〈Chapter 828〉 Part 3, Chapter 2, Episode 05: Dragon Slayer
“What are you doing just standing there and not catching that thing already?”
Seok Harang sighed at the sight of Phoenix casually waiting for Phase 2.
“You should blow it up already! Why are you waiting for it to evolve? You’re putting people in danger!”
[Will a Core appear from this one over here?]
At Yuna’s question, Harang paused for a moment.
“Come to think of it, we did the same thing when we caught the Golden Horse.”
[Nutrion.]
An SS-Rank Monster from Pyongyang.
Of all things, they had insisted on farming an SSS-Rank Core with only four SS-Rank fighters, facing the strongest monster on Earth just for that reason.
Harang still hasn’t forgotten the humiliation of being labeled the “weakest” during that battle despite being full of confidence as an SS-Rank fighter back then.
Nowadays, even fighting alone at SS-Rank, he can take down eight opponents at once, but back then his pride was truly wounded and he fell into a deep depression.
But it was okay because a Core appeared…
“Is a Core going to appear from this one?”
[Probably not. It’s a dragon.]
“But why is it acting so proud?”
“That’s because it’s got pride.”
Shin-ra sipped her strawberry ade leisurely and smiled.
“We make our opponent use their Full Strength for a proper fight. It’s a noble mindset that a Knight should have. Hehe~”
“What’s a ‘Knight’ anyway?”
“Thinking about looking cool to impress other girls?”
Shin-ra gave a thumbs-up towards the evolving earth dragon.
“It’s not like I’m just waiting to knock down a strong enemy. Since appearances of earth dragons aren’t common, if we do this, others will know about it in the future, right? We may know about Phase 2, but others don’t.”
[Deliberately revealing it?]
“Yes. That’s just the kind of person who doesn’t hesitate to do something even if criticized, as long as it helps everyone.”
Shin-ra grinned widely.
“Everyone in Tera will learn about the Phase 2 evolution pattern of dragons through this incident. They’ll understand that failing to properly defeat them in Phase 1 leads to these transformations.”
“That’s true. Later, no one will say things like ‘It’s been dealt with,’ only to be surprised later.”
With a flash…
The earth dragon shed its shell, revealing its massive body.
“…Did I do anything wrong this time?”
“I know. Hehe~ But the timing is quite ironic.”
[If it seems king-sized, it’ll revive or show an evolved form—that’s the rule.]
Kyaoooooo!!
The earth dragon’s Phase 2 form had completely changed. The three of them tilted their heads in confusion upon seeing the dragon-like figure.
“For a dragon’s Phase 2, it’s surprisingly…?”
“More like a monster than a dragon?”
[Ah, I know what this is. It’s a Sandragon from North Africa.]
The three were bewildered.
“Why is it appearing here?”
In the world 20 years later, a notorious monster from the original game had emerged in Tera.
* * *
‘Sure enough.’
I had considered various possibilities, but fortunately, the worst-case scenario turned out to be the best.
The worst assumption.
That would be a dragon crossing over from Earth 20 years in the future.
The fortunate part.
That would be the dragon reverting to its original form from Earth instead of transforming into a monster. Not even resembling a Hydra.
This dragon is mimicking Earth’s monsters or perhaps the appearance of a monster rampaging before Tera’s downfall.
Either way, it makes no difference to me how easy it is to handle.
Even if the amount of magic power emanating from its body suggests SS-Rank, since I know the strategy to defeat it, victory is mine.
‘The ground is dangerous.’
If it retreats underground, it will be difficult for me to attack from inside. Therefore, I must confront it in this gorge leading to Gaia Kingdom rather than within the kingdom itself.
Fortunately, it seems to remember getting hit by me when it was still a dragon, as it bared its teeth and shook its head left and right at me.
‘Sure enough, Fire Punch works wonders.’
It’s incredibly effective for drawing aggro. Now, it’s time for additional provocation.
Clack, clack.
I extended my hand forward and gave a light signal to come closer. Immediately, the Sandragon leaped upward toward me with its mouth wide open.
Flap!
It shot up vertically like a rocket, spewing flames beneath its feet. Flapping its wings to ascend higher, the Sandragon ended up biting at empty air.
[I need to push its buttons a bit more.]
I must ascend higher. I concentrated weak magic attacks on its head.
BOOM BOOM BOOM.
Like firing rifles against a tank’s armor, I relentlessly sprayed flames onto the Sandragon’s head, making it extremely irritated.
GURGLE GURGLE.
It began climbing up the cliff using its spider-like legs underneath its body. I spread my wings and ascended even higher.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
It lunged at me trying to devour me, but I dodged, continuing to fly higher and higher while taunting it.
[Fire Punch.]
I didn’t forget to unleash my Full Strength into the large hollow area atop its head mid-flight.
This ensures it continues to perceive me as a threat.
However, it seems to feel that fighting me won’t lead to death, yet its actions exude a determination to kill me.
[If we fought on Earth, it would’ve been quite troublesome.]
If such a creature appeared near human settlements, without proper handling, it could cause casualties exceeding ten thousand—truly a colossal monster.
Humans might recklessly fire missiles at its body, forcing it underground, but having faced its ancestor, I naturally avoid such mistakes.
Higher.
Higher.
As we ascended above the carved gorge and reached an open plain…
KYAAAK!!
Just like before, the Sandragon opened its mouth toward me. And at the perfect timing, I folded my wings and dove beneath it.
[Am I too confident after just reaching SS-Rank?]
Maximum Blaze.
I hurled myself directly into its mouth. To onlookers, it might seem like I got eaten while fleeing, but in reality, by allowing myself to be swallowed, I gain the opportunity to attack from within.
[Since the brain is closely connected to the mouth, I’m aiming for its weak points.]
BOOM!
I stomped hard with my foot. The tongue wrapping around me started smoking intensely due to the Blaze-enveloped kick.
It must feel like its tongue is being seared by molten metal. Moreover, since it leapt high, it’s impossible for it to cling to any walls properly.
[If it burns up in mid-air, the contamination won’t spread sideways, right?]
I pierced the thrashing tongue with my nails. Simultaneously tearing flesh with my sharp claws and embedding Blaze inside, I set its insides ablaze.
WHOOSH!
A powerful acidic substance capable of melting any lifeform began flowing from its throat. Although I burned the poison with Blaze, the smoke drifted toward me and started touching the magic power of my armor.
[Sorry, but that won’t kill me.]
I am a creature made of magic power.
Unless it directly attacks my magic power, this poisonous vapor is akin to sauna heat for me.
[Then…]
I assume my stance.
Like a track athlete preparing for a crouching start, I press my legs into the tongue and lower my body.
[I’ve wanted to try this since forever ago.]
In my previous life, with Cheongnyeon’s body, I couldn’t attempt this, fearing I’d get swallowed and fall prey to parasitic tentacle monsters inside. But now, it’s fine.
‘If I get captured, I’ll just log out.’
Creating a new avatar is simple.
Since I’ve already established a ‘save point,’ as long as my spirit escapes, it’s fine even if this avatar collapses or gets damaged.
And with the backup of three goddesses, there’s no risk of capture or mental domination.
Therefore, I can do exactly what I want!
[Blaze Dash.]
I gathered all my magic power at the tips of my feet and charged forward.
* * *
“What do we do?! It got eaten!”
Yun Yuhwa frantically wrung his hands and grabbed his hair.
“Being flashy like that, it got eaten! I’m going insane, seriously!”
“…Now I understand why Phoenix Sir tried attacking monsters from a distance.”
Hikari, observing the Sandragon’s magic power after its transformation into Phase 2, shook his head.
“Wasn’t she in trouble after being swallowed like that? That’s probably why she learned to use guns and incinerate enemies from afar. She’s become paranoid.”
“But she fought Light Blade Sir by throwing herself at him…”
“After Light Blade Sir, she rarely did that, right? Maybe her body remembered, but then memories resurfaced of getting into trouble doing this.”
“Ugh…”
Yun Yuhwa gnawed on his nails, focusing on the magic power inside the Sandragon.
“Is there still a magic reaction inside?”
“So far, yes… Ah, something’s happening inside.”
GURGLE GURGLE.
Blue flames began erupting from the Sandragon’s mouth.
The previously rampaging Sandragon suddenly froze.
And then…
PUUUWAAAAAA!!
Its body began boiling from the inside out, starting from the mouth. Like a cave collapsing due to chain explosions, blue flames erupted from the cracks between the Sandragon’s scales.
And when the flames reached the tail…
SWOOSH!
A spinning blue flame emerged, flinging out a dark silhouette. Like a drill, the rotating blue wings pierced through the Sandragon’s body, skewering it entirely. After spinning wildly, Phoenix unfurled her wings gracefully.
FLAP.
Phoenix calmly looked down at the Sandragon with her wings spread wide. When the Sandragon lunged toward her with its mouth wide open—
SQUEEAK!
It stopped abruptly at an extremely short distance—less than a meter away. The Sandragon, whose insides were devastated by Blaze, froze completely.
SNAP.
Phoenix flicked her index finger toward the Sandragon’s teeth. A lighter-than-a-slap attack caused the Sandragon to slowly topple backward and fall.
“Hah, hahaha…”
Phoenix’s casual act of defeating the monster with the sun at her back exuded immense composure. Yuha felt relieved watching this, but also remained anxious.
“Fighting stylishly isn’t as good as winning, even if it looks ugly…”
“I finally understand why she tried to finish it off in Phase 1 without waiting for Phase 2…”
“To ensure victory when possible reduces variables.”
“…It was all about reflecting on past mistakes.”
That was their experience.
* * *
“Hey, wasn’t that awesome just now? Like breaking through the dragon’s mucus membrane…”
“The Ice Demon. Inside, she went full-speed running and only spun out dramatically at the end.”
[Next time, she’ll land with both arms stretched out to the sides, right?]
“Why not? Let her enjoy herself. Hehe~”
“……”
