mature Dragon, you say? Then this one can use breath attacks and completely understand spoken language. Their combat ability easily surpasses that of a High Paladin, even approaching that of a Saint. This one’s armor appears to be master-class. Quite the impressive creature.”
“Hmm…”
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Atou sounded impressed, but in reality, she realized the potential problems with incorporating dragons into their forces.
Between what Elder Moltar said and the way the Dwarves were acting, it was practically guaranteed that the dragon came from another continent. They didn’t have the numbers to make a difference. Yes, a single dragon certainly possessed more strength than a Paladin. But Mynoghra already had the Paladins of Ira and a whole host of powerful subordinates unique to their empire. Besides, a Mature Dragon’s combat ability was mediocre, falling just short of that of a Hero or Saint.
E n̆ ùm a.i̊ d
Dragons were a bit too unreliable to put on the front lines, and even if they were assigned to the Dwarven forces, a single dragon would be a drop in the bucket. Admiral Doban would have come on stronger if Sutharland had succeeded at breeding the dragons. If they had, Mynoghra would’ve detected their overwhelming presence the moment they entered the nation.
As far as Takuto was concerned, the dragons’ future prospects and how they tickled his fantasy ideals earned a perfect score, but with where they were at now, he had to score their ace as twenty or thirty points out of a hundred at best.
The Dwarves didn’t see it that way, though.
“HA! HA! HA! Looks like not even the all-knowing King of Mynoghra had any idea that we’ve got dragons! So? What say you to a match between this beauty and yer champion of choice? Ya’ve got one in mind, don’t ya?”
The Dwarves looked happy with themselves. Each of the Commodores, starting with Admiral Doban, guffawed loudly enough that it shook their stout, muscular frames. They were extremely confident in their dragon.
Watching them made Takuto feel they were getting farther and farther from the point. Rather than protecting the pride of the Dwarves, it seemed their primary intention was to somehow surprise Mynoghra. After all, this meeting was being held to form an alliance to take on the Lawful Continent Alliance. It wasn’t about getting excited over a test of strength, or trying to get Mynoghra to acknowledge Sutharland.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“They are letting this go to their heads. Shall I put them in their place?”
To make matters worse, Atou was spiraling into one of her moods. She couldn’t stand the idea of Mynoghra being treated with disrespect, or in this case, Takuto being treated with disrespect. She wouldn’t be happy unless she knocked the cocky right out of these Dwarves.
“Atou.”
“Urk. Forgive me, King Takuto.”
This confidant, who believed that all living things should bow in submission to Takuto Ira, was extremely loyal and reliable, but she was apt to jump the gun when things displeased her.
“You needn’t sully your hands personally. A mere dragon doesn’t deserve your attention, Atou.”
Е ǹ ům а. і̌ d
“Oh, King Takuto…”
Takuto no longer panicked like he did in the past. He now followed up with a perfectly timed telepathic message to Atou. He’d become an expert at handling her lately. He realized as much and was a little bothered by the fact that he was improving at manipulation.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Atou meant the world to him. He much preferred being equals with her than maneuvering her like a pawn. Then again, as far as the Dark Elves were concerned, they needed Takuto to keep Atou in check or else they would have to deal with the fallout of her rampages. Although none of the Dark Elves mentioned it, they all had different views on the matter depending on their position.
That said, it was also thanks to Takuto firmly holding Atou back that the Dwarves and dragon didn’t end up impaled on her tentacles. Blissfully unaware of that fact, the Dwarves, riding high on the thrill of unveiling their dragon and saving face, whipped out booze and gleefully began guzzling it.
They had lost, but it was an honorable loss. They ended up submitting to their opponent, but only after getting a sucker punch in. That was the position the Sutharland Dwarves were going for.
Conversely, Mynoghra had to emphasize their dominance from a position of overwhelming power. They couldn’t afford to compromise in front of Phon’kaven, their long-term ally, and above all, such a weak image wouldn’t suit a country ruled by Takuto Ira.
Е n̆um̂ȧ .і́ d̊
Look at them laughing themselves silly. The fools. They don’t even comprehend what His Majesty has brought with him… Elder Moltar gave the Dwarves a pitying look. It didn’t matter what ace they had up their sleeve; the outcome was already decided. He understood they couldn’t easily back down as the leaders of the Dwarves, but they should’ve at least comprehended the sheer difference in might between their nations.
On the other hand, Elder Moltar was also pleased and proud that his own people made the correct decision during their first audience with the King of Ruin. It was only because they were able to immediately see, even if only a glimpse, the infinite wisdom, magic, and might that King Takuto possessed, that the Dark Elves could now strive toward a glorious future as citizens of Mynoghra.
Though fools the Dwarves may be, Mynoghra still needed to get along with them. Setting aside the outcome of this battle, Elder Moltar also wanted to use this opportunity to deepen Mynoghra’s ties with Sutharland. Contrary to what he himself said, King Takuto’s policies were by no means conciliatory or peaceful. But they weren’t damning or apocalyptic either. In which case, as long as Sutharland acted like Phon’kaven and wasn’t hostile toward Mynoghra, the king was bound to form a friendly alliance with them on the surface.
Still, this dragon is… Elder Moltar could spot the dragon’s weakness at a glance.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Mature Dragons were undeniably forces of nature. Even Mynoghra, with its abundance of powerful subordinates, would be in for a world of pain if they underestimated dragons. The thing was, this particular dragon had a big fat problem. Whether Sutharland knew of the problem or not, Elder Moltar’s own king didn’t seem to care.
“Graharharaw!” the dragon chortled.
Ё n̄ u m̌а .і̊ d
“Doesn’t it seem kind of dumb?”
Atou was the first to point out the dragon’s flaw while the Dwarves celebrated. This dragon was somewhat different from the image everyone in the Mynoghra delegation had in mind. They were all a little hesitant to come out and say it, but the dragon downright lacked the dignity and majesty of its species.
“I have a feeling they pampered the beast to get it to do what they wanted. Just look at its paunch. It’s far too potbellied for a proud and regal dragon.”
Upon Elder Moltar’s comment, Atou and the Dark Elves stared closely at the dragon’s rotund belly. And that was it. The answer to the strange feeling was that the impact it should’ve had as a Mature Dragon was overshadowed by flabby excess. Even the scale mail seemed too tight against its bulging frame.
Throwing all delicacy out, it was a very chubby dragon.
“GRAW! GRAAAAAAAAAAAWRRRRRR!”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Realizing the puny mortals were judging its mighty flab, the dragon spun around to hide its stomach and opened its massive maw to intimidate them. But even that movement was plodding, and the heavy thudding that accompanied it only added to the impression of its portliness.
It was only now that the Dwarves took note of the issue. Dragons were new to them too. They had assumed the creatures were just naturally endowed with blubber, but when they saw how slow and languid its movements were, they began to have their doubts.
“Oi, is that heifer okay? Don’t ya think it’s got a little too much meat on the bones?”
“Nah, I’ve got as much meat on me, and it ain’t slowed me down none.”
“It’d be a downright shame for ’im to starve, so I fed ’im as much as ’e’d eat.”
“What about booze?”
Ŵë b̃ n̂ о́vѐ l Еnu m̌_а
“Damn straight I’ve given ’im all the booze ’e can drink! I’d never leave a warrior out like that!”
Nothing the Commodores said inspired much faith in their caretaking habits. A pet’s health is the owner’s responsibility. A dragon might not be your typical pet, but the Dwarves were absolutely responsible for giving it a potbelly.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Whatever. It can still handle a mock battle. Don’t wanna kill our new allies anyway! You ’ear that, dragon? No killing our friends. You let ’em enjoy a good fight, and I’ll make it worth yer while.”
“Grrrm…”
“Double the grub for a job done right!”
“Grahahaha!”
Е ǹ ů m̌ а
Doban whispered to the dragon. The dragon’s ferocious maw spread into a toothy grin as laughter rumbled in its gullet. The dragon seemed certain it had already secured twice its usual food supply.
If Takuto wanted to settle matters nicely, he would’ve gone along with his opponent here, but he wasn’t the type to be satisfied with that. Even though it was just a mock battle, he didn’t want to make it seem like a fixed match, and he wanted to show off the might of Mynoghra. He also thought it’d be better for the dragon if it went without more food.
Takuto signaled Elder Moltar with a single look and beckoned for something behind him with his finger. This caught the Dwarves’ attention, finally breaking their animated conversation about the dragon’s diet.
“Our nation also has a wonderful guard dog of sorts. This is a good opportunity. Let’s have a friendly test of strength between our two beasts,” Elder Moltar said, speaking on behalf of the king. He provoked the Dwarves and dragon with his words.
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“Yeah? Where’s this beastie of yers?”
The dragon stomped its feet at being called a beast, while Doban wondered why Mynoghra’s beast was nowhere to be seen.
Ё n̈ ŭm̀а .і d̈
Elder Moltar slammed the end of his staff against the floor in a loud clang.
“Goo-goo, gyaaaaa-gyaaaaa.”
A beast in every sense of the word instantly appeared, as if seeping out of the darkness. Nay, it was too grotesque to even be called a beast. Dogs, cats, insects, birds, babies—it was as if someone had haphazardly assembled parts from different creatures to create an amalgamation. At more than ten feet in size, it was small compared to a dragon, but most creatures couldn’t withstand the sheer terror its presence instilled.
This Botchling, the pride and joy of Mynoghra’s military and the one being considered for use as a main fighter, was about to enter a ranking where the prestige of both nations was at stake.
“What a short-lived life…”
“Apologies, big guy. We can’t save ya.”
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“Shoulda fed ’im more.”
“Ma’s gonna rip me a new one…”
The Dwarves were in full-blown funeral mode. The dragon, meanwhile, moved with impossible agility for its girth, quickly baring its potbelly and making a pathetic noise as it surrendered.
The battle was already decided. It was over before it even began, ending in their opponent’s instant withdrawal.
This was no longer the time for Dwarven dignity or pride.
“Bah-bah…”
Е.n̊ũ m̃а̂ . i d
The Botchling gave Takuto a confused look. It didn’t know how to respond to the dragon, baring its belly…its fat, engorged belly…and posing in surrender like a timid pet dog. The Botchling had been so excited that it was finally its turn, that it had finally deactivated Mimic, only for things to end before it could even do anything.
If that wasn’t anticlimactic enough, its Commander, Takuto, told it that its job was done and it needed to conceal its presence again.
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“Ah-ah….” the Botchling whimpered sadly as it faded back into the shadows.
This should have been a triumphant moment when the Dwarves were awed by Mynoghra’s power, the Botchling concealment skill, and the king’s ability to fully control such a monstrosity. But the pathetic dragon, its belly still exposed in a pose of surrender, and the sad mewl of the Botchling, haunting their thoughts even after it vanished, had swept away any feelings of awe.
Е́ n̊ūmа̂. і̇d
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