The Wyvern Lord's Final Wish
Contrary to expectations, the retreating subjugation force didn't suffer heavy losses.
Was it because the damage they'd already taken was so severe?
The Magma Wyvern didn't launch any significant attacks at the fleeing subjugation force.
It only let out hoarse, raspy cries nonstop—no devastating breath attacks like before.
Occasional other monsters tried to snag their heels, but they couldn't break through Kwon Je-na and the four SA-rank hunters guarding the rear.
By the time the subjugation force escaped the plateau via their pre-planned route, only one battle remained on the 66th floor.
Kwa-gwang!
Leysha leaped away as lightning poured down relentlessly.
Sharp stone pillars erupted from the ground in sync with her movements.
Leysha pulled back her bowstring while dodging, but before she could even loose an arrow, she had to retreat again.
The snake before her eyes hounded her without respite, as if determined to pay her back for the hit she'd landed earlier.
Leysha frowned at the unrelenting barrage.
'This is tough.'
It was her raw, unfiltered honest feeling.
Her spirit form already nullified ordinary physical attacks without mana, forcing her to infuse mana into every strike.
For Leysha, whose mana stat lagged behind her others, her reserves were nearing their limit.
Above all, the ceaseless onslaught left no room to down a potion.
Physically, she wasn't exhausted yet and could hold out longer if she pushed herself, but right now, she inevitably felt drained.
And who could blame her? She'd always been the lofty hunter preying on monsters—when had she ever been in this position?
Leysha Barrett had always been the one cornering her foes.
But now?
Hwaruruk—
Leysha dodged the rising flames.
A sharp gale whipped toward her, as if refusing to let her escape.
Leysha evaded once more.
It was the same repetitive action since their first clash.
A faint crack formed in Leysha's ironclad pride.
"Hoo…."
Leysha landed on the ground, reining in her rising frustration as she drew a deep breath.
This was the labyrinth.
She could never afford to lose her cool.
Judgment must be calm and deliberate; action swift and precise.
Leysha's gaze flicked beyond the ridge.
The battle noises, like screams, had suddenly cut off.
'They've retreated.'
Then Leysha had no reason to stay either.
The snake before her nagged at her in many ways, but…
'Opportunities aren't just for today.'
Leysha was a hunter.
If not today, then tomorrow.
If not tomorrow, the day after.
She'd prepare thoroughly and hunt it eventually.
'I'll have a lot to do when I get back.'
The emergency council hadn't been long ago, yet she already felt the need for another.
'It was supposed to be a commemoration for Charlotte and a rare vacation….'
It felt more like a work trip piled with tasks.
Leysha gave a wry smile before leaping aside from the incoming fireball hurtling her way.
She needed to leave before the damn snake's attacks resumed.
Once decided on retreat, Leysha didn't hesitate.
She poured all her remaining mana into mobility, saving just enough for the trip.
Leysha nocked her bow.
Swae-aeok—
The attack came swift, with no preparation.
Draw, loose.
Leysha's motions were blindingly fast and precise.
Five arrows shot toward Nix mid-spellcast in the blink of an eye.
Each packed no small mana, forcing Nix to dodge desperately.
Syuk—
Nix ignored the arrow that grazed him and tensed for Leysha's follow-up.
Unlike his durable main body with powerful regeneration, this mere spirit form could suffer severe damage from even minor hits.
Considering Nix's usual tough, attrition-based style relying on durability and regen, his current state imposed heavy penalties.
But contrary to Nix's tensed worry, no further attack came.
Leysha's figure had already pulled far away.
'Trying to widen the gap again?'
Having suffered so much from her ultra-long-range barrages before?
Nix shuddered at Leysha's distancing move.
Even his main body struggled; could this fragile form endure it?
'No way. One mistake, and my soul dissipates.'
The moment surging crisis sense spurred Nix to pursue—
A voice rang in his mind.
[Come back—!]
'Left head? Already reached Arde? How's Arde? The hunters….'
[Shut up and come back, idiot—!!!]
Nix clamped his mouth at Left's sharp yell.
Her far edgier tone than usual signaled something dire.
Gazing briefly at the receding Leysha, Nix nodded quietly.
'…Got it.'
Sseu-reu— Nix's form dispersed like scattering smoke.
Leysha, now distant, stared blankly at the vanishing figure.
"See you next time, monster. Then, I'll definitely…."
She murmured softly before flying off to rejoin the subjugation force.
* * *
Soul Separation SS deactivated.
Returning to main body.
The system's alert echoed in his mind, and a wholly different vista unfolded before his eyes from moments ago.
A towering volcano in the distance, a vast plateau.
And a small mountain at its center.
'No, not a mountain.'
Syuu—
Realization hit, and he moved.
Over the corpses of countless monsters strewn across the plateau, he approached the "small mountain."
As expected, not quite at the center—it was Arde.
[You've come, Nix?]
The calm voice resonated in his mind.
Utterly ordinary, yet subtly different from usual.
Exhausted, feeble.
The Arde who'd always loomed like a mountain was no more.
[…Elder.]
Words failed him for a long moment before he replied.
'Hohol—' Arde's laughter echoed.
[Enjoyed your outing? Had fun?]
[…Yes. I had fun.]
[Good. That's a relief.]
Arde, head weakly on the ground, smiled faintly.
At the sight, words escaped him again.
[No! It won't work! Why isn't the healing taking?!]
As Nix conversed with Arde, Left, who'd been pouring every scrap of mana into healing spells, cried out.
Right clicked his tongue savagely in frustration.
[Hohol— Stop the pointless efforts. It's too late for me.]
[Too late my ass! Get up now! Get up!]
[…The Dragon Heart shattered. That's what they targeted first.]
Arde stated flatly, eyes drifting to scan Nix's body.
[You've grown so much. Can't call you 'little snake' anymore.]
[…A good opportunity arose.]
[Hohol— Bigger than me now.]
[Still much smaller than you, elder.]
[No. To me, you're far bigger.]
Arde blinked slowly.
[What joy. That little snake…]
His wistful reminiscence tugged at the heart.
The vague foreboding was solidifying into reality.
The end neared.
[Quit messing around and stand! Is this how the ruler of a land looks?! Get up! Fly free like always!]
Left's furious shout.
One couldn't blame her heightened emotion.
Nix felt the same.
Arde gazed at them before glancing aside.
Monsters gathered one by one.
All battered, no uninjured among them.
They looked on the verge of death.
Arde watched them sadly and spoke bitterly.
[Too many wounded. Too many dead.]
[Not your fault, elder.]
[Right! Not the boss's fault!]
[It's our inadequacy!]
[Forgive us for failing to support you better!]
[Sorry, boss!]
Voices calling "Boss!" one after another; Arde blinked slowly.
[…Thank you… and sorry.]
[No! Why should you…!]
[If anything, we…!]
[Enough. That's it.]
Arde shook his head, lifting it with trembling effort—neck quivering, yet he persisted.
Gazing at the encircling monsters, Arde spoke.
[I'm deeply grateful. For following me to the end. For giving your all for this stubborn old fool.]
[Boss….]
[So I'm sorry. I'm about to ask the worst of you.]
Meeting each puzzled gaze, Arde stated plainly.
[Don't seek revenge.]
[—Boss!]
[What…?!]
[Please retract that! We can't obey!]
To their fierce protests, Arde said firmly.
[Humans are strong. You felt that today, didn't you? They're tenacious, relentless, greedy too.]
[Our lives mean nothing!]
[Yes! For you, boss…!]
[Foolish talk!]
Arde barked, coughing blood.
The uncharacteristic frailty silenced the watchers.
To them, Arde smiled warmly as always.
[I won't say forget. Just don't be bound—live free. Do what you want. You've endured much for this old one. Now live freely.]
[…Boss.]
[No, boss!]
[We're still…!]
[On my final path, I ask little… Live free. Don't fight among yourselves… Enjoy life.]
Arde's head thudded to the ground.
Monsters cried "Boss!" Nix rushed forward.
Thankfully, Arde still breathed.
Resettling his head, Arde rolled his eyes to Nix.
[You waited long.]
[…No. You had much left to say; sorry for taking your time.]
[…It's fine. More words would just be nonsense. Said all to the kids… You're all that's left, Nix.]
The dying wyrm smiled faintly.
[Nix. Little snake.]
[…Yes, elder.]
[You wise one knows what I'll say?]
[…Telling me not to avenge too?]
Arde smiled gently at the question.
[You wouldn't listen anyway. Like before…]
The Red Wyvern incident? Arde blinked slowly before continuing.
[Unlike the others, I won't tell you no revenge. Rather, I ask it of you.]
[…What?]
[Avenge the first departed. Mourn the fallen. And commemorate my share.]
—Can you?
Arde's gaze, fixed steadily, remained resolute.
Before it, Nix nodded heavily.
Arde laughed delightedly. 'Hohol—'
[Thank you. I've burdened you greatly.]
[…No. I had my own vengeance anyway. Just adding your share.]
[…True. You're bigger than me now; one more won't matter… Thank you, little snake.]
[…I thank you more, elder.]
Hohol—
Nix watched Arde's smiling face quietly.
Despite his efforts to hide it, Nix felt it clearly.
The sharp scent of approaching death—so familiar.
Arde's end was imminent.
[Just dumping baggage on my way out feels shameless. I want to give you a gift.]
[…A gift?]
[Yes. Little to my name, but my proudest possession. Don't refuse.]
Arde drew a breath.
And…
[Eat me, Nix.]
Calm, matter-of-fact.
[…Elder! What…?!]
To Nix's protest, Arde said firmly.
[Eat me, take my power. Use it for our rightful vengeance.]
—Can you?
The heavy addendum gave Nix pause.
Arde waited patiently.
Nix's deliberation was brief.
[…I will.]
Arde smiled in utmost satisfaction.
[Thank you.]
Thus, the land's ruler, the century-old wyrm, closed his eyes.
And…
◈ Confirmed massive energy stored in magic stone.
◈ Excess energy stored in Gluttony SS.
◈ Inherited some skills and stats from <Magma Wyvern> magic stone.
Tough Scales SA → Dragon Scales SS
Intimidation SA → Dragon Fear SS
Influence of Breath SS creates Attribute Breath SA.
Dragon Form SS acquired.
Dragon Fear SS, Weakling Extermination S, Leadership B, etc. → Arrogance SS
Some resistance skills → Attribute Resistance A~SS
Some magic skills → Attribute Magic B~SS
Consuming magic stone and corpse of powerful dragon-type monster unlocks new possibilities.
New evolution route unlocked.
Accumulate feats to challenge evolution.
The alerts filled his mind as he quietly opened his eyes.
He felt the gazes of countless monsters upon him.
To them, he said.
"I'll avenge your shares."
So honor Arde's last words.
I will too.
Lava Zone area boss (zone lord) position vacant.
You are currently the strongest entity in Lava Zone.
Become Lava Zone's new area boss (zone lord)?
He ignored the status window alert.
He lacked confidence to rule them as Arde had.
Above all, Arde's final wish was for them to live free.
If one rose naturally later, fine—but he wouldn't impose rule now.
His task was simple: vengeance.
"Shyuuu—"
Nine heads roared fiercely toward the hunters' direction.