A Dragon Idol's Reincarnation Tale

Armored Glacial Burrower: A subterranean predator evolved from the simple glacial worms of Frozen Nest. Although originally a detritivore to cleanse the glacials of waste and the deceased, those strong enough to contest against the mighty beasts of Frozen Nest evolve into giant ambush predators that excrete a special dry ice gas through its exoskeleton that hardens the soil and ice of the glaciers. Possessing high defensive and agility stats, the worm’s overall offensive prowess is lackluster relative to its size, relying on its speed and horn to kill and swallow enemies. Rank A

Level: 6

Status:Health: 85009 Mana: 16843

Strength: 13900 Intelligence: 6412

Vitality: 45984 Wisdom: 32670

Agility: 27390 Stamina: 67801

“Relatively” sure was the correct word here. The only other rank A I could compare the worm to was my brother, Ryra, as I had his Profile memorized. Compared to his 30092 strength, this worm’s stat was around mine. Yes, it had the same amount of strength as a rank B.Though, on the other hand, its defensive stats were faaar higher than mine, albeit, still lower than Ryra. Mana and intelligence were surely its weakest stats, as they were significantly lower than mine, though it had higher health and stamina than Ryra.

A pure defensive specialist who relied on its speed to defeat enemies in an attrition war, using its subterranean burrowing movement to continuously ambush its prey. That dry ice mention was an issue though, as I could imagine this “soil hardening” feature might mean it could freeze me upon contact and drag me along as I stuck onto its exoskeleton like glue. Certainly an annoyance.

Glacial Burrowing: The racial skill of glacial worms, used to maintain the tunnels and pathways of worms. Dry ice high in ice mana is excreted onto soil and ice, allowing the worm to freeze and harden anything its body touches or transform the minerals gathered along its exoskeleton to synthesize ice field soil to fill up tunnels. Allows the excretion to flash freeze the exoskeleton for protection, scaling with the average of the worm’s vitality and wisdom

That was its only real “unique” skill in its entire Profile. The rest were the common stuff you could find in nearly every high rank monster and humanoid. Luckily, the worm was extremely vulnerable to fire attacks, as it didn’t have a single level in [Fire Resistance]. Unlike the mandril.

Which meant I had to be the main attacker here, now that Vifi and Nong weren’t around. Playing a fully supportive role was unfeasible if we wanted to win here.

Hikari, let’s go! Humanize!

‘Applying all our buffs. Readying large-scale buffs. Remember, we have a limited amount of solar energy and we are constantly leaking it, so use [Drakonian Sunlight Edge] and [Ruby Star] with care. Use [Ruby Shredder] only when you think we can actually deal a proper blow!’ my other half explained. ‘Let’s make sure to use what we learned against Ryra here.’

Already got a plan for that! Do what you do best, and let’s beat this freak for destroying our stew! Play Dragon Fire and The Will to Fight and Survive.

[Various Spell Buffs] [Music Resonation (Moderate)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]

[“We fight around me! Shay! Beth! Focus on defense and true ice application; try to break that exoskeleton and nullify its ice armor for me!”] I commanded, to the twins’ fervent roar. [“Rhekk, I need you to have my back! Use your—You fucker!”]

With the world rumbling like crazy from the worm burrowing itself around the mountain, with my mood raised to the peak of annoyance due to hours of wasted time cooking a stew, and some stress since I was planning on getting used to [Battle Frenzy (Moderate)] now that I understood what my actual greed was, the thing that annoyed me the most right now was this dumb dragon standing behind me! Or, specifically, this dumb dragon that still hadn’t transformed into his dragon form!

[“Rhekk!”] I shouted as I grabbed him in his dragonewt form, bringing him up close to my face. [“Transform back! Don’t you see we’re in trouble?”]

He groaned, grimacing as he stared at me with a look of fear. He was frowning heavily, to the point a shadow was cast on his eyes, making him look even more miserable than when Sieg confronted him. Dude was shivering in my hand, looking like a terrified adventurer confronted by a scary dragon.

[“Get a grip of yourself! Rhekk?”] I tried to soothe him, but before he could reply, the shaking intensified as [Danger Perception] sent the warning.

From below!

My rocket boosters activated as I zoomed out of the area, even using [Wind Blast] and [Tailwind] to accelerate me even further. Like a freight train, the worm tore through the ground where I just stood, sending rock, ice blocks, and turquoise dirt into the air like a geyser. However, the monster’s rampage didn’t stop as it used its momentum to dig into the ceiling, burrowing itself into it, avoiding giving me a chance to retaliate against its head.

Though, due to the monster’s length, its tube-like body was still moving through the hole it created. I could have attacked its body, but the entire area was protected by two layers of thick armor—one out of tough ice and the other its exoskeleton. It didn’t seem feasible to attack it. It looked similar to Ryra’s carapace and scale barrier. Not to mention, the fact my base strength was over 10000 lower than its vitality made it extremely hard for me to deal damage.

Gotta have to rely on my armor, then. Thank goodness I put it on just as Mom told me to.

Crimson Dragon Princess Exoarmor: A rhytilic armor made using materials from a [Sunfang Dragon] and [Violetshock Kirin-Dragon], vastly increasing both fire and arcane corruption resistances. Laminated with cockatrice feather resin, reduces the effect of anti-draconic blood coatings, while also preventing dragonkin pheromones from spreading too far. By ingraining a [Sunfang Dragon] solar core into its creation, allows absorption of solar energy and will glow a radiant crimson if mana is channeled through the armor.

Intelligence Power: 29

Vitality Power: 3080

Wisdom Power: 3090

Skill: [All-Damage Reduction Lv. 1] [Inferno Resistance Lv. 8] [Lava Resistance Lv. 8] [Terra Resistance Lv. 5] [Lightning Resistance Lv. 5] [Arcane Corruption Resistance Lv. 10] [Water Weakness Lv. 5] [Ice Weakness Lv. 5] [Mana Conductor Lv. 10] [Mana Efficiency Lv. 10] [Aerial Fighter Lv. 5] [Mid-Air Maneuvering Lv. 8] [Durability Reduction Lv. 10] [Wind Pressure Nullification] [Explosion Pressure Nullification] [Anti-Draconic Resistance Lv. 5] [Pheromone Reduction Lv. 5] [Rhytilic Alloy Transformation] [Solar Energy Absorption: 100%] [Sorcerer’s Power Lv. 3] [Prime Vigor Lv. 5] [Sage’s Wisdom Lv. 5]

Rune: [Dhuinn Rune: Fearless Defense] [Utility Rune: Weight Reduction] [Utility Rune: Mana Leech] [Defense Rune: Pavise] [Defense Rune: Auracoil]

Fearless Defense: Turns the vitality and wisdom bonuses on the armor into strength and intelligence respectively. These stat bonuses will count as base stats for buffs and magical effects. Mana is continuously consumed until turned off

Even with the additional 3080 and 3090 to my strength and intelligence, respectively, it would still not bridge the gap in our stats. Thankfully, since the stats were added to my base number, it meant that they could also benefit from all the modifiers I had for this. I wouldn’t do the math right now when I had to focus, but I could already tell [Dhuinn Rune: Fearless Defense] would be the only way for me to beat this thing

I’ll slowly drain the solar energy inside the armor whenever I need to use [Drakonian Sunlight Edge]. That gives us a chance, Hikari. Though … how do we deal with this idiot?

I turned to Rhekk. Still, despite the giant monster nearly swallowing me whole, this guy wasn’t trying to free himself from my grip. I wasn’t even holding him that tightly, yet he wasn’t even showing an inch of effort to get away from me to save his own life by transforming back into a dragon. Did this guy have a death wish?

“Just let me be…” Rhekk eked out, stunning me speechless as my guess had … merit? “I’m just dead weight. You don’t need me to do this. Let me go and use me as bait, or something. Just something to show Siegragxus that I was useful to you in—”

[“Fuck off!”] I roared into his mind. [“This? Seriously? This is why you’ve been acting like such an asshole? So this is what is happening behind your doors, huh? Is this how Sieg treats you all day with how he talked you down, because from what I can see, you are finally acting like your true self!”]

Now it finally made sense. Reflecting on how Rhekk acted after we found Hannathala, it now made sense why he was so laser-focused on not disappointing his older brother. Naturally, it didn’t tell me much back then since younger siblings trying to impress their elder siblings and parents was something that I’ve been experiencing for a while now on Peolynca. Ellaine was the best example of this.

Though, unlike the others, it didn’t seem like Sieg’s relationship with Rhekk was that healthy. The way he off-handily insulted Rhekk with “incompetent” and the fact he repeated “foolishness” just to emphasize his mistake, made it almost seem like he was used to doing it. Anger usually brought out a person’s real “face” and behind that stoic, work-oriented personality of Sieg, it seemed he had a pretty hot-headed approach towards his younger brother.

As Mom said: expectations could be an elixir or poison.

However, this was also just a single snippet of their lives. The only other time I saw these two together in the same room was when I first met my uncle retainers, and that was only … after I got into that small problem with Rhekk. Huh, maybe that scolding Sieg mentioned to me was a bit more than just a normal scolding. This punishment—to send Rhekk to the north like a “servant”—felt more than a “spanking.”

Jeez, what a way to change my opinion on Sieg. The thoughts were running rampant with how much Rhekk was cowering before me. I felt bad for this guy, but this wasn’t the time for that! I didn’t need this right now.

[“If you won’t help, then stop trying to die!”] I yelled as I opened up my storage, ready to take out my subspace runes to send him to safety. If he wouldn’t be helpful, then I had to still ensure that this guy wouldn’t just die on me with this attitude.

“Stop!” he shouted, finally struggling in my grip, making me almost drop him as the cavern shook once again, prompting [Detection Sensor] to note a signal coming from the walls.

My hand retreated from the opened air. I couldn’t risk losing my [Room] runes now.

I turned around and activated my boosters again, performing the same evasive maneuver as before, but instead of charging out of the hole and into the ground again, the worm raised its body up and twisted it, changing its trajectory as it moved at me like a heat-seeking missile. Its giant maw—large enough to bite down at most of my body, but not enough to swallow me whole—opened up.

Jeeez!

“Krrrrkkkkk!” With a roar that sounded like a landfill, the worm rampaged around as I tried to outfly it, using the fact I could fly while being smaller than it to zoom around like a dragonfly.

However, due to all this damage, the cavern started to grow in size from everything falling apart with the monster’s beak swallowing rock and dirt. The monster certainly was faster than me, but its long body and exoskeleton kept it from being as maneuverable as me with my rocket boosters.

Still, I couldn’t keep this up. Eventually, the room would grow to the point that it wouldn’t have to perform as many sharp swerves and could use its higher agility to its benefit. I needed [Symphonie des Feuergottes] to activate already!

[“Fly to the left!”] I heard a man speak to me as I was worrying about what to do with this monster. Putting my full trust in those words, I swerved to the left, drifting so sharply in the air without killing the speed of my rocket boosters.

The worm crashed onto the ground, grinding the earth smooth as it began to turn around. It slammed the rear end of its body on the ground, creating a jumping momentum that instantly killed its speed, allowing it to readjust to my movements and pounce at me.

However, before it could even lunge forward, two trails of ice walls appeared from the side of the wall, blocking the worm’s advance with a glassy cracking. The worm roared and started to slither over the wall, only for the twins to finally descend with their bodies completely covered in true ice armor. Like missiles, they slammed right into the worm’s, imitating Vifi’s spear charges with [Wind Blast], [Tailwind], and [Hammerfist Bellow].

The “twin dragonian ice lances” created a powerful tornado that lasted for a second as ice horns pierced into the worm’s head. Sadly, they didn’t seem to do much damage as the worm barely reacted to it, merely being pinned into the ground due to physics. Regardless, this was the opening I needed!

Switching to Dragon Fire for a moment. Symphonie des Feuergottes! Prayer!

[Symphonie des Feuergottes Movement (Allegro)] [Blessing of the Goddess of Light (Major)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]

Two large-scale spells were cast at the same time, raining down an inferno waterfall and a shower of white glowing snow. With [Dragon Fire] protecting everybody but the worm, they were kept safe from the flames, with the latter finally crying out from the fire spell. In return, though, it finally gained [Fire Resistance Lv. 1].

As Hikari prepared the next set of spells, now that the majority of my buffs were active, I turned [Dragon Fire] off to return to the previous combo of songs. I analyzed the battlefield, seeing the worm still burrowing into a new tunnel while the wyverns were flying over it like vultures. At the same time, I noticed the tunnels the worm had created beforehand were starting to close as ice grew over them, similarly, the smoothened ground the worm slithered around was forming a sheet of ice as well.

This monster has [Tyrant’s Aura Lv. 2], but it doesn’t seem to know how to cast a Territory. It’s creating something similar with its [Glacial Burrowing], though. Okay, then the play is obvious. [Magmakammer] has no counter!

[“Shay! Beth!”] I called.

[“Leave your protection to us, Lady Hestia!”] Shay replied resolutely. [“These fangs will sink into this monster. We will show you that our training has not been for naught!”]

[“We will cover you. Allow yourself to fly freely!”] Shay added with a confident roar. Despite fighting a rank A, us rank Bs were psyching each other up!

“See! You have no time! Just throw me away and use me as bait, or something!” Yet, the fourth rank B in this party had no will to participate. The chamber started to rock violently again confirming his statement. “Dammit! Princess, stop trying to let your feelings affect everything here! Power is everything, and if you have the power, claim that victory! The weaklings flying under your wings are nothing more than fodder, so just throw—”

[“Will you finally just SHUT UP!”] I snapped, nearly biting Rhekk’s head off. My spit splashed onto his face, causing him to gag as some of it got into his mouth. [“Do you love hearing your voice that much, or why are you always talking to me like that? Huh? Fuck off! Just, fuck off! I can’t believe I tried to change myself for you, and it seems like I have to repeat what I said when we first met. I have my own ideals and way of doing things, so don’t try to change me here! Fuck our draconic culture; that’s all I have to say to you!”]

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Rhekk’s eyes widened. With his already meek and defeatist attitude, my remark stunned him into silence, allowing me to finish what I had to say to him.

[“You think you know everything so well, huh? Little selfish, spoiled brat, right? You think dying is the solution here, after you persuaded me to lie to your brother, just because you thought you knew exactly what he would think, only to make it worse for the both of us! You don’t know SHIT, Rhekk, and it shows with how deluded you are!”] I shouted, letting my emotions go wild against his wish. [“I don’t act as you want, and I won’t change it unless I believe it will help me grow as a person. What you told me goes against that; it only ruins everything I’ve committed towards in my two lives. And one of them is to let you die! I promised your older brother to help you, and so I will! I don’t care how much you two argue or something, or even how abusive he is to you, but dying isn’t the answer!”]

I then swerved to the side as my skills warned me of the worm, evading it. As it tried to pursue me, the twins came in clutch, smacking at the worm with their icy, sharp wings and stung the monster with their ice breath. WIth allegro boosting my base agility by 50%, I was far too fast for the worm now, and could use this time to continue my lecture.

[“Dying will never be the answer, as it will do nothing for you! You don’t know how your family will react to your death. You don’t truly know how your parents will grieve for you, and I don’t care if I don’t know you and your family that well! Because I regret everything that I did to mine! That sadness did not change anything when I died, and I can only imagine the disaster I left behind as my legacy. You don’t know shit when you put that knife at your neck!”] I cried, echoing Hikari’s trauma as well. [“If you think your family somehow hates you enough to gloat at your death, then what you should do is to live to spite them! Spite them to hell, for all I care, because you are dead, you can do nothing! No redemption can be found when your soul vanishes from existence! Dammit, Rhekk, for the first time in your life, do something for yourself, instead for your brother’s approval! So—”]

I pulled him closer to my head, singing his scales as [Symphonie des Feuergottes]’s flame cloak was cooking him alive. [“I will keep you alive against your wishes. Even if you get swallowed and get digested by that worm, I will rip you out of its body and start regenerating your molten body. I will save you even if that worm’s horn tore you into pieces. I will stitch you together like Frankenstein’s monster and bring you back to life with a white grace that defies nature! In my presence, I order you to live! This is my decree as your princess; this is my judgement onto you! Fight and live for me, until you’ve earned the right to finally enter your eternal rest!”]

I then threw Rhekk onto the ground like a baseball, causing him to tumble on the ground like a stone skipping on water. I then sent down a white [Hellflame Breath], causing him to let out a scared cry as the heat punished him, only for the fire to heal up all his wounds.

[“If you want to act like bait, then do that,”] I said as I stopped my dragon breath, extinguishing the flames, revealing that the worm was towering over Rhekk at this moment. The ice dragon looked up, still in a panic. [“Well, if you don’t want me to recover you from its digestive juices and cut your body up to have it recover with [Miraculous Grace], then I suggest you to move.”]

“W-w-wai—” He fell onto his butt as the worm roared. “Arrrrghhhhhhh!”

With a soul-piercing screech, a mana cloud exuded from Rhekk’s body as he finally transformed back into his real form. Far larger than I was and a bipedal dragon, Rhekk grabbed the worm’s mouth, avoiding the horn by snapping his neck to the side. Continuing to scream, Rhekk prevented himself from getting eaten, but kept getting pushed back due to the sheer size of the monster.

[“Unleash a breath attack into its mouth!”] I ordered and Rhekk did just that, filling the worm’s innard with ice.

Come on, Sun, Consume All! Quartz Regen. And let me hear you roar back into life, my little ruby star! Sing with me! Kriffiek kllk gaaung!

[Gazing Upon The Ruby Star (Owner) (Minor)] [Battle Frenzy (Minor)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]

‘Together! As one, as a duet we sing! Ruthal mirsk gafuug’tal!’

[Battle Frenzy (Moderate)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]

Irrrck! Hikari and I jerked back, feeling mental anguish as our double activation of [Battle Frenzy] caused it to spiral into something worse. [Battle Frenzy (Moderate)] activated before we could actually master it, but the fact I understood my greed meant I could tell myself to steady myself.

‘Hieerrrrk!’ Though, Hikari was worse off, probably since her own [Battle Frenzy] training was still insufficient.

I have to do this for us! I will make it come true, Hikari! We have to survive this! For the sake of our idol career! For the sake of our new mom! For the sake of all the damn regrets you had to carry on your back!

[“Back off! Territory release!”]

Mana Release activated. Aura used as control unit: [Ruby Star Lv. 7]. Territory [Magmakammer] has been established

Due to the effects of [Ruby Star], Territory cannot be properly established. Conflicts between control unit and desired Territory

I don’t fucking care what kinda crap you’re talking about System Voice! I demand a Territory that will reap this world of my enemies, and to establish myself as a star for the world to remember!

New image of a Territory accepted. [Magmakammer]’s effect will adapt

[Magmakammer] has been renamed into [Maestro des Karmesinen Stern]

The chamber burst into flames as the Territory activated, scorching the earth with crimson flames while purple ones wrapped around the ceiling and walls like clothing. Like a painting, the moving flames made the environment look like oil paint—slightly muddy with rough lines due to the strokes and left behind oil—but made everything look like life was blooming. It was like hell, but somehow also like a forest set aflame, with its burning leaves and petals flying around like the insects living there.

With the click of my finger, multiple white sparkling dots appeared on the purple horizon, surrounding the white sun of [Sun, Consume All] like little moons. With every light belonging to me now, the spotlight shone on me and the twins, as our shadows were cast into the worm and Rhekk, making sure they were only the side characters in this play. In this performance of light and death, our dance and voice will herald the drums of our victory!

“Arrghk!” Rhekk cried out as his legs and tail were being burned by the “ground of lava,” forced to cast himself in ice to keep himself safe. Yet, why would he do this, when [Sun, Consume All] was feeding him with life-bringing white flames, healing him of his burns in seconds?

The worm, as well, struggled to endure all the flames burning its body, while the purple flames filled the chamber with noxious gases. Even as it tried to drill itself out of the chamber, the flames surrounded him like a whirlpool, seeping into the small bit of broken exoskeleton the twins caused at the start of this fight. Like the previous iteration of [Dragon Fire] which created a flame arena that automatically attacked anything trying to escape or enter it, my new Territory made sure that legacy would never disappear!

You thought you had us trapped here? The moment you tried to challenge me without a Territory, was the moment you outplayed yourself! You are trapped in here with me!

The worm roared as it understood it couldn’t escape any longer. That chance was gone!

Its ice armor and exoskeleton started to melt inside this new magma chamber, with its body wriggling around nonstop. It began to rampage like a toddler giving a tantrum, slamming its rear end and head around as it released a harpy-like shriek.

[“Delay it for adagio!”] I commanded my dragons as I was assembling every single intelligence boost I could possibly receive in this state. [Battle Frenzy (Moderate)] was grating on my mind like a cheese shredder, cutting into my sanity with every single second, but it gave me such a power high due to the 25% increase in my stats.

10% boost in my fire or holy attacks from [The Will to Fight and Survive], 5% wisdom reduction on the enemy, 10% stats due to [The Heir of Hope], 30% intelligence increase due to [Blessing of the Goddess of Light], 5% increase in fire, holy, and draconic attacks from [Gazing Upon The Ruby Star], and this wasn’t even mentioning the smaller spell buffs I had on! [Symphonie des Feuergottes Movement (Adagio)] would then grant me 50% of my intelligence as well!

Ahahaha, and I haven’t even included the Dhuinn rune effect, yet! All I needed was time!

Whether it was due to instinct or something else, the worm understood this very fact and charged at me with full-on desperation. However, just like before, the twins attacked it, charging at it with the same superspeed attack as before, knocking the worm into the [Fimbulvetr Wall] from before.

Fighting like berserkers despite the fact [Maestro des Karmesinen Stern] was burning them—not through the fire but through the heat, since they were considered allies and wouldn’t be harmed by it—the twins ravaged the one broken spot on the monster’s exoskeleton, widening it even further. [Dragon Fire] had to be activated to protect them even from the heat, but that was why I had [Sun, Consume All] to heal them, since [Dragon Fire] would also reduce the effectiveness of the twins’ true ice.

Quartz Regen, go!

I sent down a hail of giant white obsidian crystals onto the ground, burying it with it as the twins took their chance to escape. The crystals burst open, releasing a wave of flames that poisoned the monster even further.

Meanwhile, I took this time to charge up the white sun by absorbing any solar energy still lingering inside this room, including that of the twins and Rhekk. When adagio appeared, I would have my chance to land blows powerful enough to penetrate past the monster’s defenses. All I needed was the time, though, and that had to be created at the expense of my allies.

[“Beth!”] Shay screamed as the twins tried to create some distance between them and the worm, only for the beast’s rear end to slap at them. Although she wasn’t hit directly, the whip-like attack caused a strong shockwave that sent her crashing onto the ground.

Still rampaging, the tail slammed right into the ground before Shay could react, crushing Beth. Although she let out a snarl, her ice armor protected her enough to not lose consciousness and was able to heal up with my white flames … but, there was a different issue now as the worm successfully got Beth glued onto its exoskeleton.

No!

The worm kept moving around, making it hard to help Beth in this situation as she was being grinded along the aflame ground. She kept regenerating her armor to protect herself, but being dragged along the ground left her with no time to get herself away from the worm. I could only keep somebody alive as long as they didn’t die instantly, and if Beth were to lose all her armor and land on the ground in a bad position, that could end it all. If she went unconscious, that chance would increase.

I had to—

[“I am your claws, my princess!”] Shay announced. [“Do not move away from your position! This is my sister, and if we have to risk our lives for you, then we shall!”]

Shay turned away from Beth and charged at the worm’s head in an attempt to stop it, but before he could, Rhekk got to it earlier, slamming himself with full force into the worm to push it into the wall. He roared and unleashed an ice breath into the worm’s open mouth.

[“Free your damn sister, you skink of a scalekin! Do something worthwhile!”] Rhekk shouted, fury clear to hear in his voice. He didn’t even look around as he kept his berserker-like state active

[“… You have my gratitude, Lord Rhekkraxus!”] Shay said as he zoomed back to the worm’s rear end, successfully managing to grab the monster by the rear end.

To help him out, I had Hikari cast multiple [Hammerfist Bellows] onto the rear end, sending strong shockwaves at that area to pin it down. With Rhekk taking care of the top, only the middle part of the worm kept rampaging about.

Shay quickly made it to his sister and began cutting into the monster’s exoskeleton. With his true ice armor, it prevented himself from getting stuck. Finally, he managed to get her off, but just as he did so, the worm managed to sling Rhekk away from its head, roaring as its body could wiggle in a destructive dance with impunity.

Its head lunged at me while its rear end started to slam on the ground again, ready to hit Shay and Beth. It seemed like I couldn’t delay things any further. Regardless, with my Territory creating flames everywhere, [Flash Fire] had immense val—

Your bond with your retainer [Drifting Snow Wyvern, Shayatierus] has reached a new height. Loyalty, friendship, and trust had sealed your bond with each other. With the strength to serve and protect you, your retainer deserves appropriate rewards

The title [Hestia’s Retainer] has evolved into [Hestia’s Imperial Guard]. The title has been adapted according to the memories the both of you have shared

Shay?

As that notification appeared before my eyes, the sound of a gunshot woke me up as in the next moment, a giant icicle spear drilled right into the worm’s exposed mouth, piercing through its roof, coming out of the exposed exoskeleton spot. As the worm diverted its lunge due to the pain, I turned around and I saw Shay stare at me in surprise with the ice armor on his tail missing.

Surprisingly, as if he had access to [Scale Manipulation], the pieces of true ice armor on his body started to levitate around him, growing in size until they were like spears. As the armor on his tail regrew, Shay readjusted the aim of his tail and just like before, the sound of a gunshot echoed around as the ice shot forward with the flying true ice.

Another large icicle spear pierced the worm’s mouth, leaving it reeling for longer.

… I’m taking the chance! Fuck adagio. Flash Fire!

All the boosts I had for intelligence also applied to my strength stat. I had a magical explosion in mind to end the fight, but this was an even better opportunity! “Teleporting” right in front of the worm with [Flash Fire], I channeled all the solar energy I managed to gather with [Sun, Consume All] towards the tip of my tail while activating [Dhuinn Rune: Fearless Defence]. [Drakonian Sunlight Edge] activated.

Brother Kahalameet, let me show you what I managed to learn! Kargryxmor Style—

Flames burst around my tail, glowing a neon white as I assumed my glaive stance using my tail as the weapon. Steadying my legs with [Air Walk], instead of flying, I took a deep breath as my mana and stamina turned into draconic energy, making me think back on what Kahalameet taught me when it came to spearmanship.

A move the Kargryxmor clan taught their dragoons!

—Sky Sunderer!

Just like how Yorshka would do it, a dragon made from mana formed around my “weapon” as I sliced upward. For a moment, I felt as if I was back in my humanoid form with my glaive as the moment spurred my body to react to the giant mana dragon cleaving the worm and the ceiling into half.

In the next moment, that sensation of working with Kahalameet came back. I felt my dragonewt body going through the motion. A charged upward strike using dragon energy, fire, and scales, leading to an explosive reaction at the tip of the spear that shot the mana forward, using it, instead of raw strength, to slice open even the sky, before twirling my glaive to create a vacuum around me to suck my opponent back in, giving me an opportunity to slice downward, finishing the Ability. An attack that could potentially slice even the hardest-shelled opponent in half! A dragoon attack meant to be used against true dragonkin and other armored enemies, too slow to avoid the initial strike!

Now, imagine all of this in my dragon form, boosted by all my strength, fire, holy, and dragon modifiers and also the fact [Drakonian Sunlight Edge] shot out a powerful blow made from solar energy! This was my imagination as I twisted my body to strike the monster one last time!

The sensation of bone, flesh, and blood grazed my tail as I burned through all of them as if it was butter, causing a vertical explosion as my scale-dust detonated at the same time. The ceiling above and the ground below me shattered upon the impact as I broke through the bony exoskeleton, using all the damage the wyverns and Rhekk had inflicted on it.

Without anything to protect it, the squishy inner flesh was unable to protect the worm’s organs from my dragoon-type Ability. No matter how high its vitality might be compared to my strength, getting your organs and brain eviscerated was a death sentence. In my opinion, this was a “critical hit.” With this attack, I successfully cut the worm’s head into half!

… Yet, it was still alive. At the end of the day, despite the excessive damage it took, its health hadn’t reached zero yet. Yikes, it was bleeding like a leaking water tank. It felt was desperately clinging onto life as its body wiggled around like a dying giraffe, unable to regenerate itself due to [Dread Burn]. I readied my next strike, but once again, I was a bit too late.

Bang!

Huh?

The sound of a gunshot, followed by the worm collapsing on the ground, now bearing an even larger icicle spear lodged into the opening of its tube-like body. The sliced-apart head of the worm was widened in further as it lay on the ground, wriggling around as a deathrattle.

The blow didn’t kill it outright, but its health was plummeting faster than before, bleeding . If I could shoot out a fire attack or something, I could have probably taken the kill, but I was still too stunned to react.

“Raaaahhrrrrrrrr!” I turned around to see Shay roaring from the top of his lungs, showing such a fierce look on his face that I couldn’t tell if he had ever shown this much emotion. [“My lady, allow me to serve you soon as rank A! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh! May this power serve you and Beth until I finally fall silent! Let the world hear my voice alongside yours!”]

… You asshole stole my kill. Hahahaha! Shay, you stole my fucking kill! Hahahahahaha!

I slammed onto the ground and tackled Shay, wrapping my neck around his body as he kept on yelling out his lungs for victory. I chortled to the point I sounded like a crazed witch as I congratulated him for finally taking an independent move. This move here! Instead of prioritizing me all the time, this idiot took an action that would benefit the whole party more than me taking the kill.

I couldn’t evolve even if I reached the max level. Shay could.

It wasn’t done on my orders, or anybody else’s suggestion. He took the reins at his own agency and owned up to it! His roar was a declaration that he did it right in front of my eyes, and I couldn’t be more proud! As rude as it was, being selfish here was proof that his entire issue with being weak actually meant a damn to him. He was ready to become strong enough that his “mistake” back on Inferno Nest would never happen again.

He would defend me, and for my protection, he would take it into his own hands.

[“B-Brother, you—”]

[“I’m alright with it, Beth!”] I jumped onto my feet and grabbed Beth with my wings, pulling her into the mosh pit as Shay continued to yell my ears off! [“This is our victory! For Aurora!”]

[“For Aurora!”] Shay replied. [“Forgive me, Princess Hestia! I seek more strength to protect you! Forgive me for being selfish!”]

I slammed my tail on the ground. [“Apology accepted, you dang idiot! Start acting more like this! I want you to bloom like a flame, instead of staying in the back like a frozen stalactite!”]

Although still confused, Beth let out an awkward laugh as the three of us cheered for Shay’s success, but this celebratory mood ended when Rhekk suddenly grabbed me by the tail and pulled me away, slamming me onto the ground with full force.

Argh!

[“My lady!”] Shay and Beth stopped their cheers as they saw this, but before they could attack Rhekk, I stopped them, shouting to them to let us handle this by ourselves.

Rhekk, unperturbed by this, slowly walked forward, eyeing me as I laid on my back. [“You skink … you were actually trying to see me die. After that entire speech?”]

I snorted. [“Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe you’re still deluded as ever, and I think that is the truth, you piece of shit. You are the worst partner I could ever wish for after the shit I had to do to gain a pittance of your goodwill.”]

[“You thought that would help?”]

[“I don’t know. Has your head finally calmed down?”]

Rhekk turned silent, grinding his teeth as he couldn’t continue his interrogation. [“… I have.”]

[“Then you should know that that entire sequence was faked. I don’t risk my friends or allies for something as bait unless I can assure that they survive, as I personally knew how dangerous being the bait was from first-hand experience. Do you really think I would have abandoned you after that flame breath?”] I snickered a bit, still a bit too engrossed in the victory mood. [“Ha, stop acting like I care about the culture of power at this point. I can accept it and will do what I must, but don’t for a moment think I will embrace it with my heart. I might be your princess, but I am also just Hestia. Just Hikari.”]

I stood up and tried to stand up on my hind legs, although I found it pretty hard as my body felt pretty tired. Turning off all my buffs made me realize that [Battle Frenzy (Moderate)] had drained me more than I thought. My solar energy felt depleted, although my body still had enough, and my brain felt like I just went through a twelve-hour marathon of watching paint dry. I could fall asleep at any moment now.

Though, I had to stay on my feet. I reached one of my front legs out, asking for a handshake.

[“Do you understand it finally, Rhekk?”]

He looked down at my hand and his own, closing his eyes for a moment before he turned away from me, huffing and puffing like an angered child. Yet, instead of like before, he turned back to me and nodded.

[“The only way I can make amends to my brother is to show that I can do something when my tail is in danger of getting cut off. Death will only make him scowl at me even further as a stain of our lineage. I understand that … Hestia. The only way to ‘spite’ him is to live and achieve something that he cannot just handwave away. I must stand on my own feet here.”]

Gently, he grabbed my hand before tightening his grip, prompting me to do the same.

I smiled. “We will reach the icicle peak! Fuck whatever your brothers thinks of us now!”

“Together!”

“Together!”

Shay pushed Beth forward, forcing her to grab our hands as he did. “Together!”

Although timid, Beth finally nodded. “Together!”

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Another imperial retainer gotten.

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