The Returnee's Brutal Instincts

The strangeness of instinct never failed to amaze me, even after everything that had happened.

It simply obeyed the commands of the body and somehow, most of the time, turned out all right in the end.

I lifted my gaze to the hollow wall rising before me. Just seconds earlier, that had been the place where my neck once rested.

"...Hah."

My right hand, resting beside the weapon I had picked up without thinking, trembled slightly.

A half-broken sword lay on the ground, its blade jagged and uneven near the handle, like the teeth of some monstrous saw.

"It’s a dragon, right?"

I reached out, grasped the sword again, and held it tightly in one hand as I stared upward once more. The image of the creature returned to me, twisting with every movement—spikes, no, teeth encircling the monstrous form in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a crown of living horror.

Exactly. It looked nothing like the elegant dragons from the storybooks I had once read. This was something assembled from rotten flesh and disgusting remnants, a grotesque mockery stitched together from nightmares.

"Why does it even call itself a dragon!"

I didn’t know either. More terrifying ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠beings than the moving mummies I had first encountered in this world had somehow appeared in such numbers.

"...Still looks absolutely hideous."

Did the creature somehow understand my words? It stared back at me, twisting its neck in the most unnatural way while beginning to tremble violently.

It was not a good sign. According to everything I had just learned while being pummeled unconscious, the situation after this...

"Hey, hey, sorry."

I sprinted with all my strength toward the narrow gap between two large rocks, the only route in and out of the cavern. A split second later, the explosion’s shockwave slammed into my back.

"...Gah."

I didn’t even need to wonder how powerful the attack had been. There was no time to celebrate survival anyway. To keep living through the endless hell ahead, I had to calculate every possible outcome perfectly—terrain, the monster’s reach, my own reach, its tail, wings, teeth, claws, breath, and the swollen muscles of its hind legs.

"...!"

I slammed my body flat against the ground and rolled once, desperately trying to buy time. The dragon’s tail sliced through the exact spot my head had occupied, arriving half a heartbeat too late.

"...Hoo."

"Kieeeeeek!"

The creature let out a sound that was more scream than roar—half shriek, half screech, the most horrifying noise I had ever heard.

"Ugh..."

No matter. The beast that had been glaring at me now began to charge forward, its teeth grinding together. I calmly scanned my surroundings.

The only path in and out, the stone bridge, had already melted halfway and was useless. Every hiding spot was soaked in the disgusting fluid the creature had vomited earlier. Of course I hadn’t touched it yet, but the stench alone was enough to make me want to retch.

I didn’t need to touch it anyway. There was only one option left.

"Hah."

No hesitation. I charged forward again, every ounce of strength I possessed driving me straight toward the monster.

With every step the distance shrank. It was truly, horribly ugly and repulsive, yet somehow I felt no fear—only a cold, determined resolve. Yes. I could do this. I had survived everything so far.

I clenched my fist around the hilt. The sword felt strangely light in my grip, as if the monster’s own power had been drained from it.

"Kieeeeeek!"

The creature swung one of its claws. I slid beneath it like a shadow, running across the rough stone floor until I reached the inner gap of its leg and drove the broken tip upward.

"Clang!"

The blade lodged deep. I poured a little strength into it and it slid smoothly, slicing through leathery flesh. A small smile tugged at my lips despite everything.

"Kieeeeeeeeek!"

The beast thrashed in agony, unfurled its grotesque wings, and shot into the air.

"Even with all those holes it’s still flying..."

I watched it disappear into the distance, already calculating. I had taken care of the magician lurking behind the creature earlier. Even with the sword broken, it was missing one leg. Blood was not the only thing dripping from it; thick, foul fluid trailed behind like some obscene parasite. It clearly needed to rest.

"Hah..."

That was actually scarier. Resting meant it would be ready for the next attack. There was nothing I could do to it right now, so I dropped to my knees, hands on thighs, and took deep breaths.

It would stay still until it breathed fire again. I had to make sure I was ready.

If only I had bought a fancy wand or bow from that scammer instead...

"Whoosh."

In an instant.

The air itself tore open. Every sense in my body screamed a warning.

It was instinct. Pure, raw instinct telling me to look up.

Something had gone wrong. Something was happening above right now.

"..."

I looked up. The dragon had coiled itself into a tight ball directly above me, wings pressed flat against its body, head lowered in a perfect strike position.

"Ah..."

I couldn’t block it. I couldn’t even try. I twisted my body, rolling backward as fast as I could.

"Boom!"

The ground exploded where I had been. The impact wave crashed over me like a tidal surge.

"Huk!"

My feet felt like they had left the floor. Then, somewhere below my hips, bones cracked in rapid succession—too many at once to count.

And I realized. The instant I had barely managed to twist my body, the edge of the creature’s wing had slammed into my back and driven me straight into the stone floor.

"Cough!"

Air was forced from my lungs. Something inside my chest shattered with a sickening sound.

"Kieeeeeek!"

Dust filled my mouth. Hot agony spread across my back.

I couldn’t tell if the blood or the heat of the still-burning stone was worse.

"Ah..."

Something had gone terribly, horribly wrong. Of course I had felt this sensation every day, but this time it was different. This time I didn’t even need instinct. I had to stand up immediately.

"...Leg..."

I grabbed a handful of sand from the floor, forcing my knees upward. I pushed with everything I had.

"Boom!"

But my body ignored me and collapsed again.

"Ah..."

Dammit...

"Kieeeeeeek!"

Was I giving the magician behind the creature too much power earlier? No. The dragon’s attack had been one thing, but the magician had been trying to reinforce it with some kind of spell. Smart call on my part, taking him out first.

Then I should have waited until its broken leg had fully healed, right?

"..."

Yeah.

Maybe I could have dodged the wing’s path and stabbed the sword back into that perfect square.

But what was the point of regretting it now?

I simply looked up at the creature in the same helpless position I had fallen into.

"Hah..."

My vision was bright.

But the dragon was nowhere to be seen. All I could see was the breath it had just exhaled toward me.

Of course. I couldn’t move, so I couldn’t dodge.

Damn it.

"Wooaaaah!"

There was no pain from burning flesh. No scream from nerves. Pain from fire was supposed to be the worst, they said... This was actually a relief. A true relief.

"..."

When I opened my eyes again, everything had changed.

The once-bright cave had been swallowed by absolute darkness. I hated the dark. It was scary, and I really didn’t like it.

I shot up from my spot instantly, certain something terrifying was about to happen.

But there was no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sensation in my body. My legs, specifically, felt nothing at all.

I looked down at them... and realized they were invisible. Of course.

Hah... It’s over. Everything is over.

The realization settled in my chest with eerie calm. Ah, so this is where it ends. Sorry.

"Ding!"

[You have died]

[Tutorial has ended]

[Survival Time 7:1:1:21:06:34…]

[Calculating Results…]

Undeads slain: 18,412/10

Time survived since the Dark Judge: …

[Incredible Achievement!]

Slaying the Dark Judge

Slaying the High Priest of the Dark Cult

Slaying the Doomga of Crimson Twilight

Slaying the Commander of the Screaming Tomb

Slaying the Final Judge of the Holy Nation

Slaying the Dragon of Despairing Cliffs

…

[Returning to Earth]

The Hunter Forum had been flooded the moment I logged in. I scrolled through the endless comments, my thumb hovering over the screen.

A-rank gate before entering - One photo.png

— Manhae (cleanly maintained armor photo)

Equipment check complete

Watch over me!

= Comments

I hate Halberds) Take a look

— Manhae) I’ve been polishing it all day lol

— I hate Halberds) Any subclass shown?

— Manhae) It’s undead type

— I hate Halberds) Ah crap, that tutorial rings a bell

— I hate Halberds) Be careful

— Manhae) Yeah, I’m leaving

Fated) Is this guy the highest handsome guy in the Protection Guild?

— Manhae) Go away, seriously

Thoughts while fighting gate monsters

— 2nd Life) What the hell was that tutorial?

= Comments

Fated) Real talk lol

— Citrin Island Resident) I died to one mummy in the tutorial and now I’m A-rank? No way! (It wasn’t a group!)

— 2nd Life) Sigh

— Citrin Island Resident) It’s real

— Strawberry Smoothie) Tutorial is just tutorial

— 2nd Life) ?

— Strawberry Smoothie) You can’t even do tutorial properly

— 2nd Life) ??

— Get Home Early) How can a B-rank boss appear right after the tutorial?

— 2nd Life) That’s impossible lol

— I hate Halberds) If that knight post comes out our country’s done for

— 2nd Life) Is that S-rank Shin Seo-ah? She’d be fine, right?

— I hate Halberds) Jm

— 2nd Life) ?

— (deleted comment)

— 2nd Life) What was that again

— (deleted comment)

— 2nd Life) Wow… crap

— I hate Halberds) Don’t talk about it lol

— 2nd Life) Yep

[I just met a really pleasant guy at a gate just now]

— Mirasirro (lightly armed with chain armor photo)

You’re here? lol

(Mir/Lra photo)

I suddenly remembered the old days and it makes me sad

Why does the boss have to be this guy

Ha

I really went through a lot

It was really hard

= Comments

Firefly) Stop hating on Mir

— Mirasirro) Yeah~ I don’t ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like it

— Northeast Knight) Lmao lol

— Mirasirro) Don’t laugh

— Mirasirro) After the last time I got scammed by Mir

— Northeast Knight) What are you talking about? I fought a lich after that and got hit by magic?

— Mirasirro) I ran away from Mir? lol

Today I returned safely too

— Manhae (broken shield and scratched armor photo)

I almost died

I swear I won’t do this twice again

(photo of scattered B-rank mana stones)

Ping! Grang!

= Comments

Yeah) Ck

— Yeah) What was the boss?

— Manhae) Just a shaman

— Yeah) So it wasn’t a knight? Kk

— Manhae) Honestly now I might as well be the knight lol

— Northeast Knight) ?

— Get Home Early) ?

— Yeah) ?

— I hate Halberds) Did Mir come out too?

— Manhae) Yeah, she showed up as a middle boss escort, but only four came out lol

— I hate Halberds) She was still pretty tough. Good job