Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Black Dragon Appears
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“Monster wave confirmed ahead!! Orcs and lizardmen in sight!!”
“Forget that!! Any other monsters? There has to be a new one!!”
Ace's shout prompted the sentry holding the telescope to hurriedly scan in all directions.
“……!!”
In that instant, a massive beast resembling a giant crocodile appeared amid the orcs and lizardmen.
It had eight legs and green scales.
The creature, which looked like something between a reptile and a dragon, let out shrill roars toward the village—Shieek—!! Shieek—!!
“B…… Basilisk!!”
The sentry's cry from atop the village ramparts sent a wave of tension through Torn Bach.
“A basilisk…… Isn't that the mid-boss of Labyrinth Tower's 1st floor?”
Ace ground his teeth at his subordinate's question.
'I figured the monster wave difficulty would ramp up once the 10th floor was cleared…… but a basilisk out of nowhere? Are they trying to wipe the village off the map?'
Labyrinth Tower's 1st floor.
It was the lowest floor of the tower, but far from easy.
Only about 20% of Central Continent players had ever experienced it.
Unless it was a raid party made up of top-tier players with various titles and buffs, ordinarily leveled players topped out at the 2nd floor.
Grind.
And true to that, Ace was the only one in Torn Bach who'd ever set foot in the Labyrinth Tower.
He'd barely cleared the 1st floor himself, but that was precisely why he knew the basilisk's terror better than anyone.
'Torn Bach's militia has about thirty members. Plus the ten from my Genesis Unit.'
Their average levels hovered around 55 to 58.
'The minimum level requirement for a Labyrinth Tower 1st-floor raid party is 60.'
And raid parties for the tower averaged around ten members.
'……With this numbers, even taking down one basilisk will be a stretch.'
No matter how he crunched the numbers, the situation was more dire than he'd imagined.
“Captain, can't we get reinforcements? We haven't held off these waves with just this crew so far.”
“Well…… We could request the kingdom's knight order, but it'd take too long.”
“Not that! Give me something realistic!”
“We hire players. Post a bounty at the Adventurer's Guild and get them to help defend the village.”
It wasn't a bad idea.
Ace nodded at the militia captain's suggestion.
“Hurry to the guild and spread the word. The Genesis Unit will double the bounty! We have to defend Torn Bach no matter what!!”
“Got it. You there!! Head to the guild now!”
“Yes!!”
As the militiaman dashed off, tension thickened atop the ramparts.
Dudududu…… !!
A cloud of dark dust approached at high speed.
'Stay calm. Aside from the basilisk, these are just low-level monsters from the Dark Forest.'
Shring—!!!
Ace drew his sword.
“Archers!! Ready to fire!!”
At his command, the NPC guards nocked their arrows in unison.
“Fire!!!”
Shoo—!! Shoosh—!! Shushushoo———!!
Dozens of arrows streaked toward the monsters.
Screams rose from the arrow-struck monsters, but they trampled their fallen comrades without slowing their advance.
“Knight order!! Prepare to charge!! Militia, ready support from the ramparts!!”
Waaaaah———!!!
The village gates swung open as the Genesis Unit charged the monsters.
Kwang—!! Boom!!!
The Genesis Unit swept away the lead orcs.
Though only ten strong, monsters levels 30 to 40 couldn't even scratch them, no matter how many swarmed.
'Yeah, that's it!'
'We're not weak!'
'That damn monster…….'
The men, freshly humbled by Woojin, began regaining their confidence as they cut down the horde.
“Target the basilisk! No one else can take it down but us!!”
Ace noticed his men's expressions shift and shouted promptly.
“Ooooh……!!”
Light burst from Ace, drawing gasps from his men.
Rare skill [Rally].
It boosted party members' stats and morale—a buff skill, plain and simple.
That was how a mediocre fighter like him became the Genesis Unit's knight captain.
“Break through!!”
His men charged past the monsters toward the basilisk.
Fwoosh……!!
The Genesis mage conjured flames.
Boom—! Boom—!! Kwang——!!
Ace gripped his sword tight and leaped through the scattering blaze.
“The basilisk's weak point is the core in its forehead!! Smash that!! Focus fire!!”
[Heavy Strike]
[Targets the basilisk's core]
Ace's sword aimed for the core.
Kaang—!!
But the basilisk coiled up, tucking its head inside its armored body.
His full-force strike left not even a scratch on the tough scales.
The basilisk bared its fangs at him with a furious growl.
“We'll set a trap on the left side of the gate. Lure it there.”
Ace recalled the captain's words.
“Hup—!!”
As the basilisk lunged, Ace bolted away.
Snap……!!
The basilisk flicked out its long tongue in pursuit.
“Hah……! Hah……!!”
Glancing back, Ace sprinted madly as it closed in.
“Militia!!! Get ready!!”
As the ramparts came into view, he leaped and shouted.
The instant the basilisk gaped wide to devour him,
Pfook—!!
Its foot sank into the ground, staggering the beast.
“Now!!”
At the captain's shout, the militiamen loosed their arrows.
Boom!!
Kwagagagang———!!!
The traps ignited and exploded in a chain reaction.
The basilisk shattered with a horrific screech and tumbled into the pit.
[Basilisk defeated.]
“……It, it worked!!!”
Waaaaah———!!
Waaaah———!!!
The rampart defenders cheered at the notification.
Ace staggered up from the ground, grinning at the basilisk buried in the pit.
“Ha, haha……! Yeah! If I try, I can do it……!”
Thud—!!!
In that moment, something crushed him flat.
“C-Captain!!!!”
The Genesis Unit could do nothing as his absurdly sudden death unfolded.
“H-Hiiiik?!”
Those who saw what killed him were frozen in horror.
A massive golden eye swept the area.
The gaze petrified them in terror.
“D-Dragon?!”
The colossal being looming over them left everyone in the village speechless.
Fwooooosh———!!!
Breath erupted from the dragon's maw, incinerating the ramparts in seconds.
“Kaaaaak!!”
“S-Save us!!!”
Players and NPCs alike turned to ash atop the walls.
“W-What the……!”
“How the hell do we kill that thing!!”
“Dammit!! Run!!!”
The bounty-hunting players fled at the black dragon's appearance.
“C-Captain!! What do we do?”
“What do you mean, what?! Like we can take a dragon!! If you don't wanna die, run!!”
The militia wasn't faring much better.
They abandoned the village en masse at the captain's order.
“Hey.”
That was when it happened.
“Take this.”
Something flew toward the fleeing captain.
He caught the heavy object and stared blankly ahead.
“C-Colson?!”
Recognizing the familiar face in his arms, the captain jolted.
“W-Why are you……?!”
He jolted again upon seeing Woojin, the one who'd brought him.
“Found him collapsed in the street.”
“……What?”
Unable to process, the captain asked again, but the black dragon allowed no more talk.
Kwaaaang———!!
Its tail lash crumbled Torn Bach's ramparts.
“Kuhuk……!”
“S-Save me!!!”
As the guards flailed under debris, monsters swarmed them.
“Kraaak!!”
Screams echoed from all sides.
“W-Wait……!”
The captain shouted as Woojin advanced on the black dragon.
“You planning to fight? You're insane? No matter how strong you are, you can't solo a dragon!”
“Probably not.”
“Th-Then what…….”
“That's why I need you to do something.”
“Me……?”
Woojin eyed the rampaging black dragon and readjusted his grip on his sword.
“Post on the community right now: a dragon's appeared in Torn Bach. Spam it if you have to.”
Rumors had swirled endlessly, but no dragon had ever shown itself.
Now one had?
Terrifying, sure—but top players would see it as prime hunting target number one.
'They all know there's hidden dragon-related classes out there.'
The moment it hit the community, top players would swarm here, eyes blazing.
'If all the elites gather…….'
It wouldn't be impossible.
“Even so…… It'll take time for them to get here. How do we hold until then…….”
“Leave that to me.”
Huuup—.
Woojin drew a deep breath.
The black dragon on the ramparts locked eyes with him, sensing his presence.
As if waiting, the black dragon gaped wide and dove at him.
Flash—!!!
Woojin left an afterimage and launched toward the dragon.
Kwaang—!!!
The dragon's tail clashed with his sword.
The thunderous impact hurled Woojin back.
Oddly, the black dragon halted its follow-up.
Drip—!
A drop of blood beaded on its tail.
“N-No way…….”
The onlookers gaped in shock.
A mere fingernail scratch, but Woojin's attack had drawn dragon blood.
[Trait: Dragon Slayer activates.]
▶ Gain 5% bonus EXP when hunting dragon-type monsters.
▶ Attack power +10% when hunting dragon-type monsters.
“See? It's not invincible.”
Woojin pulled himself from the wall, staggering to his feet.
“In the end, it's just prey.”
His voice rang out to Torn Bach's fleeing players.