I Got Reincarnated As A Dragon

Chapter 8: Dryad vs Holy knight

Amidst the chaos, fear and desperation were palpable amongst the surviving humans.

Panic was on the brink of setting in, when a voice of bravery shattered the silence.

"I am a holy knight, in service to one of the human kings. Reveal yourself!" The holy knight stepped forward with unwavering conviction, not only eager to lay eyes on the one behind the attack but also hoping to provide reassurance to those around him.

The mysterious entity, Dryad, remained hidden, but her voice echoed through the forest. "Is this the decree of the entire human empire or just a decision of the northern region's king?"

"Let's just say it's the northern region's decision, made for the greater good of humanity," replied the leader of the adventurers.

The holy knight swiftly cut in, "That's enough. We do not owe any explanations to the enemy, especially not to this one."

"Now show yourself, or we will continue to destroy this forest until we are done with our goal," said the holy knight.

Dryad didn't respond, instead she unleashed her wrath upon the humans. Giant plant monsters rose from the earth, snatching those who stood in their path.

"We have to act," declared the holy knight, turning to the commander of the adventurers.

The commander, with a cunning smile, tightened his grip on his massive ax. "Yeah," he replied.

"You take care of the others. I'll take care of this mysterious individual," said the holy knight.

"Be careful," warned the adventurer's commander as the holy knight prepared to engage.

With his sword planted firmly in the ground, the holy knight closed his eyes and summoned the power of the holy light.

The light waves swept across the forest, finally honing in on Dryad's location.

"Found you," said the holy knight as he charged forward, slicing through every root that dared to stand in his way.

With a powerful leap, he launched a sword strike deep into the forest.

(Boom!) The explosion echoed through the trees, and when the dust cleared, Dryad stood amidst a wall of roots, barely protected.

Frowning, Dryad swiftly dismantled the wall, and the two stood facing each other in a showdown.

The roots once again rose from the earth, launching towards the holy knight.

"Holy light boots," he muttered, as the dazzling light shined beneath his feet. He dodged and sliced, but the bark of the roots proved too tough to be cut.

Realizing that getting close to Dryad was his best chance, he shifted his strategy from offense to defense, dodging the roots as best he could.

But the roots were too fast, and the holy knight was soon hit and sent flying back.

Crashing hard to the ground, he was badly injured, but he refused to give up. Just as he stood, little green vines wrapped around his foot, anchoring him to the ground.

Dryad summoned a massive tree palm, ready to crush the holy knight.

But before the impact could occur, the adventurer's commander, nicknamed Brute, intervened, stopping the tree palm with his ax.

"Quickly, free yourself!" he shouted as the weight of the tree began to crush him.

The holy knight quickly picked up his sword, but to his surprise, it broke upon striking the vines.

In a moment of desperation, he summoned a sword made of pure light elements, similar to a lightsaber.

The blade easily cut through the vines, freeing both him and Brute.

"Are you alright?" asked the holy knight as he helped Brute to his feet.

"Yeah, but she's tough," he replied, panting.

As the holy knight and Brute stood before the imposing figure of Dryad, the spirit of the forest, the former spoke with determination in his voice. "I know it's going to take both of us to defeat her. I have a plan, but I need your help," he declared.

Brute gave a curt nod of agreement, his eyes narrowing in resolve.

The two warriors exchanged a meaningful glance, their bond strengthened by the task at hand.

Dryad watched with growing frustration as the two men approached her.

These humans never learned to leave her forest in peace.

With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a monstrous plant to stand in their way.

The clang of steel filled the air as the holy knight and Brute fought with all their might.

Their swords sliced through the air, and the echoes of their battle resounded through the trees.

"Tch“ Dryad was annoyed, so she quickly changed her tactics, sending roots to ensnare the knight, but he was ready.

With a swift swing of his light-element saber, he cut through the roots and pressed forward.

The battle raged on, with Dryad unleashing every attack she had in her arsenal.

But the holy knight was relentless, and soon he stood before her, his sword held high. "I've got you now," he crowed, leaping towards her.

Dryad stomped the ground, and four pillars of tree roots shot up.

"Huh?" The knight was scared because he couldn't dodge this in mid-air.

The roots pierced the holy knight one after the other, impaling the knight.

The onlookers were horrified at the sight, but their shock only grew as Dryad suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

She turned to see the grinning face of the holy knight, his sword plunged deep into her back.

She has been pierced in the back by someone she didn't expect.

She then looks at the dead body hanging on the root, which is now dissolving into light particles.

"A clone?“ She was surprised when, instead of the knight replying, he pushed the light-element saber further into her, making her cough up more blood.

As she fell to the ground, her body dissolving into nothingness, the roots and plant monsters around them began to wither.

The survivors of the battle let out a triumphant cheer, despite their losses.

Brute approached the holy knight, offering him a hand. "We should turn around and report to his majesty," he said, surveying the devastated forest around them.

The knight nodded, his wounds making it difficult for him to stand. "We are still not sure if we have eliminated the threat his majesty ordered us to destroy," he replied.

Brute looked around them, his eyes taking in the extent of the damage. "I am certain we have eliminated any beasts that pose a threat to humanity. Do you think any creature could survive this level of destruction to the forest? You are injured, we lost more than half of our team, and those still alive are tired and wounded," he pointed out logically.

With a sigh, the knight agreed. "You're right. Let's go report our success to his majesty." The two warriors turned and made their way back, the echoes of their battle slowly fading into silence.

---

The sky was awash with the tears that streamed down Elvis' face, and his heart was heavy with a sense of loss that was almost palpable. He was gripped by an inexplicable sense of sadness, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something of great import had been taken from him. "What a strange and sorrowful sensation," he whispered to himself.