"Tell me something! Want to see if a punch from me will make you vomit?"
Punch...! Punch...! Punch...! Lloyd's shouts echoed across the plain and pierced into Tyrannus's ears.
"What?" Flustered, Tyrannus cocked his head. A dumbstruck smile escaped it. "What gibberish are you talking about? Are you asking me whether a punch from you will make me, a dragon, vomit?"
"Yes!" Lloyd shut his eyes and yelled.
"Have you lost your grip on reality out of sheer fright?"
"No!!!"
"I believe you have. But do not be too afraid. It will be painless. Loosen up. Everything will all be over as you slowly lose consciousness like someone drifting into sleep," appeased Tyrannus.
Fwoosh... Tyrannus was still preparing to cast his magic even as he smirked and cocked his head.
Lloyd hurriedly yelled, "I have not lost my mind! I am serious! Are you avoiding my question because you're scared?"
Scared...! Scared...! Scared... The shout echoed into Tyrannus's ears again. A furrow appeared in between his brows.
"Ha!" puffed Tyrannus. "Scared?! Me?"
"Yes! I actually have a very strong punch!"
Lloyd held up his fist and boldly swayed it around. Then he slammed the ground after depositing amplified mana into his fist. A rock on the ground cracked sideways. He confidently stared up at the ice dragon.
"What now? Did you see that?"
"Ha..."
The scoff on Tyrannus's face deepened. His eyes contained dismay as they looked down on Lloyd. "You struck me by surprise. You are as transparent as a glass. I can see right through you. You just threw a weak punch on purpose to bait me into your game, didn't you?"
"Yes, that's right!"
"Do you think your shallow tactic would work on me?"
"Yes!"
"Why is that?"
"Because one way or another, I'm going to lose!"
Lose...! Lose...! Lose...
Lloyd's shout, which had turned sorrowful, traveled into Tyrannus's ears again. His eyes were wet with tears. Rubbing his hands and pathetically pleading to Ice Dragon Tyrannus, Lloyd wailed, "The truth is, even my mighty punch will be nothing to you. But please think about it. My death is inevitable in any case, but I'll be able to die with a little more peace if you entertain my silly bet..."
"Hmm."
"So, I entreat you, Great Ice Dragon Tyrannus. Could you please grant a dying man's wish and accept my wager?"
"Tsk," tutted Tyrannus, "But does the wager really have to be over a punch?"
"Yes. I would like it to be."
"Why?"
"So that..." Lloyd's voice broke. "I'll have something to brag about in the underworld. I'll be able to say I punched the pit of a dragon's stomach when I was alive. Please grant this one wish. Think of it as gifting me a brag-worthy experience before you send me to the underworld, would you?"
“...”
"You suddenly appeared to confiscate the Heart of Winter, even when doing so would kill me, and I've been holding onto it without any problems until now. I am sure you could at least extend that act of kindness, won't you?" And now, tears began to roll down from Lloyd's eyes. They ran down his cheeks and dropped to the ground. His nose started to get wet. But Lloyd didn't care about his unsightly appearance.
Of course, my words aren't sincere! How could I be sincere right now?
Lloyd didn't need any story to brag about in Hell. He only wanted to make it out alive and survive this situation as slaving away on earth was much better than in the underworld. As such, his large drops of tears were all part of an act.
"So, please," howled Lloyd. "Think about it, Your Excellency. I am an honored patron of the Dragon King. Even though you say you'll kill me regardless of that fact, don't you still feel a bit guilty about it? But if we make a wager, you will have a good reason to do it, Lord Tyrannus, I mean, Great Dragon King! Won't it?"
"Hmm," observed Tyrannus, "That way, I won't be thoughtlessly killing a human sponsored by my son, Verkis."
"That's exactly right! That would be a completely different story. Why? Because then you would be killing me for a justifiable reason."
"That does seem true..."
"Doesn't it, My King? Doesn't it?"
"Hmm..." Tyrannus mused as he nodded.
Come to think of it, he has a point.
It was true. Tyrannus felt slightly uncomfortable about killing a patron of his son, Dragon King Verkis. It was the case even if he was doing so to confiscate the Heart of Winter.
But it'll be another story once I accept the wager since betting is an act of mutual agreement and promise.
So, even if I kill that man, Tyrannus thought, it will be justified as it had been done under mutual consent. Thus, his reputation wouldn't be damaged in any way.
At last, Tyrannus nodded. "I see. You have a point."
Psssh... Lloyd heaved a sigh of relief when he saw the dragon pause his magic spell. "Thank you for granting the wish of an irrelevant human!" cried Lloyd in a shaky voice as he wiped tears off his face.
"It's nothing."
"I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart!"
"Let's get right to it."
"Yes." Lloyd's voice was lighter now. "I wish to set the rules to the wagers first."
"Rules to the wagers?"
"Yes." Lloyd nodded and reeled off, "A man's life is at stake. Wouldn't it be better to set down the rules so no one will argue about them later?"
"Well, you are right."
"That's why the rules must be determined."
"Well... Suit yourself."
"Thank you. In short, I am going to lay one punch to the pit of your stomach. The exact location will be in your upper abdomen, and you are not allowed to defend yourself in any way."
"I just have to get punched once?"
"Yes."
"And what if I'm unharmed?" asked Tyrannus.
"Then you win. But if you vomit, I win."
"Ha. Vomit? Well, fine."
"Thank you for your generosity."
"Don't thank me. Your punch won't be enough to make me retch. Anyhow, if I win, I'm taking the Heart of Winter. Happy?"
"Yes. But if I win, I keep the Heart of Winter."
"I accept. Although, that won't happen."
"Well... I can't disagree with you." Lloyd sighed with a bitter and wistful gaze.
Feeling slightly pitiful for Lloyd, Tyrannus asked, "Are we doing it here?"
"No. I would like for us to move somewhere else."
"Move? Why?"
"We are in the village of the centaurs right now."
"So?"
"If you really throw up against all odds by chance, it'll be troublesome for the centaurs here."
"Haha. There is no way I will throw up."
"I think so, too," reasoned Lloyd, "But you can never be too careful."
"Tsk... Fine."
Tyrannus was struck by surprise once again. The more he conversed with that human, the more flustered he became. But he was willing to grant the dying man's wish.
He didn't rudely resist or fight back because he didn't want to die.
That part about Lloyd pleased Tyrannus. Eventually, he nodded.
"All right. We will move to wherever you desire."
"Thank you! Thank you!"
"Get moving now."
"Yes!"
Lloyd clenched his fists and swiveled in a hurry, smothering a smile. He strutted out of the village, past the gazes of the terrified centaurs who were watching him and Tyrannus in their stables.
"Master Lloyd, have you gone mad?" Javier, who immediately came to his side, whispered seriously. "What do you mean you'll punch the dragon and make him vomit? Do you have a plan in mind?"
"Yeah."
"You cannot possibly think this is possible."
"I do. Of course, I do." Lloyd grinned with a smile. "And I'm going to win this wager."
"How on earth will you do that?"
"Skillfully."
Javier was rendered speechless. He tried to make sense of Lloyd's plan but failed. He was planning to make the dragon vomit by merely punching the pit of his stomach?
Javier's face clouded with worry. Could it be that Lloyd lost his ability to make proper judgments? And was that the reason why he bet his life on such a hopeless and impossible bet? Javier wondered. Could it be that the sudden appearance of the menacing dragon and his deadly demands propelled him to make a poor decision? Could that be the reason behind his foolish confidence?
"Master Lloyd." Javier stared at Lloyd with an unsmiling look.
"Yeah. What?"
"This will not do." Javier's voice dripped with alarm.
"What won't?"
"You are making a bad decision here. It's not too late now. Prepare yourself, Master Lloyd."
"For what?" Meanwhile, Lloyd's voice was cheery.
"To run away. I will buy you some time."
"You plan on fighting that dragon?"
"Yes."
"Tsk. Don't even try."
"But Master Lloyd. Now is your last chance-"
"Do I look like I've gone mad?" said Lloyd.
“...”
"Answer me. Do I look like someone who's lost his mind?"
Javier was about to answer yes when Lloyd spoke first. "Who was it that said he would trust in my seemingly deranged behavior?"
“...”
"You said that," reminded Lloyd. "Those were your words. It goes the same right now. Do I look like I've lost it? In that case, trust me."
"But Master Lloyd-"
"I'm doing this for a reason." Lloyd didn't let Javier finish. "I've got a plan. So, do what you have to do when I fail. Got it?"
“...”
"When that happens, I won't need to be convinced to run for my life. Okay, we're here."
Lloyd stopped. They were hundreds of yards away from the Stone and Wind tribe and near the creek that provided drinking water to the centaur tribe.
"Great Tyrannus, this is the place where I wish we complete our wager."
"Is that so? This doesn't seem to be a particularly special place." Tyrannus spoke after surveying around.
"That should be the case. To be honest, I just wanted to prepare myself during my walk here," confessed Lloyd.
"Is that why you whispered to that silver-haired fellow beside you?"
"Yes, I wanted to at least bid farewell to him."
The confident smile Lloyd had flashed toward Javier on his way was no longer there. The moment he turned to face the dragon, he put on the saddest face he could pull off to match the I-am-going-to-die-soon and I-don't-want-to-die energy.
"Please get ready," Lloyd said as he looked up at the dragon, biting his underlip. His face was slightly pale. "Please stand over there."
"I will do that."
Boom! Stomp! Tyrannus got into position.
Lloyd tilted his head a little. "I am really sorry about this, but could you take half a step to your left?"
"Why is that?"
"I fear my punch will not land properly from where you are standing right now. This is my only chance, so I wish to give it my best shot."
"If you say so," the dragon snorted, thinking that Lloyd would lose anyway and doing what he was told to. In the process, his left foot went into the creek.
Splash! Even though the creek was relatively deep, going down as low as the waist for the humans, the dragon didn't care at all because he was gigantic. To him, stepping into a 3-foot-deep creek was the same as a human stepping on a slightly wet bathroom tile.
"Well then, let us begin."
Grrrr... The dragon stood on his two feet and raised his forearms high in the air, revealing his abdomen toward Lloyd.
"Come at me, human."
"I know."
Lloyd nodded. Wearing a determined face, he climbed the dragon's hind leg like he was hiking, moving past the thigh and stomach until he reached the dragon's upper abdomen.
"I will punch you now."
"Be my guest."
Lloyd raised his right fist and clenched it tight. Then he thrust it ahead. His fist was bare, without being supported by his mana or mana circle rotation. The punch was superbly mediocre. The same went for the sound of its impact.
Bam! A soft thumping sound arose like someone hit a table with their fist. That was it. Ten seconds passed. Nothing consequential took place. The sight drained color from everyone's faces. Javier gravely grabbed his sheath. Yong Yong got ready to charge. Tyrannus broke into laughter.
"Okay," announced Tyrannus, "I accepted to make a wager as you said. Here is the result. To your misfortune, nothing happened to me despite your punch-"
Just then, right before Tyrannus could finish his victory speech...
Ding dong.
[<Upper Abdomen! Upper Abdomen! Upper Abdomen!> has been activated.]
[You have struck the abdomen of someone under 20 inches of water. The condition "Any terrain that has a water level of above 20 inches, which includes seas, rivers, lakes, and bathtubs" has been satisfied.]
[The <Upper Abdomen Jab> that enables you to empty anyone's stomach with just one jab has been activated.]
A welcoming message appeared in front of Lloyd's eyes. At the same time...
Blerghh!!! Ice Dragon Tyrannus vomited.
