I Have a Task Log

CLANG CLANG CLANG. The sound of impacts echoed off his Plate Armor. Colin raised an arm, letting the flying ice shards gash his palm as he unhurriedly began to chant a Spell, facing the White Dragon’s position.

HUMMM!

A tremendous, reverberating boom overpowered the howling wind in his ears.

The white mist obscuring his vision began to dissipate rapidly, revealing that the roof beneath the White Dragon’s feet had already collapsed under the effect of [Shatter].

The massive creature began to flail, scrambling to grab onto the surrounding rooftops.

However, the rooftops, already battered and broken by the Giant Dragon, couldn’t possibly withstand such abuse.

Every spot the White Dragon grabbed failed to support its terrifying weight, and it could only watch helplessly as it plunged into the Church’s main hall.

Colin tossed aside the Mica Plate and quickly drew out the Spider Web Corps, a strip of Beast Hide, and a glass rod.

His hands had already begun to turn black, a sign of necrosis.

Thanks to a [Healing Potion], his fingers could still move, albeit with difficulty.

Colin took out the Spider Web Corps first and chanted a Spell toward the area below.

The White Dragon, having landed inside the Church, was surveying its surroundings. The doors were far too small for it to exit. Just as it attempted to scale the walls, a mass of webbing exploded in the center of the Church.

The sticky, magical spiderweb instantly adhered to the Church’s walls, ceiling, floor, and the White Dragon caught within.

"Aisethelon will kill you, Wizard! Aisethelon is angry!"

The White Dragon’s furious roar came from below.

Standing on the roof, Colin could see it struggling furiously.

Because the Church’s structure was already damaged, the sticky webbing didn’t tear. Instead, the White Dragon’s struggles pulled on the surrounding bricks and tiles, causing them to crash down inside.

The more the White Dragon struggled, the more entangled it became.

Colin tossed aside the Spider Web Corps, his hands firmly gripping the glass rod and the strip of Beast Hide.

He rubbed the Beast Hide against the glass rod. As he chanted the Spell, the energy of the Magic Net rapidly gathered into crackling sparks, finally coalescing into a constantly flickering current of electricity.

The final syllable of the Spell fell from his lips.

Colin swung the glass rod in his hand. [Lightning Bolt]!

CRACK!

The white lightning, like a great Javelin, pierced the White Dragon’s body. The intense electrical discharge ignited the flammable webbing, and the roaring flames instantly engulfed the entire dragon.

"ROOOAR!!!"

The White Dragon let out an unprecedented, bloodcurdling shriek of agony.

Its struggles grew even more violent, and the main structure of the Church began to collapse rapidly. Fortunately, Colin, who was standing near the bell tower, was not caught in the destruction.

Under the searing heat of the Flame, the webbing began to burn away quickly.

Free once more, the White Dragon ignored the net of fire clinging to its body. It dug its claws into a wall that hadn’t yet collapsed, leaped high with a few powerful bounds, and with a great FWOOSH of its wings, it slowly took flight on the wind.

The White Dragon, now mangled beyond recognition, flapped its weakened wings and flew forward unsteadily.

It wailed desperately in the sky, "Aisethelon will remember you! Aisethelon will remember this! Aisethelon will have its revenge!"

’But you won’t get the chance...’

Colin used his last ounce of strength to lean his body, letting gravity pull him into a sprint down the slowly crumbling roof toward the eaves.

He drew [Burning Blood] and, reaching out, swiped his hand forcefully across the blade.

Tendrils of blood rapidly seeped into the sword, instantly filling every groove in the steel.

He chanted a Spell, and a silver mist enveloped the edges of his vision.

Before the silver mist could even dissipate, Colin immediately chanted another Spell.

In the next instant, Colin found himself in midair, face to face with the enormous Dragon Head.

The Spiritual Light erupting from [Emerald Flame Sword] and [Burning Blood] merged, dyeing the Flame a brilliant, blinding red.

This red light was as bright as a thousand suns, casting its glow into every corner of the battlefield and even piercing through the dark clouds in the sky.

Colin thrust the sword forward without hesitation.

CLANG!

Sparks exploded against the White Dragon’s neck frill. The flaming blade plunged into it without resistance, sinking until the sword was buried to the hilt in the Dragon Head.

Colin worked the hilt, twisting it forcefully. The White Dragon’s body convulsed twice, then lost control and began to plummet.

The wind roared in his ears.

Falling with the White Dragon, Colin felt like he was nothing more than a ragdoll being flung about.

He expected to be thrown clear, but his numb hands held fast to the sword’s hilt with surprising strength, gripping it in a death lock.

Finally, a massive THUD erupted in front of him.

The hand gripping the sword jolted violently, and Colin’s entire body was thrown to the ground.

"Hhha... hhha..."

Utterly spent, Colin lay on the ground. He could feel his chest heaving uncontrollably, but no matter how he breathed, he felt an inexplicable sense of suffocation.

The heart in his chest was beating desperately, trying to save its master.

Bloody foam kept welling up from his throat into his mouth, but now, Colin didn’t even have the strength left to taste it.

He turned his head to look at the distant battlefield.

The village walls had completely fallen. The Kobolds of the Dragon Worship Cult had already stormed the streets. Even with the White Dragon’s death, their morale hadn’t wavered in the slightest.

’Looks like the decapitation strike failed...’

Feeling utterly exhausted, Colin turned his head back and looked up at the sky.

A few cracks had opened in the dark clouds above.

Sunlight streamed through these small gaps, forming warm curtains of light in the air.

The clouds drifted, and a sliver of sunlight fell upon Colin.

Perhaps it was a trick of the mind, or maybe a final burst of life before death, but he felt an inexplicable trace of warmth, even though his battered shell of a body had long gone numb.

"Colin, Colin..."

Ale’s voice reached his ears. His Helmet was removed, and then he was pulled into her embrace.

The Half-Elf didn’t look to be in good shape either. She had a rather gruesome wound on her shoulder. Those winged Cultists must have been difficult opponents to handle.

"I’m sorry, my Potions, Colin... I’ve already used them all."

"It’s... it’s okay..."

As soon as Colin spoke, a warm gush of fluid flowed from his mouth.

"Colin, don’t be scared. I won’t let you die. Just a moment, it’ll be okay. No matter what you see, don’t be afraid..." Ale rambled, and for the first time, Colin saw such a panicked expression on her face.

The young woman then reached into her collar and pulled out a necklace.

Colin was suddenly struck with a foreboding premonition.

A sudden surge of strength flowed through his powerless body. He quickly reached out, pressed the back of her hand, and said, "Don’t. Just run, Ale. Get out of here..."

"Don’t be afraid. I’ll get you out of here, Colin."

Ale’s expression was resolute as her fingers slowly closed around the pendant on her necklace.

"ROAR—!"

The roar of a bear suddenly echoed from the distance.

Colin and Ale instinctively turned their heads.

A giant white bear charged out of the forest, plowing into the Kobold formation like a freight train. Its massive forepaws swung relentlessly, creating a wake of mangled corpses.

The short creatures were powerless to stop this mighty foe; the Short Spears they threw couldn’t even pierce the white bear’s thick hide.

Immediately after, a volley of Arrows flew from behind the white bear.

Figures clad in Cloaks and wielding Short Bows emerged from the trees.

Their attire was varied; they looked like Foresters and Rangers from the surrounding villages.

Then, a golden light flashed on the other side of the Kobold formation. Colin could faintly make out the figures of some Plate Armor Warriors. Judging by their appearance, they had to be Paladins.

’So that Signal Flare before the battle really was from friendlies?’

Just as he was thinking this, Colin suddenly spotted a figure at the edge of the battlefield.

It was a man wearing a worn-out Cloak and a Plate Armor Chest Guard. His equipment was unremarkable, no different from that of a down-on-his-luck Knight.

With just one glance, Colin immediately recognized him.

It was his direct superior, the Legendary Paladin, Edwin Helder.

The Paladin currently had one hand resting on the hilt of his sword, silently watching the distant sky.

Colin instantly felt a wave of relief. ’Alright. As long as Edwin’s here, everything should be fine. At least the village is sure to be saved.’

’But what is he looking at...?’

Colin turned his head to look as well.

He saw a thundercloud, which occasionally flashed with white light, hovering not far in the distance.

The cloud was very strange.

It was far too small to be a rain cloud, and its perfectly round, spherical shape could not possibly be a natural formation.

Just looking at that dark cloud gave Colin a terrible feeling, a feeling even worse than when he had faced the White Dragon.

’What in the world could that be?’

Before Colin could figure it out, his energy gave out completely, and he couldn’t stop his eyes from closing.