Clash with the Skeletrodon
Kang Yoonsoo summoned an undead legion.
“Summon seventy-six Rotten Mudgems. Summon three hundred sixteen Blood Bigbats.”
He pointed at the soaring fossil dragon.
“Kill it.”
“Kyurrrk—!”
The Blood Bigbats flapped their wings and surged upward. In the air beneath the cavern ceiling, the fossil dragon and the swarm of bats clashed in a frantic aerial battle. The Blood Bigbats tore at the Skeletrodon with razor fangs while the Rotten Mudgems on the ground scooped up dirt from the excavation site and hurled mud shells at the dragon.
Yet the attacks barely scratched the creature’s rock-solid bones.
“Kirikriyaaaak—!”
The Skeletrodon banked sharply and spewed jet-black flames from its bony maw. Black-flame breath—far hotter than any spirit’s fire. Because the fossil dragon possessed powerful fire resistance, bringing Sally out now would be useless.
The Blood Bigbats were incinerated in seconds and plummeted. Kang Yoonsoo swept his hand through the air and issued a new order.
“Rotten Mudgems, catch the bats’ corpses and fire them back up.”
Each time a piece of corpse fell, the Mudgems spat it back toward the Skeletrodon wrapped in fresh mud. The instant the remains touched the dragon’s wings, Kang Yoonsoo activated a skill.
“Corpse Explosion.”
Corpse Explosion skill level has increased.
Explosions now trigger chain destruction.
The successive blasts kept the Skeletrodon from concentrating on flight. It descended to the ground. The moment its claws touched earth, Shanette drove her Death Scythe down into the dragon’s tailbone.
“Karigriyaak—!”
The fossil dragon thrashed in pain and vomited black fire. Shanette tried to endure the heat, only to realize the flames were searing even her.
Her fire resistance could not withstand the Skeletrodon’s black-flame breath.
“Grrrrr—!”
White’s sharp claws raked across the dragon’s ribcage like a storm. The Skeletrodon twisted and sank its teeth into the werewolf’s nape. While White howled in agony, Kang Yoonsoo’s pitch-black longsword slammed into the dragon’s skull.
The creature swung its talons. Kang Yoonsoo dropped low, dodged, then thrust. The sword tip pierced the glowing life core nestled between the ribs.
The Skeletrodon convulsed violently. In that instant Kang Yoonsoo activated another skill.
“Bio Absorption.”
Absorbed a small amount of Skeletrodon life force.
Inherited a trace of the fossil dragon’s trait. Chance of suffering fractures has decreased.
The Life Suppression Ring rapidly restored his mana. Kang Yoonsoo chained the next skill without pause.
“Life Drain.”
A necromancer’s secret art that also stole the enemy’s vitality. Between the two absorption skills, the Skeletrodon’s life force plummeted while Kang Yoonsoo fought without tiring.
“Karigriyaak—!”
Irritated, the dragon hurled its ancient body at him. Kang Yoonsoo’s brilliant swordplay answered with a relentless barrage, yet the creature’s bones were impossibly tough. No matter how fiercely he struck, the blade could not crack them.
Black flame erupted from the Skeletrodon’s maw. The group scattered instantly. The scorching blaze melted the cavern floor where they had stood. Even a graze would have left wounds that could not be easily healed.
This thing is a hassle every single time.
The fossil dragon was a powerful boss monster. Its bones were too dense for blades to damage easily, and despite its massive size it moved with surprising speed. It could fly swiftly, and the black fire pouring from its jaws melted everything it touched.
All the Blood Bigbats had been destroyed. Only a few Rotten Mudgems remained. The situation was by no means in their favor.
Kang Yoonsoo spoke.
“Retreat.”
The Skeletrodon smashed through stalactites in pursuit, but Kang Yoonsoo seized Shanette’s hand, mounted White, and the werewolf bolted at terrifying speed. They barely managed to escape the excavation site.
“Oh! Are you all right?”
Ramaks approached with a worried expression. The excavation team and survivors wore equally anxious faces.
Though he felt nothing of the sort inside, Kang Yoonsoo deliberately answered in a drained voice.
“We’re fine. But we couldn’t kill the fossil dragon. Regrettable.”
“Hmm…”
Ramaks pondered deeply, then reached a decision.
“You are the benefactor of not only me but everyone here. I cannot simply stand by while our savior struggles so. Moreover, if we leave that dragon alone, we will never be able to continue the excavation. I will award your combined contribution points immediately.”
Acknowledged for rescuing the Red Rock excavation team and one hundred fifty civilians.
Contribution points increased by 150,000.
Current contribution points: 151,245
An enormous amount. No excavator who had labored for months could ever hope to earn such a reward.
Kang Yoonsoo spent the 150,000 contribution points to obtain the Thunderstorm Staff and the Bracelet of Extraordinary Mana.
◈ Mana +125
◈ Can summon powerful lightning. Careless use may electrocute the wielder. Can use Lightning Discharge 4 times per day.
◈ Mana +445
◈ Mana recovery speed +25%
Greatly increases the wearer’s mana pool and recovery rate.
Accessories such as necklaces, rings, and bracelets always commanded high prices. They were harder to craft than weapons or armor, yet even modest enchantments allowed multiple pieces to be worn at once. A bracelet that boosted mana was especially valuable.
Shanette asked with a doubtful look.
“You can even use a magic staff?”
Simply holding a staff was useless without deep understanding of mana. That was precisely why the Sorcerer class was so difficult to obtain. Magic required not only the motion of swinging the staff but dozens of precise calculations working in harmony.
There was a vast difference between undead revival, spirit summoning, and offensive spells.
Yet Kang Yoonsoo nodded as if it were obvious.
“Yeah.”
In a past life he had reigned as a mage who mastered every school of mana. Having reached the peak as both swordsman and wizard, he understood the strengths of each class perfectly.
Mages excel at group fights. Warriors excel at one-on-one duels.
He gripped the Thunderstorm Staff in his left hand and slipped the Bracelet of Extraordinary Mana onto his right wrist. A pitch-black longsword in one hand, an ornate staff in the other—he looked neither purely swordsman nor purely mage. His appearance resembled the legendary magic swordsmen found only in old tales.
Even the survivors who had come to trust him stared in open confusion.
“What? Why equip a sword and staff at the same time?”
“Is he planning to cast magic while swinging a blade?”
“That’s impossible! It’s like trying to sew with your left hand while hammering with your right!”
“Don’t tell me that man is a dual-class? The rare job that combines two classes!”
Despite the whispers, Kang Yoonsoo walked back into the excavation site in silence. White, who had been licking his wounds, followed. Beside him, Shanette asked seriously.
“Is there anything you can’t do, Kang Yoonsoo?”
He thought for a moment, then answered gravely.
“Abstaining from alcohol.”
“……”
They re-entered the cavern. The fossil dragon spread its bony wings and roared.
“Kirigriyaak—!”
As the creature flew in low, Kang Yoonsoo raised the Thunderstorm Staff and slammed it into the ground.
Crackling—!
A lightning bolt mixed with earth and stone erupted. Blue lightning strong enough to electrocute anything it touched. The fierce bolt struck the Skeletrodon and dealt heavy damage.
Kang Yoonsoo followed up with another spell.
“Lightning Discharge.”
The skill consumed the staff’s stored mana to unleash an even more powerful strike. A larger, fiercer bolt hammered the dragon’s body. White seized the opening, charged, and slashed with claws like a whirlwind.
“Grrrr—! Urrnokra—!”
The Skeletrodon swept its tailbone in a wide arc. White took the blow to the flank but held his ground, refusing to be thrown back. The werewolf clamped razor fangs around the tailbone and endured.
In that moment Shanette stepped forward and brought the Death Scythe down on the dragon’s skull again and again.
Thud—! Crunch—!
Skeletrodon has been afflicted with the Curse of Sloth.
Activity greatly reduced. Defense has dropped.
One of the seven curses the Death Scythe could inflict on a critical hit. The fossil dragon’s movements slowed and its bones grew slightly brittle.
Kang Yoonsoo swung both sword and staff in front of the creature’s eyes. Each sweep of the Thunderstorm Staff called down blue lightning. Each thrust of Lavian’s longsword pierced the life core, dealing critical damage. He never forgot to activate Bio Absorption and Life Drain to steal vitality.
Unable to cope with the barrage, the Skeletrodon suddenly opened its maw wide.
“Dodge.”
At Kang Yoonsoo’s command, Shanette and White leapt back. The black flame the dragon exhaled melted the exact spot where they had been standing. Ordinary dragon breath skills had limited uses and required preparation, but the power was devastating and could not be ignored.
They could press the attack, yet if the Skeletrodon kept spewing black-flame breath they would never seize victory.
That was when the anomaly occurred.
Shanette suddenly clutched her chest and dropped to one knee. She gasped for air.
“Wh-what is this? Something hot is… inside my chest…!”