A week had passed since Cael joined the Knights. He tried quickly to befriend his comrades, but there was one big problem: his skill was too overwhelming.
"Cael's in first place again today," Garon sighed, looking at the training results. "Swordsmanship, stamina, tactical understanding... He's perfect in every way."
"I've never seen a rookie so good," Aria's expression was also complicated. The scene of him instantly overpowering her a week ago kept replaying in her mind.
Cael intentionally tried to rein in his skill, but it was difficult to completely hide twenty years of ingrained experience. Especially with the dragon invasion so close, the improvement of his comrades' skills was desperately needed.
"Cael," Leon approached him. "We have a practical mission this afternoon. Would you like to come along?"
"What kind of mission?"
"Reports have come in about monsters frequently appearing near the northern border. It's a reconnaissance mission, and I'm taking you along for a rookie knight's practical experience."
Cael's expression hardened. The northern border... that's where the dragons first appeared in his previous life. The increasing monster appearances meant that the dragons were already starting to affect the area.
"I'll go too," Aria interjected. "I want to properly confirm this rookie's skills."
"I'll come along as well," Garon lifted his shield. "Four of us should be a good size."
In the afternoon, four knights rode north. Their destination was near Greenwood Forest, half a day's ride from the capital.
Arriving at the forest entrance, a strange aura hung in the air. Trees were withering, and the scent of monsters was strong.
"Strange," Leon muttered, dismounting. "The situation seems worse than the report indicated..."
Cael surveyed his surroundings, searching for traces of dragons. Claw marks on tree bark, black scale fragments on the ground. Everything matched his memories from his previous life.
"Everyone, be careful," Cael put his hand on his sword. "Something big is nearby."
"Something big?" Aria wondered. "How do you know?"
Just then. A low growl echoed from deep within the forest. It wasn't the sound of a monster. It was that sound, one Cael had heard for twenty years and would never forget.
A dragon's roar.
"Everyone, retreat!" Cael yelled.
But it was too late. A massive shadow soared from among the trees. A fifteen-meter-long red dragon spread its wings in the sky and roared.
"D-dragon?!" Garon trembled, raising his shield. "This can't be... dragons were only supposed to exist in legends..."
It was the Red Dragon Scandul. One of the first dragons Cael had encountered in his previous life. Back then, dozens of comrades had been with him, but half had died. Now, there were only four of them.
"Everyone scatter!" Leon commanded. "If we stick together, we'll all be hit by its breath!"
Scandul opened its mouth. Red flames boiled in its throat. Cael could accurately predict its trajectory. The breath attack would come towards Leon.
Time slowed down. Cael's body moved by reflex.
"Leon!"
Cael pushed Leon away and stood in his place. He raised Dragonbane to the sky, receiving the dragon's breath head-on.
[Dragonbane Special Ability Activated: Dragon Breath 50% Absorbed!]
The sword glowed crimson, absorbing half of the breath. The remaining flames enveloped Cael's body, but with his previous life's experience, he sustained minimal damage.
"Cael!" Leon gasped in shock. "How are you alive?!"
Cael walked out of the smoke. His clothes were burned, but his life was not in danger. And in his eyes, there was a cold killing intent.
"Now, it's my turn."
[System Notification][Special Situation Occurred: Encounter with a Dragon][Urgent Quest Generated: Defeat the Red Dragon Scandul][Reward upon success: 5000 Experience, Dragon Heart Fragment]
Cael charged at the dragon. Scandul was bewildered that a human had endured its breath and was counterattacking. Unlike his previous life, this time Cael faced the dragon head-on alone.
Dragonbane traced a beautiful arc in the air. The swordsmanship of a Dragon Slayer, honed for twenty years, was perfectly executed.
"Unbelievable..." Aria watched, mesmerized. "A human fighting a dragon one-on-one..."
Scandul's claws slashed down at Cael, but Cael predicted the attack and dodged it. At the same time, he plunged his sword into the dragon's neck.
"Gah!"
Scandul shrieked in pain and crashed to the ground. But it wasn't dead yet. A wounded dragon was even more dangerous.
"This is the end," Cael raised his sword high.
"Dragon Slayer's Secret Art - Dragon Annihilation Slash!"
A blue light erupted from the sword, and a massive sword aura pierced Scandul. The red dragon roared one last time and then collapsed completely.
[Quest Complete!][Level Up! Current Level: 5][New Skill Acquired: Dragon Killer (Passive)][Dragon Heart Fragment Acquired]
In the silent forest, three comrades stared at Cael. Their eyes held a mixture of awe and fear.
"Cael..." Leon said, his voice trembling. "Who are you, exactly?"
Cael wiped the blood from his sword and replied, "I'm just... someone born to kill dragons."
At that moment, another shadow passed through the sky. The silhouette of a larger dragon. Other dragons had begun to move, sensing Scandul's death.
Cael's expression darkened. Events were unfolding much faster than in his previous life. Some unforeseen variable was at play.
"We need to return quickly," Cael said. "This is just the beginning."