Mushoku Tensei: Reincarnated as a Beast Race

The Blue Dragon Range rose imposingly against the horizon, a vast mountain chain that seemed to touch the heavens. Its jagged peaks were dusted with snow, while the lower slopes displayed dense forests and hidden valleys. Strong winds howled between the cliffs, carrying the echo of distant roars, a reminder to all who dared challenge this domain that the wildlife here was ruled by colossal winged creatures. The rising sun bathed the mountains in a golden hue, creating a striking contrast between the soft gleam of the snow and the deep shadows of the rocky formations.

Leaping nimbly between the mountains, a young beast boy navigated the terrain with remarkable agility. His silver hair reflected the glow of the rising sun, while his dark skin seemed to absorb the light, accentuating his golden eyes, which shimmered with intensity. This was Rygar, moving with the grace of a predator intimately familiar with his surroundings.

After obtaining a small map from the dwarf Brightstone, he had not hesitated. Determined, he immediately set out for the range. Fortwind had wanted to accompany him, but Rygar declined. "Go to Godbard and inform him that I'll work with Brightstone to improve my sword," he ordered before heading off alone.

Now, standing on a high peak, Rygar observed the path he had traveled. The mountains stretched in every direction, imposing and majestic, as the wind whipped against his body, bringing a sense of renewal. He took a deep breath, feeling the cold, rarefied air fill his lungs. In the distance, the sun slowly rose, painting the world in shades of orange and gold. It was as if the universe conspired to make this moment unforgettable.

The roars of dragons echoed far off, mingled with the occasional sounds of other monsters that inhabited the region. It was a wild symphony, a constant reminder of the dangers that surrounded this place. Yet, Rygar felt an inexplicable sense of freedom. He thought about his previous world. He had surpassed by leagues anything a human from his old life believed possible and even what most of his tribe in this world could achieve. That feeling was refreshing, a testament to his growth and how he had embraced the world he now called home.

He scanned the surroundings once more, absorbing the view. The mountain range extended as far as his eyes could see, with green forests in the distance and valleys hidden among the peaks. From that vantage point, he could even glimpse the edges of the Great Forest, a green mantle stretching to the horizon. His sharp senses caught every detail: the subtle sound of leaves in the distance, the fresh scent of vegetation mingled with the mineral aroma of the rocks. It was as if all of nature presented itself to him.

After a few moments of contemplation, he took a deep breath and resumed his journey. There was something about the mountain range that captivated him. As he ran, leaping from rock to rock, he thought that he might return here in the future, just to explore and once again enjoy this unique environment.

As he approached the point marked on the map, Rygar realized he no longer needed it. There was only one cave in the vicinity. From within, he could hear deep, steady breathing, and a slight shiver ran down his spine—a primal sense of danger. This was the place.

He took out the black cloak Brightstone had given him and put it on. Immediately, he felt his own scent disappear. With his keen sense of smell, he could barely detect any trace of his own presence. Next, he donned the triangular-shaped necklace around his neck. As soon as he did, the sound around him vanished. The absence of noise was disconcerting but also effective. Once again, he marveled at the quality and potential of magical items.

"Even with my senses, I can barely perceive my own presence. These items are incredible," he thought. The usefulness of these tools reinforced his ideas about the value magical items could hold in this world. It was something he could not afford to ignore.

With that in mind, Rygar unsheathed Tsukikage, the gift from his Master, which reflected the faint light within the cave. His steps were silent as he moved deeper into the darkness. The dragon's breathing grew louder with each step, and the tension in the air heightened.

The air inside the cave was dense, steeped in a darkness that seemed to swallow all light. The walls, uneven and covered with patches of phosphorescent moss, gave the space a macabre atmosphere. The ground, littered with sharp stones and fragments of bones, crunched under Rygar's deliberate steps. The acrid, metallic scent of old blood lingered in the air, mingling with the moisture dripping rhythmically from stalactites overhead. The sound was muffled, almost nonexistent, but Rygar could feel the immense presence ahead before even seeing it.

There, in the heart of the cave, lying atop a massive rock surrounded by bones, was the White-Eyed Blue Dragon. Its sleek, aerodynamic body defied the stereotype of a cumbersome creature. It measured about forty to fifty meters in length, with scales that gleamed under the faint light, appearing as though carved from sapphire. Its triangular head, adorned with spikes, held enormous, wide-open eyes that stared unblinkingly at the cave entrance. The bones around it told grim tales: crushed dwarf skulls and shattered beast ribs lay scattered amidst a bluish mist that slowly escaped the dragon's nostrils, drifting through the air.

Rygar held his breath for a moment, his heart pounding. The dragon's eyes were open and fixed, as if watching him directly, but the creature's rhythmic breathing revealed it was asleep. It was strange and unnerving, but it made sense—the dragon was blind. Even so, its other senses were undoubtedly sharp. This was an S-rank beast, a mutant among its kind, with exceptional strength and speed. Few had survived encounters with it, and most accounts claimed no weapon could pierce its scales. Rygar was confident in his speed and strength but certainly didn't want to test them against a mutant S-rank monster.

Rygar knew he had to be swift and decisive; otherwise, the battle would drag on. He didn't underestimate the creature, but neither could he retreat. His strategy was clear: kill it before the dragon became aware of his presence. He prepared Tsukikage, the blue sword resembling the dragon's scales, and assumed an Iaido stance, channeling magic into the blade. Streaks of lightning coiled around the sword, illuminating Rygar's determined face in the dim light. Fire wouldn't be as effective against a dragon, but electricity was another matter. Though his control over lightning was still limited and not something he would typically use in combat, this ambush scenario was different. He knew a well-placed strike could make all the difference.

The dragon still hadn't noticed him, a testament to the effectiveness of the items. It couldn't see, hear, or smell him now.

With lightning crackling around the blade, Rygar took a step back, charging his Burst Step to maximum power. He cast a physical barrier spell infused with a significant amount of mana at the cave entrance to prevent the dragon from escaping. Brightstone had mentioned that the creature possessed above-average intelligence for dragons, and Rygar wasn't about to underestimate that information. Everything was ready. With a single thought, he surged forward, becoming a blur of speed as he executed his most familiar technique: the Longsword of Light.

The sword sliced through the air with blinding speed, aiming straight for the dragon's neck. But before it could strike its target, Rygar noticed a contraction in the creature's neck muscles. The dragon suddenly reared back, throwing its body with surprising agility and mobility. Its movement was almost graceful, confirming the dwarves' warnings: it was incredibly fast for something of its size. As it retreated, the dragon let out a low, guttural roar, but Rygar was already on the move.

"It sensed the movement of the air!" Rygar thought, shocked. Even so, his strike wouldn't be stopped so easily—the dragon had only moved slightly back when Rygar closed the gap. The lightning-wreathed blade slashed toward the dragon's neck. The cut was visceral. Tsukikage grew sharper and sturdier the hotter it became, and the lightning provided supreme heat, capable of reaching extraordinary temperatures. The blue blade was honed to its maximum, but Rygar still felt resistance as it cut through the dragon's scales, as if they were made of an exceptionally tough mineral. However, the lightning around the sword and his immense physical strength helped him break through the defenses, slicing halfway into the dragon's neck, leaving a trail of blood staining the surrounding rocks.

The dragon recoiled again, unleashing a deafening roar. Blood gushed from the wound, mixing with the blue mist emanating from its nostrils. The pain seemed to ignite the dragon's fury, causing it to thrash wildly, but every movement only worsened the injury. Rygar took a slight step back, his senses on high alert. The battle was nearing its end—he had gravely wounded the monster, and fighting in this condition would be extremely disadvantageous for it. Now, he needed to prepare for a decisive final strike. He began analyzing the dragon's next move and quickly formulated an idea.

The cavern fell into an almost absolute silence, broken only by the occasional sound of small stones shifting—silent witnesses to a battle yet to unfold. The Blue Dragon, an imposing creature about fifty meters long, moved nimbly through the space, as if fearing to stay still and become a target. Its lean but powerful frame betrayed its mutant origin. The wound on its neck continued to bleed, thick drops mixing with the dust and bones scattered across the ground. The fine mist from its nostrils enveloped the area, making the air heavy and oppressive.

Despite its impressive vitality, the dragon was already showing signs of fatigue. Its dull eyes scanned the cavern in a desperate attempt to locate Rygar. But the beast-boy was entirely camouflaged, his magical items masking any sound or scent that could betray him. Even if the dragon were to look straight at him, it wouldn't see him. Rygar remained motionless, focusing his magic on a stone cannon aimed at the dragon's likely location. Carefully manipulating its composition, he transformed it into an extremely resilient metal. Every second was precious, and Rygar used the time to prepare an explosive strike.

When the Blue Dragon, unable to detect its opponent, attempted to release its signature flames to ignite the entire cavern, its body betrayed it. The wound on its neck caused it to choke on the flames, which escaped through the exposed gash, delivering excruciating pain. A groan of agony echoed through the cavern, but its vitality kept it standing, though unsteady. Instincts warned the dragon of imminent danger. Fleeing was the only sensible choice. In a single fluid motion, the dragon dashed toward the cavern's entrance, its scales scraping against the rocks as it moved with surprising agility for its size.

However, as it reached the entrance, its skull collided violently with an invisible barrier, and the impact reverberated throughout the space. A significant crack formed in the barrier, but it wasn't enough to break it. Before the dragon could react, Rygar seized the moment of confusion. The stone cannon, now dark as obsidian, fired with relentless force and precision.

The creature, though unstable, tried to dodge by jerking its head to the side, but it wasn't enough. The Stone Cannon pierced through the dragon's neck near the previous wound, completing what the initial strike had started. The dragon's head was severed from its body, which convulsed in involuntary spasms. Blood flowed in rivers across the cavern floor as silence fell once more, interrupted only by the dripping of vital liquid.

Rygar stood beside the imposing corpse, observing the result of his strategy. Reflecting, he thought, "Information and preparation truly are dangerous weapons. If I had encountered this dragon in the middle of the mountains, it would be hard to say who would win. Its strength, speed, the resilience of its scales, and its ability to fly would make it an incredibly dangerous opponent." Still, he believed he would have a chance, though the confrontation would be far riskier.

This realization underscored the importance of always being prepared. Today, he was the hunter, but if he could exploit the abilities and weaknesses of this dragon, others could surely do the same to him. He had witnessed firsthand how easily an enemy could be ambushed if their skills were known and natural counters were available. From now on, he decided to keep some of his abilities hidden as trump cards. At the same time, he acknowledged a hint of arrogance, even if unconscious, in his actions. This realization came despite constant reminders to himself and warnings from others.

Turning to the corpse, Rygar resolved to make full use of the dragon's resources. Activating his Magic Eye, he searched for the Blue Dragon's magic stone. Once he found it, he carefully retrieved it, aware of its immense value. He wouldn't leave the precious scales behind either and planned to take the entire creature back with him. First, though, he crouched and placed a hand on the ground, closing his eyes to focus. Utilizing his heightened sense of hearing and earth sensitivity, he searched for other Blue Dragons or subterranean activity. This ability, honed after learning the King-level magic Earth Fissure from his master, proved invaluable.

Gradually, he detected distant movement, kilometers away. Faint sounds of impact and struggle echoed through the underground. He frowned, pondering. "Perhaps the Blue Dragons are simply fighting each other," he thought. He planned to hunt more dragons—his visits to this area would be rare, and dragon materials were both precious and scarce. He also had his mission from the adventurers' guild and certainly wouldn't use the mutant dragon's scales to complete it.

Concluding his investigation, Rygar created an improvised stone box and used ice magic to preserve the dragon's meat. Perhaps it would yield an exceptional feast—after all, he had never tasted dragon meat before. With everything prepared, he turned toward the sounds of battle, determined to hunt more dragons.