Chapter 827

〈 Chapter 827 〉 Part 3, Chapter 2, Section 4

A Demon Dragon is no ordinary monster.

Typically appearing on Earth every twenty years with the title of S-Rank, these Demon Dragons were nothing but incarnations of disaster that brought no benefit to humanity.

Their true identity? Artificial lifeforms created by Seongju when he replicated the cores of spirits.

They are the culmination of countless spirits sacrificed in the process of pulling goddesses down to become spirits and copying their magic power.

The Demon Dragons are the strongest among them, each wielding overwhelming strength.

Even Terra isn’t an exception!

■■■■■■■!!!

“I haven’t heard this in a while.”

The signature roar of the Demon Dragon echoed through the ravine. Both the large fleeing figures and the small soldiers all trembled in fear at the Demon Dragon’s roar.

Born from malice towards life itself.

Their minds contain nothing but destruction and murderous intent.

And it’s the same even here on Terra.

■■■■■ !!!

The Earth Demon Dragon planted its four legs on the ground and unleashed magic power. Black magic power erupted from its body like spikes, stabbing in all directions.

“AAAAAAAAAAH!”

As the Earth Demon Dragon raised its spines like a porcupine, the people of Gaia screamed.

But fortunately, no one died from the single attack. If there had been fatalities, I would’ve had to deal with those poisoned and corrupted by the ‘Chaos’ within the Demon Dragon’s polluted magic power.

[That was close.]

I summoned flames in my right hand. Then, landing precisely on the Earth Demon Dragon’s back, I plunged my fist into it.

[Fire Punch.]

■■■■■ !!!!

The Earth Demon Dragon let out a cry of pain. Supporting myself with one knee, I dug my claws into its shell for balance while pulling my other hand back.

[Fire Punch. Fire Punch. Chang-yeom Punch.]

This is just simple rapid punches. But when combined with flames burning through the body, it’s a different story.

[Does it hurt? Sorry, but you showed up at the wrong time.]

I have no idea where this thing came from. But it’s definitely not a naturally occurring creature.

‘So now they’re coming from the future to destroy the world too?’

I could feel it from above while attacking.

This Earth Demon Dragon is clearly a Ji Ryun replica.

After corrupting the spirit Ji Ryun into Hydra, they mixed chaos with earth elemental spirits to create this abomination by copying her core.

Is there any way to save it?

…Unfortunately, no.

Death is the only salvation. It must be killed to end its suffering.

[I’ll stop you from harming your own kind.]

I raised my fist once more.

[Fire Punch.]

■■■■ !!!

The Earth Demon Dragon’s body tilted to the side. At first, I thought it was collapsing from my continuous assault from above, but apparently, it’s not completely stupid.

[Trying to crush me under your back?]

■■■ !!!

The Earth Demon Dragon rolled onto its side like a log. If I keep holding onto its shell, I’ll be crushed under its massive body.

It’ll flip over onto its back, but there’s no one around with enough magic power to handle the Earth Demon Dragon.

In other words, if I want to minimize collateral damage, I have to take care of it myself.

I have to kill this Earth Demon Dragon here.

[Sorry, but it’s too late.]

I immediately spread my wings and disengaged. Before the Earth Demon Dragon could crush me with its back, I flew away at full speed, grazing the ground.

Tuduuduudu.

While flying away, I didn’t forget to fire blue magic bullets simultaneously.

Using my hands instead of a gun, I ended up firing like a tin can corpse or charging shots, but seeing the Earth Demon Dragon in pain, it wasn’t all bad.

[Sorry, but I don’t want to see a beast flipping its belly.]

I doused its abdomen with Chang-yeom flames. As its belly was instantly covered in Chang-yeom flames, it strained to flip itself over without even letting out a roar.

BOOM!

After flipping over once in the ravine, the Earth Demon Dragon’s body was battered. I slowly descended toward it.

[You didn’t think it would end this easily, did you?]

If you can hear me, please respond.

[Phase 2, show me what you’ve got.]

Did it hear my provocation?

The Earth Demon Dragon soaked in Chang-yeom flames began stomping its feet and roaring. The Chang-yeom flames stuck to its body fell off with its mane, and I waited for its Phase 2 transformation.

* * *

“Truly amazing…”

Yun Yuhwa watched Phoenix’s battle in awe.

“The customer fights much better before falling to monstrosity. The fighting style is very similar to the boss’, but even more refined and efficient.”

“Exactly. It’s clear that the customer lost some of their original power upon falling. The fighting style also became rougher and more feral. Look at that.”

BOOM!

Dodging the Earth Demon Dragon’s tail, Phoenix hovered in midair, then extended a hand toward the Earth Demon Dragon.

WHOOSH!

The Chang-yeom flames spewed from Phoenix’s hand engulfed the Earth Demon Dragon. Trying to extinguish the flames sticking to its body, the Earth Demon Dragon rolled left and right but to no avail.

“Attacking without injuring oneself, gracefully dodging attacks, and looking after practicalities while maintaining elegance. The male version of the customer in the past was truly impressive. Ah…”

“…Mr. Chairman. I’m not being sexist, am I?”

Hikari bit her lip while observing the Earth Demon Dragon’s magic pattern.

“Men do have a certain amount of swagger, don’t they?”

“What kind of swagger?”

“Well, you know, offering healing items to enemies who are about to die as an act of mercy.”

“Why would someone do that?”

“Exactly. You see, men have this thing called pride, which sometimes makes them do incomprehensible things…”

!!!

The Earth Demon Dragon roared and collapsed onto the ground. It seemed that one final finishing blow would completely annihilate the Earth Demon Dragon.

“…Customer?”

However, Phoenix simply stood with arms crossed, gazing down at the Earth Demon Dragon. Without launching any attacks, it appeared to be waiting for something from the Earth Demon Dragon.

“No! Customer! You should finish it off while you can! It’s not going to drop a core anyway!”

“It might be possible…”

“But that’s not like you! You’re not the type to prefer straightforward methods, nor are you Xiao Lin! Why are you doing such a reckless thing?!”

Yun Yuhwa couldn’t make a rational judgment.

“Why are you waiting for Phase 2?”

“Didn’t I already say? The swagger that men possess. Oh, you know… ‘Come back stronger’?”

“That’s unnecessary!”

Yun Yuhwa shouted in frustration, but Phoenix still hovered in the air, calmly waiting.

Then finally, the Earth Demon Dragon began to transform. Shedding its charred shell from the Chang-yeom flames, it revealed its true form as its back split open, beginning its metamorphosis into a new shape.

Rustle Rustle Rustle.

“We’re doomed…”

Earth Demon Dragon, Phase 2.

“Hikari, check the database.”

“It’s here. Similar to the S-Rank monster [Neziorgae] discovered on this side.”

A snake-like monster with a total length of dozens of meters.

The second form of the Earth Demon Dragon resembled a centipede with a dragon’s head.

Its black scales covering the entire body were engraved with patterns resembling cracked earth in yellow hues.

“But this one seems to be on a whole different level…”

“You’re right. The one discovered in Africa was an S-Rank monster, but this one…is SS-Rank.”

The start of the Earth Demon Dragon’s Phase 2.

This meant that the Earth Demon Dragon had completed its ‘evolution’ into its own unique form, moving beyond its incomplete Demon Dragon state.

“Ahh, why didn’t we just finish it off earlier?!”

Yun Yuhwa was frustrated.

Something the ‘Young Master Cheongnyeon’ they knew would never do.

-Why look at Phase 2? Just overkill it in Phase 1. Pfft.

“That was your rule, customer, to kill transforming enemies before they transform!”

Yun Yuhwa kept drinking iced coffee in frustration while looking at the pre-corruption version of Phoenix. Regardless of Yun Yuhwa and Hikari’s thoughts, they could only watch through the eyes of their pet Krishnu now.

“Please, please don’t die…!”

Phoenix still stood arrogantly with arms crossed against the fully transformed Demon Dragon.

Then.

“Oh, crap.”

Click, Click.

“There goes the cool factor.”

Phoenix merely wiggled their fingers against the Earth Demon Dragon opening its maw toward them.