Chapter 72: Sixteenth Floor, The Battle of Fort Pogoren (5)

The Community of the Dead, on the sixteenth floor.

[Hey, guys, isn’t this game over for them?]

[ikr, it looks like the trick they used on the dragon on the fourteenth floor won’t work this time, huh?]

[ 😂 I knew it was hopeless from the start once I saw the dragon’s color. Totally different species of dragon.]

[Turns out this red dragon isn’t a hostage or coerced. It’s genuinely wicked.]

[Kwon Su-Hyeok bailed out the moment things went south. I’m starting to think the situation is seriously bad.]

[Phew! Su-Hyeok made his escape!]

[... Wait. What’s he planning now?]

***

My initial fears had become reality.

Before entering the sixteenth floor, I had come up with what I considered to be the two worst-case scenarios when dealing with the red dragon. If either the red dragon’s child was held captive or the insignias proved to be ineffective, Ha Hee-Jeong’s plans would fall apart.

Unfortunately, Aizerion fell into the latter category. Each insignia only increased the likelihood I would befriend a dragon, and would not guarantee it.

Regardless, it was now time to head to Ha Hee-Jeong as per our contingency plan.

“What’s going on? Didn’t you say you had a way to handle this?”

“I’m sorry, Erendil. I thought I could deal with this. It worked on the fourteenth floor, but not this time.”

“You said you were sure! You... lied to me...”

“I knew you wouldn’t agree if I told the truth.”

Erendil’s expression contorted, her discontent unmistakable. She directed an icy, piercing, and reproachful gaze at me, as if silently accusing me of betrayal.

However, it was the cold, hard truth. No matter how strong-willed or duty-bound a soldier she may be, Erendil wouldn’t willingly venture into a death trap. Her initial reaction had been proof enough of that.

She bit back her retort, grudgingly accepting the situation.

“It’s alright. I still have a backup plan. This time, let’s head to the command center at the heart of the fortress.”

“You said you had a plan before, didn’t you?”

“Plan A was the peaceful approach. Plan B... is to ambush the dragon.”

“... Are you sure we can take that dragon down?”

Given the false confidence I had shown earlier, it was only natural she suspected and doubted my words.

I responded to her wary gaze with an even stare, then spoke unwaveringly. “Do you have any choice but to trust me? If we don’t do anything about the dragon, the fortress will fall. It’s only a matter of time at this rate.”

“...”

The undeniable truth rendered her speechless, leaving her no room to argue.

“You saw my friend’s teleportation earlier and the ability I displayed just now, right? Although we don’t stand a chance if we confront the dragon directly, we still have one shot left.”

Erendil didn’t reply and instead shifted the broom’s head to the left, skillfully avoiding a wyvern that darted in our direction. For a while, we soared silently over the tumultuous battlefield, weaving through the smoke and chaos. She wordlessly dropped magical bombs while I continued to dispatch wyverns with javelins and Lightning Essence.

Thirty seconds of tense silence passed, and just as I began to consider diverting to help the other Night Witches, Erendil finally opened her mouth.

“Alright. I came into this battle with the resolve to die anyway. If we lose, it’s over for all of us. We have to take that dragon down, no matter what. Let’s get this done.”

“I’m not just bluffing this time. Trust me.”

“Hmph.”

Although she snorted dismissively, her broomstick banked toward the fortress’s center.

As we closed in on Ha Hee-Jeong’s position, I cast a quick glance to check on my party members on the left wall. My enhanced vision allowed me to discern their figures amidst the swirling smoke and bloodshed.

The battle at the left wall was as fierce as I had anticipated.

They’re holding out well.

Seo Ho-Su and Alexei slashed nonstop, their sword and axe cutting down any lizardmen that clambered onto the battlements.

Cole’s bowstring thrummed incessantly, arrows thudding into invaders one after another while Seo Ha-Rin and Doppy stood behind Hendrick and chanted holy spells without missing a beat.

As Earth’s two foremost parties, they worked in perfect sync to fortify the left wall’s central point. Even without Ha Hee-Jeong and me, they were withstanding the onslaught admirably, which put my mind at ease.

“Hey! Watch out ahead!”

Erendil’s urgent cry yanked back my focus to the surroundings. I whipped around and my gaze locked onto the central fortress.

Normally, Ha Hee-Jeong would have immediately noticed our approach and made her way over. However, she was currently fully engaged and couldn’t even spare a glance in our direction.

She was located atop the central fortress’s central gate of the fortress, locked in a fierce duel with a noticeably smaller lizardman. It seemed the lizardmen had taken advantage of the gap created by the dragon.

So, they sent an assassin to target the commander.

[Kujo-Tui]

- The most fearsome lizardman among the invaders.

- Mastered assassination techniques from a young age to become a talented fighter despite its small stature.

- Unmatched in its field.

Collapsed behind Ha Hee-Jeong lay Kartrey Monaca, her left forearm slashed open and bleeding profusely. Three dead lieutenants were scattered around her, clear evidence of the brutal fight that had taken place.

Dark blood pooled around Kartrey, and I could see some trickling from the torn seams of her plate armor. The flesh on her forearm had already turned a sickly shade of black. Both Ha Hee-Jeong and I had prepared antidotes for a scenario such as this, but it seemed the battle had been so tight she hadn’t had the opportunity to use one.

Kujo-Tui moved blindingly fast, giving Ha Hee-Jeong no room to breathe as she swung her staff and cast spells to fend it off.

“I’m going down. Hold on tight!”

After quickly warning Erendil, I unhesitatingly leaped off the broom and activated Flash Strike. The world blurred as I surged forward, cutting through the air like a streak of lightning.

Just as Kujo-Tui’s dagger clashed against Ha Hee-Jeong’s staff, I buried my axe into its back, so quickly it couldn't even process my presence. Time seemed to freeze for a heartbeat before a strangled, guttural cry ripped through the air.

“Guh...!”

“Kartrey!”

“Th-thank you!”

Leaving Kujo-Tui’s crumpled form behind, I tossed an antidote to Kartrey. The antidote was a universal remedy, expensive but effective. It would save her life.

I turned back to Ha Hee-Jeong and nodded. There was no need to dwell on the attempted assassination since we had survived it, and the assassin was defeated.

Now, only one target remained: the dragon.

“I saw what happened.”

“Yeah, I was hoping it’d work... but no luck. Ready to start?”

“Let’s do it.”

Giving a single curt nod of acknowledgment, I climbed back onto Erendil’s broom. Ha Hee-Jeong drifted up beside us, hovering effortlessly, her posture relaxed but alert.

Before we continued, I turned toward Erendil to ensure she understood the next steps of our plan.

“Erendil, listen closely. We’re going to teleport directly above the dragon’s head. Then, just like before, I’m going to activate Flash Strike and deliver the decisive strike. All you need to do is control the broom precisely.”

“Huh? Flash Strike? Um... O-okay, got it.”

I tapped the mimic, and two vials appeared in my hand. Ha Hee-Jeong had gifted me these back in the waiting room in preparation for our plan.

[Dragon Slayer’s Scent Masker]

- Confronting a dragon head-on is sheer madness. Hence, the ancient dragon slayers masked every trace of their presence and scent from the dragons.

- Prevents dragons from perceiving the user’s presence or original scent.

- When applied to a weapon, significantly boosts cutting power and durability when attacking a dragon.

[Madman’s Final Blaze]

- Doubles strength and agility for thirty seconds.

- Affected stats are permanently reduced by five percent once the effect ends.

I gulped down the Madman’s Final Blaze potion in a single swig. Finally, I carefully applied a few drops of the Dragon Slayer’s Scent Masker to the blade of my axe.

Then, I waited three seconds. The moment the potion’s effects surged through my veins, I activated Master of Shadows. The veil of darkness extended over the three of us, rendering us invisible to every being on the battlefield.

“Erendil, after we teleport closer, fly straight to the top of the dragon’s head. I’ll drop down from about twenty meters above it. Once I jump, focus on dodging.”

She responded anxiously, her voice trembling slightly, “U-understood.”

I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Erendil had already displayed incredible prowess in aerial combat so I was confident in her abilities. She would have no problem executing evasive maneuvers while Flash Strike was active.

“Let’s go.”

At Ha Hee-Jeong’s signal, we teleported to a spot fifty meters above the Red Dragon Aizerion.

I activated Flash Strike immediately, not wasting a heartbeat.

Not even needing a signal, Erendil angled the broom’s nose downward and dove at an almost reckless pace. Time seemed to crawl to a halt, the world around us frozen in a surreal stillness.

As we fell, I pushed Lightning Essence to its utmost limit.

“Now!”

Before my command had even fully left my lips, Erendil sharply swerved and turned the broom away from the dragon—making it easier for me to launch my attack. It was a subtle yet considerate adjustment, allowing me to descend more smoothly.

Letting go of the broom, I let momentum hurtle me straight toward the dragon below.

Phew.

Using just my momentum wasn’t enough, however. I funneled even more mana into Flash Strike, activating it once more and doubling the intensity of time dilation. Such a feat would normally be impossible, but thanks to my doubled strength and agility from the Madman’s Final Blaze potion, it was achievable.

I moved twice as fast, tearing through the air as if I had truly become lightning.

With Kashatum’s Sky Shoes, I do one final step mid-air.

I bent my knees, preparing to spring off powerfully on my final step. Simultaneously, I brought my axe behind me, winding up my next strike like a taut spring.

The last thirteen meters went by, less like a leap but more like a relentless dive. The red dragon’s head loomed right in front of me. Unleashing my fury in a loud roar, I aimed for Aizeron’s head and unleashed the strike I had been building up, driving the axe down.

CRAAAACK—! TSSHHHH—!

The unmistakable sound of scales splintering resonated through the air, followed by the grating noise of metal grinding against bone.

The world, which had been slowed to a crawl, abruptly snapped back to its normal pace.

“GRRAAAHH—!”

Aizerion’s agonized scream tore through the battlefield as its massive body careened downward, plummeting helplessly from the sky.

The sheer force of my strike had completely caved in its skull, leaving it practically half-dead and unable to utilize its wings.

The dragon and I hurtled down together, plunging toward the ground like a falling comet. At this point, retreating wasn’t an option. I needed to ensure the dragon died.

I tightened my grip on the embedded axe and pressed down with all my strength. The impact with the ground would hopefully drive the blade further into Aizerion’s skull, crushing any lingering sparks of life it could still have.

“Skreeeee—!”

The wyverns’ delayed shrieks echoed above us as I continued to drive the weapon in deeper, readying myself for impact.

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion reverberated through the ground as we landed, sending tremors rippling through the earth as if a meteor had struck. Pain exploded through every fiber of my body, but I refused to release my grip on the axe.

Crack!

The blade finally sank fully into the dragon’s skull, driving itself deep into the beast’s brain. Blood erupted violently through the cracks in its shattered scales, gushing out and splattering across the ground like a torrential geyser.

Make sure it’s over.

Ha Hee-Jeong’s warning from earlier echoed in my mind. She had warned me countless times to never underestimate a dragon, no matter how dire its situation may appear. Dragonslaying was not to be taken lightly.

Ignoring the searing pain shooting through my arms, I released the axe and reached for the dagger at my waist. I split the blade into two, one in each hand, and began stabbing the dragon’s head relentlessly.

Stab— Stab— Stab—!

The daggers, being Unique-grace relics, slid far more fluidly through the dragon’s tough scales. Each stab filled the air with the sound of the scales tearing and splintering.

“Grk...”

The more I plunged the daggers into its massive skull, the more blood spurted forth in violent bursts and drenched me in a scarlet torrent.

Warm blood sprayed across my face, soaking my entire body from head to toe. At times, chunks of brain matter and bits of flesh were sent flying, each piece clinging to me or sticking in my hair. But I paid them no heed.

“Rrgh...”

How many times have I driven the blade into its skull?

Finally, with one last, shuddering breath, the dragon’s body went limp.

It was dead.

Distant roars of celebration crashed into my ears, their cheers surging around me like a tidal wave.

“

Woooah!

Kwon Su-Hyeok!

Woooah!

”

“He killed the dragon!”

As my adrenaline faded, a wave of pain struck me and I became acutely aware of the brutal impact I had endured. It felt as though I had been hit full force by a freight train—every inch of my body was alight with pain.

Amidst the throbbing and aching, I sensed a searing heat enveloping me. Ha Hee-Jeong had arrived. A thick, impenetrable barrier of fire encircled me, shielding me from the wyverns that circled above like vultures.

Ha Hee-Jeong stepped through the blazing wall, her expression softening—an uncharacteristic display of concern.

If she’s looking at me like that, I am probably in worse shape than I thought.

“

Phew...

It’s finally over. Good job.”

Her gaze shifted to the fallen dragon, looking relieved as the tension she normally carried unconsciously lightened. Maybe, just maybe, she had managed to exorcize some of the demons from her past.

We didn’t have the time to ponder or reflect, however.

“We’re just getting started.”

Defending Fort Pogoren was simply impossible if the dragon was left alive, but that didn’t mean we had overcome every challenge the sixteenth floor would throw at us. Ultimately, slaying the dragon was only a prerequisite for a successful defense.

There was still more to come.

“How’s your body holding up?”

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

“Doppy can patch me up. You know how incredibly skilled it is at healing, right?”

I tried to brush it off nonchalantly, but a small smile tugged at Ha Hee-Jeong’s lips.

“Let’s deal with the dragon’s corpse first.”

Wait, what? Are we really taking the dragon’s entire body?

“How do you expect to carry this thing around?”

“We have your mimic, don’t we?”

“This

thing

can fit in there? Didn’t you see it struggle to eat far less than this back on the ninth floor?”

Hearing my question, Ha Hee-Jeong’s eyes widened slightly as if she had just remembered something.

“Oh, right. I never explained how it works. That was because you stuffed it with cheap junk. It has a taste for quality. Even if it’s just a hatchling, a mimic can store far more than you would expect—when it likes what it’s given.”

“Huh...”

I couldn’t comprehend why it distinguished between “good” and “bad” items.

Wouldn’t it want to just generally hoard more things?

Still skeptical, I tapped the mimic lightly. Almost immediately, a massive wave of dark shadow surged out of the small box, swallowing the entire dragon in a single gulp. It took less than a second for the mimic to devour the massive corpse whole.

Even though I had just witnessed it with my own eyes, I still had a hard time believing it.

“Roooaaaar!”

Just then, a monstrous roar reverberated through the air, quickly followed by a tremor that shook the earth beneath us.

I whipped around to see a towering, flaming ox that stood over six meters tall charging through the army of lizardmen. It was headed straight for the fortress gate.

“Get to Doppy! Hurry!”

Before I could even say a word, Ha Hee-Jeong grabbed my arm and pulled me close. I needed to get healed first.

***

「Invisible message: The effect of ‘Madman’s Final Blaze’ has ended, reducing Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s stats. Strength and agility decreased by five percent.」

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has successfully slain a dragon. All stats increased by 3.」

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has been completely drenched in dragon blood, a precious elixir that has been highly regarded since ancient times. Strength and mana increased by 4.」

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s skills have leveled up. Flash Strike is now lvl 5. Master of Shadows is now lvl 3.」

...

「Invisible message: The Red Dragon Aizerion was responsible for the Weretiger King’s curse. Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has successfully slain Aizerion, completing the Hidden Mission ‘Bear’s Grudge.’ His stats have increased and his skill has leveled up. Strength, agility, and stamina increased by 2. Bear’s Blood is now lvl 12.」