The Dragon's Blood
The dragon's body was damaged in part, but it looked like part of the terrain was destroyed.
Gaon confirmed the destruction site he created on the dragon's neck.
After peeling off the scales and removing the skin, wriggling muscles were revealed.
The lines of each muscle were like the roots of a huge tree.
Animal muscles are tough, but dragon muscles are so thick and tough that even a saw is needed to cut them. Even a Swordmaster's strength is not transcendent by 8 levels. Without sword qi, it would be a tough job to cut this.
However, Gaon swung his sword, and the revealed muscles were sliced like paper.
The dragon didn't leave him alone to keep damaging his body.
“KIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK―!”
The dragon screamed and thrashed. It tried to shake Gaon off by moving its neck around, like the primitive dragons.
To Gaon on the dragon's neck, the whole world seemed to be shaking.
That sensation was pleasurable.
Like when he fought in the past, Gaon grabbed the scales and moved around. With elven agility and swordmaster's sharp senses. Perfect evasion in familiar situations.
Yet he didn't stop the slicing, and in this difficult situation, the work seemed fast and light.
Actually, Gaon was enjoying it immensely now.
The fight with the huge monster, it reminded him of the old days. Every day was like dying, but now thinking about it, the old days were fulfilling.
The repeated slicing widened the dragon's wounds.
The dragon couldn't hold back anymore.
As if to crush Gaon, the dragon slammed its neck to the ground.
An explosive dust storm erupted. A horrific shock wave spread like a bunker buster hitting the ground.
However, it didn't wound the target it aimed for. Gaon teleported away from that space.
Too easy crisis escape, this was also an experienced situation. No surprise or heart pounding.
“Krrrrrrrrrrrrrr······”
The severe headbutt was an impact that was hard even for the dragon to endure.
The dragon's advance completely stopped.
The dragon had no energy left to flap its wings. It shook the ground with a huge vibration, flapping its feet and wings uselessly. Struggling to tear off something stuck to its neck.
It was not a rational judgment.
After all, ancient dragons are too big a target to miss.
Hit!
Concentrated fire struck various parts of the dragon's huge body. The huge thick scales started flying away like pebbles.
With powerful firepower, the protective runes engraved on the scales were stripped away, accelerating the destruction.
Now the dragon couldn't even scream. In the middle of trying to escape, it seemed to be trying to delay death. It tried to spread cold air to its body with magic to freeze the wounds.
Gaon blocked that powerless resistance.
The fire ignited by the goddess's power instantly erased the cold that was trying to cover the wounds. With this, all resistance of the dragon was nullified.
That was it.
Gaon swung his sword one last time, aiming precisely at the vital point. Following the flow, he cut the flesh. Completely burst the thick blood vessels.
Blood exploded like a volcano.
The dragon's sturdy body began to collapse. Blood burst out unable to withstand the internal pressure.
Blood poured down like rain on the dragon's back.
Success! You have successfully slain the living dragon by drenching yourself in its blood!
From ancient times, slaying great beings and taking their blood and flesh has been greatly beneficial to heroes.
The Maori tribe of Earth believed that when they killed a great being, the mana within it would be bestowed upon themselves. What a scientific and rational belief!
Such sublime acts make the weak human body more sturdy and the weak soul more transcendent. If you ever meet a god, spill their blood to your heart's content. The immortal who never ages, perhaps you can become a demigod!
MP permanently increases by 200.
[Mana Point 45/95 → 45/295]
Gaon was happy inside, enjoying the growth pleasure. Even in the midst of joy, his expression was cold.
He was conscious of people's gazes.
Indeed, he felt people looking at him. In the trenches, on the battlefield, behind the wire fences. Everyone, regardless of enemy or ally, was looking at him.
Precisely, looking at the dragon Gaon had ridden on. The death of that huge being.
The reactions were completely different. Screams and cheers erupted at the same time.
Of course, the cheers were from the White Skull Unit.
“Holy fucking shit!”
After that, the battle continued for several hours, but it was not difficult to predict the result. The As forces rely too much on asymmetric power like Swordmasters or dragons. Without such power, they can't handle Earth's armies.
Thanks to Earth's privileges, the White Skull Unit's tanks and fighters were shelling the battlefield.
While the main tank unit was cleaning up golems and ogres, Ryu Si-beom, who confirmed the dragon's death, deployed the reserve tanks. Those tanks had already finished their main duties of breakthrough and expansion.
At the moment victory was certain, a message appeared to Ryu Si-beom.
Your skill has deeply impressed me, so I humbly ask for a difficult favor.
“Please withdraw, please.”
Ryu Si-beom was dumbfounded at the enemy's plea.
“What are you withdrawing? You think I don't know?”
“Don't, please. Comrade General is leisurely playing in his old age, but I have the future hanging by a thread. Anyway, even if I win, I can't take the spoils, right? I'll give you 20 million won separately, so don't split it with your subordinates and eat it alone······”
At the bribe offer, Ryu Si-beom didn't waver at all. Rather, he was angry.
Unable to hold back his frustration, he roared loudly.
“Hey. What kind of bastard are you, a general, begging for victory. Are you even a soldier? You should be ashamed, bastard!”
“Please······”
“Get lost, asshole!”
The other side's message also heated up.
“You fucking bastard, do you think you'll live long if you do that? If I die, you won't be safe either. I'll definitely bury you, so prepare yourself.”
“I heard that South Korean movies are popular in North Korea too, did you watch them deeply in your other world? Why, are you sending some Yanbian beggars? That bastard who offers 2 thousand won as bribe, does he have that kind of money?”
After shooting back like that, Ryu Si-beom immediately deployed the reserve unit. A decisive blow to pursue the retreating enemy and expand achievements.
As the troops moved, the battle ended soon.
The situation where one side chases and the other flees officially began.
The time came for the winner to take rights. Time for plunder.
Even in this time loved by all pro gamers, the White Skull Unit maintained strict military discipline. Everything scattered there is money, but the White Skull members didn't immediately move. To prepare for the aftermath, they kept their positions.
Lee Bok-dong and Jijonmussang didn't need to.
“Take it, take it!”
They drove the pre-brought truck across the battlefield.
In the middle, they stopped and loaded only expensive-looking items.
In the midst of driving so happily, there was a counterattack from enemies who couldn't escape in time. Of course, it was useless.
“Our Jedi, strong Jedi!”
While Jijonmussang drove laughing, Gaon swung his sword from the front of the truck. Every time, the flying bullets were powerless and bounced off.
Eventually, the enemies who tried to counterattack were pierced by Lee Bok-dong's bullets or crushed under the truck wheels.
In the middle of this advance, they saw a strange group in the distance. Green-skinned fugitives.
The orcs were fleeing.
They were an extremely rare species in the Korean People's Army made up only of high elves. So, they probably had something special.
“Chase those bastards!”
While Lee Bok-dong and Gaon fired, the running truck ran over the remaining orcs too.
In the middle of the orcs' corpses, Jijonmussang got off the truck with a grin.
And he was disappointed.
“What? Why aren't the weapons falling from the corpses' hands?”
Lee Bok-dong answered.
“These orcs, they seem to be As people.”
“If they're As people, so what?”
“When creating As character, the basic weapons given, account-bound, can't be traded, and even if you die, they don't get taken away······”
“Aigoo, what is that? Only As people are being pampered.”
While grumbling, Jijonmussang was not greatly disappointed. After all, the loot was everywhere.
The truck's cargo hold capacity was basically the limit of what could be taken.
The right to take all that loot would be perfectly guaranteed. Didn't everyone see how important their roles were?
While Jijonmussang and Lee Bok-dong were getting back on the truck.
How long is this bastard going to pretend to be dead?
Gaon, with his unique hearing, noticed that one orc was still alive but pretending to be dead, and he was waiting as if he didn't know the orc was trying to ambush. To beautifully neutralize the sudden attack and receive admiration from his comrades.
However, the orc pretending to be dead didn't attack.
The orc opened its eyes wide and asked this.
“Gaon-nim?”
Gaon saw it was a familiar face.
“The orc living in Hugin? The small, skinny orc?”
“Yes, that's right. You are Gaon-nim too······”
Gaon widened his eyes.
Gaon liked this human man's face, so he used it when going out or in-game. It seemed the orc who met him recognized it.
Need to secure a subordinate. Can't leave it to spread around that Gaon killed it in this game.
Gaon moved desperately, more than when fighting the dragon. In an instant, he reached the orc's front. Pretending to support the fallen orc's body, he whispered in its ear.
“Keep your mouth shut. I'll save you.”
The orc nodded its head, and Gaon loaded the orc into the truck. It was basically kidnapping, but the orc didn't resist.
About an hour later, the truck returned to the allied base with the cargo hold full of loot.
Four people got off the truck, among them the orc, but it was not killed.
Gaon said.
“Don't kill this orc.”
There was no one to ignore the words of the man who just killed the dragon. After all, everyone didn't care if the orc was alive or dead.
Soon, it was the turn for the White Skull members to take their share.
In the end, among the Earth people devoted to slaughter and plunder, one orc stood alone.
Meanwhile, Gaon headed to the headquarters with Lee Bok-dong and Jijonmussang.
The commander, Guild Master Ryu Si-beom welcomed them with a smile.
“Praise! The hero's return!”
Then Ryu Si-beom approached Gaon, patted his shoulder, and hugged him tightly. Then, bowing, he shook hands.
Why suddenly acting so close······
Lee Bok-dong was bewildered, but Gaon didn't mind. He was just touched by seeing his performance and feeling proud.
“You've really done a great job! Ryu Si-beom, I was sincerely impressed!”
While praising like that, Ryu Si-beom kept smiling. It wasn't just to flatter. Not just for the joy of victory.
Seeing the Swordmaster's performance, Ryu Si-beom was actually feeling good.
Swordmaster, the pinnacle among superhumans. Having those historical figures who are one each play this game was quite pleasing to Ryu Si-beom.
Ryu Si-beom knew that most of his guild members were unemployed.
Calling it a military guild, but few are officers. The rest are all unemployed who jumped into the game to grab a share after wasting time.
Most of those who say they are pro gamers in this game are like that. They are not real pro gamers. Not like e-sports players who give pleasure to people and make money, but plunderers who mainly profit by stealing others' things and cashing them out.
How many bloody incidents happened in reality while they stole money from each other, how many times the 9 o'clock news was decorated with it, it's countless.
Thanks to this, the game's external image is the worst.
A general like himself joining a game to make money.
He never dreamed that in his old age he would be doing such things without resting. If it weren't for the divorce where his property became half, and he didn't get scammed out of all his remaining property, he wouldn't have looked at this game.
It's shameful. He can't even tell his relatives or friends.
Using his proud military career like this? It's like the feeling of a former top star doing low-budget porn movies to survive.
In the midst of this, having a Swordmaster like him playing the same game as himself was quite comforting to Ryu Si-beom. Not just the game's level, but the feeling of rising to his own level of playing the game.
“Take care!”
“Um.”
After the three left, the adjutant approached.
As soon as Ryu Si-beom saw his face, his expression changed again.
This adjutant bastard also caused trouble and ruined his military long-term review······ A loser who doesn't want to work in society, playing this game.
The adjutant didn't know why the commander was in a bad mood again and said cautiously.
“Congratulations.”
However, Ryu Si-beom's expression changed again, making the adjutant more uneasy.
Ryu Si-beom knew that the adjutant was fawning in front of him but behind his back, he despised him as a fool or something. Like all the other guild members.
It wasn't like that while in the military.
Ryu Si-beom recalled the past. The old days when every day was tough but glorious.
“Wait, even if you recognized, you should pretend not to know. Right?”
The orc answered Gaon's words.
“Sorry. I didn't know you were hiding because you named yourself Gaon openly.”
Gaon didn't want to explain the complex psychology of wanting to hide his identity to keep face, but hoping some would notice and respect him.
Instead, he scolded.
“It's a secret. Okay?”
“Okay.”
The orc was huge and rugged in character. But now it was acting like a scrawny reality.
Its shoulders slumped with a lot of intimidation, and it was funny because it was a muscular rugged orc character.
Gaon sighed and said.
“Anyway, we have some connection. Even if it's coincidence, it's not ordinary. Is this the third time we've met?”
“Yes, probably······.”
“You won't live over 200 years, so I'll let it go. Name?”
“Yoeu. Yoeu······”
Gaon understood why the parents gave such a name. Gaon said while holding back laughter.
“Yeah, Yoeu? This is also fate. I'll give you my contact info, so contact me later. If you have any requests, ask.”
Gaon wanted to say how great it is to have a Swordmaster connection, to hear his feelings, but he decided not to.
Gaon bid farewell to the orc with a solemn face, then ended the game.
For a while, he enjoyed the joy of victory.
Great. Gaon! Now my Great Warrior's contact has doubled, which is soon heavenly bliss!
“What? It's not difficult for me.”
It was when the goddess was in ecstasy.
The phone rang, and Gaon, who thought Jijonmussang was about to thank him, picked up quickly.
But it wasn't Jijonmussang.
“Yoeu? ... Gaon-nim?”
It was the orc.
Gaon was delighted.
“Yoeu? Calling right away?”
“I was told to make a request······ Yes, it's a difficult thing to do, but······ I have a request······”
It was just a casual remark, but was he really going to make a request? Right now?
Gaon was dumbfounded, but since he was in a good mood, he decided to be lenient.
“What is the request?”
“That······”