The Dragon Slayer Who Regressed After 1,000 Years - Chapter 25

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Dragon Slayer’s Return After 1000 Years — Episode 25
The hall fell silent.
No one had expected Cain to defeat Dave.
After all, Dave was a Five-Star Knight.
Hotheaded as he was, he could easily crush a mere Two-Star novice.
But the outcome was the opposite.
And the real problem lay elsewhere.
No one had seen Cain move.
“Did you see it……?”
“No.”
“What happened? Why did Dave fall?”
“I have no idea.”
The murmuring knights were all skilled practitioners of Five-Star rank or higher.
Yet even they had failed to track Cain’s movements.
All save Dmitri of the Asher Knight Order.
‘He moved at a speed equivalent to Six-Star rank in that instant.’
He had watched closely, ready to intervene if necessary.
Cain’s aura had erupted from his feet and in a flash struck Dave’s face before disappearing.
‘This transcends mere genius. He’s no Two-Star warrior.’
Without question, Six-Star rank or higher.
That was Dmitri’s assessment of Cain’s level.
‘But why does he only emit Two-Star aura?’
Dmitri’s pupils dilated in that moment.
‘Could it be…… Aura Control?’
There was a saying that the strong conceal thirty percent of their power.
What made that possible was Aura Control.
A technique that suppressed the aura within one’s body at will, preventing opponents from discerning true strength.
‘But I’ve heard only Sword Masters who have reached the Pinnacle of Swordsmanship can employ such a technique…….’
And Cain was doing it?
It was impossible.
“Sir, Commander.”
As Dmitri turned his head, Garen, the vice-commander, asked with a bewildered expression.
“You said Prince Cain was Two-Star, yes? Is he truly Two-Star?”
“You tell me. Your own senses detected his aura, didn’t they?”
“But…… that is decidedly not the power of a Two-Star warrior.”
“Indeed. Felling a Five-Star warrior in a single blow — anyone would mistake him for Six-Star.”
Brion, a senior knight, added his voice to the matter.
Dmitri had witnessed Cain’s abilities before, but for those seeing him for the first time, the shock was considerable.
“Ahem…… Cain, you said?”
Luciwood gazed down at the fallen Dave.
He was not unfamiliar with Dave’s capabilities.
Hotheaded though he was, a Five-Star warrior remained a Five-Star warrior.
And yet the man had been thrown down without landing a single counterattack.
“Your strength is confirmed. Come with us.”
“Thank you for accepting me.”
Luciwood jerked his chin toward the unconscious Dave.
“Wake that one and get him on his feet.”
As a subordinate knight dragged Dave away, Luciwood gestured to the Asher Knight Order.
“I shall explain the operation. Gather round, all of you.”
The knights assembled, and he continued.
“Over the past few days, villages near the Eastern Mountain Range have suffered attacks. According to witness accounts, the culprit is a Black Dragon, believed to be dwelling deep within the Eastern Mountain Range. Three individuals have been confirmed — ranging from Juvenile Dragon to Adult-Class.”
‘Surely not just three. This is where the Alpha is decided.’
Cain expected at least a dozen or more, but he held his tongue.
There was no need to sow confusion with mere conjecture.
‘Besides……’
Cain’s gaze drifted to the man standing beside the commander.
Vice-Commander Leonan Berk.
One look at his face told Cain everything he needed to know.
Before the Return, this man had been the liaison for the Dragon-Worshipping Faction.
‘I killed him with these hands. I cannot possibly forget.’
They may still be active, so we should keep watch.
Leonan glanced toward them for a moment, but Cain had already looked away.

* * *
While the knights listened to the operation briefing.
The Black Dragons were locked in fierce combat.
A battle to determine their tribe’s leader.
[Shriek!]
[Roooar!]
Twelve dragons tangled together, biting, clawing, and diving through the air.
They bit at one another with lethal intent, yet none deployed their breath.
Magic, including Dragon Language, remained strictly forbidden.
They meant to wound, not to kill.
[Bite him! That one first!]
[He’s coming this way! Hold the line!]
Though it appeared chaotic, the dragons had divided into two camps.
One faction led by Nerkasion, Velacors’s eldest son.
Another led by Drakasion, his second son.
A quarrel between brothers, yet a necessary rite now that their father was gone.
The fighting did not end easily.
They had battled for days, shifting grounds, yet the deadlock persisted.
‘This will never finish at this rate.’
The eldest, Nerkasion, was seized by sudden impulse.
The urge to spray Acid Breath and melt his younger brother Drakasion away.
Drakasion felt the same.
[Nerkasion.]
[What.]
[Why don’t we settle this between the two of us?]
[Just the two of us?]
[I’ve heard that in human warfare, leaders step forward to duel one-on-one.]
[You want to face me alone?]
[That’s right.]
It was music to his ears.
He was desperate to end this tedious fighting.
[Fine.]
[Everyone listen!]
Drakasion called out loudly, infusing his words with Dragon Language.
[Nerkasion and I will settle this one-on-one. Stop fighting and watch!]
Every dragon ceased combat.
The duel between leaders was imminent.

* * *
The faces of the knights climbing the mountain were more tense than ever.
Walking toward death itself left no room for calm.
‘This is a truly insane mission.’
‘If it were just one dragon, that’d be one thing. But they said there are three?’
‘Can we really slay dragons?’
Doubt crept into their minds, yet hope flickered alongside it.
Though they were enemies, hadn’t the Asher Knight Order sent reinforcements?
Luciwood was grateful for that fact.
‘Three more Sword Masters have been added. And another whose strength is unknown.’
A Sword Master was vital—capable of piercing a dragon’s scales.
With their own Sword Masters included, that made seven.
They could hunt one Juvenile Dragon without difficulty.
Perhaps even two.
‘But three…….’
Even Luciwood, with the most dragon-slaying experience among them, could not guarantee victory.
“When we encounter the dragons, we must strike them individually.”
“I agree. That will be our best course.”
Dmitri, walking beside him, nodded in assent.
“But there’s one thing that troubles me. Are you certain there are only three dragons……?”
“There won’t be just three.”
Cain, who had been following behind, suddenly interjected.
Both commanders’ eyes turned toward him.
“When a Black Dragon’s alpha dies, a Succession Battle always follows. During that process, the entire clan gathers in one place. If we’ve confirmed three individuals, there must be at least a dozen or more in reality.”
“…….”
“And during a Succession Battle, their guard weakens. They’ll be focused on the dragons fighting each other. Right now might actually be an opportunity.”
Luciwood’s footsteps halted.
“How did you come to know such a thing?”
“I read it in a book.”
The answer was brief, yet the depth of his knowledge was extraordinary.
Dmitri’s gaze shifted toward Luciwood.
“We should send scouts. Shouldn’t we first confirm how many there actually are?”
“Quite right.”
Luciwood looked at Cain.
“If you know dragons so well, you could scout, could you not?”
“Yes. I’ll go.”
After answering, Cain separated from the knight order and moved alone.
‘Dragons are sensitive to mana.’
He suppressed his Circle’s power as much as possible, moving swiftly between rocks and vegetation.
How far had he climbed?
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The earth began to shake.
‘They’re close.’
Cain crouched at the cliff’s edge and peered down.
Dragons came into view within the wide expanse of the Basin.
Twelve.
Just as he’d anticipated.
But they weren’t fighting.
Ten dragons stood in a circle, watching the center intently.
At that center: Nerkasion and Drakasion.
Two massive Black Dragons faced off against each other.
‘The Succession Battle’s final clash has begun.’
The melee had ended; it had progressed to the final confrontation.
‘No one will interfere in the leaders’ duel.’
Until the final battle ended, every dragon’s gaze would remain fixed on the two combatants.
The situation was far better than expected.
Besides, wounded dragons were scattered throughout the arena.
Days of fighting had left them visibly exhausted.
When the leaders fought, one wouldn’t rise again.
‘That moment will be the best time to strike.’
A thin smile played at Cain’s lips.
‘The loser will be mine.’

* * *
When Cain returned, all eyes fixed on him at once.
“Well? What did you find?”
Luciwood asked.
“Not three.”
“……What did you say?”
“Twelve. They were gathered in the Basin.”
The knights stirred uneasily.
“Twelve dragons? That can’t be right.”
“This isn’t a subjugation—it’s suicide!”
One of Bellion’s knights shouted toward Luciwood.
“Commander, we must retreat! This is beyond our capacity!”
The other knights began to panic as well.
“He’s right. Shouldn’t we request reinforcements and return later?”
Luciwood’s expression had hardened too.
Twelve dragons—even three were daunting for their current strength.
The withdrawal was a rational decision.
Then Cain stepped forward.
“I understand your shock, but let’s all stay calm. There’s no need to retreat.”
The knights’ gazes snapped toward him in unison.
“Why not?”
“They’re in the middle of a Succession Battle right now. If we miss this opportunity, next time we’ll face a unified pack under a new alpha.”
……
“Twelve of them moving as one. By then, even if we call for reinforcements, it’ll be too late.”
The knights’ faces hardened.
They hadn’t thought that far ahead.
“But this is different. Once the battle ends, the loser is abandoned. If we have one loser in a dying state, our current strength is more than enough to take it down.”
Silence fell.
Dmitri spoke first, weighing the argument.
“There’s merit to that. Better to strike now than face a unified pack.”
Luciwood folded his arms and studied Cain for a long moment.
“Very well. We’ll do this your way.”
He added a parting shot.
“If you’re wrong, you’ll answer for it.”
“Of course.”
Cain answered calmly.
While the knights began preparing their strategy, Leonan watched Cain quietly from one corner.
‘So his name is Cain Asher? No matter what he’s read in books, he knows far too much about the dragons’ internal affairs. I’ll have to report this to Duke Drake later.’
His gaze held caution rather than curiosity.

* * *
On the Ridge overlooking the Basin.
The knights held their positions and held their breath.
In the center of the Basin, Nerkasion and Drakasion were still locked in combat.
Black blood seeped through the rents in torn scales.
Both were approaching their limit.
The waiting continued.
How much time had passed?
Nerkasion’s claws raked across Drakasion’s flank.
A terrible shriek tore from the dragon’s throat.
He seized the staggering Drakasion by the neck.
The eyes that looked back held the acceptance of defeat.
Thud!
Drakasion crashed to the ground.
Breath still remained in him, but no strength left to rise.
The victor was decided.
[Kneel.]
Nerkasion unleashed Dragon Language toward the remaining dragons.
One by one, they began lowering their heads.
Soon the dragons moved around their new alpha.
The pack was dispersing.
Only Drakasion remained, sprawled alone in the center of the Basin.
No one spared him a glance.
The loser was abandoned.
Luciwood’s eyes gleamed.
“Now?”
Cain nodded.
“We can take it while it recovers. We have to move before it regains its strength.”
Luciwood drew his blade.
“All units, charge! Target: one downed Adult-Class!”
Seven Sword Masters at the vanguard, the order descended the Ridge.
Even in a dying state, a dragon was still a dragon.
As the knights approached, Drakasion’s eyes flickered open, dim with pain.
[You dare… humans…… such as you…….]
Its tail lashed once.
Three knights went flying from that single blow.
“Don’t fall back now! If not now, there will be no other chance!”
Luciwood’s voice cut through the air as he poured Aura Control into his blade.
Blue light bloomed across the steel, condensing into razor-sharp brilliance.
The mark of a Sword Master—Sword Force.
The other Sword Masters unleashed theirs in unison.
Seven streams of light converged from all sides, rushing toward Drakasion.
The Sword Force drove deep between the parted scales.
Drakasion thrashed in agony, but his strength was already depleted.
After dozens of cutting strikes, the creature’s movements ceased.
Silence fell across the Basin.
“……We did it.”
Luciwood breathed heavily, his shoulders heaving.
One Adult-Class Black Dragon.
Even mortally wounded as it was, this was a remarkable victory.
“Check the wounded! Prepare the dismantling work!”
The knights sprang into motion with practiced efficiency.
Dragon scales, bones, blood, claws.
All of it precious material.
While the knights were absorbed in their labor,
Cain spoke low.
“Bernatus. Extract the heart and hide it. Conceal it with an Illusion.”
[Understood, Seer.]
As sight was drawn elsewhere, the location masked by shifting shadow, Drakasion’s Heart vanished without a sound.
In its place remained only an Illusion, indistinguishable from the real thing.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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