Volume 2 Chapter 7 ACT.29 Dark Night Fog Devours People (VI)
Following the blood trail left behind, the two raced through the gradually thinning night fog.
And then, as they turned into the alleyway ahead, it happened.
"────Senior Rai, what is this?"
"Ah, I'm done for."
Saying that, what lay before their gaze was a mass of *bloodstains and scattered flesh*.
"They dragged down their own kind, slaughtered them, and wiped out the traces!?"
"Ah, and this smell..."
"Smell?"
The flesh was not human────nor even of this world's creatures.
Because from that flesh and blood emanated a peculiar stench.
Probably Rize had no clue about this unique odor.
But both I and Rai did.
This was indeed the smell of *dragon's blood*.
"Those who attacked us now weren't just Reincarnator's kin. ────They were a dragon's horde."
* * *
────Dragons.
Their true nature, as the end result of Reincarnators who couldn't be reborn as humans, was widely known among those in the know.
Upon hearing 'dragon,' one often imagines a huge lizard with wings, but in this world, a dragon's form and ecology were greatly influenced by the *base* creature it originated from.
For instance, a dragon born from a fish would have the appearance and ecology of an aquatic reptile, while one from an insect would have a hard shell and a small stature.
Generally, they become somewhat larger than their original form, and take on a reptilian appearance, but their final size and shape vary wildly.
Indeed, it's not uncommon to find dragons the size of the fierce beasts Rai and the others fought.
────However.
"The case of dragons forming a horde has never been confirmed in the long history of the Holy Church."
A few hours after that night.
As the night fog cleared, they ceased their search and set off on their return journey to the church.
During that time, Rai spoke to Rize thus.
"But dragons have ecologies influenced by their original creatures, right? So if something with a grouping ecology was the base..."
To Rize's innocent question, Rai quietly shook his head.
"There are 2 reasons why that wouldn't happen."
Saying that, Rai first raised a finger and continued.
"First, the fundamental nature of dragons is that they are extremely ferocious and lack reason. They indiscriminately attack and devour even their own kind, so they have no ability to lead a pack."
"Ah, I see. Considering it that way, it actually means they have too high of an ability, so they are never led by their own kin."
"That's right. And the primary reason is──"
Raising his second finger, Rai continued.
"Dragons do not appear in numbers sufficient to form a pack."
"──Ah."
Dragons are originally failed Reincarnators.
Their total number is only slightly greater than that of proper Reincarnators.
Incidentally, the average number of dragons reported each year is 6.
Naturally, all of them originate from different beings.
"When similar dragons appear in numbers great enough to form a pack, at the same time and in the same place, it is an abnormal occurrence."
At that moment, Rize finally realized.
That this incident was a situation beyond her imagination.
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