The dragon fell from the sky, crashing into the ground.
"Boom!!!"
If it had been an ordinary dragon, the fall alone would have been enough to smash it into pulp. But Alduin was no ordinary dragon. Even if it fell from the highest heavens, such a crash would never kill it.
But…
What was happening? Why was this happening?
Alduin struggled to lift its head, looking toward its right wing. The root of its wing had been completely severed, torn into a massive gaping wound.
Impossible! Why? That man was not a Dragonborn!!
This world had its rules.
Just like the Thu'um—a power where mere words could change the world—dragons were beings mortals could not touch, especially Alduin. As the firstborn of the Time Dragon God, its power was not only immense, but its very existence was far beyond the realm of mortals. In theory, no matter how powerful a human was, they should not have been able to harm Alduin.
Because they were still only mortals.
But… what was this power?!
The torn wound did not heal. Instead, Alduin felt a destructive force, like burning flames, spreading through its body. This power destroyed everything in its path. Even the might of a dragon felt helpless before it.
This was not the power of a Dragonborn!
Legends said only a Dragonborn could defeat Alduin. But in truth, that identity only allowed one to stand on the same level as Alduin, crossing the divide between mortals and dragons. If a Dragonborn were too weak, they still could not win.
Yet this force was terrifying. It burned violently, spreading quickly as though to consume everything within it, and Alduin's proud regenerative ability was useless against it!
"Haaah… grrhh…"
Alduin opened its maw, trying to use a Thu'um to heal itself, but only a garbled whimper escaped. The warhammer jammed in its throat sank even deeper, lodging itself inside, nearly impossible to dislodge.
Damn it!!!
The foreign object in its throat drove Alduin mad. Never had it imagined someone would use such a method against it. Furious, Alduin stretched out its foreclaws, trying to wrench the damned hammer out.
But the hammer still sparked with lightning, vibrating violently, numbing Alduin's throat. If this went on, it feared it might never speak again!
But of course, Duanmu Huai and the others had no intention of giving it that chance.
"Drink!!!"
Flames rained down, covering Alduin's body in an instant. Guleya clenched her flaming right fist and slammed it down hard on Alduin's head!
"Boom!!!"
Alduin's head was smashed into the ground. But it would not surrender so easily. With a roar, it unleashed another stream of dragonfire, forcing Guleya back. Yet just as Alduin prepared to pursue, countless bats swarmed into its vision, forming a dark ring that blocked its sight.
Foolish vampire!!
Of course, Alduin knew who was behind this—it was that vampire girl's doing. Its rage reached a fever pitch, and just as it prepared to unleash its flames to incinerate everything, a warning flared in its instincts. It twisted aside at the last moment, just in time to catch sight of a figure rushing in from behind, wielding a spinning [Chainsword], slashing down at its hind leg!
"Vrrrnnnn!!!"
The roaring blade carved through scales and flesh, driving deep into Alduin's body. The pain forced a thunderous roar from its throat, and with a furious sweep of its tail, it sent Duanmu Huai flying.
But even as he was thrown back, Duanmu Huai extended his hand. Several phantoms appeared in midair, charging at Alduin. Yet they lasted only a breath before being obliterated by the sweep of its tail.
"Stupid mortal! Such tricks are useless against me!"
"Tch, as expected, that didn't work."
Climbing to his feet, Duanmu Huai clicked his tongue. He wasn't surprised. Almost all bosses were immune to instant-death effects. In games, this rule existed to prevent players from relying too heavily on necromancy. In reality, it simply meant a boss's power was so overwhelming that such magic was brushed aside.
But that didn't mean the battle was unwinnable. In fact, Duanmu Huai was certain—he had already won!
At the same time, Alduin realized the danger. It could feel its right hind leg growing weaker, just like its ruined wing. At last, Alduin understood Duanmu Huai's intent. Unlike foolish dragon slayers who sought only to kill a dragon, Duanmu Huai's true aim was to cut off every escape!
No wings to fly, three legs too crippled to run—Duanmu Huai could slowly grind it down to death.
And Alduin had nowhere to run.
For the first time, fear surfaced in its heart. It stared at Duanmu Huai, at the rabbit-faced helm twisted into a cruel, triumphant grin, like a predator preparing to devour its prey. If Alduin faltered for even a moment, that beast would leap, rending its flesh and soul to shreds.
Dieeeee!!!
Uncontrollable fear seized Alduin. With a roar, it unleashed a torrent of dragonfire, engulfing Duanmu Huai in an instant.
Burn to ashes!!
Unable to use its Thu'um, Alduin poured all its fury into the inferno. That cursed human could never escape unharmed. This flame could melt steel—how could mere flesh withstand it?
"Whoooosh!!"
The fiery torrent split apart, divided by Duanmu Huai's raised [Chainsword], as though he were cleaving a flood in two. Lifting his head, the blood-red glow of his helm eyes burned coldly—like a hunter poised to strike.
Then Duanmu Huai strode forward through the dragonfire, charging directly at Alduin.
You… damned…
Alduin's body shook, trembling with rage—or was it fear? But before it could act again, bats swarmed once more, blocking its sight entirely. All it saw was an endless storm of wings before its eyes.
That was exactly Duanmu Huai's plan. Bambi manipulated the bats to blind Alduin, Guleya used her Dragonborn power to distract it with feints, and Duanmu Huai struck whenever an opening appeared. The dragon couldn't fly or run. It could only sit there and take the punishment!
Alduin was utterly stifled. If Duanmu Huai hadn't sealed its Thu'um at the start, it would have had a thousand ways to crush these arrogant mortals. Now its shouts were silenced, one wing and one leg crippled beyond recovery. It had few choices left.
Two killing intents rushed from both sides. But blinded by the bats, Alduin couldn't tell which was real. Desperate, it swung its tail to the left, clawed to the right—
And then—
"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!"
Agonizing pain lanced through its right foreclaw. Duanmu Huai had seized the moment, driving his [Chainsword] upward in a brutal thrust, piercing clean through.
The pain was unbearable. Alduin screamed, instinctively raising its claw. At that instant, the bats dispersed, and Duanmu Huai leapt from the impaled claw, bringing his roaring [Chainsword] down on Alduin's forehead!
"Nooooooo!!!"
Alduin bellowed its final roar of defiance. But it was too late. The spinning blade drilled into its skull, tearing its brain to pulp. Life fled the dragon's body. Its neck sagged, crashing into the earth.
Moments later, Alduin's body erupted into flame, dissolving into pure power that wrapped around Duanmu Huai and Guleya.
At the same time, system prompts appeared before Duanmu Huai.
[You have slain the World-Eater—Alduin]
[Doom Slayer ability activated—Strength +3, Constitution +2, Intelligence +1]
[You have obtained Soul Card—Dragonform Power]
[Dragonform Power (Gold)]
[Cost: 6]
[When this card is in play, you may discard one card from your hand to transform a minion with cost 3 or lower into a Wyvern]
[Wyvern (Bronze)]
[Cost: 5]
[Attack: 5]
[Defense: 5]
Excellent!
Clutching the card, Duanmu Huai's fist trembled with excitement.
This was a guaranteed profit!
(End of Chapter)