37-64

EP.64 Monster Subjugation (2) 

KWAHHHH~~~ 

The massive dragon spewed lightning from its horns, attacking the elves from a distance. 

But the elves skillfully summoned earth spirits to block the dragon’s lightning, then fired arrows to take down the ogres and cyclops blocking their path first. 

“Your Highness! A dragon… Do you know the true identity of this monster?” Kurimu asked. 

Yuno, unsure how to explain, rolled his eyes. 

‘Hmm… Even if I say it’s a dragon, they might not understand… What should I say?’ 

After a brief thought, Yuno decided to just make something up based on what he knew. 

“Ah… I think I saw a similar monster in an old book. It said that a dragon is a beast training to become a god. If it succeeds after a thousand years, it becomes a god, but if it fails, it degenerates into a giant serpent… But that form is…” 

“I see… Then, as Your Highness says, it must be a beast that failed its training… In that case, is there any explanation for the energy it controls?” 

“No, that’s all I know.” 

“In that case, let’s proceed with the original plan. Your Highness, please advance slowly into the monster’s territory.” 

“Territory… Where does it start?” 

“Do you see where our archers have formed a line? If you move about 100 meters further in, you’ll reach the roots of the World Tree. From there, consider it the monster’s territory.” 

As soon as Kurimu finished her explanation, Yuno dashed forward. Orcs, kobolds, and other small monsters rushed at him, but Yuno slaughtered them easily and kept moving forward, soon reaching his target. 

But there, a massive troll was standing guard, so Yuno stopped in front of it. 

“Move aside!!” 

“Grrr, I cannot move. Lady Miri ordered me to guard this place. It is my sworn duty.” 

Yuno was startled to hear the troll speak human language. 

‘Impressive, but I can’t waste time here.’ 

Yuno clenched his fist with all his might, blue energy gathering around it. 

The energy grew stronger, radiating immense power, but the troll simply stared at it. 

“Here I come! TRHAAAP!!” 

With a shout, Yuno’s energy-charged fist shot toward the troll’s chest. 

THUD! 

But the troll blocked Yuno’s punch with an outstretched hand. Surprised, Yuno looked at their joined hands and saw a red aura glowing from the troll’s hand. 

“M…Master?” 

“Did you think only humans could cloak their bodies in mana? How arrogant. I am accompanied by the great spirits of nature!!” 

Yuno’s eyes shook in disbelief, but he gritted his teeth and put more force into his punch. 

But the troll drew an axe from its back and swung at Yuno, forcing him to retreat. 

WHOOSH! 

With a slicing sound, small hand axes flew at Yuno. Normally, he’d trust his body to take the blows, but these axes were imbued with red mana, so Yuno dodged them with swift movements. 

“Khahahaha!! You’re like a little rat!!” 

“You !!” 

As Yuno flared up, the troll vanished and instantly appeared before him, swinging its giant axe at Yuno’s neck like a flash of light. 

The sudden attack surprised Yuno, but he calmly deflected the axe with his energy-charged hand and struck at the troll’s neck with a knifehand. 

His strike was as fast as lightning, but the troll simply twisted its neck to dodge and leapt back, throwing more hand axes. 

‘Damn! I didn’t expect such a monster among the giants… He’s a bit below my master, but definitely above Eliza…’ 

From their exchange, Yuno gauged the master troll’s strength. 

‘He’s a little below me… but it’d take a long fight to kill him. But I don’t have time for that.’ 

Behind him, elves were locked in fierce battle, but couldn’t advance for fear of being caught in the dragon’s aura. Monsters kept coming, and elf casualties slowly mounted. 

So Yuno came up with a plan and spoke to the troll. 

“Hey! You seem like a skilled troll. What’s your name? Even trolls must have names, right?” 

“Hmph! You ask my name without giving yours? Skilled, but rude human! My name is Ajin! Proud chief of the Jumani! What’s yours?” 

“I’m Yuno! Third Prince of the Balkan Empire and Count of Teshidanikana! Now that we’ve introduced ourselves… how about a test of strength? You’re a man, aren’t you? You won’t run, will you?” 

Provoked, Ajin the troll snorted. 

“Fine! Let’s see what you’ve got!! A human challenging a troll to a contest of strength? Brave! I’ll honor your courage by eating your corpse!!” 

“If you can, go ahead!” 

Yuno stretched out his arms, and Ajin grabbed his hands, starting a direct contest of strength. 

“KRAAAAH!!!” 

“UROAAAAAH!!” 

The struggle was fierce. Yuno’s hands glowed blue, Ajin’s glowed red, and their auras clashed. But as time passed, Ajin’s massive body began to be pushed back. 

“Grrr, I… can’t accept this!! Am I really losing to a human?!” 

“Hah! Did you think humans can’t beat trolls in strength? That’s arrogant.” 

Having his own words thrown back at him, Ajin hung his head in shame. His mana weakened, and Yuno poured all his energy into his arms, quickly overpowering Ajin. 

“KRAAAH!!” 

Ajin’s arm broke, confirming Yuno’s victory. 

“Urgh! Total defeat… But Lady Miri’s orders are absolute! I can’t fall here… urk!!” 

Even with a broken arm, Ajin tried to crush Yuno with his body, but Yuno’s full-powered punch to his belly knocked Ajin out cold. 

“Should I kill him since he’s a monster…? But he’s not just any monster… He can talk, and he’s pretty manly…” 

Plus, it had been a long time since Yuno had a worthy opponent in a test of strength, so he was reluctant to kill Ajin. 

In the end, Yuno dragged the troll back to camp and staked down Ajin’s hands and feet. 

“He’s a troll, so regeneration shouldn’t be a problem… Queen Kurimu! I’m heading back to the front!” 

While Yuno was capturing Ajin, Kurimu had been fighting a master-level ogre, and only with Eliza and Catherine’s help did she manage to behead it. She was amazed that Yuno had captured a master-class troll alone. 

‘If he’s as the goddess prophesied… he might really hold out until we defeat that cursed dragon… Goddess Venus, please bless us…’ 

“Hehe, don’t worry too much. That guy’s much stronger than you think, Your Majesty.” 

“Yes… I believe in you, Prince Yuno. I’m sure you’ll save the World Tree.” 

Kurimu prayed once more to the goddess and led her archers back to the front. 

While Yuno was fighting Ajin, many of the giant monsters were cleared out, and under Kurimu’s command the front advanced. Yuno could now reach the dragon’s territory without interference. 

“So this is the dragon’s territory? Hmm… nothing seems huh?” 

As soon as he entered the area Kurimu had warned him about, Yuno looked around but saw nothing unusual. 

But his senses told him something was approaching, so he gathered his mana to face it. 

“What… what is this?” 

‘Hohoho, impressive! A human resisting my aura? Hohoho.’ 

A woman’s voice echoed in Yuno’s mind, startling him and making his gathered mana falter. 

‘That voice… Is it the dragon that’s taken over the World Tree?’ 

‘Hmph! Don’t misunderstand! Who needs the energy of this tree? I just haven’t found a spirit with enough yang energy to satisfy me! But… you have an incredible amount of yang energy inside you… If I absorb it all, I can ascend again!’ 

As the voice finished, a huge energy forced its way into Yuno’s body, pressing down on him, and Yuno gritted his teeth to resist. 

‘Hehehe, go ahead and resist if you don’t want to be crushed… In the meantime, I’ll feast on your yang energy, hohohoho.’ 

As Yuno felt something slowly being drained from his lower body, he sent the agreed-upon signal behind him. 

“His Highness Yuno has given the signal!! Bekes-Luana Guard, charge!! Archers, begin covering fire!!” 

At Kurimu’s command, the second act of the elves’ fateful battle began.