Everyone was stunned by Kaien's words.
Kill it?!
That was a legendary dragon he was talking about!
A single dragon could wipe out an entire nation. People used to think that was an exaggeration—until today. Seeing it with their own eyes, they realized it was true.
The purple-haired youth still watched Kaien with idle amusement. He didn't take the words seriously at all.
Humans loved to talk big despite their weakness. To him, Kaien's bravado was just the typical barking of powerless insects.
"So… when are you going to put down my client?"
Kaien spoke casually as he looked at the purple-haired man.
The man curled his lips into a smirk. His right hand was still clamped around the king's throat, lifting him high into the air.
"If you've got the guts, come take him from me."
"In that case…" Kaien said, "I won't hold back."
He slowly drew his sword and began walking forward.
The purple-haired youth had already envisioned how this would go. The human would attack him, only to realize the vast gulf between dragons and men. Then, right in front of him, the dragon would crush the king like an ant.
Yes—just like that. Humans were no different from ants to a dragon.
Kaien soon reached him and casually swung his blade toward the man's wrist. The swing wasn't fast—it looked like a normal, unremarkable attack.
The purple-haired man didn't care. With a slash that slow, what harm could it possibly cause?
But the moment the blade touched his skin, his instincts screamed.
Every hair on his body stood on end.
Danger!
He instantly released the king and leapt back, sliding dozens of meters away and putting distance between them.
His pupils morphed into sharp, vertical slits.
His eyes locked on Kaien like a beast staring down a mortal threat.
"What?!"
"What just happened?!"
"That monster backed off?!"
"Arthur's strongest finishing move didn't even make him blink… but he retreated from Mr. Kaien's ordinary slash?!"
Everyone was in disbelief.
They had all witnessed the purple-haired man's overwhelming defense—how even the best attacks from the king, Arthur, Clay, and Erza couldn't so much as scratch him.
They were beginning to believe it was impossible for humans to hurt a dragon.
But now… he had backed away from Kaien's attack.
And judging by the caution in his eyes, he had truly felt threatened.
"Tch. What a shame."
Kaien shook his head.
He had done his best to suppress all killing intent. But a dragon was still a dragon—its danger sense was sharp.
If that guy hadn't moved just now, Kaien thought, I would've sliced off one of his claws for sure.
"You…" the purple-haired man growled, his gaze no longer playful.
He now looked at Kaien like an actual enemy.
Kaien ignored him and turned toward the old king, who still looked stunned.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?"
The king snapped out of his daze.
"Y-Yes! I'm alright!"
"Good. In that case, please return to the city. I'll handle him."
The king wanted to speak, but it clearly wasn't the time.
"Alright… I leave everything to you!"
Then he shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Everyone! Fall back to the city—immediately!!"
The soldiers quickly began retreating, supporting the wounded as they moved. Everyone knew they'd be of no help here—in fact, they might get in the way. The best thing they could do was stay out of Kaien's path.
The purple-haired man sneered.
"Fall back if you want. These walls might as well be made of paper to dragons like us."
He looked at Kaien.
"Human brat… are you trying to play hero?"
"A hero?" Kaien smiled.
"I've already played that role once. Playing it again doesn't bother me."
"Interesting. Once you die, the rest will follow."
"Is that so? Well, nothing I can do then. I'll give it everything I've got. Maybe this is just… fate."
"In that case, go die!"
The purple-haired man slashed forward, sending five massive dragon-claw strikes surging toward Kaien.
The ground they passed over shredded like tofu.
Kaien leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding them.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!
The claws smashed into the city wall—an ancient, towering structure that had endured storms, monsters, and wars. It crumbled like brittle paper.
But the slash didn't stop. It kept cutting forward.
In seconds, it tore through the entire city—only stopping after demolishing the far wall on the opposite side.
"The city… it's been cut in half—!!!"
Everyone gaped in horror.
Their minds were overwhelmed by fear and shock.
Such strength… such devastation…
Was this really a creature humanity could fight against?
"Hey, hey! If you want to fight, fine—but don't wreck people's property!" Kaien shouted.
"Some folks spent their whole lives saving up for those homes—took out loans and everything! You destroy them like that, aren't you just throwing away decades of effort?!"
"…"
Everyone on the wall stared at him, speechless.
Now's not the time to talk about mortgages…
"Ah, my bad!" Kaien scratched his cheek.
"But hey, what can I say—this stuff is just too fragile.
Still, don't worry—once I kill them all, they'll never have to pay off a loan again!"
The purple-haired youth grinned savagely.
Then he slammed a foot down and charged toward Kaien, his claws wrapped in dragon energy.
If Kaien got hit, he'd be torn to pieces.
"Sun Breathing: Fourth Form – Fake Rainbow!"
Swoosh—!
The dragon's claws sliced through Kaien's body.
But—nothing.
There was no resistance. No impact.
What?!
He had seen his attack connect. Yet there was nothing there.
It was an afterimage.
And with his dragon eyesight, he still hadn't noticed the switch.
Kaien now stood at his side.
"Sun Breathing: First Form – Dance!"
He unleashed a powerful, fiery arc of swordlight directly at the dragon's neck.
The dragon's face changed instantly. He raised his arm to block.
Squelch!!
"GRAAAHHHHH!!"
Blood sprayed as the dragon screamed in pain, his body sent flying backwards.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!
He smashed through trees, only stopping when he crashed into a massive one with a thunderous impact.
"He's hurt!!"