Bear School Astartes

The ever-changing nature of battle is inherently a common rule of the world; if one lacks even a minimal psychological preparedness for this, then Lann himself would deem himself unqualified as a battlefield commander.

Although, in this battle of hunting the dragon, he indeed wasn’t taking the role of the battlefield commander, he still planned and responded to various situations based on his understanding and experience.

Nothing can be perfect, but having a mindset of constantly approaching perfection is essential.

After many worlds and many adventures, this belief became a part of Lann.

It’s unclear whether the memories and genetic seeds of the Son of the Emperor influenced him, or if he accepted the life philosophy of the Son of the Emperor.

This is something indistinguishable.

And in Lann’s response strategy, the ’miss of the Black Arrow’ was simply a very ordinary occurrence.

Ultimately, the Black Arrow manufactured by the dwarves at a great cost, if the shooting angle is accurate, can shatter the dragon’s scale armor.

Then why wouldn’t other weapons, if powerful enough, achieve the same?

And Lann considers... the tool in his hand is not subpar!

A large, coarse, straightforward blade was drawn out from the alchemy pouch at the Demon Hunter’s back waist.

The wide blade rubbed against the belt opening as it was drawn out, emitting a ’scratchy’ sound.

However, closely following the complete unsheathing of [Muddy Stream·Destruction], an atmosphere distinctly different from Smaug’s encompassing the long lake began to spread out.

The dragon is cruel and shadowy; its power even stirred the clouds in the sky, creating a dense mist that obscured the moonlight and stars, leaving only the flickering firelight in the town, illuminating grimly.

This encompasses not only bestial malice but also cunning intelligence.

Smaug resorts to threats, provocations, and various statements to intimidate and undermine people’s will.

However, the momentum of [Muddy Stream·Destruction] is much simpler.

Brutal and wild!

As Lann stood on Smaug’s wing bone and completely unsheathed this large, tombstone-like sword, Smaug had not yet turned its head towards him.

It only felt... as if a rampaging beast was baring its fangs, crouching on its wings, snorting hot air!

The simple black and white sword held behind Lann resembles a full-drawn bow.

Muscles throughout the body suddenly swell and bulge; Valerian steel wire woven into the tendons work together, tightening and exerting force...

”Boom!”

A pale red Fighting Spirit Light Flame suddenly rises from Lann’s entire body, as well as from the [Muddy Stream·Destruction] behind him, making a noise akin to a fire’s explosive outburst.

Following this, the massive sword held behind him drew a rounded arc in the air, hammering down towards his foot, towards Smaug’s wing bone!

[Great Sword Technique·Charged Slash]!

”Clang!!!”

The sword body, gigantic like a mournful tombstone, struck; after the slash, the clashing noise between the steel blade and the dragon’s bone was akin to the sorrowful evening bell in a cathedral!

”Ah!!!”

The dragon’s anguished roar echoed once again across the sky!

Even more intense than when the Black Arrow pierced its chest skin!

The dragon scales on its wings are dense, yet not thick. The scales on Smaug’s chest are as large as half a person’s body, and the thickness matches the side thickness of a human body.

But on its wing, due to the bat-wing structure needing to be lightweight and flexible, the largest scale is just the size of a human head.

But arranged more densely and lighter... making it easier to chop!

The bone-white blade of [Muddy Stream·Destruction], with pale red fighting spirit, slashes down!

It chops... smashing the thin layer of scales and flesh on the dragon wing bone! Straight to the bone!

The dragon scales and flesh emitted a ripping ’tearing’ sound.

Subsequently, the ravenous greatsword savored the fresh and nourished flesh, this sword deemed ’alive’ began to excite.

”Sizzle~”

”Ah!!!”

The dragon’s wails intensified!

Because at this moment, [Muddy Stream·Destruction] already started to secrete abundant [Dragon Attribute Energy] after absorbing nourishing flesh.

This inner red-lightening-black mist acts like a corrosive acid.

After being reinforced on the wedge-shaped stone disc by the giant blacksmith in the Flame World, the secretion amount and quality of [Dragon Attribute Energy] on the sword increased substantially.

Not to mention those weapons made from monster parts in the New Continent, even in the living monsters of the New Continent, few would possess [Dragon Attribute Energy] of this level.

Had Smaug’s scale armor and flesh not broken, pure [Dragon Attribute Energy] might not have any effect.

But now [Muddy Stream·Destruction] has already chopped... smashed into the bone!

The [Dragon Attribute Energy] thus followed suit, invading, eroding through the scale armor, flesh, even into the bone, bringing corrosive pain to Smaug.

The flames burning in Long Lake Town immediately surged with the dragon’s mood!

Enraged and wild, Smaug began frantically shaking its body, flapping its wings, attempting to fling off Lann on top.

With wings spread out, Smaug’s entire body could cover a fifth of Long Lake Town’s area.

The vast wings when flapped, instantly drew and disturbed the airflow across the town.

In the distance, Elves who hadn’t quickly adjusted their mass were nearly blown away!

Among them was Thranduil, who, upon witnessing Lann causing genuine painful screams from the dragon.

The body that was originally about to leave suddenly pulled back.

It even stepped over its own archers, decisively pushing closer to the battlefield.

Lann certainly wasn’t having it easy either, just using the massive blade to lock onto Smaug’s wound.

The sharp screeching of steel against dragon bone resonated, making one’s teeth ache. Using this fixed point, Lann prevented himself from being thrown off immediately.

But that was all he managed.

Smaug might be cruel and cowardly in the face of real danger, but it was also intelligent.

It instantly relaxed its wings, keeping the muscles and bones from tensing.

Thus, the untensed wound naturally could not clamp onto [Muddy Stream·Destruction].

Without a fixed point, Lann, along with the Greatsword, left Smaug’s wing.

As the enemy left its wing, Smaug felt slightly relieved.

Although [Muddy Stream·Destruction] had cut into its body, in comparison to the size of the wound, it was like a finger being cut to the bone but not fully severed.

Its wing could still move, still fly, no problem, no questions...

Smaug kept reassuring and affirming itself internally.

But suddenly, a figure crackling with blue and white lightning, at an unimaginable speed, broke through the remaining outer wall of Long Lake Town.

Charging in a straight line through burning ruins and pyres, it arrived at the battlefield where the dragon lay.

Only then did Smaug, under Lann’s relentless offensive pressure, remember there was such an extraordinary thing around it.

It was this thing that triggered the lightning and struck it down!

What could possibly trigger lightning?

Smaug had never seen anything like it before!

If it were under normal circumstances, just being struck by lightning earlier would definitely make Smaug remember this figure.

It’s just Lann’s attack tempo was too tight and the pressure too intense, causing Smaug, freshly struck by lightning, to completely overlook this electrifying creature.

Only at this moment did the dragon finally see the true form of the magical creature.

Shaped like a tall steed with a white base color and blue lightning markings.

Pale mane fanned upwards under static, with electric arcs adorning this beautiful and noble beast.

The form of the Qilin leaping in the night was undeniably aesthetically pleasing even to Smaug.

...If only its horn wasn’t aimed at it directly!

Regrettably, the Qilin’s horn was not only aimed at Smaug but was thrusting into the gash just made by Lann!

”Hisssss!”

The Qilin neighed, the singular horn on its head, which even a furious Golden Lion wouldn’t dare face head-on, pierced straight into the wing bone amidst the bone-chilling crystalline friction between dragon bone and sharp horn!

The dragon swung crazily in panic yet again, causing the Qilin’s head to hang onto its wing, body swaying uncontrollably.

Everything happened in an instant; Lann, just thrown off, hadn’t even landed yet.

In one hand he held [Muddy Stream·Destruction], while his left wrist armor shot out a hook, accurately snagging the Qilin’s body, pulling himself over mid-air.

”Pity, this spot isn’t at the wing root.”

Landing on the Qilin, Lann stood on its forehead, letting out a regretful sigh.

The wound carved by him was at the mid-section of Smaug’s wing, not at the root.

The Qilin grunted discontentedly, exhaling hot air laced with static.

It felt like a piece of preserved meat hung on Smaug’s wing, unwilling to stay longer.

Lann lowered his head, locking eyes with the Qilin’s ruby-like gaze.

Their thoughts exchanged instantly.

When Smaug first flew in, the Qilin inexplicably felt some shrinking emotion.

This retreat wasn’t out of fear of the world’s dragon but... how to say?

It was like witnessing the Eldest Son of the Sun shattering half a mountain range with [Sunshine Spear] back in Flame World.

Though it had never before seen such destructive power of [Sunshine Spear], it inexplicably accepted it on a psychological level.

Almost as if its bloodline had passed down this information, residing in its very body.

Smaug’s appearance or perhaps its aura spontaneously evoked a sense of retreat in the Qilin.

But that was just a fleeting impulse.

After adjusting its mindset slightly and observing Smaug, the dragon which instilled such shrinking feelings, the Qilin felt it wasn’t much.

”Ready?”

Amidst the dragon’s anguished roars and chaotic wing motions, Lann lowered his head for a mental communion with the Qilin.

The Qilin tightened its neck, showing steadfast determination and urging in its eyes.

”Hisssss!”

’Let’s get on with it!’

Immediately after the Qilin’s cry, Lann raised the massive blade!