Bitter Defeat
Defeated.
How long had it been since I'd been beaten this badly?
Once the Red Wyvern got serious, it lived up to its name as an S-rank monster, unleashing terrifying combat prowess.
I'd burned through every last bit of energy stored in Gluttony.
With my mana depleted, even Regeneration had stalled out. I couldn't fight even if I wanted to.
Not a single part of my body was unscathed, and mentally, I was teetering on the edge.
Forcing my unmoving head to turn by rolling my eyes with what little strength remained, I caught sight of the Red Wyvern staring at me with some inscrutable expression.
It had taken its share of wounds from our drawn-out battle, visible gashes here and there.
Compared to me, though, they were little more than scratches.
[...Impressive.]
A voice echoed in my mind—not sarcasm, but genuine admiration.
[No one's pushed me this far aside from my peers... I see why you thrashed around with such confidence in your strength.]
It was clearly meant as praise, but with my mind twisted by the sting of long-overdue defeat, it barely registered.
Logically, I knew better, but it still felt like mockery.
Shaa───.
Not even enough mana left for telepathy. I squeezed out a low hiss with what pitiful strength I had.
The Red Wyvern fell silent for a moment at my dissatisfied rumble.
I glared at it again, then slowly closed my eyes.
Honestly, passing out right then wouldn't have been strange at all.
I was just clinging to consciousness through sheer stubborn grit.
At the very least, I wanted to face the end with dignity.
'Is this how it ends?'
Deep down, I'd always suspected it might.
Ever since I started hunting and devouring other monsters, the thought had lingered vaguely.
That I might meet the same fate as the ones I preyed on.
Devoured by something stronger, just as I'd done to them.
And now, my imagined end had become reality.
No regrets? Hardly.
Just one that came to mind was enough to stir me: revenge.
'Kim Jun-su, Shin Jae-jun, Lee Ha-na.'
Reciting their names one by one sent a faint surge of vitality through me.
Yeah, I couldn't die like this.
At the very least, I wanted those three to feel a hundred—no, a thousand times—the emotions I'd endured back then.
'Revenge isn't the end. There's so much more I want to do.'
Revenge was just one inevitable step in my life.
I wanted it, sure, but I wasn't about to stake everything on it.
So while it was a short-term goal, it could never be my ultimate one.
'Then what should I aim for?'
Apparently, I was quite the greedy one without realizing it.
Too many desires flooded my mind.
I wasn't in any state to plot out life's grand purpose while dying, but my mind was clearer than ever.
'So much I want to do, but...'
Right now, the priority was survival.
I cracked open my eyes.
The Red Wyvern gazed at me with a troubled look.
I didn't know its intentions, but it was approaching cautiously.
Coming to finish me off?
Exercising the victor's rights, as I'd done to others?
I didn't like it.
Unwavering Tenacity! Skill Tenacity A evolves to Unyielding S!
Skill Limit Break S evolves to Limit Break SA!
Ignoring the status window's chime in my head, I hauled myself up.
My body, pushed to its absolute limit, screamed for me to stop, but I pressed on.
Fresh blood spurted from torn wounds, but I ignored it.
Straightening my spine, I raised my head proudly and stood tall.
Then, as always, I flicked out my tongue.
Shii───
The Red Wyvern's face twisted in bewilderment—shock? Confusion? Something like that.
Seeing its pathetic expression lifted my spirits a bit.
A fresh surge of vitality coursed through me.
[...Truly impressive... You can barely twitch your tail tip... Astonishing.]
Its voice buzzed dimly in my mind, but I could hardly make it out.
My mind was sharp enough, but my eyes kept drooping.
No, even my thoughts weren't as clear as they seemed.
'...Come any closer, and I'll rip out your throat.'
I glared at it, repeating that single vow endlessly.
The Red Wyvern, watching me with what seemed like admiration, moved again.
As it strode forward, I launched myself at it.
Pain had faded entirely by then.
The last things I saw were its startled face and the crimson haze of blood flooding my vision. Then consciousness slipped away.
Looks like that really was the end of my rope.
[Such admirable mental fortitude... Don't worry. As I said at the start, I never intended to kill you.]
-Rest easy.-
I thought I heard something like that as darkness closed in.
* * *
Thud—
A massive body crashed to the ground.
Gazing at the snake that had fought to the bitter end without surrender, the Red Wyvern lightly flapped its wings.
That final strike had connected, piercing its tough scales and drawing blood—a real threat, even if not fatal.
Enough to make an S-rank monster flinch for a moment.
Brushing the wound on its neck with a wingtip, the Red Wyvern clicked its tongue briefly before moving.
It stepped forward cautiously, mindful not to aggravate its injuries, and gripped the snake's body with a foot.
[...Heavier than expected.]
With careful motions, it lifted the snake and flapped its wings lightly.
A few beats were enough to hoist the serpentine form—longer than its own body—into the air.
Clutching the unconscious snake, the Red Wyvern slowly ascended, vanishing leisurely in the direction it had come from.
The site where the two high-rank monsters had clashed fell silent once more, as if nothing had happened.
* * *
Consciousness returned.
I slowly opened my eyes.
The first thing I saw was a crimson wall.
Flicking my tongue out of habit, I scanned my surroundings. This was some kind of cave.
Lava flowed along one wall, illuminating the vast interior.
'Where am I...?'
Frowning slightly, I sifted through my memories.
I definitely...
Shii───
The final recollection hit me like lightning. I jerked upright.
A dull ache throbbed through me.
Not fully healed yet?
Glancing down, the wounds had mended somewhat.
'...I'd used up all the energy in Gluttony.'
Injuries that would've healed completely by now still lingered.
A few were even oozing fresh blood.
'...Did I survive?'
Assessing my condition, I scanned the area again to gauge the situation.
Somehow, I was undeniably alive.
I'd fought to live at the end, but survival itself was the surprise...
Thud—
[Awake, I see.]
A heavy thud accompanied something massive entering the cave.
Snapping my gaze over, there stood the Red Wyvern.
The very one that had crushed me so utterly.
[...You didn't kill me?]
It nodded casually at my quiet question.
[Can't you tell?]
[Why?]
[Hm. I may have gone a bit overboard since you were stronger than expected, but I never planned to kill you from the start. Didn't I say as much?]
Racking my brain, I recalled it had said something like that.
[...So not to kill, but subdue?]
[Strictly speaking, it was to talk. I needed to relay the Boss's will to you.]
[Boss...? You've mentioned that one before. Who's that?]
[The master of this domain.]
I nodded slowly at its matter-of-fact explanation.
The "Boss" it referred to was clearly the area boss.
[More importantly, you're lucky. If you'd woken any later, it might've been dangerous.]
[What do you mean?]
I furrowed my nonexistent brows at the ominous words. It continued.
[Exactly what I said. Your regeneration in battle was one thing, but after collapsing, it slowed to a crawl. A little later, and you might've died before recovering.]
Its gaze flicked to my wounds.
Following it, I nodded slowly.
Yeah, had I not woken, things could've gone south, just as it said.
[How long was I out?]
[Exactly three days.]
It jerked a wingtip toward one side.
[Anyway, hungry? Eat.]
Following its gesture, I spotted a pile of hefty fish.
Magma Fish. One of the Lava Zone's dwellers, swimming through molten rock like water.
That must've been the thud when it entered.
Hearing I'd been out for three days made my stomach growl instantly at the sight.
How long since I'd felt real hunger?
As rare as defeat itself. I devoured the Magma Fish the Red Wyvern offered with gusto.
Each one was massive, yet one wasn't enough.
Without a word, I polished off the entire pile.
[...You sure pack it away.]
I pretended not to hear its slightly disgusted tone, focusing on the meal.
After watching me for a bit, it looked away.
With energy replenished, Regeneration kicked back in, wounds slowly knitting.
It spoke again, tone laced with revulsion.
[Felt it in battle, but your recovery is insane. Already healing...]
[One of my proudest traits.]
I glanced at it and added,
[Wait just a bit. Once I'm fully recovered, I'll give you a rematch.]
[Rematch right after waking from three days out? Beaten that bad and you still haven't learned. You're not ready.]
[Hmph. We'll see who's got the longer one.]
[We already tested that last time, remember?]
I ignored its grinning retort and kept eating.
More importantly, it didn't seem offended by my rematch talk.
From sparing me and even caring for me, it clearly held some goodwill.
I didn't know why, but it suited me fine.
I had no intention of ending on a loss.
Even if I lost again, it was no issue now.
Knowing it had no killing intent meant defeat wasn't final.
I'd challenge it repeatedly, exploiting that.
Fights with an S-rank would fuel massive growth.
'More like sparring than mortal combat.'
Honestly, "sparring" felt off for monsters that devoured each other, but I kept it to myself.
I'd resolved to milk its goodwill.
Repay it later by beating it someday.
'Magma Fish, huh. Tastier than expected.'
Even with heat resistance, diving into lava was too much—I'd never hunted them before.
Might give it a shot next time.
Could become a habit.
* * *
Shii───
Finishing my first meal in three days, I let out a satisfied rumble from my fuller belly.
Still far from pre-fight levels, but I'd recovered some spent energy.
About one-hundredth?
[All done?]
[Yeah. Thanks. Took the edge off.]
[Good to see you satisfied.]
[Not fully, but the urgent hunger's gone.]
[...After all that?]
I flicked my tongue innocently at its frowning gaze.
Tsking briefly, it rose slowly.
[Rested enough? Time to move.]
[Post-meal workout spar? Music to my ears.]
[Maybe later. Not brawling with someone who just woke up.]
[Then what?]
[To see the Boss.]
I fell silent at its calm declaration.
Meeting the area boss in person was daunting, but I had no real choice.
At least it seemed the unseen boss held some goodwill toward me?
If it'd gone to the trouble of saving my life, it probably wouldn't kill me outright.
That certainty melted away the unease.
Curiosity took its place.
I'd passed through many zones, but aside from the Forest Zone's queen, I'd never met an area boss.
Bad timing, mostly.
By the time I arrived, hunters had slain them all.
In that sense, this "Boss" would be my first since the queen.
And like her, a safe one—no immediate threat.
How could I not be curious?
'Wonder what level an area boss is.'
Given the Red Wyvern, at least SA-rank.
Maybe higher.
Clutching that anticipation, I followed the Red Wyvern.