Rosario + Vampiric Dragon Chapter 30 (Patreon)

In the weeks I had been at this school of monsters... Things were well on my end. I was a literal dragon and most monsters barely had anything more dangerous than some conjured flames.

And any monster species that had more esoteric abilities or was some kind of wizard/witch that could freely use magic? They rightfully didn't want to be on my bad side as they knew I was a walking font of the most valuable supernatural catalysts in the world.

Seriously. The fact that there were two magical-based monsters that wanted to collect my sweat to be used as a base to a potion should say enough... To say nothing of the monsters or people who asked for more intimate samples.

Though I obviously refused all such requests as little Yukari Sendo was great proof in voodoo being a thing.

Seeing as the principal was playing some kind of game I decided to meet him halfway... And had Kuyo set the time of the duel the very next day at high noon just to be an ass and not give anyone any time to make more of a spectacle out of this.

The following day I awoke and went about my daily ablutions and with the girls with me along with Tamao meeting up with a group of her retainer mermaid... Maids.

'Why does a maid mermaid or mermaid maid leave such a weird feeling on the tongue.' I thought but shook aside the thought as I nibbled on a small early lunch in the middle of class.

Even Nekonome wasn't even bothering to teach as the entire classroom was filled with tension as the entire school knew that I was locked into a battle to the death with Kuyo. To say nothing of how having two dozen mermaids standing with their arms crossed under their chests was distracting the class as they stood behind their princess in Tamao. 

"Alright, Nokonome. I am heading off." I spoke with a clatter of chairs moving about making both me and the teacher's lips twitch as all the students with no shame stood up to follow me.

I shrugged and gave my girls a look making them give a wane smile as they followed me directly with Kurumu and Tamao taking an arm of my mine into their chests as we left the classroom and as sounds of three dozen something students left my classroom... The other classrooms followed suit with their students following behind my crowd with some of the teachers shouting out in annoyance or just going with the flow and merging with the crowd.

'This is less about me a big scary dragon fighting the terrible evil kitsune. No this is also about a Freshmen standing up to the stronger older seniors beyond Kuyo.' I thought as I saw the excitement in the freshmen's eyes.

"You ready?" Tamao asked quietly and I gave a wry smile before answering frankly.

"Even if I wasn't. It doesn't matter at this point now does it?" Tamao sniffed as my words were all too true. If I was a coward and bitched out of this fight... I would have less than zero credibility and even if Kuyo decided to let me go. I had no doubt that the worms and dregs of the school wouldn't try to forcibly harvest me for materials as they would think me weak.

And to be frank. I had seen people die already in this school even if it was surprisingly rare due to how durable a monster typically was. So I was ready to do what needed to be done to Kuyo as he was the one who literally wrote me a letter of challenge.

The site of the battle was set for a large clearing in the woods and as the enlarging crowd arrived to the large clearing my lips twitched seeing a large set of stone bleachers that had obviously been raised up by magic with the magic scars of the solid stone seating radiating. And standing atop the large stone structure was the principal Tenmei Mikogami who was talking with Kuyo.

I met his glowing eyes gaze and denied my bodily reaction to shiver at the malevolence within those glowing eyes that stared out of the darkened hood that he wore to obscure his face.

Then I could feel the toothy grin aimed at my direction before Tenmei turned away from me and said something to Kuyo that made the blond-haired kitsune visibly snort before he retorted something as well before leaping off the structure into the large field in front of the stands.

"Come on up here young man. Come listen to an old man's wisdom." Tenmei's voice reached my ears but it was darker and twisted with his magic that had obviously been used to isolate it from others hearing his words.

I nodded and manifesting my draconic wings from my back in a partial transformation I relaxedly flew up to stand next to Tenmei with the two of us staring down at Kuyo who matched my gaze with zero fear and only solid confidence born of being the so-called king of this school for the last couple years.

There was a moment of silence before Tenmei spoke. "You know... This is a valuable lesson for you." 

I raised an eyebrow hearing that and said with a hint of amusement. "What lesson is this? To choose better battles? To not get arrogant?" 

Tenmei actually gave a dry chuckle at my response before replying with a tinge of sadistic amusement in his voice. "Oh, that arrogance needs to be stomped out for sure... There are quite literally far larger fish in the sea than you brat. But no, the lesson I wanted you to observe was Kuyo himself."

He negligently waved a robe-covered hand at Kuyo that made the kitsune's face twitch in rising frustration at being obviously talked about even if he couldn't hear anything we were saying. But regardless Tenmei didn't care and continued in a voice that only carried bored disappointment.

"The path of kings... Is a long and bloody one young man, even if you take a great shortcut such as breaking in that little Mermaid Princess and the scion of the Akashiya bloodline of Vampires. You still need to remember one final thing Jake Bariss." 

I remained silent as he turned towards me away from Kuyo and his power washed over my form in warning as he stated bluntly. "The only secure king in this world is he who rules from his throne mounted atop a mountain of corpses larger than any of his subjects may rise."

And with that Mikogami's form buzzed and he seemingly teleported away making me exhale as I popped my neck to the side as I pondered his words... And then disregarded them, as they were not my path.

I was a fucking dragon, not a king. I took and was glorified as a dragon, I had no need for the servitude of others.

My feet cratered the ground beneath my feet as I hopped off the structure and I landed in front of Kuyo and stated flatly. "Sorry for making you wait... Tenmei needed to say nonsense that doesn't apply to me." 

And after a moment of our eyes meeting Kuyo nodded and then he look over at one of his Student Council members who was holding a small hammer and was standing next to a bell. "When the bell rings. We fight... And only one of us leaves this clearing." 

I hummed and with my lips twitching as I felt Tenmei's magic filling the surroundings as a film of magic rose up in a barrier that blocked off the stands from any stray attacks we made along with stopping either Kuyo and me from fleeing the battle.

Seeing the student council member raising the hammer to hit the bell to signify the start of the battle I decided to go straight into it and I shed my humanity and my form quickly grew with Kuyo's face darkening as I took upon my large true dragon from with my head hanging imperiously far above his form.

"You are skipping straight to the end I see." He stated with disappointment and wanting to be an ass I gave a draconic grin and said frankly.

"You have been an honorable opponent. I see no point in dancing around my attempt to kill you."

Kuyo actually gave a small chuckle that was swallowed by the loud ringing of the bell and all sound died. As we met eyes and then we both nodded to give each other the final moments of respect before Kuyo matched my move and began turning into his Kitsune form.