“Keep firing!”
“The bullets aren’t even hitting it—what are we supposed to do?”
Jo Geon-wook couldn’t make sense of the situation unfolding before him.
The Storm Dragon he thought was nearly dead had enveloped itself in lightning and started rampaging wildly. Its power had reached an entirely different level compared to before.
[3★ Wandering Knight Albert uses skill 「Iron Wall」.]
Jo Geon-wook’s Calamity leapt around defending the soldiers from behind, but it wasn’t enough.
The Storm Dragon Tempestra’s claws tore people in half, and the lightning surrounding its body repelled all attacks. Essentially, it was invincible at the moment.
“Hmph.”
Jo Geon-wook quickly assessed the situation.
This was unwinnable.
“…Director! We need to retreat!”
When Jo Geon-wook yelled toward Yoo Jun-seo, the leader of Team 1, the latter frowned deeply.
“Are you insane? What will happen if we retreat right here? Shall we make announcements like ‘Seoul is doomed’? Who’s going to take the responsibility for this? I certainly won’t!”
“Then how are we supposed to take it down?”
“Find any way!”
Yoo Jun-seo’s eyes gleamed with madness. He was far beyond making rational judgments.
Jo Geon-wook internally sighed.
This was why you don’t place someone with a mental health history in charge. Cursing at the absent government officials, Jo Geon-wook turned around.
Amidst the chaos, he gave instructions to the Awakened Ones.
“Spread out! Minimize the casualties as much as possible! Stall for time and then deal with….”
“No.”
Cutting Jo Geon-wook off was Nam Joo-yeon of the Awakened Ones.
[3★ Faded Spirit Luciven uses skill 「Shadow Distraction」.]
Nam Joo-yeon skillfully used his 3-star Calamity to divert the Storm Dragon Tempestra’s attention.
A brief window opened. He looked around and spoke.
“…Once we’ve entered its lair, if we can’t kill this thing, there will be an eruption.”
“…An eruption?”
“You don’t know about berserk state, huh? This creature is beyond rational judgment at this point. Even if we escape, it will chase us across the globe and rip us to shreds.”
Jo Geon-wook frowned.
Though he didn’t understand gaming, the other Awakened Ones of the team nodded as if they comprehended, agreeing with Nam Joo-yeon.
Nam Joo-yeon appeared unnaturally calm amidst the chaos. He gestured toward the dragon and said,
“Try to lure this dragon into the building. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Take care of what?”
“I have a plan. Just trust me.”
Nam Joo-yeon confidently said those words.
Jo Geon-wook stared at his face, deep in thought.
Nam Joo-yeon— someone suspicious. To be honest, there were several reasons to be wary of keeping him around.
But in a situation like this, whether it was a desperate measure or the last resort, they had to use whatever resources they could get. It didn’t matter even if it was Nam Joo-yeon. Jo Geon-wook nodded and gave instructions to the Awakened Ones of Team 2.
“Combine all the Calamities and divert the Storm Dragon’s attention. Head toward the Exhibition Hall.”
Fortunately, the Storm Dragon Tempestra’s nest was the Ilsan Convention Center.
Its size was large enough to trap a dragon.
After giving the instructions, the Awakened Ones began moving in unison. Jo Geon-wook turned to Nam Joo-yeon and asked,
“So, Nam Joo-yeon, what do you plan to do once we get the dragon inside?”
“Hmm, I’ll just figure it out with a game-like sense, I guess.”
“Game-like sense?”
Jo Geon-wook tilted his head in confusion. Nam Joo-yeon chuckled and replied,
“Normally, for such trash games, you have to understand the elemental attributes well.”
“Trash… games? Attributes…?”
“Well, that’s just how it works.”
Nam Joo-yeon smiled bitterly and shrugged.
“I’ve been addicted to games for so long.”
It wasn’t exactly a statement that inspired trust.
Following Jo Geon-wook’s instructions, the Awakened Ones of Team 2 skillfully shifted the Storm Dragon Tempestra’s attention using different Calamity abilities.
I positioned the faded spirit Luciven in front of Tempestra’s face, and then slid backward into the building.
The venue, once known as Kintex, was enormous. I glanced up at the ceiling.
‘Good. Everything is in place.’
Kwaang!
Timely, following Luciven’s lure, Tempestra burst through the exhibition hall wall and entered the building. The dragon was surrounded by crackling purple lightning.
One touch from those claws and I’d probably die from electrocution before being torn apart.
Naturally, it was hard not to feel tense.
I’m not bold or brave enough to put myself into such a perilous situation.
“It’s Mirien’s doing.”
But regardless of the reasons.
These Calamities were freed by me.
So, I am somewhat responsible for cleaning up the mess.
I smirked bitterly as I scanned the area.
Inside the building, it was only the Storm Dragon Tempestra and me. Confirming that we were alone, I manipulated the status screen.
After dismissing Luciven, I pressed the profile of a woman with ash-colored hair displayed in the formation screen.
The great Calamity feared by all humanity.
The pinnacle of fire that even burned the gods.
[5★ The Blackened Saint Selene summoned.]
A bright light shone.
Thus, the Blackened Saint Selene descended before me.
Selene, her ash-gray hair flowing, drew her flaming broadsword instead of greeting and pointed it forward.
“…Lord, this situation is extremely urgent.”
“You were watching, weren’t you?”
“Yes. I was considering rushing in immediately, but I restrained myself as you commanded.”
“Good. You did well.”
“…Thank you.”
Upon receiving the compliment, Selene’s lips tilted slightly upwards. But then she seemed to recall our urgency and continued.
“Lord, can I kill this ingratitude-drenched dragon before it knows who you are?”
“No, if there’s any evidence pointing to you, it’ll get extremely complicated.”
Didn’t Jo Geon-wook look suspicious just moments ago?
“Well, then what shall I do?”
“Spew fire. That’s what you do best, isn’t it?”
Selene tilted her head.
“Fire?”
“Preferably upwards, unless absolutely necessary.”
I looked up and smiled as I scanned the fire detectors and sprinklers densely installed on the exhibition hall ceiling.
Since this world operates similarly to a game structure, the elemental attribute compatibility would apply as it is.
The Storm Dragon Tempestra is originally an aetheric calamity, but now under the protection of violent thunder, it’s become weak to water.
Besides, Tempestra has already taken considerable damage.
To put it in gaming terms, it’s in a red health bar—critical condition.
“Lord, do you really only want me to fire upwards toward the sky?”
Selene seemed skeptical.
“Selene, who do you think I am?”
“Why, you are the perfect ruler and my lord, Lord Actor.”
Selene declared the embarrassing title with her ceremonial sword raised high.
[5★ The Blackened Saint Selene uses skill 「Inferno Flame」.]
She swung her sword, and a colossal pillar of fire erupted before us.
Perhaps my head got overheated from the intense heat, causing me to awkwardly spread my arms and exclaim,
“Let there be light—no, rain.”
The fire detectors activated, and a heavy downpour of water began.
Momentarily, the lightning flowing through Tempestra’s body exploded.
[4★ Storm Dragon Tempestra cries out]
Manager Yoo Jun-seo of the Awakened Ones Management Bureau could hardly understand what he was witnessing.
It had only been five minutes since the Storm Dragon Tempestra, covered in lightning, stormed into the exhibition hall.
[4★ Storm Dragon Tempestra has been defeated]
[Reward: 20Exp]
Ding!
[Dungeon 「Storm Dragon’s Nest」 successfully cleared!]
[Reward: 150Exp]
What had happened in those five minutes?
Why was it marked cleared? The dungeon defeated?
The truth became clear as the moment a man stumbled out of the exhibition hall.
B-rank Awakened One Nam Joo-yeon—his hair was scorched, and his clothes were burnt beyond recognition, revealing both arms. Yet, he was alive and walking on all his limbs.
It was hard to grasp what had happened.
With dozens of Awakened Ones unable to subdue or even touch the great calamity that barely escaped earlier, how did Nam Joo-yeon handle it?
Speechless, someone placed a hand on Yoo Jun-seo’s shoulder.
“Boss, this is the kind you call a monster.”
It was Jo Geon-wook, the leader of Team 2. He smirked seeing Yoo Jun-seo’s awkwardly frozen expression and continued,
“Did we establish the S-rank standards when we started the Awakening classification?”
“We didn’t.”
“Good, then it’s a perfect time.”
Jo Geon-wook pointed at Nam Joo-yeon with a furrowed brow.
“This guy right here will be the new S-rank standard.”
Saying so, Jo Geon-wook’s face was filled with certainty, and even Yoo Jun-seo could only reluctantly nod in agreement.
