NOVEL WEB Chapter 101
101. I’ll Give It A Try
“It’s been decades since a human last visited this place… welcome.”
A voice echoed from inside the tank.
It was a voice filled with fierce dominance. At the same time, it carried the weight of someone who had lived for thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of years—or even longer.
“Are you… an ancient dragon?”
I swallowed hard.
“You may call me Greed. No need for formalities.”
The dragon spoke.
Judging by the size of the tank, its body length was probably around seven to eight meters. For a dragon, it was relatively small.
But its overwhelming presence couldn’t even compare to the wild dragon we had fought earlier.
“…Oh. You bear the power of Ilfaria. And that girl with you wields the ‘Legacy’ of the God-Demon War.”
Inside the tank, seven heads swayed gently.
—This creature, it saw through my divine skill at a glance.
“You humans seem interesting. Have you come seeking power? Every human who visits here has the same purpose. This door is designed to open only for those with great strength.”
“Yeah. We came here to learn how to sharpen our abilities.”
I nodded at Greed’s question.
“Then, come one at a time.”
The dragon roared gleefully.
“I’ve been sealed here for a long time. Perhaps you can relieve me of some of my boredom.”
“Come… where?”
Luca asked.
“To the alternate dimension I created. Daughter of the Dragon Emperor and the War God’s sword.”
The interior of the tank stirred, and countless bubbles rose. It looked as if the dragon was laughing.
“And I shall teach you… how to wield your power.”
As soon as it said that, the space before us shimmered like a heat haze.
A black hole opened in the air. Beyond it, a light resembling red flames could be seen.
“It’s an alternate dimension I created with [Dragon’s Roar]. Step through the hole and come.”
Said Greed.
“May I go first?”
Luca was the first to volunteer. Despite the sudden turn of events, she showed no hesitation at all.
“Yeah.”
“Nooo!”
To my nod, Sarome protested for some reason.
“W-What, Sarome?”
“‘Yeah’ is not what you should say!”
“Then what should I say?”
When I asked, Sarome grinned widely and said,
“You might as well give her a goodbye kiss.”
“As if!”
I couldn’t help but shout.
“H-Haruto… is going to… kiss me?”
Luca blushed and stared at me.
“Uh, um…”
“See? She seems to be expecting it.”
Sarome smirked.
Expecting… what? I glanced at Luca.
She was looking at me the same way.
Her soft, cherry blossom-colored lips caught my eye. My heart pounded hard.
“…! Ah, I-I’m sorry! I, uh…”
Luca flailed her hands in panic. Her face flushed with embarrassment,
“I-I’ll be going now…!”
And she dashed off as if to escape.
“Ah, geez. It was just getting good, too.”
Watching her back, Sarome pouted in frustration.
※
When Luca entered the black hole, she found herself in a strange place.
It was a space bathed in crimson, reminiscent of flames.
“This is the alternate dimension…?”
Luca glanced around.
There were no man-made structures, just an endless red landscape stretching to the horizon. A gentle breeze ruffled her short, blue hair.
“Yes, a place I created solely for battle.”
Before her eyes, the air wavered, and a massive silhouette appeared. A dragon with seven heads.
“During the God-Demon War, I was sealed by ‘that one.’ I cannot directly influence the real world. But here, I can—though it is a mere imitation—unleash my true power.”
The dragon—Greed—roared.
Its body length seemed to be about seven or eight meters. Its entire form was covered in beautiful golden scales.
“You hold an interesting sword. I don’t know how it ended up in human hands, but it’s a ‘Legacy’ from the God-Demon War.”
Greed fixed his gaze on Luca’s sword.
“What is this God-Demon War?”
“Long ago—so long ago it’s almost unimaginable—there was a great war between gods and demons. Eventually, even dragons joined the fight. Naturally, I was part of it too.”
Greed began his story.
“The most formidable opponent was Vim Force. Our battle lasted a thousand days, yet even then, it ended without a conclusion.”
All seven heads exhaled simultaneously. As if reminiscing about the past.
“Our powers clashed, and my fangs and claws, as well as Vim’s sword, shattered into countless fragments that scattered across the world. The weapon you hold was forged from those pieces. Judging by the craftsmanship, it was likely made by dwarves using materials from gods and dragons.”
“Vim Force …?”
Luca drew her sword. The silver blade, curving gently, reflected the surroundings and gleamed red.
“A sword infused with both divine and draconic power—but it seems you’ve only unlocked the dragon’s power. I’ll help you access the war god’s power too.”
Greed shook his seven heads and roared.
“Now, come at me. I’ll train you.”
“A live combat drill, is it?”
Luca readied her sword.
This was exactly what she wanted.
To learn how to use the power hidden within this sword. And to gain even greater strength—
That was why Luca had come to this place.
“Luca Avasta, ‘Ice Blade,’ I’m ready.”
“Ancient Dragon Emperor Greed, I shall face you.”
The dragon emperor spread its large wings and fixed its gaze on Luca.
“—!”
A chill ran down her spine.
So strong—
Just its presence alone told her.
Far more overwhelming than any demon or monster she had fought before. Even more so than the Demon General Gyrasvirm she had fought previously.
This dragon was unimaginably powerful.
“In that case, I’ll start at full power—”
Luca’s sword split into two, transforming into twin blades.
Force Greed, Lightning Form.
This form granted Luca a special ability, multiplying her speed by 7.7431 times. It was her ultimate annihilation form, reserved for only the most formidable of foes.
──’Activating Close-Combat Factor.’
At the same time, she focused her mind to awaken the ‘factor’ that lay dormant within her.
The Factor—an extraordinary power that occasionally manifested in humans who bore the blood of beings like gods, demons, or dragons. There were various types of ‘factor-bearers,’ and Luca’s was a speed-oriented ability.
In combination with Force Greed, she could move fast enough to create afterimages.
“Secret Technique: [Greed Bite]”
She whispered softly and charged forward.
Her steps were intricate, weaving in countless feints. Each time her feet touched the ground, her speed increased, eventually producing sixteen afterimages.
“This is my maximum battle speed. [Icicle Rond]”
Luca, along with her sixteen afterimages, surrounded the dragon from all sides.
“Oh, sub-light speed movements!”
Greed shouted in delight.
“To achieve such speed in a human body… you truly are a genius.”
“I’m ending this—”
Luca calmly and precisely maneuvered behind Greed, thrusting her sword. Simultaneously, her sixteen afterimages drove their swords into the dragon’s massive body from every direction—
But they were effortlessly deflected.
“Ugh…!?”
Her hands, holding the sword, tingled. She nearly dropped Forzgreed but hastily gripped it tighter.
“Your sword is too light. While it might work on an average dragon, it can’t cut through my scales.”
Greed’s breath carried a tone of disappointment.
“Such a pity.”
“…!”
She had heard the same critique once before, from the Demon General Gairasvlim. And she had been defeated.
Since then, she had trained to increase the weight and power of her slashes in her own way.
But still, it wasn’t enough.
“There has only ever been one person who managed to cut through my scales with a sword. The War God—Vim Force.”
Greed’s gaze grew distant as he spoke.
“In our battle, he achieved a state that could be called the ultimate in martial arts.”
The dragon’s tone was filled with excitement. And respect for a powerful adversary.
Luca understood that feeling too. The joy of facing an opponent so strong they could draw out your full potential—
For a warrior, that was the greatest happiness and fulfillment.
“[Code Lindwurm]. Become one with the form of a dragon.”
“The form… of a dragon…”
Luca repeated the ancient dragon’s words.
“Everything is in the image. Whether it’s the power of gods, demons, or dragons—it all manifests and is wielded through the image you hold. Imagine—imagine the form of your own strong heart.”
“My heart… its form…”
I want to become stronger.
That symbol. That form.
Yes, like the ancient dragon standing before her—.