Chapter 82
In reality, it must have been a very short amount of time.
But the moment the twins were devoured by the Fire Dragon was seared into my vision with agonizing slowness.
In that instant, I was unable to do anything.
Countless memories flickered through my mind and vanished.
They were memories of the twins.
"I want to visit Roasted Chestnut’s restaurant. What? Come back tomorrow? How foolish.."
"Thank you for the invitation, but we cannot leave this place."
In the game.
It wasn’t like this.
"You ask if I don’t get tired of staying here every day? Actually...it is boring. Ah, this is a secret just for you! If you breathe a word of this, you shall suffer greatly!"
"Sometimes I envy the adventurers. I want to go somewhere other than the dungeon. The place I want to visit most? You’re asking because you don’t know? Of course it’s the restaurant Roasted Chestnut runs."
Things like this had never happened before.
"Why is Roasted Chestnut a mortal? It makes me feel uneasy to think that you are a being who could vanish in the blink of an eye."
"Ella. Should we try replacing Roasted Chestnut’s body with machinery?"
I was certain that this time, it would be a happy ending....
"Roasted Chestnut. I love that you always make it out alive. I worry less every time you enter the dungeon."
"Still, be careful, Roasted Chestnut. Don’t get hurt."
A red light erupted from the body of the Fire Dragon that had swallowed the twins.
It was the light signaling health regeneration.
Regenerated scales covered the Fire Dragon like sturdy armor, soon turning a dark crimson.
Simultaneously, thick thorns sprouted across its entire body with a series of wet cracks.
Thorns grew even between the horns on its head, forming something akin to a crown.
A dark red aura flowed down from its bright red eyes.
The Fire Dragon had fully recovered its health and entered a state of frenzy.
It was power gained by murdering its own kin.
"Hahaha! Little brat!"
Bursting into laughter, the Fire Dragon looked down at me with eyes shimmering with madness.
Despite the considerable distance between us, the dragon’s eyes captured me with precision.
"Do you not wish to see my subordinates?"
The Fire Dragon grinned, revealing countless teeth.
"Meet them inside my belly."
I stared blankly at the Fire Dragon.
Strangely, I wasn’t angry. My mind was infinitely cold; rather, I was in a state of absolute composure.
However, my eyes felt scorching hot....
The heat rushing into my eyes was so intense it made my head throb.
Yet, more calmly than ever before, I took my first step.
I ran again.
Je Hyeon-oh and the Captains were withdrawing, sheathing their weapons.
It was to assess the tide of battle following the Fire Dragon’s sudden recovery.
The frenzied Fire Dragon roared, shaking the very space around us.
As the dragon spread its wings and gave a single flap, a powerful gale arose, pushing my body backward.
Fire spread across the entire floor following the wind. There were no longer any footholds left to avoid it.
A system window popped up.
[Due to the roar of the Frenzied Fire Dragon, all buff effects are removed.]
Not only did the attack power increase, but even the fire immunity had completely vanished.
I was thrown into the flames, suffering continuous burns.
Objectively, defeating a frenzied Fire Dragon with full health was an impossible task.
But I believed it was possible.
’Protection.’
A golden veil covered Je Hyeon-oh and the Captains.
After ensuring their safety, I immediately sent a telepathic message.
The Captains looked at the system window appearing before them with bewildered eyes, then looked back at me.
There was no time to explain everything individually.
I kept running.
The sound of metallic wings echoed. Je Hyeon-oh snatched me up and soared into the sky.
Soon, the Captains began to act according to my message.
Kwak Han-mook extended his wood prayer beads.
The beads, which had stretched out in several strands, multiplied into dozens, then hundreds, enveloping the Fire Dragon.
Tangled in the beads like a spiderweb, the Fire Dragon let out a boiling laugh.
"How foolish! Your end is already decided."
His words were brimming with the confidence that such a thing could not restrain him.
Kwak Han-mook, dripping with sweat from the intense heat, burst into laughter and spat out a coarse curse.
"Bullshit, you piece of shit..!"
The Fire Dragon’s flames swept over the wood beads.
However, the beads did not burn; they held firm against the fire.
As Kwak Han-mook pulled the beads taut, the Fire Dragon writhed.
Mo Hae-in, wielding the Black Moon Blade, leaped nimbly.
Instead of the floor filled with lava and flames, she sprinted along the stretched prayer beads.
She moved without a single wobble on the thin line of beads, as if running on flat ground.
Having reached the vicinity of the Fire Dragon, Mo Hae-in dove downward.
It looked as though she had jumped into searing lava, but wrapped in ’Protection’, the flames had no effect on her.
Mo Hae-in swung the Black Moon Blade toward the lower abdomen.
It was the area where the scales were thinnest, making it a vital spot.
Clang! The scales buckled under the Black Moon Blade, then tore away in tatters.
The Fire Dragon tried to twist its body in annoyance, but it remained immobilized, bound by the beads.
Grabbing a fallen scale, Mo Hae-in shouted to me as she crossed over the lava.
"Catch!"
She threw the scale as if throwing a javelin.
Je Hyeon-oh lightly caught the flying scale.
Since it was the thinnest scale, he could easily crush it with his metallic hand
I placed the crushed scale fragments atop the Ice Dragons horn.
Upon meeting the heat, the sapphire-colored mana swirling around the horn began to flicker unstably.
However, the surface chill decreased to the point where I could touch it even without my Crow Gloves.
I gripped the base of the horn firmly. Then, I took out my Chinese cleaver and sharply carved the upper part.
[Using the skill ’Universal Deconstruction.’ You can analyze and trim the structure of all ingredients.]
[Using skill ’Universal Revival! The attribute effects of the ingredient increase by 100%.]
[Luck correction increased by skill ’À La Carte is applied.]
[Great Success! The effect of ’Universal Revival increases by 1000%!]
As I carved the outer surface of the horn, the sapphire mana became vivid.
The mana, which had been fluctuating since I peeled the Fire Dragon’s scale, was now writhing as if it would burst outward at me.
An Ice Spear has been created.
[Ice Spear (0G): A spear made by sharpening the horn of an Ice Dragon. The moment it is consumed, the entire body freezes.]
[Review: The worst. You’ve ruined a precious ingredient. Reflect on your actions!]
The Fire Dragon opened its maw.
"Shaaaaaaaa...."
The sound of air gathering echoed, and a red light glowed inside the dragon’s mouth.
It was preparing to fire its breath again.
If it used its breath, even the wood beads would melt away, so it was a correct judgment.
And it was the moment I had been waiting for.
Je Hyeon-oh immediately flew at high speed toward the Fire Dragon with me.
An ultra-high-temperature, whitish-white light was gathering.
Not yet.
I opened my eyes wide and stared at the shimmering heat.
And the moment the dragon’s breath was fully gathered. entered the Fire Dragon’s maw along with Je Hyeon-oh.
A horrific heat rushed over us, but I was able to offset it to some extent thanks to the Ice Spear.
I drove the Ice Spear into the center of the Fire Dragons mouth, the hottest point of all.
It was a feast for the Fire Dragon.
[Using skill ’End of Gluttony. The monster ceases all actions and immediately consumes the chef’s dish.]
The feeling of the spear sliding smoothly into the flesh was transmitted to my palm.
For a split second, an eerie silence dominated the battlefield.
The Fire Dragon’s eyes flashed wide in disbelief.
Je Hyeon-oh, holding me, flew backward as if recoiling.
Kwak Han-mook also wrapped Mo Hae-in in the beads and pulled her away, sprinting with all his might toward the edge of the space.
The Fire Dragon let out a piercing scream.
Kieeeeeek!
Crack, snap. The sound of splitting spread, and countless cracks formed across the Fire Dragon’s scales.
It was a shock caused by the intersection of extreme high and low temperatures.
The fissures that started in the mouth soon spread throughout the entire body, and the heat of the breath that couldn’t be released exploded from within.
K-boom!
The ground shook with a heavy vibration. The Fire Dragon collapsed, charred black by its own flames.
A system window appeared.
[You have won the battle against Fire Dragon Infernum!]
Je Hyeon-oh slowly landed on the ground and set me down.
But it wasn’t over yet.
I glared at Infernum.
The massive body of the Fire Dragon writhed.
Flames spread across the floor, and the void behind its body split open, revealing a rift of darkness.
The defeated Infernum was trying to escape.
"To think you dared to make me like this..."
The Fire Dragon spoke, its voice a guttural rasp of pain.
"Fear the day my wounds heal. By then, no means of fluke will exist for you.."
Its body slowly vanished into the darkness.
The system was forcing everyone’s movements.
Since this was an event scene following the end of the battle, I had to watch the Fire Dragon’s escape helplessly, my body frozen.
It is natural that players cannot move as they wish during event scenes in a game.
However, this is not a game, and I am not a player.
I did not want the Fire Dragon to escape before me.
I did not want to see that thing flee and recover.
I knew what I had to do.
I forcibly twisted and broke free from the power binding me.
With my freedom regained, I walked toward the Fire Dragon and commanded.
’Register Infernum.’
Then, a system window appeared, blocking my vision.
[Non-human beings cannot be registered yet.]
Why?
That thing is not a god.
To think I couldn’t even register something like that. It was absurd.
I commanded again.
’Register Infernum.’
[Non-human beings cannot be registered yet.]
I felt pain at the repeated rejection.
It felt as if my eyes were burning.
But I did not stop commanding.
’Register Infernum.’
[Registration complete!]
I burst into laughter.
I could feel the being now within my grasp.
Now, that thing is my possession.
One whose life and death I can manipulate entirely at my will.
The Fire Dragon’s voice echoed.
"This is.... How did you..!"
It seemed to be a situation beyond its comprehension.
The voice, mixed with bewilderment, humiliation, and shame, was delightful.
I commanded my possession.
’Restriction.’
The body that was vanishing into the darkness stopped abruptly, as if frozen.
To the creature that could not even roll its eyes, I gave the next command.
’Execution.’
[You are executing ’Infernum! This decision is irreversible and will cause permanent changes to Akasha.]
[Do you wish to execute ’Infernum’?]
Just as I was about to welcome the sight of it shattering into golden fireworks.
"Roasted Chestnut."
A soft voice reached me.
"Shall we stop here? You seem a bit excited."
I didn’t want to stop.
"No, Roasted Chestnut. I want to stop here right now."
I wanted to execute that thing.
"You must not execute the Fire Dragon. Roasted Chestnut, you are too young to execute a being of that magnitude. It will leave a scar on you as well."
I don’t care!
"I would think carefully Roasted Chestnut. If you execute it, its existence will be erased, but isn’t it possible that something might remain."
"..."
"Don’t you want to check?"
"I knew you’d be curious. Now, let’s calm down. You remember from last time, right? Slowly breathe in and breathe out."
Blinked, breathing blankly.
Something hot continued to flow from my eyes.
As it gathered at the tip of my chin and dripped onto the floor, I looked down to check.
Spots of blood were dappled on the ground.
"Roasted Chestnut."
"Yes, Mr. Dominic."
"It’s alright. It’s because you’re young."
Dominic whispered kindly, saying that getting excited easily was also due to my youth.
Hearing his voice, I returned completely to my senses.
However, my memory of what I had done was blurred.
The only thing that vaguely came to mind was that I had... Infernum..
"Roasted Chestnut. Let’s hurry and cut open the Fire Dragon’s belly."
There was no time for that. I rushed toward the Fire Dragon.
I had to get the twins out.