With a bewildered expression, Khan clenched and unclenched his now-empty hand. It seemed like every time he used an axe, it ended up getting destroyed. As he shifted his gaze to the transformed Prince Alan, he resolved to write a pressing letter to Jerome after this ordeal was over.
‘He looks familiar.’
The scene reminded him of Darkin Perayas, the necromancer he had encountered at Necar Mountain. Alan now had a similar dragon-human appearance. The difference was that while Darkin had skeletal wings and a tail, Alan did not.
Alan’s size had increased to match Khan’s, and though his slender frame remained, it was now grotesquely covered in scales from head to toe.
“Ah, Alan…”
“Delphina. You insolent wench. How dare a half-blood who hasn’t even preserved our lineage join forces with such scum to oppose me? You are a disgrace to the royal family.”
Alan’s voice hadn’t changed from before his transformation. If anything, it was calmer than when he had been raging at the sight of the Hydra’s ruin.
The drastic shifts in his emotional state, his irrational actions, and the dragon scale fragment’s reaction all pointed to something being very off.
‘Something smells fishy here.’
Khan recalled that there had been an unknown entity who supplied Darkin with a dragon scale fragment. Perhaps such a presence was also involved in the current situation.
“And you, barbarian. Not only did you reject my generous offer, but you also dared to interfere? If you understand the implications of defying me here in Argon, you would know you deserve execution on the spot.”
“Blah, one would think you’re already king.”
“King. That will soon be my title. Who else but I could lead Argon, given the king and crown prince’s prolonged neglect of their duties? I would have naturally ascended to regency. Even without lifting a finger, I was meant to guide this kingdom. Yet, I left the palace to aid my suffering people, only for you, an arrogant wretch, to ruin everything.”
Alan’s serpent eyes glistened with malice.
“No, what truly matters now is that you dared lay a hand on my noble form.”
“Do you still consider that serpent’s body ‘noble’?”
“Serpent? This is the mark of a great lineage. Just as the old usurper king did!”
Spreading his arms as if to showcase his scaled body, Alan smiled widely. The separating scales around his mouth revealed sharp teeth that differed entirely from human teeth. These dragon fangs, which had effortlessly crushed a rare-grade axe, gleamed with a deadly glint.
“And to tell you the most crucial fact, from the very beginning, I’ve wanted to tear you apart. I wanted to see that arrogant and smug face of yours twisted in agony.”
“Well, that’s delightful to hear.”
Before Khan’s muttered words finished, the red blade was already impaled into the spot where Alan had been standing. Boom—!
The leap, augmented by the Wind Spirit’s blessing, added remarkable speed. The Royal Guards, stupefied by Alan’s transformation, and even the bewildered Delphina and Maxim, only reacted when Khan’s sword stroke scraped the ground.
And Alan…
“A sneak attack? How typical of a primitive barbarian.”
He reappeared several meters away, leisurely mocking Khan. He had effortlessly evaded a surprise attack that even someone at Aries’s level might have struggled to react to.
Khan’s eyes narrowed.
The assault was practically an impulsive decision, leveraging the element of surprise—nobody would expect someone to outright slice a royal. Yet Alan had observed every action, from Khan’s leap to the moment the sword struck, and had calmly stepped back.
‘Those serpent eyes must have some ability.’
In terms of agility stats, Alan far outclassed him. At least 50, if not higher.
While strength and stamina remained to be tested, the creature’s teeth, which shattered his rare-grade axe, were close to a one-hit kill pattern.
“Your Highness! Withdraw, please!”
At that moment, the Royal Guards protecting Alan positioned themselves between him and Khan.
“Quite the loyalty you have there. Even calling him Your Highness in that state?”
“Silence! Barbarian!”
Stepping forward in response to Khan’s mockery was Adrian, with whom Khan had clashed before.
“Regardless of his appearance, his Highness is the Prince of Argon and the rightful heir to the throne! Royal Guards, protect the prince from this treacherous rioter!”
Their support for Prince Alan, despite his transformation, showed their unwavering loyalty. They had broken the Royal Guard’s tradition of political neutrality to support him. Their loyalty was unyielding, even for their sake.
But unfortunately…
Thwack!
Their loyalty was not rewarded.
“Wh-why…?”
“Who said you could interfere?”
Crunch. The surprise attack from behind was the last thing Adrian had expected. Before he could even utter a word, Alan, gripping his heart, pulled his hand out harshly.
Thud.
Adrian, one of the strongest within the Royal Guard and Alan’s right-hand man, collapsed lifelessly to the ground. The brutal, unhesitating manner in which Alan had killed him—ripping out his heart—caused quick unrest among the Royal Guards.
“Fall back!”
“P-Princess!”
“That’s no longer the Alan you knew!”
“Silence.”
More blood spilled. This time, the heads of two Royal Guards near Adrian rolled on the shattered cobblestones of Nordic’s streets, making a grotesque squelching sound.
The Royal Guards finally realized that the figure before them was no longer Alan. Their eyes hardened with resolve. But it was too late, and they had made the wrong choice.
“Gah!”
“Argh…!”
Alan, transformed into a dragon-human hybrid, moved so swiftly that even the Guards’ trained eyes could barely catch a glimpse of him. In a short span, he had disposed of two more Royal Guards, laughing maniacally, when the red-bladed barbarian once again clashed with him.
Boom──!!
The scaly fist collided with the red cursed sword.
The outcome was a stalemate. Draupnir’s ‘Curse of Dragonslaying’ left a deep gash on Alan’s hand, but he casually brushed it off and swung his other hand, sending Khan flying.
‘He’s strong.’
In terms of raw strength, Alan was unmatched, but his most threatening aspect was his overwhelming speed. No matter how stealthily Khan approached, the moment he attacked, Alan’s eyes would lock onto him. And those claws, as sharp as his teeth, would have torn Khan apart if it weren’t for the indestructible nature of the cursed sword.
Boom! Boom! Crack!
The fierce exchange of blows between the transformed Alan and Khan continued, each strike resonating with tremendous force.
Once again, their limbs and the crimson sword clashed in a furious melee.
Alan was fast—especially in close-quarters combat, his speed verged on the unfair. It was all the more dangerous given his claws, which could inflict deadly wounds with even the slightest touch.
Khan caught Alan’s knee, which was aimed at his chin, with the flat of his sword, bending his knees to absorb the impact. Then he immediately swung his fist into Alan’s face.
Crunch—!
A blow that could crush a troll’s skull landed squarely on Alan’s jaw, exploiting a gap found through Khan’s “Combat Foresight.”
‘Damn it!’
But instead of reeling from the blow, Alan just grinned and grabbed Khan’s hand, revealing his sharp teeth, capable of crushing steel. In a split second, Khan realized he could end up losing an arm.
His decision was simple.
“If you enjoy punching so much, let’s see how you like this.”
Khan released his grip on the crimson sword and swung his other fist into the opposite side of Alan’s jaw. Despite the hits, Alan kept his grip on Khan’s arm. Khan responded with more of the same.
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
Blows that could shatter stone rained down.
Even as he took the hits, Alan’s only focus was on biting down on Khan’s arm.
Though the force was enough to crush the scales on Alan’s face, he was confident he could endure it. He was betting that eventually, Khan would tire out and weaken. But—
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch…! Crack—!
“Ugh?!”
Alan let go and stepped back, a hint of bewilderment in his voice. Scales from his jaw fell to the ground, revealing the reason for his surprise in his eyes.
Khan’s relentless punches had finally made an impact, causing the supposedly impervious scales on Alan’s face to break off.
‘He broke my scales with his bare fists?!’
It wasn’t just the scales that were damaged; his jaw seemed dislocated and creaked with every movement.
“What are you…?!”
“What else, you bastard?”
Just a guy who knows how to throw a punch.
As Alan retreated, Khan advanced, arms wide open to grab him. Alan, leveraging his agility, slipped out of Khan’s grasp, but Khan’s play wasn’t over yet.
Swish.
Using the skill from ‘Arachne’s Silent Thread,’ Khan retrieved the cursed sword and hurled it towards Alan again.
Having previously caught Khan’s thrown weapons, Alan raised his claws, intending to shatter the sword again.
‘Got you.’
Alan caught the sword, his intent to break it evident. But the unbreakable attribute of the cursed sword, except by a transcendent being, held strong. Khan used this moment of Alan’s confusion to pounce, grabbing Alan’s neck.
Realizing too late that he had fallen into Khan’s trap, Alan opened his mouth wide, intending to crush Khan’s head whole.
“Fool.”
A series of misjudgments. Alan had to pay the price.
Kartus Grappling Arts were not just about throwing punches. It was a combat style designed to effectively subdue and kill the massive beasts and monsters of Hoarfrost Gorge. Creatures with tough hides and hard exteriors were where Kartus methodologies shone.
A human-shaped monster like Alan was perfect prey for Kartus techniques.
With one hand gripping Alan’s neck and the other wedged under his armpit, Khan spun in place and slammed Alan into the ground with a thunderous crash.
Boom—!!
The already damaged streets, ravaged by the Hydra, erupted and cracked under the force. As the full impact landed on Alan’s torso, Khan planted his other foot firmly on Alan’s shoulder.
The impact was enough to rupture internal organs. With a dazed mind, Alan struggled desperately to escape, but like gray wolves, Khan’s grasp was relentless. Crack—!
“Aaaaargh…!”
The horrifying scream that erupted from Alan’s mouth caused Delphina and the surviving Royal Guards to hesitate. The brutality of ripping off Alan’s right arm was shocking, leading some to question if they should attempt to save the prince.
“There are still three left.”
Khan paid no heed to their concerns. Placing his foot on Alan’s left shoulder, he prepared to tear off the other arm. Alan, in a panic, screamed out,
“You… you fools! Your master is being torn apart, and you just stand there! Get this monstrosity off me! Now—! Do it now—!”
No matter how much he shouted, he was met with hesitation and cold silence. Alan had killed five of the Royal Guards with his own hands. Despite their loyalty, it was hard for them to remain steadfast.
Yet, he must not die here. Alan was still a prince of Argon. Dying in the streets at the hands of a foreign barbarian would be a disgrace; he needed to be brought to justice through proper channels to uphold the royal order.
“That will suffice. The rest falls under the jurisdiction of the royal law. He must be brought to the execution stand…”
The highest-ranking surviving knight among the Royal Guards stepped forward to intervene, appealing to Khan. But he overlooked one crucial detail.
“I told you.”
If he planned to stop, he wouldn’t have begun. Khan had no intention of giving up his experience points quietly.
“I’ve always wanted to see what it’s like to split a royal head.”
“W-Wait…!”
Crack—!
***
『Level Up!』
『Level 28 -> 29』
『Strength: 66 -> 68』 +1
『Agility: 36 -> 37』 +3
『Stamina: 38 -> 39』 +9
『Intelligence: 2』 -1
『Act 2: The Place Where the Dragon’s Trace Lingers』
─Failure will result in the downfall of the Kingdom of Argon and accelerated invasion of the Great Demonic Realm. Subsequent scenario difficulty will increase.
『Minimum Clear Conditions Achieved.』
─Dragon’s trace discovered and eliminated.
─(new!) Additional target eliminated.
─Rewards adjusted based on current completion rate.
─Current Completion Rate: 66.6%
─Remaining Entities: ???