Chapter 137 : Dragon’s Blood (3)
Chapter 137: Dragon’s Blood (3)
Airos quietly nodded after hearing the gist of the situation.
“So that woman was a Dragon hybrid. Still, a Dragon, huh…”
He stroked his chin, as if deeply recalling the memories of that day.
“But then, why didn’t I notice anything at all… Come to think of it, she was from Garusol, wasn’t she? Am I right?”
“Yes.”
“Then maybe it’s because they’re a bit different from us. Hm.”
Muttering to himself, Airos looked back at Lian.
He raised one hand, brushed his mouth, then gave a faint smile.
“Perhaps it was because of me that her blood awakened.”
Seeing Lian’s look that seemed to demand an explanation, Airos casually waved his hand.
“She blocked my attack, and she also received a necklace made from a part of my body. In the process, her power might’ve been stimulated, awakening the energy that had been dormant. That wouldn’t be surprising.”
“……”
Lian silently mulled over his words.
‘…Did the flow get disrupted because of me again?’
According to the original history, Yuran should never have met Airos.
Of course. In the original timeline, Yuran would still be imprisoned by now.
No, perhaps she would’ve just been released from prison around this time.
“Could you perhaps give me some advice?”
“Hmm, advice, huh…”
Watching Lian swallow a sigh, Airos shrugged.
Then, tilting the flask Lian had brought, he took a gulp and spoke.
“Is there a need to worry so much? I don’t think it’s worth the concern. Just accept it. From the looks of it, she doesn’t seem like an ordinary human, so I doubt she’ll lose her mind from being overtaken by her blood.”
“Well…”
“I’m joking. Don’t make such a grim face.”
Airos let out a chuckle.
Though brief, his eyes shimmered faintly.
“If it’s just to help her control the half-human, half-Dragon blood… hmm, no.”
He tilted the flask a few more times.
“Hrm.”
He seemed deep in thought for a while but soon glanced sidelong at Lian.
“…Actually, it’s not like there’s no way.”
Lian sensed something in his gaze.
From his sly smile, Lian instinctively predicted what he’d say next.
“But Lian Gwendil, there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.”
With a dubious smile, Airos continued.
“You’ve taken quite a bit from me already, haven’t you? So I’d like to take a little back.”
“What would you like me to do, then?”
Lian subtly motioned toward the liquor he brought, but Airos scoffed and shook his head.
“That’s not nearly enough.”
“Then please tell me what you want. I’ll give what I can.”
“Hm, that’s a nice thing to hear.”
After a moment of deliberation, Airos nodded as if he had made up his mind.
“Alright. I’ve been bored lately, so I’d like you to spend some time with me for fun.”
“Spend time… how?”
“Well… do you know how to handle a sword?”
Lian nodded.
“I know a little.”
“Hahahaha!”
Airos burst into hearty laughter.
“I saw everything back then, you know! Your skill is far from what I’d call ‘a little’!”
“……”
Even though he was being openly mocked, Lian didn’t show much reaction.
Airos wiped the liquor running down his chin with the back of his hand as he looked at Lian.
His gaze was extremely serious.
“If you keep going like this, you’ll die before long. Your other abilities are also terribly vague.”
His voice carried nothing but sincerity.
“But I’m not petty enough to just sit back and watch after mocking you. I intend to help you… at least so you don’t die in vain.”
Airos leaned forward and gestured toward Lian.
“So I’ll teach you the sword.”
“…Just for fun, you say?”
“Yes, just for fun.”
Airos nodded nonchalantly.
“Though I say swordsmanship, it’s really just trick moves, so don’t feel pressured.”
“No matter how I think about it, it feels like you’re giving me more than taking anything from me.”
At that, Airos chuckled meaningfully.
Then he pointed to the sword hanging at Lian’s side.
“That sword you’re carrying.”
As Lian looked at the sword hanging on his hip, Airos tapped his flask with his fingers.
“It was forged with my scales, teeth, and blood. A fine blade I put a lot of effort into.”
He crossed his arms and sighed.
“But if the one wielding such a blade has no skills to show for it, to be honest, it hurts my pride more than I can bear.”
With that, Airos rose from his seat.
Dragging his massive frame, he approached Lian and gestured for him to come closer.
“Before we begin, let’s first check the state of your body.”
Lian reluctantly stepped closer.
Airos began examining him, placing his hands on Lian’s shoulders, arms, and back, carefully assessing.
And as time passed, his expression gradually turned grave.
“…Why in the world weren’t you using such power? What a waste.”
Lian looked at Airos.
His expression remained serious and puzzled.
“Even setting aside your physique… your energy meridians… you say you can’t use magic like this?”
At his shocked voice, Lian suddenly recalled the painfully intense training Windy May had put him through.
“My Master did that.”
Airos flinched.
“…That Dragon Slayer, you mean?”
Lian nodded.
Then Airos muttered, sounding intrigued.
“Hm. Then if I teach you first, it’d be quite a satisfying revenge, wouldn’t it?”
Lian answered coldly.
“I’d rather not incur my Master’s displeasure.”
“This is also a joke. It’s merely a trick, not even worthy of being called swordsmanship, so it’s not betrayal by any means.”
Saying that, Airos murmured with a nostalgic expression.
“In my younger days, I too enjoyed many pastimes. There was a time when I was called the strongest mercenary. I’ll teach you the techniques I used back then.”
Then he added nonchalantly,
“There were quite a few who blew themselves up or became crippled trying to imitate it without knowing their limits.”
At those words, Lian’s face hardened.
Airos scratched his chin with a finger.
“Don’t worry, that won’t happen to you. You have strong energy meridians and solid bones and muscles. The fact that you’re a Priest is also a plus. And I’m right here next to you, aren’t I?”
Even while speaking, he stared at Lian with ongoing fascination.
“More than anything, I’ve never seen such a perfectly balanced coexistence of two powers. If it’s you, I’m sure you can handle it.”
Airos picked up a thick tree branch from somewhere, wielding it like a sword.
“To explain it simply, it’s a technique that momentarily moves your body at a speed beyond perception.”
He swung the branch slowly.
Lian expected it to look ridiculous due to Airos’s large frame, but soon realized that Airos had reached an extraordinary level in swordsmanship.
“Even if you can see the trajectory of an incoming attack, speed alone is not easily overcome. Most of all, if you’re faster, you gain the advantage in perception, spacing, and distance.”
Airos flicked the branch with his finger as he spoke.
“Usually, someone wielding a spear has the advantage over someone with a sword because of range. But once you allow the opponent to enter that range, you’ll easily lose. This technique uses that principle and psychology in reverse.”
He then boasted that against mediocre opponents, it could take their heads in one or two strikes.
“The problem is that your own body breaks before anything else.”
Airos added in a flat tone.
“That’s why you must support and train the affected area intensively. The body is organically connected, so you can’t just strengthen one part. You must train the arms, shoulders, back, and waist all together.”
But that takes too long.
Airos murmured in a low voice.
“However, in your case, using the Miracle of Enhancement and the Miracle of Healing to cover that gap should suffice. That’s quite fortunate.”
Still holding the branch in one hand, Airos motioned again.
“Now, stand here.”
As Lian stepped forward, Airos tugged lightly on his arm.
“Most important is getting the feel. You’ll understand what I mean once you try it yourself.”
Then he placed his hand on the center of Lian’s back.
And in an instant, he began to channel a powerful energy into him.
Lian felt something stir inside his body like it had come to life.
“Remember this well. You must move your body and wield power according to this flow.”
“…Yes.”
“Alright, I’ll assist you—give it a swing.”
Lian grabbed the branch Airos handed him.
Following his guidance, he put his strength into it and swung.
Pahng!
With a loud explosive sound, the branch shattered.
Lian stared blankly at his hand.
The branch had splintered into pieces.
“Got a rough idea now?”
Airos wore a proud expression.
“If used properly, it can become a lethal blow.”
As Lian silently admired, Airos smirked as if to say, I told you so.
Then he pointed to the sword hanging at Lian’s side.
“You’ve done practice. Now comes the real thing. Draw that and try what you just did on me.”
“…Are you sure?”
“What, do you think I might die or something?”
Airos replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Put that worry aside. Strike anywhere you’d like. When I touched your back earlier, I poured in enough energy to do it five or six times over. As long as you remember the order and flow, you’ll be able to execute it.”
Eventually, Lian cautiously drew his sword.
The blade gleamed in the light, now aimed at the one who had created it.
“…Then I’ll aim for your arm.”
“Go ahead.”
Airos raised his arm calmly, making it easier to strike.
“Let’s see if you can do it as intended.”
Lian fixed his gaze on him, focusing his mind.
Then, just as Airos had guided, he channeled the energy throughout his body and swung the sword.
It felt as if his hand and shoulder were being sucked forward.
He felt the satisfaction that he had executed it properly.
“…!?”
The Brand etched on his collarbone.
Suddenly, he felt it quiver violently.
“…Huh?”
And only then, when he came to his senses, Airos was looking down at the ground with a dumbfounded expression.
On the ground lay his cleanly severed arm.