Chapter 74
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Two Dragons
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China, deep in the mountains of Jilin Province—an underground research facility.
The corridor reeked of chemicals and a fishy metallic tang, the regular click of shoe heels echoing through it.
Click-clack, click-clack.
A sharp-dressed young man in a black suit—the institute's Director—walked the hall with a faint smile. Trailing behind him, a researcher in a white coat jogged along, sweating bullets.
"How's the current status?"
"Director, Experiment Subject D-17's condition is deteriorating. The mana circuits are at critical overload. If we don't administer stabilizers right now..."
"Stabilizers... heh."
He let out a soft chuckle without breaking stride.
"If it's a vessel that melts under that kind of heat, it was worthless to begin with."
"What? B-but D-17 was our most promising subject...!"
"We've arrived."
The Director halted before a door marked "Cultivation Room 1." The two stepped inside.
Dozens of liquid tanks lined the chamber. Boys and girls of varying ages floated serenely within the strangely glowing fluid, eyes closed.
Hands clasped behind his back, he stared through the glass.
In the central incubator floated a stunningly beautiful girl.
Her hair was white streaked with blue, her body adorned with unnatural wings and a tail. Countless tubes and electrodes snaked across her form.
Crackle! Zap!
Blue electricity coiled around her body. Each grimace and labored breath in her sleep sent sparks flying wildly, bubbling up the liquid.
"...Truly beautiful."
He gazed at her with the tender eyes of one beholding something precious.
"Blue Lightning. The sole success to survive implantation of Blue Drake factors. And... our longest-surviving subject."
"Yes... It had near-miraculous compatibility. The White Basilisk factors integrated normally too. But the body's durability is the problem. No human frame can endure any more of this..."
"Ah, which is why I've prepared something new."
The Director cut off the researcher and issued his order.
"Move D-17 to the injection chamber."
"Y-yes? The injection chamber? Any more and the body won't hold...!"
The researcher recoiled in horror, trying to dissuade him.
Subject D-17 was already at its limit. Forcing in the Blue Drake heart had scorched the other organs; Basilisk scales erupted erratically across the skin only to recede; the spirit fused to her soul was struggling to break free.
As proof, the girl could barely even wake anymore. For something crafted as a "weapon," her body was absurdly frail.
The monitor looped footage from the last experiment: her tail lashing at approaching researchers, lightning spewing forth amid agonized screams.
Her body was rebelling, limits reached before her reason could even awaken.
"Haha, your problem is you're too timid. Research is an adventure, after all. To claim treasure, you must tread dangerous paths. Haven't we always done just that to get here?"
"But if Project Drake fails, the Party's orders..."
The Director turned slowly to face the researcher at his protest.
"Project Drake has been terminated as of today."
"What?"
He drew a small metal box from his pocket.
Click.
The Director unlocked it, and the lid sprang open.
Hummm...
A golden glow pulsed faintly within. A small orb the size of an egg absorbed and expelled ambient mana, generating energy of its own. Encased in lattice-like golden scales, it emitted an eerie light.
The researcher felt his breath catch at the sight. An aura of supremacy radiated from it—the unmistakable pressure of a superior species, faint yet undeniable.
"Wh-what is this...?"
"A gift from Korea. Isn't it divine? C-11... no, Black Cat pulled it off perfectly."
The Director smiled, his face alight with rapture.
"Project Drake is finished. It's time to launch Project Dragon."
"Dra-Dragon..."
The researcher accepted the metal box with trembling hands.
"Inject it right now?"
"Of course. D-17's vitals are dropping. There's no time like the present."
The girl was extracted from her tank and wheeled into a surgery-like chamber. Naked upon the operating table, even more tubes and needles pierced her flesh.
"Commencing... Mana sync at 0%... Injection beginning."
Shhh—
The orb dissolved into an unknown solution, which was then pumped into the girl's body.
The graphs on the monitors went berserk the instant injection started.
Beeeep! Beeeep!
Alarms blared in cacophony.
"V-vitals spiking dramatically! Heart rate at 250! The heart won't hold!"
The Director remained unflappable amid the researchers' panicked cries. All he did was place a hand on the girl's chest and channel his mana.
"Fusion."
Transcendent Engineering (S-)
A terrifying volume of mana drained from the mana tank linked to the Director's body—several times that of an S-Rank Hunter—all funneled into one point.
Gnarled veins bulged across the girl's body. Innumerable factors mingled, melted down, and realigned.
[Transcendent Engineering: Blue Drake Heart (A+)]
[Transcendent Engineering: White Basilisk Blood (A+)]
[Soul Mana Condensation (A)] [Transcendent Engineering: Fallen Ancient Species Nerve (A)] [Blood Mana (B+)] [Tough Exoskeleton (C-)]...
"Ngh...!"
A groan escaped the anesthetized girl's lips. The Director only smiled wider and gave the next order.
"Proceed with knowledge injection as well."
"...Yes."
In the lab swirling with golden and blue mana, another transcendent being was born.
Blue Artificial Dragon's Heart (SS-)
A bizarre mana heart forged by Transcendent Engineering. Produces near-infinite mana.
In the now-silent lab, the girl—with blue horns, wings, and tail—pushed herself upright.
"...Huh?"
She rubbed her eyes with the dazed look of someone just rousing from sleep.
"Rise and shine."
The Director whispered gently.
"D-17... no, you'll need a proper name now. Yes... Miss Xiao Yin."
"...Ungh?"
A sinister smile curled his lips.
"Bring your host body here."
"Okay. Got it."
Her body morphed into that of a colossal dragon. Then, transformed into lightning, the dragon burst through the ceiling and soared skyward.
A streak of invisible lightning raced across the high heavens.
Three days had passed since my horns fell off. They'd already regrown to about thirty percent of their original size.
'Hmm, now that they're back, they're a hassle.'
Without them, I didn't bump into things as much, and changing clothes was easier too.
"Lady Dayun. What are you mulling over?"
Yoo So-jeong approached me in the workshop, where I sat in full "Thinker" pose.
"Ah, just pondering what to make with the chalice."
Eternal Chalice (S)
A sacred chalice imbued with the power of a long-lost god. It once infinitely refilled whatever liquid it held, but now only faint traces of its divinity remain.
Being a "chalice" rather than a weapon or armor gave me plenty of options to chew over.
Of course, I could process it with my skill, but I only got one shot at turning it into an item, so I had to choose wisely.
I could melt it down for weapon material, sure—but my SSS-grade instincts whispered that preserving its original form would yield far better results.
So the question was: what effect to imbue it with?
'Taint it to spew poison? Boost mana output? Undead purifier?'
Hmm, nothing really clicks.
The nation had gifted me this chalice outright as a reward, which only amplified my indecision. Besides, I didn't really need most items anyway.
"What do you think would be good, Miss So-jeong?"
The moment I tossed out the question, an unexpected blast rocked from above.
Boom boom boom!!
It sounded like twenty thunderclaps in rapid succession. Sirens wailed across the entire city.
Wooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
Not the usual alert siren—this was the air raid warning.
— Management Bureau Alert: Evacuate to the nearest underground facility or building interior. Tune into broadcasts. This is not a drill. Repeat: This is not a drill.
— An S-Rank estimated monster has been sighted over Seocho-gu, Seoul.
The speakers screamed warnings fit to burst, thunder rumbling as windows rattled violently.
Crash!
One pane finally shattered under the strain.
"Lady Dayun! Over here!"
"......!"
Yoo So-jeong called to me. She murmured urgently into her in-ear comms. Il-ho sprinted over, clutching a single spear.
But none of it registered.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
My heartbeat was the only sound.
An inexplicable sensation enveloped me. An irresistible, eerie pull from above beckoned.
I snatched up my staff and surrendered to instinct.
"Lady Dayun?!!"
Whoosh!
I hurled myself through the broken window.