Chapter 11: The Power of the Dragon Egg, Lein

“Draxel, you’ve asked for this. Now, prepare to be thoroughly humiliated,” Noyan Tu Lu taunted.

Clad in his elite Khergit armor, Noyan Tu Lu had set aside his usual bow and arrows, opting instead for a flawlessly tempered nomadic scimitar, a blade so newly sharpened, it could slice through air.

His spirited white steed seemed just as eager for battle.

Draxel, on the other hand, appeared less formidable. Aside from his razor-sharp Germanic longsword, his gear was unremarkable, and that stubborn old travel horse remained unmounted.

Facing a cavalryman as an infantryman put Draxel at a distinct disadvantage. Yet, empowered by the prairie wolf meat, he felt a boost of confidence. He had a strategy up his sleeve, inspired by the countless war films and dramas he’d seen. He was ready to outsmart his enemy.

As the village chief gave the signal, the duel erupted into action.

Noyan Tu Lu, a master horseman, charged toward Draxel with fierce speed. Draxel, poised and unruffled, instead gazed into the glaring sun above.

To Noyan Tu Lu, Draxel seemed resigned to his fate.

“Ready to meet your maker? I’ll be sure to offer prayers at your grave next year,” Noyan Tu Lu jeered mockingly.

Closing in rapidly, twenty meters, ten, five…

At the critical moment, Draxel found his perfect opportunity. He swiftly drew his Germanic longsword, angling its blinding reflection straight at Noyan Tu Lu.

The relentless sunlight struck the sword, casting a blinding glare. Precisely, it shone into the eyes of Noyan Tu Lu’s majestic horse.

‘Lucky I paid attention in my geometry and optics classes back in the day,’ Draxel mused with gratitude for his past teachers.

At that moment, his respect for his educators was profound. Even the system commended him.

[Assessment: You, the unassuming one, excelled this time! Excellent work, Count.]

Meanwhile, the horse, pained and panicked, reared, faltering and tumbling to the ground.

Noyan Tu Lu, unprepared for this sudden upheaval, was thrown off, rolling right in front of Draxel. Seizing this rare chance, Draxel channeled immense strength into a crushing stomp on Noyan Tu Lu’s face.

His kick, mighty and dominating, shattered Noyan Tu Lu’s nose, sent teeth flying, and smeared his face with blood.

Draxel poised for another punishing kick, but Noyan Tu Lu, amidst the pain coming from his face, rolled away swiftly. He then sprang up, dashing for his fallen scimitar.

‘Damn, this man’s resilience is astounding,’ Draxel thought, awed. Noyan Tu Lu was indeed a formidable plains warrior, his high attributes were not for show, and his reputation was well-earned.

Draxel attempted to intercept him from retrieving his scimitar, but Noyan Tu Lu was too quick, and Draxel a moment too late.

“I admit I underestimated you, Count. You’re quite skilled, but the battle isn’t won yet,” Noyan Tu Lu admitted, his face a bloody, unrecognizable mess, yet his determination unwavering.

“Then let’s continue, come on!” Draxel, gripping his sword firmly, launched himself at Noyan Tu Lu.

Boosted by the prairie wolf meat, Draxel’s movements were notably quicker and stronger. He executed a series of slashes and cuts, pushing Noyan Tu Lu back, though each strike was deftly parried.

Draxel then shifted to close-quarters combat, deploying elbows, knees, and kicks, but Noyan Tu Lu skillfully evaded each.

The duel intensified. Despite Noyan Tu Lu’s facial injuries, he showed no signs of faltering. Draxel, having deployed his full arsenal of moves, was reaching his limits.

Noyan Tu Lu retaliated with unique plains grappling techniques, his scimitar weaving unpredictable, cunning arcs, making it nearly impossible for Draxel to predict or defend against each cut. He targeted Draxel’s less vital areas, such as his underarms, waist, thighs, and other non-vital areas, rather than targeting the heart or head, with surgical precision.

Despite the prairie wolf meat’s enhancement, the skill gap between them was evident. Soon, Draxel was marred with multiple wounds, his body a testament to Noyan Tu Lu’s prowess.

Safiya, witnessing the brutal fight, was overwhelmed with anxiety and helplessness, tears streaming down her face. Unbeknownst to her, these tears would soon fall upon the shell of the dragon egg, Lein.

At that crucial moment, the dragon egg responded miraculously. It began to radiate light from its shell, growing and widening, adorned with delicate red streams of energy, almost imperceptible to the naked eye.

These streams wound their way to Draxel’s wounds, seeping into his being.

Draxel felt an increasing tingling sensation in his injuries. During a brief lull in the duel, he saw his wounds healing swiftly. Concurrently, an image of an imposing red dragon, unfamiliar yet strikingly real, emerged in his mind.

The dragon egg Lein emitted a subtle roar, distinctly heard by Draxel, “Roar! Draxel, I’ve granted you my power, albeit temporarily. My strength is limited. You must defeat him quickly.”

“Lein, is that you?”

“Roar! Yes, I am Lein, the dragon egg. Focus on the battle. Now’s not the time for chatting,” confirmed the dragon egg Lein.

Regaining focus, Draxel observed a faint red glow encircling his hands, even his Germanic longsword shimmered in a similar aura.

Harnessing his newfound power, he unleashed a formidable strike. Noyan Tu Lu, caught off-guard and bracing for impact, met Draxel’s sword with his scimitar.

Bang!

The collision unleashed a force far more intense than any before, pushing Noyan Tu Lu to the brink of defeat. The weapons’ clash ignited sparks that, meeting the red aura, set Draxel’s sword ablaze.