The Way of Life for a Terminal S-Class Hunter - C62
$62
“The hatchling can sense the location of adult dragons. Especially its parent’s location. I just thought that sensor would be in the core.”
It wasn’t sane. Was he saying he did such a thing to know where we were?
“How did you know there would be a Red Dragon in the first place? You shouldn’t have known on your side.”
“I realized it the moment we encountered the hatchling. We’ll talk about that later. It was also partly because it’s easier to deal with a dragon if you have dragon power.”
There were at least ten cases per quarter of people dying on the spot after eating a monster’s core, unable to digest its power. Since the risks outweighed the benefits, it was more common to use the core to create weapons instead.
“Both considering eating it and digesting it are beyond the scope of normal humans.”
Lee Han muttered, clicking his tongue.
[The Red Dragon notices the nature of the scent. It’s enraged that the hatchling’s scent is coming from humans.]
The previously interrupted foresight returned. As I reactivated the Flame of Life, the pain and cold that had come also gradually subsided.
“Where’s the Red Dragon’s core located?”
Originally, Byun Gyeongju, who had the search skill, was supposed to find the core’s location.
“About that…”
However, for some reason, the plan was disrupted because of Kwon Ho-jun, who had come in instead of Byun Gyeongju. Seo-heon, who checked behind, finally seemed to notice his lover and twisted his face.
“Why is Ho-jun here?”
It wasn’t the attitude of someone who was simply worried.
“Se-Seo-heon.”
“If you don’t want to get hurt, stay quietly in the back.”
Seo-heon didn’t question further and put his foot down.
“Most dragon cores are located at the crown of the head. Let’s aim for that area for now.”
“Understood!”
With Team A, including Seo-heon, joining, the other team members who had been trembling with anxiety also regained their confidence. The fact that they had blocked one of the dragon’s attacks with a small number of people also played a part.
“Block it securely.”
Seo-heon glanced at Lee Han and ordered.
“You don’t need to tell me, I know what to do.”
Lee Han, Park Gangui, and Lee Seok-ju stood at the very front. It would be difficult to block alone, but the three of them should be able to manage to some extent.
“The Red Dragon has fully regained its senses. The attack will resume in fifteen seconds!”
Halo gave a warning. Seo-heon and I made eye contact and nodded. The pile of rocks below us twitched and then rose up. Park Gangui created footholds in the air so we could safely climb up.
“Let’s check its strength first.”
Thanks to the intense defense from below, we were able to prepare for attack relatively easily. Seo-heon’s hand touched the Red Dragon’s skin, and in an instant, the dragon’s entire head froze.
Hiss.
“As expected, this level doesn’t faze it at all.”
The ice that had frozen melted and evaporated instantly as if it had never been frozen. The scales only parted slightly.
“But its attacks are more unstable than before.”
When monsters can’t focus on just one type of attack like this, they can’t exert their full power perfectly. Below, they were also able to create a defense line much more easily.
It’s this much easier with just three more skilled people.
Boom.
At that moment, the stone terrain we had stepped on collapsed due to the dragon’s thrashing.
“This way.”
Seo-heon caught me in mid-air and placed me on an ice foothold he created. Then, looking straight into the ferocious dragon’s eyes, he raised his hand.
Dozens, hundreds of ice swords appeared in the air. It was a skill I hadn’t seen in a long time.
“For now, we’ll annoy it and then aim for the moment right before it breathes.”
The Red Dragon, its eyes red with anger, shifted its target from below to Seo-heon. It had instinctively sensed that Seo-heon was related to the hatchling.
Seo-heon’s hand dropped, and all the swords flew towards the Red Dragon’s head and neck.
Woong.
[S-rank skill, Flame of Life is used. While the flame burns, you can exert your skills at 200%. As a skill penalty, your life force is reduced by 1 day.]
The Red Dragon’s scales were hit by the ice swords and scattered everywhere. I aimed for the part closest to the crown of its head.
[A-rank skill, Rain of Fire is used. The blessing of flames dwells in the rain you bring down.]
The transparent swords Seo-heon created reflected my flames, emitting a beautiful light. It was my favorite moment when fighting with him.
Even though I knew it couldn’t be, it felt like Seo-heon was being tinged with my color.
[S-rank skill, Sword of Immortality is used. Through skill linkage, the S-rank item Excalibur responds.]
For the first time, the blade pierced the Red Dragon. When I spewed fire at maximum output, the relatively tender flesh began to burn. No matter how fire-attributed it was, attacking weak points would be effective.
“It’s around here!”
Excalibur informed me that the core was about 70cm behind the area I had attacked.
“Come down to the ground! The next attack is coming!”
At Halo’s urgent cry, Seo-heon and I immediately moved to the ground. The Red Dragon’s foot flew to exactly where we had been.
“After defending against this breath, everyone switch to attack mode!”
Another vision played in my head. This time, it seemed the vision was transmitted not only to me but also to Seo-heon, as his gaze briefly turned to Halo. Halo had his eyes closed, concentrating.
As the Red Dragon’s attack was inputted, the defense became much easier than before.
[A-rank skill, Wind of Fire is used. The wind becomes a shield protecting your allies at your request.]
Lee Han’s spatial distortion handled the attacks that came through the wall-sized shield of fire. Even the breath that pierced through that was blocked by Seo-heon’s ice wall at the very end.
Whoosh.
We succeeded in defending almost perfectly. Of course, this was only possible because we were using our maximum power without distributing our strength. Usually, fighting against strong monsters takes a long time, but this time was different. If the fight dragged on like this, we could be annihilated due to lack of magical power. In other words, the faster we dealt with it, the more advantageous it would be.
That must be why Seo-heon wants to make this attack the last one.
“As soon as the breath ends, we’ll launch a combination attack. Use the terrain to create walls and put bombs inside to restrict its movement. When Woo-hyun and I attack, enhance our weapons. And don’t forget to block any attacks that come flying at the end.”
Lee Hye’s heal treated the minor wounds. For deep wounds, it was just simple suturing, but even that was a great help during battle.
“I’ll count down. 5, 4…”
Seo-heon started counting based on the vision coming into his head. Without this foresight, it would have been difficult to fight with such certainty.
Rumble.
The ground terrain changed to surround the Red Dragon. As per Seo-heon’s order, bombs exploded.
Boom.
The walls shattered with one thrash of the Red Dragon, but it clearly seemed to have taken damage. Seo-heon, who had been concentrating, put his hand on the ground and froze the Red Dragon from foot to head. Ice swords rained down continuously from the sky.
“Now!”
At the very moment the ice melted, the enhanced Excalibur pierced the crown of the Red Dragon’s head where the core was.
[A-rank skill, Song of Flames is used. While the song continues, everything touched by your sword’s aura will be burned away.]
“Ugh.”
It’s still not enough.
The sword had entered right up to the core, but it couldn’t easily destroy the core.
“You can do it.”
Seo-heon approached behind me as I gritted my teeth, and grabbed the sword. Seo-heon’s magical power was also channeled into the sword. Dragon power and the fire power from the hatchling poured out, giving strength to Excalibur.
Boom.
I could feel the sensation of the massive core slowly breaking through my hands. Below, everyone was doing their best to subdue the thrashing dragon.
Crack.
And finally, the core broke.
[You have slain the SSS-rank monster, Red Dragon. A special skill will be granted to the final attacker.]
The most welcome notification window popped up, but there was no time to share the joy. As soon as the Flame of Life extinguished, the backlash hit immediately, and darkness fell before my eyes.
[You have 103 days of life force remaining. When your remaining life force falls below 100 days, you will enter a state of apparent death.]
State of apparent death…?
An incomprehensible notification window appeared just before I lost consciousness. However, even those shocking words couldn’t stop my eyelids from falling.
When I came to my senses, I was being carried on Seo-heon’s back.
“Are you awake? You overdid it.”
Seo-heon’s calm words sounded like a lullaby.
“Where are we now?”
“We’re almost outside.”
As Seo-heon said, the surroundings were getting brighter with light from the outside coming in. Everyone arrived at the entrance with tired, slow steps, and murmuring could be heard. Outside, reporters had gathered with cameras all lined up.
Most of the filming drones that had followed us into the dungeon were broken, but one or two remained. Although they were far away, if they used good cameras, they might have seen us in real-time. No, even if all transmissions had been cut off midway, they would have seen the scene where the Red Dragon appeared, so it made sense that such a large crowd had gathered.
“They’re out!”
“Film them well. Look over here, please! Ihwa Guild members!”
The initial reaction of people was no different from when we had successfully conquered a high-grade dungeon. However, the following questions were an unexpected turn of events.
“Kwon Ho-jun? Is that Kwon Ho-jun?”
“Mr. Kwon, were you aware of your father, Congressman Kwon’s behavior?”
“Why did you follow them into the dungeon?”
“Did you go in to harm Kang Seo-heon or Baek Woo-hyun again?”