With agile precision, Ace leapt away. In that exact instant, the creature unleashed a blue firestorm from its mouth, engulfing the spot where Ace had just been hiding. Though the color was different, this wasn't ordinary fire. The tree he had hidden behind immediately turned to char, then crumbled into fine dust. Ace instantly recognized the danger—this creature wasn't just a passing threat. It was a walking catastrophe.
Once he landed, he gripped his dagger tightly, his breathing steady, eyes locked on the beast. It began to blur into its surroundings, not merely changing the color of its scales but disappearing through a visual illusion, gradually fading until only a faint mirage remained.
The sight reminded Ace of the cloaking technology used in his broken vehicle—technology that replicated surrounding colors to blend seamlessly into the environment. Yet he understood this wasn't a mechanical trick. It was an evolved, natural skill.
The creature appeared, vanished, then reappeared, as if playing with his perception, making him question whether he was seeing reality or illusion. Its footsteps began circling him—light, nearly silent. But Ace didn't need sharp hearing. His senses were heightened, detecting even the slightest movement. He knew the creature was waiting for the decisive moment—when he would be vulnerable.
Suddenly, everything went silent. All he could hear was the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Without warning, the creature lunged at him from behind, teeth bared for the kill. Ace felt the air split behind him—a final warning before the beast struck. But he was ready.
He spun his body swiftly, his hand delivering a sharp slash with his black dagger. However, the creature had anticipated it. It twisted midair with unnatural flexibility, dodging the blade effortlessly.
That moment was enough for it to change direction. With a sudden spin, it used its long tail like a whip, landing a powerful blow on Ace's back. He felt the heat of pain spread across his spine as the strike tore through his clothes, leaving a vivid mark on his skin. He stumbled back, catching his breath, while the creature began twisting its body in a surreal dance, limbs slipping between reality and mirage. In that instant, there were no longer one—but three, or more.
Ace saw overlapping images of the beast moving in unison, like mirror reflections. But which one was real? He gripped his dagger more firmly. This was no longer just a battle of strength. It was a battle of perception against a cunning, ferocious foe.
The illusions twirled before him, vanishing and reappearing like phantoms in a dance where reality and trickery blurred. Yet Ace, with his sharp vision, noticed subtle differences—small variations in how the light reflected off the shimmering scales. The real one had a gleam the others lacked.
Then, all the copies charged at him. Without hesitation, he bolted forward, striking at the neck of one. It was the real body—but he was stunned. His blade slid over the creature's scaly skin as if against polished glass.
There was no wound—not a drop of blood, not even a scratch. The scales were an impenetrable shield, as if nature had granted the beast immunity to cutting weapons.
Only then did Ace realize he had underestimated his opponent. This would not be a simple test of speed or accuracy—it would be a challenge of comprehension and adaptation. As they passed each other, Ace smoothly sheathed his dagger, never taking his eyes off the creature, which seemed equally perplexed.
Then, the beast lifted its short arm, lowered its head, and scratched its neck—as if checking whether it had truly been decapitated. For a moment, it froze, then stared at Ace with eyes no longer the same. They now glowed as if filled with blood.
Then the unexpected happened. Its body began to radiate—an internal ignition, as if its blue fire had ignited from within. The surface of its body started to glow like a blue ember.
These weren't ordinary flames. They were savage, consuming even the air. Sparks spun around it in a wild, blue inferno.
In that moment, the beast was no longer just a creature spewing flames—it had become a master of chaos, a ruler of destructive disorder. Its body moved through the air with a fluidity that resembled a skilled dancer performing a final death waltz to a savage rhythm. Its sudden contortions, strange bends, and the fiery whirlwinds it unleashed turned everything around it into an unpredictable battlefield. There was no way to anticipate its next move. Ace had no choice but to find a way through the blazing inferno before the flames devoured him. Relying solely on his speed was his only path to survival.
He moved, his body gliding between the fiery vortices erupting around him. The heat felt like burning claws tearing through the air. Some flames scorched his clothes, leaving behind charred patches and shallow burns on his skin. The pain was sharp, yet not enough to slow him down. The torrent of fire raged for a full minute, every second pressing relentlessly on his nerves.
Finally, the beast began to slow. Its glow and flames gradually diminished. Its breathing grew heavy, as if it had lost control of its fury. Thick smoke filled the air, cloaking the scene in a black veil. At that moment, the beast, with a look of arrogance, believed its enemy had turned to ash—eliminated, just like the hundreds before him.
But as the smoke began to clear, an unexpected sight emerged. Amid the glowing embers, the young man stood tall. The body that should've been reduced to cinders remained upright. His eyes burned—not with fear, but with something far more terrifying—unshakable resolve and piercing intensity. His gaze carried something that made the beast instinctively step back, an unfamiliar feeling it refused to name but sensed clearly.
Its pride wouldn't allow retreat. It roared, a sound that shook the ground, then lunged forward with all its might in a scene that mirrored what Ace had faced the night before. The beast's jaws parted, revealing fangs ready to tear apart. It was a desperate attack, slower than the last—a feeble attempt to reclaim dominance or perhaps a last-ditch effort to survive.
In a fraction of a second, everything fell into complete silence. Only the deafening thud of a body hitting the ground remained. The beast's form crashed with such force that the earth beneath it shattered. It didn't comprehend what had happened. All it saw was the blur of a powerful hand striking its head with inhuman strength. For a fleeting moment, it heard the sound of its skull cracking before its senses could process the blow. Its massive body rose slightly from the force, then collapsed again—motionless.
Ace stood still for a few seconds, breathing slowly—not from exhaustion, but from inhaling smoke. He looked down at the lifeless corpse before him. The beast's chest rose and fell with its final breaths, then settled into stillness. Slowly, Ace reached toward its head, then paused. He was supposed to extract the creature's eyes as proof of completing the mission. Yet, he hesitated, unsure if this was the monster described in the request. It didn't match the details.
This wasn't a mere creature that raided caravans without causing harm. It was something far stronger and more dangerous, even for rookie adventurers. Ace realized that a mission involving such a beast would never be assigned to a beginner. He began to wonder if there had been a mistake or if this monster had surpassed its biological limits, becoming a threat of a new, undocumented kind.
He gripped the handle of his dagger and exhaled, realizing that taking the eyes wouldn't suffice. The beast needed a full examination. One moment of thought sealed his decision: he would carry the entire corpse back to the guild. It would cost him more time, but it was the right call.
He hoisted the body onto his shoulder with careful motion, feeling its weight press down on him. He estimated the corpse to weigh around 200 kilograms by his planet's standards. He recalled how heavy things felt lighter on his home world, but here, he could feel the difference. Still, his physical strength far exceeded that of any ordinary person, making the task difficult, but not impossible.
Minutes passed slowly until he returned to the town. From afar, he spotted the twin brothers, standing as usual, chatting with each other. One was immersed in a book, while the other stared blankly into the distance. As Ace approached, they noticed he was carrying a beast on his shoulder, which from a distance had looked like a sack of flour. One of them raised an eyebrow in surprise, while the other let out a soft whistle and asked:
"What are you carrying, brother?"
As he got closer, one of them spoke again, his voice a mixture of shock and concern:
"What is that, brother? That's no rabbit. You look like you've been through a war. What happened?"
The other stood speechless for a moment, his eyes darting between Ace and the corpse on his shoulder, which he seemed to carry with little concern. Then, his eyes widened in astonishment, and he stammered:
"I-Is... is that the Dragon fire Beast?!"
Ace nodded silently. The exhaustion was etched into his features—he didn't need many words. His worn-out body told the story. Still, he replied in a low voice:
"I brought the beast's corpse to show the guild. I think it's different from what was described in the request."
A brief silence followed, broken by one of the twins' hesitant voice:
"You carried that thing all the way here?"
Ace glanced at the corpse, then at the twins, and gave a simple nod—confirming he had done so. He could've told them he hitched a ride part of the way, but the nod was more sincere.
After a moment of disbelief, one of the twins stepped closer to examine the body, but Ace asked to head inside, knowing time was precious. As he entered the town, the guard's attention shifted to his brother who was inspecting the corpse. He saw him standing there, lost in thought. Suddenly, something changed in his expression. His eyes widened slowly, his face shifting from curiosity to concern—then to shock. His brother approached, asking if something was wrong. The other replied, his voice trembling as if even he couldn't believe his own words:
"T-That! That's not an ordinary Dragon fire Beast, brother! Those colorful scales... I read about them in a book!"
His brother looked at him, puzzled, then turned his gaze toward the retreating figure of Ace and the beast once more. This time, his expression shifted to one of deep suspicion. It didn't take long before both twins turned toward each other, pointing fingers simultaneously, then shouting in unison:
"That beast!!! That beast is…"
"That beast!!! That beast is…"