Reincarnated as a dragon’s egg ～Lets aim to be the strongest～ - Chapter 549

549 – Growth (side: Volk)

I dash towards Howgrey. His surroundings are still permeated by the premonition of death.

…I can see it, the danger area is far too large to avoid while fighting. Normally, he’s an opponent I would avoid fighting in the first place.

I had thought I would be satisfied if I died in battle… But I can only wonder whether this can actually be called a battle. Howgrey’s shadow is too great. It feels as though I’m jumping headfirst into the mouth of a volcano.

“To think that you have the willpower to leap at me despite knowing the difference in strength.”

Howgrey moves forward as well. Before I know it, he is within striking distance of his shortsword.

In my mind, I begin to predict how he will come at me. If I go with the idea that Howgrey’s level isn’t that high in itself, he should have limited means at his disposal. As long as I move optimally, he will inevitably be forced into a corner. Just being one or two moves ahead is no good. Think, Volk… I need a swordsmanship that can corner Howgrey completely!

The shortsword and greatsword slam into each other, and the clang of steel resounds. Each clash sends a thrill running through my veins. Howgrey diverts the power of the greatsword, carefully compensating for the difference in weight and strength.

“…In just sword aptitude alone, you’ve shown terrific growth in the midst of this battle. Without a stronger opponent to match blows with until now, your resourcefulness must have been stagnating. [Dragon Hunter]… You truly are a fearsome man.”

I receive a cut on my arm from the shortsword Howgrey swings down. Maybe because of my excitement, it doesn’t hurt at all. Moreover, I feel delighted in having survived his first point-blank attack. Howgrey, who looked like he was about to step in, instead checks me with a parry and nimbly leaps backward with a kick.

He has unwittingly moved himself into [Destruction God Doldia]’s range. The blade of his shortsword being far out of reach, it’s an ideal striking distance for me.

“Don’t move an inch from there!”

Thinking ten steps ahead in my mind, I start swinging my greatsword precisely in such a way as to crush any of his paths of escape. If I make even the tiniest of mistakes, he will break free from this prison of blows. I send my brain into overdrive and keep up the rain of precise slashes. Without a doubt, this is the best sequence of attacks I’ve thrown in my entire life. Howgrey’s expression doesn’t waver, but he’s put on the back foot completely from my continuous assault, and is unable to take action.

“Impressive swordplay. I’d like to fight you as befitting a swordsman but… This isn’t a match, but a fight to the death.”

His body suddenly shifts to the side at an impossible speed. With my concentration being pushed to its utmost limit, I easily and accurately grasp his movement, but I’m unable to correct the path of my sword that has already been swung down.

Howgrey’s mysterious movement… The ability that allows him to reposition his body in an instant, even in midair, appears as a blur to me. Its speed is confusing, too, but it’s the exceedingly illogical movement that makes it impossible for me to counteract.

It is precisely because I was so close to catching him that I understand the unfairness of that movement. As Howgrey is a perfected swordsman against whom no petty tricks will work, attacks from a distance will be unlikely to kill him. So I have no choice but to challenge him in his favoured close-range combat, but… Even if it looks like I’ll be able to overcome him using sword techniques, as long as Howgrey has those strange movements, he will freely overturn the situation anytime he likes.

However… Something felt strange when I saw the blur of Howgrey’s movement earlier. It was deja vu. I can’t help but feel like I saw the movement of another opponent interposed on him.

I swing my sword down. As I move, Howgrey readies his shortsword at an angle, and thrusts towards my weapon.

“[Armour Pierce]”

Howgrey’s shortsword pierces through the flat of my greatsword. Cracks travel along the blade that can even defend against a dragon’s blow.

“No way… impossible!”

“If I pierce the weak point of something so thin and light, this is what happens. With myself as your opponent, you should at least act in a way to protect your sword more. To use it like a shield, how absurd.”

Now that I only have a broken sword, Howgrey charges in and slashes at me. I flee backwards. The repeated attacks from his shortsword carve shallow cuts into my body.

Since no deep cuts appear, it looks like Howgrey’s second followup slash hasn’t activated. I let my arms and legs bear the brunt of his attacks as I flee, and fling the broken greatsword at him to create distance.

…Sorry, [Destruction God Doldia]… My incompetence has sent you on the same path to oblivion as [Moon Sunderer Leral].

After creating some distance, I begin healing my cuts with [Autoregeneration]. There’s no need to heal completely. As long as I can move, it’s enough.

…To match an opponent like Howgrey without using tricks, [Destruction God Doldia] was no doubt my best weapon. Making the best use of its reach and lightness, I was able to attack Howgrey in such a way as to best make use of my advantages. However, I don’t have the room to be melodramatic.

“[Dimension]!”

I yell, raising my arm high. My hand closes around the handle of an ominously-shaped greatsword with a blade of crimson and azure.

“[Frumious Fang Bandersnatch]… Bringing such a thing out following [Destruction God Doldia], it looks like you’re a fellow who really likes collecting swords. The priceless magic sword said to be lost after Hero Miia’s passing… To think that you would be the one in possession of it…”

Howgrey murmurs.

It is true that [Frumious Fang Bandersnatch] is a more famous sword than [Destruction God Doldia].

…However, considering Howgrey’s stats, nothing will change even if I raise the attack power of my sword. From the start, if I could just manage to land a single hit, he would be taken out of the fight. I would have preferred to avoid using the brusque and hard-to-adapt [Frumious Fang Bandersnatch] against an opponent like Howgrey.

In addition, [Frumious Fang Bandersnatch] will… spread the bandersnatch’s madness to its wielder. Howgrey isn’t an opponent I can go wild against hoping for the best. However, without any other swords I can use, I have no choice but to gamble on [Frumious Fang Bandersnatch].