Lord of Caldera - Chapter 181

Chapter 181: Chapter 181

“The salamander relies heavily on its heat. It’s less physically powerful than other dragons. If you go all out, you can handle it.”

“Wait, my lord, weren’t you planning to use this band yourself?” Toby asked, dumbfounded.

“Nope,” Sylas replied with a mischievous grin. “I’m going in with pure skill.”

“…What?”

Sylas stretched his neck, feeling the stiffness of fatigue setting in. What should have been a rare moment of rest had instead been consumed with calming his overly loyal retainers.

“How could you consider going in unarmed!?”

“I’ll take it on myself, even without equipment!”

“Please, my lord, value your life!”

“Enough already!” Sylas had finally snapped, managing to silence his retainers only after showcasing his strength for them.

“Look, if I’m truly in danger, I’ll retreat. But you’re going to have to trust me,” he’d said firmly, repeating this reassurance until they reluctantly accepted it.

But only after hours of debate and worry.

“Master, I truly believe this artifact is meant for you…”

“That’s enough. I’m tired of convincing you.”

“But…”

“What will you do if you’re eliminated because of me?” Sylas sighed, gazing at Bjorn. While Bjorn’s loyalty was admirable, he had lost sight of the true nature of the situation.

“Don’t forget. This isn’t my fight. It’s yours.”

Sylas had no intention of becoming the king of the North. He participated in the contest solely to stop a bug character like Ragnar.

“Do you plan to govern the North relying on the authority I placed in your lap? Are you okay with being a miserable king who can’t win his own power?”

Bjorn fell silent, struck by the harsh truth. He, too, was a Northerner; ruling like that would make him nothing more than a hollow noble, a king in name only.

“Instead of worrying about me, check your equipment. Even if the Salamander is weaker compared to other dragons, it will still be an opponent that will test your life.”

“Understood, Master.” With renewed determination, Bjorn withdrew. Sylas watched him retreat with a sigh.

“I’ll have to start saying I have a way, even if it’s a lie,” Sylas thought. After so many close calls, Bjorn’s constant worry was a bit bothersome, yet somehow warmed a corner of his heart.

At the gathering place, everyone else had already assembled, waiting only for Sylas and Bjorn.

“Looks like everyone’s ready,” observed Ragnar, pulling out a map and placing it on the table. Though crudely made, likely by a barbarian, it was adequate for determining general locations.

Marked in red on various spots across the map were the types of dragons.

“As you can see, there are eight dragons settled in the snowfields.”

“Eight dragons!?”

“No one suspected there were so many,” murmured one of the candidates, shock evident on their faces. Sylas himself was genuinely surprised.

“What a cursed land,” he thought. It was clear why the barbarians resorted to raiding so frequently; surviving solely on self-sufficiency in such land was close to impossible.

“Counting those who have withdrawn, there are six of you left, so numbers shouldn’t be an issue. Choose your target wisely. Remember, once chosen, you can’t change.”

“I’ll take this one,” Karl said immediately, pointing to a spot on the map. Doris, glancing at the dragon type next to it, grimaced.

“A Lesser Dragon? Are you serious?”

“Is there a problem?”

“It’s barely a dragon at all!”

“It’s still considered a dragon,” Karl replied with a smug expression. The Lesser Dragon, the weakest subspecies of dragons, was small, with underdeveloped wings that made it nearly flightless. Its breath attack was weak and had a predictable pattern, making it easy to dodge. More a monster than a true dragon, it was often treated as such.

“Anyway, if it’s on the map, it’s acknowledged as a dragon, right, Chief?”

“Of course,” Ragnar agreed, though his lips twisted in a smirk.

“But who would respect you as king after slaying a Lesser Dragon? At least the sons of the North would ridicule you.”

Karl’s face flushed with shame but held his ground, preferring the insult to the riskier dragons. Doris, throwing a disdainful glance at Karl, pointed elsewhere on the map.

“I’ll take this one.”

“Hm, a drake,” Ragnar noted. Without wings or breath, it still had the physical prowess of any dragon and could earn someone a hero’s reputation if taken down singlehandedly.

“What about Lord Veldine? Have you chosen?”

“I’ll go for the Salamander.”

“Salamander? Are you serious!?” Doris and Karl exclaimed in shock. Though physically weak, it was covered in heat so intense it was feared more than most great dragons.

“Are you so blinded by honor?”

“This is suicide, Lord Bjorn!”

“I have already made my choice,” Bjorn replied, clearing his throat and avoiding their gazes. Thanks to his artifact, he saw the Salamander as an easier target than the Lesser Dragon, though he kept that to himself.

“Truly admirable. Such fearlessness is worthy of a Northern warrior,” Ragnar praised.

“Enough, let’s move on!” Bjorn, uncomfortable with the praise, quickly passed his turn. Now, only Ragnar, Logain, and Sylas remained. Sylas’s eyes widened as he studied the map.

“Could it be? This creature lives here?”

He recognized a name that had been unknown to him before. Without hesitation, he pointed to that spot.

“I’ll take this one.”

Ragnar and Logain’s faces froze. After a brief silence, Ragnar managed to speak.

“Are you serious?”

“Absolutely.”

“Do you even understand how deadly the Hydra’s venom is?”

Karl gasped in terror. Known as the king of all venoms, it was said that a single touch of Hydra’s poison would turn one’s body purple with death. What made it even more terrifying was that its venom didn’t stop at its fangs.

“Do you think avoiding its bite will be enough? Its breath and even the scales on its body secrete venom. Even its blood is highly acidic.”

“I’m aware of the stories. No need to remind me.”

“You’ve lost your mind!” Ragnar shouted, more out of jealousy than concern, realizing he’d lost his opportunity to claim the spotlight with the most challenging dragon. Hydra was practically impossible to kill, even for him. His plan to earn renown by taking on the most difficult target had been ruined.

“Hydra’s venom only spares dragons! Do you think you’re a real dragon?”

Sylas flinched at Ragnar’s words. “Is he that perceptive?”