Chapter 73: The Worst Hunting Competition Ever

"Time for a test drive! I’ve been dying to see how well my latest creation works on an oversized lizard."

Despite his joking tone, Zachary had already raised his bracelet. A flash of light surrounded his hand as a claw-like weapon materialized around it. Its dark metallic claws extended over his fingers, and a low mechanical hum rang through the air.

Black spheres formed around the claws as Zachary’s Resonance surged through it as the weapon roared to life.

Ephraim drew Brave Heart as he helped Lydia to step down from the horse with him.

Flames burst along the blade as he poured his Resonance into it, turning the weapon into a blazing inferno.

The heat spread through the immediate area, pushing back the cold air that emanated from the dragon.

"Stay behind me, Lydia," he warned.

"No, I’ll guide both of you."

"No Guide would be able to guide two high-ranked Sentinels all at once, Lydia. Besides, you were wounded." Ephraim turned toward her. "It’s an SSS-Rank monster. I won’t risk losing you to something like this."

"I know what rank it is! The notification practically screamed it at us." Lydia raised her uninjured hand. "I can still guide you both, so don’t underestimate me!"

Zachary glanced at her, his lips twitching despite the situation.

"Listen to our deerling. She’s determined to earn her keep."

"Zachary, I swear I’ll stab you with my antlers if we survive this."

"How terrifying. I’ll be sure to behave."

The dragon’s growl interrupted their exchange. Freezing mist began to gather around its enormous body.

The air temperature dropped sharply, and a thin layer of frost spread across the ground. The mist rolled outward, creeping between the trees and swallowing everything in its path.

Something was wrong. The mist wasn’t merely cold.

The ground beneath it was changing, and the energy gathering inside the fog was becoming increasingly unstable.

"Get away from the mist!"

She lunged forward and seized both men’s wrists, yanked them away from the approaching fog with all the strength her injured body could muster.

They barely escaped the affected area when the mist exploded.

Enormous ice spikes erupted from the ground, tearing through the forest in every direction.

Trees shattered as the frozen pillars blasted and pierced their trunks. The entire area that had been covered by the mist a moment ago had turned into a sea of ice spikes and pillars now.

"Our horses!!"

Lydia winced as the ice pillars pierced their horses. Ephraim quickly covered her eyes to shield her from the gruesome sight of their blood.

"I’m really sorry for that, Lydia..."

This was supposed to be a Hunting Competition. Why does it look like the final battlefield of an apocalyptic war?!

"You’ll pay for our horses, you evil dragon!"

She barely had time to mourn the horses before the dragon turned toward them and beat all of its six wings furiously.

A wave of freezing energy engulfed a large area of the rift battlefield as the dragon shot an ice beam.

Ephraim scooped Lydia into his arms and leaped aside just as the beam struck the ground where they had been standing.

The Glacial Dragon unleashed a rapid barrage of ice beams at Zachary, firing one after another like a living gatling gun.

The frozen projectiles tore through the air, forcing him to dodge as the battlefield froze wherever they struck.

"Yikes! Why meeee?! Shit, shit, shit!"

Zachary threw himself aside as the beams tore through the ground and left behind a thick layer of frost.

As Zachary drew the dragon’s attention, Ephraim rushed toward its flank.

His sword burned brighter as Ephraim gathered his Resonance and swung at the enormous dragon.

The blade struck the dragon’s scales with a loud clang. Sparks scattered across the frozen ground as Ephraim tried to slash it multiple times.

Even the searing heat from his Resonance could barely melt the scales.

The dragon’s scales were far tougher than he had anticipated. Before Ephraim could pull back, the dragon twisted its huge body and whipped its tail at him.

Ephraim raised his sword to block the blow, but the impact was too strong.

CRASH!!

He flew into a nearby tree. The thick trunk cracked from the impact, and Ephraim fell to the ground with a pained groan.

"Ephraim!"

Lydia hurried to his side.

He was still conscious, but his breathing was rough and uneven. Lydia quickly took out the remaining Elixir he had given her earlier and opened the bottle.

"Drink this!"

Ephraim accepted the vial and swallowed the remaining Elixir as Lydia steadied his arm.

"Are you okay? Can you stand?"

"I’ll manage," Ephraim answered through a cough.

Lydia looked toward the dragon again. The dragon was still razing the whole battlefield with its icy breath—barely unscathed from Ephraim’s attack.

Zachary was moving around its massive body, searching for an opening while avoiding another barrage of ice beams.

"I don’t think we can damage its body directly. Not when this Glacial Dragon has such tough scales."

"We’re doomed. We’re absolutely doomed." She turned back to Ephraim, still unable to believe what was happening. "Is this monster... part of the Hunting Competition?"

Ephraim coughed again before managing to answer.

"Apparently, yes, Lydia. Any Rift monster within the hunting grounds will count toward the competition’s score, provided it meets the requirements."

"You must be kidding me...." Lydia stared at him.

ROAAAAAAAAR!!

The dragon jerked its head back after Zachary drove his black claws straight inti its right eye.

"Gotcha! That was awesome!"

Another piercing screech tore through the hunting grounds as the furious dragon charged at Zachary.

Its jaws snapped shut just behind Zachary, nearly swallowing him whole. He twisted in midair and barely managed to slide beneath its open maw before its teeth could catch him.

He landed hard on the frozen ground, skidding several steps before regaining his balance.

"Good news! The dragon has only one eye left now. Thanks to your beloved panther, deerling!" Zachary flashed a grin at Lydia and Ephraim. "But the bad news? It looks really angry now."