The Dragon Carnival had finally begun, and the sheer power of the spectacle was every bit as breathtaking as I had expected. Even those considered "small-scale" for their species were massive in my eyes; watching them clash and trade flashy breath attacks made for a truly pulse-pounding experience.
Among the various dragons making notable showings, the one that caught my eye was Nidhogg, a special individual of the same wyvern species as Flare-san.
The very existence of a Nidhogg is proof of a veteran's history, as they are wyverns that have evolved after surviving countless battles. Even so, the way it overwhelmed opponents several times its own size was incredible.
Beside me, Lilia-san was practically beaming. I could feel her excitement radiating from her with every bout, and there was something incredibly adorable about her pure, innocent joy.
While we watched, the tournament progressed until only the finalists remained.
The first was the Nidhogg I had been watching. It had literally kicked aside its competition, advancing through the rounds with a fierce, ferocious combat style. In terms of pure combat ability, I suspected it was the strongest of the four. It was a pure power type that eschewed long-range tactics, preferring to close the distance and bowl over its enemies with overwhelming physical force.
The second was Lilia-san’s personal favorite, the Tempest Dragon. Come to think of it, hadn't Luna-san broken a model of a Tempest Dragon once, which sent Lilia-san into a total rage? Interestingly, a dragon of the same name appeared in an MMO I used to play; it was a rather funny coincidence. The Tempest Dragon gave the impression of being a versatile all-rounder, manipulating various magics like lightning and wind to secure its victories without ever looking like it was in real danger.
The third was a dragon that gave me a strange sense of connection: the Gunrock Dragon. Its standout feature was its staggering defense power. Its sturdiness, remaining unfazed while absorbing countless attacks, combined with the largest body among the finalists, made it a literal fortress.
The fourth and final dragon was a young Black Dragon. It was the same species as Fafnir-san and, for my money, was the coolest-looking of the lot. It focused on long-range attacks like black tornadoes and vacuum blades, soundly defeating many opponents before they could even get within striking distance.
"What do you think, Lilia-san? Personally, I’m leaning toward Nidhogg being the favorite."
"I agree. Its combat experience and natural abilities are extremely high, so that’s a sharp observation. However, looking at the battles so far, its lack of a potent long-range option is a bit concerning."
"I see. So it might struggle if the opponent manages to keep their distance. By the way, who is your pick?"
"It has to be the Tempest Dragon. There is some personal bias since I’m a fan of the species, but I believe it has the best balance between close and long-range combat. It can navigate almost any situation to its advantage. However... if it has to face the Gunrock Dragon, I think it might find it difficult to penetrate those defenses. It really comes down to the matchups."
It seemed the skill levels were so close that even an expert like Lilia-san couldn't name a definitive winner; from here on, compatibility would be the deciding factor.
We had the close-range specialist Nidhogg, the versatile but lower-firepower Tempest Dragon, the defense-specialized Gunrock Dragon, and the long-range specialist Black Dragon. The matchups were decided by lottery, and shortly thereafter, the pairings were announced.
The finals would proceed one match at a time. The opening bout was Nidhogg versus the Black Dragon—a classic clash between close and long-range specialists.
"The strengths and weaknesses in this one are quite clear," I noted.
"Yes. If Nidhogg can close the distance, it will likely win. The key for the Black Dragon will be whether it can keep Nidhogg at bay."
As I discussed the fight with Lilia-san, my Sympathy Magic suddenly picked up a complex web of emotions. I turned my gaze toward the source and called out.
"Fafnir-san? Is something wrong?"
We were quite a distance apart, but he apparently heard me. Fafnir-san looked back toward me and, while remaining in his dragon form, let out a heavy sigh.
『...No, I understand it intellectually. I know that things like blowing away a heartfelt tornado with "one roar," or crushing a full-power breath attack with a mere fireball... I know that person is just an anomaly... But seeing that matchup makes the trauma resurface...』
"U-Uh, right?"
『...I only pray that my young kinsman’s pride is not ground into dust...』
Wondering what could have happened in the past, I followed his gaze toward Flare-san, who was standing perfectly upright with her arms crossed, and the realization hit me.
Ah, I see... Fafnir-san must have squared off against Flare-san once, and the memory had left him deeply scarred.