#53 That Thing is Screaming
"That thing... it's screaming."
Thud— thud— thud—
Two Amon Drakes prowled through the forest. Every time their massive frames shifted, trees toppled and small beasts fled in panic.
[Bigger than the ones we caught last time.]
Theo marveled. Kang-ho had hunted Amon Drakes before.
Krreung—
Furball eyed the Amon Drakes from afar, steeling his resolve. Back when he was young, he'd spent a full week with Kang-ho conquering an Amon Drake raid. Kang-ho, lost in memories of how small and cute Furball had been then, glanced at Seol-a.
Nng—
Seol-a had entered battle mode, her three tails stiff and straight, fangs bared. She seemed brimming with confidence now that she'd grown a bit.
'About time.'
It was time for her to get some real combat experience. Learning just how much it hurt to get injured was crucial. Deep down, Kang-ho wanted her to taste defeat. Experiencing loss in battle was the best way to build caution. Take Furball, for example.
Kang-ho grinned at him.
"You got top-notch early education in that department, didn't you, buddy?"
Krreung... Furball flinched.
"Should we take Seol-a to War Monkey Village sometime, Furball?"
Furball stared at Kang-ho silently, tongue lolling as he panted, then slyly glanced at Seol-a before shaking his head side to side.
"Good boy."
Kang-ho chuckled, stroking Furball's cheek.
[What's this War Monkey Village?]
"It's a thing. Perfect spot for training."
[Anyway, what are the humans outside doing? Drawing lots or something?]
Kang-ho gave a wry smile at Theo's question.
"This world's rules."
[They're so laid-back. Think we can skip the chit-chat?]
"......"
As various thoughts swirled, he turned his gaze ahead. Two Amon Drakes. He'd taken them down with Furball before, but two together changed things. Still...
Kang-ho's real target wasn't them.
"If it was just those, I'd have bailed."
Rumble—
Far off, a mountain seemed to move.
"......That's the reason."
More precisely, the Eternal Crystal it undoubtedly carried. Kang-ho knew exactly what that did to humans. That's why he'd hesitated to speak up.
[Huh?]
Theo startled. The massive peak atop the mountain shifted, revealing its true nature soon enough.
"Does that thing have wings?"
[N-no wings.]
Whoosh—!
Something at the summit unfurled vast appendages left and right.
"Looks like it does."
[Didn't have 'em before?]
* * *
Thud— tatat—
Furball kicked off the ground and bolted like the wind. Endless forest stretched in every direction.
[Good lord... the Forest of Sighs turned into a full dungeon. The whole massive thing's intact.]
Theo let out an awed sigh.
[How the hell does this even work? Not thrilled about it.]
Soon, Kang-ho and Theo stood at the forest's heart. Ahead loomed the colossal mountain, now close enough to touch. At its peak, an enormous something stretched its wings wide toward the sky.
It was huge. Easily three times the size of those Amon Drakes over there. Even they exuded overwhelming presence, so this behemoth truly earned the title "earth dragon king."
Then...
The peak's occupant roared long and loud.
Krraaaaaaaaah—!
The air itself seemed to shatter as the sonic boom reverberated. Shockwaves unleashed razor winds everywhere. Nearby trees crashed, small beasts hurled away by the gale.
[Holy...]
Theo grimaced in dismay, pulling his father's ashes from his pocket.
Kang-ho stared up steadily, then drew something from his own.
"Here."
He handed Theo the Gauntlet of the Constellation.
[Huh?]
"You ate, slept, and begged for stuff on my dime. Time to earn your keep."
[......!]
Theo's eyes lit up. The Gauntlet of the Constellation was a peerless artifact even Theo admired. With it, his weakened state could still pull serious weight.
[Perfect.]
Theo equipped the gauntlet, feeling a massive mana surge. Then it hit him.
'He doesn't need this.'
Right. Kang-ho didn't need the gauntlet. Neither did Baal, for that matter.
'Mana overload from what they already have.'
'What the hell are these guys made of?'
Theo chuckled wryly despite himself. Kang-ho caressed the two rings on his left hand. Back in the war days, he'd commanded up to five contracted beasts in battle. Lately, just Furball because he hadn't needed more—and he didn't want the heartbreak of losing ones he'd poured his heart into raising.
Death. Kang-ho hated seeing anyone die now.
Whumm—!
He closed his eyes, initiating sensory link.
Fwoosh!
Furball's power flooded his body, glowing white. Then...
Whooo—!
Pure white energy overlaid it. Three massive white tail-like mana constructs burst from Kang-ho with a crack!
Double the mana drain compared to linking just Furball. Double the mental strain.
Twinkle twinkle!
Kang-ho's mana infused Seol-a. Her eyes widened round.
In that instant, her second tail—the black one—shot out, growing ten times longer and thicker than the others.
Second Tail (Acquired) – This beast has absorbed enough demonic energy to grow a second tail. Special ability activates under certain conditions.
This beast has a chance to ignore the target's defense.
'A special ability, huh.'
Overwhelm (Inherited) – This beast is powerful against foes with innate demonic energy. It dominates and absorbs their demonic energy.
Plus, thanks to Seol-a's Overwhelm skill, she'd be devastating against demonic dragons like Kasumus.
Hiss—
Seol-a's skills transferred to Kang-ho fully. She stretched her four legs taut, baring fangs in hostility.
Arrrrrr!
Flap— flap— flap—
A massive wingbeat echoed. There, atop the peak, Kasumus locked eyes on them.
Kang-ho sensed it instinctively.
'It's watching me.'
Bzzz— bzzz— bzzz—
The Eternal Crystal in his pocket resonated wildly. Kasumus knew it was there too.
It took to the skies. Wings spread, blotting the sun with its immensity.
[It's even bigger now.]
Theo muttered, staying cool.
'Even at my peak, this guy gave me hell.'
Tougher than Mother Crypt. Now with wings and even larger? Untouchable league.
'Then...'
Click—
Theo raised his father's skull. Minimal mana, boosted by the gauntlet, summoned a father dwarfing his test-run version.
Whumm!
Father planted on the ground. Rustle rustle— lizards swarmed like ants.
'Familiars for a swarm tactic.'
Father charged, mana sword forming with extra pour— zing!
[Go, Father!]
He swung mercilessly, a gale of death. Lizards' heads sheared clean.
"......"
Kang-ho pondered demon biology briefly, then shook his head.
Flap— flap—
Kasumus loomed overhead. Watermelon-sized things clung between its wings.
Rarity S Earth Dragon. SS+ defense—new to Kang-ho.
Skills unfolded:
This beast carries bomb beetles, detonating them for area explosions.
Extremely tough scales for superior defense.
Roars unleash powerful winds. Inflicts fear on listeners.
Dinosaur-like body. Eerily long black tail writhing. Crocodile head. Bloodshot eyes. Compact torso, thick muscular hind legs for bipedal stance.
It roared again.
Rumble rumble—
Bomb beetles rained like hail.
Kang-ho silently fist-bumped Furball without a word.
Krreung!
Furball headbutted it eagerly. Nng! Nng! Seol-a bounced excitedly, wanting in. Kang-ho grinned, offering his right fist. She tapped her brow to it, firing up.
"Gotta shred those wings first to make this easy."
. . . . . .
The strategy meeting wrapped quick. Raid team assembled fast. Two Amon Drakes, endless trash mobs, unprecedented mega-gate. First op: clear trash.
'Greed too far and we'll burst.'
Safer to carve it up piecemeal. Scout Amon Drake habits, map terrain, prep full raid.
Shaaa—
Total 200 strong! BIG3, Four Great Sects, subcontractors—a rare mega-raid. Lead: Lee Hyuk, Baekya Guild Master.
Two Amon Drakes. Massive dungeon.
'Mid-bosses galore beyond them.'
Everyone thought alike. First impressions matched.
'Insanely huge.'
Even Lee Hyuk gawked at the gate—like a city swallowed whole.
'Hot.'
Common sentiment. Then...
Krraaaaaaaaah—!
Sky-splitting roar. Heads up—universal shock.
'Huh?'
A colossal monster blotted the heavens! Wings full-spread froze even battle-hardened Lee Hyuk, reason blanking. The roar electrified nerves.
Overwhelmed. Amon Drakes seemed petty by comparison. Then terror spread.
'Can we even hunt that?'
Fear's contagious.
Screeeeech!
Roar-wind gale hit close. Again:
'One roar?'
BOOM!
Blast uprooted trees, dust storm erupted.
"Battle stations! Monster incoming!"
Expedition scrambled formation. Elites, but chaos. Reformed quick—another gale slammed. Thud! Tanks blocked.
"Gah!"
Even wind hurt—casualties.
Dust cleared. Monster twisted skyward again.
'Wait...'
A human clinging to it? Hallucination?
Krraaaaaah—!
It thrashed wildly, shedding something. Like...
'Screaming in pain...'
"......?"
Whoosh! Two Amon Drakes fled desperately.
'They're... running?'
And...
Whooo—!
The giant...
'Falling?'
Simple reason: Human on its back rent one wing with a massive mana blade.
Crunch!
The wing tore free, plummeting.
Kieeeek—!
Real scream now.
Rumble!
Wing stabbed ground right before them. Dust erupted, earth quaked.
"......"
"......"
"......"
All stared dumbstruck.
Suddenly— kyiing— A white fox chomped the wingtip, dangling.
It dropped with a flop, eyes swirling, staggering before keeling over.
".....White Fang?"
Lee Hyuk recognized instantly. Worldwide, one guy with such a fox.
BOOM!
One-winged beast crashed forestward. World shook.
Lee Hyuk murmured in disbelief.
"Choi Kang-ho...... hyung-nim?"
Pfft— Dizzy fox hopped up. Stumbled toward the crash, tilted, flopped again.
Clatter clatter! A skeleton monster scooped her flank, racing off.
"......"
Not alone. Countless skeleton legions swarmed the beast.