------------------
HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
------------------
Chapter 122: Work Properly, Opportunity-Finder(3)
〔The inevitable moment will arrive, for it is fate.〕
'Enough with the ominous crap.'
〔Do you even have the luxury to bluff?〕
'I'm already deep in thought. Stop doing that.'
The One-Eyed Variant Ogre.
He'd encountered it in his past life too.
It wasn't a reunion he was particularly happy about.
'It's power seems unchanged from my previous memories.'
As he read the aura emanating from its muscular body, the fine hairs on his skin stood on end.
He felt an urge to scream and run away immediately.
Gauging an opponent's strength was useful, but it could also lead to a loss of morale before the fight even began.
"Ku-hu-huk. Corpses. What are they? Interesting."
"Are you interested in them?"
"Ku-huk, human. What are you? Weak. Uninteresting."
"I'm willing to leave them all behind if you want."
At Yoojin's nonchalant reply, the One-Eyed Ogre raised and lowered its single eyelid.
"Ku-hu-huk. You. You've become interesting."
"I'm not interested."
"Those humans over there. You. Different. Rotting smell. But still interesting."
‘Tch. Too bad.’
He'd hoped to ditch Fafnir and Brutal and slip away easily.
It seemed that wasn't going to happen.
【Master. I'll buy you some time. Run without looking back.】
"Is it really that simple?"
He doubted the One-Eyed monster would let him go so easily.
Abandoning Brutal and Fafnir and running away at full speed?
He wasn't so sure.
Even running in a straight line without interference, it would take him over 20 minutes to reach the Necropolis.
That was more than enough time for the One-Eyed Ogre to deal with the two undead and chase after him, splitting him into three pieces.
"Like a bug whose body is divided into three parts and dies."
【Wasn't it head, thorax, and abdomen?】
"Oh. You studied hard. I don't even remember."
Even as they exchanged nonsense, Yoojin's eyes darted around busily.
The surrounding terrain.
The positions of the two undead.
The One-Eyed Ogre's expression, its mana flow, and more.
He crammed all the information into his head and quickly reprocessed it.
"Fafnir."
【Just give the order, Master.】
"Prepare your strongest attack."
【A head-on fight?】
“Huh.”
【This could end in one blow. I mean, for me.】
“Don’t worry. Think of it as delivering the most powerful strike.”
[Using Monarch's Command.]
[The two highest stats of those following the user's command increase by 20%.]
[The heart does not yield to fear.]
【Oh. A new buff. Is this a lucky chance you've gained?】
“Yeah.”
【I should put in some effort too.】
Fafnir approached the One-Eyed.
A slow pace.
However…
It's a dignified walk that doesn't convey any feelings of fear or hesitation.
“Ku-hu-huk. Smelly lizard. How amusing.”
How long has it been since someone faced the predator's aura head-on without flinching and rushed forward?
For the monster who hadn't found a worthy opponent for many years, it was a refreshing experience.
The One-Eyed stared at Fafnir approaching.
【Hoo. A fist fight with a damn strong guy.】
Fafnir slowly approached and stimulated his heart.
A heart that should have stopped beating long ago.
'Dragon Heart', which symbolizes the power and authority of the Dragon race, pumped vigorously, sending spirit power throughout his body.
Even though it's a dead body, his senses are revived.
【'Really. This body is amazing.'】
The corpse of a Draconian.
Even if it's only half, it's a Dragon.
Its innate magic circuit and control ability, as well as everything else, possess the best qualities.
Due to the aftermath of the [The Ancient Trial Grounds], his physical abilities have fallen to the level of a 2 Star.
But thanks to constantly consuming mana stones, he has raised it to about 60% of his original abilities.
【'Even when I was alive, my body wasn't this good.'】
Reaction speed.
The sensation when emitting spirit power.
And many other aspects were far superior to 'humans'.
What's even more surprising is that the advantages the Draconian possessed in life remained intact.
【'It means master's skill is amazing.'】
Faster.
Stronger.
If the power of the body is 100.
Depending on how it's used, it can become 200 or 300.
【'Perfectly matching the spirit power, soul, and body movements to create the maximum power.'】
The dark aura that soared from his shoulder slowly descended and wrapped around his forearm.
The opponent is a 7 Star monster.
An opponent who can surpass the 'wall' once more and not only materialize mana but also realize its form, and develop [Aura Blade].
【'If that monster deploys Aura Blade from the start, I'll have to give up.'】
The emotion the creature showed was curiosity.
Like a child looking at a toy.
Using everything available, if he could inflict even a tiny bit of damage on the unguarded One-Eyed?
He didn't know what would happen next.
He simply followed orders, trusting his master's judgment.
His only concern was executing the command to the best of his ability.
【'It's about using the best move I can unleash.'】
[Kenex Combat Arts]
[Tenth Stance]
[Compact Formation Strike]
Kenex Combat Arts is originally a martial art passed down to the Draconians.
Based on his genius-like senses, Fafnir deciphered the formulas and was able to execute most of the movements with high proficiency.
Except for the last technique, [Compact Formation Strike].
'It's said to be a fist that combines the essence of nine techniques.'
Since being revived, it wasn't just once or twice that he faced a powerful enemy.
The boss monster of the [Forgotten Temple], the Masked Beast.
Choi Hyungtae, an executive of the Red Spider.
Even Kim Mijeong, a peak 6 Star hunter who recently crossed hands with him.
However…
This was the first time that he had focused all his senses solely on the enemy.
【'I can do it now!'】
Now, when all the possibilities residing in the Draconian corpse have been drawn out.
It was time to fully unfold the last chapter of the Kenex Combat Arts.
Fafnir, unifying his spirit power, body, and spirit into the movement.
Perfectly recreated the 'memory' left in the Draconian corpse.
"Ku-hu-huk."
A look of surprise spread across the pupil of the one remaining eye.
The moment the blue aura gathered in the fist collided with the dark aura containing all his might.
"Huh?"
Yoojin's brow furrowed.
＊ ＊ ＊
Yoojin's plan was simple.
'Throw Fafnir at it and run for his life.'
〔That's a truly shameless and impudent plan.〕
'There's no other way.'
〔But didn't you say that the plan would be difficult to execute?〕
'It's all about how to restrain its movements.'
Even before his regression, he had fought the One-Eyed a few times.
At that time, he was in a position where he was tamed by the Manhunter, but since it was a monster that had reached 7 Stars, he couldn't completely subdue it.
'The One-Eyed is languid.'
〔Hmph. A mere half-finished creature born from the gate dares to imitate an absolute being.〕
'That's not wrong. At this point in time, none of the hunters in the country can be confident of victory when fighting one-on-one.'
Peak 7 Star strength.
It's a large species, so its base specs surpass humans.
Even Lee Shinwoo, the Arhan’s Guild Master, found it difficult to handle that one-eyed monster.
'It's a guy who couldn't stand the boredom while living like a king in the border area.'
The difference in power was clear.
Will it want to quickly destroy the toy it has encountered after a long time?
Probably not.
Yoojin, who had crossed hands with it before the regression, was certain.
'That guy won't come out with all its power from the start.'
The plan was to use the One-Eyed's carelessness to restrict its mobility.
Release the [Punishing Spike] placed on Fafnir at the right time.
Use the [Unholy Shock Shield] to reverse the power to create an opening, and then attack with Brutal.
'I'll be able to buy some time against the One-Eyed.'
〔Contractor. Didn't you leave the spell slots empty for times like this?〕
'I did leave plenty of them empty, but it won't work. Ogres basically have an incredibly high magic resistance.'
A mutant ogre that can even deploy Aura Blade.
It is impossible to even hold it back with 3 Star level magic.
If he were to create a variable with necromancy, the only corpse he had just obtained was a Basilisk.
Even if he turned it into a zombie, it would be crushed with a single punch. Corpse explosion wouldn't even penetrate its skin.
〔Then how do you intend to escape?〕
Yoojin's plan was to use a Blood Golem.
Escape by riding the Blood Golem.
Yoojin's plan was to forcefully break through or restrain monsters they encountered while moving, and then initiate individual actions.
If he used all the cards in his hand, the probability of returning to Necropolis would be about 70%.
'It would have been 90% if I hadn't been caught from behind.'
〔Even so, it's not 100%.〕
'If that guy acts on a whim, it's over. I absolutely can't escape.'
Well, if that happens, he doesn't intend to die quietly.
Just as he was raising his holy power to the fullest while waiting for Fafnir to exchange a light ‘greeting’ with the One-Eyed, an unplanned variable appeared.
Thwack!
The One-Eyed's arm was bent in the opposite direction.
It was the result of the aftermath after the blue aura rapidly dissipated immediately after the auras collided.
'I expected that guy wouldn't use Aura Blade.'
If he had swung his fist with full force from the start, Fafnir's body would have exploded and been torn into dozens of pieces.
The problem is that even if 'auras' collide, there's no reason for the One-Eyed, who has surpassed the wall by one step and also has superior specs, to be pushed back.
'How can this be?'
Even Yoojin, who had experienced all kinds of hardships, including before and after regression, and even aerial battles.
He didn't know about the true value of the martial art, [Kenex Combat Arts], residing in the Draconian's body.
Kenex Combat Arts Tenth Stance.
'Compact Formation Strike' is a technique that crams all nine properties into it.
If it's a martial art that contains all the mysteries, wouldn't the power be increased and much better?
Let's take an example.
Can you draw a straight line that bends like a curve?
Combining the nine properties of Kenex Combat Arts is similar to this meaning.
-Strength, Flow, Illusion, Change, Speed, Weight, Impact, Resilience, Absorption.
Layering properties that can't be matched at all with mana (spirit power).
Explode it at once?
Even the Draconian who mastered [Kenex Combat Arts] found it difficult to perfectly unleash the last move.
A secret technique that even the proud Dragon race could only use a very small part of.
That was the reason why the mutant ogre's arm was broken.
"Ku-hu-huk?!"
【Huh?】
The One-Eyed widened its single eye due to the pain it hadn't felt for many years.
Fafnir, who had exchanged blows with the creature, also looked at the result of what he had done in disbelief.
"Brutal. Carry me and run in the 6 o'clock direction."
-Groooar!
Brutal, who had approached Yoojin, reached out his hand, and he got on without hesitation.
〔What about the plan you made at first?〕
'A better opportunity has presented itself.'
Yoojin muttered.
‘Of course, I'm changing the plan.’
The One-Eyed's gaze was fixed on Fafnir.
-Fafnir.
【You want me to distract him? I know without you telling me. I'll do my best to keep him occupied.】
-...I'm sorry.
Yoojin said sincerely.
Unlike ordinary undead who disappear when their skulls are broken, Fafnir can be revived at any time as long as the [Life Force Vessel] is intact.
An undead with sealed life force, just like a lich.
This is possible because he is an Eldritch Dragon.
'Even so, how he accepts it is different.'
He had tasted loneliness as a guardian spirit for decades.
Another order to die.
Even though he could feel repulsion, Fafnir didn't show it at all.
【Don't waste time and go quickly.】
-...Understood.
When Yoojin left the battlefield on Brutal, Fafnir concentrated his spirit power on his two legs.
'Half of the remaining spirit power? The consumption is huge.'
Compact Formation Strike, which possesses tremendous power.
Instead, the amount of spirit power consumed was no less than that.
Even with the [Martial Artist] trait and the Draconian's stat correction, there was a momentary empty feeling in the Dragon Heart.
"Ku-huk. You. Are interesting."
【Let's change the way we play this time.】
Thump—!
Fafnir kicked off the ground and jumped up.
The One-Eyed did not even glance at Yoojin, who was fleeing, and chased after him.
＊ ＊ ＊
10 minutes later.
[Eldritch Dragon (Incomplete) - Fafnir has been extinguished.]
The system message flickered in Yoojin's ear.
------------------
HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
------------------
