The Dragon That Guards The Treasure – Part 3

“Everybody ready?” I called out after explaining my plan to everyone.

“All fine here!” The sniper called out.

“I’m ready as well,” the boss said.

“Okay, let’s go.”

Fianna first scrambled out of the protection of the Polis. The Cave Dragon had figured out it was pointless to fire its laser beam against us while we were inside, but I could tell its anger was just rising more and more. As soon as the elf left the Polis, the Cave Dragon’s attention was squarely on her. Instead of its uber-powerful, all-consuming laser beam, instead it used its Earth Magic skill <Spikes> to make spikes out of the mountain. Fianna, however, was nimble, and managed to swiftly evade every single attack coming her way.

Good. All according to plan.

Next, it was my turn to serve as bait. Either Tanney or Chloe could do so too, but I was faster than Chloe in her priestess outfit, and both of them would need to save their mana for healing and refilling the airship, respectively.

I left the Polis’ protection and navigated around the spikes to get to Fianna’s side. That seemed to make the Cave Dragon decide to change its tactics. Seeing us that close together, it opened its maw and began charging up its laser beam.

“Now, Keil!”

“Roger! Luminary Light Arrow!”

The Cave Dragon didn’t have time to figure out what was happening. The sniper did not miss, hitting it squarely in its weak point!.

“Gwahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!” It cried out as it was forced to cancel its move.

The truth was, when I left the Polis, Keil left at the same time, taking a longer path hidden among the spikes. Yes, that’s right—I knew the Cave Dragon wouldn’t use its laser beam against a single target, because that’s how it was programmed! Instead, it would rely on using its Earth magic to round up its enemies and shoot its laser for the kill. However, that also created a bunch of blind spots that weren’t there before—perfect for Keil to hide among and get his shot ready. And of course, I was bait to force the Cave Dragon to switch into using its laser once again.

“Did we get it?!” Keil called out from his vantage point a little above me.

That’s a red flag if I ever heard one. Usually when a companion says that, it means—

I didn’t have time to finish that thought. The staggering Cave Dragon quickly regained its footing—and judging by its eyes, it was pissed.

Damn. Not enough, huh? I wish I had the Debuggun to help out… Wait, maybe I can!

Instead of its big laser beam, the Cave Dragon decided instead to use its <Fireball> skill. The spikes it created were being hit and melting, erasing the protection it had inadvertently created for us.

“Can you guys keep him busy? I have another idea!”

It took a little bit of time for Fianna to answer. “Sure! But you better not be ditching us.”

“Of course not! I would be stuck in this mountain without you anyway!”

I left the spikes, dodging pools of freshly-created lava to get to Chloe and Tanney, both in a good vantage position to monitor the Cave Dragon.

“Takashi? What are you doing here?” Tanney asked.

They both looked confused by my presence. And, frankly, I was a bit, too. I started reaching out to my Hero’s Bag to pull out the all-important Debuggun—but then I stopped.

Wait, what am I doing? I shouldn’t trust Yzara with such an important thing!

I moved before I could really process what I was doing. Instinctively, I trusted Yzara would be able to help us monitor the Cave Dragon with the Debuggun, and wouldn’t just betray me by resetting the Cave Dragon and throwing its entire might at us.

I can’t forget this is an alliance of convenience. Nothing more.

So why had I forgotten about this? Maybe I was caught up in the excitement of the battle and momentarily forgot my objective. Whatever the case, I couldn’t make this mistake again.

This time, I did pull out the gun with intention and pointed it at the Cave Dragon.

<Mob: Elder Cave Dragon (Lv. 87)

HP: 1338/20000

MP: 47

Skills: Flame, Fireball, Spike Creation, Magma, Dragon Laser

Status conditions: None>

Suddenly, I felt Chloe pressing up against my arm.

“Huh… So that’s what that little glass shows you.”

“Chloe?!”

“You two are so close…!” Tanney said, almost in a shriek.

“Why are you panicking so much? Am I too close?”

“T-that’s not the problem…”

“Then what is?”

“Uhh…”

No, the real problem was that a native of this world was looking straight into a debug menu! Somehow, I felt that was a bit of a problem. But well, it’s not like I could just stop her now.

“Sigh. Sure, suit yourself.”

“Nah. I can’t understand anything,” she said as she detached herself from me. “It’s all just random numbers. What does this all mean?”

“Well, we did a lot of damage there. He’s almost a goner. We’re probably just one attack away from finishing it. But…”

“But what?”

“It’s MP is way too low for it to prioritize its use of the Dragon Laser now. And if that’s the case, then we won’t be able to strike its weak point anymore.”

“Can’t you just do the same thing you did with the Wisps before? Force it to use the Dragon Laser?”

“Oh! Good idea.”

Way better than the alternative, which would be striking its hide and slowly chipping away at its HP.

“Alright, let’s do that then.” Then I projected my voice in the direction of Fianna and Keil. “You two! The Cave Dragon is almost dead! I’m going to force it to use its laser again soon! No need to charge a massive attack this time!”

The answer took a little bit to come. “Roger!”

I used the Debuggun’s menu to scroll through all possible attacks the Cave Dragon could use, until getting to the one corresponding to the Dragon Laser.

“Alright, I’m firing!”

The moment the bullet hit the Cave Dragon, it immediately stopped its physical moves, and began once again charging its signature move. Once it opened its maw, the Airdrake crew didn’t hesitate.

“Light Strike!”

“Luminary Light Arrow!”

The combined moves hit the Cave Dragon squarely in the gullet—and this time, it was enough. The beast let out one final roar as its body glowed and exploded in a shower of particles that dissipated. The clink of the Divine Canisters as they hit the ground echoed all throughout the mountain.

“Let’s goooo!” I cried out as my legs lost their strength.

It was the first actual battle I had ever experienced since my transportation to this world—and man did it feel good!