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Luo Wei took this opportunity to successfully retreat, escaping the range of the dragon's onslaught.
At the same moment, both hunting parties clashed once more in their desperate bid to claim the dragon. Members from either side surged forward with binding chains, while others engaged in fierce blocking, shoving, and grappling. The entire battlefield was a maelstrom of chaos.
Just as Gus was about to reach the giant dragon, Luo Wei acted swiftly, raising a glowing hand.
Though gravely wounded, the dragon's formidable vitality meant it could still lash out in a final burst of fury. To avoid drawing its ire again, Luo Wei deliberately avoided targeting the beast, instead locking his aim onto Gus.
The Hand of Reckoning struck Gus with divine precision!
Back in Warnerheim, Gus had always been infamous for his volatile temperament. Unlike the measured composure of Edin and Noor, Gus's patience had always run thin.
Now struck by the Hand of Reckoning, Gus staggered, visibly stunned. Then, his fury erupted like a volcano as he spun around and charged at Luo Wei: "Argh! You bastard! I'll crush you with my bare hands!"
In the midst of Skadi's duel with Hela, the sudden outburst caught his attention. Swinging his warhammer in a sharp arc, Skadi released a burst of yellow-green divine light, which blasted Gus off his feet.
"Calm down, Gus!"
Gus scrambled back up, his breath ragged, his rage barely held in check. He jabbed a finger toward Luo Wei. "In the name of Kull'sbeard, Rowe Garrison! When this festival is over, I swear you'll pay!"
Luo Wei's expression twitched slightly.
Great… invoking the Allfather's name? That guarantees a fight.
With that, Gus stormed back toward the dragon, his fury redirected.
Skadi's gaze sharpened as he turned toward Hela. "That subordinate of yours… his power is beyond what I expected."
"You mean Rowe?" Hela smirked. "He's not a mage. He's a paladin."
"Paladin?" Skadi's brow furrowed. The title was foreign to him.
Luo Wei continued unleashing the Hand of Reckoning, his divine form radiating brightly, relentlessly harassing Skadi's hunters to the point of collapse.
"In Kull'sbeard's name, Rowe Garrison, either I'll kill you, or you'll kill me! I swear it!!" Gus bellowed, nearly foaming at the mouth.
Another one going off the deep end…
One of Hela's hunters—a bald, stocky warrior—managed to wrap a thick chain around one of the dragon's claws. According to the hunting festival's rules, the first to bind all four claws would be declared victor, and no further contesting would be permitted.
Panic surged among Skadi's hunters. Two of them tackled the bald warrior, trying to drag him away.
But the man was no novice. He shook them off swiftly and made a beeline for the dragon, chain in hand, ready to bind the next claw.
"ROAR!!"
Just as he reached for the limb, the dying dragon let out a sudden, guttural bellow and, mustering the last reserves of strength, swung its massive claw.
The bald hunter had no time to react. As he looked up, the claw was already upon him.
Blood splattered.
The claw impaled him through the chest, nearly splitting his torso in two. Even with the Protos' legendary vitality, this wound was mortal.
Hela's hunters recoiled in horror while Skadi's side breathed a momentary sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Hodr had broken past the opposition, rushing to Heimd with a small crystalline vial in hand.
Recognizing the bottle instantly, Angler retracted his tentacles. The memory of the euphoria it induced still haunted him, and he backed off.
"Hodr, your divine power is impressive," Angler sneered, trying to goad him. "I bet you've often wondered why your powers awakened so late. You could have surpassed Balder."
Hodr clenched his fists, his voice low and sharp. "Don't worry. You won't die during the festival."
He turned. "Heimd, go."
With a silent nod, Heimd vanished and reappeared by the dragon, swiftly grabbing the fallen bald hunter's chain to resume binding.
Edin surged forward to intercept him.
Heimd dodged the tackle, but Edin was persistent, and the two began circling the dragon like shadows in a storm.
Rowe raised his hand once more—Hand of Reckoning—and hit Edin.
While Edin reeled from the emotional aftershock, Heimd secured the dragon's third claw.
Only one remained. Victory teetered on a knife's edge.
"The dragon is ours!" Nuer and Gus screamed, charging like bulls toward Heimd.
Another Hand of Reckoning.
Then another.
Rowe's divine mana drained rapidly, but both Hands of Reckoning found their mark.
Nuer and Gus froze. The deluge of traumatic visions and guilt from their pasts contorted their faces in agony.
Seizing the moment, Heimd blinked beside the last unbound claw and wrapped it with the chain—tight and secure.
He raised the bound limb for all to see. "It's done. The dragon is ours!"
The battlefield fell silent. Every hunter turned to see the dragon's four limbs bound.
Hela smiled, a victorious gleam in her eyes.
Skadi's face was a mask of disbelief.
Gus's mind snapped. Rage overtook reason as he bellowed and charged straight at Luo Wei, hammer raised.
Rowe, drained of divine mana, activated Divine Protection and fled.
Gus was relentless, hammering the ground behind Rowe. But his massive build and heavy armor betrayed him—he couldn't match Rowe's agility.
Enraged, Gus hurled his hammer like a meteor.
WHAM!
The hammer struck Luo Wei dead in the chest. Blood burst from his lips as he was flung back like a ragdoll.
He fell unconscious.
"GUS!!"
"STOP!!"
Gus lunged again, but both sides leapt in to restrain him. After a long, tense moment, he finally calmed.
Looking at Luo Wei's crumpled form, Gus froze. Reality hit. He'd gone too far.
Capturing the dragon was one thing—but attacking a fellow participant during the festival? That was a blatant violation. No matter who claimed the beast, the verdict was sealed.
Skadi's face was ashen as he turned to Gus. "We've lost. That's all there is to it."
He walked away without another word.
…
"Ugh…"
Rowe stirred, roused by the gentle cries of Koishi Root at his side.
"Hey!" the little stone golem cried joyfully, dancing in circles.
"You're awake, Rowe." A familiar voice—calm, feminine, regal. Hela.
Rowe sat up, confused. There was no pain. The hammer had struck him square in the chest.
He looked to Hela, realizing she must've used a rare Asgardian potion or spell.
"The dragon… did we get it?" he asked.
Hela smiled. "Of course. Thanks to you."
They stood at the meeting point. Following Hela's gaze, Rowe spotted the captured dragon—scarlet scales dulled with blood, bound in chains, letting out a defeated growl.
A small flying feline flitted over to the beast, sniffing and swatting playfully at its muzzle.
The mighty beast, tamed and toyed with by a cat. How ironic.
Heimd approached, holding several gleaming crimson scales, each the size of a palm, their metallic sheen catching the light.
"You're awake. How do you feel?"
"I'm alright," Rowe replied. Then, pointing at the scales, he asked, "Are those dragon scales?"
Heimd nodded. "Yes. We caught this beast together. These are souvenirs. You should take a few too."
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