Ancient Dragon in Arknights

The tall, thin man did not give chase. Instead, he pointed the stick-like object in his hand at Nesario, and a sharp hissing sound rang out.

Then Nesario felt something pierce his left calf.

"It's the Originium Technique!"

Saria's observation skills were very sharp, and she judged that the other party probably used Originium Arts that controlled airflow.

The compressed air pierced Nesario like a bullet.

"Sister! Don't worry about me!"

Nesario knew very well that their chances of winning were zero at this moment. The physical strength and physical qualities of adults were already vastly different, and their opponent also possessed Originium Arts.

While they could deal with physical combat, neither sibling had any experience with Originium Arts.

No, I can't.

"Help! We're under attack!"

Seria had no intention of running away; she began to shout for help, trying to draw the attention of the passersby nearby to the tragedy.

"If you don't want to die, get out of here!"

Saria's cries were effective; almost everyone around noticed them, and a few bolder ones even prepared to come forward to help them.

But upon seeing the staff in the man's hand, they quickly fled.

People always cherish their own lives more.

They would choose to call the police, but only after ensuring their own safety.

In the time it took for the police to arrive, Saria and Nesario were probably doomed.

Nesario lost his ability to move due to pain.

Saria quickly lost her ability to resist after several "invisible punches".

"Kids, now you know who you've offended? Heh, don't worry. I'm not here for revenge; you're my valuable merchandise."

The man stepped on Nesario's back to hold him firmly in place, then covered Nesario's mouth and nose with a towel stained with some kind of drug.

Nesario held his breath, trying to hold on a little longer, but the increasing weight on his back forced him to breathe.

As a pungent odor filled his nostrils, his consciousness gradually faded; Saria followed suit.

In the moment before his consciousness faded, Nesario had only one thought.

'Damn... a crime committed in the street? Is this some kind of absurd thing? The security in Tikkarendo is a mess!'

The police had not yet arrived at the scene, but the criminals' reinforcements arrived first.

A land vehicle stopped in front of the man; the driver was his vanished partner.

"Hurry up, has everything been arranged at the contact point?"

"Brother...they want to raise the price..."

"*Colombian swear words*! You cheapskate trying to rip us off! Pay up! Otherwise we can't leave."

Chapter Fifteen: Dragon Hunting

The familiar cold wind, the familiar smell of decay—as consciousness slowly returned, Nesario found himself back in that valley once again.

"Damn it! Are you going to pull me over here now?! No!"

Nesario kicked the wall viciously a few times. He wasn't sleeping soundly at home; he and Saria were currently facing a calamity.

If they cannot save themselves, they will face an extremely dark future.

Their lives have only just begun; they must not end here!

"Suicide...no...I can't commit suicide."

Nesario originally intended to smash his head against the rock and die, based on his previous experience, "death" would allow him to escape this strange dream.

But he quickly calmed down and gave up.

Even if I wake up, what can I do?

With her left foot injured and unable to move, and the two opponents being adult men skilled in Originium Arts, her body might still be bound, and Saria could potentially be taken hostage.

This is practically a dead end... Even if he wakes up, it won't change anything.

"Power! I need power!"

Whether it's Originium Arts, a powerful physique, or even the illusory power in this dream, he must master anything that can help him overcome this crisis!

“Calm down…Calm down…”

Several deep breaths were not pleasant; the air in the valley was probably poisonous. Last time, after spending some time there, his body began to feel weak; he only discovered this when he was "on the verge of death."

"Armor, mask, the power to wield a weapon... and a nimble weapon."

In this dream world, Neltharion's greatest power is not "wish fulfillment," but rather the opportunity to constantly try, fail, and start over.

The previous experience made Nesario realize his opponent's strength. Although the guy was big, he was fast and agile. Although his heavy greatsword could cause considerable damage, he was still somewhat passive.

The familiar pressure enveloped Neltharion's body, and a lighter weight than a greatsword appeared in his hand.

He opened his eyes—Nesario gripped a greatsword made of cold steel tightly. The long blade reflected a chilling light, and its sharp edge could cut a hair in an instant.

"good."

The hunters began their search, and Nesario searched the ground for bones and footprints. After a period of searching, he once again saw the figure that haunted his dreams.

Those dagger-like claws, those scarlet, muscular bodies, those sharp fangs that could tear through steel, and that horny tail like a mace.

If I had this power, what a wonderful scene that would be!

Don't let me down!

Nesario refused to believe that all of this was just a dream; it must have meaning. And could the hidden truth behind it save him from death?

The crimson monster attacked the intruder, but the ferocious hunter remained unfazed, sparks flying as his katana clashed with his claws.

Tear--!

Humans are smaller and can use tools, while monsters' claws can only cover a small area.

After dodging each other, Nesario almost brushed past his opponent, and during this process, he did not retract his katana.

A bloody gash was torn open on the blood-red, muscular body—it looked horrifying, but it was just a superficial wound.

"As expected, this thing's attack power is not as good as the greatsword."

However, its advantage lies in its agility. Once it switches to a greatsword, Neltharion can only stand still and fight it head-on.

The clash between monsters and hunters continues, but victory is clearly favoring the hunters.

This wasn't the first time Neltharion had faced it. Claw strikes, bites, tail whips, charges—all its movements were predictable. Neltharion had seen through all its attack methods!

Seizing the gaps in the attack, Nesario unleashed straight slashes, side slashes, and spinning slashes—he discovered that he might be better suited to the katana, the essence of which lies in its speed and fluidity.

There's a saying that goes something like this: "Follow your heart, follow the blade."

Nesario felt incredibly cool at that moment; the weapon seemed to come alive in his hands.

'Wait! What's going on?! The blade is glowing?! This is... overheating!?'

As Neltharion continued his slashes, he managed to distance himself, only to find his weapon beginning to glow red.

Isn't this a cold weapon?! Does it have some special function?

'I can't worry about that... Victory is within my grasp, I can't stop.'

Even if this weapon explodes later, it will explode in the monster's flesh and blood! Nesario has nowhere to retreat. In the dream, the slightest retreat will result in a bloody mess, and in reality, if there is no turning back, it will be utter destruction.

"Roar--!!!"

Repeated injuries and fruitless attempts drove the blood-red monster completely mad, but it did not lose its mind entirely; on the contrary, its calm hunting instincts were fully aroused.

It scurried to the side—and then began to devour its prey on the ground.

Nesario had just stumbled upon its hunt; the shredded prey was still lying on the ground.

"Don't underestimate me!"

Nesario felt insulted; during a life-or-death battle, his opponent actually wanted to call a timeout to go eat?

How could such a good thing happen!

clang--!

The sound of a blade striking rock echoed through the valley; Neltharion's attack had been dodged!

'So fast! How could this be!?'

Nesario could clearly sense that this guy's speed had increased.

As it paused, Nesario also saw its current state.

The red monster, like boiling water, was spewing steam from its originally crimson muscles and mouth, and the lines of its muscles began to emit a crimson glow—it was ready to fight to the death.

The ferocious tail whip swept in, and Nesario had already lost to this move once before; he wouldn't lose a second time.

By rolling and lowering its body, its warhammer-like tail swept almost across Neltharion's head.

At that moment, the monster turned around by whipping its tail, exposing its entire side naked in front of Neltharion.

opportunity!

Neltharion raised his sword horizontally and took a step forward—the sharp blade pierced into the monster's hind leg muscle with Neltharion's movement.

The wound from this strike was deep, but the price was that the distance was too close, and Nesario was unable to create distance in preparation for the ensuing counterattack.

'This angle...'

With no way to retreat, Nesario faced death head-on, gripping his blade tightly and stomping hard on the monster's hind leg joint.

The young hunter leaps high into the air, wielding his air blade, as the monster on the ground opens its massive jaws and lunges upwards to bite—either kill it or be torn to pieces!

Chapter Sixteen: The Palace of Ten Thousand Dragons

The scorching blade cleaved the monster's head in two, and a searing explosion blasted it to pieces. The billowing steam and blood dissipated together, and the monster was successfully hunted by the hunter.