ZIRKUS clicked his tongue when he saw Enzo’s golden eyes sparkle while staring intently at Klaus Irvin.

[Enzo has probably figured out that Klaus Irvin is, indeed, a dragon.]

Tsk.

[This crazy bastard is having violent thoughts again, for sure!]

“The human form of a dragon is known to be very beautiful and shiny,” Yelena commented calmly. “No wonder your face is blinding, Klaus.”

Ah, even the Mermaid Princess had figured out Klaus Irvin’s true identity.

“This is not how I want to be exposed as a dragon,” Klaus Irvin said, laughing nervously. “I was actually planning to reveal my grand self in my upcoming nineteenth birthday. Now my surprise is ruined.”

Oh, wow.

[Priorities, huh?]

“Happy birthday in advance, Klaus,” Yelena greeted the dragon. “But why do those people want you dead?”

“Dragon Hunters.”

It was Enzo who answered Yelena’s question.

“Dragon Hunters?” Zirkus asked, knitting his eyebrows. “I’m more familiar with the term ‘Dragon Slayers.’ Or are they the same, just with different names?”

“Dragon Slayers kill dragons for honor or safety of the human race,” Enzo explained, and he looked pissed doing so because he hated talking. “Dragon Hunters kill dragons for profit.” He pointed at Klaus Irvin. “From head to toe, all his body parts could be sold at a high price– whether he’s in his human or dragon form.”

Wow.

“Enzo, you’re scaring me,” Klaus Irvin said. Although smiling, the dragon was actually backing away from Enzo. “Why do you know so much about Dragon Hunters?”

“Because I read a lot of books,” Enzo said, scoffing. “You don’t?”

Pfft.

Zirkus almost laughed at what Enzo said, but he soon stopped laughing when he realized that they were already surrounded by the enemies.

Damn.

[Why do the main characters like talking in the middle of a fight?!]

“Boss, these kids are looking down on us.”

“They’re casually talking among themselves and ignoring us on purpose!”

[They’re not wrong, though.]

Zirkus had to feel bad for the enemies.

Yelena, Enzo, and Klaus Irvin all looked relaxed despite getting ambushed.

[They’re definitely looking down on the enemies.]

On the other hand, the enemies were being passive, too.

[If I were them, I would have attacked already. Most villains in novels and webcomics lose because they listen to the main characters talk!]

But since he was on the kids’ sides, he was relieved.

“This is my problem, so let me deal with this,” Klaus Irvin said, stepping up. “I’m used to dealing with cheap bastards like them anyway.”

Yelena just smiled and nodded.

Enzo, on the other hand, just resumed eating his gimbap.

Was Zirkus the only one nervous here?!

<“It’s because you’re the weakest here, you Shittyhead. Kekeke!”>

[Shut it, Blob.]

“As expected, dragons are really arrogant creatures.”

All the other bad guys were wearing black wetsuits and black masks.

However, the last one who spoke and stepped up was wearing a red wetsuit but without a mask.

[This dude is probably around thirty-something?]

A Dragon Hunter with dark red hair, dark green eyes, and tanned skin.

[Hmm… I don’t remember anyone with that description from the novel.]

Since his skill <Nerd for Life> didn’t get activated, it meant there was no mention of this man from the original story.

[I’m getting more nervous now.]

“Dragons are arrogant because we have the skills to back it up,” Klaus Irvin said, his hands turning into dragon hands. The skin from his fingertips up to his forearms was now covered in gold dragon scales. Moreover, his nails had grown longer and sharper. “I’ll show you, idiots.”

Zirkus felt a shiver down his spine when he saw Klaus Irvin’s blue eyes.

[Vertical pupils…]

“Yeah, yeah. Show us, hatchling,” the red-haired man said casually, then he waved his hands. “Men, proceed.”

The men around them began throwing black steel balls in their direction.

Zirkus wondered if he should duck and cover.

But, fortunately, there was no need for that.

Klaus Irvin jumped and spun around– using his mighty dragon tails to destroy the steel balls thrown at them.

As soon as the red-haired dude grinned, Zirkus realized it was a trap.

“No!” Zirkus yelled at the top of his lungs. “Don’t touch the steel balls, Klaus Irvin!”

It was already too late, though.

The steel balls floating in the air had already cracked– then an explosion of a blinding light followed it.

[Argh!]

Zirkus belatedly realized that he should have worn his Red Metal Sunglasses to protect his eyes.

***

FISHNET???

That was the first thing that Zirkus saw when he opened his eyes.

[Is it similar to a barrier?]

A fishnet shaped like a dome trapped Zirkus, Enzo, Yelena, and Klaus Irvin inside.

The red-haired dude and the men in wetsuits remained unmoving as if they had no intention to attack further.

That was sus as fuck.

Zirkus’ thoughts were interrupted when Yelena, suddenly, just attacked Klaus Irvin with her fist covered in semi-transparent water.

Klaus Irvin used his arms to block Yelena’s punch, but the punch still managed to push him back. “Snap out of it, Yelena!” he yelled desperately. “Don’t let some stupid drugs take over your sanity!”

Drugs???

That was when Zirkus noticed that dark-purple smoke was emerging from the sand.

[Ah, poisonous gas…?]

Yelena must have inhaled a lot of that thing, hence her eyes looked hazy.

The Mermaid Princess was clearly out of her mind.

[Is she being brainwashed to attack Klaus Irvin?]

“Argh…”

Zirkus immediately turned his head to his side.

There he saw Enzo clutching his head tight.

[Ah, he’s probably fighting the brain-washing property mixed in the gas.]

That made Zirkus wonder.

[Why am I not affected at all???]

“Kill,” Enzo whispered to himself, his golden eyes glowing menacingly. “Kill the dragon…”

Klaus Irvin was already having a hard time dodging Yelena’s attacks.

If Enzo attacked the dragon now, the dragon would definitely die.

[Is this how Enzo killed Klaus Irvin in the novel?]

He couldn’t let that happen.

Hence, Zirkus charged at Enzo– grabbing the future Disaster by the shoulders to stop him from lunging at Klaus Irvin. “Wake up, Enzo Fenton!”

Enzo’s golden yet empty eyes glowed even more menacing. “Kill the dragon…”

[He can’t see or hear me at the moment…]

“No, you can’t kill a friend!” Zirkus yelled, raising his voice on purpose– hoping that Yelena would hear him as well. Of course, he was putting what little acting skills he had to sound emotional. “Don’t listen to whoever is telling you to kill the dragon! Klaus Irvin isn’t just a dragon to us! He’s a classmate– a dear friend!”

At this point, he was dying from his own cringe.

But what could he do?

According to the novel, in order to free people from getting brainwashed, they had to be moved by emotions.

[You know, just like the infamous ‘talk-no-jutsu’ from a certain blond ninja.]

Moreover, in the original novel, Rivo Creswell would spat out the most embarrassing lines known to shounen world just to stop his friends from being mind-controlled. Hence, Zirkus had no choice but to copy the main character’s move– leaving him crying inside.

[As expected, not everyone could be a hero– one has to have the guts to be cringe without being embarrassed.]

“Enzo Fenton, Yelena Dover!” Zirkus yelled desperately. “Don’t harm your nakama!”

Oops.

His inner otaku slipped out when he said ‘nakama’ instead of ‘friend.’

[God, I’m so cringe-y.]

The worst part?

He was already dying from the cheesiness and, yet, Enzo seemed to be still out of it.

And Blob, the rude System, remained quiet. That meant the System had no intention to help him this time.

That forced him to use his trump card.

“Enzo Fenton, wake up!”

By saying ‘trump card,’ Zirkus meant giving Enzo the hardest headbutt he could give at the moment.