The Witch Hunter System

Although Vaan could see countless mana shrapnel and fragments embedded in the elderly dragon's body, which were the remains of magic attacks, they weren't life-threatening.

To begin with, the elderly dragon's chronic pain wasn't a severe issue—at least in regard to health. It just caused extreme discomfort and possibly hindered the elderly dragon from advancing to a higher rank.

That said, the mana shrapnel and fragments also form a layer of magic resistance that could help the elderly dragon resist other magic attacks to some degree.

Even so, it was still better to remove them.

It would improve Senior Jergag's mood and overall quality of life, not to mention the prospect of advancing to a higher rank.

An elderly dragon as advanced in age as he was did not need to be in consistent pain either.

"Mana shrapnel left behind by magic attacks, huh? That's something new," Jergag commented with surprise.

"Perhaps to you, Senior Jergag," Vaan replied before adding, "But any dragon well-versed in healing and treating many magic wounds would have noticed Senior's problem in a single diagnosis. If Senior wasn't stubborn in keeping this ailment to yourself, it could have been treated before reaching this stage."

"You didn't have to endure this kind of torment every night and day, Senior Jergag."

"Haiz, you don't understand, Vaan," Jergag sighed and said, "This old dragon is considered an old hero among the younger generation, having followed Lord Dragon God through many battles to earn a place in Chaos for the tribe."

"The younger generation looks up to this old dragon. Thus, this old dragon doesn't want them to see any of this old dragon's weak sides. Their hero should always be strong in their heart," Jergag stated.

"You're pretty funny, Senior Jergag. Even strong heroes can get hurt and grow old. If you're sick, go and get yourself treated. Senior Jergag having health issues won't change the hero in their hearts. Rather, it would let them understand reality. Heroes aren't invincible."

"I've done what I can. You need to see a specialist and have them remove the rest, Senior Jergag," Vaan stated shortly after removing earth-attribute and wood-attribute mana shrapnels from the elderly dragon's body.

"Your hand was quite warm. This old dragon feels a lot more comfortable." Jergag felt the changes in his body before changing the topic, "Hm, those hands are also quite dangerous. This old dragon advises you not to touch any female dragons with those hands. They can get addicted to the feeling."

"You don't have to mention that, Senior Jergag. I understand perfectly," Vaan wryly smiled before turning solemn again. "Go and get yourself treated, Senior. You might think the mana shrapnel in your body isn't a big deal after my treatment."

"But if you want to have any hopes of becoming a Rank 5 being, you better all of them removed. They are hindering your body from improving," Vaan mentioned.

"This old dragon will keep that in mind. Thank you, young friend. This old dragon hasn't felt this comfortable in a while," Jergag stated.

Vaan smiled and didn't try to persuade the elderly dragon further. He had already said what he needed to say.

The elderly dragon seemed to have reasons for not wanting to become a Rank 5 being. Perhaps, he was waiting for death so he could join the Fire Dragon God.

"Can you tell me more about the Trial by Fire, Senior Jergag? How many stages are there? What are the stages like? Has any dragon in your tribe overcome all the stages in the Trial by Fire?" Vaan inquired.

"You're still thinking about challenging the Trial by Fire, even though this old dragon advised you otherwise?" Jergag glanced at Vaan's insistence with a bit of helplessness before he said, "Fine. Maybe you'll change your mind once you learn how dangerous the Trial by Fire is."

"Before our Lord Dragon God became one with the land of fire, he set up a total of five stages to the Trial by Fire with the help of Lord Fire Spirit, his lifelong companion. Each stage is increasingly more difficult than the last."

"However, every stage has the same trial – the trial of fire. You just need to overcome the terrifying fire of each stage to pass them," Jergag explained.

"It sounds simple and straightforward enough," Vaan commented with a thoughtful look. A good fire was just what he needed to temper his body.

"Simple and straightforward?" Jergag glared at Vaan sternly before strictly speaking, "Sure, it's simple. You just need to endure the fire to pass the stages—but that's only if you can endure the scorching flames of each stage. Do you think the land of fire has ordinary flames, Vaan?"

"The best of us dragons who are born with natural high fire affinity could barely pass the second stage. The third stage is too far difficult, let alone the fourth and fifth stages. Even the Black Rose Transcendent Witch narrowly passed the second stage with her magic, and she returned badly scorched and half-dead."

"It took us dragons three days to nurse her back to health. Do you think you can do better than a Transcendent Witch, Vaan?" Jergag asked shortly after.

"The Black Rose Transcendent Witch took three days to recover?" Vaan muttered with interest.

His eyes quickly flickered as he recalled reading about the kingdom's ruler going missing for four days straight and plunging the kingdom into chaos.

'Henrietta Rosegarden must have visited the dragon tribe and challenged the Trial by Fire at that time,' Vaan thought.

It was interesting to learn that even the Transcendent Witch had to challenge Trial by Fire.

'Was she not confident in challenging the dragons, or did she challenge the Trial by Fire to win their trust?' Vaan wondered.

He felt the latter was more likely to be the case.

Even so, even a Transcendent Witch could barely pass the second stage. He was even more interested in the Trial by Fire.

Meanwhile, Jergag was at his wit's end when he saw Vaan's lack of concern over the dangers of the Trial by Fire, even after everything he had said.

He began to wonder if Vaan had no fear of fire.

"Hmph, it seems like you won't understand how terrifying the Trial by Fire is until you experience its scorching heat," Jergag grumpily stated before suggesting, "Shall this old dragon take you there to give you a feel of the heat?"

Maybe Vaan will change his mind after feeling the heat of the first stage – the elderly dragon thought.