Ashen Dragon

The Chimera finished its dive, achieving remarkable results.

With just one strike, it took down three Eagle Guards, eliciting a wave of enthusiastic cheers from the many monsters of the Ashen Nest. Even the usually unruly Bipedal Wyverns, who only submitted to the Red Dragon, roared in acknowledgment.

"Roar—"

The three-headed monster roared triumphantly.

It flapped its wings vigorously, ascending once more to prepare for another attack.

"Monster, your opponent is me!"

A shadow darted behind the Chimera.

Alger's superb riding skill and the Giant Eagle's flight techniques combined to allow them to fly within the Chimera's airflow, keeping them perfectly in its blind spot.

He leaned forward, swinging his sharp great sword to slice through the Chimera's tough hide.

Blood splattered in the air.

"Roar!"

The Chimera roared in fury as it felt a wound on its back.

Next, the Chimera quickly turned in the air, swinging its thick dragon's tail forcefully at where Alger had been.

"Eagle!"

Alger shouted to his companion, clenching his legs tightly.

The Giant Eagle immediately understood, rolling sideways in the air to deftly evade the strike.

The dragon tail missed its target, leaving the Chimera enraged. It accelerated, turning its dragon head to spew scorching flame breath at the pursuing Eagle Guard.

"Boom—"

Flames roared in the air.

But the Chimera's neck was clearly not fully articulating.

Alger, controlling the Giant Eagle with one hand, slightly tilted to the side and dodged the flame breath, taking advantage of his maneuverability to fly back into the Chimera's upper blind spot.

"Control the sky, and you control everything," the old instructor often told them.

The Chimera, seeing this stubborn Eagle Guard clinging to its tail, dived once more.

"Swish—"

Using its familiarity with the terrain, it swiftly spread its dragon wings and came to a sudden halt, hoping the Eagle Guard would crash into the rocky wall.

However, Alger was not easily fooled.

He calmly followed behind the Chimera, leisurely turning his direction.

This time, with his eagle-like sharp eyes, he noticed something odd.

The Chimera's left wing, when spread, lagged for a moment.

But since Alger had such keen perception, he noticed it.

"Its left wing has an old injury!"

Alger exclaimed excitedly.

He gently stroked the feathers beneath him, and the Giant Eagle let out a sharp shriek, diving down swiftly.

"Swish—"

This time, the sword blade sliced through the Chimera's hindquarters.

Facing large monsters, Alger was very patient.

He never hoped for a one-hit kill; instead, he aimed to use his maneuverability advantage to make the opponent bleed slowly.

When facing such monsters, patient hunters often secured trophies, while impatient hotheads often lost their lives under the monster's accidental trampling.

Barbarians, of course, were an exception.

Now that he knew the Chimera's wings had old injuries and couldn't change direction easily, the Eagle Guard Commander attacked even more recklessly.

This time, the Giant Eagle hovered under the Chimera's belly.

"Actions like tides!"

Alger's muscles bulged, his movements suddenly sped up.

In just a few seconds, he swung his sword several times in rapid succession, each stroke slicing through the tough lion skin, sinking deep into the flesh, even reaching the Chimera's soft internal organs.

"Roar—"

The Chimera let out a howl of pain, enduring the agony, swiping its claws downward.

But the Giant Eagle Knight had already moved to its side, spotting the next opening.

"Downward slash!"

Alger finished one sword strike and followed up with a side slash, precisely cutting through the Chimera's downward-swinging claw.

The Chimera howled again, raising its three heads together.

Eagle feathers flew, blood sprayed everywhere.

Under Alger's superb techniques, the Giant Eagle repeatedly passed over the Chimera's back, sides, and belly. His great sword repeatedly splattered the monster's blood, while the Chimera struggled to touch even one feather of his.

Such was the difference between a beast and a warrior.

The Bipedal Wyverns flapped their wings, trying to assist.

But they could barely protect themselves.

Soon, each Bipedal Wyvern was surrounded and harassed by small teams of seven or eight Eagle Guards, roaring in futile rage, stabbing their tails wildly.

"Eagle, left-upward,"

Alger's tone carried a hint of excitement, as slaying such a large monster always got his blood pumping.

"I want this guy's wings chopped off!"

"Screech!"

With a sharp eagle cry, Alger and his Giant Eagle dove down, flying toward the already somewhat disoriented Chimera.

Just as his great sword was about to cleave the dragon wing—

"Fireball Technique!"

A scorching fireball sped towards the Giant Eagle from the ground.

The Ogre Mage Ramp had been observing for a long time, waiting for a moment when they let down their guard.

"Eagle!"

Alger shouted, twisting his body to change direction.

In the midst of the dive, the Giant Eagle forcibly turned sideways, narrowly dodging the fireball's blast.

However, the right wing's feathers were singed by the fire, leaving a scorched mark.

But this mid-air adjustment made their posture awkward.

The Chimera, regaining its senses, realized this was a rare opportunity, despite the accumulating wounds driving it to the brink of madness. It only wanted to unleash its pent-up fury.

With a roar, it swiped its lion's claws with tremendous force.

"Bang!"

Feathers and blood sprayed everywhere.

The Giant Eagle, along with the knight atop it, was sent flying several meters away.

Even after suffering such an attack and spinning in mid-air, Alger held tightly to the Giant Eagle, not falling off.

"Eagle, tilt right!"

Despite not falling, he adjusted his center of gravity, helping the wounded Giant Eagle maintain balance, spreading its wings for basic flight.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Seeing Alger still in the air, the Chimera grew even angrier and charged again.

"Eagle Guards, assemble!"

"This Chimera is nearly done!"

Alger raised his long sword high.

The Eagle Guards, engaged in combat with the Wyverns, immediately dispersed, gradually surrounding and harassing the Chimera in formation.

Arrows flew from all directions, with occasional lance charges from the rear.

The Chimera was battered and exhausted.

Though not highly intelligent, the Chimera knew things wouldn't end well if this continued; it could no longer endure these annoying "flies" swarming it.

Therefore, the Chimera's three heads roared hoarsely, feigning a few attacks. Seizing the opportunity as the Eagle Guards dodged and spread out, it turned and fled.

It aimed to retreat to a cave to defend one side.

Alger instantly saw through the Chimera's intent.

"It's trying to escape!"

"Eagle Guards, prepare for a mass charge!"