Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Assault on the Reverse Scale
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“Raaargh―――!!!”
Woojin shot forward like a bolt, thrusting his sword straight at Bensina.
A brilliant white lightning, unlike anything before, erupted ferociously, targeting the black dragon's reverse scale.
'A dragon's sole weakness.'
He dove between the black dragon's legs, eyes fixed on the inverted scale jutting from beneath its neck.
He recalled Raoul slicing through Velian's reverse scale when he read the sword's memories.
[Raaargh―――!!!]
The moment Bensina opened its maw to unleash its breath, pure white orbs poured into its mouth and detonated.
[Guh……?!]
In that split-second hesitation from the unexpected assault, Woojin's blade pierced Bensina's reverse scale.
Puuk―!!!
The sword, infused with Dragon Heaven's power, pierced through the dragon's tough scales and sank deep.
'Damn it.'
But the joy of a successful strike was fleeting—Woojin's face hardened.
In that brief moment, Bensina had twisted its body, narrowly deflecting the blow from its reverse scale.
“Watch out!!!!”
Luen's cry rang out as Woojin yanked his sword free with all his might and shielded his face with both arms.
-Master!!
As Bensina swung its massive foreclaw, shattering the barrier around Woojin like paper, the talons were about to impale him when his skin turned gray and rock-hard.
Peok―!!!!
Woojin's body bent backward in a V-shape.
“……Kuhk!!!”
The gray sheen covering him shattered like eggshell, crumbling into dust and vanishing.
[Instant death damage received.]
[Trait: Indomitable]
▶ All stats surge dramatically.
▶ Effect ends when HP recovers over 5%.
[Trait: Ruthless Winter]
▶ Attack power increases by 10%.
▶ Effect ends when HP recovers over half.
“Raaargh―――!!!!”
Pulled back from death's door, Woojin screamed, clawing at the ground as he forced himself upright.
[Trait: Tenacious Life]
▶ When HP falls below 3%, consume mental power to instantly recover 10% HP.
His body felt like it was shattering apart, but Woojin shook his head.
'Using Tenacious Life would cancel Indomitable.'
He pulled the last of his low-grade potions from his inventory and downed them.
After chugging about three, his HP crept up to around 3%.
'……This is far enough.'
Warnings still blared in his ears, his vision stained red like flowing blood, but Woojin stopped drinking potions.
[A gamble with your life? Tsk tsk. Just futile thrashing. You thought this was enough to stand atop a dragon?]
Bensina sneered down at Woojin.
But Woojin didn't take the bait.
“Heh, not the words I'd expect from the guy who came crawling to me first in a panic.”
[……You bastard!!!]
Hwaaaak―――!!!
The moment Bensina spread its intimidating wings,
“Attack formation!!!”
Charleston of the Norn Raid Force charged from the rear, lance raised high.
Waaaaaah―――!!!!
Waaaah――!!
With him at the lead, countless players surged toward Bensina.
Kwaang――!!
Kwagagang――!!!
Explosions erupted from all sides, engulfing the black dragon.
“Hey! You're incredible!”
“Fighting a level 50 like that!”
“Leave the rest to us!”
Players charging past Woojin toward Bensina tossed words of encouragement his way.
Some thumbs-upped, others whistled with fingers in their mouths.
Even with the dragon right there, fear no longer gripped them.
“Charge―――!!!!”
They rushed the black dragon eagerly, one after another.
“Boss! You okay?”
Weden rushed to his side from the rear.
“……That's not how you do it.”
Unlike the battlefield's surging morale, Woojin stared at the charging players with a grim expression.
“Huh?”
The mood had undeniably shifted.
The crushing terror was gone.
Probably because of him.
They'd seen his fight and thought they could take down the dragon too.
But that was the problem.
“They're underestimating the dragon.”
Overconfidence was poison in a hunt.
The hardest lesson Woojin had learned hunting beasts with Raoul.
'Probably my fault too.'
No one here was below Woojin's level.
Those who'd glimpsed it via Insight all thought the same.
'Level 50's holding up?'
'Looks doable?'
But they only saw his level—no one could check his full stats.
He had titles boosting him, plus [Mad Demon]'s effects.
Not to mention active traits like Adventurer, Solitude, Dragon Slayer...
Judging him by level alone was a mistake, but they didn't see it.
Kwaaaang―――!!!!
And reckless attacks brought...
“Kyaak!!”
“Aaaagh……!!”
...horrific consequences.
The ground quaked like an earthquake, and an unbelievable sight unfolded before Woojin.
“Kuh…… Kuhk……”
“Save……”
The charging raid force was annihilated by a single blow from Bensina.
'Wh-what…… What insane power……'
'He tanked that?'
The few survivors stared at Woojin in bewilderment, eyes pleading for answers.
But there was no time for explanations.
Kwajik―!!!
Bensina crushed the fallen players underfoot like insects.
“Hah…… Hah……”
Charleston of the Norn Raid Force, one of the few to survive the black dragon's assault, gripped his lance with trembling hands.
'Survivors……'
Glancing back, not a single squad member remained from moments ago.
Just crimson pools.
Ashes scattered on the wind over the blood.
Total wipe.
“No way. This can't……”
He'd never imagined his raid force, conquerors of up to floor 7, getting wiped in an instant.
“Raaargh―――!!!!”
Charleston readjusted his grip and charged the black dragon like a madman.
Kwajik―!!
His lance stabbed into the black dragon's leg.
Kadududuk……!!
The spinning lance, like a drill, roared terrifyingly as it bored through the dragon's scales.
But that was it.
Bensina looked down at him impassively.
Wagjak―!!
The black dragon devoured him without hesitation.
“Run……!!!”
“Uwaaaah―――!!!”
The citizens of Torn Bach, watching the raid force's massacre, finally fell into panic.
“Ngh……”
Colson, slumped in a corner amid the chaos, groaned as he regained consciousness, pressing his throbbing temples.
Kwaang―!! Kwagagang―――!!!
“Holy shit!! What the hell?!”
The sight before him shocked him so much he forgot his headache.
“Dr-dr-dragon?”
As if wondering why it was here, he blankly scanned his surroundings.
“Hey! What happened?!”
“Are you okay? We have to run!!”
A Genesis Unit member nearby grabbed him urgently and yelled.
“Forget running—tell me what the hell's going on first!”
“During the monster wave in Torn Bach, a black dragon appeared. Raid forces joined in, but they're all wiped now!”
“Everyone's fleeing. Hurry!”
“Crazy……”
Colson frantically searched for Woojin.
Spotting him facing off against the black dragon amid the wiped raid force, he let out a bewildered chuckle.
'Why the hell is that psycho there?'
[Dead Man's Offering] was valuable, but not worth charging into a dragon for.
'Can't waste my life on that.'
He gritted his teeth—krik!—and slipped into the fleeing crowd.
Kwagagang……!!
Just then.
As the procession passed the plaza, weakened, cracked buildings began collapsing everywhere.
“Kyaaaak―――!!”
“Kyaaak―!!!”
Screams erupted as evacuating citizens were buried under debris.
“Waaaaaah―――!!!”
A child, seemingly orphaned, collapsed in the plaza amid the receding tide of people, sobbing.
Jjeok……! Jjeojeok……!!
A cracked building beside the child swayed perilously.
“Mom…… Mom……!!”
The child wailed, clutching at Colson's pant leg as he passed.
“Fuck off!!”
Startled, Colson kicked the clinging child away roughly.
“Waaaaaah……!”
The child tumbled to the ground and burst into fresh tears.
Kwagagang―――!!!
The building chose that moment to crumble entirely.
“Th-there……!!”
A Genesis Unit member fleeing with him stared in shock, but
“Making a fuss over one NPC!! Shut up and run if you don't wanna die!!!”
Colson snapped back, yanking the member's collar and bolting.
Kwaaaang―――!!!
The building collapsed, swallowing the child in rubble.
“……No!!”
In that instant, someone dove into the debris.
Colson scowled at the lemon-blonde hair flashing past.
'That bitch…… The elf with that bastard?'
Kwagagang―――!!!
“Here!!”
Luen barely pulled the child free from the rubble and hurled her outward.
Warruruk……!!
“Ngh!!”
She threw herself out with all her strength, but one leg got pinned under the debris.
“Heh…… Guess luck's still on my side.”
Colson was the one who caught the child Luen had thrown.
“Aak……!!”
Teobuk― Teobuk―.
He tossed the child aside carelessly and approached the downed Luen.
“Look at you, playing hero. Guess you think you're hot shit following that unlucky bastard?”
“You……”
The moment Luen saw Colson, she strained desperately to free her leg.
But the rubble's weight was too much.
“Never thought we'd meet like this?”
“……Stay back. Don't you know Master saved your sorry ass? If not for his mercy, you'd be dead!”
“Mercy? That prick already killed me once—what mercy……”
He glared at Luen, growling.
“Ngh?!”
“Besides, we respawn anyway. But I'm curious about your life. Wonder what that prick'll do?”
Sreung―.
He picked up a sword from the ground.
“Be grateful. Losing a leg won't kill you.”
Colson flashed a sinister grin.