The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years (Web Novel KR)

Bargan frowned slightly as he looked into the darkness.

The monster wasn’t hiding and attacking from the shadows because it didn’t have the confidence to face them head-on.

Instead, it was doing it just so it could enjoy the hunt.

For example, even if it was day instead of night, and they were in a plain instead of a forest, their chances of winning would still be very slim.

That was why Ashstar was so angry.

For the extremely proud Dragonmen, this kind of death was the most shameful. From the start, they were the type who wouldn’t even want a peaceful death where they could lay on a bed, close their eyes, and smile.

However, they had now been reduced to nothing more than prey and could do nothing more than wait for their deaths.

For Ashstar, that was a kind of death that she could never accept.

By the time she had made this silent resolution, Ashstar realised that all her squad members had disappeared.

To be precise, they were all dead.

And, as if to mock them, they arrived at a clearing.

Of course, they hadn’t escaped the forest. Instead, this clearing represented the center of the Great Forest.

Standing in the middle of this clearing was their assailant.

As Bargan described, it was relatively small for a Dragonling.

In fact, its appearance was closer to that of a Dragonman than a Dragonling. Its slim body and the fact that it stood on two feet emphasised this feeling.

The monster had jet-black scales, six sharp horns, and a tail. This tail, which seemed to be much longer than its body, was pointed straight up toward the sky.

At first glance, it appeared more like a black spear than a tail.

Nevertheless, its most noticeable feature was the fact that it was covered in blood. It was needless to say who this blood belonged to.

Bargan spoke in a frustrated voice.

“Looks like it’s grown tired of hunting. It probably intends to take us both head-on.”

“Ha. Should I be happy that I’ll die a different way?”

Ashstar sneered.

Bargan looked down at his club for a moment before speaking in a soft tone.

“I should be able to hold it back for about five seconds.”

“How surprising. You plan on acting as bait.”

While one side caught its attention, the other would deal the final blow. It was the simplest and most efficient plan that could be used in the current situation. But there was a high possibility that the one who took the role as bait would die.

It wasn’t possible for Bargan to not know this.

“My club can’t get through its scales. But your weapon might be able to.”

“…I see.”

Ashstar snorted.

“Well. We’ll both die anyway if I fail.”

[Ka, ka, ka.]

The Dragonling let out a sinister laugh as though it had heard the conversation between them.

And upon hearing this laugh, Bargain and Ashstar kicked off from the ground at the same time.

* * *

Ashstar had a distinctive weapon and fighting style which granted her the title ‘Butcher’. Once she designated someone as her enemy, she never showed any hesitation or mercy when slaughtering them, and this trait was showcased in her fights.

A weak-willed person would never be able to watch her fight. The process of her slowly turning her opponent into minced meat with her huge saber was shocking enough to cause many to vomit.

But now…

Ashstar’s renowned fighting style could not be displayed at all.

Clang!

Her saber bounced off once again. Her wrist ached as if she’d hit polished steel armor made by a master craftsman.

It was bloody hard.

How could scales that hadn’t gone through any smelting process be so hard?

Bargain seemed to have expected her saber to be able to cut through its scales, but at this rate, it seemed that would never happen.

Whoosh!

The long, flexible tail bent like a whip, hitting both Ashstar and Bargan at the same time. Its tail wasn’t very thick. Rather, it was pretty thin and smooth.

But the shock she felt as it smashed into them was closer to being hit by a huge boulder.

She could only barely get back to her feet after rolling several times across the ground. Her heart pounded in her chest.

That attack had broken at least three ribs.

[Ka, ka, ka.]

The bastard didn’t take advantage of the opening. Instead, it simply clapped its hands together and laughed at them.

It felt as if it could kill them at any time, and it was true.

At that point, she couldn’t even feel angry. Should she be grateful that it had spared her life until now?

Ashstar let out a laugh.

She couldn’t believe she was having such thoughts. At this rate, she couldn’t tell when she would finally kick the bucket.

“If this continues, we’ll both die.”

“It’ll probably happen when it gets tired of us.”

Bargan muttered softly before spitting something to the side. It was a broken tooth.

Ashstar narrowed her eyes as she looked at the monster in front of them.

“Is it an Ancient Dragon?”

“Probably.”

“Hoo…”

Ancient Dragon.

Ashstar had seen an Ancient Dragon before. It hadn’t been this small, but at that time, she’d felt a similar sense of helplessness.

She knew that Ancient Dragons weren’t invincible. They also had weaknesses. It was just that they couldn’t find them in their current circumstances.

It was simply too dark. Its scales were even darker than the night around them, and if they concentrated, no, even if they focused with everything they had, it was so fast that it could disappear in an instant.

Suddenly, Bargan spoke.

“Its tail.”

“What?”

“Target its tail.”

“The scales on its tail are hard too.”

“It would still be better than its body. Its tail is very flexible, which means it will have a lot of joints, and the gaps on its tail at those spots are the best targets when compared to anywhere else.”

“…”

It was true.

Whether or not his accumulated experience was useful or not, this was the best he could think of in this situation.

Ashstar also thought that Bargan’s plan was pretty good, but she still pointed out the major loophole.

“It won’t die even if we cut its tail off.”

“But we would gain a weapon.”

“…you want to attack it with its own tail?”

It was a really crazy idea.

Bargain responded in a flat tone.

“Do you have any better ideas?”

“…”

Of course, she didn’t.

Ashstar rolled her eyes slightly as she said.

“Fine. Fine. The only other choice is death anyway. But won’t that be our only chance to catch him off guard?”

“That’s why we have to catch the tail before it falls to the group and stab a vital spot with it.”

There was only one reason why the Ancient Dragon was so relaxed at that moment.

Because it didn’t see them as threats.

That is to say, it had let its guard down. This also meant that the moment it became vigilant, they would lose all hopes of winning.

The level of difficulty was absurdly high considering that they only had one chance, but that was the reality. Especially for the weak who were on the brink of death.

Nevertheless, Ashstar felt grateful at that moment.

At the very least, the possibility that she would die a meaningless death was gone.

Even if she were to die now, she wouldn’t feel any regrets because she aimed for a chance at victory, a chance to take its life.

Suddenly, the Ancient Dragon began to walk towards them. It could move faster, but it was walking slowly on purpose.

In all honesty, the sight of an Ancient Dragon walking towards them was terrifying.

If it’s hard to understand, think of a lion or tiger suddenly standing on two feet and walking towards you. (TL: Here kitty kitty…)

It was strange.

But Bargan was focused on another fact that he noticed.

Its back was hunched.

In other words, while it could walk on two feet, it was probably most used to walking on all fours.

Suddenly, the Ancient Dragon disappeared from their sight.

And at the same time, Bargan and Ashstar focused their hearing. After all, it was almost impossible to follow him with their eyes in the darkness.

Sshhk.

The sound of something moving through the bushes was faintly audible.

It was on the left.

As he had this thought, Bargan increased the strength with which he gripped his club.

‘This will probably be the last attack.’

Hang in there for one time.

With this earnest desire in his heart, Bargan swung his club to the left.

Crack!

And it immediately broke into several pieces. It had hit the tail.

The Ancient Dragon’s tail could almost be considered as an independent entity. This was because it seemed to move as if it had a mind of its own.

Rumble-

Bargan’s muscles swelled greatly.

When his club broke apart, the Ancient Dragon must have been happy. But Bargan had intended to give up his weapon from the start.

Paak!

[…!]