I Only Tame Dragons

Ironfist trailed Horizon silently, his blood boiling with excitement to finally kill him.

When he saw Horizon heading out of town, he knew this was his chance.

Outside the city, beyond the watchful eyes of the guards and prying players, anything could happen. Out there, he could teach Horizon a lesson—one he'd never forget.

A cruel grin tugged at Ironfist's lips as he imagined it. Horizon had crossed the wrong guild.

Veilborne didn't let things slide, and Ironfist, a Tier-4 Warrior Monk, was the perfect enforcer to set things right. With stats ranging from 300 to 400, and his STR more than 400, Ironfist prided himself on his raw power.

He was a one-man wrecking crew, known for crushing his enemies with brutal, unrelenting force. In terms of stats, he was on par with Horizon, but in a one on one fight, he was unbeatable.

And that confidence made him believe this fight was already won.

Horizon's arrogance in thinking he could get away with challenging Veilborne would be his downfall.

Ironfist kept his distance, making sure not to be seen, but always within range. The further they ventured into the forest, the more isolated it became—exactly what Ironfist wanted.

The deepening shadows of the towering trees shrouded them from sight, and soon, there would be no witnesses. Out here, in this untamed wilderness, players went missing all the time.

The competition wasn't far off, and a few competitors vanishing now and then wasn't uncommon. It would be easy to make Horizon disappear without a trace.

As the forest thickened, Ironfist watched Horizon carefully.

"Brave idiot, walking out here alone," he muttered, his fingers flexing in anticipation. The thought of taking Horizon down, making him pay for the disrespect, fueled his every step.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached a secluded clearing. The trees opened up to reveal a wide space bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun.

There were no other players in sight, and the stillness of the air was deafening. This was it. The perfect spot.

Ironfist smirked. "There's no escape for you here." He chuckled darkly, already savoring the thought of his fists crushing Horizon into the dirt. He stepped into the clearing, ready to strike.

But just as Ironfist was about to charge, Horizon vanished.

"What the hell?" Ironfist blinked, utterly stunned.

One second, Horizon was there, and the next—gone. No trace, no warning, just thin air.

"W-what?! How did he just disappear like that?"

Panic and confusion set in. Ironfist's eyes darted around the clearing, scanning every inch of the space for any sign of his target. He spun in circles, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

It was impossible. No one could vanish without a trace like that. Had it been an illusion? A trap?

Ironfist gritted his teeth, frustration boiling inside him. "Coward!" he roared, his voice echoing through the empty forest.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

But there was no response, no movement—nothing but silence.

Ironfist stood there, fists clenched. He had been so sure of himself, so sure that Horizon wouldn't be able to escape death, only for him to slip through his fingers like smoke.

A warm glow engulfed the entire clearing, bathing it in an ethereal light as Horizon reappeared with Nyx by his side.

Ironfist blinked, utterly confused by the sudden shift, but his confusion quickly melted into twisted glee.

Now that Horizon was here, there was nothing standing in his way. No guards, no prying eyes. Just the two of them—and finally, he could settle the score once and for all.

"You!" Ironfist's laughter rang out through the forest. "I thought you ran off with your tail between your legs, but here you are. What was that, huh? A coward's trick? Some teleportation spell?"

Horizon simply stared at him, his expression unreadable, as if Ironfist were beneath his notice.

Nyx, perched on his head, gave a sharp, derisive snort. "What does this clown want?"

Ironfist's laughter echoed again, but there was an edge of madness to it now. With a menacing grin, he equipped his weapon, [Iron Gloves], his fists glowing with a dull, metallic sheen as his already immense strength surged even higher.

"It doesn't matter what you did. You're here now, and that's all that matters. Time to finish what we started."

Horizon stood unfazed, his calm gaze never leaving Ironfist.

"Why are you here?" Horizon's voice was steady, but there was a knowing glint in his eyes. He already knew the answer.

Ironfist smashed his knuckles together, the force sending a small shockwave through the air. "I'm here to settle our score, you piece of trash. You think you can just disrespect Veilborne and walk away? I'm gonna crush you and leave you in pieces."

Without another word, Ironfist disappeared in a blur of motion, his speed shocking for someone of his size and build. He reappeared directly in front of Horizon, his fist already swinging with all the weight of his enhanced strength.

"You're dead!" he roared.

Horizon moved just as quickly, dodging the attack with a fluid grace that made it seem effortless.

Ironfist's punch slammed into the ground where Horizon had stood, and the impact was nothing short of catastrophic.

The earth exploded under the force, debris flying in every direction as a massive crater formed in the clearing, dirt and rocks raining down around them. The sheer power behind the blow would have turned any lesser opponent into a smear on the ground.

But Horizon wasn't just any opponent.

As the dust settled, Horizon stood a few feet away, completely unharmed. He glanced at the gaping hole in the ground, then back at Ironfist with a look of mild amusement.

"That's it?" Horizon asked, his voice calm, but carrying a dangerous edge.

Ironfist's face twisted in fury. "You won't dodge the next one!" He charged again, fists glowing.

With a flick of his wrist, Horizon summoned his blades, its edge gleaming in the fading sunlight.

Ironfist closed in, and Horizon moved like a shadow, sidestepping the warrior monk's attacks, each dodge a perfect counter to Ironfist's raw, unrestrained power.

Ironfist roared in frustration, throwing punch after punch, each one missing its mark by mere inches. The ground continued to shatter beneath his fists, but Horizon remained untouched, dancing around him with an almost effortless ease.

"You rely too much on brute strength," Horizon said coldly, his eyes turning to slit. "But strength alone won't save you."

In a flash, Horizon closed the distance between them, his blade gleaming as he struck. It wasn't a killing blow, but it was precise—aimed at Ironfist's right shoulder.

The monk stumbled back, blood dripping from the shallow cut, shock etched across his face.

For the first time, fear flickered in Ironfist's eyes.