Tiamat (3)

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I looked around. I’d moved Tiamat and myself somewhere so that I could fight without any hesitation. Both of us were now on Paektu Mountain.

I stared at her. She stared back.

[ …Who are you? ]

While in the SS-rated gate in London, I had learned how to communicate with those from the gate. I learned it from Arthur.

Tiamat was using the same method. I shrugged and asked a question. “Are you a dragon?” Tiamat paused. She frowned. That surprised me as well.

I had spoken in Valhalla’s language, but she’d understood it.

There was silence for a while as Tiamat and I stared at each other for longer. Then she asked, “…How do you know that language?”

“I learned it naturally.”

“…Are you trying to fool me?”

Her presence made me laugh.

As I mentioned before, mythical creatures like orcs were extinct in Valhalla. Only a few dragons and humans had managed to survive there.

I realized that her language was from Valhalla. Yet, it was a very ancient language. I suppose she was one of those who’d disappeared from Valhalla ages ago.

“I’m really curious. What happened in Valhalla?”

Tiamat did not answer.

“Is this related to the gate incident?”

She did not answer that either. All she did was stare at me.

“I know I’m charming, so I understand that you are keeping an eye on me. But answer my questions first.”

“Why should I?”

Unfortunately, that was a reasonable question. I sighed.

“Well, then I’ll teach you a lesson.”

“That’s impossible—”

But she could not finish those words. With a red aura covering my hand, I punched Tiamat.

She did respond to that. In fact, she tried to reduce the speed of my fist. Unfortunately, however, her attempts were useless.

That punch hit her. Tiamat was pushed back and even collided with the wall. However, she managed to stand back up and tried to attack me.

It was no use. I grabbed her throat and stopped that attack. Then I headbutted her. It had been a while since I attempted to headbutt someone.

Tiamat responded to that too. She fought a lot, just like I did.

I decided to break her horns. That was my goal for now.

Like my brother, I was a persistent man who would keep trying until I achieved my goal. And so, I headbutted until her horns collapsed.

Once, again, and more. Tiamat tried to resist, but she could not counter. After several headbutts, she groaned.

“I saw that you were beating up my brother.”

“…You b**tard.”

“This is your last chance. If you want to die nicely, then answer my question.” Tiamat then looked at me closely and growled.

“…You are wearing clothes made with Mus Mahhu’s skin.”

“So?”

“You killed my child.”

I laughed and told her the truth.

“At Atlantis, Rahab killed a lot of people.”

The record told me it was a fact. The same applied to London’s gate.

“Mus Mahhu deserved to die. Even Arthur could have killed that beast. You should have taught your child better.”

“So you represent other humans’ thoughts?”

“Why would I represent them? Don’t give me the bullshit.”

“Then why did you kill my children?”

I supposed Ms. Tiamat wanted to have a conversation now.

Well then, so be it. I would answer what she wanted to know.

The reason was quite simple. It was natural for a predator to hunt its prey. I had just followed nature’s order.

Of course, I could be killed by others as well. Though, no one had yet been able to kill me.

“Don’t ask me philosophical questions. I assume that you are behaving like this because of your power. But remember that I’m following nature’s order.”

Tiamat smirked. “You’re not like me. I’m just trying to punish you for the sins that you have committed.” That made me laugh as well. She needed some more lessons.

I clenched my fist. The red aura was covering it. Then I struck Tiamat’s head. That was when her aura expanded. I could see her transforming.

She was a large dragon.

She was like dragons from Valhalla. I had seen a lot of them before.

While I was comparing her with the dragons I had met, Tiamat declared, [ I’ll make a throne with your dead body. I shall rip your arms and legs, and your head will be mine. ]

I knew what she was about to do.

Usually, dragons transformed into human forms for close combat. Yet, that had not worked with me. That was why she had chosen to return to her dragon form.

However, her larger body allowed me to hit her easily. So why did she do it? Because of the skills that they could only use in that form.

Dragons could cast a spell just by saying simple words. That was why Tiamat had transformed into a dragon’s form.

I slowly stood up.

“In Valhalla, I killed a lot of dragons. Do you know how I killed them?”

[ Don’t be cocky. What you killed were dragons that were inferior. ]

Tiamat smirked and asked, [ Well then, how did you kill them?” ]

“I’ll show you now.”

***

If the gate were cleared, they could go in or get out of there freely.

However, if they entered the gate when it was not cleared, then they couldn’t escape from it.

That meant that people couldn’t check what was going on inside the gate. That was why hunters recorded what they were doing with the watches.

But they could check it from the outside of the gate.

When a dungeon break occurred, the monster could appear in the real world. They could check it from a distance through drones known as “Third Eyes.” This allowed everyone to observe Lee Hwan’s battle with Tiamat.

“The dragons appeared in the Paektu Mountain. If it were ten years ago, everyone would think this was bullshit,” said Ho.

Hong Jong-Geun could not say anything to that.

As soon as he knew that something was not right, Jong-Geun had arrived there. He’d seen that Ho and Raul were severely injured.

Even though Sophie was trying to heal them, they were not well.

That was when the teenager came by. She was Kim So-Eun, a girl with a unique skill: “Regeneration.”

With her sword, she cut her skin slightly until she was bleeding. Kim So-Eun then touched Ho’s injured body and murmured, “[Regeneration].”

Soon, Ho’s injuries were cured. So-Eun continued to bleed.

Lee Ho’s eyes were filled with astonishment. He’d never expected that she could use her ability for someone else.

Kim So-Eun did not say anything. Instead, she went over to Raul and did the same thing. Everyone was surprised to see it.

“When did you learn that?”

So-Eun smiled. Her face was pale, but she was proud of herself. Lee Hwan had taught her how to do that, and she’d managed to do it in front of others. That was big progress.

The mechanism of it was quite simple. The injured person must touch So-Eun’s blood, and so So-Eun had to be there to cure them.

Meanwhile, others observed Hwan.

b I’ll show you now. }

The dragon repeated Lee Hwan’s words.

b I’m quite disturbed since you are thinking of me as the dragon you killed. }

Ho frowned. Tiamat and Hwan were communicating in Valhalla’s language. That was being broadcasted.

Now, everyone in the world knew that Hwan could speak the monster’s language. But Ho could deal with that instead.

Lee Hwan then said, b Wait for three seconds. }

Soon, Hwan disappeared from the screen. Everyone wondered where he was. However, soon, they were astonished.

“Hey, Ho.”

Lee Hwan was right next to them.

“When did you come?”

“Not now. Just give me a sword that you don’t use.”

Without any hesitation, Lee Ho gave him the Godfather’s sword. Hwan smiled and checked Tiamat.

“I suppose the aura near me was broadcasting that.”

“Will you be fine with that?”

“Why?”

“…Don’t you need any help?”

Lee Hwan smiled and shrugged. “Well, I’ll teach you how to kill the dragons. Watch carefully.”

Then he distorted the space and disappeared. Soon, everyone could see Hwan on the screen.

‘What a mysterious man!’ Everyone couldn’t help but exclaim.