Chapter 103: Gold Dragon’s successor

When I entered the Arena, a place reminiscent of a Colosseum appeared.

I wasn’t inside the stadium itself, but rather on the outside—a spot on the second floor where I could look down on the arena.

[You have entered the Lower Arena.]

[By securing 10 Sacred Relics, you have qualified to ascend to the Intermediate Arena.]

[Would you like to proceed with the Promotional Duel?]

Yeah.

[I will proceed with the Promotional Duel.]

[The Promotional Duel will be against the highest Ranker in the Lower Arena, and the Ranker will choose the duel format.]

[If you win the duel, you can be promoted to Intermediate.]

[Starting matchmaking.]

I didn’t know how the matchmaking worked, but it didn’t take very long for it to complete.

[Promotional Duel matchmaking complete.]

Shuaaak!

With a flash of pure white light, someone appeared at the spot exactly opposite from where I stood.

A being with the body of a human covered in golden scales, a long tail, and the head of a Dragon.

“A Dragon?”

“So even a lowly human can recognize greatness. That’s right. I am Kenken, a Gold Dragon, kin of the great Lord.”

Kenken, arms crossed, looked at me with an arrogant smile curling his lips.

“So you’re the one from the rumors?”

“Rumors?”

“I heard a talented human rookie snuck in recently. I don’t recall ever seeing your face.”

“Have you met all the Successors in the Lower Arena?”

“Of course.”

That sly grin reminded me of the Successor I’d met last time.

They had said there was a gatekeeper in the Promotional Arena.

Seeing that look and aura, Kenken was definitely that gatekeeper.

“Ah, I heard about it too. Apparently, there’s a coward hiding out in the Arena. That was you, huh?”

“…Coward?”

“They said there’s a Successor who’s too scared to move up, just beating up the ones below to satisfy himself. Looking at you now, it must be you.”

“What did you say?”

Kenken ground his teeth, clearly angry, clenching both fists and glaring at me, raising his momentum.

“Who is that bastard? Tell me. I’ll crush and drink him with you.”

“What? Did I hit a nerve? So it really was you?”

“You bastard! How dare a mere human say such things to a great Dragon!”

He was trying to oppress me with his presence, but it didn’t feel overwhelming to me.

In fact, I was more curious.

Was this really the extent of a Gold Dragon, on the same level as a Dragon Lord?

“To withstand my aura… Not bad. It seems you really do have talent, after all.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the duel format was decided.

[The duel format for the Promotional Duel is Guardian Combat.]

[You will select five Guardians to use in the duel.]

[A defeated Guardian is out of the Arena; the side with the last surviving Guardian wins.]

[Please select your five Guardians.]

I looked at Kenken beyond the message, and he was grinning like he had already won.

“What’s this? Is the great Dragon scared to face a lowly human directly?”

“It’d be foolish to face someone in person when they’re skilled enough to withstand my aura.”

Being able to choose the duel format was a clear cheat.

He’d size up the opponent’s strength with his aura.

If they were weaker, he’d fight directly; if they were stronger, he’d switch to Guardian Combat.

No wonder the Successors in the Lower Arena were always groaning.

‘That means the Guardians he owns must be pretty strong too.’

I couldn’t guess exactly how strong.

But I didn’t feel the need to think too hard about it.

Some things you can only learn by facing them head-on.

For that, I chose five of my Guardians.

[You have selected Pedrias, Leah, Orc, Anne, and Irellin.]

It would have been even better if Rynne could join, to ensure victory.

But Rynne had one drawback.

Unless she directly drank my blood, she couldn’t perform well in battle.

‘It’s hard to give her blood.’

In Guardian duels, all I could do was watch from afar. I couldn’t give her blood.

Since Rynne couldn’t fight well without it, it was better to leave her out.

[Guardians have been selected.]

Shuaaak!

A flash of light appeared again, and the Guardians emerged. Five on my side, five on Kenken’s.

A total of ten Guardians revealed themselves in the Arena.

I wanted to say something, but a formless force sealed my mouth shut.

The Guardians glanced at me for a moment.

After checking something, they turned back to face the enemy.

【So, we have to take those guys down, huh?】

【Sounds fun. I wonder how strong they are?】

【I’ll take the big one in the middle.】

【I’ll support everyone overall.】

【Any plans?】

Leah grinned.

【I’ll take care of two. Each of you handle one.】

And with that, the duel began.

Leah and the Orc dashed forward at the same time, raising their weapons toward the enemy.

Naturally, my gaze shifted toward the enemy camp.

‘Now I see why he was so confident.’

All of Kenken’s Guardians were of races related to Dragons.

[Using Golden Dragon Eye.]

[Red Drake (S+)]

-One of the Dragon’s lesser species, with a fire attribute.

-Overall Stats: S+

-Potential: SS

-Possessions:

-Skills: Blessing of Flame (SS), Blazing Flower (S)… Magic Resistance (S), Physical Resistance (S), Mana’s Blessing (S).

A Drake with the body of a massive wolf, the head of a Dragon, a long tail, and small wings.

The appearances varied slightly, so I thought they might be a different species, but Golden Dragon Eye revealed they only looked different based on their element. They were all Drakes.

‘S+ grade, huh.’

Compared to the Guardians I had, they were really nothing special.

I wondered if he had some secret weapon.

But as the duel went on, it became clear there was nothing of the sort.

KWAANG!

The Orc’s axe split the magic created by the Drake, falling onto the Drake’s head.

Like slicing tofu.

He casually cut the Drake down.

The Drake’s body crumbled into dust and vanished. Leah, who’d been watching everything from the side, frowned.

Then, with a face void of interest, she put away her trident.

【No fun.】

A Drake targeted Leah.

But Pedrias’s arrow pierced straight through the Drake’s brow.

【How boring.】

【They’re a lot weaker than I thought.】

【Looks like there’s nothing left for me to do.】

Irellin and Anne simply watched, and the remaining Drakes were finished off by the Orc’s two axes.

[You have won the duel.]

The duel ended far more anticlimactically than I expected.

Kenken, unable to accept the result, stared at me with wide eyes.

“Ho… how do you have such Guardians?”

“Isn’t it common sense for the strong to have strong Guardians?”

“Actually, it’s common sense for Guardians to be weaker if you’re strong. If you’re powerful yourself, you don’t rely on your Guardians as much, so you don’t feel the need.”

“So that’s why you were so confident? You thought my Guardians would be weak because I’m strong?”

“Grrr….”

Now it was time to reap the rewards as the victor.

I skimmed through the Sacred Relics Kenken owned. Some were pretty good. Among them were ones I already had.

[If the effects of Sacred Relics are similar, the efficacy of the additional Relic is halved.]

It was a pity that duplicates were halved, but it was still better than not getting the effect at all.

‘For now, it’s better to get something new than a duplicate.’

[You have acquired one Sacred Relic from Kenken.]

[Sacred Relic: Crown of the Emperor obtained.]

[Crown of the Emperor (Sacred Relic)]

-The crown worn by the Emperor who ruled a thousand-year empire.

-Increases the growth potential of all you rule.

-Increases the stats of all you rule.

-Can be used in combination with the Dragon Lord’s Blessing.

So that’s why the Drake’s stats were S+.

[Sacred Relic: Crown of the Emperor has been registered.]

[The growth potential of everyone in the Dragon Lair increases. In rare cases, some may break through their limits.]

With this, I was done in the Arena.

“NOOOO! To think I, Kenken, would lose to a mere human!”

Kenken’s figure, howling in despair, began to fade away.

“N-no! No! I can’t end like this!”

And Kenken vanished completely.

[Lower Arena Ranker Kenken has lost his Successor qualification due to repeated defeats.]

So that’s why he’d stayed holed up in the Lower Arena without ascending.

Now that he was gone, there’d be fresh energy in the Lower Arena again.

[Promotion to Intermediate successful.]

[You possess five or more SS-grade Guardians.]

[Your Dragon Heart has met certain conditions.]

[You have mastered advanced magic.]

……

……

……

[You have met all conditions for Dragon King.]

The message I’d been waiting for appeared.

[Physical abilities increased.]

[Physical abilities increased.]

……

……

[You have attained enlightenment and entered a new realm.]

[You have transcended your limits.]

[You have become a Dragon King.]

[You exert a tremendous influence on the Dragon Lair. You can receive greater rewards.]

[You have acquired Dragonification (EX).]

[You have met the minimum requirements to accept Divinity.]

The rewards didn’t end there.

[Main Quest 22 has been completed.]

[You have acquired Talent of the Martial God (EX).]

[You have acquired a Dimensional Tavern Pass.]

It had been a long time since I last obtained a Dimensional Tavern Pass.

Now that I was Dragon King level.

Will I be able to meet a Legendary Guardian at last?

[A Main Quest has arrived.]

[Main Quest 23]

-Eliminate all Apostles who have descended into the world.

-4/7

-Dimension System.

I debated between two choices.

Should I head straight for the SS-grade Red Dungeon?

Or should I finish dealing with the Black Order?

After careful consideration, I decided to finish off the Black Order first.

Supplying Potions was one reason.

But the SS-grade Red Dungeon was so unknown that I needed to prepare thoroughly.

‘If only I had two Guardians capable of healing.’

If I could heal the Lord of the Giants and repair Ropenheim’s Manahole, my forces would increase tremendously.

Besides that.

The longer time flowed in the Dragon Lair, the more powerful the effects of the Sacred Relics became, allowing those inside the Lair to grow to their absolute limits.

[Altering the flow of time.]

After setting it so that half a year would pass in the Dragon Lair for every day in reality, I spent some appropriate time.

About a week had passed in the Dragon Lair world.

I entered the world of the Dragon Lair.

The warehouse was filled with all kinds of minerals, Potions, and equipment. The overall quality had increased greatly.

I went outside and met Anne.

【You’re here.】

“How are Ropenheim and Zeit?”

【Ropenheim is currently undergoing treatment. It should take about half a year for a complete recovery. Zeit is the same.】

“So they’ll be out for this war, then.”

【Yes.】

Since they couldn’t fight anyway, it didn’t make a big difference to my forces.

It was a shame I couldn’t use Ropenheim’s experience.

But I could still use the troops of the other Lords of the Forest, and since I’d ascended to Dragon King, I’d grown even stronger.

I could sweep away most enemies, so I wasn’t worried about losing the war.

“How’s the Black Order?”

【They haven’t entered the forest yet. They’re just sending Summoned Beasts to scout.】

“Is that so?”

If they were just Summoned Beasts, it would be hard to gain information from capturing them.

“I guess I’ll have to go check it out myself.”