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[Slaying the Dragon]

Before the words left his lips, Holy Light fluttered behind Forseti, brandishing the Demon Slayer Sword as he charged towards Goch.

The Red Dragon Goch drew in a deep breath, instantly heating the surrounding area as though engulfed in flames.

"Roar!"

A thunderous roar echoed through the air as dragon flames erupted, turning the sky into a fiery inferno.

Although Goch's dragon flames seemed stronger than before, these minor enhancements were no match for the revitalized divine power Forseti now wielded.

Thus, when faced with this onslaught of dragon flame, Forseti remained unscathed, pressing forward towards Goch without hesitation.

Justice's Sword!

"Boom!" Holy light erupted, creating a massive gash on Goch's forehead, blood spattering.

Forseti swiftly pivoted, the Demon Slayer Sword poised to strike Goch's enormous dragon eye.

Reacting swiftly, Goch twisted its head, wings beating fiercely to tilt its body. Still, the Demon Slayer Sword grazed its eyelid.

Though the sword merely nicked the surface, the divine punishment it carried ignited once more, casting a golden ring of light.

"Boom!"

Goch, as a high-level giant dragon, boasted impenetrable defenses across its entire body. Its eyelids, thicker than most palms, barely felt the sting of the Holy Light's punishment.

Before Forseti could strike again, Goch countered with a deafening roar: "Roar!!"

The unprecedented roar unleashed violent shockwaves, whipping up gusts that felled trees and sent birds scattering like rain.

Forseti stood near Goch, ears ringing from the sonic blast. His balance faltered as his body swayed.

Moments later, Goch's wings flared, flames erupting from behind as it hurtled towards Forseti with astonishing speed.

From a distance, Goch resembled a meteor streaking across the sky, leaving a fiery trail in its wake as it collided with Forseti.

Still reeling from the effects of the earlier roar, Forseti couldn't evade in time.

In an instant, he was sent hurtling alongside Goch, the two crashing like a meteorite amidst flames.

"Boom!"

The impact cratered a steep mountainside, leaving a molten scar in its wake.

While Goch's collision dealt a hefty blow to Forseti, he too felt the toll.

The forceful impact gouged a crater into the ground, lava oozing sluggishly.

As Goch shrank back to its human form and clambered from the crater's lava, it drew a large sword, eyeing Forseti across the way.

While the Aesir possessed sky-defying physical prowess, dragons like Goch dwarfed even the mightiest of races.

As the universe's apex beings, dragons boasted bodies sturdier than the Aesir. Thus, during their recent clash, Forseti endured more injuries than Goch.

Fortunately, paladins could fight and mend simultaneously. Even as Goch reverted to human form, Forseti channeled holy light, his injuries swiftly healing.

Forseti rose, wiping blood from his mouth.

Observing this, Goch's expression soured, unprepared for Forseti's potent healing spell.

Forseti took a deep breath, holy light flickering from his wings as he transformed into a golden rainbow, charging once more at Goch.

"Clang!" Goch swung its sword to block, the clash of steel echoing amidst fiery sparks.

"Clang! Clang!"

In an instant, they exchanged dozens of blows. Goch had clearly honed its melee skills in human form since their last encounter, progressing significantly. Yet, Forseti's newfound strength matched Goch's, the battle reaching a stalemate.

"Charge-"

Their swords clashed once more, fiery blades locking in a scorching standoff.

Forseti gritted his teeth, but then holy light surged from his feet, pouring into the ground, a radiant vein extending forth.

Devoted to Holy Light!

"Boom!" Holy Light Dedication collided with Goch, erupting in a brilliant burst of divine punishment.

Goch bellowed in agony, forced to recoil sharply.

Seizing the opportunity, Forseti thrust the Demon Slayer Sword twice in rapid succession.

"Boom!" The first strike sent Goch's sword flying.

Just as Goch evaded Holy Light Dedication, Forseti's second strike swiftly followed, aimed at its neck.

Goch staggered back, compelled to block with both hands.

"Clang!"

Though a high-level giant dragon boasted formidable resilience, its human form couldn't withstand the sharpness of Vibranium imbued with holy light. With a flash, the Demon Slayer Sword severed Goch's left hand.

As it detached, the hand transformed from human flesh to fiery red scales, rapidly expanding uncontrollably.

"Boom."

Upon landing, the hand reverted to its massive dragon claw form, resonating with a thunderous crash.

"Roar!" Goch howled in agony, leaping and fleeing into the distance.

Yet, three figures on horseback swooped in from the horizon, blocking Goch's path—Brunnock ,Ander and Valkyrie.

Enraged, Goch unleashed a torrent of dragon flame at the trio.

Brunnock's expression hardened, raising a round shield. Simple yet adorned with a dragon emblem, the shield was a gift from Forseti.

Simultaneously, Brunnock channeled holy light through his arm, enveloping the shield in a massive barrier of light that shielded all three.

"Boom—" Under the onslaught of dragon flames, the barrier flickered but held its ground, demonstrating remarkable resilience.

Crafted to resist flames and blessed with holy light, the Dragonman's Shield remained unyielding.

Frustrated by his flames' inability to breach the barrier, Goch furiously lashed out with its right claw, swiping downward.

"Boom!"

After withstanding intense dragon fire, the holy light shield finally buckled under Goch's claw, dispersing into motes of light.

However, they had anticipated this. As the Holy Light Shield collapsed, they dispersed, converging on Goch from three directions.

Simultaneously, Forseti gave chase, the Demon Slayer Sword in hand, delivering two swift slashes toward Goch.

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