Chapter 300. Let's Make a Bet (2)
“Are you sure you can handle a punch from me without throwing up?”
The quick cry echoed across the plains, reaching even the ears of the ice dragon, who was preparing magic. Perhaps it was the absurdity of the challenge that made Tirannus tilt his head in confusion.
“What?”
The dragon felt baffled, an incredulous chuckle escaping him.
“What nonsense is this? You think your punch could make me, a dragon, vomit?”
“Yes!”
“Have you lost your mind in fear?”
“Not at all!”
“Seems like it. Don’t be too scared. It will be painless. You’ll simply lose consciousness, and it will all be over.”
As Tirannus scoffed and chuckled, his magic continued to charge. Lloyd’s plea became more desperate.
“I’m not insane! I’m serious! Are you perhaps scared to accept the challenge?”
That irritating cry kept pricking at the dragon’s ears. A frown formed on Tirannus’s face.
“Scared? Me?”
“Yes! In fact, it’s just one punch!”
Lloyd raised his fist, showcasing it bravely. He slammed it into the ground, channeling mana from his Mana Heart through a triple circle enhancement, smashing a rock on impact. He looked up triumphantly at the dragon.
“See? Did you see that?”
“Huh.”
The dragon’s chuckle deepened, his look of disbelief growing stronger.
“It’s absurd. You’re clearly trying to provoke me with that pitiful punch to bait me into a bet, aren’t you?”
“Yes, exactly!”
“You think such shallow tricks would work on me?”
“Yes!”
“Why?”
“Because it’s a bet I’m bound to lose!”
Lloyd’s cry took on a mournful tone, his eyes welling with tears as he rubbed his hands pleadingly at the dragon.
“Think from my perspective. I’m doomed either way, so I thought I’d feel less resentful if I tried such a bet…”
“Hmm.”
“Please, just grant this dying man’s wish and accept the bet just this once?”
“Must the bet be about this?”
“Yes, it would be great.”
“Why?”
“It would give me something to boast about in the afterlife, saying I punched a dragon in the solar plexus. Think of it as giving me a story to treasure instead of journey money to the afterlife.”
Lloyd’s eyes dripped with crocodile tears, his act filled with dramatic sorrow. Of course, it was all an act. He didn’t need any tales of valor in the afterlife; he wasn’t planning to die here at all. The tears were part of his ruse, a means to sway the dragon.
“Consider it, please? I’m also a member of the Dragon King’s support club. Wouldn’t it bother you a bit to kill me regardless? But if we make a bet, wouldn’t it give you a decent excuse?”
“Hmm, killing a human under the Dragon King’s patronage does feel slightly burdensome.”
“But if we bet, it changes the situation. It becomes a mutual agreement.”
“That does make sense.”
“Well then?”
“Hmm.”
Tirannus reluctantly nodded.
“Fine, your point has some merit.”
With that, the dragon’s magic halted. Lloyd breathed a sigh of relief and wiped his faux tears.
“Thank you for listening to a lowly human!”
“It’s nothing.”
“Truly, thank you!”
“Let’s proceed with the bet.”
“Alright. Shall we set the rules?”
“Rules?”
“Yes.”
They agreed on the conditions. Lloyd would punch Tirannus once in the solar plexus without any defensive actions from the dragon. If the dragon vomited, Lloyd would win; otherwise, Tirannus would extract the Heart of Winter from him.
“Shall we begin the bet here?”
“No, let’s move to another location.”
“Why?”
“It’s in the middle of the Centaur village. It’d be a nuisance if you ended up vomiting here.”
“Heh, I won’t vomit.”
“I believe so too, but just in case.”
“Fine, let’s go.”
They moved to the designated spot, a quiet area away from the village. Lloyd climbed up the dragon, reaching the designated spot to punch. He delivered a plain, simple punch.
Thud!
Nothing happened immediately. Time seemed to slow as everyone watched anxiously. But then,
Ding!
[Achievement Unlocked: <Solar Plexus!> Activated.]
[Your punch in water deeper than 50cm has activated the ‘Nausea Punch’, forcing even a dragon to vomit.]
As the notification popped up, the dragon began to retch dramatically.
“…Oh no!”
Thus, against all odds, Lloyd won the bet using his quick thinking and a bit of magical manipulation, turning what seemed like a hopeless situation into a triumphant victory over the mighty Tirannus.
