Chapter 269
Chapter 269
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 269
Chapter Title: My Super Destruction Dragon
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S-rank Dungeon.
By the standards of the World Hunter Association, if five hunters of the corresponding rank couldn't clear it, the rank would be raised.
So, the fact that it already bore the S-rank label meant it was a dungeon where five or more A-rank hunters had entered and failed.
"Put the two tanks up front, and the buffer right next to me! Ki-hyun will handle front-line DPS, while Ji-hoo and Ji-han cover the rear! And Yui!"
"Yes, Leader!"
The woman in explorer's garb, a golden nameplate dangling from her waist, snapped a salute and responded crisply.
She was the guide, Choi Yu-i.
"Scour the front for any traps! Got it? No slacking off!"
"Understood!"
They were all S-rank hunters, veterans by any measure.
But this time, even they wore tense expressions as they followed their leader's orders.
That was how dangerous the dungeon could be.
On top of that, it just had to be a cave-type dungeon.
Cave dungeons were cramped, restricting formations, which made them more difficult than other terrain types.
"And."
That was when Gong Su-hwan, the assault captain of Sea Guild, fixed his gaze on me.
Judging by the bow in his hands, he was clearly an archer.
"I heard from the Association President. You're an Association-affiliated hunter here to observe... What will you do? Follow my command?"
His calm words carried a clear edge of wariness.
It was understandable.
An unknown figure had entered an S-rank dungeon with them, identity undisclosed.
In a dungeon where life and death hung in the balance, having a hunter whose rank and name were total mysteries.
How could they not be on guard?
Moreover.
- Grrr...
Vinasa, who had followed me, was baring its teeth at them, heightening their caution.
"Tsk, Vinasa!"
I sucked in a breath.
"Enough."
- Kee, keeeing!
At my single command, it immediately curled its tail and rubbed its head against me.
No.
What kind of destruction dragon was this?
I could feel the other hunters' stares too.
Choi Yu-i gazing at it with an "it's so cute I could die" expression, and a few others with blatant disbelief.
"No."
I shook my head.
"You don't need to mind me. I'll move separately."
A quick scan with the Azure Clear Heart Method showed it was a reasonably sized dungeon.
The picture was clear.
Leave the main boss area alone and just clean up the outskirts.
Even without qi, the recovering qi I could sense was enough to secure safety handily.
"Yes...?"
Gong Su-hwan's face fell.
This was an S-rank dungeon.
The highest rank currently assigned by the Association.
Yet here I was, saying I'd roam it solo—naturally, it sounded insane.
"You're a summoner, and I get that you're confident in your skills... but it's dangerous. Even rankers can go down in a flash in S-rank dungeons. You know that, right? From S-rank up, there's no upper limit."
S-rank was an Association designation.
Meaning, even among S-ranks, difficulty varied wildly.
Some could be cleared by three S-ranks.
Others would tax five rankers.
That's what he was pointing out.
"Plus, wandering off alone and triggering some unforeseen trap..."
"That won't happen."
I smiled faintly beneath my mask.
"Besides, I have no intention of touching this dungeon's boss or rewards. If I handle anything, I'll hand it all over to your guild."
"...Pardon?"
"See you."
That was all I had to say.
No reason to waste time here.
I was eager to see what Vinasa could do.
"Good luck. Loot big, snag some great opportunities."
Sss!
I stepped into the shadows.
Leaving the eight stunned hunters behind.
* * *
Roooar!
As I reached the outskirts, monsters finally appeared before my eyes.
The ones drooling with a foul stench were none other than.
"Well, well... cute little ogres, huh?"
Ogres.
Notoriously tricky monsters registered as A-rank.
Hulking, vicious cannibals.
Even one showing up could spike a dungeon's difficulty dramatically.
And yet.
"Dear me, how many are there?"
The cave interior was packed tight with them.
So many that in the narrow space, they overlapped, their blood splattered and caked on the walls.
Hmm, this was a bit stomach-turning.
Urk! Roaaar!
Thud! Thud! Thud thud!
Enraged, they charged at me with bloodshot eyes and murderous intent.
The old me?
It would've chilled my spine, freezing me solid.
'But.'
Now, such things barely registered.
Not dragons, constellations, or fragments.
Just A-rank monsters.
- Grrr...
And SSS-grade Vinasa was cutely growling.
That alone made me feel secure.
"Alright, your time to shine, Vinasa."
Pat pat.
I gave its back a couple of taps.
Then, Vinasa's maw opened wide.
- Kraaarararara!
A tremendous roar shook the entire cave.
Dragon Fear.
Like a rabbit instinctively fearing a tiger.
The dragon clan's unique skill, instilling primal terror in lesser beings.
R-roar?
Roooaargh?
In that instant.
The charging ogres halted en masse.
Then, terror-stricken, they began stumbling backward.
Roar, gurooogh!
Those notoriously brutal, dim-witted ogres chose flight over fight.
Monsters with no backup, charging at the world rank 10 even without qi.
'Impressive.'
Ogres fleeing.
If I told scholars who'd studied monsters for 13 years, they'd flip.
- Kraaararara!
Thus began the predator Vinasa's rampage.
With each bellow.
Fwoosh!
Flames of hellfire filled the cave.
Kwang!
Walls burst from the cave sides, piercing ogre flesh.
"Ahh."
Through the flow of energy, I instantly knew what it was.
"...Magic."
Yes.
It was unmistakably magic.
A new kind of magic, qualitatively different from what Arin and I had learned.
Proto-Dragon Tongue.
Was that skill the dragon tongue magic?
Kwang kwang kwang!
Vinasa, commanded to hunt, was a veritable demon.
Its eyes gleaming with fervor as it massacred ogres—it felt like beholding a god of destruction.
To think this beast came nuzzling at my word.
Something intoxicating swelled in my chest.
Dragon high.
Yes, this was a dragon high.
- Kraaarara!
Vinasa bellowed in excitement.
Just two minutes into the hunt?
The horde of ogres had vanished, leaving only scraps of flesh.
"Huh."
Truly insane.
No wonder it was SSS-grade.
This one.
When it became a true dragon, then an elder dragon, it'd grow even stronger.
Probably surpass me someday.
- Kee, kruuru...
Having cleared all lifeforms in sight, Vinasa approached me.
Then nudged its head into my chest again.
As if begging for praise.
* * *
Rumble...!
"W-what is that!"
At that moment.
The Sea Guild members advancing tensely jumped in shock.
The vibrations from behind were no joke.
And not just that?
A chill ran down their spines, goosebumps rising as dread gripped them.
As if some colossal predator lurked behind, their breaths caught.
"Choi, Choi Yu-i!"
"Yes?"
"Anything ahead? No traps triggered?"
"Yes! No traps spotted yet!"
"Then what's this noise? Sounds like the dungeon's about to collapse... And did everyone feel that? What was that... horrific aura?"
The other hunters nodded at Captain Gong Su-hwan's words.
"Yeah, like the boss is back there or something?"
"Never felt anything like it. It was distant, but my whole body went numb."
"Look at me. See? Legs gave out. Nearly pissed myself."
Sea Guild members felt foreboding.
They were the reckless sort.
The type to challenge high-rank dungeons on a whim.
No strategy—just charge in.
"Captain, this is fucked, right? Forget opportunities, we might all die."
"Shouldn't we pull back now?"
Even S-rank veterans were scared.
Veterans not getting scared was a myth.
They knew better when to hit and run.
Exceptions aside, the fearless didn't last long in this world.
"Hmm."
Gong Su-hwan swallowed hard.
Greed versus fear.
Risk it for the big rewards?
Or play it safe to survive.
The two warred in his mind.
"...That masked guy."
Choi Yu-i chimed in then.
"What if he triggered something?"
She whispered.
"He'd be dead already."
Another guildmate muttered.
"That lizard he had. Looked weak."
"His summon? Adorable."
"Nice scales, like a dragon from legend."
"Pfft, a dragon?"
"Just saying. Dragons don't exist. That high ranker Dragon Knight said it on a broadcast once."
"Gerald?"
"Yeah."
World rank 80.
Dragon Knight Matt Gerald.
"He said what he rides isn't a dragon, just a drake. Ultimate goal's taming a proto-dragon or something."
"Right. But he said he's never even seen a real dragon."
Chatter chatter.
Gong Su-hwan sighed, eyeing his prattling guildmates.
"Hoo."
"Get your heads in the game."
He lowered his voice.
"Don't forget. This is an S-rank dungeon. And you all remember the resolve before entering, right?"
Danger be damned, they'd adventure.
No settling for S-rank—they'd use it to break into ranker territory.
"Reform ranks."
Despite the insane aura behind.
The direction was correct.
Choi Yu-i was a top hunter even in Korea.
"Pray for that masked guy's soul in your hearts, and we stick to our path. Alright, advance slowly again."
They pressed on.
* * *
At that time.
"The earthquakes are intensifying. Casualties are uncountable. The scale and range keep growing. At this rate, every building will collapse."
Someone reported in the World Association conference room.
"Per the investigation team's data... this monster's power is unprecedented. Beyond measurement—estimated hyper ranker level or higher. If it's loose in the world, we might have to prepare for doomsday."
Faces in the room hardened.
Some sighed.
The World Hunter Association President, Ira, was there too.
"Hyper ranker support status?"
She spoke up.
Last time, she'd stated her position.
More a command than a statement.
Non-responders could forget future Association aid.
Thus, most rankers worldwide were converging.
A few Association foes and criminals predictably refused.
"Any arrivals?"
Rankers and high rankers were gathering somewhat.
But the key was hyper rankers in the world top 10.
On Earth, they were gods.
A mere human Association President like Ira couldn't order them around.
Honestly, they'd help if asked, not the other way around.
"Uh, well..."
The reporter looked troubled.
"The Demon King sent word he's in the demon realm and not returning. Heavenly Demon's in closed training."
"..."
Ira squeezed her eyes shut.
The world's two strongest.
No Demon King or Heavenly Demon.
"Paladin and Roider responded. Spirit Emperor and Grace of Yggdrasil haven't. Mirage, Delaila—as usual, unreachable."
[Rank 5, Dungeon Maker Delaila]
[Rank 6, Paladin Aria Yuel]
[Rank 7, Grace of Yggdrasil Nina Kristin]
[Rank 8, Spirit Emperor Ichikawa Takeru]
[Rank 9, Roider Ronnie Williams]
The top five each.
"Plus, Skeleton Emperor entered a dungeon recently and went dark. Checked the entrance just in case—it's sealed."
"Damn it!"
Bang!
Ira stomped the floor.
Only two hyper rankers—Paladin and Roider—for a potential world-ending crisis?
What kind of bullshit was this!
"The Sage, what about the Sage...?"
She clutched her throbbing temple and asked.
"Oxford's Sage..."
The reporter trailed off.
No need to continue.
Because.
Right before their eyes.
Woooong!
From the split space, a woman with snow-white skin stepped through.
"Hehe, looking for me?"
An overwhelming presence.
The Tower Master, hailed as the pinnacle of all Earth's mages, had arrived.