Chapter 274

Large-Scale Raid (3)

[Brias, the Earth Dragon is staring at you.]

[You are exposed to Dragon Fear.]

[High probability of falling into the abnormal status ‘Fear’.]

Earth Dragon.

Does that mean a dragon that protects the land?

KRRRRRRRRRA!

From atop Vinas’s torso, flying powerfully.

“Huh.”

I let out a short sigh.

‘As expected.’

No matter how many times I see dragons, I just can’t get used to them.

After experiencing the Giant Dragon and the Greed Dragon, I had gained some confidence.

‘But, that thing…’

Seeing it up close felt like reliving a nightmare from the past.

“It truly is a terrifying creature. Just being within its gaze makes one feel this dreadful.”

The Old Man also muttered in astonishment.

“Isn’t there a saying in your world about ‘a dragon and a tiger fighting each other’? From what I’ve seen, that’s a load of nonsense. In this master’s opinion, a mere tiger would clearly be no match for a dragon.”

“I agree, sir.”

I nodded.

It wasn’t that I intended to nod; my neck muscles just moved on their own.

It was simply an acknowledgment from the depths of my heart.

That dragons are the strongest lifeforms on Earth.

‘However.’

Well, what choice do I have?

Fighting is the only answer now.

Whether I charge in recklessly or move cautiously, the result will be the same either way.

Moreover.

KRRRRRRRRRA!

Seeing Brias, the Earth Dragon, roar towards me and Vinas means I can’t even buy time anymore.

“You, perhaps, Essences?”

Just in case, I muttered, but.

“……”

Judging by the lack of any special status windows popping up, it was likely one of two things.

Either they judged it to be a trial I could handle.

Or, they judged that they had helped me too much lately.

Or, well.

There might be some other reason I don’t know about.

“I’m jumping in right now! Vinas, you fall back!”

Whoosh!

I created a red God Slayer spear atop Vinas.

Simultaneously, I took a large step into the empty air.

With all my strength, I kicked off her back.

SWWAAAAA!

I tore through the empty air without any safety measures and charged towards the dragon.

It was a reckless scene enough for anyone watching to think it was foolhardy, but.

‘I have to protect her.’

The Destruction Dragon, Vinas.

Although her energy has recovered somewhat, it’s still under 1,000.

After breathing her breath weapon, she hasn’t even regained 10% of her strength yet.

Besides, no matter how strong she is as the famed Destruction Dragon, right now she’s just a hatchling.

Maybe it’s because I personally hatched her egg.

Others might see her as ferocious, but in my eyes, she looks like a cute baby.

KEEE…! KEEING!

Vinas made a displeased expression, but reluctantly turned back.

I had already told her to return to Korea, specifically to the Peach Blossom Land.

Of course, she resisted at first.

But fortunately, since I persistently persuaded her while crossing the Pacific, she seems to be complying.

‘How sweet.’

I felt it.

Her reluctance to go against my words…

Why?

Because the look in her eyes as she fell back was still overflowing with competitiveness.

She’s holding back her desire to fight.

Because I asked her to.

“Kkkk, for now, the mother’s words still work.”

‘For now? Our Vinas will be cute and sweet later on too, you know?’

At my retort, the Old Man clicked his tongue.

“Tsk tsk, do you know this? All mothers in the world say that at first. You only truly know about children after raising them. Do you think that one won’t have a rebellious phase when it becomes a Mature Dragon?”

‘……Wow, sir, did you have children too?’

“What kind of nonsense is that? I’m still a bachelor, you brat!”

Hmm.

What should I say about this…

‘……’

I lightly ignored the Old Man’s words and used my energy.

[Using skill, ‘Lord & King Summon’ (S-grade).]

[Using 10 Energy.]

[‘Tae Yang-chang’ has appeared.]

[Using skill, ‘Lord & King Summon’ (S-grade).]

[Using 10 Energy.]

[‘Eldrin’ has appeared.]

…….

In order.

Tae Yangi, Eldrin, Kaden, Arin, Dana, Mu-gak.

A total of six Sovereigns appeared in the empty air.

I didn’t summon Demir unnecessarily.

Not only is he not a combat-related class.

After summoning him last time and causing issues with city construction, I decided to just leave him be.

Anyway, I need to keep the Peach Blossom Land portal maintained.

“My Lord, is it… a dragon again?”

Whoosh!

Tae Yangi brandished his spear in the air.

“Master, dragons are always my nemesis.”

Keeek!

Eldrin drew her bowstring, her eyes filled with rage.

“Master…”

Dana climbed onto Kaden’s shoulder.

“Kuhaha! Being with my Master means I get to meet strong opponents every time, it’s great!”

Mu-gak laughed heartily and jumped in.

Looking at them, I grinned.

It wasn’t because it was funny.

I was forcing a smile to shake off the tension.

“Hey, you overgrown lizard!”

Whoosh!

I lightly thrust my spear.

Then, the spear energy contained within surged towards the dragon.

“Stop bullying those Rankers over there and fight me instead.”

KWAGAGAGAGA!

An immense, intangible force becomes tangible and pours down upon me.

If it’s merely wind caused by force.

It scrapes my cheek like a blade of wind.

And.

GOOOOOO…!

The dragon’s body is revealed ferociously through the rising dust.

You.

At that moment.

The resonance of a weighty voice lodged itself in my mind.

What are you, to be taming a Destruction Dragon?

As I thought.

Did the Earth Dragon awaken entirely because of our Vinas?

I could feel it from its bright yellow eyes.

It currently considers the Destruction Dragon its primary target for elimination.

Setting aside how a foolish being like you could tame such a dangerous thing. Do you even know how terrifying that existence is that you dare to tame it? It’s only because it’s a Wyrm! If it were just a Mature Dragon, this world wouldn’t be able to withstand it, do you truly not know that?!

WHOOSH!

The dragon beat its wings, lifting its massive body into the sky.

The dragon’s form filling my vision…

To be honest, it was beautiful.

But.

I couldn’t just stand there staring blankly.

Because the airflow gathered all over the dragon’s body and created numerous energy balls!

“Professor!”

Arin shouted from beside me.

“Those are High-End Magic Missiles! They are Magic Missiles with Magical power compressed 100 times more than regular ones, and they even have homing capabilities! You need to block these rather than dodge them!”

Is that so?

So you’re telling me it’s launching hundreds, no, thousands of those terrifying things right now?

“Hmm.”

First, I stopped my charge and faced it.

WOOOONG!

We were surrounded by Kaden’s ‘Unyielding Shield’ (Lv.5).

Swish.

As if that wasn’t enough to feel secure, the guy who came to my side placed a large shield in front of me.

All the Sovereigns, including me, were floating in the air thanks to Arin’s magic.

Kkkk, choose.

It was then that Brias whispered in a sinister voice.

The title this world gifted me is Earth Dragon. Literally, a dragon that wishes to protect this world. I have no intention of wiping out your race. I merely seek to remove a threat.

You have no intention of wiping out our race?

What a laughable statement.

To be precise, you probably just don’t care.

Whether humanity perishes or not.

Just like me, living in Gangnam, wouldn’t particularly care about the extinction of a rare species like the ‘Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra’ inhabiting a restricted area in Africa.

Ah, is there no need to choose? Has the decision already been made?

Brias, who had been gauging the atmosphere for a moment, frowned.

It seems he saw Vinas flying far away, beyond the Pacific.

A fleeing Destruction Dragon, and the bugs guarding its front. How touching.

Whoosh!

Then, he flapped his wings wide and folded them.

Simultaneously.

SSUKWAGAGAGAGAGA!

The deployed Magic Missiles confused the empty air and were mercilessly fired across the entire space.

Towards me and my subordinates.

And towards the Rankers down below.

Good! Foolish race, feel the extinction you face due to the stubbornness of one selfish being!

“What the…”

I frowned.

Because I thought I understood why the dragon was saying such things.

The Giant Dragon was like that too, are all dragons like this?

They give off a feeling of being adept at some kind of politicking.

“……”

“……”

Sure enough.

The Rankers below, who had been listening to the dragon’s words while holding their breath, began to stir.

“Destruction Dragon? What’s that…?”

“So, you mean that dragon originally had no intention of attacking us?”

“Are you saying it appeared to stop that dangerous Destruction Dragon that Ju Dong-hoon acquired?”

“What the fuck, so then.”

Humans are like that.

The more desperate the situation, the more they look for an easy target to blame. A target they can resent.

“Was it because of Ju Dong-hoon?”

“…That bastard…! Then, all the civilians dying here is because of that bastard too!”

If it serves their purpose.

That which was an independence fighter yesterday can be turned into a traitor today—that’s just how humans are.

Kkkk.

Brias laughed as if amused.

Yes, now you’ve finally come to your senses. Grasp reality. Did you think you could subdue me with your power? Bowing to the strong is an instinct all lifeforms possess… How dare you try to defy the natural order!

KWAGAGAGA!

The enhanced Magic Missiles terrifyingly embedded themselves into the ground and exploded.

Stone fragments flew, and the Rankers’ shields crumbled.

“Keuhuk!”

Blood spurted from the Tower Master’s mouth.

“Kuhahak!”

The Berserker who had been charging forward was hit by over a dozen Magic Missiles and was thrown back.

I bit my lip tightly.

Dragons are smart.

And they’re perverts.

Perverts who can end everything with power, yet still toy with and enjoy manipulating the emotions of weak humans.

The Giant Dragon also played with the forest and rock races.

Didn’t the Greed Dragon also build its own castle and plunge humans into trials?

‘Earth Dragon?’

Eat shit.

Dragons are just like that originally.

Beings that offer no benefit whatsoever to humans.

Of course, except for our Vinas.

Whoosh! I changed my spear back into a staff and summoned the rest of my subordinates.

Creak!

The Swordsman, Bone One, and the Spirit Summoner, Bone Goo, revealed themselves after a long time.

To be precise, it wasn’t their abilities I needed.

But their skill, ‘Skeleton Summon’ (Lv.Max).

Each of the S-grade guys.

Can summon 10 A-grade, 100 B-grade, and 1,000 C-grade Skeletons.

Thousands of Magic Missiles?

Alright, I’ll block them.

Because I have thousands of meat shields too.

And ones made from dragon bone, at that.

PABABABABAT!

As my subordinates used their energy to summon Skeletons, numerous bones appeared in the air.

A rain of bones totaling 8,888 entities.

The summoned bones began throwing themselves at the Magic Missiles, becoming one shield.

It doesn’t matter if they explode or break anyway.

They can be revived with a small amount of energy.

‘On top of that.’

[Using skill, ‘Wailing of the Dead’ (A-grade).]

[Using 50 Energy.]

Skeletons!

Become even a little stronger!

Become stronger, sturdier shields!

KYAAAAAA!

A sound like souls wailing enveloped the surroundings.

Simultaneously, the Skeletons moved faster.

Ingenious.

The Earth Dragon expressed admiration.

And Skeletons made from dragon bone? I thought you were just an ignorant fool, but it seems you’re quite well-equipped?

But.

What will you do if you block it?

Brias scanned the battlefield with a leisurely gaze.

The dragon knew.

Soon.

The signs of division sprouting among the races below would take root.