Dragon (2)

It was a few days ago that the dragon, Rakia, discovered the abandoned temple.

She had just left her mother's nest and was searching for a suitable place to claim as her own lair when she discovered this temple.

This temple was to Rakia's liking.

The building was grand and sturdy, seeming like it could withstand several hundred years without issue.

Though not as grand as her mother's lair, it seemed quite splendid for her first independent lair.

Rakia entered the temple in high spirits and soon encountered a monster inside.

The monster had the appearance of a giant snake, and upon seeing Rakia, it opened its mouth and charged at her.

It seemed the monster did not realize Rakia was a dragon. Rakia was using the Polymorph magic to take on a human form.

If Rakia had been in her original dragon form, the monster would not have recklessly charged at her.

Instead of charging, it would have lowered its tail and fled.

Seeing the monster charge at her, Rakia was a little scared.

This was the first time Rakia had left her mother's nest.

It was also the first time she was attacked by another being.

Rakia felt an urge to flee, but still mustered her courage to face the monster.

She had become independent, so she wanted to handle this herself. She couldn't rely on her mother forever.

Moreover, Rakia was aware that she was a dragon.

According to her mother, there were no beings in this world that could match a dragon.

Not just when they were very young, but once dragons grew up and mastered magic, no other life form could be their match.

Rakia had already mastered all magic.

So she could easily deal with a mere monster.

Rakia cast magic on the monster, and it turned to ashes.

"Ehehe."

Having defeated the monster, Rakia felt immensely proud.

Indeed, dragons were powerful. They were such great beings that could instantly turn other inferior races to ashes.

After claiming the temple as her lair, Rakia spent the whole day sleeping or rolling around.

There was nothing particular to do in the lair, but she wasn't bored.

Dragons don't experience feelings like boredom.

'Because they are solitary and absolute beings...'

But in fact, Rakia felt a little happy when someone visited the temple.

The visitors were a diverse group of humans, elves, fairies, and wolves.

'What's this... Didn't the other races not get along? Could it be that they're all friends, except for dragons...?'

Rakia felt a tinge of jealousy and unease, and somehow wanted to have a conversation with them.

However, she couldn't bring herself to do so.

Because dragons were the strongest life forms on land.

The proud dragons could not fathom mingling with inferior races... Rakia had been thoroughly indoctrinated by other dragons, and unconsciously adopted an arrogant attitude.

[Rot and perish!]

She even used her dragon's fear to subjugate the group.

According to her mother, most life forms could be subjugated by a dragon's fear alone.

It was true.

The humans bled and collapsed, the wolf twitched on the floor, and the fairy passed out.

But not the elf.

The elf alone stood still, staring intently at Rakia.

It was a bit unexpected that the dragon's fear didn't work on the elf, but Rakia wasn't too worried.

The opponent appeared to be an elf around her age.

An elf versus a dragon.

Of course, the dragon would win in a fight.

Rakia cast magic on the elf, just as she had defeated the monster.

But it didn't work. The elf took no damage from Rakia's magic.

No matter how much mana Rakia poured out, the elf simply gazed at her with a calm expression.

Rakia grew uneasy. She started doubting her own magical abilities.

Could it be that she was weak? Her mother had said she was ready for independence, but was she not prepared yet?

'No!'

Rakia tried to deny it.

There's no way that could be true.

Dragons were the strongest life forms on land.

They didn't need any preparation.

Moreover, the opponent was just an elf, not even a demon race.

Her mother had told her not to bully elves after becoming independent.

Elves loved nature and were the most loyal race to dragons.

They even lived as long as dragons, so elves were always chosen as guardians to protect the lair.

For Rakia to feel uneasy against such an elf, she didn't want to admit it.

"Hey!"

Rakia shouted, losing her composure.

"Come at me properly, elf!"

"..."

The elf, who had been blankly staring at Rakia, nodded.

And in the next moment, the elf vanished.

"?"

Rakia opened her eyes wide and looked around.

She clearly was there in front of her eyes, but suddenly she disappeared. What could have happened?

It was like magic.

However, there were definitely no signs of using magic.

Since dragons are sensitive to mana, if the opponent had used magic, Rakia would have definitely noticed.

As Rakia stood perplexed, someone tapped her shoulder from behind.

"Hieek!"

Rakia turned around in surprise, and there stood the elf.

Still with an expressionless face.

Rakia hurriedly tried to cast magic.

But before that, the elf reached out a hand and flicked her finger lightly.

Thwack!

Rakia fell backwards from the impact felt on her forehead.

"Ah, ugh, ugh."

Her head felt dizzy, as if her brain was shaking. The world seemed to be spinning around.

It was the first time she had experienced such pain since birth, and Rakia's vision blurred, and her nose stung.

'Oh, no...'

Rakia was on the verge of bursting into tears.

But for a dragon to be hit by an elf and cry, that was absolutely unthinkable.

Rakia held back her tears and glared at the elf.

The fight wasn't over yet.

Rakia still had many powerful spells left.

According to her mother, there were no beings that could survive a dragon's magic.

So...

"Thunder Strike!"

Powerful lightning struck down from the temple ceiling onto the elf.

"Explosion!"

The spot where the elf stood exploded.

"Meteor Strike!"

A meteor fell from the sky.

"Huff... huff..."

Having cast a series of high-level spells, Rakia was completely exhausted and plopped down.

The temple was now in a devastated state, unrecognizable as a building.

"D-Did I defeat her...?"

Rakia muttered, looking at the spot where the elf had stood.

The surrounding area was thick with dust, obscuring everything from view.

But since she couldn't sense any movement, it seemed she had defeated the elf.

"Phew."

Rakia let out a sigh of relief. Her forehead still hurt from where the elf had flicked her, but she had won in the end.

Her magic skills were indeed formidable.

"Making a fuss over nothing."

Rakia snickered, feeling smug.

The temple she had claimed as her lair was in ruins, but it couldn't be helped.

It was because they had fought so fiercely.

But in the end, she had won, and that was all that mattered.

Rakia stood up and dusted off the dust on her.

"I can just find another lair... Ack!"

Rakia screamed and fell sideways.

Someone was suddenly standing beside her.

It was the elf.

"Y-You...!"

Rakia couldn't complete her words and stuttered.

The elf was completely unharmed, without a speck of dust on her.

Even the elf's companions were all safe.

A blue barrier was spread around them.

The only things devastated were the temple Rakia had claimed as her lair and Rakia's mana.

Rakia no longer had the strength to stand, let alone flee.

Tuk. Tuk.

The elf approached and lowered herself to sit in front of Rakia.

Their eyes met again.

The elf's eyes were as calm as before, but Rakia's were different now.

Terror was reflected in Rakia's eyes.

The terror of death.

"Please... spare me... I'm sorry..."

Rakia pleaded pitifully.

Her dragon's pride didn't matter in this situation.

In the face of death, all beings are equal.

Rakia didn't want to die. Dragons, with their long lifespans, were deeply attached to life.

"I-I'll become your subordinate... Elf, please..."

The elf slowly reached out a hand, and Rakia shut her eyes tightly, trembling.

Soon, a crisp sound rang out.

Thwack!

The elf had flicked Rakia's forehead again.

"Ugh!"

Rakia fell backwards.

A red bump swelled on Rakia's pale forehead.

"Ow, it hurts...!"

Rakia sat up, rubbing her forehead.

The elf had already started walking back towards her companions.

Fortunately, it seemed to be over. The elf had spared her life.

"..."

Not only had a dragon been defeated by an elf, but she had even begged for her life.

Any other dragon might have ended their own life out of humiliation.

But strangely, Rakia didn't feel humiliated.

She simply watched the elf's retreating back with a complicated, strange gaze.