Chapter 9: Silver Slayer

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Silver Slayer

​From the Venom Forest, Aurora led Krono to a bustling settlement permeated by the heavy scent of fish and sea salt.

​The air here was thick and humid.

​Putting the clues together, Krono easily deduced there had to be an ocean nearby.

​His assumption proved absolutely correct.

​Reaching the edge of the town, for the very first time since his rebirth, he laid his eyes on a vast, sparkling blue sea.

​"This is our town, Krono. It’s called ’Dryland,’ ironically enough, even though it never actually gets dry. Most of the townsfolk depend on fishing for their livelihood. Our catches are distributed all over the kingdom, which is why the port gets so lively. Don’t let the crowds overwhelm you, though. I’m sure you’ll like it here."

​She spoke with a warm smile. Krono couldn’t actually see it since it was hidden beneath the fox mask. But he could clearly hear the kindness in her voice.

Moving through the crowded streets, she took him to her house.

​Her home was another simple wooden building. It was situated by the west bank, from where the sea was easily accessible.

​There were a lot of neighbors around.

​"Silver Slayer, who is this boy?" a burly man with thick eyebrows asked while sitting on his lawn.

​She smiled as if she was very familiar with the title.

​"Black Drake, I found the boy in the Venom Forest. He needed help, so I brought him along."

​The man raised his bushy eyebrow, clearly surprised.

​"Oh, what’s his name? He must be special since he earned your interest, Silver Slayer."

​"His name is Krono. And you’re right. He wants to be a Dragon Hunter like us. And I found his potential to my liking," Aurora replied calmly.

​"So you’re going to mentor him? Do I have that right?" Drake inquired.

At Drake’s question, Aurora and Krono exchanged a glance. A silent understanding passed between them.

​"Yes, something like that," she finally replied.

​Drake flashed a broad, genuine smile.

"That’s great to hear, Aurora. Maybe now you’ll finally stop feeling so alone. I’m sure the rest of your team will be pleased, too."

​"I certainly hope so."

​Following that initial interaction, more and more neighbors began wandering over to greet her.

It was immediately apparent to Krono just how well-respected and beloved she was in this community.

​He felt a little overwhelmed by the number of curious stares directed his way, but he kept his composure, politely nodding so as not to disrespect anyone.

​Not long after, Aurora led him inside and gave him the second-best bedroom her home had to offer.

​Standing by the open window, Krono felt the sea breeze rustle his hair. He looked out over the endless sparkling ocean, watching the local fishermen haul in their daily catches.

​For the first time since his escape, he truly felt at peace. And the bitter memories of his father’s betrayal finally began to fade from his mind.

​He was going to build a new life here.

The following day, after breakfast, Krono was called to the open lawn.

​Aurora stood there, like a strict instructor waiting for her student.

​"Listen well Krono. To become a Dragon Hunter, first you need to learn about the ranks lest you pick fight with a hunter you cannot win.

They are divided in 7 ranks:

Bronze

Silver

Gold

Diamond

Platinum

Destroyer

Apocalypse

"Each rank signified completely different level of power."

"Oh, so if she is at Platinum Rank, she must be incredibly powerful." Krono thought inwardly.

"Also, mere physical strength is nowhere near enough. Even if you train your muscles until you can shatter boulders with your bare hands, you would still be nothing more than an insect to a true dragon. Their scales are tougher than tempered steel and naturally repel physical force. A normal sword, no matter how heavy or sharp, will simply shatter on impact."

​She suddenly stopped and pulled a small translucent crystal sphere from her leather pouch.

​"To pierce that impenetrable hide, you must possess an innate magical affinity to learn true Dragon Slaying Skills that infuse elemental laws directly into your weapon. So, before I teach you how to swing a blade, we must first determine what kind of magic sleeps inside your veins."

"Place your hands on the glass. Then close your eyes, focus on the sensation of your own heartbeat, and imagine pushing that energy out through your palms and into the stone."

​Krono nodded and reached out with his small hands.

Taking a deep breath, he dug into the strange, dormant energy resting deep within his chest.

​At first, nothing happened. The crystal remained perfectly clear.

​Then, a sudden spark ignited deep within the core of the sphere. But it wasn’t the brilliant red of a fire affinity, nor the glowing blue of water.

On the contrary, the center of the sphere began to darken.

​Krono’s pupils dilated in panic. Was the crystal going to expose his dark affinity?

​"No,I can’t let that happen!"

​Mustering all of his willpower, he forcefully suppressed the dark energy rising from within his core. He clamped down on it so hard that the veins on his forehead and arms bulged, looking as though they might burst apart at any second.

​The result of his intense resistance?

​The black mist inside the sphere slowly transmuted into a solid earthly brown glow.

​"Earth element? That’s odd, I could have sworn..."

Aurora muttered, shaking her head as she dismissed the fleeting dark energy as a trick of the light.

"Anyway, it’s better than nothing.

You are going have to learn Earth elemental Dragon Slaying Arts whether you like it or not. Still, Earth might not be the most offensive element to deal with dragons, but if used wisely, it can be just as lethal."

​"I understand, Teacher. But what about you? Can you tell me what your affinity is?"

​At his query, Aurora calmly unsheathed her thin rapier from her waist.

​The moment the blade left its scabbard, a blinding silver light flashed across its razor-thin edge.

​"My affinity is very uncommon. Some call it Silver. Some call it Sharpness. Others call it God’s Edge. Regardless of the name, it makes my weapons completely indestructible and terrifyingly sharp. Let me give you a demonstration."

Saying that, she went toward the rock boulder placed nearby.