"Fuck..."
After listening to the Commander's explanation, Axel held out for several seconds before finally raising his middle finger.
Pointing it at the Commander, he smirked.
"This past month, I haven't had that problem, but I admit it happened occasionally before.
Back then, I was just an ordinary guy. There were times I'd end up with weak legs, and even taking a leak felt difficult afterward.
Commander, you're a remarkable man."
After speaking, Axel lightly patted the Commander's shoulder.
The Commander immediately burst into understanding laughter.
Throwing an arm around Axel's shoulders, he gave him two friendly pats and leaned closer.
"You're a very honest buddy. You're making me embarrassed to keep bragging.
Let's keep this between us, but every man runs into those problems eventually.
Don't let my appearance fool you. My wife is even tougher than I am, so I don't always come out on top.
Even a creature as powerful as Teostra can run into trouble now and then, so we're nothing special. Hahaha!"
After laughing, the Commander released Axel and turned toward Teostra.
He firmly patted the Elder Dragon's jaw and, after confirming it would not cause any further trouble, nodded with satisfaction.
"Axel, your abilities are incredible. This Elder Dragon is completely subdued.
If you wanted, you could probably keep this big guy as a mount or companion, similar to how some communities in remote regions bond with large creatures."
"A mount?"
For once, genuine interest appeared on Axel's face.
He didn't need a mount, but not needing one and not having one were completely different things.
What man wouldn't want an impressive ride?
With that thought, he carefully examined Teostra.
Ignoring the exhausted expression, Teostra was undeniably majestic.
In fact, most Elder Dragons looked impressive. At least they were far more appealing than the giant monsters from many other worlds.
Its crimson body, sharp wings, and lion-like mane gave it an intimidating presence.
Still, there was one problem.
Although Teostra looked good, Axel felt it lacked something distinctive.
It simply didn't appeal to him.
Frowning slightly, he patted the dragon's head.
"Buddy."
He grinned.
"If you looked a little more spirited, I might've considered it.
But every time I look at you, I'm reminded of being completely drained. That's psychological damage right there.
Looks like you're safe."
Unfortunately, Teostra couldn't understand him.
Otherwise, it might have thanked its own appearance.
After chuckling, Axel turned back to the Commander.
"Commander, he's definitely impressive, but not my type.
Can you recommend something else?
I want a mount that's fast, energetic, and has a truly unique style.
Come on, we're both men among men. You know exactly what kind of dragon deserves to be ridden by someone like us."
"Haha, no problem!"
The Commander immediately raised a finger toward the horizon.
"If we're talking about mounts, then I know exactly what you need.
The fastest dragon in the world, Valstrax.
The Silver Winged Star itself.
That dragon is the dream of countless hunters.
With your abilities, why not make Valstrax your goal?
It's fast, powerful, and unlike anything else in existence.
Think about it."
The Commander's eyes shone with excitement.
Axel's own eyes lit up.
Valstrax.
How had he forgotten?
If he wanted a mount, nothing could be more fitting.
A dragon capable of soaring through the upper atmosphere at unbelievable speeds.
Other dragons flew by flapping their wings.
Valstrax flew like a living jet fighter.
Fast and stylish.
The image immediately appealed to him.
He was interested.
Very interested.
Nodding, Axel raised his hand.
"Valstrax, huh?
Let's find him."
His fingers suddenly closed.
Instantly, a massive dragon with black scales coated in a silvery metallic sheen appeared in front of him.
The creature looked completely bewildered.
"ROOOAR?!"
The moment it appeared, the dragon let out a confused cry.
Wasn't it sleeping high above the world?
How had it suddenly arrived here?
Had it somehow reached its own grave?
Panic immediately filled its eyes.
Valstrax quickly looked around.
This was where Elder Dragons gathered near the end of their lives.
It still had centuries left to live.
What was it doing here?
Had it somehow sleep-flown into the wrong place?
Then it noticed Teostra.
Why did that guy look so miserable?
Valstrax tilted its head and let out a questioning roar.
Teostra was equally confused.
It lifted its head and struggled upright.
Being seen by humans in such a pathetic state was one thing.
Being seen by another Elder Dragon was unacceptable.
Determined to preserve what little dignity remained, Teostra forced itself to stand and roared fiercely.
"ROAR!"
"Roo?"
Valstrax blinked.
The roar sounded intimidating enough.
The trembling hind legs did not.
Just as Valstrax prepared to investigate further, something yanked violently at its neck.
The dragon immediately turned and locked onto Axel.
Its instincts instantly identified the source of the problem.
Opening its jaws, it prepared a blast attack.
Unfortunately...
Smack!
Before anything could emerge, Axel appeared beside its face and slapped it.
A thunderous impact echoed across the area.
The dozens-of-meters-long dragon was launched hundreds of meters away.
Boom!
Valstrax tumbled through the air.
Teostra stared in complete disbelief.
Quickly stepping aside to avoid the incoming dragon, it looked toward Axel with shock.
How could such a tiny creature possess strength like that?
Even Nergigante would struggle to replicate such a feat.
The size difference alone made no sense.
Teostra didn't understand physics.
But it understood being stunned.
Nearby, Ciri tightened her grip on her sword and moved closer to the Commander.
"Are all the dragons here that large?"
"Haha, of course."
The Commander laughed.
"Even someone like me has trouble dealing with Elder Dragons.
They're incredibly powerful and far too fast to catch.
Don't let your friend fool you. What he's doing is absurd.
Those creatures are genuinely terrifying."
Then he glanced at Ciri's sword.
After a brief look, he shook his head.
"Compared to Axel, you're a little outmatched.
Teleportation is useful, but that sword wouldn't even scratch an Elder Dragon.
Its cutting power would need to increase many times over.
Honestly, your partnership is strange.
He's overwhelmingly powerful, and you're..."
The Commander scratched his chin.
"...the supporting act, maybe.
Still, I envy you.
If I had a partner like Axel, I wouldn't mind being the supporting act either.
That man looks capable of solving any problem."
As they talked, Axel was already pursuing Valstrax.
The Silver Winged Star shook off its brief daze and immediately activated its signature propulsion system.
The crimson intake membranes along its chest expanded.
Air rushed through its body, mixed with Dragon Energy, and erupted from the wing vents.
Whoosh!
Like a living missile, Valstrax vanished.
A crimson trail stretched across the sky as it disappeared dozens of kilometers away in an instant.
Teostra's jaw dropped.
It was fast.
Very fast.
Ciri swallowed hard.
"It just vanished.
How is anything that fast possible?"
The Commander laughed.
"Because that's Valstrax.
The fastest dragon in the world.
The Silver Winged Star.
Every hunter dreams of having one as a mount and dreads encountering one in the wild.
If you don't ambush it at its nest, your chances of controlling the fight are almost nonexistent.
Nothing can keep up with it in open territory."
Then he looked toward the sky.
"Although...
I think we're about to witness history.
Your partner might become the first human to ride a Valstrax.
Actually, if he's already some kind of god, maybe that's just another achievement to add to the list."
The Commander rubbed his hands together.
"Hey, supporting act from another world.
After Axel catches it, do you think I could ride it once?
Just once?"
As he spoke, Axel had already disappeared.
This time he wasn't teleporting.
He simply propelled himself with psychokinesis.
Valstrax was incredibly fast.
But Axel's psychokinesis ignored gravity and air resistance.
The gap rapidly closed.
Before long, Valstrax had already blasted beyond the atmosphere.
Then it noticed something.
Axel was flying beside it.
The dragon turned its head in disbelief.
It looked at Axel.
Then at the planet below.
Then back at Axel.
Pure confusion filled its eyes.
How was a human flying out here?
Smack!
Before it could process the situation, Axel slapped it again.
The impact sent Valstrax spinning away with a howl.
Axel immediately caught one of its fangs, swung the enormous dragon twice through the air, and hurled it back toward the planet.
Whoosh!
Valstrax became a descending meteor.
Its scales glowed red from atmospheric friction.
Just before impact, Axel appeared below it.
A massive wave of psychokinesis spread outward.
Like an invisible net, it caught the falling dragon and gently lowered it to the ground.
Valstrax looked dizzy.
Flying thousands of kilometers was effortless.
Being thrown thousands of kilometers was another matter entirely.
Shaking its head, the dragon slowly opened its mouth.
Smack!
Axel's hand immediately slammed its face into the dirt.
Valstrax's head became firmly embedded in the ground.
The dragon was completely baffled.
Not even allowed to talk?
If there was a problem, couldn't they discuss it?
Why was this happening?
It had been peacefully sleeping in the upper atmosphere.
Then it had suddenly been dragged here.
And beaten.
Repeatedly.
What had it done to deserve this?
Why was this happening?!
===
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