Chapter 66: Chapter 62: The Dragon’s Hunt

Morning arrived quietly in Greenwood Village.

Mist drifted lazily between the towering ancient trees, curling around wooden bridges and platforms built high among the branches. Dew clung to wide green leaves, reflecting the pale golden light of the rising sun. The forest breathed slowly, calm and undisturbed.

For a while.

Sylvara stood on a wooden balcony outside the healer’s hall, gently watering a row of medicinal plants arranged in clay pots. Her silver hair swayed softly as the morning breeze passed through the canopy.

The scent of herbs and damp earth filled the air.

Below her, several young elves were practicing with bows in a small clearing between the trees. Their arrows struck wooden targets with dull thuds while an older instructor corrected their stances. Nearby, a group of warriors tightened armor straps and checked blades before heading out for their patrol.

The village had almost returned to its normal rhythm.

Almost.

Because the dragon was still here.

Sylvara lifted her eyes toward the outer edge of the settlement where a large reinforced platform had been built among several massive trees. It was the only structure strong enough to support their unusual guest.

John had spent the night there.

His massive black body had curled partly around the platform, wings folded neatly while his long tail hung lazily between the trees below. Even resting, the dragon carried an overwhelming presence. Just knowing he was there made the entire forest feel different.

But now—

Sylvara frowned slightly.

The platform was empty.

She leaned forward, scanning the surrounding branches.

“That’s odd…”

Behind her, a door creaked open.

Lythriel stepped onto the balcony, stretching her arms as she yawned. Her long green hair was still slightly messy from sleep.

“Morning.”

Sylvara nodded absently.

“Morning.”

Lythriel followed Sylvara’s gaze toward the empty platform.

“Oh.”

Her eyebrows lifted.

“He’s gone.”

Sylvara slowly set the watering can down.

“That platform creaked half the night under his weight… now it’s completely empty.”

Lythriel leaned against the wooden railing and shrugged.

“Well… he’s a dragon.”

Sylvara crossed her arms.

“Dragons don’t usually leave quietly.”

Lythriel tilted her head.

“Maybe he got bored.”

Sylvara gave her a skeptical look.

“Or hungry.”

The thought lingered between them.

Then—

**BOOOOOOM**

The ground trembled violently beneath the village.

Several wooden bridges creaked loudly as ropes stretched under sudden tension. Cups and tools rattled inside nearby buildings. Birds exploded from the trees in frightened flocks.

A deep roar echoed across the forest.

Not a normal monster’s roar.

Something much larger.

Much stronger.

The elves reacted instantly.

Warriors grabbed their weapons. Archers rushed toward defensive positions along the outer platforms. Patrol groups halted mid-preparation.

Sylvara and Lythriel both turned toward the distant forest.

Another roar echoed through the trees.

Then—

**BOOOOM**

Another massive impact shook the woodland.

Lythriel slowly exhaled.

“…I think we found him.”

—

Several kilometers away from Greenwood Village—

The forest was no longer peaceful.

Trees had been crushed flat.

Massive claw marks tore through the ground. Whole patches of forest floor had been ripped apart as if something enormous had dragged its claws through the earth.

Broken trunks lay scattered everywhere.

And in the center of the devastation stood a creature nearly fifteen meters tall.

A monstrous bear-like beast covered in jagged stone plates.

Its claws alone were longer than swords.

Its massive body radiated thick waves of violent mana that pressed against the air like invisible pressure.

A **Tier 7 Earth Tyrant Bear**.

The creature roared furiously as it swung one massive arm forward—

Trying to crush the black dragon standing before it.

John didn’t move.

The giant paw slammed down.

**CRASH**

The ground shattered beneath the impact. Dirt and rock exploded outward as the bear’s weight smashed into the earth.

Dust filled the clearing.

But when the dust settled—

John was standing calmly several meters away.

His golden eyes gleamed with mild amusement.

“That’s it?”

The bear roared again.

Enraged.

The monster charged.

Each step shook the forest like a small earthquake. Trees splintered as the enormous beast barreled forward with unstoppable force.

John sighed.

“I expected Tier 7 monsters to be more entertaining.”

The bear’s claws swung downward again—

John moved.

His wings burst open.

The ground cracked as he lunged forward.

**BOOM**

His claws slammed into the monster’s stone armor.

The impact rang out like metal crashing together.

The bear staggered.

John twisted his body and swung his massive tail.

**WHOOOOOM**

The strike smashed into the monster’s side and launched the enormous creature sideways through several trees.

Wood shattered.

The bear rolled across the forest floor before crashing into a pile of broken trunks.

It roared in pain as it forced itself back to its feet.

John slowly walked toward it.

Each step deliberate.

Each movement relaxed.

“You’re tough,” he admitted casually.

The bear roared and charged again.

John inhaled slowly.

The air around his mouth began to glow faintly.

Heat built rapidly.

Then—

**ROOOOOOOAR**

A torrent of blazing dragonfire erupted from his jaws.

The flames crashed into the monster like a tidal wave.

The forest shook under the blast of heat.

Trees instantly ignited.

The bear howled as the fire engulfed its armored body. Even its thick stone plates began glowing red under the intense temperature.

The creature tried to push through the flames—

But John was already moving.

His massive claws slammed down onto the monster’s skull.

**CRACK**

The sound echoed across the forest.

The Earth Tyrant Bear collapsed instantly.

Dead.

John stepped back as the flames slowly faded.

Smoke drifted upward through the broken canopy.

He glanced at the charred corpse.

“…Well that was short.”

He stretched his wings lazily.

Then paused.

His golden eyes shifted toward the deeper forest.

He could feel something.

Several powerful presences.

Not one.

Three.

And they were moving.

Fast.

John grinned.

“Now that sounds interesting.”

—

Back in Greenwood Village—

Another distant explosion rolled across the forest.

Warriors gathered near the edge of the settlement, staring toward the distant treeline.

Commander Aerion stood at the front, his sharp eyes fixed on the horizon.

Another roar echoed through the woodland.

Followed by a deep impact.

One of the younger warriors swallowed nervously.

“…That’s him, isn’t it?”

Aerion nodded slowly.

“Yes.”

Lythriel folded her arms.

“He said he gets bored easily.”

Sylvara sighed.

“So he decided to go hunting.”

Another thunderous boom shook the ground.

Birds scattered across the sky again.

Lythriel rubbed her temple.

“…He’s going to level half the forest.”

Aerion chuckled quietly.

“Perhaps.”

Sylvara looked uneasy.

“But those tremors… that’s not just Tier 6 monsters.”

Aerion nodded.

“I can feel the mana waves even from here.”

His expression darkened slightly.

“Tier 7… possibly Tier 8.”

Several elves stared at him.

“Tier 8?!”

Aerion nodded again.

“And he sounds like he’s enjoying himself.”

—

Deep in the forest—

Three enormous shadows moved between the trees.

A massive serpent covered in emerald scales thicker than armor.

A towering stag-like beast whose antlers burned with constant flames.

And a giant wolf creature even larger than the one John had fought the previous day.

All three monsters radiated terrifying power.

Tier 8.

They had sensed the destruction.

The serpent hissed as it slithered through the forest.

Then—

The ground shook.

A massive black shape dropped from the sky and landed in front of them.

John.

The earth cracked beneath his weight.

Leaves and dust scattered outward.

He looked at the three monsters.

Then smiled slowly.

“Well.”

His wings stretched outward.

“That’s more like it.”

The wolf growled low.

The stag lowered its flaming antlers.

The serpent coiled its massive body.

For a moment—

The entire forest fell silent.

Even the wind seemed to stop.

Then all three monsters attacked at once.

The wolf lunged.

The stag charged.

The serpent struck like lightning.

John laughed.

The sound echoed across the forest.

“Perfect.”

His claws shot forward—

Catching the wolf’s jaws mid-lunge.

The impact shattered the ground beneath them.

The stag slammed into his side with blazing antlers—

But John twisted and grabbed the creature by the neck.

The serpent wrapped its enormous body around him, coils tightening as it tried to crush him.

John’s wings exploded outward.

**BOOOOOOM**

A shockwave blasted through the forest.

Trees collapsed in every direction.

The serpent’s coils loosened slightly.

That was enough.

John grabbed the creature and ripped its body apart with raw strength.

Scales tore.

The serpent shrieked in agony.

At the same moment—

John bit down into the wolf’s throat.

Blood sprayed through the air.

The wolf collapsed instantly.

The stag tried to escape—

John’s tail smashed into its legs.

**CRACK**

Bones shattered.

The creature crashed into the ground.

The serpent lunged again despite its injuries—

John grabbed its head and slammed it into the earth.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Each impact created a deeper crater.

The forest shook with every strike.

Then—

Silence.

Three Tier 8 monsters lay broken around the dragon.

John exhaled slowly.

“…Now that was fun.”

He looked around.

Miles of forest had been flattened.

Trees broken like matchsticks.

The ground shattered from the battle.

Smoke rose from small fires started during the fight.

John stretched his wings slowly.

Satisfied.

—

Back in Greenwood—

The tremors finally stopped.

The forest grew quiet again.

Lythriel exhaled slowly.

“…It’s over.”

Aerion nodded.

“Yes.”

Sylvara looked toward the distant forest with concern.

“…We should check on him.”

Lythriel laughed.

“I think the forest should check on *itself* first.”

A few warriors chuckled nervously.

But the mood quickly turned serious again.

Aerion stared toward the horizon.

His expression thoughtful.

“…I’ve fought monsters in this forest for over two hundred years.”

The warriors listened closely.

“I’ve seen every predator that rules this region.”

He paused.

“And I have never felt power like that.”

Sylvara folded her arms quietly.

“You think he killed them.”

Aerion nodded.

“I’m certain of it.”

Lythriel tilted her head.

“All of them?”

Aerion’s answer came without hesitation.

“Yes.”

A distant roar echoed through the trees.

Not angry.

Not violent.

Almost…

Satisfied.

The dragon was clearly enjoying his morning hunt.

And somewhere deep in the forest—

John stood among the corpses of monsters that once ruled this entire region.

A dragon stretching his wings beneath the morning sky.

Looking for the next challenge.

Completely unaware that the elves watching from afar were beginning to realize something terrifying.

The dragon living beside their village…

Was far stronger than any monster that had ever existed in this forest.

—

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