Deception: A Tactician's Card

Dragon versus Human(?)

"How dare you stop me from my glorious time of introducing myself, you pipsqueak!"

"Ah well, it might work for you. But that's not the case for me. I hate listening to that supposed three minutes worth of nonsense talking about what's your name, address, etcetera, etcetera, yada, yada, yada when I don't care much about it. Just come at me."

"You filth! I shall engrave the fear of facing me, a dragonkin! My scales are—"

"Shut up already! I told you earlier that I don't care at all!"

"Then die!"

He dashed recklessly and swings his arms towards the center in an arc motion. His claws are phenomenal to be seen, yes. It's too sharp that it could shred me in no time upon contact.

I crouched to evade his scissor-like attack.

"Oh my, you're so fast."

"Don't get cocky just because you evaded my strike! I'm not even using my rune cards yet!"

"So am I."

"Tch! Haaaaaaah!"

He unleashes a flurry of claw strikes.

Of course, I'm in my sane mind to avoid all of it.

He may be fast, but not as fast as Cory.

"You cur! Stop moving!"

"Why should I? I might get killed, you know."

"Shut up! I'm going to feast upon your dead body!"

"Eh...what's with that. And here I thought the dragonkin are proud warriors, not grudging twerps."

Oh. That's pretty cringed. I already delivered my thoughts, so there's no turning back now. Perhaps taunted by my statement, he said stopped his flurry of attacks and used a rune card.

"You'll regret this moment ridiculing the great me!"

"The great who?"

"Die! Fu—"

Before he could finish that nasty word, I delivered a bonk of my cricket bat. Uh, well, it's not that strengthened to hurt him physically or magically.

"Huh? What is that for? Are you ridiculing me even further, HUH?"

"Who knows? I'm just bonking you."

Ah. He's pretty pissed off.

I could see his fiery resolve to kill me whatever means necessary.

He started thrashing about as he chanted. Attacking the opponent while stalling some time to cast the rune card without a hitch, eh? That's remarkable.

"I am Draco! A proud warrior of the dragon race! Heed my call, oh Dragon Veins of Gaia! Manifest, and enshroud my body with the power that could destroy even the stars! [Dragon Force]!"

That's one scary enchant.

That Overhaul rune card...for some reason, it's a rune card that unique not to a person, but to a whole race. Dragon race got that rune card since getting their rights of adulthood or something. That's what I remembered. I researched rune cards before and stumbled upon this racial trait.

His red scales turned black, and his eyes are glowing red. I could even feel the heat. Moreover, he's radiating too much heat that the snow in a considerable diameter with him as the center melted instantly.

If it weren't for the temperature regulation feature of my clothing, I would've been roasted alive.

"Man, this isn't summer. Stop pretending to be a sun."

"Hoh? I acknowledge your strength! You can withstand the unbearable heat we emit. Not everyone could—"

"Nah, it's thanks to my clothes. Please don't start monologuing. I don't want to listen at all."

"You are one despicable turd. Hmph, no matter. I'll be glad to ask the name of a worthy opponent. Human, what is your name?"

"Courtesy. That's nice. Well, my name is Yukti. And uh, what's that? Me, a human being? I think you are mistaken."

"Huh? You're not? Your vitals says otherwise."

"Ah? That's nice. My rune card is trustworthy as always."

"I don't know what you're blabbering about, but you're dead. My power is surging! You'll never defeat me!"

Ah yes, just as expected. It's the usual pride of someone who came from the dragon race. Well, I already know the fact that this guy has boosted a lot thanks to his Overhaul rune card, [Dragon Force]. Oh well.

He just appeared in front of me while snickering.

He lifted his right arm and ought to s***h my neck.

Now, how should I respond?

It seems that I overestimated this Overhaul [Dragon Force]. I think it's only a strength booster? Maybe vitality too? His agility might have improved after using that rune card but meh.

It's only a little faster than his previous movement before. I mean, that water guy with a floating brain within him is faster, to be honest. I forgot his name. He's dead anyway, so there's no need for me to remember.

While I kept on thinking my head was already separated from my body. The guy even stomped my head and its contents got splattered. That's an obvious result, of course.

Good thing I allowed those three to escape before this guy showed up.

There's one concerning factor about [Dragon Force].

It's an Overhaul rune card that greatly reduces the damage of any oncoming physical and magical damage by a whopping eighty percent. Agony and Eight can't beat this guy in their current capabilities. Also, I don't want that kid to be injured. Even with that [Invisibility] rune card of his, [Dragon Force] negated any illusionary tactics.

Aside from that, with or without that [Dragon Force], I couldn't just damage him with my [Nightmare Requiem]. The dragon race is known for having a sturdy mind. I concur with that since I fought against a rogue dragon guy before. For that to at least penetrate my damage to his mind, I don't mind making this a battle of endurance.

"I bring bonk."

"Huh?"

"Nothing."

I find it funny that even with this situation I'm in, I could think about that certain bipedal dog game character haunting enemies with his good ol' vertical strikes.

•••

"We're almost there!"

"Yes, we are, Eight. Hey, kid. Are you alright?" I asked while looking at the boy, worried about his well-being.

I could see that the kid's rune essence reserves are depleting, not to mention that he's pretty skinny, and could easily be assumed as someone who didn't eat properly. In short, he's a malnourished kid.

He's flying constantly with us for a brief period but started to slow down. He's panting too.

"Hey Agony, should we perhaps slow down?"

"No, we must not. Kid, rest on my arms."

"B-but I—"

"No buts. Yukti, that guy who stayed to intercept the enemy, would be mad at as if you suffered further than this. I understand that you don't want to be a burden, but you'll become one if you don't rest. I'll carry you."

"O-okay. I under...stand."

He placed himself in front of me as I carry him in my arms.

Dang, he's pretty light. This confirms my already confirmed speculation of this guy's malnourishment.

"We should make our pace faster. Let's go Eight. We need to go and see to it that this kid is given with utmost care."

"Understood."

Yukti... Master, it's not that I don't trust you, and after weeks of knowing you, I know you're an expert. But I can't just shake it off.

I know you're not human, but I'm someone that became a subordinate and am proud to become one.

What if there's an enemy that you can't beat? But then again, it's just me being anxious. Master can handle everything, as per what the borrowed memories reveal.

"Agony, the base is on sight. I'll go first to tell them about the situation."

"Sure thing. I'll bring this kiddo to the infirmary first before going to the meeting room."

Eight nodded and sprinted fast that it could be seen as something blurry.

"Ah. My anxiety... I take it back. Just how did Yukti defeat such a lady."

•••

I am Draco.

I'm a proud warrior of the nomadic dragon race. We could do everything on the frontlines. I'm a war veteran as well, as I've been hired a lot as a mercenary.

Every being that crosses my path easily dies.

And then I got employed by a certain country to chase a person named Yukti and kill him immediately.

I just nodded boringly.

"Everyone dies after receiving an attack or two from me, so I don't care about that much", is what I always say while yawning.

I was sleeping in the facility I've been given accommodation with when I heard a rumbling sound from outside. I look outside and saw a huge jellyfish slowly falling for some reason. I look at the equipment they used and saw a bow and dual-wielding dagger users here.

Hmm?

Isn't that?

Oy, oy, is this for real!? This is my lucky day!

I saw my latest prey.

Now, I'll just swiftly go in front and slit his throat with my claw.

But before I could even make a move, the four of them -- three teenagers and a little boy vanished from my line of sight.

"[Teleportation]...is it? No matter, I could detect the life forms of every individual."

I dashed towards the direction outside the country, after detecting some signs of life appearing and disappearing from my rune card [Detect].

I found them, and shoot a preemptive strike, and yet those kids, except this one man I've been fighting with right now.

What's this personification of absurdity!?

I kept on killing him with every method I could think of, but then immediately pops up from his dead body.

Is this the effect of his rune card?

"Goddamn, stop using your rune card!"

"Eh, says the one who is using [Dragon Force]."

Kuh! This guy...

I'LL KILL HIM NO MATTER WHAT!

He hit me with his cricket bat on my face. It doesn't even sting.

Now for my counter!

"RAAAAAAAAAAAH—Guhack! B-blood...? That's impossible..."

"Oh, it seems that my [Nightmare Requiem] is finally taking its effect. However, it's not going to end you, given how sturdy you dragon dudes are. However, there is another organ that's just as important as that, right? I think you know what is it. But for it to happen, I need to weaken your brain first. I've heard rumors of dragon men who could even live even if either of them is gone, after all. As long as either of them is well, the other important organ could easily reconstruct itself like some magician in the making. I'm honestly impressed by that regenerative ability of your race. So an idea crossed my mind: Why not both?"

A rune card appeared in front of him, and as he snapped it, my vision became blurry and eventually became black as I heard the last words I could hear.

It's the name of his rune card.

"[Faint Heart]."