Jack didn’t have much time to think. He did everything out of instinct. He activated Dragon Eye and slowed everything down to a crawl. At the same time, he released one grip and summoned his magic staff. He started casting a spell. The spell formation formed rapidly due to his mind working five times faster. Combined with his multi-runes casting, the four runes spell was completed in just a fraction of a second.
The sonic wind arrived then. Jack’s remaining grip couldn’t resist the force. There was no more plate behind for him to catch on to. But at this time, a wide rectangular wall appeared behind him. It was his Magic Wall spell. His two feet landed on this magic wall and he used this wall as a stepping point to do his super jump.
He tried to jump back onto the last plate. However, Broidrireg had been flying at a high speed. The last plate was already far ahead when he made his jump. What was below him was now Broidrireg’s tightly packed scaled body. Jack tried grabbing on these scales but they were too smooth, there was no handhold.
By instinct again, he took out his Storm Breaker and activated its Overlimit ability. He then gripped the sword with two hands. With all his strength, he stabbed the sword into the dragon’s body.
“Hma?|?” Broidrireg looked back as damage number of 20 appeared above him.
When he looked that Jack was clinging to a sword that was lodged inside his body, he said, “I was wondering what kind of mosquito bit me at this height. That sword of yours is quite good to be able to pierce my outer scales. Are you ready for the last sonic wind?”
‘Will it truly be the last? Or another lie?’ Jack thought dejectedly. His Storm Breaker might have stabbed deep enough to keep him from falling, but not deep enough to resist the sonic wind. He was sure both he and his Storm Breaker would be knocked away once the wind came.
So, he took out his magic staff again and cast another spell.
“Oh? You still have some trick up your sleeve?” Broidrireg said when he saw Jack casting a spell. “Hehe, all right. I will let you finish your spell. I will give you ten seconds. Don’t waste them.” He then turned his head back to the front and didn’t spare Jack a glance anymore.
Jack had no intention to waste the time. With multi-runes casting, he completed a five-runes spell in a bit over one second. Thirteen crimson chains came out of the surface of Broidrireg’s body, right below where Jack was hanging on.
He stored his magic staff, reaffirm his grip on the Storm Breaker’s hilt, then he closed his eyes and concentrated.
His constant training of mana manipulation on spells had undergone improvement. Although he was still a long way from using it in fast-paced combat, it was enough for him to assert control providing that he was staying still and had enough time.
He controlled all the thirteen chains to wrap around his body and pulled him closer to the dragon’s body. They then held him there tightly.
<br/>After the ten seconds passed, Broidrireg lunged and caused another air explosion. The sonic wind came rushing and swept everything around his elongated body. Everything that was not part of his body was getting torn apart.
When the sonic wind subsided, Broidrireg looked back. There was something that looked like a crimson cocoon sticking on one side of his body.
“Superb,” Broidrireg muttered in a low voice. He was just thinking that if Jack was still not knocked away, he would tell Jack that there was another sonic wind coming again. But after seeing the cocoon, he concluded the result will just be the same.
The crimson cocoon was formed by Jack’s thirteen crimson chains. After the spell duration ended, the crimson chains vanished, revealing Jack who was still holding his sword with dear life. Jack was dreading if Broidrireg would say that he was lying again. If he did, Jack would not be courteous anymore. He would curse the dragon right out in the open.
Broidrireg chuckled when the cocoon disappeared and saw Jack was still attached to him. He continued flying, but he didn’t produce another sonic wind. He even slowed down his speed.
They came down from the layer of clouds. The beautiful scenery below was exposed, but Jack was still too tense to enjoy the scenery. He was still worried that this dragon was going to pull another prank on him.
Broidrireg continued flying for a while before he lowered his altitude. Jack could recognize now the land that was coming closer. He could see Mount Draygetos where he had been living in for the past week. Broidrireg was visibly flying towards that mountain.
When they were close enough, Jack could even see the waterfall, the small lake, and Darmos’ hut. Broidrireg landed a distance away from there.
Broidrireg looked back at Jack who was still latching onto his body. “How long are you going to hang there?” He asked.
Jack was having trouble believing the trial was over. He was still clutching his sword that was embedded inside Broidrireg’s body. Afraid that if he let go, this sly dragon would suddenly fly off and said that he had failed the trial because he didn’t stay on. So, he tried to get confirmation first with his hands still fastly holding Storm Breaker’s hilt, “Do I pass the test?”
Broidrireg chuckled. “To tell you the truth, you already passed it when you survived the eighth sonic wind.”
“What? So those last two winds were unnecessary?” Jack uttered.
“Well, it’s fun isn’t it?” Broidrireg said.
‘Fun for you! You shitty oversized wyrm!’ Jack cursed within.
Broidrireg added, “I won’t say that they are unnecessary. Actually, that was an extension trial that gives you a better reward upon passing.”
“Better reward?” Jack heard a notification then, “Congratulations on completing the Dragon Form Trial. Receive rewards of 3,000,000 Exp points, 50 gold coins, and Supreme Dragon Form.”
“Supreme Dragon form?” He uttered.
“Supreme?” Peniel was also surprised.
Jack’s Blade Dancer level increased to level 45 after the notification, but his mind was too preoccupied after hearing the Supreme Dragon.
“You should be glad. I didn’t give out this extension trial normally,” Broidrireg said. “In fact, this supreme dragon form can only be bestowed one time. Even if the next ones who take the trial can pass this extension trial as well,? they won’t get the supreme dragon form anymore. They will receive only a slightly improved version than the standard dragon form.”
Jack was astounded. He would be happy already if he could get a standard dragon form, what more this supreme one.
“I must say, however, that I am very surprised to find you managed to pass my extension trial. I only give it out because you entertain me so much. Even high-level natives who had taken the trials in the past all failed to complete the extension. You are the first one to do so. For that, I’m going to grant you another gift.”
“Another?” Jack was lost for words. This dragon was truly generous. All his ill-feeling due to him getting played by the dragon was now replaced with admiration and gratitude.
“Here. Come closer,” Broidrireg said.
Jack did as he was asked. He walked forward and stood right below the dragon’s gargantuan head. The dragon opened his enormous mouth.
Jack was slightly alarmed. ‘He doesn’t mean to eat me, right?’
“Aha?|. Ah-chooa?|!”
An unbelievable amount of snot showered Jack.
“Phewa?| Have been holding that for a whilea?| Pffta?| Ahahaa?| Ahahahaa?|!” Broidrireg flopped on his back and started laughing himself off. The ground was trembling due to his gargantuan body shaking with laughter.
Jack’s mouth twitched. He had trouble imagining this mighty dragon acting like an excited puppy, all the while the thick snot was drooping down his head and shoulder. Peniel had flown away before the snot came, she was now keeping her distance from Jack.
“Oha?| look at youa?| Aha?| that was fun,” Broidrireg said while still laughing in between.
“Well, I am glad you have your fun. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take a bath in Darmos’ lake,” Jack said and started walking away.
“Wait, wait! Come here, let me give you my gift first,” Broidrireg said.
“What?! Again? Come on! Do you think I will fall for that again?” Jack uttered while taking a step back.
“Don’t worry, I’m serious now,” Broidrireg said.
Jack found it hard to take this dragon seriously now. The fearsome impression this dragon evoked when they first met was almost gone now. Jack didn’t even address the dragon with an honorary title anymore.
Jack stayed put and gave Broidrireg an ‘I don’t believe you’ stare.
“All right, perhaps I’ve gone a little excessive,” Broidrireg said.
“A little?” Jack asked.
“All right, perhaps a lot,” Broidrireg came to where Jack was standing. He lifted one of his huge forelegs. He then used one of his sharp claws to prick his palm. A tiny droplet of blood came out from the wound. The blood drop right on top of Jack. Because Jack was looking upward, the blood fell right on his face. To Broidrireg, it was a tiny droplet. But to Jack, that droplet covered his entire face.
He quickly cleaned his face, thinking this was another of the dragon’s pranks. But the blood seemed to have a life of its own. It sipped into Jack through his mouth, nose, eyes, and ears.
