Chapter 273

Large-Scale Raid (2)

The endlessly sprawling sea.

Above the rough waves of the Pacific.

Whoooosh!

Vinas was flying powerfully.

“Hehe, impressive. Now you’re not just taming a dragon, but even riding it around?”

Even though the speed seemed several times faster than an airplane.

The Old Man, following effortlessly, laughed as if amazed.

That’s right.

I had chosen Vinas as my means of transportation to the location in question, the Yucatán Peninsula.

I had no choice.

There was no way a flight would depart for that place.

And it wasn’t as if Demir, who connects Peach Blossom Land and Earth, was there either.

Just in case, after getting on her back, I asked her.

She had become the most comfortable and fastest mount in the world.

“It feels like a different era, you rascal. Hehe. It feels like just yesterday some pathetic guy was shoving the bones of the dead in my face, asking me to believe him.”

‘So, what do you think?’

“Kehaha, good, you rascal! Yes, as the successor of Myriad Skills, shouldn’t you be riding a dragon at the very least?”

‘The problem is that successor of Myriad Skills might die soon.’

I retorted inwardly and glanced to check my energy.

[Hunter: Ju Dong-hoon]

[Title: Skeleton Emperor]

[Energy: 4,020/4,220]

Fortunately, my energy was fine.

That’s because I hardly used any energy except occasionally calling Arin or summoning the Old Man.

My other conditions weren’t bad either.

‘Thank goodness.’

While the fact that Vinas has almost no energy isn’t good news, after all, until a few days ago, Vinas wasn’t part of my forces.

‘No need to be too scared.’

Dragons are strong.

But just strong, that’s all.

I already had experience defeating two dragons.

And I’ve faced Constellations, said to be on par with dragons.

‘Well, I had the help of Essence each time.’

Anyway, the past experiences somewhat eased the tension.

It gave me a belief that if I struggle somehow, I can manage it, perhaps?

“…….”

That doesn’t mean I feel no fear at all.

That murderous gaze.

The overwhelming power and magic.

And the enormous size.

No human could fail to fear such a being.

But the reward for dealing with it is just as sweet.

Just as overcoming a great trial brings a high-level reward.

If I catch that thing, I’ll clearly grow by shedding another layer.

‘And our bones will become tougher too.’

How much time passed as I flew, steeling myself like that?

KRRRRRRRRRAAAAAA!

Vinas, who was flying, let out another powerful roar.

‘Hmm?’

Breaking my reverie, it seemed we had already crossed the continent, as land was visible in the distance.

And.

“……Is that it?”

The form of a massive monster, so large that anyone would recognize it as a dragon, was faintly visible.

Along with an immense pressure enough to make all the hairs on my body stand on end.

‘It begins.’

Gulp.

I swallowed my saliva and composed myself.

In preparation for the impending ordeal, I regulated my emotions inwardly.

I deliberately made my expression calm.

I stored all negative thoughts in a corner of my mind and only recalled positive ones.

I cooled my mind as if pouring cold water into my brain.

Because the battle with the dragon…

Well, it’s a matter of survival, after all.

At that moment.

KRRRRRRRRRAAAAAA!

Brias roared towards the humans who had avoided the Earthquake.

These insect-like creatures are annoying!

‘Earthquake’ (SSS-grade) is a top-tier magic that even the dragon race must expend considerable Magical power to use.

Since even the originators of magic cannot use it indefinitely, he had hoped to resolve the entire situation with this one move.

But some guy with a special ability controlled space.

With just one move, he made them escape an area covering approximately 100 km².

In other words, he lost in terms of cost-effectiveness.

It was a moment that inevitably hurt the pride of the proud dragon race.

-…….

Eventually, Brias decided to simply crush them with his body.

After all, he was the strongest in this world.

He intended to engage in close combat without using skills, properly showing the lowly race the greatness of the dragon race for the first time.

Vwoom!

Once again, he flapped his wings, lifting his body.

Whoooosh!

He descended to the ground with the force to crush everything.

Simultaneously.

CRRRRACK!

He swung his tail with all his might.

“This is insane!”

Plora steadied herself.

Putting strength into her thighs, she pressed firmly on the ground to support her body.

GRRRRIND!

The Earth Dragon’s close combat.

Even before the tail reached them, they felt a pressure as if their bodies would burst.

“Well, well.”

Vladimir shook his head.

“Was it worth using all our energy to survive?”

It truly was.

Even though they had fled a great distance.

It took 10 seconds for it to get close.

5 seconds to land on the nearby ground.

And another 5 seconds to swing its tail.

“The funny thing is.”

Vladimir clicked his tongue.

“We can’t even see the tail swinging from here.”

The dragon was so immense up close.

It filled their vision completely; they couldn’t even see the tail.

If the Guide Kapu hadn’t shared the screen visible from above, they wouldn’t have even known it was swinging its tail!

“Roider!”

Instantly.

A woman clad entirely in pure white armor shouted.

“Left side!”

“Okay!”

In response to the shout from world rank 6, Aria Yuel.

A man with rugged, muscular build all over.

World rank 9, Ronny Williams, answered.

The two Hyper Rankers, as if anticipating the dragon’s close combat, rushed in that direction.

At the same time.

GRRRRASH!

They confirmed the dragon’s tail, smashing and sweeping through the already split and uprooted trees and rocks.

“Block it!”

Fwoosh!

A holy light surged from Aria Yuel’s shield.

“Huuuaaaah!”

Ronny Williams’s pectorals and latissimus dorsi muscles swelled instantly.

On one side, the tail.

On the other, the two Hyper Rankers.

They charged at each other as if neither would yield.

CRRRRASH!

The moment the distance closed.

THUMP!

With a heavy rebound, a circular cloud of dust erupted in a radius.

“Huuuaaaaah!”

“Grrraaaaah!”

The shouts of the two Hyper Rankers, veins bulging in their necks, were heard.

No matter how immense the dragon’s power was.

Even though the two Rankers famous for their strength were being pushed back relentlessly, one thing was certain.

‘The tail’s speed has decreased……!’

‘Even if just a little, they’re clearly holding on!’

‘Does that mean…… we can try too?’

Seeing hope.

The watching Rankers’ eyes lit up.

“Kehaha! Thunderclap! Don’t stop me! It seems I must join in!”

World rank 16, Berserker Jang Dae-ung, rushed forward and extended his fist.

“I’ll support you too!”

World rank 17, Dual Swords Octavia Spencer, also swung her blades.

Additionally, other High Rankers, whose names alone were recognizable, rushed to help the Paladin and the Roider, clinging to the tail.

“……Is it now?”

At that moment.

The Tower Master Sophia, who had blood at the corner of her mouth, muttered.

She had expended an enormous amount of Magical power neutralizing the Earthquake the dragon unleashed earlier, and she assessed the situation.

The dragon was engaging in close combat.

And humanity was scrambling to block it.

They were pouring all their ultimate skills into stopping the dragon’s tail.

The dragon also showed no sign of retracting its swung tail.

“That means.”

The one and only opportunity to strike the dragon in its unguarded state had arrived!

Whoosh, thud!

Sophia, hastily raising her staff and swinging it, slammed it back into the ground.

Vwoom!

Simultaneously, she drew upon Magical power.

“The, the Tower Master is moving!”

“Everyone, replenish Magical power! Send all our Magical power back to the Tower Master!”

“But, we still don’t have the Tower Master’s order……!”

“Shut up! No more talk, just replenish! Have you forgotten? Against a dragon, our role is merely that of potions!”

The elders also acted proactively, thinking and judging for themselves.

‘Good.’

Sophia, confirming her depleted Magical power was refilling, flashed her eyes.

As a follower of ‘Ancient Magic’ (SSS-grade), her understanding of magic was exceptional.

That is, as long as immense Magical power existed, she could use the magic she understood through the archives at any time.

‘Of course, I can’t use the Forbidden book magics that require life force.’

In short.

This was usable.

Fwoosh!

[‘Fire of Despair’ (SS-grade) activates.]

It wasn’t the hellish conflagration that burns everything in the world, ‘Hell Fire’ (SSS-grade).

But aside from that, it was a skill occupying the pinnacle of fire attribute magic.

Commonly known as the Flames of Despair, they began to blaze.

“Huuuaaaaah!”

Sophia, gritting her teeth and shouting, thrust out her staff.

Fwoooosh!

Following that, flames shot into the air.

Their destination was Brias’s head.

But.

Pathetic.

Along with the dragon’s voice that vibrated the eardrums.

Fssst!

The Flames of Despair extinguished futilely.

Simultaneously.

[Brias is staring at you.]

[‘Restraint’ (SS-grade) is cast.]

[You cannot move until the target magic is dispelled.]

Some kind of energy began tightly binding her body.

‘……Damn.’

Even when she tried to exert strength.

Even when she tried to draw upon Magical power.

She couldn’t move.

She could only feel the dragon’s gaze, her breath catching in her throat.

But, Flames of Despair, you say? Not bad for an inferior race. Yes, you, especially. I shall grant you the honor of being chewed up by me personally.

GRRRRIND!

The Earth Dragon stopped swinging its tail.

Then, it began thrusting its massive head towards the Tower Master.

Grooooooan…….

As the enormous, murderous head drew closer, enough to send shivers down her entire body.

A Shadow fell over the world.

The pressure was on a completely different level from when she saw it from afar.

‘Ah.’

Clatter!

The Tower Master dropped her staff.

‘Is there… no way out of this?’

There was no answer.

Delilah had said it before.

That she became a fan after seeing Ju Dong-hoon defeat two dragons in her own trial.

Back then, she didn’t know how incredible that was.

But now, she thought she understood.

She felt she understood bone-deep.

‘So, Skeleton Emperor. You really were a madman, weren’t you?’

He faced two of those things?

Tricks or not.

He was an amazing man just for that.

He was someone worthy of being called a hero.

‘Sorry, but I’ll go first…….’

GRRRRIND!

Staring at the finally approached hideous dragon’s teeth, Sophia tightly closed her eyes.

The dragon said it would chew her up.

But that alone meant the entire ground here would be chewed up, and the Rankers and mages near her would be chewed up along with her.

Because the dragon’s mouth was larger than imagined.

‘Giving up… As the Tower Master, I’ve shown an unsightly sight…….’

Just as Sophia, resigned, was about to relax her entire body and let her head drop.

Hmm?

GRRRRIND!

The world, which had darkened as it drew near, gradually brightened.

The dragon’s head, which had been approaching, was creating distance again.

‘Hmm?’

Sensing the shifting light and dark through her closed eyelids, Sophia opened her eyes again.

And then she captured the dragon’s form in her view.

The dragon was looking not at her, but across the Pacific Ocean.

‘Why would a dragon turn its head?’

That meant.

Something far more important than dealing with her was happening.

‘Ah?’

At that moment, her senses picked up a familiar energy.

It was the energy of the man she had inwardly wished would come quickly.

Perhaps even more than the Demon King or Cheonma.

‘Skeleton Emperor.’

You’ve come, you rascal.

KRRRRRRRRRAAAAAA!

Along with the roar of another dragon heard from afar.

The other Rankers also tilted their heads back at the presence flying in from across the Pacific.

“What, what is that?”

“……A dragon? But why is it so small? It’s barely the size of four adults?”

“But its roar is the real deal……. It’s definitely a dragon, sending shivers down my spine.”

As they murmured amongst themselves.

“It’s Ju Dong-hoon!”

Someone shouted.

“Look closely! Your eyesights are good, right?! That man riding the dragon, doesn’t he look exactly like Ju Dong-hoon?!”

“Ju Dong-hoon?”

“Skeleton Emperor?”

“That Hunter who became a Hyper Ranker in the shortest time?”

But what.

While Ju Dong-hoon is a Hyper Ranker, he’s only rank 10.

Even ranks 4, 6, and 9 combined are in this state.

What great use is adding one rank 10?

Amid the lukewarm reactions, there were those who sent looks filled with joy……

“You bastard! Why are you so late!”

Including the members of Otherworld, led by Thunderclap.

“Team Leader!”

“Huuuuuun!”

And the colleagues of ‘Team, Dragon Slayer,’ including Vladimir and Olena.

They.

Knew better than anyone who the true Dragon Slayer was.