Chapter 129: Balmung, the Phantom Sword—Release!
As a Dragon Slayer, he had undergone a transformation after slaying the evil dragon Fafnir.
Bathing in dragon's blood and consuming its heart had granted him a near-immortal body.
Moreover, his body had developed a resistance to dragons themselves.
For example, he was later attacked by some dragons as well. However, these dragons were not on the same level as the evil dragon Fafnir, but rather a type of wyvern—flatter in body, somewhat resembling pterosaurs.
When faced with these wyvern attacks, he tested his own body and discovered that not only did he possess near-immortality, but he was also immune to dragon venom.
In fact, when the wyverns bit him, they were instead poisoned by his blood.
Perhaps "cursed to death" would be a better description, as it wasn't that his blood was inherently toxic, but rather that it carried a curse specifically lethal to dragons—useless against other creatures.
"So that's why Brother Siegfried wasn't afraid of Jörmungandr's venomous blood. The sword coated with his own blood was able to suppress Jörmungandr's rapid regeneration!"
Göll exclaimed with excitement and joy.
"Because Jörmungandr is also a dragon, and as a Dragon Slayer, he has resistance—even a counteractive power against it, right?"
The one who followed up Göll's words was her other sister, Göndul, her beautiful eyes sparkling—almost like a lovestruck fool.
This was bad. Acting like this in front of Sister Brunhilde? Didn't she see the murderous glare Brunhilde was giving her?
"Don't celebrate too soon. Even if he has a special advantage against dragons, Jörmungandr is simply too massive."
At Brunhilde's words, the expressions of the two younger sisters stiffened slightly.
Even if wound regeneration could be suppressed, Jörmungandr's sheer size meant that unless its core was destroyed, it wouldn't die.
Moreover, inflicting more and larger wounds on Jörmungandr would require him to expend a tremendous amount of his own blood.
Looking at the sword in his hand, the blood on it had already vanished—even Jörmungandr's blood seemed to have been absorbed.
So, as things stood, he alone couldn't slay Jörmungandr.
In this situation, the only option might be to cooperate with the gods.
Hm? Shiva was walking toward him now. What were they talking about?
What was Heimdall doing, just standing there? Switch the camera to them and turn up the volume!
"Alright, then let all the Nāgas of the Eight Legions come forth and donate blood to feed this sword."
Shiva's sudden declaration left everyone stunned.
However, the Nāgas he summoned didn't hesitate in the slightest, appearing nearby without delay and cutting their hands to let their blood flow onto the Dragon Slayer's sword.
"Will mine work too?"
Another voice chimed in.
"According to this young man's explanation, of course—it'd be even better."
The newcomer—Quetzalcoatl—had somehow been watching this final battle between man and god from the arena, despite being absent from the earlier matches.
After manifesting, this supreme deity of his pantheon also poured his own blood into the sword.
Having absorbed the blood of gods associated with dragons, the sword began emitting an aura that made dragon-related deities tremble in fear.
It was as if the blade was transforming into the ultimate bane of dragons.
Sensing this threat, Jörmungandr could no longer stay idle and spewed deadly venom toward the arena below.
Of course, another god intercepted the venom.
"Oh?"
Shiva narrowed his eyes slightly. The sword seemed to be so uncontrollably eager to pierce the gods and drain them mercilessly.
The next second, the sword indeed lost control and lunged toward Quetzalcoatl—but was forcefully caught by the Dragon Slayer.
"That's enough."
"Oh? Then I wish you success in slaying this evil dragon—not just as a hero among humans, but as a Dragon Slayer among the gods~"
Quetzalcoatl bestowed such a blessing.
Shiva could see it clearly—Quetzalcoatl had taken a liking to this warrior and wanted to recruit him into his pantheon.
Faced with such a blessing, the Dragon Slayer gave a polite nod before gripping the sword with both hands and raising its blade upward.
Meanwhile, Shiva himself prepared, fully activating his [Clairvoyance].
"Old man, I'll leave it to you—throw that beast high into the sky."
Shiva called out into the void, having already shared the battle plan with the elder.
"Of course, no problem!"
A voice brimming with power echoed throughout the coliseum, followed by booming laughter.
The next moment, with a roar that shook the very atmosphere, the colossal serpent coiling around the arena began to loosen—
No, as Heimdall displayed a new projection, the gods saw a figure—tiny as an ant compared to Jörmungandr—forcefully grabbing the serpent's tail and sprinting around the arena, unraveling its coiled form.
In the blink of an eye, Jörmungandr was swung by its tail, the sheer spectacle leaving the gods stunned.
Such strength was beyond words—truly befitting a supreme god—Zeus!
With another thunderous shout, the massive serpent was hurled high into the sky.
At the same time, the Dragon Slayer on the arena stage seemed to unleash his full power.
Even Shiva, standing nearby, could feel the scorching heat radiating from his body, as if he were engulfed in crimson flames.
No—that wasn't fire. It was his own boiling blood seeping from his pores, vaporizing into a mist that shrouded his body, creating the illusion of flames.
Shiva's pupils contracted slightly as twin horns sprouted from the warrior's head, his skin faintly scaling over. His draconic armor no longer seemed like something he wore—it had become part of his flesh.
And his cape—now morphing into wings.
The next instant, with a powerful flap and a mighty leap, a streak of crimson light shot from the ground toward the sky-obscuring serpent.
"Balmung, the Phantom Sword—Release!"