Chapter 361

361 – Dragon King

I descend the huge flight of stairs, fearfully making my way forwards. Aro is walking next to me, so I jerk my nose backwards to tell her to fall in behind me. There’s no telling what’s up ahead.

Without saying anything, treant-san is slowly following far behind me. Treant-san is as good at reading people as ever… If anything, it’s so good that it feels a bit lonely… Cautiousness is good right now though…

The path ahead of us underground appears dark… But then what looks like the light of fires comes into view… Are there candles?

As my certainty grows that there must be a kingdom of adams hidden underground, I sense an overwhelming presence from deeper in. Until now, the presence must have been hidden. I shudder as an intense pressure prickles my skin. A-am I being threatened away? Would backing off be better? Whatever the source of the presence is, it’s unmistakably stronger than the adams.

Could it be the source of God’s Voice? My wishes and those of God’s Voice have clashed a bunch, but it’s unmistakable that there’s someone that wants to guide me. If there is such a person, then I can imagine that this place at the edge of the world would be a perfect spot to find them.

…H-hey, partner, what should we do?

『Ah? We’ve come this far, and now you’re asking me…?』

N-no, but your intuition is always spot on…

『Surely there’s no problem with sneaking a glance?』

The answer I get is more ambivalent than I was expecting… Hmm… But it’s true that I probably could take Aro and the others and run away if it attacks me. It probably won’t be able to one shot me, and if it was that dangerous we probably would have been attacked the moment we set foot in here.

As I continue to worry, a sudden thought cuts into my mind.

『It’s been a long time. Since one who challenged the adams to survive, that is. You aren’t of this island, are you? Come closer.』

T-[Telepathy]!? I’m being invited in!? It was just [Telepathy], and yet I felt such strong pressure. It’s my first time experiencing that feeling. At the minimum, it’s stronger than an adam, so it has to be above A- rank.

This feeling… It’s probably not God’s Voice.

『Hurry up. Do not keep me waiting.』

A note of irritation has entered the voice. Whoever they are, they don’t seem to be very patient. U-understood…

『What a cheeky bastard. I might end up eating them.』

I hear the sound of my partner grating her teeth together. Th-they seem to be friendly, so let’s go on.

『We’re being looked down on.』

I know that…! They’re someone who can set adams to work left and right, and now they’re calmly talking to someone who defeated that trio. Had Aro and the others not been able to distract one of them, I probably wouldn’t have manged to kill them and ran away.

As I dejectedly continue on, I come across a vast hall, lined with multiple candlesticks. At the far end sits a dragon one size larger than me, its surface glittering a dazzling purple. Its fangs are thick and its claws are huge. It has four wings, and its body surface seems quite thick. Wh-wh-what is this…?

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『Eldia』

Species: Diabolos

Condition: Normal

Lv: 130/130 (MAX)

HP: 1697/1697

MP: 1316/1316

Attack: 1510

Defence: 835

Magic: 1109

Speed: 1139

Rank: A

Characteristic Skills:

[Dragon Scales: LvMAX] [Grisha Language: Lv7] [Flight: LvMAX] [Dark Attribute: Lv-] [Evil Dragon: Lv-] [Automatic HP Recovery: Lv6] [Automatic MP Recovery: Lv6] [Soft Steps: Lv6] [Presence Perception: Lv8] [King’s Demon Eye: Lv8] [God’s Voice: Lv1]

Resistance Skills:

[Physical Resistance: Lv8] [Fall Resistance: Lv8] [Starvation Resistance: Lv7] [Poison Resistance: Lv9] [Magic Resistance: Lv9] [Fear Resistance: Lv5] [Paralysis Resistance: Lv6] [Illusion Resistance: Lv9] [Instant Death Resistance: Lv9] [Curse Resistance: Lv8] [Confusion Resistance: Lv6] [Strong Light Resistance: Lv5] [Loneliness Resistance: LvMAX] [Sleep Resistance: Lv3] [Dark Attribute Resistance: Lv7] [Fire Attribute Resistance: Lv6] [Water Attribute Resistance: Lv6] [Earth Attribute Resistance: Lv4] [Light Attribute Resistance: Lv6] [Lightning Attribute Resistance: Lv6] [Wind Attribute Resistance: Lv7] [Ice Attribute Resistance: Lv4]

Normal Skills:

[Roll: Lv6] [Scorching Breath: Lv7] [Freezing Breath: Lv8] [Dragon Tail: Lv8] [Roar: Lv5] [Humanisation Technique: Lv7] [Autoregeneration: Lv5] [Telepathy: Lv4] [Dragoflare: Lv7] [Lightning Strike: Lv8] [Physical Barrier: Lv7] [Mana Barrier: Lv7]

Title Skills:

[Calamity: LvMAX] [Dragon King: Lv-] [One Who Wears Thick Scales: Lv-] [Former Demon Lord’s Subordinate: Lv-] [One Who Livers For a Long Time: Lv-] [Final Evolution: Lv-]

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S…Strong!? A-[Attack: 1510]!? Its attack stat is nearly 1.5 mine. I’d easily die if I take a few successive hits. You’re telling me something like this was underground!?

As I stand dazed, my partner prods me with her nose.

『Is it dangerous?』

Y-yeah it’s dangerous. Running away now would be difficult. In a straight battle, it’s essentially a far stronger version of me. Attack and speed, as well as status conditions, are more important than HP or MP in this world. On that point, this dragon’s attack and speed stats are stupidly high, and its resistances are solid too. There aren’t any openings for cheap tricks; it’s seriously not an opponent I can envisage winning against.

For that matter, things like this often… Hm? Huh, I think I’ve seen that title somewhere before. [Dragon King], Dragon King, err.. Ah, it’s in my [Dragon King’s Son] skill. That’s the one that raises my resistances and makes it easier for me to level up. Is it related somehow…?

Eh, dad? Could this be my father in this life!? That thing is!? A ridiculously grim-looking monster like that is my father!?

『Even if you get so frightened, I have no intention of eating you. Those adams were my servants, but they are easily replaceable. Unless, that is, you wish to challenge me… That would be fine too. In the past there has only ever been a single human that challenged me. Of course, I quickly tore that person limb from limb.』

The bluish-purple glittering dragon says, opening its mouth to bare its fangs at me.