Chapter 031 - Blazing Peak (4)
A crimson blaze surged over the base camp.
Paat!
The barriers and wards laid by the mages activated first.
The wall, glowing with a vivid blue light, seemed to hold its own against the breath attack.
But it shattered without lasting long, and the razor-sharp flames incinerated everything in their path.
Tat!
Kim Sun-woo snatched Han Su-ah by the waist from right beside him and unleashed White Flow Step at full power.
"Kyaaak!"
Han Su-ah was helplessly dragged along by the sudden grip.
But Kim Sun-woo had no choice.
The spot they'd been standing was squarely in the direct line of the breath.
Pagagak!
Feeling the superheated flames roar overhead with their own bodies, the two tumbled across the ground.
In that frantic moment, with no time for a proper roll, they skidded to a halt, carving long gouges in the dirt.
"Aaaah! Aaack!!"
"Sun-jin! Sun-jin!!!"
Screams and wails filled the air.
Even fighting a Red Drake with thorough preparation was no easy feat.
Let alone getting ambushed like this—the casualties were inevitable.
A few hunters who couldn't dodge the breath were caught in it, dying on the spot or losing limbs.
"...Oppa! Oppa, your arm!!"
Han Su-ah, who'd rolled into Kim Sun-woo's arms, finally snapped to her senses and shrieked.
His left arm, used to brace against the ground, was charred black.
At least it still held its shape—that was a small mercy.
Even for Kim Sun-woo, hardened to wounds, the searing agony was nearly unbearable.
He lay there face-down, pale and sweating coldly.
That's when Han Su-ah hurriedly reached out and cast Healing.
Paaat!
Green light enveloped the badly burned flesh, slowly knitting it back together.
Han Su-ah focused solely on his arm, blind to everything else, allowing a swift recovery.
"...Damn, that hurts like hell."
Wiping sweat from his brow, Kim Sun-woo shook off the dirt and stood.
It wasn't fully healed, but he could move now.
He rolled his shoulders lightly and spoke to Han Su-ah, still clinging to his arm.
"This is fine. Go help the others."
"But..."
"Please."
Kim Sun-woo gripped her shoulders firmly, locking eyes with her.
Han Su-ah trembled anxiously but nodded and dashed toward the others.
"..."
Kim Sun-woo massaged his once-charred arm and exhaled.
As an F-rank hunter, he'd taken plenty of scrapes, but never lost a whole arm to burns before.
Thanks to Su-ah, it was mostly mended, but the lingering sting felt like flesh still smoldering.
Tat!
But he couldn't afford to stand around dazed.
A fierce battle still raged higher up the peak.
'Three dead on impact. Five injured, maybe.'
That it hadn't been worse was a miracle.
If not for the sudden alarm, they'd have been caught defenseless in their tents.
Meanwhile, Robert and the other hunters were at least minimally geared, drawing the Drake's attention.
"Sword... sword..."
Kim Sun-woo desperately rummaged through the ruins of his tent.
He'd left his sword and gear inside after washing up, planning to review the day's lessons.
Figured he could grab them quick if needed—but who could've predicted a Red Drake breath attack?
The base camp and equipment, all flame-resistant, lay in ashes anyway.
Kicking through the debris, he spotted his intact Black Flow Sword.
Chiiiik.
Grabbing the hilt, he felt the heat from the breath still radiating.
Circulating inner energy to shield his hand, he kicked off the ground and charged toward the peak's summit.
"Keep it from reaching the lava! If it feeds, it'll breathe again!"
Robert swung his spear desperately, trying to block the Red Drake's movements.
'Its power depends on the flames stored in its body.'
It had already unleashed one breath, burning through a good chunk.
That's why it was so desperate to return to the lava and replenish.
Shyaaak!
The Red Drake thrashed against the hunters' fierce resistance.
Its long tail whipped at supersonic speed, slamming into them.
Jjeong!
Frontline tanker Lee Han-su braced with full force.
But the overwhelming power shattered his shield and sent him flying.
"...Damn."
Robert, poised for a flank, watched with dismay.
The Red Drake, having crushed the lead hunter, raised a foot to finish him.
Jjeok!
But just before it stomped Lee Han-su, a bolt of lightning struck its side.
Kim Sun-woo, arriving just in time, had unleashed Thunderclap Sword Strike, smashing into the Drake's flank.
The impact rocked it, twisting its body and forcing several steps back.
"Han-su!"
"Pull him back quick!"
Other hunters dragged the unconscious Lee Han-su down to base camp.
Tuk.
Landing, Kim Sun-woo chewed his lip against the recoil vibrating through his hands.
Thunderclap Sword Strike left a clear mark on the Red Drake.
Tough hide split, green blood sprayed, sizzling on the hot ground.
But the beast was enormous.
Even at full power, it barely scratched the surface.
'Need three in a row to pierce deep.'
A strange sense of déjà vu hit him.
Reminded him of the Black Knight in the Cradle of the Broken Pilgrim.
But he'd grown since then.
Was the gap this wide even among elite C-rank dungeon monsters?
"...Sun-woo, you okay? Saw you shield Han Su-ah and burn your arm."
"Fine, except my arm smells tasty now. Su-ah upgraded me from medium to rare."
Robert let out a hollow chuckle at Kim Sun-woo's joke, thrusting out his still-pink arm.
It hit him then—he'd been too tense.
'Not like me.'
No dungeon prep covered every variable.
Sudden attacks or mishaps were common.
Losing men to the first breath and seeing plans crumble had rattled him.
Unsure what further losses the boss fight might bring, the stress had weighed heavy.
"...Thanks. Head's clear now."
But he wasn't alone.
Team Knight was intact, and Kim Sun-woo was back at his side.
They'd chosen Blazing Peak despite the risk because of him.
"Sun-woo. I'll draw its eyes upfront. Hit the blind spots like before."
"You sure? Won't be easy."
Kim Sun-woo eyed Robert with concern.
Even superhuman hunters couldn't defy that mass and power.
Specialized tanker Lee Han-su had buckled in one hit—proof of the Drake's freakish strength.
Robert nodded with a faint smile.
"We're C-ranks. Gotta earn it. Just drop it before my knees give out."
Only he and Kim Sun-woo could face the Red Drake head-on.
With the team's balance wrecked, expecting perfect roles was unrealistic.
Better he tanked, they supported.
"...Got it."
Kim Sun-woo nodded and began fading into the air.
Blending seamlessly with the surroundings—always mesmerizing.
Confirming his presence fully vanished, Robert gripped his spear and exhaled sharply.
-Kiyaaaaak!!!
The Red Drake, wounds healed from Kim Sun-woo's strike, bellowed its rage.
But Robert's mind was calmer than ever.
Just do the job.
Nothing more.
Dalk.
He pulled a cross-shaped necklace from inside his clothes, engraved with his name.
「Robert Astor」
He hated his father for abandoning him and his mother.
But he couldn't discard the name she'd given him.
His greatest rebellion: switching to the German spelling his father despised.
A bitter smile as he kissed the necklace, then murmured his contradictory declaration.
"For my family and my beliefs."
Chil-kek.
The artifact activated at the keyword, deploying the Astor family's exclusive armament.
Crimson full plate mail enveloped him.
A massive spear in one hand, a half-body shield in the other—he exuded heavy presence.
Shyaaak!
The Red Drake whipped its tail again to smite the obstacle in its path.
No shield could withstand that force.
But the Astor gear gave no quarter.
Jjeong!
Robert skidded back far but held, shield intact.
Hwirik.
Raising the spear, he kicked off hard, slithering like a snake across the ground toward the thrashing tail.
Peok!
The spearhead pierced the tail, pinning it deep into the earth.
-Kieeek!
The tiny human nailing its tail drew a scream and frenzy from the Drake.
Pagak, gagagak!
The tail bucked to dislodge the spear, but Robert gritted his teeth and held position.
Kung!
Realizing it wouldn't work, the beast charged with a body slam.
Crushed under that bulk.
But Kim Sun-woo wouldn't let it happen.
Paat!
High above Robert.
Kim Sun-woo, leaping for an opening, glared down and honed his sword tip.
Pajik.
White sparks danced along the Black Flow Sword, heat haze shimmering.
Sword aura still felt new, needing warmup—but Robert bought him time.
'No dragging this out. End it now.'
When vivid sword aura erupted along the black blade.
Flash—!!!
A bolt of white thunder crashed down on the Red Drake's head.