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