Chapter 6: The Rampage of the Dragon! Fear His Terrible Power!

“Aria! Could you get Résistance healed up?”

“Yeah!”

Aria nodded and kneeled down on the ground next to Résistance, then slipped one arm under the fallen knight’s neck. She lifted Résistance’s head and rested it on her thighs, then clasped her hands together and held them against her own chest. A green glow began to emanate from them as Aria began casting her healing magic.

“Here we go...” Aria placed both her hands on Résistance’s pale cheeks. Slowly but surely, the cuts and scrapes on her face healed and disappeared entirely, as if one was watching a video in reverse.

Aria was an amazingly powerful healer; her potent magic was likely capable of completely healing any type of physical damage in a short time. Once Résistance had been healed, Aria turned to Wataru.

“Wataru, what do we do now?”

He hesitated a little before responding.

“Hmm, well... Now that Résistance is better, I guess we should head back to the Revant Kingdom first.”

It was now five o’clock in the afternoon. The sun hung low in the sky, and in just a little while longer it would set beyond the horizon. It would be dangerous for them to sleep under the stars that night, considering how tired they were from the intense battle they’d just fought. The smell of blood might lure wild beasts to attack them as they rested. Tonight, they needed to head back to Revant and find a safe place to sleep.

“That’s a good idea. I think I’d like to go back there as well.” Aria nodded in agreement with Wataru. At this rate, Résistance would be healed in a mere half hour or so. Then, if they walked back to Revant on the road they’d come by, they’d be back in the kingdom in just a little over two hours. The path wasn’t a difficult one either, so it would be an easy return trip.

—Or so they’d thought.

After all, this is these three we’re talking about! Of course nothing’s going to go according to plan!

Suddenly, without any warning whatsoever—

“...!? What’s that!?”

—They found themselves covered by a massive, dark shadow.

“I-I think it’s still a little too early for the sun to be setting...”

Wataru and Aria both looked upwards in a panic. There, high above them, was! None! Other! Than! A massive, magnificent dragon, with wings outstretched as it flew through the air!! Its enormous body stood in sharp contrast to its long, thin neck and pointed wings! Covering the upper half of its torso was a white and blue striped shirt!

This was the very same dragon Wataru had encountered just a few days earlier! It had appeared once again, blocking out the sun!!

“Hmph. So much for trying to plan things out...!”

A cold sweat broke out over Wataru’s brow as he anticipated a sudden attack from the dragon flying overhead, but not a trace of fear showed on his face! In fact, he had a big, wide smile, despite the thorough beating he’d been given in the previous battle mere minutes ago! His school uniform’s jacket was still slashed, revealing his chest, and the fresh cuts were still dripping with blood!

“W-Wataru! Are you sure you don’t want me to heal you?”

“These scratches!? Don’t bother! Just focus on healing Résistance, Aria!!”

“Well, if that’s how you really feel... Here!”

Aria paused her healing of Résistance to rummage for something in her rucksack! She pulled out the six orbs they’d collected over the course of their adventure!!

“You’ll need these to fight the dragon!”

“Oh yeah, that’s right!! Thanks, Aria!!!”

Wataru took the orbs from Aria, and with great determination began to place them in his jacket pockets! You might find this strange, since each one of the orbs was about the size of a baby’s head and so even placing just one in his pocket would be quite difficult... but who cares about that!? We don’t need to think about that! No siree Bob!

As if the dragon was watching them as it soared gracefully through the sky overhead, the dragon spoke to Wataru using telepathy!

Well done, young Wataru... I admit, I am impressed to see that you managed to successfully gather all six orbs...

“Of course I did! Just who do you think I am!?!?”

“Wataru, what’s wrong?” asked Aria. “Why’re you talking to yourself like that?”

“Huh!?”

Only Wataru could hear the dragon’s telepathic message!!

“...I’m in the middle of something right now, Aria, so keep healing Résistance!”

“O-Okay!”

Wataru turned away from her to face the dragon above him, looking as though he was ready for a fight!!

(All right, then... Come down and fight me, like you promised!!)

Indeed, we shall battle. But first, get on my back. We must move to a more appropriate location for our fight.

(Sounds good!!)

Wataru nodded his head up and down quite vigorously! He glanced back at Aria and said, “Aria! I’m going to go fight the dragon! Take care of Résistance for me!!”

Aria gave him a great big smile when she heard this!

“Okay! I believe in you, Wataru! Go win this!”

“I will!! All right, catch you later!!” With that, he leapt straight up into the air, flying three hundred meters up into the sky to make a perfect landing on the great dragon’s back!!

Just to be clear, it’s not like he did this using any magical powers or anything! His legs were simply so strong that they were able to propel him three hundred meters up into the air!!

“Let’s go, dragon!!” he yelled. “Take me to our battleground!!”

At last, the final battle was about to begin!

◆ ◆ ◆

The orange glow of the sun was falling beyond the edge of the horizon. The time was 5:30 p.m. Night fell upon the world.

Wataru stood atop the dragon racing through the air roughly three hundred meters above the ground. His arms were folded, and his facial expression was most stern. Despite the wind blasting into him, he faced the world without moving one bit!

In that moment, he looked exactly like the Kongo Nio statue at the Tōdai-ji temple.

It is within sight now... Our battleground lies ahead.

“Yeah...!”

Beyond the forest, the terrain was full of steep mountains and sharp cliffs. Beyond that, stretching far out to the edge of what one could see, was an enormous desert.

We shall not be disturbed here. In this place, we may fight without concern for our surroundings.

“Yeah, I bet... but before that, there’s something I want to say to you.”

What is it you have to tell me, Human?

“I’ve come to defeat you because you keep causing problems for other people! But if you promise you won’t ever harm another village, I’ll let you just walk away!! What do you say?”

The great dragon opened its maw and let out a deep, guttural laugh: “GAHAHAHAHA!!”

Wataru, cease with such foolishness. I cannot make that promise.

“Why not!? Why are you attacking places where people live!? What do you get out of it!?!?”

Hm. That is an excellent question. After all, I am a vegetarian, so I cannot claim to be attacking humans for sustenance. My reason for attacking human settlements is simple: I want to demonstrate my power. To strike fear in the heart of every human, every creature that scurries on the ground of this continent, and have them know true terror at the sight of my mere shadow... Seeing that fear is such a pleasure to me, I simply cannot bear to give it up...!

“......!”

Wataru furrowed his brow and closed his mouth. What the dragon had just told him was literal, tyrannical oppression. But, it still “made sense”—he had a reason for his behavior. He wanted to feel superior to all other living creatures by scaring the living daylights out of them. For him, attacking people was entertainment, plain and simple.

For the dragon, assaulting people was a mere hobby.

“Is that so... in that case, I have to take you out!!” Wataru shouted at the dragon as he leapt off his back. Down, down, down he fell, all three hundred meters down to the sea of sand below.

KA-BOOOOOOM!!!!!

Wataru’s landing created a massive shockwave as he smashed into the desert. Tiny grains of sand flew high into the air, and the wind whirled about him as if he was standing at the center of a sandstorm.

Now, I have something to say to you, young Wataru.

The dragon folded his wings and slowly descended. There was a deep, reverberating rumble as he made landfall, his great bulk crashing to the ground. As he turned to face Wataru, he spread his wings wide once more as the massive beast studied the boy for a long while before speaking again.

Human... You are not of this world, are you?

Wataru’s eyes widened in surprise. “You—You can’t be—!!”

I am. I was once a resident of Japan. I recognized where you came from the moment you told me your name was “Wataru Ito.” It’s a very Japanese name, after all.

“I—I can’t believe this is happening...!!”

Wataru froze with confusion!

About one hundred years ago, I was just another Japanese man. But, I ate meat every day, and ended up becoming quite unhealthily overweight until I died of heart failure. Then, after I died, I...

“You met a goddess and were reborn in this world, right...?”

The dragon squinted at Wataru through his glasses.

Just so. I met a goddess, and was granted the body of a dragon and the power to read the minds of others... But I had not known I would be reborn into a body completely shielded by magic. I regretted eating so much meat during my time as a human, so I resolved to become a vegetarian in this new body, in this new world.”

“O-Oh, that makes sense. It’s important to eat your veggies!” Wataru was a healthy, young Hot-Blooded Fighting Teen, so of course he ate a balanced diet of both meat and vegetables!

“I wonder... Did you discuss the goddess with the Demon Lord, Deus, as well?”

“Yeah!”

Allow me to explain: It was only a few days ago that Wataru fought a terribly strong enemy, the Demon Lord, Deus! Deus had also been Japanese in a past life, died a hundred years ago, then found himself reborn in this world in an inhumanly powerful body.

The Demon Lord Deus had, of course, been reborn as a demon... But in this guy’s case, he’d been reincarnated as a dragon. The circumstances of their rebirths were almost the same.

Ah, that reminds me. You defeated the Demon Lord Deus, didn’t you, human? I spoke to him once, long ago—he had figured out I was formerly Japanese as well—and he’d proposed we “rule the world together.”

“But, you turned him down, didn’t you?”

The dragon slowly nodded. “I prefer to be alone. Of course, I’m very interested in world domination—but I’m not going to let that be the reason I give up my solitude, boy.”

“You’re still a surprising dude, though... You’re wearing a t-shirt and glasses, so this still kind of feels like I’m talking to another human. And now I find out that you actually used to be one!”

“Indeed I was... By the way, how, pray tell, did you come to this world?”

“Me? I came here by stopping a truck!!”

“Huh?”

The dragon tilted its long, long neck to one side.

“Well, actually, I don’t know all the details... I stopped the truck, and then when I opened my eyes, I was in this fantasy land! I never did meet that ‘Goddess,’ and this is my real body.”

The dragon stared at him. Is that so...... The voice in Wataru’s head was quieter than before. So you were teleported to this world, not reincarnated.

“Yeah, I think so!!”

—Dear Readers, I think I should mention that the name for this series was nearly WATARU!!! The Hot-Blooded Fighting Teen & His Epic Adventures After Being Reincarnated In A Fantasy World After Stopping a Truck with His Bare Hands!! I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t go with that, or else it would be totally wrong at this point, huh? Oh, well! Reincarnated, teleported, who cares?

However you came to be here, it is enough for me to know that you, Human, were born in Japan, just as I was.

The dragon suddenly looked up towards the heavens. The sun had completely set by now, and all that shined down on them was the lone light of the moon.

Young Wataru, I wish to fight you. I shall not be at ease until we have established who is more powerful. That is our nature as The Strong. Do you consent to this duel?

Wataru bobbed his head up and down. “Yeah! I totally get how you feel! I’m a fighter myself, so I’m always battling strong guys and winning, or losing, and it gets me pumped!”

Let us note here that the reason Wataru had immediately gone off to challenge the Demon Lord Deus after arriving in this world was decidedly not because he’d wanted to “save the people of this world.” Well, I suppose I should clarify: he hadn’t felt that way then, but after meeting Aria, Résistance, and many others, it was true that he did now feel that he wanted to protect the people from harm... But his adventures had all started based on that very simple feeling of wanting to prove himself against the strongest fighters in this new world and show that he was tougher than them.

“So, I guess I do, you know, understand why you want to ‘demonstrate your power’ to the world and whatever, and make them terrified of you! Gotta say, that’s a sweet personal goal to have!”

Is that so? How unexpected. I’d figured you to be some Hot-Blooded Man trying to be some sort of Ally of Justice. The dragon seemed truly amused. He even smiled a bit, revealing his sharp fangs.

“But dragon, c’mon, man... Didn’t your parents ever teach you that it’s wrong to cause trouble for other people??? It’s a super basic thing, but it’s really important!”

Bah! To think that I must be subjected to a children’s lecture on ethics! Look upon this body! See my fangs! My impenetrable scales! My immense wings!

As he spoke, the dragon grabbed his shirt with both hands and tore it away from his body in a single motion. Wataru stared at the body that had been revealed.

When it comes to creatures in fantasy worlds, dragons have always been typecast as “the strong ones.” What Wataru saw here, of course, matched his expectations precisely: before him was undoubtedly the strongest, most fearsome living thing he’d ever seen.

He wouldn’t be able to defend against those fangs if the dragon snapped at him.

No matter how hard he punched against his scales, he doubted he’d make so much as a dent in them.

If the dragon were to fly off, up into the sky, he’d have no way of giving pursuit.

However—Dear Readers, you already know this, but!

He! Is! Wataru Ito!!

He’s no mere human!!!!!!

I am a dragon now! Why should I trouble myself with the affairs of humans! The strong should not be maligned for wielding their power against those who are weak!

“Doesn’t seem like we’re gonna come to an understanding, no matter how long we talk...!!”

Wataru stuck his hand inside his jacket pocket, like it was the most natural thing in the world to do! Out from the pocket, he pulled out a thin crimson cloth, one meter in length! This was his hachimaki, a legendary headband that had been passed down in his family for generations, the “Exploding-Blood Demon Slayer!” He always put it on whenever he had to focus every ounce of his will during a fight!!

“All right then, let’s do this!”

With the face of a Nio he roared, his voice full of passion and rage as he tied the hachimaki around his head! Then, he got into his fighting pose! He spread his legs wide, crouched down low to the ground, and balled up his fists!

“You ready for this, dragon!?”

The tail ends of the red hachimaki fluttered in the wind as he shouted, his face still as full of tranquil fury as that of a Nio!!!

I am indeed!

The instant the dragon’s telepathy entered his mind, Wataru charged at him like a racing horse coming out of the gate!

“AAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!”

With a sharp yell, he slammed one foot against the ground and went soaring through the air, propelled right towards the dragon’s snout! He smashed his fists right at him!

Wataru was two meters tall! The dragon, on the other hand, was fifteen meters long! They had, of course, completely different body types! More than that, their very skeletal structure was completely different!

Compared to a dragon’s, human skeletons aren’t exactly built for battle! If they were to both go all-out, the human would be at a complete disadvantage due to their relatively measly muscle mass and fragile bones!!

But none of that’s a problem for Wataru!!

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!”

KA-BAAAAM!!!!

Wataru’s fists slammed into the dragon’s snout with quick and unrelenting force!

With that single strike, Wataru... won the duel!

“—!?”

The hard scales of the dragon prevented Wataru’s fists from punching through his skull, but the force of the blow shook the monster’s head all the same! The glasses he’d been wearing flew off his head and landed down in the sand with a plop!

This... This feeling...... Is this what it is like to feel ‘pain’?”

The dragon’s expression had not changed, but it was clear that he was definitely shocked by what had happened!

“Yeah! That’s what pain is!” Wataru answered in his usual Hot-Blooded fashion as he landed!!

The last time Wataru had encountered the dragon, he hadn’t been able to damage him at all! The special, magical barrier protecting the dragon’s body had made him completely invincible!But now that Wataru had collected all six of the magic orbs, Wataru was able to break through that barrier!

The dragon’s shoulders began to shake slightly with laughter!!

Hohoho... ohohoho...... Isn’t that something!!

He spread his wings and flew up into the sky!

I’m... grateful to you, Wataru Ito!! Now, I can finally fight again!!

Wataru watched the dragon wheeling about above him and broke out into a wide smile!

“This is the most amped up I’ve felt in a long, long time...!!!!”

◆ ◆ ◆

Meanwhile:

“U-Ungh...”

“Oh, you’re awake?”

Résistance awoke to find her head resting up on Aria’s lap. She looked up into the younger woman’s eyes. “Where—Where are we...?”

“You can’t get up yet! I’m still healing you!”

Aria gently pushed Résistance back down into a lying position. Her hands began to glow green once more as she touched Résistance’s arms. They were covered with scrapes and bruises, but the blue-haired knight could see her wounds disappearing right before her eyes.

“Oh, right... I was... possessed by something, wasn’t I...?”

Aria nodded. “Yes, you were. But we’ve fixed all that now, so there’s no need to worry.”

“Sorry for the trouble,” Résistance muttered, closing her eyes again.

“Oh please, don’t worry about it! After all, the reason you were possessed is because Wataru had to go and shatter that shrine, releasing the spirit that took over your body.”

“Hmm, I suppose he is partially to blame...” Résistance smiled slightly and relaxed back against Aria’s thighs.

“...Where’s Wataru now?”

“Oh, Wataru? He’s off fighting the dragon.”

Résistance’s eyes snapped open. “Oh no... The dragon’s already come for us...?”

“He’ll be all right, you know,” Aria said quietly. “He’s our Wataru, after all. I’m sure he’ll win.” Nothing in her speech or behavior showed the slightest unease about her fellow adventurer.

“You’re right. Knowing him, I’m sure he’ll manage.” Résistance looked up at the night sky. It was full of stars, along with the lone moon, shining brightly. The green glow from Aria’s hands was just visible at the edge of her vision.

It was 6 p.m. in this part of the forest. And while Wataru and the dragon were locked in their fierce battle elsewhere, here, in this calm, quiet clearing, the world seemed as peaceful as it could ever be.

◆ ◆ ◆

Ngh!

Meanwhile: No matter where Wataru looked, the dragon’s claws were everywhere! But every time Wataru was about to be cut to shreds by those sharp talons, he would dodge them at the very last millisecond at the speed of sound!

Well done, Human!

The dragon made a quick U-turn in midair and came flying back down for Wataru! He made an attack only a creature with wings could: a falling dive at the target from directly overhead!

“—!”

Wataru watched the dragon carefully and leapt out of the way in the nick of time! However! He wasn’t completely able to dodge the attack in time, and his opponent’s claws scraped his shoulder!

“Dammit! I slipped in this sand! I hate sand! It’s coarse, gets everywhere, and it’s making me lose my footing...!!”

Wataru was pissed! He pressed one hand against his shoulder while taking quick, small steps over the fine desert sand, but every move nearly caused him to lose his balance!

What’s this? Already running, are you!?

The dragon wheeled overhead and spiraled round and round through the air! Wataru lifted one arm, thick as his thigh, and punched the air three times in his general direction!

“I’m not done yet!”

Wataru bellowed a deep, manly roar up at the dragon and started running after him! The dragon turned sharply to fly towards him, and in an instant they were quickly closing in on each other!

Just before the dragon could land another hit on Wataru, our hero leapt high into the sky! He slipped through the dragon’s claws with a hair’s breadth to spare and landed on the beast’s back, crouching down!

What!? Such impudence, Human!”

“Chp!!!!!”

Without wasting a single moment, Wataru slammed his hand down in a quick chop on the dragon’s back! The chop whirred through the air at a speed that was his new personal best, an astonishing nine hundred kilometers per hour!!

Allow me to explain! This was no mere karate chop, but a special technique called a “Mach Blade Slicer”*!

(*Mach Blade Slicer: A technique created by the Mexican-American pro-wrestler Carlos Miguel in 1988. Carlos studied karate in Japan for many years before coming up with the move. After returning to America to become a pro wrestler, he combined the best aspects of both karate and pro wrestling to create a unique fighting style that made him quite popular. The Mach Blade Slicer had been inspired by a move he’d practiced every day while training in Japan, the kawara-wari, or the “knife hand strike.” After lifting one arm high up into the air, he’d slam it down all at once at a stunning speed, transforming his hand into a “knife” made of flesh and blood. With that one move, he could chop through wooden boards, bricks, even concrete blocks. At the time when Carlos had left Japan to go back to America, the people’s spirits had been worn down by the Cold War and other wars fought in the far-off Middle East. He’d chosen to become a wrestler instead of a karate artist so that he could entertain and inspire his fellow Americans. [8])

KA-BLAMMMM!!!!!!

Wataru’s chop was, of course, a direct hit on the dragon’s back! The power of his strike caused the thick scales to fracture, and the dragon roared with rage! “GRRRRAAAAAWWWW!!”

You broke my scales! By the Goddess!

Despite the brutal fight they were having, the dragon sounded as though he was enjoying it! He sounded really, truly happy!! All because Wataru had been able to remove the magical barrier so that they could have a real fight!!

“Ha! That’s not all I’ve got for you!!!” Wataru shouted! He raised his arm again and again, slamming the dragon’s back with “Mach Blade Slicers” over and over!!

“NNNRRAAAAAAGGGGGHHH!!””

The dragon suddenly found himself unable to fly after these massively damaging blows to his back and plummeted down into the desert sands, nearly burying itself in the crash! Wataru was launched into the air by the force of the impact, and did three somersaults before making a perfect landing! That kind of gymnastics is “F”-ing hard!

It’s...! Not over yet......!!

The dragon groaned as it attempted to force itself back up on its feet, and he stretched his wings out to intimidate Wataru! The sand cascaded off his body as he reared back!

My blood boils, Wataru! It boils hot!

“I hear you! Mine does too!!”

The dragon suddenly opened its huge mouth, and there was a heavy wind as the dragon began inhaling deeply!

“—!?”

Wataru was instantly aware that this was something different! There was no way the dragon was merely taking a deep breath!

—Something was coming!!

Wataru’s finely-tuned, animal-like reflexes sensed the danger, and he quickly readied himself for whatever might come! The very next instant, his instincts were proven correct!

The dragon took all the air in its lungs and breathed it all out at once, creating, of all things, a tornado of fire that spun right towards Wataru!

Here’s my special attack: Fire Blaze!

“Whoooooooooa!!”

Wataru was stunned! He’d fought a lot of demonic creatures over the course of his adventures, but this was the first time he’d ever had an opponent who could breathe fire!! If he got caught up in that fiery tornado, why, even Wataru’s steel-strong muscles wouldn’t protect him from the heat!!

“—!” Wataru summoned up every bit of strength he had and leapt out of the tornado’s path! The dragon’s “Fire Blaze” just barely passed him by!

Ouch! I dodged those flames, but it’s still so hot, my skin feels like it’s burning!!

Heheheh! Of course you feel that way!

The dragon had read Wataru’s mind, and laughed at his pain! I hasten to note here that the dragon’s telepathic ability was merely a “spell-like ability,” and not a form of magic on its own! That’s why he was still able to use this power even in the presence of the magic-nullifying orbs Wataru was carrying!

How irritating for our protagonist!!

One more time, then!

“Whaaaaat!?”

The dragon opened up its great jaws once more, and sucked in enormous amounts of air! Wataru was still in midair from leaping out of the way of the first tornado! If he had to land, then jump again to dodge another one—there was no way he’d make it in time!!

I can’t dodge his next attack... Wait! There is still something I can do!

Wataru tensed every muscle in his body as he fell towards the ground!

You’re finished, Young Wataru!

The dragon sounded as though he believed this battle to be already done! Showing not the slightest hint of mercy, he blasted another Fire Blaze right at where Wataru was about to land!!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!

A whirlwind of air spiraled right for Wataru, red-hot!

“COOOOOOOME ON! MAKE ITTTTTTT!!”

And at that moment... Wataru!!! In a single horrible instant...!

Was swallowed by the great tornado of fire!!!!!!!

H-How awful! Is this where the journey of our Hot-Blooded Fighting Teen, Wataru, would finally come to an end!?!?

To be continued in the next chapter: “Wataru’s Great Victory! This is What It Means to Be Hot-Blooded!!!”

*Sources:

[8] Great Wrestlers of the Cold War Era — Isekai Tensei Publishing