She began trying to think it through again.
And the opponent's appearance also became gradually clearer.
One-eyed and red-pupiled, wrapped in black energy, holding a warhammer, his towering body carried traits of both human and dragon. Or rather, something in between.
Noah's brows furrowed tightly, her gaze locked onto him, "That's not a dangerous species, Helena..."
"Then... what is it?"
"A dragon."
Noah also stepped half a step back.
But this half step wasn't out of fear. It was a choice she made after forcing herself to calm down, so she could take Helena's hand.
"Dragon King."
She gripped her friend's wrist, turned, and sprinted backward, "Run!!"
From the aura and oppressive presence he gave off, that had to be a Dragon King.
That also explained why Noah and Helena both felt fear stirring from within their bloodline.
The pressure of a Dragon King always had this effect on weaker kin.
Most of the time, if a Dragon King wanted to kill another dragon, there was no need for any effort. Just a glance, and the other could no longer move, left to be slaughtered at will.
And Noah was still only a child about to graduate from the Young Dragons Division.
So for her to force herself to stay calm and even think about escaping with Helena in this situation was already a miracle.
The two best friends dashed toward the outer ring of the Nightmare Moon Forest.
Helena's legs were still a bit weak. She lowered her eyes to look at the little hand gripping her wrist, feeling the warmth and the pulse in its palm.
"Noah...", Helena opened her mouth, just about to say something, when suddenly heavy footsteps came from behind.
And they grew faster and faster.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
Each step landed like it was stomping on her heart, crushing her bones.
She hurriedly turned her head to look.
That Dragon King, warhammer in hand, was chasing them.
Helena's pupils shrank as she shouted, "Noah! H-he's catching up!"
"I heard."
Noah didn't look back.
Because she knew. If she did, what she saw would deepen her fear, and that might weaken her will to survive.
"But... why...", Eyes fixed forward, Noah sprinted with all her strength, but still kept thinking, "Those two A-class dangerous species just now must have been killed by him. Only his hammer could make such exaggerated wounds. But if his target was only dangerous species before, then why is he chasing us now?"
The only reply Noah got was Helena's panicked, rapid breathing, and the ever-closer footsteps behind.
The whole ground trembled with those death-like steps, shaking leaves from the trees and scattering the beasts of the forest.
Noah wanted to say something to distract Helena.
But she could feel her friend behind her getting heavier and heavier.
"Run, Helena! We can't stop here! He'll kill us!"
"I just counted the time, we took about half an hour to get here."
"At this speed, we only need ten minutes to reach the outer ring."
"Once we're there, the teachers will meet us, and we'll be safe."
"Do you hear me, Helena? We have to—"
BOOM!
A huge black shadow leapt over their heads, landing right on the path they had to take.
Noah skidded to a stop, instantly raising her arm to shield Helena behind her.
She stared at the Dragon King ahead, heartbeat racing so fast she could hear it clearly.
"About five years old. Silver-and-black hair. Blue eyes. Always wears a cold face. Friend is a sea dragon girl," Gripping the warhammer, he looked at Noah, voice eerie and low, "Looks like you're that man's kid, just as 'Shadow' said."
Noah kept taking deep breaths to steady herself, while her right hand gathered Chidori.
"Lightning magic, huh... then it's certain."
"Just now, two pests from the academy tried to block me, saying there was some exam going on here, and no one could enter during it."
"Heh, exam my ass. Just kids playing house."
"Never thought... while completing the mission Shadow gave me, I'd also stumble into an unexpected surprise in this boring little exam."
"Kill you, and Shadow will have to pay me extra," As he spoke, he gripped the warhammer and strode toward Noah and Helena.
"Noah... w-what do we do?", Helena's trembling voice came from behind.
And though Noah's heart was also seized by fear, she had picked out useful information from what he'd just said.
1. His original target wasn't them at all, but the dangerous species in Nightmare Moon Forest.
2. He had plenty of information on her, or rather, on her dad.
3. This guy was working under contract, serving the one he called "Shadow." And that "Shadow" must have some grudge against her dad.
Noah dispersed the Chidori.
At this moment, provoking him further would only anger him and make both her and Helena die faster.
Then Noah took Helena's hand again, "Keep running! Don't stop!"
Running was both to survive, and to buy time.
Noah could only hope the teachers and classmates outside would hear the commotion and quickly send help.
Watching the two little dragon girls' backs as they fled in panic, Adam slung the warhammer onto his shoulder, and said leisurely,
"Run, let's see how far you can get."
Pausing, he seemed to remember something, then sneered to himself, "The kid from thirty years ago was way more obedient than you two."
———
The fog in the inner ring grew thicker and thicker.
This actually gave Noah and Helena some cover.
Using the fog, they hid inside a tree hollow.
Noah leaned by the opening, looked outside, and only when she confirmed he wasn't following did she turn back to comfort Helena.
She lifted her small hand, cupped her friend's face, and looked into her eyes.
Two pairs of blue eyes met, comfort clashing with fear, finally broken by Helena's hug.
"Are... are we going to die here, Noah...", Her voice wavered on the verge of tears as she leaned on her best friend's shoulder.
Unlike Noah, Helena had never experienced so many real battles. Raised under her mother's strict upbringing, she was just a very traditional good girl.
Noah hugged her, gently patting her back, "We'll be fine, Helena. I... I promise."
This "I promise" was something she often heard her dad say. And every time, that man had kept his promises.
But now... Noah couldn't see any clear hope of survival.
"We'll be fine" was to comfort Helena, and also to comfort herself.
Helena didn't say anything more, just clutched her friend's sleeve tightly, lying against her shoulder, holding back her tears.
After a moment, she spoke tremblingly, "Noah... if we don't make it out, I want to tell you—"
"We will make it out. We will. Don't say such unlucky things."
"N-no, listen to me, Noah, we—"
Creak!
A towering tree was smashed in half, exposing the two girls hiding in the tree hollow to the thick fog.
Like startled birds, they lifted their heads in panic.
That crimson single eye was staring at them with delight, as if examining prey already in his grasp.
"So you were hiding here, little princesses. Well then, are you ready to die?"
With that, Adam raised the warhammer high in both hands and smashed it down toward the tree hollow.
BOOM!
The massive impact crushed the roots in one blow and scattered the surrounding fog.
But the smile on Adam's face twisted slightly.
He furrowed his brows, "Something feels off."
He knew very well the difference between the feel of smashing a person and not.
Slowly lifting the warhammer, he found nothing but branches and dirt clinging to its bottom, no flesh, no bone.
"What the..."
Before he could react, Noah, carrying Helena in her arms, flashed to his rear.
Noah landed in a half-kneel, holding her friend close, her skirt falling lightly, silver-and-black hair drifting from the momentum—
Nine Hells Gate · Fourth Gate · Godspeed.
"You dodged my strike with just pure body technique... kid, you sure know a lot of tricks."
Adam slowly turned around, swinging his warhammer aside, "But all of it is nothing more than a dying struggle. The Gates of Nine Hells, I've heard of that martial art. Surprised you can use it at your age, but I know well... the toll it takes on the body is enormous."
"Especially on a weak body like yours."
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.