Chapter 9: VS the Black Dragon

The altar sat at the deepest reaches of the dungeon, nestled within the mountains.

I stood there, facing down the black dragon that likely served as the boss of this place. I kept a close eye on the situation, issuing commands and providing support to Sol and Luna. We had been at it for a few minutes, but the dragon was nothing special—just the standard type I’d encountered back in the other world.

Still, this one... it’s pushing the upper limits of its kind.

It was a high-ranking specimen: massive, fast, strong, and capable of wielding magic. It even seemed to have a handle on dark-attribute spells. Within the context of this dungeon, it was clearly in a league of its own.

This thing was likely the patriarch of the Wyverns and other Dragonkin I’d seen earlier. It was visibly livid, directing its fury at Sol and Luna for bringing the monsters of this dungeon to the brink of extinction.

Under normal circumstances, I probably should have been more cautious, proceeding with the battle with a bit more vigilance. But to me, this enemy was an unknown variable. I didn't know its true strength, and there was always the chance it was holding back. It was a dangerous monster, and its traits might differ from the ones I’d hunted in the other world.

"But whatever," I muttered. "It’s a decent enough test of strength."

An unknown entity in an unknown dungeon. Faced with this reality, I found myself wanting to see just how far my companions could go. I might eventually need to keep my head down in this parallel world, but I needed to know my limits before I started hiding them.

"[Weapon Summon]."

I decided to stop playing the passive observer. My combat style usually involved acting as a supporter while my Summoned Beasts did the heavy lifting—mostly focusing on utility and buffing magic. I didn't usually need a staff for basic support, but if I was going to test their limits, I might as well get serious.

"Come, Laevateinn. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a battlefield."

I called forth the [Staff of Scorching Flames]. It was a weapon that doubled as a sword, capable of incinerating everything in its path with a single swing. Its magical efficiency was top-tier, making it my favorite tool for high-end support. With this in hand, I could weave magic exactly as I envisioned it, without a hint of lag.

"You two, I’m going all-in on the support. Go wild!"

The moment the words left my mouth, their presence shifted. They’d been holding back for the sake of the 'test,' but hearing they were allowed to cut loose flipped a switch. I didn't expect them to go at a hundred percent, but I could feel the shift in their intent—from testing to hunting.

Well, I suppose it’s the master’s job to keep up.

Sol and Luna began to tear across the battlefield with total freedom. Until now, they’d been restricted to the ground, but my staff changed the game. With my support integrated into their movements, they began attacking from all directions, using the very air as a platform.

"GUGAAAAAAA!?"

The dragon let out a confused roar. Hardly surprising. Two creatures without wings were suddenly lunging at it from the sky as if they were flying. The trick was simple: I was manifesting invisible footholds of mana, perfectly synchronized with their movements. It was a basic technique, but it was bound to baffle anyone seeing it for the first time. Not that I intended to give it any breathing room.

"[Strength]. [Defense]. And... let’s give [Fire Resistance] to Luna."

The Black Dragon’s most annoying attacks were its fireballs and breath. Sol could absorb flames entirely, so he didn't need the buff, but Luna was a bit vulnerable to heat.

"Not bad, you two. Holding the advantage against a member of the Dragonkin is no small feat."

Under their coordinated assault, the Black Dragon was being systematically dismantled. Holes riddled its once-majestic wings, and its hide was gouged and scorched. Normally, Dragonkin possessed incredibly high resistance to fire, but it seemed the dragons of this world couldn't handle Sol’s flames.

"—This is impossible! Wh-what the hell is this!?"

As I watched the fight, a voice drifted over from the shadow of the rocks. A third party. I turned my head to see a black-haired youth collapsed on the ground, staring at us in shock.

Great. This is bad.

The sheer aura coming off Sol and Luna was already freezing the ground around the kid’s feet. If this kept up, he’d be caught in the crossfire. I doubted anyone inside a dungeon like this was a complete amateur, but if he was already freezing just from Luna’s proximity, he wasn't going to survive the actual battle.

"Tch. Don't you dare spit a fireball now!"

The moment I turned to help the kid, the dragon unleashed a massive sphere of flame, large enough to swallow a man whole, right toward the rocks.

"[Vis Reflexio]!"

I reacted instinctively, throwing up a reflection spell. The magic manifested in front of the man, catching the fireball as it began to melt the surrounding stone. It sent the blast screaming back the way it came, slamming the dragon’s own flames right into its face.

I closed the distance to the man in an instant. I tried to speak, but he was pale as a ghost, stammering before I could get a word out.

"I... I almost... died..."

"You’re alive. Now stay put," I told him. "Move and you’re dead."

I threw up a light barrier to keep him safe. He looked like he was struggling to process the situation, but the sight of the molten rock seemed to drive the point home.

"Sol, Luna! Wrap this up. We’re out of time."

The Wolves of the Moon and Sun gave a firm nod. Their mana began to swell in response to my command. To push them over the edge, I funneled my own magical energy into them.

"[Radieren Sol]!"

"[Destructio Luna]!"

In the next heartbeat, their finishing blows tore into the Black Dragon.