Not being able to get the chance to bite Zero, the snake-tail slam its head onto him and he was thrown to the edge of the room.
*Bam!!!
[ Argh! ] Zero screamed in pain as he receives both the impact of the tackle and of him - hitting the wall.
[ Zero! ] Richard - who is still on the ground trying to dodge the claws of the enemy shouted his name as soon as he saw him getting thrown out.
[ I'm... I'm fine... ]
( I'm glad I activated it in time... )
Zero's arms showed deep-blue scales on them. And although it was unseeable, there were on his back too.
It's one of his new abilities, DraconicScales.
Basically, it thickens his skin and covers it with scales. Like his DraconicClaws, it wasn't a full-on transformation skill, but it definitely helps him in a fight.
If he receives that hit without it, he would definitely receive a lot of damage.
[ Richard-san! Let's change plans! You take the offensive and I'll back you up! ]
The fight goes on like this for a long time.
They would go on offense and if it was not effective, they will change their plans.
***
It was a tough fight.
It was probably the hardest Zero had ever fought yet since he got in this world.
[ Haa... Haa... ]
He breathes for air - and Richard does so, too.
[ I can't believe we defeated it... ] the words came from Richard.
He supported his body weight by bending down and by pushing his hands onto his knees.
There - they look at their defeated enemy with contended eyes as if they won a battle for their lives.
They just couldn't believe that they were able to take it down. With its massive size, scary features, and unbelievable strength, they felt like they were heroes for defeating it. It felt like a great achievement.
[ Zero... We need to report this to the guild... ]
Definitely.
Such creature is not yet documented in the town and their names will be the ones written in the paper for defeating it. Yes, it was a feat worth writing in history.
[ Well, you can report it to them... ] Zero replied as if he doesn't have anything to do with it.
He just looked at his stats with a satisfied look on his face.
( Showing Stats >>> ... )
Level: 31
Health: 565
Stamina: 452
Strength: 292
Magic: 273
Physical Defense: 74+13.5
Magic Resist: 66+13.5
Skills: DragonClaw(Lv2) FireBall(Lv3) SwordStrike(Lv2)
Passive Skills: DraconicScales(Lv2) DraconicAura(Lv3)
( Finally... )
He had reached his goal. In fact, the experience their enemy gave him made him jump two levels at the same time. He couldn't be more satisfied with the result.
[ Haa...! I can't believe we've done such an achievement... ] with a heavy heave for air, he heard Richard spoke again.
[ Taking down a monster that is a lot stronger than the toughest ones we know... I really can't believe it. ]
Like Zero, there's an unconventional smile on his face as he mutters those words. As Zero, he looks at their enemy with satisfied and unbelieving eyes. And although he knows that he was not the most who contributed to its defeat, he felt as though he was the one who had done so.
( I really can't believe it... ) he wanted to say that phrase over and over to show his emotion of defeating it.
But as he turns around and looks at his partner's face.
He realized something.
He realized that he wouldn't have gotten this emotion of victory if it wasn't for him.
He wanted to thank him.
[ Zero, I - ]
But before he could say it, Zero interrupted.
[ This is only one of the strongest... Just imagine defeating the other ones that are even stronger than this monster... ] he said those words in wonder.
[ ... ]
And Richard was not able to reply to it. Instead -
'So that's it, huh?' - the words appeared on his mind.
( This is just a stepping stone to become the strongest... ) he gained inspiration to his words and he felt as if what he had was only a cheap dream.
Like Zero, maybe he wanted more of this feeling, the feeling of defeating the strong. Not just to defeat one strong enemy, but many.
Richard never actually fought anything that he knows he couldn't handle. He was a coward. And he thinks that he is the complete opposite of Zero, who might be the greatest definition of the word 'Adventurer'. He has the higher rank but he felt as though he was the newer one between the two of them.
He hated him just an hour or two ago, yet right now, he idolizes him.
[ Say, Richard-san, how about we keep going? We don't know what's waiting at the end of this cave but it's worth seeing right? ]
As he hears those words, his plan of giving his thanks disappeared, and now, he just wants to follow him. He wants more of his adventures.
~~~
The two of them kept going, and soon, they have reached the end of the cave - which leads to the outside.
It was still morning when they went to this place, but right now, it was already noon. The bright ray of the sun entered their eyes. They felt its heat and realizes that it really is the sun. And the light of the magic that Zero casts inside the cave was nothing more than some kind of 'magic'.
But where they arrive at, is not just a normal place outside, it was a dome-like empty space that is dug up underground. There - can be seen is a small pond and lots of flowers, and on the stone walls are vines and roots of the trees.
[ Haah... I thought we're going to need to fight something again... I guess I was finally granted the escape... ]
Although Richard felt a little disappointed, his relief of seeing the outside is definitely undeniable.
And just like him, Zero felt relieved too.
But then, a certain item in this place had suddenly caught his attention -
[ Hey, Richard-san... What is that? ] Zero called out to him, looking at the far corner of the large area.
And there, where Zero had pointed at him was can only be described as an 'egg'. A very large egg.
[ ...! ] immediately, as he saw it, his eyes flared up and immediately went towards it.
[ Ze-Zero... This is... ]
[ Huh? It's an egg, right? Is it one of the Chimeras? ] not knowing clearly what kind of egg it is, he can only guess.
But as he seen the expression on Richard's face, he grew curious.
[ No... This is... It's a dragon's egg... ]