Chapter 71: Chapter 71

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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Chapter 71: Choice (3)

[You’ve made your choice!]

[Ah! What the heck?!]

As the suspenseful moment passed and Seung’s exclamation echoed, Harona shrieked in surprise.

They watched as the dragon, shackled by chains, thudded its heavy steps toward Arena II, where Kim Jieun was.

[You’re supposed to save Kim Jieun, you idiot!]

However, it was still too early to relax.

The reason being—

[I won the bet... wait, what?]

[W-what is this? The other side’s open too?!]

The door leading to Arena I, where Kim Yura was, also opened.

[Why open both?! Are they planning to kill everyone?!]

[Uh… uh? Maybe they weren’t on good terms after all…?]

[No way! That guy’s definitely up to something again!]

Harona shouted in frustration at the unexpected turn of events.

But it might have been better if she had saved her voice.

[W-what... what’s that thing doing now?!]

[It’s… digging a hole in the ground?]

There were still plenty of reasons for her to scream left in the tank.

[What the heck! What’s wrong with that dragon?!]

* * *

[The 'Disobedience' title's effect causes the penalty to be counteracted!]

A rebellious nature.

And the "Disobedience" title.

I’d figured they might come in handy, but—

[Movement in unauthorized zones becomes easier.]

[Agility stat increases by 99%.]

[Risk in unauthorized zones decreases.]

[Defense increases by 99%.]

—I hadn’t expected it to be this much.

[Agility stat greatly increases!]

[15 → 30]

[Defense greatly increases!]

[10 → 20]

To put it into perspective, with 30 Agility and 20 Defense:

Taat!

"Mr. Eunho! Be careful!!"

"Are you insane?! Jumping down from there?!"

"!!"

I leaped from the height of a three-story building and landed on the ground without so much as spraining an ankle.

Well then…

"Thanks."

Even for the unnecessary concern.

"Young man! Yoooung maaaan!"

"You’ve come for us?!"

I suppressed the urge to laugh as the security guard and cleaning lady came running like they’d struck gold.

"What’s going on here? And what’s with that dragon?!"

"This seems to be an arena."

An arena.

A place where monsters and humans are forced to fight for entertainment.

While the two older folks paled at this revelation, Jieun tilted her head, puzzled.

"But that dragon… it seems weird, doesn’t it?"

"You’re right. Something about it is off!"

"Why is it digging the ground instead of fighting us?"

As the newly grounded people gradually regained composure, they nodded at the observation.

"Hyung!"

Jaehyuk, who had rushed in as soon as the door to the opposite arena opened, also gasped in shock.

"Eek! A-a dragon…!"

First, at the monstrous creature's sheer size and majesty.

"And… what is it doing there?!"

Second, at the sight of the dragon digging into the dirt like some oversized mole.

"Do dragons dig?"

Jaehyuk furrowed his brow and asked an oddly fitting question.

"Of course not."

"Then why…?"

"It must think its enemy is underground."

"Huh? Does it have bad eyesight or something?"

"If anything, its vision is too good."

"...?!"

Its vision was fine—too good, even.

That’s why it was digging with such conviction toward the enemy it perceived.

An enemy that only existed in the illusion I’d shown it.

"You remember the orb we got earlier?"

"Ah! The one we got after defeating the Nightmare Boss?"

"I used it."

[The Orb of Illusion is now activated!]

▣ Orb of Illusions

When activated, shows hallucinations to the designated target.

-The content of the hallucinations can be customized by the user, and their duration is approximately 1 minute, depending on the target’s mental resilience.

An incredible item capable of showing the target any illusion I wanted.

I’d activated it just as the doors opened.

Instead of seeing the people standing before it, the dragon now saw a creature like a subterranean millworm gnawing at its leg.

‘I wasn’t sure if it would work.’

But the illusion seemed realistic enough.

Perhaps because I modeled it on the millworm I had faced firsthand during training.

In any case—

[The ‘Meticulously Crafted Flame Dragon’ is under the effect of the illusion!]

[Remaining duration: 50 seconds, 49 seconds, 48 seconds…]

There were 47 seconds left of the illusion.

Though I wished it lasted longer, I was grateful for the time it bought me to regroup and prepare.

"Summon."

I toyed with the unfamiliar hilt in my hand.

Switching weapons right before a fight felt risky, but my instincts said otherwise.

It felt oddly familiar, like it was perfectly fitted to my grip.

Despite barely handling it, I already understood how to wield it.

[The "Human Whetstone" title is activated.]

[Weapon sharpening speed increases significantly when done bare-handed.]

[Weapon understanding improves.]

This must be thanks to the "Human Whetstone" title and the effort I’d put into sharpening the blade earlier.

With this, I was ready.

Finally—

"Shop."

[The item "Seed of Perseverance" has been gifted to Lee Eunho!]

[The "First Patron" title applies a 10% discount.]

[Duration increases by 10%.]

Before the dragon snapped out of its illusion, I hurried to send over the item.

"I’ve sent you the item. Swallow it on my count of three."

"Item?"

[A gift from 'Eunho Lee' has arrived!]

[Would you like to check it?]

Thus began with a gift I sent to myself.

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop...

Gift boxes appeared here and there, like soap bubbles.

Swoosh!

Inside them were small embers.

"This is..."

The ember that had blocked the ice attacks of the Setani.

Next to the 'Ice Shard' was a flame.

Whether it was a pun or not, a small, oval, bright red seed was burning brightly.

Too small, perhaps, to be described as "burning brightly."

Nonetheless, I held the small flame in my palm and said:

"On the count of three, swallow it all at once."

"Got it!"

"Ahh! It’s hot!"

"Careful, Jaehyuk."

Jaehyuk, startled, dropped it, fumbling with both hands until he barely managed to catch it again.

Glancing at his juggling-like performance, I continued.

"One, two... three."

Gulp!

As the ember entered my mouth, the first sensation was the heat, almost burning the roof of my mouth.

Thankfully, the heat subsided as it slid down my throat.

As it entered my body, the seed melted, spreading through every corner of me.

[You have consumed the 'Ember of Endurance'!]

[Temporary skill: Flame Resistance (Lv. 1) has been unlocked.]

[Duration: 3 minutes 18 seconds.]

"We must attack simultaneously."

The preparations were complete.

"Everyone, target the left wing."

"Got it!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Okay!"

"Understood, young man!"

From Jieun to the security guard, their spirited responses echoed like a relay.

Even Hanul, who followed Jaehyuk with a trembling face, seemed determined.

"If you're scared, you can stay behind with Yura and hide."

"No, no! You even gave me a sword you trusted... I'll be fine!"

"Well..."

I was about to say, "You don’t have to," but stopped mid-sentence.

His tightly pressed lips revealed firm resolve.

"…Let’s go."

And I ran.

Leaving behind a short word, like a trailing tail.

─ Swish!

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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The faint wind behind me was either from their movements or the penalty effect—I couldn’t tell.

"Yes, sir!"

"I'm running too!"

"Right, let’s do this!"

Tap!

Everyone, gripping their weapons, stood before the reddish-brown scaled beast.

Even with its head buried in the ground, we had to look up at it, like children standing before a massive building.

Suppressing the overwhelming sense of intimidation that rose instinctively, we waited for everyone’s courage to catch up.

"Attack!"

"Yaaaahhh!"

With Jaehyuk's shout, everyone’s weapons pierced, slashed, and tore the wing.

Jieun’s dagger reached the uppermost parts, out of reach for others.

The janitor thrust her spear upward like she was cleaning a window.

The security guard jabbed and severed between the sprawling wing bones as if sweeping the ground.

"This is how you do it…"

And I...

"Accelerate!"

"Grrroooarrrrrr..."

Thud!

I climbed up its tail.

With sharply increased stats, my body moved swiftly.

I leapt, jumped, and sprinted until I stopped, standing atop its nape.

Standing on the ambiguous boundary of its neck and back, I searched for the softest-looking spot and thrust my weapon.

Between the scales, a faintly visible gap.

Crunch-!

A toughness I had never encountered before.

It felt like stabbing a wall.

But...

Crunch! Crack! Crunch-crack! Crunch...

I didn’t stop.

Faster than my penalty-enhanced double speed.

Until my shoulders felt like they were on fire.

「00:15」

Ten strikes left a scratch.

「00:10」

Twenty strikes widened the scratch.

And finally...

「00:05」

After thirty strikes, crimson flesh beneath the hide was exposed.

And I kept stabbing.

Widening the wound, spreading it open...

─ Squelch!

To pour in the object I had prepared for this very moment.

Tick-tock!

"...This will work, right? Right?"

The security guard’s worried question hung in the air.

['Meticulously Crafted Flame Dragon' breaks free from its illusion!]

─ KRAAAAAAAAHHH!

The dragon, awakened from its illusion, roared in fury.

‘I need to get down…!’

Damn it.

I had miscalculated the timing.

The creature had been tougher than expected.

Wobble!

"Eunho!"

"Ugh!"

As I stumbled while sliding down its back, the beast seized the chance.

Like a predator snapping at a mosquito perched on its back, it lunged with venom.

And then—

─ Fwoooosh!

'!!'

[You are within the effect of the dragon's breath!]

It’s hot.

It feels like my flesh is burning.

But.

[‘Flame’ detected.]

[The effect of the Spark triggers the Flame Resistance (Lv.1) skill.]

[With a high Endurance stat, you endure the pain!]

‘I’m not dying from this!’

Bang-! Kwoooom-!

Perhaps the spark of endurance is something that creature needs more than I do.

The crashing tail digging into the ground like falling temple pillars, the endless bursts of snorting and fiery breaths—it all screamed one thing:

That it hurt like hell.

KROOOAAAARRR-!

The creature, writhing in agony, lifted its head with a roar.

Whoosh! Whoosh-!

A sandstorm erupted.

…But only on one side.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Damn it! You can’t fly, right?! You can’t fly, can you?!”

Its left wing had already been shredded to ribbons by us long ago.

─ KROOOAAAACK!

Its eyes rolled back.

And then.

“!!”

“Eunho, watch out!!”

It lunged.

‘Fast!’

It’s fast.

So fast I couldn’t catch up even at double my speed—and if I wasn’t going that fast, I wouldn’t have even thought to dodge.

Boom!

And as I avoided its claws, I was met with its tail right behind them.

Even though I dodged a direct hit, I lost my balance, my weight shifting backward.

Thud!

I fell on my backside, and before I could recover, its massive jaws loomed right in front of me.

Each tooth, as large as a temple pillar, filled my vision.

‘Too close!’

Dangerous.

Even with Flame Resistance, unlike when I fought the Setani, I wasn’t entirely immune to the heat.

Just a moment ago, I barely endured its passing breath, my Endurance stat activating for the first time ever.

If I take it head-on from this range, it’ll be bad…

‘Not yet?’

From deep within its cavernous throat, a fiery vortex began to swirl.

Before I had any chance to retreat, the flame storm it unleashed—

─ GAHK…!

Vanished in an instant.

Finally.

─ ?!

I could sense its bulging eyes rolling around.

“...You’re slow.”

Sigh.

It still has the energy to roll its eyes, huh?

“You should be paralyzed by now.”

Judging by its interrupted breath, the effect was clearly working.

“Is it because it’s so big?”

Just as I clicked my tongue at the thought—

Thud!

The creature’s body collapsed sideways.

Its jaws still wide open, unable to even close them, frozen in the stance it had been in.

And with that came a massive quake and a storm of dust and dirt.

“Gah…!”

I closed my eyes quickly, but dirt still seeped in through my nose and mouth, triggering dry heaves.

But complaining about that seemed trivial compared to my situation—because the divine beast in front of me couldn’t even manage a dry heave.

─ !!

Its eyes, rolling aimlessly, now couldn’t fully open or shut.

The confusion in them was plain as day.

So I decided to explain it personally.

“You’re poisoned.”

Why it had ended up sprawling on the ground like that.

“I poured it into your throat. Earlier.”

Why I had relentlessly targeted its nape.

“I was worried you were too big… but 20 servings did the job.”

Why both venom pouches of the White Snake, which I had painstakingly saved, were now completely drained.

─ ……!!

The dragon roared.

Its blocked throat left it no choice but to let its entire body scream.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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