Red Drake (3)
After casting skills over and over like that, the drake finally croaked. Regret was one thing, loot was another. Since I'd whittled down most of its HP, I thankfully snagged all the drops with my high looting rights.
"Whoa, you looted that fast! What'd you get? Scales drop?"
"Nah, checked it out— just two Shining Mana Stones. This respawn's a total dud."
"Oh, thank god. That was basically a solo clear; would've been pissed if scales dropped!"
Are these assholes rubbing it in my face right now? Thank god?
"Hey. Dunno if you're pissed or not, but I'm fucking livid. We literally just told you not to hit it— why the hell did you? It was gonna be a dud anyway; you wouldn't have gotten shit even if you killed it!"
Hyunjung pushed past me as I confronted them, and one of the knight users replied.
"Since when does a neutral field boss have priority rights? You seem new around here, so lemme explain: telling people not to hit a drake 'cause you're soloing it? They laugh. Straight up laugh! You look high-level; why say rookie shit like that?"
"That's why I offered gold— 20,000 gold!"
"Scales are going for over 100k right now, and you're offering 20k? And even if you say you'll pay, who knows if you'd bail if it was a dud? You think anyone patrolling Centura would just watch and trust that?"
Unfortunately, it played out exactly as I'd expected. I'd held out a sliver of hope, but this approach clearly had next to zero chance in real scenarios.
"I'm not killing it for the loot! If you really held off and I succeeded, I could've given you 100k, not 20k...!"
"Huh? If not for the scales, why kill the drake?"
"To tame it."
"Tame? Pfft— hahahaha! Listen to this guy; he says he's gonna tame a drake!"
"Whoa, didn't peg you for the funny type. If you're going for it, why not go big and tame a full dragon? Why settle for a drake? Heh."
They openly mocked me, my words sounding utterly ridiculous to them.
"Fuck, I'm already pissed— should I just wipe you both?"
As I drew my sword on them, Hyunjung stepped in between us.
"Cut it out. I told you from the start taming would be tough. Hard to find 'em, and then assholes like this make it worse. You two better bounce before shit hits the fan. We weren't joking; we were seriously trying."
"Yeah, sure. Sorry if we ruined it, but camping a popular boss like that? Kinda dick move, y'know. Whether it's possible or not."
"......"
"Anyway, pro tip: I'd level up instead of wasting time on dumb shit like drake taming. Later— good luck!"
Since they were only after the raid, they checked the respawn time on the fresh kill and vanished with return scrolls.
And just like that, my first taming attempt ended in failure.
"Hey! This is really the last time today, right? If we fail again, no more obsessing, got it?"
"I know! I'm sick of this shit too!"
It had been six days of scouring Centura Volcanic Zone at dawn for a drake. After luckily spotting one in an hour on day one, I hadn't even gotten to watch others kill it since.
By the time we found one, crowds swarmed and melted it, or they'd lure it to a corner and snipe it secretly. No way to know the last respawn time. With only about two spawns a day, this was my half-assed final patrol, basically given up.
"Man, if I can't tame it 'cause I suck, at least I wouldn't feel bad! Why's one damn try this fucking hard?"
"Just drop the greed and tame a Gryphon King like Schumacher. Those are weaker and spawn way more. Or level up more and go for a wyvern. Not boss-tier, but high-level and usable!"
"You think I wasted skill points on taming trash mobs? Every guy's got that dream of a cherry-red sports car once in life! You don't have dreams like that?"
"Nope. I prefer a big white SUV."
"Goddamn... born to be a holy knight. You'd flip if it was Pegasus taming."
"Ooh! Hadn't thought of that— now I want one bad!"
If it was just any flying mob, there were alternatives. Some pets came from items or quests, no taming skill needed. So like I told Hyunjung, it wasn't just for the cool factor with the Red Drake.
Few field bosses could fly right now, and even fewer looked rideable. During the orc lord raid, I'd realized mobility was key— not just respawn info, but getting there fast despite summons and interference.
A mob that let me arrive faster than anyone, no matter what. Red Drake was perfect.
Estimated level 350. Pets could level up, so endless growth potential alongside me. A boss mob that levels! Plus, maybe an achievement— those rare ones for extraordinary feats. Taming a boss? Gotta qualify.
But all that assumed success. Even with skills and setup, spotting one was hell.
Hitting that wall, I'd compromised with Hyunjung: today was the end.
"Anyway, patrolling a week during prime dawn hunting time? What a loss. You'll find better high-level tames while leveling. Long-term, cutting losses ain't bad."
"Fine. But you're actually scanning while we move, right? Miss one 'cause you're yapping, and you're dead."
"Who you calling noob? Know how high-level I am? Eyes in the back of my head and tongue— that's why I talk... Whoa! There— it spawned!"
"Where! Don't fuck around; I'm on edge!"
I whipped around, scanning his direction. Nothing.
"Not there— bottom of that hill! Hovering!"
"Huh? Holy shit!"
A depression at the hill's base— easy to miss at a glance. Red Drake crouched there, wings folded post-spawn, extra stealthy.
"Jackpot! Hyunjung, you know the drill: stun anyone solo approaching, aggro if two or more! Block 'em no matter what!"
"Got it! Guild mark and murderer status be damned— no one gets close!"
I bolted down toward it after my last instruction to him.
This is huge! Spawned right under us— almost missed it. Unlike first time, no one's around; I can finish clean!
Heart pounding, I hit the lava-flow base, buffed up, and charged.
"Kieeeek!"
That familiar screech. The drake, gleaming redder from lava glow, counterattacked.
Absorbs 1,388 physical damage.
Level 268 after nonstop grinding these six days. 17 levels higher than day one, making it way easier.
80%, 70%, 60%! MP stayed above 30k thanks to absorption, while its health bar plummeted.
A thief soloing a Red Drake? Mind-blowing sight. But to me, it was just frustratingly slow.
Damn, why won't the HP drop faster! No one can show up... hurry, hurry!
Even mid-attack, I scanned surroundings. Luck: hill and lava hid us from patrols.
"Kieek!"
Mixing flat attacks into optimal DPS, the drake suddenly roared— fire orb incoming!
Sure enough, it launched— but not at me, behind!
BOOM!
I spun to check; heart stopped. 50 meters up the hill— a mage dodging the orb mid-cast.
Attacked the mage, not me? Aggro fail?
Some mobs ignore aggro, hitting randoms and spiking difficulty. Red Drake seemed that type— sensed the mage first and preempted.
But one orb stray. It swiped at me again; mage, relieved, recast.
"No!! Stop!"
One spell and this taming's toast. No lowbies patrolling here for misses.
Opportunity slipping—
A massive ice lance shatters against something.
Nice defense— Hyunjung's shield.
"Don't hit it! Stop attacking, and it'll drop gold! 50k! No, 100k!"
Non-targeting game improv! Hyunjung charged across, barely blocking the trajectory.
But improv's just that; no guarantee on next.
Mage ignored gold offer, started new cast. Hyunjung, charge spent, hesitated to block aerial.
Shit, gonna lose it!
Mid-fight, his ID registered late.
Kim Seok Yong
In Taitonic, no ID dupes— only one real-name user: Taitonic TV's star caster, Kim Seok Yong.
"K-Kim Seok Yong! Please don't hit! Huge fan! Skip this, I'll repay big— that 100k for real!"
Whoosh. First reaction from fireball-flinging Kim Seok Yong.
"I'm off-duty, playing as a user! No point sweet-talking for solo boss— seen it all!"
"No, really trying something! Just once!"
"Yeah! Hitting a few times won't get loot anyway!"
BOOM! Hyunjung barely shield-jumped the fireball, chiming in.
"I called party already; they'll be here soon! I'll take first hits for loot rights!"
No dice amid the chaos. Hyunjung closed angles, but Kim Seok Yong kited smoothly. Sharp judgment and movement.
Blink in with instant cast? Dead.
This perfect Red Drake— gone forever!
One idea flashed: desperate, but all I had.
"Interview!! Skip it, I'll interview you! Exclusive first with you!!"
"Ha! Seen all tricks for solo scales, but interview offer? Play fair."
"Come on! Stop casting! Think I'd offer for loot?"
Another Ice Spear finished— arced high, Hyunjung missed; straight to drake!
Whoosh!
Drake's tail swipe turned it— headshot for crit otherwise, instant fail.
"Gasp!"
One-second crisis! I halted attacks, whispered urgently.