Chapter 84: The Dragon and the Dragon
What is Dragon Transformation—
It is the granting of eternal life.
A soul’s awakening, reserved only for those who have transcended the bounds of humanity.
A blessing bestowed solely upon those who have drawn close to the very root of the world’s truth.
At present, the number of dragons existing on this planet can be counted on two hands.
Throughout the long, long history of humanity, those who have ever reached such a state number fewer than a few hundred.
To appear even once in several centuries is considered an extraordinary feat.
Such is the narrow gate that separates mortals from transcendence.
Yet—at this very moment, upon the soil of the Hinomaru, two transcendent beings have set foot.
Is it chance, or destiny?
To uncover the truth, the two dragons have taken their stance here.
A dry wind sweeps across the barren wilderness.
In perfect synchrony, they remove their eyepatches.
Dragon eyes meet and lock.
“…I never imagined there would be another besides me.”
“Fate never ceases to be mysterious, as always,” came the calm reply.
“Indeed,” he murmured.
Ryoma lifted his gaze to the endless sky.
(The world is vast… truly vast…)
Then, releasing the aura he had restrained until now—no, the energy of his dragon lineage—he let it explode outward.
It surged like a colossal tidal wave, engulfing Ryu entirely.
Any ordinary human would have been reduced to ash without a trace.
Yet—
“…….”
Ryu did not move a single step, his expression cool and serene.
(The presence, this dragon’s unique aura… it’s been too long.)
More than that, he felt a strange comfort within it.
A slight smirk curved Ryoma’s lips.
Years had passed since he had earned the title of the strongest.
In all that time, he had never found an opponent capable of meeting his full strength.
He had always fought carefully, sparing his enemies from death.
Day by day, the stress had mounted.
Yet he had continued to refine himself, believing that someone like him—someone of equal standing—would one day appear.
And that day had come.
(As I feared not—my eyes do not deceive me. This man… if he is Ryu Arden)
There was no longer any need for pretenses.
All that remained was to follow the dragons’ innate will to fight.
The sun hid behind the clouds.
Both drew their blades and pushed off the ground.
In the heart of the wasteland, two master-forged swords clashed.
BARI BARI BARI!!!!
A sound so destructive it felt as though the world itself had split in two.
Sparks, like fractured rainbows, scattered across the surrounding terrain.
“You use a fine blade.”
“My cherished sword is Futsunomitama. Yours, Kurikara… they are sibling blades, are they not?”
“Exactly. I can feel that now, more than ever.”
Yet… this was only the beginning. A mere prelude.
At last, the fierce duel truly began.
Ryoma struck forward with a relentless flurry, Ryu blocking each assault.
A display worthy of the world’s greatest swordsmen.
…but nothing about it was extraordinary in itself.
A downward diagonal, followed by a reverse diagonal. A horizontal slash. A thrust.
A descending cut followed by an upward strike.
These were the so-called basic forms.
Yet each movement was heavier, faster, sharper than any before.
Every strike bore the weight of all his years of training—a sword that was, paradoxically, the most unrefined yet most refined, the most old-fashioned yet supremely perfected, the most mundane yet utterly devastating.
(No openings whatsoever. This… is the sword of Hinomaru’s finest—no, the world’s finest.)
Ordinary dueling follows the cycle of attack and defense.
Ryu, however, simply defended, again and again—defense without a single opening.
With no gaps to exploit, Ryu could neither counterattack nor turn the tide.
In short, it was Ryoma’s turn… endlessly.
Yet Ryu did not panic.
(Heh… heh… reminds me of those days.)
When Ryu was ten, he had been crushed in his dreams every night by the Dragon King.
A force so overwhelming that retaliation seemed impossible.
Yet no matter how many times he was defeated, he continued to resist with unwavering honesty, seeking a way to prevail.
Even as his body broke, as his mind reached its limit, as his soul screamed in agony, he never gave up.
For he carried the lives of his family on his back.
Because he had chosen to protect them.
Ryu would not bend—not then, not ever.
And now, he had attained the power to stand on equal footing with the Dragon King.
Ryoma’s composure faltered.
(Why won’t he break? Why won’t he fall? Why won’t he give in…?)
Though he found the duel exhilarating, even inspiring, something felt amiss.
Despite being the aggressor, the figure before him seemed to grow larger with each passing moment.
In an instant, Ryu lowered his blade.
(Finally, he gives up…!)
Ryoma poured his full strength into a strike.
“Got you!!!!!”
Yet—
GAKINNN!!!
Ryu raised his hand, catching Futsunomitama against the shimmering silver scales on his arm.
“What!?”
Ryoma was blown backward.
Landing firmly, he met Ryu’s gaze again.
“……Gulp.”
“…That’s not all you’ve got, is it?” Ryu said.
He had unconsciously held back his power—and now, made aware, he realized it.
“Who exactly do you think you’ve been sparing…?” he growled, flicking his left eye sharply toward Ryoma.
And Ryoma saw it.
Within Ryu’s left eye, the form of a silver dragon stirred.
“!?!!?”
“Do not look down on me, mere dragons… your arrogance is high.”
For the first time, Ryu released his aura.
A soul-shattering force that even the Dragon King would feel intimidated by.
The presence surged like an ocean, crashing upon Ryoma.
“Th-this…!!!!”
Engulfed, Ryoma felt as if he were trapped in the deepest sea.
Pressure battered him from all directions.
Amidst the haze clouding his mind, he glimpsed Ryu standing far away.
(Ryu… you…)
In that instant—a massive whirlwind rose.
The ocean scattered, and the world returned.
A verdant storm howled, enveloping Ryoma.
And then…
“Green Armor—Wind God Izanagi, Fūjin Izanagi.”
Simultaneously, the heavens darkened.
Thunder rolled, lightning poured down.
Fierce black bolts shrouded Ryu.
“Black Armor—Thunder God Takemikazuchi, Raijin Takemikazuchi.”
Wind God Izanagi and Thunder God Takemikazuchi.
The two deities spoken of in Hinomaru legend had descended once more upon this land.
A few kilometers away, atop a hill, spectators watched in awe.
Es peered through a telescope.
“Looks like fun~”
“Brrr…”
Homura, unusually, hid behind her back.
(Eeeeek! Dragons… dragons!!!)