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...!!!!”