Rogue Villain-Chapter 295: Frank

However, Killgara’s resolve wouldn’t bear fruit. Kargas didn’t challenge his father in a battle to the death without assurance of victory. He might be looking for revenge against Kilglara for his and the dragonlings’ fate and against Trana and Viztar for Ackster’s death. But he hadn’t lost himself in a quest for vengeance.

Kargas’ mind was calm. He wouldn’t succumb to his feelings and the whims of his mind after finally breaking free from a curse that had lasted years upon years. His mental fortitude was rock-solid.

That was why Kargas had gone around the Land of Dragons looking for the dragons and killing any being with draconic blood except for the dragonlings. Fortunately, since most monsters and beasts with dragon blood were very aggressive, Kargas’s conscience didn’t take a hit.

Kargas was like a different person from when he had fought against Viztar. He was colder, fiercer, and sharper. But, most importantly, he was stronger.

Even most of Killgara’s magic washed right over him like water over a film of oil.

Kargas’ blade also had no trouble drawing Killgara’s blood. Although Killgara unleashed more of his strength after realizing Kargas wasn’t stopping, he didn’t make any progress. Kargas kept pushing him into a corner with fierce attacks and a nimbleness that let him move around and avoid any truly powerful magic.

Ackster was worried Killgara would pull out some kind of Covenant as Trana had done. But it didn’t seem like he had the same kind of ace up his sleeve. Or if he did, it had the same tricky activation conditions as Trana’s. Killgara couldn’t bring out that kind of power from nowhere.

Even without that kind of power, Ackster could tell that Killgara was most likely the strongest dragon of the ones he had met, excluding special conditions, such as relying on a Covenant or The Calamity. His claw strikes had a certain force to them that Ackster hadn’t sensed from Viztar, Trana, or Mazar. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Or maybe he just hadn’t been able to sense them back then.

But regardless of Killgara’s strength, Kargas wasn’t losing. If anything, he seemed to be getting stronger the more he injured Killgara and the more blood he drained from the oversized lizard.

It was a different kind of progress from Ackster, who grew stronger by regenerating and rebuilding his body to match the threat he faced. But, under the right circumstances, Kargas could also grow tremendously in the midst of battle.

Thanks to that tremendous growth and the natural attributes of a Dragon Slayer, it didn’t take long before Kargas got an overwhelming advantage.

Killgara was unwilling. He didn’t want to die. No living being did. But at the end of it all, he was facing the consequences of his own actions and personality. Besides, what could he do? Kargas had already beaten him and solidified his potential as a Dragon Slayer.

Although reluctant, Killgara had no choice but to lay down his life. He didn’t put up an unnecessary struggle by burning his life force or mana when it was obvious he couldn’t do anything against the Dragon Slayer.

Kargas cut off Killgara’s head, ending the reign of one of the more powerful beings of Millmeria. He sank to his knees, covering his face. He was filled with a rampaging mixture of emotions.

Kargas held his blade in front of himself as if praying. He soothed his heart as best as he could while absorbing Killgara’s power into his blade. Through the power of a Dragon Slayer, Kargas strengthened himself and his weapon by using the corpse of a slain dragon.

When he was finished, and there was nothing left of Killgara’s corpse, Kargas turned around and looked at Ackster. His eyes were tired, and his body was riddled with wounds and at its limits. But his gaze was tense and fierce as he glared at Ackster with wariness and suspicion.

If the blue-haired man, accompanied by a dark-haired dragonling, could come to this place before the fight ended or even reached its final stages, he was no ordinary person. The illusion would still have been intact when Ackster showed up at the fight.

"Miss me?"

Ackster smiled and jumped down to Kargas, who stood with his blade in hand on the rapidly cooling lava.

"I don’t even know—"

Kargas stopped what he was saying and looked at Ackster more closely as he narrowed his eyes.

"...I just realized you never told me your name."

Kargas spoke with a voice of disbelief.

Ackster grinned.

"Naturally. I don’t tell anyone my name."

’Well, almost.’

Ackster quickly glanced at his body.

"I guess you can call me Frank. Stone, if I have to have a surname."

’It’s not the same, but someone called me a monster before, and a new body warrants a new name. Weird. I don’t remember anything about myself, but I remember a book.’

"...Frank?"

Ackster nodded."

"Yep."

"You didn’t die?"

Ackster crossed his arms and tilted his head to the side while thinking of what to say.

"...I did, but not when Trana bit me. It’s a long story that I can tell you in a few years. But until then, what do you say about repaying a favor and doing a bunch of somewhat questionable stuff that’s ultimately for the greater good?"

Ackster paused for a moment.

"Wait a moment, now that I think about it, it’s not that much questionable stuff. It’s more exciting. But it would be good to keep an open mind."

"...Are you asking me to join your party?"

Ackster nodded.

"I guess."

Kargas nodded.

"You saved my life. Even if it weren’t to pay back that debt, I would happily become comrades-in-arms with you."

Ackster was stronger. Kargas wasn’t sure what had happened since he last saw him, but Ackster had grown a lot stronger. Kargas was a little worried, but he had just slain a dragon, and he was stronger than ever before. Even if he weren’t a match for Ackster, he at least wouldn’t be a hindrance.

"Good. This is Mara. I have a few other members planned that I’m going to gather. I’ll need your help for one of them. But until then, you can do what you want until I call for you."

A look of resolve grew on Kargas’ face, and Ackster realized something.

"Ah, don’t touch the other dragons. They weren’t involved in what transpired with the dragonlings. And at least Viztar and Trana aren’t bad."

"...Can I come with you?"

Kargas deflated before looking at Ackster with hopeful eyes.

"Sure."