Bone Dragon (4)
Having escaped the Dragon's Graveyard, Hyun-soo returned to the Atlas conference room.
As he gazed at Kyukyu nestled in his arms, a notification chimed.
Please name it.
Hyun-soo quickly decided on a name.
"This little guy's name is Kyukyu. Yeah, Kyukyu it is."
He'd named it Kyukyu because of its cry.
Unlike what you'd expect from a bone dragon hatchling, its tiny "kyuu-kyuu" wails were utterly adorable.
Having acquired a new pet, Hyun-soo checked its info.
Hyun-soo gave a wry smile.
Kyukyu was level 1.
It reminded him of when he'd first gotten Bok Deong-i—its attack and defense were laughably low.
'This guy's skills are probably cute too, right?'
But Hyun-soo soon froze in shock.
'Huh...?'
Little Breath
Active Skill | Legend Grade | Level 1
Effect: Deals 50% of Bone Dragon Breath damage to a single target.
A small breath you shouldn't underestimate. 50% of a bone dragon's breath can melt any monster.
"Gah..."
Hyun-soo was awestruck.
'50% of Bone Dragon Breath damage?'
He remembered it clearly.
The moment he'd taken a direct hit from the bone dragon's breath, his HP had plummeted below 10%.
Meaning if he ate this Little Breath head-on right now, he'd lose over 40% of his HP.
'Even high-level players would drop over 50% HP.'
Of course, it couldn't compare to a real dragon's breath.
The reason dragon breaths were the ultimate attack was their insane range, defying common sense.
The bone dragon alone had covered a 400-meter radius.
Next, he checked the 1st-Class Magic skill.
1st-Class Magic
Active Skill | Legend Grade | Level 1
Effect:
· Masters all 1st-class magic.
· Cooldown is half that of normal users.
· Casting time is half that of normal users.
· Magic attack power is 60% stronger when using 1st-class magic.
· MP depletion won't occur due to transcendent mana pool.
As befits the lords of magic—dragons—1st-class spells are child's play.
This was no joke either.
'Insane... Casting time and cooldown halved right off the bat?'
Casting time and cooldown reductions were what every mage craved.
But in this brutal game Ares, they only came every 100 levels—and even then, just 5-7%.
Yet Kyukyu had human-crushing reductions from birth.
'On top of 60% stronger than normal spells, and no MP drain...'
Sure, 1st-class magic was mostly crude stuff.
Magic Missile or Energy Bolt—basic attacks learned around level 10.
But that wasn't what caught Hyun-soo's eye.
'What happens when it grows and learns 2nd-class, 3rd-class, 4th-class magic?'
He swallowed hard.
Explosion.
A 4th-class spell.
By then, Kyukyu's casting and cooldown reductions would be even better, and the damage massively higher.
'The range would be nuts too.'
Imagining its grown form, Hyun-soo realized he'd scored a monster.
But harsh reality hit.
'Ugh...'
This adorable Kyukyu was far from grown.
30 years in real time to reach adulthood? A pipe dream.
'Gotta find ways to speed up its growth.'
Sorting his thoughts on Kyukyu, Hyun-soo turned to other matters.
Right on cue, past midnight, a notification rang.
Saint's Blessing bound to the Saint's Sword has been patched.
The patch matched their prior negotiations.
Hyun-soo eyed the inventory stuffed with materials gathered from the bone dragon.
Thankfully, he'd snagged solid legend-grade dragon bone, wing bones, teeth, and more.
From a 12-meter, multi-ton beast, it was enough for two or three legend artifacts.
'Still, the unique materials could make dozens of artifacts, and epics hundreds.'
An insane haul.
Without over 5,000 normal hits, he wouldn't have gotten even a tenth.
He'd ponder legend crafts later.
Now, notifications from hunting the bone dragon.
You have hunted the Bone Dragon.
EXP and artifact drop rate doubled.
Gained 2,419,004 EXP.
Eleven levels in one go—finally breaking 350.
'Now level 356...'
Gained 443,316 gold.
Gold worth 440 million won dropped.
'Damn, from one monster...?'
Sure, that one equaled thousands of others.
'No way that's all?'
Disappointed no other drops besides gold, but scrolling revealed...
"Oh...!"
Eureka!
He knew about Seeds of Life from prior explanations.
'The more Seeds of Life, the more dormant Atlas residents I can awaken.'
Problem was, this was his first batch, so 413's value was unclear.
And he got a title too.
Acquired title: Dragon Slayer.
"Kyahaha!"
The name alone thrilled him.
A great title.
The last part was the gem.
'On the day a dragon appears, I'll meet it before anyone—special perk.'
Thanks to the Saint's Sword fiasco, he'd gained a ton.
Then.
Knock knock—
Nel entered after knocking.
Kyukyu jolted awake in his arms.
"Kyuu? Kyuu-kyuu!"
It flapped its tiny, frail wings in panic.
Kyukyu is scared.
It hit the floor and hid under a corner chair, trembling.
Shiver shiver—
"Kyuuuung..."
Hyun-soo recalled "timid personality" from its info.
Newborns might fear strangers, but Kyukyu was extreme.
"That's the bone dragon hatchling, right?"
"Name's Kyukyu."
"I came to say the guild members are here, but... wow."
Nel gave a wry smile.
Hyun-soo crouched, coaxing the shivering Kyukyu.
"It's okay, Kyukyu. She's a nice big sis."
But it wouldn't budge.
Then Hyun's Forge guild members arrived.
Kyukyu shook harder.
"Kyukyu...?"
Hyun-soo looked flustered.
Time would fix it, but if it were a real dragon, he'd be tearing up.
As everyone stood awkward—
Someone watched, laughing.
***
"Hahahahaha!"
Wang, the team leader, was losing it.
Thanks to Hyun-soo clearing the long-planned Dragon's Graveyard with the Saint's Sword.
And snagging a bone dragon hatchling named Kyukyu.
But he wasn't laughing from madness.
"Fear more! Be more terrified!"
China's Special User Management Team knew Kyukyu's true nature.
The old bone dragon serving Hyun-soo?
Trembling in fear, maybe.
But newborn Kyukyu was different.
Why did the prior bone dragon ensure a hatchling after death?
"To plunge the world into ruin once more."
Kyukyu's status said "unknown disposition."
Absolute evil.
Worse than the dragon of ruin, Valadra.
In short...
"User Hyun-soo got a bone dragon pet? Nah, he didn't."
"Got? More like, in a few years, it'll breath down Atlas Territory."
Unlike the old one's words.
Kyukyu's growth would be faster; when Little Breath became full Breath, half of Atlas would vanish.
And Hyun-soo would have to slay the pet he'd lavished years of love on.
Kyukyu wasn't a helper—it was a disaster for Hyun's Forge.
Wang saw it as obvious.
A mere user trying to own a dragon, even a bone one.
Wang glanced back at the monitor, Kyukyu trembling.
Then...
"...?"
One being Wang hadn't been briefed on approached Kyukyu.
Monitoring it closely, Wang nearly fainted in shock.
***
With more guild members, Hyun-soo couldn't hide his distress at Kyukyu's shaking.
Then a fluffy white-furred, black-nosed, snot-dripping figure waddled up, chewing its favorite dog treat.
It carefully set the treat before shivering Kyukyu.
"Mang!"
"Kyuu...?"
Everyone gaped.
That treat was Bok Deong-i's absolute favorite—no one got it, even begging.
Bok Deong-i had never shared post-arrival. Huge deal.
Bok Deong-i nudged it closer with its nose.
"Kyuuu...? Kyuuu?"
Kyukyu sniffed, took it, chewed playfully.
Then...
"Kyuu, kyuu!"
Kyukyu likes this.
"A dragon eating a dog treat..."
"Uh, yeah..."
Kyukyu's fear fades slightly.
Bok Deong-i whipped around, barking at Hyun-soo and the guild.
"Mang!"
Bok Deong-i recognizes Kyukyu as a little sibling.
Bok Deong-i will protect Kyukyu.
"So... k-kawaii..."
"Who're you protecting?"
"Hahaha!"
Bok Deong-i's brave bark—despite being just a bit bigger than Kyukyu—drew laughter.
Kyukyu emerged, nipping and playing like puppies.
"Maaang, mang!"
"Kyuu, kyuu!"
"We'll head out now."
Hyun-soo left for a guild meeting.
The two-hour session revealed Atlas's truth.
Returning, Hyun-soo saw an adorable sight.
"..."
A warm smile crept across his face.
Bok Deong-i and Kyukyu slept, embraced.
'Turning into a real animal farm(?).'
Wry smile fading, he quietly shut the door.
After he left.
Bok Deong-i stirred, eyeing sleeping Kyukyu.
"Kyuuu..."
Bok Deong-i knew.
"Maaang..."
The hidden absolute evil in its new sibling.
Bok Deong-i wanted to protect.
Kyukyu, master, Atlas—all.
"Maaaang."
Bok Deong-i hugged tighter.
A faint glow rippled from Bok Deong-i into Kyukyu.
Kyukyu's growth accelerates slightly.
Kyukyu, in undead form, slowly reverts to its original state.
Absolute good purifies absolute evil.
Today too, Bok Deong-i protected much.
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