(Hiryū POV)
With this, the insignificant creature was slain by the latest results of my training during the execution of my master's orders.
Before my time with my master, I never thought about saving beings weaker than me nor compressing my flames together for greater damage output.
But here I am, saving a bunch of my master's kind while slicing one of those multilegged grotesque creatures into several pieces by doing a backflip while simultaneously concentrating my tail with flames and swinging it upwards with me.
Many of these creatures went down fairly easily from my flames, but some, such as this one, needed a higher concentration of my fire.
During the time my master sent me out to exterminate any such creatures, I used it to train my flames to become more powerful.
I took my master's example and attempted to do more than enhance it by adding more energy. The results could be better.
The smaller creatures would be easier, though; nothing special would be needed.
They were attempting to run away through a large hole in the ground, but little did they know that this would be the last mistake they would ever make in their insignificant lives.
Once all of them crawled into it, I leisurely walked to the hole and spewed my fire breath into it.
A minor explosion occurred, nothing of which I couldn't withstand. The same cannot be said about the people I just saved.
Because I attacked loose ground, dirt scattered, and dust clouded the air.
It took a few seconds before everything cleared out, and I could shake myself off from the dust.
I let out a sigh as I thought about how effortless it was once more.
I always prefer fighting any of the speed-attributed creatures again, but it seems that my presence is scaring them off after I have already defeated several of them.
I doubt I will get the chance any time soon, as I have yet to receive a signal from my master to come back.
Speaking of coming back, the moron with the powerful weapon just arrived.
He keeps trying to do what I was sent out to do instead and never prevails after I numerously finished taking down a monster before he even arrived.
It is truly pathetic that he doesn't understand my message of going back and helping other people like my master is probably doing.
Moron is just too fitting for this guy.
He should follow my example and work on correcting his flaws instead.
I was too fixated on concentrating on how the outside of a creature looked. From the moment my master tricked me and claimed victory, I knew my fate was sealed. It's a harsh reminder that one wrong move can cost you everything.
For this reason, I destroyed my own eye and became more observant in other ways, not letting my opponent's appearance influence my judgment.
It helped me become aware of my own power as well.
My master spared my life, and now I realize the tremendous potential I still possess. His recognition of my value encourages me to keep serving him with all my abilities. I'll make sure to fulfill my worth for him as much as I can.
Just when I was about to fly off, the moron yelled something at me. He was spouting something about one of the people I just saved being injured.
She had sustained bites from the creatures that didn't appear serious from the outside but could cause various effects later on.
I myself seem to have some immunity from it, so even if a hundred of them were to do the same to me, it would not affect me.
The moron wanted me to send them to the city so that my master could heal her, but that would involve them getting on top of me.
Only my master and his female are allowed to do that.
I just turned around, trying to ignore them and continue my master's orders.
But then the moron did something that made me wish to have less of an understanding of their languages.
He had the audacity to use my master's name and say that this would make him very displeased with me.
I approached him and gave him a stern look, disapproving of his manipulative tactics.
Dumb as he was sometimes, this fool didn't flinch for a moment in the face of my immense anger.
Am I underestimating him, or is he overestimating himself?
I won't take the risk of getting provoked. I know better than to put myself in that situation again.
Reluctant as I was, I went over to the injured girl and was about to pick her up, but then a boy with short hair went between us, aiming his sword at me.
Despite the fear in his eyes, I could see a fierce determination burning within him. It was clear that he would not hesitate to challenge me if I dared to lay my claws on the girl.
Something within me told me not to underestimate the boy, but with his relatively weak stature, he didn't seem like a threat to me at all.
But this is yet another scenario in which I could be wrong and foolishly get back into risking my life.
Then again, even the sword he is holding is nothing special. It has no aura emanating from it, telling me that it is just an ordinary one.
And then there is the other guy standing at my left side, taking out his golden blade and getting into a stance. He had an ominous aura coming from himself and his sword, much greater than the moron's.
His eyes reminded me of myself—arrogant and fixated on power. There were even marks on his face, indicating that he had experience in encounters with strong foes.
I shook my head as I walked away from this ridiculous scene. How was I supposed to help them if they weren't even letting me?
The moron shouted at the two, scolding them for letting the girl suffer even longer from her wounds.
Watching them argue with each other was quite amusing. It reminded me of a similar situation in which the two dragons fought over their differences, only to be defeated by my master in the end.
This time, it ended with both of them stopping their argument with the scream of pain coming from the injured girl. I can see her twitching all over her body.
The moron grabbed her and ran over to me, intending to ride me. But I held out my claws to stop him.
Even with the girl's life being potentially in danger, I have my boundaries as to who I'm carrying.
I then pointed out my claws at the other female, the one with the triangle ears on top of her head and exposed chest area.
Patiently, I waited for them to understand my words. After a small discussion, they understood that I only allowed her to take the injured girl with me.
The red-haired one insisted on coming as well, to which I stomped my right claws on the ground in disagreement.
They understood it as well, and the woman, nervous as she looked, grabbed the injured girl and took a seat on top of my neck where my master would have sat.
I signaled to her with my claws to grasp tightly before taking us to the city where my master resided, but she didn't understand it, and then the red-haired girl said something about me wanting to 'grab her boobs'.
I do not know what it implies, but given how everyone judged her with their stare, it ought to be something inappropriate.
She confidently defended herself, suggesting that I may have learned it from my master.
Although I'm not certain what she meant, I have a vague sense that she may have unintentionally insulted him about something.
Finally, the one who wields the golden blade said what I tried to say to the woman, which was understood.
My feathers are sturdy and deeply implanted into my body, so the tight grip the woman with the triangular ears held on was good enough, and I immediately flew off with my fire, boosting my wings.
I was quite surprised to see that the woman held on even though she couldn't manipulate the wind like my master does for less resistance.
With the build my body has, it feels rather natural to fly around. But for her, it is hard to hold on to both my feathers and the injured girl while taking the cold wind hitting them both.
Despite the inconvenience, I used fire to warm up their sitting area and reduce wind resistance.
I heard her saying a 'thank you' to me, but I much rather would have heard a 'sorry'.
After a while, we arrived above the city, but because of the large gathering of people within the walls, I could not tell if my master was amongst them. But there were traveling companions of my master whom I could leave this girl off.
However, the place had the largest crowd, so I had to first scare them off with a roar.
I gave out a loud roar, the attention of my arrival being heard all over the place for the people to make room for me to land.
Once firmly on the ground, I walked over to the three people who were amongst my master's people and lowered my head for the two to get off of me.
I shook my head a bit to get the feeling that someone weaker than me was allowed to take a seat.
Something is weird. Even though I was at the center of this city, I couldn't locate my master anywhere.
To get the information I wanted, I went over to his three traveling companions, who were talking to the woman with the exposed chest.
They were startled when I was heading towards them, a few insignificant humans who wore metal around their bodies blocking my way.
Pathetic. Can't they feel the power difference between us? One fire attack from me, and they will be all dead.
One of the traveling companions, the one wearing red clothing, came and stood between us, telling the guards that wouldn't dare to hurt anyone.
Fool. As if I wouldn't defend myself if needed to. It will depend on their behavior anyway.
Meanwhile, I could tell that three insignificant weaklings were charging their stone projectiles at me.
Knowing that these weak versions of my master's attack wouldn't hurt me in the slightest, I let them hit their target, which was my head.
All the people's eyes were aimed at me as I was taking in the projectiles without faltering.
The only thing these brittle stones did was put dust on me again, which I had to shake off before sneezing out a flame through my nose.
Honestly, what is going on today? Not even the fights against those grotesque creatures made me this dirty on a single day.
Before they could charge another attack, ultimately just wasting their energy, the guy who accompanied the moron stopped them, hitting them with a stick against their hands.
After the initial shock these weaklings experienced, the man warned them that I was not to be taken on like a regular dragon.
A snarl escaped from me as I watched them cower at my sight even more. At least someone who knows how to use his head and recognize the prowess I posses.
The man approached the woman with the exposed chest and asked her what had happened for me to enter the city like this. She explained the events with the giant insect and how the girl ended up becoming as injured as she was now.
Another person came to my attention as I was looking around the place.
I wasn't sure if they were a girl or a boy, but their different aura drew me right to them, and I walked in their direction.
The other weaklings panicked, and they made way for me. Only the person I was drawn to didn't move, fear not letting them leave their spot.
Once I was close enough, I saw that the person had white hair like my master, but fully instead of partially, and an accessory that covered their eyes.
But they had long ears that were pointing out, which made it hard for me to recognize them as human or something.
Disregarding the woman with the exposed chest, I have only encountered intelligent beings similar to my master. However, even with him, I am unsure of his race, as it seemed like a different but similar entity from when I first sensed his overpowering aura.
This person seems to be different. Not strong, but also not weak. It made me curious whether it was because of a lack of training or a lack of motivation.
But my questions were to be held back as the person who warned those weaklings earlier called out my name.
Walking back to where I stood before, the man stood with his arms crossed before me and informed me about my master being outside the city for the moment.
He suggested that he would guide me toward where he was heading, saying that the people here weren't as good as my master at healing the injured girl.
As he was the first person besides my master to acknowledge my prowess, I will grant him a one-time exception.
Lowering my head, he started himself on top of my neck, where my master would have sat. If his aura weren't more imposing than the woman with triangular ears, it would have felt more degrading.
But as I need him to guide me where my master was, I will let it be for now.
Taking off to the sky, the man pointed toward where I was supposed to go, and I concentrated my flames between my wings as I folded, giving me an additional speed boost.
Of course, the wind resistance would have been even greater for the man to handle, but it seems he wasn't bothered by it at all. That's impressive, considering he isn't built for flying.
It took me less time to locate my master, mostly because there was something else near him that told me he might need my assistance.
A power greater than my master's full power was close to him and shaking the very core of my being, telling me to avoid a fight against it.
I have never felt anything of the sort, but I knew that I needed to get my master out of there as fast as possible.
Enhancing the fire on my wings, I picked up even more speed as I went for my master the moment I was close.
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