Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Aranbalon vs Giant Dragon (3)
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[‘Space Separation’ (SSS Grade) activates.]
Whirrr!
Complex formulas filled the air.
Thump!
Along with a faint drumming sound.
The space floated up.
Not everything—just the space where I and my team were.
It felt utterly alien, as if this spot alone had been cleaved into another world.
[Separates the designated area for 30 minutes.]
[No physical laws between areas are permitted.]
Whoooosh......
The fierce winds died down.
The vacuum-like suction force.
The murderous intent pouring from the dragon.
None of it could reach us anymore.
The two dragons looked utterly ordinary, like images on a TV screen.
Ting! Ping!
Even the occasional flying rock fragments simply bounced off lightly.
No matter from outside the space, nothing could enter.
“What the......”
Ollena’s jaw dropped.
The other hunters stared wide-eyed at the sight.
“SSS Grade......?”
“Team leader, is this your doing?”
The skill activation message wasn’t visible only to me.
It appeared to the entire team.
[Remaining time – 00:29:40]
“Ooh! D-did we get it? Did we get this? It’s a skill that provides absolute defense for 30 minutes, right?”
“Team leader! You had a plan after all! It wasn’t reckless! How did you even come up with a skill like this?”
“A-amazing!”
The team erupted in excited cheers.
It was a skill awe-inspiring just to behold.
And it had saved them from the brink of death, no less.
At that moment, at least, they felt hope.
Relief and joy.
“A magic circle like......”
Of course, someone else seemed thrilled for reasons beyond mere survival.
“Hoon? What is this? This is insane. An insane formula. How did you even conceive of this? Ahh!”
Ollena’s eyes glazed over as she stared at the formulas filling the space.
Like a child seeing an aquarium for the first time.
She looked around in wonder, letting out gasps of admiration.
“To think I have to witness this alone...... What a pity. If the Tower Master saw it too, Oxford’s prestige would soar even higher......!”
Was it that impressive?
Well, it was SSS Grade magic.
Those devoted to magic might react just like that.
‘But.’
Right now, admiring the magic wasn’t the priority.
Directly ahead.
Kwah-kah-kah!
The two breaths writhed, fully primed to unleash.
Flash!
The Giant Dragon, prepared first, leaped toward the sky.
-Huuuuh!
It flapped its enormous wings matching its massive body and thrust its gaping maw toward Aranbalon.
And then.
Kwah-kah-kah!
Black energy distorted space itself with refracted light, shooting downward.
A beautiful, swift beam.
Of course, Aranbalon wasn’t standing idle either.
It planted its feet into the ground to anchor its body, then looked skyward.
Like anti-aircraft gear locking onto a missile, it steadily turned and aimed its head.
And.
Kuaaaah!
A massive brown beam of energy burst from Aranbalon’s maw as well.
The clash of two breaths!
The team’s jaws dropped at the sudden development.
“Wha-what?”
“......Insane.”
No words could stretch on.
In the silence, they could only watch the black and brown energies savagely collide in a contest of power.
The force was tremendous.
Like lightning striking.
Flashes burst dozens of times per second.
All nearby matter melted away.
The ground itself had vanished, leaving them floating in empty air.
“Hmm.”
Vladimir spoke up.
“Dodging the breath isn’t something to celebrate, is it?”
He glanced downward.
The surface below was so deeply gouged it was nearly invisible.
“After 30 minutes, we all plummet to our deaths?”
At his words, I opened my mouth.
“Mr. Vladimir.”
“Hm?”
“Got any stamina left?”
“Hmm, a little, but why?”
“In 30 minutes, can you lift everyone here onto the dragon’s body?”
“What?”
Vladimir’s eyes widened.
“Up there?”
“Yeah, we came to slay the dragon, right? To slay it, we have to get close.”
“True. That’s true, but......”
He shook his head.
“Whew, I’ve been realizing lately—talking with you, team leader, is scary. You never know what wild idea you’ll throw out.”
“There’s a saying: birds of a feather flock together. The moment we joined this dragon hunt, we all admitted we’re crazy.”
Looking at it now, yeah.
You have to be crazy for it to count as crazy.
Unless you’re a madman, you can’t become a ranker.
That’s how grueling the path to ranker status was for hunters.
“Tch, can’t argue with that. We’re all lunatics. Or rather, who wouldn’t go mad in a situation like this?”
“So you’re saying it’s possible?”
“Of course. We’ll do it. So, which one? Aranbalon? Giant Dragon?”
Vladimir muttered in resignation.
“Wait a sec.”
I turned my head again.
The clash of the two dragons.
The battlefield was a scene of utter devastation.
Between the still-colliding energies.
The dragons’ tough hides were gruesomely melting.
Both bled profusely.
-Kraaaah!
-Die!
Their conditions were dire.
But if forced to pick a winner.
‘Giant Dragon has the edge.’
It still had spare energy left.
Aranbalon’s expression looked more strained.
That snowball from us clearing the dragon hatchlings.
Had rolled all the way here, ballooning into an avalanche.
“My friend, you really intend to fight? Against that absurd being?”
The watching referee approached.
Step by step.
Strangely, there was no floor, yet it felt solid.
Like stepping on space itself, not ground?
“Of course we fight. Why, getting a bit scared now?”
“Less scared and more......”
He heftedly raised his spear.
“Excited. Never dreamed I’d face a dragon, not a human.”
“If we succeed, do we all become Dragon Slayers?”
Ollena chimed in with a laugh.
“First time even knowing dragons exist, and now slaying one right away.”
Vladimir chuckled too.
One by one, the team members who’d heard me.
Raised their weapons.
Even facing such a being, none cowered.
They trusted me and ignited their battle spirit.
......
Silently watching the dragons’ fight, the team steeled their resolve.
How much time passed like that.
[Remaining time – 00:03:00]
Only 3 minutes left.
The dragons’ breaths had already ceased.
Even after pouring out all their energy.
Boom! Kwah-boom! Boom! Boom!
They relentlessly pressed each other in ceaseless combat.
Gulp.
I swallowed.
And switched my weapon to the spear.
It was time.
“Get ready, everyone.”
At the same time.
I activated my trump card skill.
For the direst moments.
The most precarious times.
The one being who could advise me.
My master.
[Skill, ‘Teachings of the Myriad Arts Master’ (S Grade) activates.]
[Uses 20 stamina.]
[‘Myriad Arts Master’ appears.]
“You mad bastard......”
The old man, grasping the situation instantly upon arrival, muttered.
“Why’s it always some insane scenario whenever you summon me?”
Ahem, elder!
You say that, but you know the truth.
You enjoy this stuff, elder.
I grinned.
Tension gripped my body.
But I decided to just enjoy it.
Worst case? Death.
I’d tasted life-on-the-line thrills countless times in the past year.
I was used to it.
I looked at the old man.
“I’ll survive this time too, right?”
“Tch, what am I, a fortune teller? Ask the heavens—they adore you enough.”
“That means I survive.”
“......Weird guy.”
Heaven’s fortune.
Yeah, if such a thing truly exists.
The heavens always smiled upon me.
[Remaining time – 00:00:30]
[Warning!]
[‘Space Separation’ (SSS Grade) is ending.]
[Be cautious of the reconnecting space!]
“Vladimir.”
“Yeah, team leader! Don’t worry. I’m ready. Just teleport us to the black dragon’s back, right?”
Vladimir grinned.
And crossed his staff in an X.
I turned to the other team members.
“Everyone. Ready?”
[Remaining time – 00:00:20]
“Yes, team leader. Ready.”
“Let’s give it our all. Even if we die, it’s been an honor fighting with you.”
“Let’s do this.”
Up till now had been spectatorship.
Now began the real battle.
[Remaining time – 00:00:10]
Ten seconds left.
A tense silence gripped the space.
[Remaining time – 00:00:05]
Now.
Facing that horrific dragon up close.
Time to truly fight.
[Remaining time – 00:00:04]
This time.
I wasn’t fighting alone.
I wasn’t resolving it alone.
[Remaining time – 00:00:03]
With my team.
With my comrades.
[Remaining time – 00:00:02]
[Remaining time – 00:00:01]
‘Together.’
We’d take it down as a team.
[Remaining time – 00:00:00]
Time finally hit zero.
I tensed my whole body.
[‘Space Separation’ (SSS Grade) ends.]
Thump!
The separated space began reconnecting.
The alien sensation vanished.
Whoooosh!
Fierce winds battered my cheeks.
The dragons’ immense pressure assaulted my skin once more.
[Reconnecting separated space.]
The true battle’s curtain rose at last!
“Vladimir!”
“Okay!”
In that instant, Vladimir Rodgin’s space magic unfolded.
Flash!
The world blinked.
* * *
I opened my eyes.
Directly below was black ground.
No, not ground.
The Giant Dragon’s hide.
Thud!
My comrades and I landed lightly atop it.
Impressive, Vladimir.
His space magic was precise and exquisite.
Even if just a short distance.
Teleporting this many people exactly onto the Giant Dragon!
“Team leader! We did it!”
“Great!”
I shouted.
“Everyone, grab the scales!”
We wouldn’t fall off immediately.
The Giant Dragon was simply too massive.
Even if it rolled sideways, we’d still be on it.
But standing idly was no option.
The Giant Dragon was still clashing with Aranbalon.
“Do your utmost! Take this thing down!”
Whumm!
I swung my spear.
At the same time, the Skeleton Legion reappeared.
Bones manifesting in the air landed on the Giant Dragon’s back.
-Hmm?
Sensing the foreign presence on its back.
The Giant Dragon, mid-battle, twisted its face.
-What are you lot? Weren’t you dead earlier? How, when you had no presence?
“That’s none of your concern.”
Crunch! Crunch!
In that moment.
The skeletons unleashed attacks on the Giant Dragon in unison.
The team poured out skills using all their remaining stamina.
I too thrust my spear down with full force.
Weapon sharpness aside from raw power.
Puk!
Tough resistance, but the attack penetrated.
-You weaklings! You helped me earlier, and now you side with that one?
“......You gobbled up our team without complaint earlier. Wasn’t this obvious?”
I drove the spear deeper.
-Shut up! No matter how wounded I am, your attacks are mere pricks...... Krgh?
The roaring Giant Dragon suddenly stopped.
“Hah, seems the effect’s kicking in already.”
The old man nodded beside me.
I grinned too.
“Good thing you helped, buddy.”
That’s right.
Like a mosquito.
Through the gaps stabbed by my spear.
I’d released Poison Fog.
Drip! Drip!
Truth be told, I hadn’t even asked for help.
I’d simply not restrained it upon spotting such massive prey, letting it charge excitedly.
Go on, Poison Fog.
Get in there.
Devour it good.
-You bastard! What are you doing to my body?
The Giant Dragon bellowed.
Its voice laced with panic.