[44] Careless

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

In just a fleeting moment, the golden sword clashed with the dragon's horn multiple times, the resounding clang of metal echoing incessantly. Aiden, a not particularly tall Level 1 youth, was now confronting an Infant Dragon head-on, a feat usually reserved for multiple Level 2 adventurers, and yet he held his own.

It wasn't until Aiden's greatsword swept down, forcing the dragon to jerk its head back with a powerful swing, that he gracefully retreated, landing lightly like a nimble cat.

*ROOOOOAR*

The Infant Dragon roared in fury, crimson blood slowly trickling down from the sharp wounds inflicted by Durandal's strikes.

"Hey, old man, this is my prey. Please refrain from interfering." Aiden, having withdrawn from the fray, heard faint footsteps behind him and glanced back to see the returning old man and his companion. The two adventurers who were missing should be escorting the injured mage back to the city.

"Oh, Sword Princess, and the rest of the Loki Familia, good morning. It seems that when we return, you can inform Loki to prepare to deliver the three grimoires to the Hestia Familia." Through the dense fog, several graceful figures gradually emerged, and upon seeing the astonished Loki Familia, Aiden grinned contentedly.

Aiden's genuine smile and the strong confidence in his words made Riveria furrow her brow slightly.

"While an Infant Dragon is only a rare monster of Level 2 strength, its power, even at Level 2, is something only a few Level 2 adventurers can withstand with a full blow. Coupled with its formidable defense, that's why multiple Level 2 adventurers are needed to subdue it." Tione's expression was somewhat solemn.

"But he just joined the familia a month ago, and from what he just said, he's still only Level 1." 

"How could a Level 1 adventurer achieve this level?" Tiona's expression was also puzzled. However, as someone nicknamed the Crusher, she had also climbed the ranks from Level 1, and coincidentally, she followed the Strength path.

"It must be a magical effect, right?" Riveria, both a member of the Elven Royalty and the strongest mage in the city, speculated from her professional standpoint.

"A magical effect?" Tione, Tiona, and Lefiya pondered.

"You all know Ais's magic, Ariel, right? It envelops the caster in wind, boosting attack, defense, and speed, and even grants short-range flight capabilities." Riveria looked towards Ais, who showed a slight change in demeanor.

"This boy named Aiden probably has a similar additional magic to Ais-san, but his is purely focused on strength. It can only be strength. If it had multiple effects, he wouldn't have the strength at Level 1 to confront the Infant Dragon head-on." Lefiya speculated.

While Lefiya's speculation was not entirely accurate, it was close to the right answer.

At this moment, Aiden was unaware of the Loki Familia's speculations; his attention had returned to the battle.

His grip on Durandal trembled slightly, not from exhaustion or weakness, but from excitement.

"This feeling of swinging the sword freely... this is the opponent I've been longing for!"

"And to top it off, it's under the watchful gaze of so many girls."

You see, when it comes to guys, especially with lovely ladies around, it often boosts a heterosexual man's desire to perform and fight.

Aiden felt like his whole body was ablaze, every muscle filled with strength, boundless and endless. Mentally, he was more excited than ever before; the burning sensation in his muscles even spread to his mind, like a roaring fire burning in his brain.

A newfound sensation enveloped Aiden, one he had never experienced before, not even in his first battle or facing the onslaught of orcs.

That was the spirit of battle, constantly rising, the fervent spirit of a Sparda!

Every shred of unease, doubt, and every other emotion was burnt away, leaving only the soaring spirit of battle.

With both hands tightly gripping Durandal, after such a fierce collision, the golden blade remained intact, without a scratch.

Aiden's body slightly sank, gathering strength, then shot out like a cannonball!

Meanwhile, facing the retreating Aiden, the Infant Dragon also launched a full-scale charge, rushing towards him like a battering ram.

The pair of sharp dragon horns enlarged in Aiden's eyes, along with the fierce dragon head, crimson eyes, and the dust kicked up by its raised limbs... all vividly reflected in his sight, as if time had frozen.

"Now it's Aiden's time." In this moment akin to bullet time, Aiden seemed to embody Bayonetta (Witch Time), Dante (Mercury Style), Neo (Bullet Time), and Kiana (Kiana Time).

With his legs slightly bent, Aiden's body shot up like a heavy cannon, accompanied by a howling gale and a furious roar, the dragon's head passing by his side.

"Now!"

Aiden twisted his waist, Durandal carrying his ever-burning battle spirit, swung fiercely. The golden sword light flashed past, after a month of battle and the unleashing of his S-rank strength endowed by inborn divine strength finally erupted at this moment. The golden blade whistled like a gust of wind, cutting through the thick earth-yellow scales of the Infant Dragon, leaving a gaping wound in its massive body.

Just as Aiden thought he had succeeded with his strike, about to pass by the Infant Dragon.

Because it had been a frontal confrontation all along, Aiden had overlooked the sudden attack from the dragon's tail. The tail, filled with terrifying sonic booms and immense force, like a towering pillar, rapidly enlarged in Aiden's eyes.

At this moment of exhaustion from exerting his old strength and before his new strength had emerged, Aiden knew there was no escape, only the choice to grip Durandal tightly and hold the greatsword horizontally in front of his chest.

Boom!

The robust dragon tail collided with Durandal, carrying terrifying force. The horrifying shockwave compressed and expanded, then burst apart. In just an instant, Aiden was shot out like a baseball hit squarely in the center, the air whistling past his ears. Along the way, he didn't know how many dead trees he crashed into, until finally, he slammed fiercely into a large tree ten meters behind.

In the moment of impact, Aiden only felt a surge of immense force coming from the hilt of the sword, like being hit by a speeding car traveling over a hundred kilometers per hour. Then, his right hand was hit by intense pain, and his body was directly sent flying.

The dragon's tail didn't hit the blade but directly struck the hilt of Durandal, the tremendous force shattering his right hand.

"It hurts motherfucker! Damn it! I was careless!"

Crimson blood slowly trickled down Aiden's forehead; his head, unprotected by armor, was ultimately injured.

The first drop of blood shed by Aiden after his rebirth was due to his own carelessness.

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