Big Bang!
Most magic-type Awakeners could manifest just one kind of magic. The exceptional ones among them could handle two attributes, earning them the title of Dual Mages and prices that soared through the roof.
The reason dragons were so fearsome was their command over the big three—fire, ice, and lightning—plus a dizzying array of rare magics that no Awakener could touch. Overwhelming power bursting from their massive frames, armored in scales tough enough to shrug off all but the heaviest hits. And the clincher's right there.
Ku-ku-ku-ku-ku-ku!
I shook my head, watching the breath beam obliterate the spot where we'd stood moments ago. The ultimate attack that ignored all physical and magical defenses, erasing everything in its path. The way it controlled the range so freely told me this wasn't some run-of-the-mill dragon—it was a battle-hardened predator.
Underestimate it, and you're fucked.
The Hwarang Guild had prepped thoroughly, so I'd felt somewhat secure. But now, facing it head-on, even without the surrounding monsters, the dragon was a monster in its own right.
Luckily, my two allies weren't your average S-rank hunters. One had slain the Fire Dragon in the Fire Dragon's Nest raid, earning the Dragon Slayer title. The other bore Beloved by Dragons.
And me? I'd jammed a Dragon Heart right into the core of my mana circuits. If anything, I might be the biggest cheat here. Three S-rank hunters stacked like this? If we couldn't take it down, we'd deserve to drown in our own spit.
"I'll take the lead!" Kang Mir shouted, charging at the demon dragon with his Water Dragon shielding him.
Suuuuh.
Ku-ku-ku-ku-ku!!
The demon dragon flared its nostrils, sucking in a massive breath before unleashing a beam straight at Kang Mir.
"Hmph!"
He scoffed lightly and barreled right into it. Professor Park Cheol-gyu and I exchanged wide-eyed stares.
Unlike our shock, he sliced straight through the hyper-compressed beam vertically, closing in on the beast.
Completely immune to the breath?
Up close, the Water Dragon enveloped him like a giant shield, deflecting the beam entirely.
That's what he was banking on.
He burst through, hurtling toward the dragon like he'd punch right through its jaws.
"Gruk!"
Sensing the threat, the demon dragon snapped its mouth shut and swung a foreclaw. Tiny compared to its bulk, but still dwarfing any grown man.
Whiiing!
Kang Mir twisted mid-air, dropping to the ground to evade. The instant he did, the dragon's head whipped right—
"Too slow."
Professor Park Cheol-gyu was already there, stabbing alternating daggers like he was scaling a cliff, climbing the beast's body.
"Kraaaaa!"
Small wounds, but the blood pouring out wouldn't stop.
Bleeding effect?
That was the unique property of his daggers kicking in. Even tiny cuts accumulated into danger. No wonder "death by a thousand cuts" was a saying.
The dragon thrashed its massive body left and right to shake him off. In that gap, Kang Mir vanished from point-blank range.
Huh?
Not just fast—this was his presence erasing itself.
Wait, popping up from above?
While the dragon focused on them, I'd Shadow Stepped to its tail's shadow. Now I looked up at Kang Mir materializing high overhead.
That's teleportation?
The moment he appeared, he slapped a hand on the dragon's head.
Kuuaaaang!
Mana surged into his palm, detonating with a thunderous roar.
Mana Explosion, gotta be.
He rode his Water Dragon through the smoke, soaring up. Cool as hell—worthy of admiration.
Anyone else might've chased after him in awe. But I mulled over the two skills I'd just witnessed.
Right before he vanished, a thread of mana linked to another spot. His whole body followed those lines, sucked away instantly—like folding space to connect two points.
So that's how teleportation works.
The principle clicked: pierce space linearly with mana.
Skill Teleport (S) acquired.
Nice!
I instantly Teleported to the demon dragon's rear. Its massive tail whipped around with gale-force winds.
Mana Explosion's trick: cram mana into a tiny space, then yank away the will stabilizing it. The unstable mana thrashes to escape, compress further, then release all at once—boom, massive backlash explosion.
Mana control's the key. Piece of cake for me.
After taming the Dragon Heart and mana heart daily, this was child's play.
Skill Mana Explosion (A) acquired.
Deep understanding of Mana Explosion. Skill grade upgraded.
Skill Big Bang (S) acquired.
Oh! Jackpot!
Expected an A-rank, got an S-rank upgrade instead.
Let's see why they call it Big Bang.
I Teleported onto its tail, slapped my palm down, and triggered Big Bang.
Wuuuuung.
Mana drained from my Dragon Heart like crazy—enough to ache.
The Dragon Heart went berserk in response.
Ugh! What the hell?
Compared to Kang Mir's, this was over ten times the mana packed in.
No more!
Keep pouring, and I'd get caught in my own blast. I yanked my hand free with a grunt and Teleported back.
Gritting my teeth to calm the raging mana, I bellowed,
"Everyone, get the fuck out!!"
"...!!"
They launched away at my shout. Right after, the explosion engulfed the dragon's colossal body.
A true Big Bang.
Ku-ku-ku-ku-ku-ku-kung!
Ku-kwaang!
Ku-kwang! Kwang!!
It didn't stop at the initial blast—residual mana chained into secondary explosions, like Kang Mir's Mana Explosion firing dozens, hundreds of times over.
Even from afar, the heat and shockwave hit me hard.
Gulp.
Watching made my throat bob involuntarily.
Thud.
Professor Park Cheol-gyu appeared beside me, eyeing me with faint surprise.
"The hell was that?"
"Just meant to smack it once..." I mumbled awkwardly.
He snorted in disbelief. "Just? That? Do it twice, and you'll solo the damn dragon."
"..."
Honestly, I hadn't expected that power.
"Whoa, incredible, Min-ho. No wonder you handled Uijeongbu alone."
"Nah, just luck."
I played humble. Kang Mir's eyes sparkled regardless.
And yeah, it was luck—for me. You demoed two skills back-to-back right in front of my eyes.
If he knew, it'd kill him with envy.
I smirked sidelong at his admiring gaze.
The smoke cleared, revealing the dragon wrapped in its tattered wings, membranes shredded.
"Grrr... Bruschmidt..."
A low rumble carried what sounded like a name.
Its eyes peered through the wings—straight at me.
Huh? Bruschmidt? Calling me?
Our brief gaze locked with raw longing.
The demon dragon... missed me?
Thump!
My Dragon Heart pounded in response.
Whoa, what?
Tears welled up, trickling down my cheek. A choking sorrow, a deep ache from my chest—not mine.
Dazed by alien emotions, I stared at the wounded beast.
"That hit hard. Demon dragon's weakened. Let's go!"
"Yeah, looks like it. Move!"
"Yes!"
Thankfully, they charged ahead without noticing. Clutching my still-throbbing chest, I followed.
Thump, thump.
Brunhilde, the Demon Dragon—mere remnant of a shattered dimension. He'd rampaged on instinct like a beast, lost to oblivion. But for a fleeting moment, sanity returned.
Bruschmidt?
He sensed his eternal mate, soulmate Gold Dragon Bruschmidt's aura.
Two alien presences rushed him, plus one familiar.
This false world was lingering thoughts of a dead realm. He'd howled as a monster here, bereft of reason.
The two aliens reeked of naked killing intent—like the human heroes who'd swarmed him across millennia like moths to flame.
Thump, thump.
The familiar pulse, the aura... Bruschmidt's, who had hurled himself at demons for him.
Is that it?
He realized a fragment of Bruschmidt—imperfect, but planted in that third man's heart.
How much time had passed? Vague memories of his guarded world crumbling as he died felt ancient.
Huu~
A weary sigh escaped the ancient wyrm's maw.
The three froze, sensing the shift.
Then, the same voice echoed in their minds.
Warriors of a nameless world, does your realm still endure?