Dragon Knight, Onward

The four continued their journey toward the secret hot springs of the Etovis Mountains.

They encountered many monsters along the way, and Fern dealt with almost all of them.

Frieren watched as Fern used increasingly skillful Ordinary Attack Magic to repel a burrowing lizard monster that had sprung out of a crevice in the rocks, and her emerald eyes curved into a smile.

"Fern is quite strong now, almost a skilled First-Class Mage."

Her tone carried the usual satisfaction of a master watching his apprentice's progress.

"The monsters on the Northern Plateau are unlike those elsewhere; it's amazing that Fern was able to handle so many all by himself."

Fern put away her staff, gave a soft hum upon hearing this, put her hands on her hips, and raised her fair chin slightly.

"I am Lady Frieren's disciple."

The words had barely left his mouth.

From a dense, charred forest of dead trees to the side, a muffled boom, like a boulder rolling down, suddenly resounded.

Large swathes of dead trees fell.

A massive figure crashed through the obstacles and entered everyone's view.

It has three enormous dragon heads.

The central dragon head is the tallest and most imposing, with a neck as thick as an ancient tree trunk. It has opened its blood-red maw, revealing a menacing array of sharp teeth. Although it has not let out a deafening roar, its silent intimidation and violent expression clearly demonstrate its will as the core of the body. The dragon heads on both sides are slightly smaller, but equally ferocious, with six piercing eyes locked onto the intruders.

The three heads and necks are intertwined, forming a terrifying posture of multiple heads united as one, exuding a sense of oppression.

The dragon's body was astonishingly strong, with clearly defined muscles in its neck and chest. Its skin was covered with dense, rough, scale-like patterns that gleamed with a cold, hard luster in the dim light filtering through the forest. A pair of enormous wings were fully spread behind it, their membranes crisscrossed with veins and their edges torn, adding to its savage aura, like two moving shadows.

Fern looked at it, his pale purple eyes calmly assessing the situation.

"Hmm, this seems a bit too strong."

Lowell let out a soft "Huh?", scratched his head, and looked at Frieren.

"Frieren, haven't we seen this thing before with Himmel and the others? Didn't I already take care of it back then?"

Frieren crossed her arms, looked up at the three dragon heads that were constantly turning and scanning them, and thought for a moment.

"Indeed, I remember killing them too. They must be of the same kind, just look alike."

Lowell responded with an "Oh."

"Looks like it. Tsk, Fern, you probably can't handle this one; it's a pretty powerful mutated dragon monster. But it doesn't look ugly, does it? It's quite strong, rather imposing and imposing. Want to try that move?"

Fern looked at the Three-Headed Dragon. One of its heads was lowered, two streams of white steam with a sulfurous smell spewing from its nostrils, and its front paws were pawing at the ground anxiously, revealing the dark red soil beneath, which looked like cooled lava.

"... kindness..."

She considered the feasibility of purifying it, specifically its appearance.

Liletta, who had been silently reciting her vows with her head bowed, suddenly stopped.

She raised her head, her golden eyes staring directly at the Three-Headed Dragon radiating a violent aura. Her face was expressionless, but she muttered a word that Lowell had just said.

"Powerful...?"

The next second.

"Whoosh--!"

She drew her sword.

The movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

"I bravely confront rape!"

She declared, and then charged directly at the Three-Headed Dragon. Her longsword trailed at her side, and her footsteps clattered rapidly on the gravel.

Lowell: "..."

He opened his mouth, watching Liletta's back as she charged straight towards the colossal beast, and only spoke after two seconds.

"I misspoke, Sam doesn't have her bot."

Fern watched as Liletta was already locked in a fierce battle with the Three-Headed Dragon. The sword's edge struck the dragon's thick scales, sending sparks flying, but it failed to leave a deep wound. Enraged by the sudden attack, the Three-Headed Dragon swung its left head back sharply and lunged at Liletta, who narrowly dodged it.

"Shall I go help?"

Fern asked, the staff already in his hand.

Lowell nodded.

"Go. This dragon is quite strong, and it has thick hide. Remember to use highly compressed Ordinary Attack Magic to target its relatively vulnerable areas like joints and eyes. Don't waste mana on its carapace, and..."

Fern puffed out his cheeks slightly and glanced at him sideways with his pale purple eyes.

"I know! You don't need to remind me."

After saying that, she lightly touched the ground with her feet, her figure floated up, and a solid white light shone from the tip of her staff. Several magical beams, thinner than before but noticeably more dazzling, shot out and accurately struck the eyelid exposed by the right Three-Headed Dragon head as it tried to bite Liletta.

Lowell scratched the back of his head and looked at Frieren.

Is it the rebellious phase?

Frieren watched Fern join the battle, her emerald eyes following the trajectory of the magical beams.

"He probably wants to show off his progress. Besides, this is clearly a very obvious spot; you don't need to remind him, Fern. Sometimes you really are like an overprotective father."

"Sigh..." Lowell scratched his head. "I got rejected, huh? What can I do? I'm the type who prefers stability, so I'll just have to nag a bit more..."

Lowell watched as Fern skillfully dodged the dragon's tail strikes in mid-air, while constantly using magic to disrupt the Three-Headed Dragon's attack rhythm and create opportunities for Liletta. Although her coordination was not perfect, she was at least effectively restraining the behemoth.

Liletta, of course, did not cooperate in this regard, and sometimes even blocked Fern's magical trajectory.

Lowell thought for a moment, then raised his voice and shouted.

"Fern! Be careful! Even the four Himmel had to temporarily avoid this thing back then!"

Fern didn't reply, but focused even more intently on the Three-Headed Dragon's movements. Another beam of magic shot out, forcing the central leader to turn its head to dodge. Liletta seized the opportunity to stab its forelimb joint with her sword. Although she still failed to pierce it, it clearly slowed its movements for a moment.

The battle lasted for a while.

Although the Three-Headed Dragon was strong, it couldn't gain the upper hand against Liletta, whose defenses were difficult to break through with physical attacks but who kept pestering it, and Fern, who was constantly using precise magic to interfere with its vital points from a distance. Instead, it became increasingly agitated, tearing and biting wildly with its three heads. Its dragon breath rolled in its throat, sweeping down another patch of charred dead wood around it.

"Alright, Liletta, stop."

Lowell, seeing that it was about time, spoke up to stop them.

If we don't stop it, and it gets enraged and starts the second phase of the boss fight, these two will be in big trouble.

Upon hearing this, Liletta immediately sheathed her sword and jumped back, creating distance with steady movements. Her face remained expressionless, and her hand holding the sword was very steady.

Fern also stopped shooting, hovering in mid-air, watching the three-headed Three-Headed Dragon pointing in different directions.

Lowell raised his hand, pointing it towards the Three-Headed Dragon, his five fingers slightly clenched.

Countless extremely fine, transparent threads appeared out of thin air, instantly wrapping around the Three-Headed Dragon's three necks, limb joints, and even its pair of giant wings that were trying to flap. The threads dug deep into its scales, forcibly fixing its ferocious movements. No matter how much it struggled, it could only futilely twist its body in place, emitting muffled, thunderous roars.

"Fern, hurry, hurry, hurry." Lowell kept his hand raised, his tone relaxed, "Don't let my status as the Demon King fool you, controlling something like this is quite tiring."

Fern looked at him. "I can't tell you're tired."

However, it still slowly descended and landed in front of the Three-Headed Dragon that was fixed in place.

Even though the giant beast was bound, its six dragon eyes still blazed with violence and ferocity, and the scorching breath from its nostrils could almost hit her face.

She looked at it, gently inhaled, and slowly exhaled.

Then, she extended her left hand, which was not holding the staff, palm up, with a hint of probing, and gently pressed it forward, as if stroking the tip of the nose of the most volatile central leader from afar.

Her voice was very soft and even, with a strange, soothing rhythm, quite different from her usual tone of voice.

"Good boy Three-Headed Dragon..."

She spoke slowly, her pale purple eyes fixed on those fierce dragon eyes.

"The bad guys have been chased away..."

She maintained that pressing motion, and a very faint, soft white light seemed to flow in her palm, not dazzling, like the thinnest fog in the early morning.

The Three-Headed Dragon's struggling movements gradually slowed down, and finally stopped completely.

The violent, fierce light that had been churning in those six eyes seemed to be washed away by an invisible stream, gradually settling and dissolving. In its place came a bewildered yet gradually clear calm.

The growl in its throat disappeared.

The breath I exhaled was no longer hot and scalding.

Even the taut muscles of that massive body visibly relaxed.

Its three heads stopped twisting erratically and slowly lowered, all six eyes looking at the human girl in front of it who exuded an aura of peace.

Immediately afterwards, a faint light emanated from its body. In this light, the outline of its massive form softened slightly, appearing smaller. Although still imposing, it lacked some of the suffocating oppressive aura. The rough, grotesque textures on its skin also seemed to become smooth.

It stood there quietly, its three heads bowed obediently, even gently rubbing the central head against the palm of Fern's hand, which was pressed into the air.

Its posture no longer resembled that of a ferocious beast that would devour its prey; instead, it possessed a certain solemnity and gentleness reminiscent of a legendary "sacred beast."

Lowell released his grip, and the threads vanished. He squinted at the scene, a wide grin spreading across his face.

"Fern is much more skilled than last time. That's great, Nangong Wenya, touching anyone makes them stupid."

Fern withdrew her hand, turned her head upon hearing this, glared at him, and puffed out her cheeks slightly.

"Isn't it Purification Magic? Why do you make it sound like a spell to make someone stupid?"

"Heh." Lowell chuckled, offering no rebuttal.

Frieren was quite happy. She ran a few steps to the now docile Three-Headed Dragon, her bright green eyes sparkling, and patted its thick forelegs—now she could reach it.

"Dragon Knight!"

She announced, her voice brimming with clear elation.

Let's go!

After saying that, she climbed up using both her hands and feet, nimbly sitting on the base of the dragon's neck. Her long, silvery-white hair spread out against the dark skin of the dragon's back, like a small snowflake.

The Three-Headed Dragon obediently lowered its body.

Frieren was the first to climb up, sitting closest to the dragon's neck. Her long, silvery-white hair stood out starkly against the rough skin of the dragon's back.

Lowell followed and sat behind her.

Fern leaped lightly onto the platform, found a seat towards the back, and straightened her wind-blown clothes.

Liletta glanced at the dragon's back, then at Lowell. Lowell beckoned to her.

"Come on up, keep carrying me. Also, during the fight, keep an eye on where Fern is, coordinate your attacks, don't just focus on attacking yourself."

Liletta gave an "Oh," nimbly climbed onto the dragon's back, and sat down at the very back. Once settled, she immediately lowered her head, and her lips began to recite the oath in a flat, monotone voice, like chanting a sutra.

"I swear to treat the weak with kindness. I swear to bravely confront violence. I swear to fight against all wrong..."

Once she was settled, the Three-Headed Dragon slowly stood up and spread its wings. This time, its movements were steady and powerful, no longer displaying its previous ferocity.

It took a step, its broad back carrying the four of them, steadily and surely walking towards the higher reaches of the mountain and the secret hot spring.

The footsteps were heavy and rhythmic, crunching over gravel and weeds, echoing through the silent valley.

The wind blew down from the higher snow line, carrying a chill, but was mostly blocked by the dragon's body.

Frieren sat at the front, her silver hair blowing back in the wind. She squinted at the increasingly steep mountain road ahead, a faint, satisfied smile playing on her lips.

Lowell leaned back, his posture relaxed.

Fern sat upright, his body slightly adjusting with the rise and fall of the dragon's back. His gaze swept over the rugged mountain scenery rushing past on both sides, occasionally glancing at the massive dragon neck in front of him.

Liletta's recitation became a monotonous and persistent background noise during the march.

The Three-Headed Dragon walked steadily and with firm steps.

The mountain road winds its way up, passing through the last sparse patch of hardy coniferous forest. The faint sound of flowing water can be heard ahead, and the smell of sulfur in the air becomes clearer, mixed with a trace of... increasingly obvious, warm and humid moisture.