n

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nThe rex charging in the front skidded to a stop in the snow after seeing the girls and I, standing on top of the good pack of dinosaurs. It bared its teeth at us, then growled deeply as the others behind it stopped as well.

n

"… What, is this, Kow-Chok? You brought, helpers, this time?

"

n

"Brother… stop… this. Destruction… bad.

"

nThey were growling to one another from what I could hear on the outside, but Lorelei was translating everything to me, thankfully. Neither of the two girls made a move yet as well, waiting for my signal.

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"Stand, aside, Kow-Chok. From, the moment, you left, the tribe, you stopped, being, my brother. My brethren, and I, are hungry. Stand, aside… or I, will, devour you, too!

"

n

"Sorry… brother Kow-Xol… I… cannot let you… do this…!

"

n

"GRAGH!

" Kow-Xol charged forward, and I didn't even need Lorelei's translation to figure out what that meant. Ha, I'm so good.

nIn response, Kow-Xol's army of rexes charged forward as well, and Kow-Chok's group met them in turn. However, not only were they at a numbers' disadvantage, most of these dinosaurs here were not the combat type. It was clear who would be winner.

nThat is, if Ling Xin, Axilia, and I weren't in the fray as well.

nInstantly, the three of us leaped off our rides and let them do their own thing, while we did ours. I sliced my Chaos katanas through Kow-Xol's neck, taking him by surprise and causing him to roar in agony.

n

"GRAWLLLLL!

"

n

"Oh? That didn't kill you? Tough hide, my friend… I can turn it into armor.

"

nWith a smirk, I used Flight to boost myself back into the air, cutting through Kow-Xol's body as I did so. With that, Kow-Chok and him were even, both injured. I moved on to the other rexes to let these two brothers have their fight.

n

"IMPOSSIBLE, MY WOUNDS, ARE NOT, HEALING???!!

" Kow-Xol cried, evidently shocked at the sight that blood was still spurting out of the injures I gave him.

n

"Haha!

" I cackled out loud, slicing apart another Rex's hide before they could even react to my movements.

"Enjoy that, buddy!

"

nMy Chaos katanas were forged of Chaos—in other words, every element—poison and fire included. These two forces, paired together, rendered any wounds inflicted incurable. I just never really got to apply that power before, since most of my attacks were fatal and rendered the opponent… well, dead.

n

"UGH, DAMN HUMAN, YOU THINK YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WITH TRICKS?!

" Kow-Xol roared as he struggled and attempted to push his brother Kow-Chok back.

n

"Brother! Give… this… up!

"

n

"SHUT, UP!

"

nKow-Xol roared once more, but this time, it was a different kind of roar. It wasn't the booming, low-pitched thunder-like howl, but instead a high-pitched, lightning-like screech. It was a sound I never would've even expected a rex this size to be able to make, but the truth was right before my very eyes. I couldn't exactly deny it.

nI really wanted to, however, when I saw what was coming from above us.

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"SKREEEEE!

"

nDozens of winged, huge pterodactyl-like creatures came soaring down from the sky, open mouths dripping with saliva and lined with sharp teeth. They plummeted into several of the dinosaurs from Kow-Chok's side, vigorously tearing apart their hide and flesh like a flock of deadly crows. In the matter of seconds, several dinosaurs lay dead on the floor, inside torn out. Ling Xin and Axilia managed to fend them off with relative ease, and Kow-Chow was forced to let his brother go to protect himself against these new enemies.

nThe carnivorous pterodactyls rose into the air again, beaks dripping with blood, before diving down once more. This time, however, towards me, who stood in the middle of quite a few rex corpses.

nI smiled tauntingly.

"Mad that I killed so many of your friends? Don't worry… you're next.

"

nAs they came diving down towards me, I calmly raised my hands into the air, the tips of my lips curving up into a wide grin.

nLevel Three Light Magic — Holy Beam.

nInstantly, a laser of light shot out of my palm, instantly pulverizing the aerial creatures unlucky enough to get caught in it on an atomic level. No cell of them remained, and any sign of their existence was erased. Gone. The few of them who didn't get caught in it fully were rendered unable to fly, with one wing blasted straight off of their bodies.

n

"SKREEEEE!

" The remaining ones screamed in agony as they fell to the ground. It was only a matter of time before they died too, but I was a thorough man.

nLegendary Shadow Magic — Many Must Fall.

nI turned into nothing but a faint black shadow as I dashed through the bodies of the fallen pterodactyls, driving my Chaos katanas straight through them. Blue blood spurted out of their bodies all at once, but by then, I was already across all of their bodies. I had cut them so fast that the blood was delayed before finally gushing out of their wounds—they had no chance of survival.

n

"Now then… what more tricks do you have up your sleeve?

" I raised an eyebrow and smirked.

n*****

nBefore long, only Kow-Xol remained as a challenger. His entire army had been annihilated. While I was working on the pterodactyls, Axilia and Ling Xin had took it upon themselves to completely bulldoze through the remaining rexes. Even though both specialized in only one element, they were *terrifyingly* skilled at it. Just like the saying goes, it was better to be a master of one trade rather than a jack of all. I… I was an exception.

n

"You're the last one, it seems,

" I said through Lorelei, striding up to Kow-Xol who was now surrounded. Then, turning to Kow-Chok, I continued.

"What do you want to do? He's YOUR brother.

"

n

"Brother… please. This is… last chance.

"

n

"GRRR…

" Kow-Xol spun around and glared at all the enemies surrounding him, then… began laughing.

"HA… HAHA… HAHAHAHA! YOU THINK, I WILL, BOW?! KILL ME, BROTHER! I AM, NO, COWARD!

"

nHe roared and tackled Kow-Chok, refusing to go down without a fight. However, by this point, he was extremely injured and tired, and my poison was getting to him. His movements were weak and sluggish, and Kow-Chok was able to hold him back with ease.

n

"Brother…

"

nWith remorse and regret in his voice I never would've expected from a dinosaur, Kow-Chok closed his eyes and reared one of his arms back, then thrust forward and punctured his brother's chest with it. His claws pierced through Kow-Xol's tough hide and reached his heart, striking true.

n

"Ha… you've bested… me…

" Kow-Xol whispered. And with one final roar for dignity, he fell to the floor, dead just like his companions. They were certainly strong. I was just… stronger. By a long shot. The Ice Queen was exaggerating when she spoke of these guys' strength. It wasn't that bad, really.

nSlowly, Kow-Chok rose from the ground, and tilted his exhausted, battle-worn head at me.

"Thank… human. It… is over.

"

nThe remaining dinosaurs cheered in happiness, joyful that the fighting was at last over. The pack was wiped out. The village was now safe, and people could venture outside even during Winter Storms—though why one would do such a thing was a different matter.

n

"I'll go inform the queen of that village there about you guys,

" I said, then began walking towards the village.

"Stay here. I'll make sure your protection of this village over the years doesn't go unanswered.

"

nThe dinosaurs all bowed their heads at me in gratitude, and I began heading off. Ling Xin and Axilia followed. The blizzard was as vengeful as ever, but compared to what we just did and the adrenaline still pumping through our veins, it was nothing.

nUpon knocking at the village doors, the guard inside was evidently shocked. A knocking sound coming from beyond those gates, during a Winter Storm? It couldn't be.

nBut oh yes it was.

n

"Hi,

" I said with an awkward smile as he opened the door hesitantly.

"It's us again. We're back, and we have some info for the queen.

"

n*****

n

"… Is what you speak of true?

"

n

"Go see for yourself,

" I said with a shrug.

"They're waiting right outside the village walls, and they're huge. Can't miss them.

"

nThe Queen of this tiny but warm queendom slowly rose from her throne, then walked past me. Ling Xin, Axilia, and I trailed after her. Even after stepping outside the palace into the snowstorm, though, she seemed completely unbothered by the cold. How peculiar.

n

"Can you fly?

" She asked us. I nodded and picked Axilia up in my arms.

n

"Darling…

" She giggled like an innocent little girl, while Ling Xin watched with a twinge of jealousy.

nThe Queen nodded back and took off into the air, and we followed. It didn't take long for us to reach the border of the village. There, the dinosaurs were indeed waiting, and the wounds on their bodies along with the carcasses on the floor were evidence of the fight that had ensued not long ago.

n

"… It seems we have misunderstood them all this time. The villagers… they were too scared to even come out of their homes to look at them. But now… I see. I will make an announcement to everyone. They cannot fit inside the village walls, but if it is only company they want… they have done more than enough to deserve that.

"

n

"Tell it to them,

" I said with a faint chuckle.

"Not me.

"

nThe Queen flashed me a look that said 'you know full well I cannot communicate with them', but I ignored it and merely clucked my tongue.. Another side adventure, solved.

n