Kakund

Sou stared at the huge figure with his toes dug into the ground, his eyes reflecting utter disbelief. Sou mustered up his courage and regained his footing.

"Hm? You are not intimidated by me?" the huge guy in front of Sou asked.

"I was but I like to act instead of wasting my time while being intimidated, hehe..." Sou laughed off its questions.

"Hahahaha!! Interesting! So interesting! You are maybe the first human who didn't pass out before the Great Kakund!"

"Kakund? Is that your name?"

"Yes! I am Kakund! The strongest of our tribe!"

(So much showmanship...)

"Hmm... your face seems to tell me that you are insulting me in your head."

"Haha... no way..." Sou rubbed his cheeks with an awkward smile plastered on his face.

(It's better not to get into his bad side until I have weakened him.)

"Ahem! I, Sou, has come to challenge the leader of the Blues and will claim the Valley of the Blues by defeating the Great Kakund. Please consider this challenger's request."

(Did I do it right, Drago?)

"Ho... you seem to know the Dragons' duel proposition. Tell me, boy! Did you come across any wandering Dragon in your life?"

(Telling him about Drago would call for trouble as Dragons cannot be seen without developing one's core to a monstrous level or without their consent. Though in my case, it was the former because of the system's 'Trial'.)

"No, Great Kakund. The Blues in your tribe are the first Dragons I have seen throughout my life."

"So how do you know our duel proposition?" Kakund's tone switched to commanding from amused, releasing an intense bloodlust.

"My ancestors happen to have exchanged some words with a Dragon in the long past, which they passed through generation in the form of our family heirloom. I suppose they got the knowledge from their conversation with the Dragon."

"Hmm... you're suspicious but I will believe your story for now. Now, what is there for me by accepting this duel?"

"My servitude, Great Kakund. Without offence, as you might already have seen, no one from your tribe managed to leave a scratch on me. I am almost certain that you are craving to have such a powerful individual in your grip. And now, I come with the offer."

"..."

Kakund's goof atmosphere disappeared and the surrounding went silent except for the occasional sound of the breeze. He stared at Sou with a deadly gaze and intent.

"Pfft! Hahahahaha!! My word! You are quite an intuitive one. You stole the words right out of my tongue. Yes, I want you. I want you to dance for me, I want those sharp golden eyes of yours always staring at your feet when you are in front of me, and I want that body to never defy my words. And therefore, I accept your challenge. But mark my words that this will not end in your favour!"

Kakund spread his blue wings revealed his true size which was the second biggest being Sou had seen, the first being Drago. Kakund flapped his wings which produced winds, almost throwing Sou off the peak he has spent his efforts to climb. Sou held onto a boulder that was barely enduring the fierce winds.

"What the fuck's with this power?! Isn't it a little too overpowered?!" Sou screamed while hanging onto the boulder.

"Hahahaha!! Is that all you've got?!" Kakund maniacally laughed while flapping his wings even harder.

"Ugh! This guy is crazy strong..."

(What to do? How am I supposed to get past these winds? Think Sou! Think!)

Sou smacked his head on the boulder without letting it go to sprint his thought process.

(Think think think! I don't have an affinity with the 'Wind' element so manipulating the winds is out of the window. I cannot regain stable my body to use lightning right now and using my fire would melt the boulder and there is no way I am letting that happen. The only way would be using Mana's Authority by letting go of the boulder and lunging me at him with extreme force. But should I take that risk? I don't wanna climb the peak once again. I don't even if I can gather that much strength in the short amount of time I will have. Hnghh!)

Sou ran every simulation that didn't involve any risk through his head but it never ended well for him. After giving some thought while struggling, the corner of his lips rose slightly to form a smirk.

(I aim to be the strongest and there is someone stronger than me, waiting for my demise. I might die this time and who knows if I am gonna get another shot at living...)

"Whew..." Sou little smirk has now turned into a grin while cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

(So why the hell am I so excited?)

Seeing the grin on Sou's face, Kakund broke down in a peal of amused laughter.

"Haha! To be able to wear that expression when faced with such a predicament. I don't know if I should call you brave or reckless."

"I would like the Great-"

"Drop the formalities."

(Was I that obvious?)

His lips turned a bit wry before regaining his previous smirk.

"Then I'd like it if I am called reckless! After all, braveness derives from recklessness!"

"Ho... then show your recklessness."

"With pleasure."

Sou let go of his hands, relaxing while letting his body go with the flow of the winds.

'What is this boy thinking?'

Kakund made the doubt appear so clear on his face that Sou couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.

"Let me clear your doubt!" Sou screamed while swaying with the wind. When he was about to fall off the cliff, he finally let out the pent-up bloodlust which almost made Kakund take a step back.

'A kid who has not even grown hairs down there managed to intimidate me, the Great Kakund?'

Sou threw his arms towards the direction of Kakund. At that moment, Kakund felt a great force that pulled him towards the edge of the cliff, almost making his gigantic fall. Kakund jerked his body backwards to prevent him from falling.

(I can't even imagine what will happen if his body falls on me. At least one thing is certain, I will become an omelette.)

"Haha! How'd you like the taste of your own power? Pretty frightening, right?"

"You brat!!"

(He lost his cool over this? So stupid.)

Kakund opened his mouth, forming a gigantic flame ball directed towards Sou.

"Hey! That giant ball reminds me of someone I tortured in the past. Good times!"

"Die you brat!!"

The ball of flame blasted from Kakund's mouth and made its way to Sou at high speed.

(That thing hits me and I am dead... let's try what I have been practising all these years.)

Sou let out a calming sigh and inhaled air as the ball approached Sou.

"Mana's Authority!" Sou screamed.

'Holding your breath? Why?'

All of sudden, a sphere appeared around Sou's surroundings. No sound escaped from the sphere and no sound entered Sou's ears. It was utter silence. The fireball kept at its path but when it closed to the sphere, it started to fluctuate frantically and when it touched the sphere... poof! The giant ball of erupting fire mana disappeared.

(Everything in this world has mana. There is nothing devoid of mana and nothing can exist can without mana. And with Mana's Authority, I can get rid of the mana of air and the very thing which is needed for a flame to burn- oxygen!)

"What?! How?! My flames cannot be put out by normal means! How did you-" Kakund face turned grim as he solved the mystery.

"You made a space void of... air?" Kakund asked with a perplexed face. In return, he received a clap and a mischievous grin from Sou. Kakund became enraged as he saw someone still standing perfectly fine after his attack.

"You are one cheeky brat... Fine, let me show you what I can do."

Kakund lifted his body which seemed like a huge weight has been lifted off the ground. Four balls appeared behind him, each representing an element of the four major elements- Wind, Fire, Water, Earth. This made Kakund look like a ruler for once instead of having the aura of an overpowered boss of max level.

"I will now be serious. Ready yourself brat!"

"Heh... no need to spell it out to me."

Both of them stared at each other for a while as an act of honour.

A cold sweat trickled down from the side of his head, slowly reaching the end of his cheek.

"Fuuu..."

Drip!

Bam!

Sou whooshed his body to the Blue leader and threw a punch at Kakund.

(Using the flame blade against this monster is pointless. Lightning may do the trick but forming lightning polearms take a lot of time. So if nothing works...)

"JUST USE YOUR DAMN FISTS!!!"

Boom!

The punch connected to the chest but didn't deal any damage, it was blocked out completely by Kakund's tough body. Sou backed off to the ground.

"So weak."

"Quite tough are you? Let's see how you deal with this one!"

Sou jumped again with even more acceleration using Mana's Authority and coated his whole arm with a thick layer of mana.

Fwoosh!

When Sou was on the same level as Kakund's head, he used his authority to throw himself at Kakund's face, swung his right hand with Mana's Authority speeding up the fist and the mana covering the fist giving it extra reinforcement.

'This will be dangerous...'

Despite the enormous size, Kakund showed considerably fast movement by lifting his arms before Sou's attack reached him. But Sou had another wit at play here.

"You fell for it!"

Zap!

Kaschak!

A lightning polearm pierced Kakund's giant left leg, making him squeal in pain and reach for his leg which made him lower his arms Draconic arms. Seeing the opportune moment, Sou withdrew his arms at high speed and threw them again at the distracted Kakund. But before he could deal any damage, Kakund was already behind Sou, grinning.

"What?!"

Bam!

Sou was hit by a huge claw which sent him flying to the ground and made a huge crater.

"Urk!!"

Sou squinted his eyes painfully and saw Kakund gathering a huge amount of lightning mana in his mouth.

(Even after forming those elemental spheres for resistance, he still has enough for such a high-grade spell?! Does his mana reserves even have a limit?!"

"ROARRRR!!!"

Kakund let out a large burst of lightning followed by a huge chunk of the elemental spheres.

"Fuck."

***