Chapter 48

"Untrustworthy, highly unreliable, greatly swayed by their own emotions, often acting on their own initiative, driven by irrational, mad impulses; like mindless beasts, they possess no sense of right or wrong; they break their promises and are not bound by any religion or faith."

In simple terms, people have formed a concrete image of the Huns as a nation, a construct built by others.

Despite this, Siegfried didn't particularly care whether the Huns were barbaric or not. After all, he was currently in a state of not being interested in anything, but since he had accepted a commission, he intended to complete it. He hadn't yet found his true purpose in life.

"But then again, if Avia hadn't said it himself, no one would have known you were a Hun."

Siegfried's gaze shifted from the blazing bonfire to Avia beside him, whose brown skin was completely different from that of a typical Hun.

"It's normal for there to be differences because I was adopted. And the reputation of the Huns is indeed not very good; they say they're all evil barbarians or something. But it's pretty much true. Everyone harbors malicious intentions, driving others to ruin, and with selfish motives, ensuring their own prosperity."

Siegfried listened, his brow unfurrowed, without showing any surprise, just quietly absorbing the words.

"Invading others for one's own benefit is indeed what is called evil. From a human perspective, this would be classified as 'ugly' behavior. You could say that joining the side that truly suits me would be the most convenient choice... breaking away from them."

Avia crossed his arms slightly, leaning against a sturdy tree. He closed his thin eyelids, resting his eyes, his expression as gentle and all-encompassing as usual.

Indeed, his distinctly different skin tone had caused him minor trouble in the Hun tribes over the past decade since his adoption.

But the problems weren't significant. They were just a few small children who liked to compete, and a few beatings were enough to subdue most of them.

"But, who told them to adopt me? Their kindness is something I can never forget—"

The fire continuously licked the firewood, crackling and popping. The flames surged and subsided, as if telling their story to the night sky. In the firelight, the firewood was dyed orange-red, emitting a faint scent of wood that mingled with the surrounding fragrance of grass and trees, creating a unique night atmosphere.

He opened his deep blue eyes and pointed a finger towards the star-studded night sky. The image of the white-haired girl, her lonely crimson eyes, flashed through Avia's mind. He then gently curved his lips and said:

"Moreover, even those who are branded as inherently evil can confide in each other as kin. They fight for the prosperity of their kin, unwilling to give up anything, and even wanting more... This is what the living should possess, a fierce desire so greedy it makes one cheer. Right?"

"In other words, I, as their kin, am also someone with an inherently evil will."

The firelight danced across the silver-haired youth's face, outlining it with a golden rim.

For some reason, Siegfried felt that fourteen-year-old Avia seemed more mature than his own eighteen years. Though his features were still youthful, they were sharp, and his words and actions exuded a unique demeanor, along with an unwavering goal.

Yet, Siegfried had a feeling that no matter how much supreme honor Avia gained, no matter how glorious a path he walked, he would abandon it if it was unreasonable, continuing on that path heedlessly, forever.

In an boundless world of brilliance, continuing on such a narrow, dark, and dangerous path.

Normally, if Avia had said all that, people under the Christian faith in the Western Roman Empire would have chosen to distance themselves. But that wouldn't be Siegfried. After all, he was still quite empty.

Siegfried, who had yet to discover his true dream, was someone who greatly underestimated his own life, his desires, and more importantly, his ambitions. However, the thought that arose the moment he saw Avia grew even stronger—

"Even so, I still want to be friends with you, Avia."

But Siegfried felt a bit embarrassed to say it right now, so he could only say calmly in his usual tone:

"Although Avia, you've said some things that sound evil, I still believe you are a righteous person who shines brightly."

Siegfried gently touched his chest, where he had placed the leaf he had just received from Avia. This was not a habitual comforting remark, but a sincere thought.

Bathed in the firelight, the surrounding scenery became even more mystical and enchanting. The tree branches swayed gently in the breeze, as if paying homage to the bonfire. The distant mountains, illuminated by the moonlight, appeared exceptionally tranquil and profound. The bonfire's glow intertwined with the moonlight, forming a picturesque scene.

Avia let out a laugh at Siegfried's response.

"Come on, Siegfried, let's go slay a dragon together, the Fafnir located in the Rhine River."

He suppressed his laughter and continued with a smile, his deep blue eyes, like a deep blue ocean, so striking in the firelight's embrace.

"That is also my goal. What a coincidence. But Avia, did you also receive a commission to slay the dragon?"

"No, it's my personal decision."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Siegfried, you must also have your own decisions."

093: On the Possibility of Contacting Known Wreckage of Mecha

In utter darkness, the sunlight of the Rhine River barely reached the deepest parts of the seabed.

Waves came and went, went and came, the blurry reflection in my eyes a seemingly eternal cycle.

The riverbed, unable to perform photosynthesis, made survival impossible for many creatures. Despite this, theoretically, the variety of fish here was quite rich, which could also be seen as a manifestation of the sea's terrifying mystery.

However, Avia and Siegfried, who were now diving to the seabed, could not see anything in this lightless place. Yet, a golden light shimmered, as if at the very bottom of the Rhine River, there was a mirrored entity akin to the sun in the sky.

Thus, they saw a creature of a very dark appearance. An immense magical power like solidified hot wind rushed towards them, a thermal wind distinctly different from the familiar sunlight.

An eighty-meter colossal dragon, exuding a foul odor, lurked at the very bottom of the Rhine River, its eyes closed as if in hibernation, tightly clutching a massive pile of gold.

Its mere presence sent waves of heat like explosions, and even with magical enhancements, human bodies were inadvertently scorched.

With abilities that spontaneously manifested as if creating a barrier, this was a top-tier Phantasmal Species, a supreme demonic beast, absolute fantasy, a Dragon Kind, beyond human reach.

The evil dragon Fafnir was the result of a dwarf who, driven by greed, killed his father, leading to the phenomenon of the evil dragon.

"So that's the dragon Reygin's brother commissioned me to kill..."

"Yes, a dragon born of ultimate greed."

Avia nodded.

From the Second's adventure, after the Age of Gods ended, or perhaps before it truly ended, dragons that manifested on land due to Dragon Factors all originated from the primordial dragon Typhon of Greece, a monster created by Gaia's vengeful heart. They were the source of Dragon Kind in the Western world, and even the Norse pantheon, which shared Europe with the Greek pantheon, was not spared.

However, just as all Greek gods were mechanical beings, Typhon was also mechanical. But like Set and Osiris, their Divine Bodies or fragments were used for experiments by Mages of the Lostbelt Sea, Sages of the Mountain Court, and Alchemists of the Atlas Institute.

Typhon's fragments were consumed by one of the protagonists in the Second's adventure, Bai Ruolong. Bai Ruolong's true identity was a reincarnated Greek god, the Prince of the Underworld, and the first Dionysus, Zagreus, the child of Zeus and the Queen of the Underworld. After dying, he was resurrected by Zeus, who consumed his heart and a woman, and as Dionysus, he became part of Macedonian worship and the patron deity of Macedon.

It's a prime example of someone who has detached from their texture, fallen to the mortal realm, and truly walks the earth as a god.

Still, a child of Zeus and the Queen of the Underworld... the Greek pantheon remains as chaotic as ever.

Avia, who had once received the blessings of all Roman authority, couldn't help but sigh. Fortunately, the Roman pantheon she was blessed by had a different name.

Speaking of which, perhaps due to the full blessing of Roman authority, Avia felt she could slowly establish contact with the Moon God Machine, the only one she knew of that was currently located beyond the planet. However, after more than ten years, the progress was only from 0 to 10.

It was a pity that Mars's Machine was on its way to Japan, otherwise, he would have liked to make contact. Compared to orbital cannons that strike the ground, he preferred red robots.

"Ultimate greed, killing your father out of desire. While the chance of victory is slim, this is an evil that must be killed, no matter what. I will never forgive evil, as long as my values don't deviate."

Facing such a terrifying enemy, even with Balmung in hand, which possessed the attributes of Gram, the demonic sword of origin, Siegfried couldn't be sure he could achieve complete victory. His win rate against Fafnir was a clear eight-two, eight for the dragon, two for him.

But—

"Siegfried, what are your thoughts on defeating Fafnir?"

Avia turned and said to Siegfried.

Currently, he held an ordinary spear in one hand and an ordinary sword in the other. One of his hands emitted a faint glow, which came from the magic he was casting to mask their presence. This was the same magic he used to infiltrate the Submarine Alexandria Library in the past.

As for how Siegfried defeated Fafnir in Type-Moon, even Siegfried himself didn't know. It was as if he had killed it inexplicably before he even realized it.

However, judging by the methods of Sigurd from the Norse Age of Gods, it was probably similar to crouching in a pit at the bottom of the sea, waiting for Fafnir to approach, then stabbing it once and killing it...

"No."

Siegfried replied immediately.

"Really? While I don't intend to force you, in this situation, it's our first time fighting together. We might hesitate at a critical moment. Depending on the circumstances, this hesitation could lead to death, so I still want to hear your true thoughts."

Avia's voice remained unchanged as he spoke to the silver-haired youth.

While Fafnir was indeed a bit troublesome for Avia at the moment, he had, after all, fought alongside the strongest dragon on the planet. Naturally, he had some confidence. But since he had decided to fight alongside Siegfried, necessary communication was essential.

"It's not that I'm not afraid; on the contrary, I'm even a little scared. I can tell that Fafnir is far stronger than me. I feel my chance of victory is only twenty percent."

The great hero, who had not yet slain a dragon, confessed honestly.

"However, I believe that with Avia by my side, our chance of victory will be one hundred percent. There is absolutely no possibility of losing. We will definitely defeat Fafnir."

Siegfried's resolute words felt like a sharp sword piercing his own chest, sounding so sincere.

"I understand. It seems my suspicion of your resolve was a mistake. Please forgive me."

"I'm sorry for causing you trouble, Avia. I should be the one apologizing."

"Actually, I was just saying... Alright, it's about time. Prepare yourself."

Avia took a breath and looked towards the Evil Dragon Fafnir, who was holding Rhine Gold in the distance, ending their conversation.

"This is my first time slaying a dragon."

The next moment.

From the spear and sword held by Avia, magic circles that accelerated like a vortex erupted, and the surrounding seawater seemed to be sucked into the weapons.

Immediately, bluish-red magical streams shot out like bullets.

094: Leave Fafnir to me, the Rhine Gold.

The astonishingly flying missiles swept through the very bottom of the Rhine River, appearing as red and blue vortices like bullets.

Such astounding magic made one mistake it for a Dragon Factor appearing in the ocean. Explosive and brilliant light, and ever-accelerating conversion of magic into destructive particles, obliterating everything they touched—

"Roar!"

Startled by the unexpected attack, Fafnir roared, accompanied by a tremor of the earth. It lunged at the two with incredible speed, its sharp jaws aiming to devour them whole.

Its eighty-meter body was so massive that Avia had to look up at it. The roar it emitted strongly vibrated his eardrums and lungs, but its large physique also made it an easy target.

Dragon Kind possessed strong resistance to magic. Any magic projected onto them was rendered ineffective. It was said that they could even disregard the magic of the Age of Gods. Although it could inflict physical damage on their bodies, their bodies would regenerate almost instantly.

Avia stood alone before Fafnir, using only his arms to barely block the frenzied assault of the Phantasmal Species, which possessed immense power.

The top-tier Phantasmal Species, roaring with its core, a magic furnace, operating at full capacity, possessed no ordinary strength. Man and dragon were locked in a simple clash of brute force.

After all, Fafnir's strength, in his opinion, was still far inferior to Attila's when she was in a state of enraged displeasure.

Seeing its attack blocked, Fafnir roared again in agitation.

Avia, holding his spear and sword, slashed through its thick hide with his spear. Even though its entire body was covered in a dense, heavy armor resistant to both physical and magical attacks, armor that even the sharpest arrows couldn't penetrate, it was still genuinely cut. It even caused it to bleed.

However, it regenerated in an instant—though this was within Avia's expectations.

With Avia's spear thrust as a signal, Siegfried simultaneously moved, running along Fafnir's tail towards its head, repeatedly slashing at the dragon with Balmung.

The dragon's target immediately shifted to Siegfried, preparing to attack.

In that instant, Avia adjusted his stride, kicked Fafnir in the stomach, and leaped high into the air.

This shortened the distance between them, allowing him to reach Fafnir's head. The oppressive aura intensified as he threw out a long sword brimming with dense magic, a sword that seemed to cleave through space, ultimately piercing one of Fafnir's eyeballs.

Even though it could recover instantly, its massive body found itself in a predicament regarding its movements. However, the intense pain drove the Evil Dragon into a frenzy, intent on biting the human before it. It roared maniacally, thrashed about wildly, and continuously fired massive beams of magic at its location.

Avia ran around it in this manner, avoiding the sweeping magic, but in just a few seconds, the edges of his clothes were hit by the beams several times.

But as long as his body was unharmed, it was fine. The two of them repeatedly attacked the Evil Dragon from front and back.

The dragon kind, possessing mighty defenses, then endured a seemingly endless torrent of swords and spears washing over its entire body.

After two strikes, another three simultaneously pierced its head, belly, and back. Three impacts rang out, and before their sounds even faded, four more slashes and six thrusts, followed by ten more swings, assaulted it…

The speed of destruction even surpassed its regeneration at one point. The dragon's ribs were shattered, several internal organs were ruined, its posture contorted, and its body trembled. Fafnir, whose mind had previously held only greed and madness, now conceived the thought, I'm going to die.

It didn't descend into another fit of madness, nor did it tremble before the palpable presence of death. Its eyes lost their former ferocity, replaced by a profound sorrow and resignation.

Driven by greed, it had killed its father, becoming a dragon, driving away its brothers, the dwarves. Finally, it had met its just deserts.

Furthermore, these two who had come to kill it were also destined to become as miserable as it had.

"This treasure is cursed. You will end up like me."

The dragon, already on the brink of death, uttered these words with a flicker of interest.

In the brief pause after it spoke, Avia and Siegfried stood shoulder to shoulder. The young man raised the magic sword, which blazed with golden light, while the boy extended his ordinary spear.

"I understand, Fafnir."

"This is an act of justice."

Beneath the words of execution, golden and silver light flashed, then pierced together through the fluctuating deep blue magical light in the Evil Dragon's chest.

The very bottom of the Rhine fell into a brief silence. The colossal body of the dragon trembled on the ground, each tremor seemingly stirring the Rhine itself.

The moment the Evil Dragon was slain, its body began to emit a strong radiance. Within the light, its scales could be seen subtly quivering.

And at the instant the dragon died, the dragon's blood released from its chest overshadowed the brilliance of the surrounding Rhine Gold.

Viscous and scorching dragon's blood gushed out. It seemed poised to stain the seabed red, but it quickly dissipated, as there was no one to bear it.