The "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)" was relaxing in the crater of the volcano, sensing Yugan''s approach.


    A fencer with terrifying agility.


    According to the report from the wyvern that had gone out to scout, this was the characteristic of the approaching enemy.


    Grand Fafnir" looked around at the sleeping servants around him.


    There must be a hundred of them, and if the "Grand Fafnir" shouts, they will wake up and join him.


    However, is that enough preparation against an enemy with divine agility?


    If the "Fafnir" and other "Fire Dragons" become a wall of flesh and cover the ground, they may be able to prevent Yugan''s agility, but they will still have to take a beating.


    After pondering for a while, the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)" dipped a dull-colored jewel called the "Dragon Core," wolf bone and flesh, and dragon scales in magma, smearing them with its own blood.


    After a while, a monster with dragon scales, wolf fangs, and supple limbs crawled up from the magma.


    A new breed of dragon tribe specialized in agility was born.


    After running through the barren lands and reaching the gray expanse of ground where the "Giant Fire Dragon (Grand Fafnir)" was at its knees, Yugan felt his sixth sense sounding a warning.


    （Oh no!)


    It was an intuition that only someone who has been through many a rough patch could have developed.


    That intuition was telling us.


    The enemy that awaits us ahead is not only the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir).


    A new threat awaits us.


    （If we go now, we will be killed for sure!


    Besides, the enemy is not only "Grand Fafnir" and his servants.


    Even if he manages to escape from them, Yugan will have to run through the "Wasteland" alone afterwards, and he will also have to fight against bandits after the "Metal Line".


    It is hard to believe that he can survive such a tough battle with "Grand Fafnir" and his status after the battle.


    Thinking about it, Yugan turned around and headed back the way he came like a hare.


    The "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)" felt the approaching threat leaving.


    It seemed to have sensed our movement just in time.


    While tilting his head to the side, he decided to unleash the new species of dragon he had just created and send it after Yugan.


    Equipped with the legs of a wolf and the scales of a dragon, the monster, with its extraordinary leg strength, climbed up the cliff-like crater in the blink of an eye and chased after Yugan.


    At the ore mining site, the second-in-command of the "Knight of the Crescent Moon" was asked to explain to the local adventurers.


    They had found out that Yugan was not here.


    He was not there. Explain.


    Why hasn''t Yugan shown up?"


    Please calm down," he said. Yugan will be back soon. He is never very far away."


    Then tell me. Where did Yugan go?"


    I can''t ...... tell you that. ......


    Why can''t you tell me? It''s crazy."


    You don''t mean to tell me that one of you escaped from this place, do you?


    I''m not kidding. Without Yugan, this alliance would be a raven. What are you going to do on your way back?"


    Please remain calm. We will ensure your safety.


    The deputy was fed up and quieted the local adventurers.


    (Not at all. You''re useless, but you''re always making demands. Yugan is Yugan. He''s just like Yugan, going ahead by himself in a situation like this.)


    The deputy''s concern was not only about upsetting the local guilds.


    The young members of the "Knights of the Crescent Moon" were also annoyed by the attitude of the local adventurers, and there was no hiding their growing irritation, with many of them swearing openly.


    If things continued as they were, a clash was only a matter of time.


    The deputy glanced toward the summit.


    Five days had already passed since Yugan had headed for the summit.


    If all went well, it would not be surprising if they encountered the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)," but there was no sign of a clash between the S-class monster and the S-class adventurers.


    (What in the world is going on, Yugan? You don''t mean to tell me that you''ve been hit, do you?)


    While the deputy was worrying like this, a black shadow with a cloud of dust was approaching us from above at a high speed.


    It was Yugan.


    Yugan!　Thank God. You are safe."


    The deputy''s joy was short-lived, but his face immediately hardened.


    Yugan''s face is sweaty and he''s out of breath.


    The look on his face was that of someone who had escaped death with all his might.


    I''m sorry," he said. I''m sorry I made you wait.


    No, it''s more than that. Are you all right?　That ...... doesn''t look too good."


    I''m fine. But we''ll be leaving soon.


    What?


    I, Grand Fafnir''s servant, am following him.


    （I''m a servant of "Grand Fafnir"?　Besides "Grand Fafnir" and his subordinate "Fafnir," are there any other powerful enemies that still need to be defeated?


    Probably a monster equivalent to a class A. It''s a bit of a challenge to deal with them while fighting with the bandits."


    （I was naive. (I was naive to think that I could defeat the "Giant Fire Dragon (Gran Fafnir)" all by myself. It is not an opponent that can be defeated by a single person.)


    We are always ready to go.


    I see. Then let''s hurry.


    The alliance, joined by Yugan, hurriedly packed their bags and began to descend the mountain.


    Soon after, the bandits set up.


    The battle unfolded similarly to the previous one.


    First, the "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)" attacked, to which the "Knight of the Crescent Moon" responded.


    From the opposite side, bandit archers fired arrows, and the local guild took up the defense.


    One of the local adventurers catches a falling arrow with his shield.


    (Heh heh. No matter how many arrows they shoot at us, they can''t damage us at this distance. Just keep your shield up and Yugan will take care of the rest. It''s an easy job. Hmm?)


    As he looked through the gap in his shield toward the enemy, he saw a glint of magic light shimmering between the archers.


    Immediately, a flaming bullet flies toward him.


    They pierce his shield and shatter his armor.


    Gghhhhhhhh!"


    The warrior was severely damaged and sprawled on the spot.


    The ore in his possession was scattered on the spot.


    What is it? What was that?


    No way!　The Dragoon''s Baskets!


    I''ll be right back. I hit it."


    Zain, the attack mage with the "Dragoon" fitted in his arm, smiled as he saw his fireball hit the enemy Warrior.


    How''s it working?


    Jamil asks.


    It''s good," Jamil asks. Raul did a great job.


    The power seems to be perfect.


    Jamil said as he looked at the sprawling Alliance Warrior.


    Zain''s "Dragoon" may not be powerful enough to shoot down a "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)" in a single blow like Sein''s "Dragoon", but it is powerful enough to shoot through the shields and armor of C-class warriors like the many in the alliance. It was enough to cause damage.


    Good. Cut them down one by one.


    Roger that!"


    Once again, the "Dragoon''s Baskets" erupted with fire.


    This time, it blew away another Warrior''s shield.


    The Alliance was in an uproar.


    "Ow!"


    You''ve got to be kidding me.


    The ''dragon-headed cage hand''? I never heard of it.


    They visibly become agitated.


    Move!"　I''ll go."


    Yugan jumped out of the line of local adventurers.


    （He kills the dragon-headed cage-wearer!


    The thieves were quick to react.


    Yugan is here.


    Concentrate your attacks."


    A hail of arrows rains down on Yugan.


    Yugan flicked the arrows with his sword and pushed forward.


    Jamil senses a faint discomfort in Yugan''s appearance.


    （Jamil felt a slight discomfort in Yugan''s condition. Is he losing his agility?


    Zain. Shoot Yugan."


    Hmm?"　I thought my role was to crush the shield-bearer?"


    I''d like to try a few things."


    Hmmm. Well, okay. There we go.


    Mixed in with the hail of arrows, a flaming bullet was fired at Yugan.


    Haaaaaaaaah!"


    Yugan cut down the flaming bullet with his magic sword, Granir, in a single blow.


    Geez. He cut down the flame magic.


    The power of the magic sword is still alive and well. It can''t be helped. Let''s take a break.


    Jamil and Zain turned their backs to the battlefield and fled.


    I''m not going to let them get away.


    Yugan chased after Zain and Jamil with all his might, but the disarmed bandits stood in his way.


    Mr. Yugan. We surrender.


    Take me prisoner.


    Get out of the way!


    Yugan kicked away the surrenderers who clung to him, but the attack mage equipped with the "dragon-headed basket hand (dragoon)" had already disappeared from the battlefield.


    （An attack mage with high agility? d*mn. That''s nasty.)


    Yugan stopped and felt his legs getting heavier.


    (d*mn. (d*mn, all that speeding up and down the mountain must have taken a toll on him.)


    Looks like we''re spread out."


    Zain spoke to Jamil, checking behind him.


    Yeah, looks like the ''prisoner of war'' guys did their job properly."


    But that Yugan guy is slower than last time, isn''t he?"


    You''ve lost some of your agility, but only a little.


    (I wondered what he was doing after he stopped moving for 5 days, but I guess he was in some kind of trouble. But then, ......, kukk. Maybe I can finish off Double S''s Yugan with my own hands).


    The "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)" attacks the alliance descending the mountain again.


    This time, it came from the left side.


    （Fafnir" from the left!　(...... means the bandit is on the right!)


    Yugan jumps over the formation and runs to the right side before the enemy can fire an arrow.


    He identifies a good vantage point from which to fire, and sure enough, he sees the enemy emerge from there.


    (They keep repeating the same attack like a bunch of idiots. I won''t get hit so many times!)


    But what came flying was not a hail of arrows, but countless iron spikes.


    (?　(What''s this?)


    It was the size of a nut, with spines extending in four directions as if forming a triangular pyramid.


    When Yugan swung his sword to test it, the iron spikes were easily blown away by the pressure of the sword and fell to the ground.


    Hah. Do you think you can damage me with this?


    Yugan did not care and continued on his way, but the bandits, being bandits, did not care and continued scattering iron spikes all over the area.


    （What are these guys?　You should know that you can''t damage me by throwing these things, right? Not only that, they throw it in the most misguided direction. What on earth are you doing ......? (Ugh)


    Yugan stopped when he felt a sharp pain in the sole of his foot.


    When he looked, he saw that an iron spike had pierced it and blood was flowing.


    (Don''t tell me this is ...... a Makibishi!


    By the time I realized it, water chestnuts had already been sprinkled all around me.


    I''m not going to let you do this!"


    Yugan tried to blow away the water sprinkled on the ground with his sword pressure, but it did not have much effect.


    (Tsk. So he''s trying to block our agility with this. No, but ......, won''t that prevent the enemy from attacking us?)


    Contrary to Yugan''s prediction, the bandits were approaching us on a leisurely walk over the scattered water chestnuts.


    (This is ridiculous. How can they walk on this needle mountain with a nonchalant look on their faces?　No way!)


    The bandits wore thick-soled shoes with shiny black soles.


    They were equipped with "iron feet," which nullified damage from the scattering water chestnuts and enabled them to advance.


    The bandits with bows and arrows descended the valley and took up positions at close range.


    Jamil gloats as he looks down at Yugan from his high vantage point.


    Kukk. Now he''s as good as a rat in the sack. Shoot arrows and fire magic from all directions!"


    An arrow is shot at Yugan, this time at point-blank range.


    "Tsk."


    Yugan tried to move and dodge, but a new makibishi (a diamond-shaped stick) lodged in the sole of his foot.


    Agh!"


    The pain in his legs increased and his leg strength was reduced.


    （d*mn. My agility is getting worse (......).


    Having no choice, Yugan dealt with the flying arrows and blasts with his sword.


    The bandits were shaken.


    What the hell? This guy is still defending himself.


    Calm down. Shoot closer. His sword won''t reach us anyway.


    The bandits come closer to shoot arrows at closer range.


    But that was already Yugan''s time.


    When Yugan swung his sword, the thieves'' bows were destroyed, even though they did not touch the tip of his sword.


    The magic sword Granir was able to slash at enemies several meters away, where the sword could not reach.


    The bandits rush to distance themselves.


    The thieves hurriedly moved away. Stay away from him.


    Tsk. That son of a b*tc* can''t be killed even with his agility blocked like this?


    Jamil clicked his tongue.


    Hey, we''re in trouble. If we don''t do something about it, ......"


    I know.


    While Yugan was being a handful, the "Knights of the Crescent Moon" were finishing their battle with the "Fire Dragon (Fafnir)" on the other side of the river.


    If we took any more time, we would invite them to join us.


    It was no use. Let''s give up on Yugan and go after those who are cowering in the back. Send in the Warrior as well.


    A warrior equipped with "White Wolf" armor, a long spear, and "Iron Legs" passed Yugan and the archers and headed toward the local adventurers.


    Yugan could only grit his teeth and watch as the enemy Warriors passed right by him.


    With his agility deprived, it was too risky for even an S-class swordsman to turn his back on the enemy archers and rush to his allies.


    (This ain''t the time to be on the defensive any more)


    Yugan, prepared to have his legs shaved off, charged into the enemy archer unit while stepping on the makibishi.


    Soon after, the two armies were in confusion, and a fierce battle ensued that inflicted tremendous damage on both sides.


    Blood splatters and broken pieces of equipment flew about, and screams and shouts of rage echoed through the air, creating a horrific scene.


    The alliance and the "White Wolf" fought for several hours, both inflicting considerable damage on the other, but at the end of the battle, both sides saved their strength so as not to be annihilated, and the battle was never settled.


    After that, both sides marched down the mountain, with neither having time to bother the other as they covered for their wounded, and both were waiting for the other to make a move.


    They eventually returned to the town.


    <>