Dragon Word: Extinction
Haidel.
“Th-this is……”
Kim Kwangho’s eyes trembled uncontrollably. At first, he’d thought this guy in ill-fitting pink pajamas, padding around barefoot, was some lunatic. But the aura emanating from that lunatic’s body far surpassed anything he could imagine.
‘He’s… crossed the second wall.’
Kim Kwangho himself had reached the 6th Circle. His instincts told him the man before him had at least breached the barrier to the 7th Circle.
“D-deal with him!”
He screamed like a man possessed. Even if the man was presumed to be beyond the 7th Circle, the black-clad figures he commanded could handle it… They lacked any shred of humanity, but their skills were undeniably real. Having fought alongside them for over a year, he could vouch for that.
Thud!
The seven black-clad assassins behind him charged at Kim Jehyun in unison.
The powers they wielded grew more mysterious the more you watched. Some used magic, others superhuman abilities, and a few wielded bizarre talents he’d never seen before. But they all shared one thing: that ominous, purple-tinged energy.
‘Right, if it’s them, no need to fear.’
Kim Kwangho’s eyes flashed as he drew up his own mana. He aimed his staff at Kim Jehyun and began gathering power—
Pfsh!
The black-clad figures lunging at the man turned to dust in an instant, erased from existence. Like someone had rubbed them out with an eraser—they were simply deleted.
“Wh-what the hell… This can’t be……”
Kim Kwangho’s eyes bulged, his face twisting in disbelief. By his common sense, no such power existed.
“N-no way… 8th… 8th Circle…?”
His entire body shuddered. The mana gathered in his staff scattered on its own. Each of those black-clad killers was stronger than him. Witnessing them wiped out in a heartbeat killed any urge to fight.
‘So this is the authority of Extinction.’
Kim Jehyun marveled at the power of his first basic Dragon Word. It was worthy of its EX-grade rating.
‘Ugh, but the mental and mana drain is insane.’
One use had bottomed out both his mental strength and mana. He’d gained massive mana and mental boosts upon reaching stage 7, yet a single word—“Extinction”—had drained them dry in a flash. They were refilling quickly, but…
It didn’t seem easy to spam.
―Of course it is. You just got your first word—did you think you’d wield it like a pro?
‘Fair point.’
Kim Jehyun readily admitted his greed. Alkasha flipped its cover with a flap and continued.
―The more you train and master Dragon Words, the less they’ll drain. You saw the power, didn’t you? It’s undeniable.
True enough. It devoured mana and mental strength in a gulp, but erasing seven near-second-wall powerhouses in one go was miraculous.
‘I glimpsed it in Arkanios’s memories, but…’
Seeing indirectly versus wielding it yourself was worlds apart. He truly grasped how cheat-like it was. A shiver raced down his spine. It was akin to gaining a fragment of divine authority.
―Anyway, aren’t you glad you picked Extinction like I said?
‘Yeah, thanks for the advice.’
―Kehhehe. No big deal. From now on, this body will personally guide your basic Dragon Word training.
Alkasha’s tone lifted, pleased by the thanks. Kim Jehyun chuckled, but his gratitude was genuine. Moments ago, he’d faced a choice.
You have acquired the qualification to learn Basic Dragon Words in the low-level range.
As a special privilege, you may immediately learn one Dragon Word character.
That message had popped up, and Alkasha had frothed at the mouth upon seeing it.
―This is insane! Too much! Dragon Words require endless toil and trials—now it’s just handing one over? The Dragon God Temple has a whole chamber for them. You’re supposed to suffer there!
Even one character crossed the line. Alkasha ranted wildly before slumping.
―Fine… Since it’s come to this, let’s milk it. Pick Extinction from those letters.
Alkasha recommended Extinction. Among dozens of Dragon Word characters, it was one of the hardest—especially potent in combat. Given Kim Jehyun’s standoff with Kang Sihoo, it was the rational choice.
‘Cool. If Alkasha recommends it, I trust it. Extinction it is.’
―Good choice. It’s essential for Power Word Kill, the ultimate attack form later. No regrets.
Following Alkasha’s advice, Kim Jehyun chose Extinction—unleashing the power he’d just witnessed.
“U-ugh……”
“Hm?”
Kim Jehyun looked up at the groan ahead. Kim Kwangho trembled, face ashen. He wasn’t weak—6th Circle made him a high mage. But the scene had shattered him. His fighting spirit was gone.
“P-please… spare me……”
Kim Kwangho flattened himself on the ground. Accepting Kim Jehyun as an unfathomable being, he had no will to resist—just begged for his life.
“Hmm.”
Kim Jehyun stroked his chin, gazing down. A female elf stepped forward.
“Gr-great one… May I speak?”
She recognized him as the Kim Jehyun they’d sought. Dragons’ affairs were off-limits, but desperation pushed her forward with pleading eyes.
“……”
Kim Jehyun nodded. Her tense face softened slightly.
“This man… has kidnapped our kin multiple times. He’s our mortal enemy. Please… show no mercy.”
Her venomous glare fixed on Kim Kwangho, whose face paled further.
“Wh-what are you talking… about……”
Kim Kwangho’s words quivered. Kim Jehyun’s eyes flashed.
“Kidnapping… elves?”
Facing those cold, gleaming eyes, Kim Kwangho sensed he wouldn’t leave alive.
* * *
“……That’s how it happened.”
Kim Jehyun listened silently to the female elf’s explanation. She detailed events since Sharze reappeared in the elf village.
‘Already over a year and six months…’
Alkasha had estimated about a year, but more time had passed. In that span, much had befallen Haidel’s Elf Forest.
‘Should I have told Sharze to wait quietly?’
Kim Jehyun’s brow furrowed in headache. After Sharze awoke, Haidel had led elf warriors to Shimaynis Mountain—just to check on him.
―Who’d have thought… That high elf’s got guts. Battling the Black Snake Clan for your sake.
Alkasha hadn’t foreseen this either. Haidel clashed with Black Snake search parties near the mountain, friction escalating. Unaware of the elves’ purpose, the clan pressed on—but Haidel, briefed by Sharze, suspected they sought Kim Jehyun too.
Haidel committed fully, even at the cost of lives. Elves held the edge initially—their magic and spirit arts outclassed humans. Haidel teetered at the 7th Circle’s edge, backed by two elder elves near it too.
But the black-clad killers turned the tide. Their purple energy was the elves’ bane. Most knew it: the force that devoured their homeland. Trauma amplified their disadvantage.
The tipping point? Haidel’s capture by Kang Sihoo.
Haidel had anticipated an 8th Circle Kang Sihoo—after all, he’d overwhelmed even hatchling Kim Jehyun. But as elves in the mountains, their power swelled. She thought elders and herself could escape an 8th Circle.
It worked at first—months of guerrilla harassment. But Kang Sihoo hid his purple energy mastery until the perfect moment.
A few months ago, he captured her. Elves lost their anchor, wandering leaderless. Common elves fell to grunts like Kim Kwangho.
‘At least it hasn’t dragged on too long.’
Haidel’s capture was three months ago—hope lingered for her safety. Kim Jehyun interrogated Kang Dukhu, the deputy, and three black-clad survivors. Haidel was imprisoned at Black Snake HQ.
“Then… let’s head to the elves’ gathering spot.”
Kim Jehyun erased all battle traces. The clan would blame elves for the wipeout—not suspecting him until he revealed himself.
“Let’s go.”
The elves bowed. Guided, he reached their temporary camp.
* * *
“J-Jehyun-nim.”
An elf with windswept emerald hair teared up at the sight.
“You’re safe. Good.”
Kim Jehyun smiled warmly. Sharze’s survival was a relief. She’d thinned, her vibrant energy dimmed—but her beauty shone.
“I-I’m so sorry. And… thank you.”
Sharze overflowed with words—gratitude and guilt for her rescue.
“You’ve been through a lot.”
Kim Jehyun patted her head. She blushed, bowing; surrounding elves envied it.
‘Sharze might become his guardian.’
‘Jealous…’
For elves, serving as a dragon’s guardian was supreme honor.
“First, let’s plan Haidel’s rescue.”
Relief swept the elves at her survival—averting the worst.
Sharze and key elves met with Kim Jehyun.
“Storming Haidel’s prison directly is risky.”
Reasons abounded. No justification for attacking Black Snake HQ—home to 8th Circle monster Kang Sihoo. Elves swallowed hard at his name; damages were severe.
“I have two ideas.”
Kim Jehyun scanned them.
“First: We raid, I tie up Kang Sihoo, you extract Haidel. Justification later via PR—Black Snake’s poor rep will hurt them.”
“But high risk, as noted.”
He paused, then continued.
“Second: Publicize our alliance, expose kidnappings, then I challenge Kang Sihoo to a superhuman duel. Win, reclaim all captives including Haidel.”
“Solid justification, but gives them prep time—and I must beat him. Those are my plans. Other ideas?”
Elves glanced around, shaking heads. Ignorant of human society, they deferred.
“Majority vote.”
Nods. Kim Jehyun added:
“Key is me stalling or beating Kang Sihoo. Prep while you decide.”
He headed to a clearing behind camp.
‘Kang Sihoo. I can take him.’
Adapting to stage 7 built confidence. Recalling their fight, he could match him.
‘He’s no normal 8th Circle.’
Post-upgrade review confirmed: unstable mana.
‘Freakishly strong, but exploit that… victory’s possible.’
Eyes gleaming. Win or lose, he’d capture Kang Sihoo.
‘To do that…’
Cross-legged, he observed his body. The massively swollen Mana Core pulsed. Untapped Millennium Tree energy condensed within—perfect absorption, zero loss.
Melting it fully would propel him toward stage 8.
‘Master the melted power first.’
His Mana Core glowed golden. Golden flames raced through his Dragon Mana Road.
Flash.
His consciousness flickered, unveiling an endless fiery plain.