Chapter 184: ck me Dragon Emperor (4)


    Our group soon reached our destination.


    As soon as we arrived in North Korea, a chilly sensation hit us. Although we were in front of the warp gate, a tremendous number of monsters were detected ahead.


    ‘There are too many.’


    In addition to stopping the dragon, we needed a powerful means to stop the monsters.


    “There are quite a few monsters.”


    “Save your strength. You are the most crucial force when ites to stopping the dragon.”


    At my words, the Elder hesitated. The Witch Maiden and Seong-hwi just nodded quietly.


    “Does the Elder still not trust the Heavenly Demon?”


    “…Nonsense. The Heavenly Demon can handle the monsters in an instant. The issue is when dealing with the dragon.”“More than that, you are ordered to risk your lives, and you don’t feel anything about following along like this?”


    “What? The Heavenly Demon is the future ruler of this ce. Isn’t it reasonable to think of it as protecting the future believers?”


    “For the first time, the Elder makes sense. I agree as well.”


    “Crazy fanatics…”


    Seong-hwi looked at the Elder and the Witch Maiden with weary eyes.


    “Still, the situation isn’t the worst. For some reason, the dragon is far away. No, it seems like it’s watching us.”


    “Right?”


    I silently watched the dragon from a distance.


    Thump.


    My heartbeat sounded exceptionally loud.


    My heart pounded. The Dragon Blood responded. It indicated that a kin stronger than itself was here.


    It was a presence that darkened the sky.


    Seeing it like this, the intimidation was no joke. It was as if a massive mountain was moving around. Its ck wings pped. The scales shimmered with a ck me-like glow.


    The ck me Dragon.


    A heinous being symbolizing destruction, capable of turning a world to ashes.


    Savage, selfish, and greedy.


    Unlike the Seven Evils, it was a being too powerful to even consider hunting. There were rumors that even returnees were reluctant to confront it.


    ‘I somewhat regret this.’


    Honestly, fighting that creature was terrifying.


    Even though I said an hour, it would require thorough deception to drag it out for that long. Normally, such a method wouldn’t work on a transcendent being, but that one is different.


    Because it was arrogant.


    The mostplete among all living beings. Born with scales that ordinary sword energy couldn’t scratch, and possessing the power to distort the world’sws with its words. True to its nickname of the Lord of Magic, it understood all kinds ofws.


    Born able to do anything with ease. Given enough time, they could reach transcendent levels, unlike other races that undergo bone-cutting and mind-breaking training.


    To them, this world was nothing but a yground.


    That’s why they cultivated dignity and enjoyed acting arrogantly.


    ‘So it’s fortunate.’


    If not for that nature, I wouldn’t dare speak of buying time against the dragon.


    And the reinforcements would arrive properly.


    Unlike in my past life, there were transcendent beings.


    That transcendent promised.


    To send reinforcements within an hour.


    So, I could trust those words. By any means, the reinforcements woulde.


    ‘First of all.’


    Deal with the monsters.


    I looked down. Monsters were swarming everywhere.


    Vile creatures.


    I leaped lightly to greet them.


    Bang!


    I stomped the ground.


    Stood in the air.


    Using Conceptual Stat Alchemy, I created and secured a foothold in mid-air. At the same time,


    Alchemy.


    Enchant.


    Rune Magic.


    The power epassing these three granted me strength.


    Sring.


    I drew the Autumn Sword. A sword with a reddish de reflecting the sunlight. I also drew the Winter Sword. A blue de containing coldness sparkled in the sunlight.


    Twin sword stance. Handling twin swords was still awkward. But the “Sword Demon (S+)” skill precisely assisted me.


    “Hoo.”


    Crackle.


    A massive amount of cold air surged around.


    A breath caused a frosty exhale. The temperature was extremely chilly.


    Engrave runes here.


    Amplification and transmission runes on the Autumn Sword. Coldness and winter runes on the Winter Sword.


    I lifted the Autumn Sword with Nyeom. I embedded the coldness rune into the White Rouge and oveid the eleration rune on it.


    Now, begins the familiar task.


    Conceptual Stat.


    Alchemy overwhelming with literal conceptual power.


    Ziiiiing──.


    The power of White Rouge elerated. With this one use, White Rouge couldn’t be used again in this battle. But it didn’t matter. I never nned to use White Rouge against the Dark me Dragon anyway.


    Crackle.


    A massive cold surged into the Winter Sword. For a moment, enormous magical power began to swirl in the Autumn Sword, enough to distort the surrounding magic.


    Simultaneously.


    A load pressed on my body. The immense magical power stayed in the sword. The ck me Radiance began to spin and resist, urging me to use its power.


    ‘Stay quiet.’


    Not now.


    The ck me Radiance couldn’t be easily replenished. Its vessel was vast, and gathering the Energy of Defying Heaven was extremely difficult.


    A scale rose on my body. A dark, shining scale of ck light. It began to protect my body from the magic.


    Bang!


    I stepped forward. Perhaps because I was bound in mid-air, the sky cracked like a spiderweb.


    In the drawing stance, the Autumn Sword, lifted by Nyeom, supplied boundless magic to the Winter Sword. The Winter Sword resonated with the Autumn Sword, though it was a tremendous amount of mana that a normal sword couldn’t withstand.


    Vrrrrm!


    The swords of the four seasons resonated with each other, amplifying their efficacy. While other items have a concept of addition, the resonance of the swords of the four seasons has a concept of multiplication. For mere items, it’s astonishing.


    That’s why it was one of only three Ex-ranked items obtained in 《Epic World》.


    Sring.


    The Winter Sword was drawn towards the White Rouge.


    Simultaneously, everything around it froze with a crackle. Even the air was no exception. The foothold froze, creating ice flowers.


    The overwhelming magic flowing through the Winter Sword began to reim everything around it. What I had to do was simple: direct it towards the monsters. The fully charged extreme cold power resided in the Winter Sword.


    Swish─.


    With the sound of cutting through something.


    Crack!


    The winter magic was unleashed.<hr>


    About half of the monsters were frozen. Most of them probably died, but some might have survived. I would have to deal with them one by one.


    ‘The gaze is too intense.’


    The dragon’s gaze was on me.


    However, the look in its eyes was strange. There was no hostility, but rather a peculiar look as if seeing something strange.


    What was it?


    I knew a bit about the Dark me Dragon. I encountered it a few times while ying as Kim Seo-hyun. That’s why I could confidentlye here.


    Kim Seo-hyun drew the dragon’s gaze while shing with monsters.


    The Dark me Dragon was infinitely arrogant and proud.


    It clearly perceived Kim Seo-hyun as an interesting insect.


    ‘What is this?’


    But the dragon’s gaze was different.


    Rather, it was a look of curiosity and a strange sense of pride and warmth. As if a parent was proud of a child they thought they had lost, who had grown up well.


    ‘It can’t be.’


    I internally denied it. It’s not something an arrogant dragon would think.


    And then I thought it through.


    Special stat, Dragon (龍).


    The Dragon (龍) stat was unique. It gave tremendous boosts to strength, agility, and stamina. Even though it unified to a single number, 50, it felt about 1.5 times stronger just in terms of efficiency.


    But what it signified was the Dragon. The most arrogant creature.


    When I reached that point, a hypothesis popped up.


    I felt a cold sweat break out.


    ‘No way, right?’


    I looked at the dragon.


    The Dark me Dragon maintained its enormous form in the sky, gazing at me.


    With endlessly warm and tender eyes.


    “……”


    As I stared nkly at the dragon, its mouth slowly opened.


    -Well done growing up.


    It was a warm voice.


    Not the arrogant tone it used with Kim Seo-hyun. It was a warm voice, like a mother who had lost her child long ago.


    “……”


    No way.


    -It seems you haven’t realized yet. It’s probably because you lived among humans. I don’t know who dared to neglect the child of the n like this.


    The atmosphere boiled.


    Just by containing its emotions, everything around began to be affected.


    -Kuoooo!


    The monster below roared loudly. It was a kind of thrashing. A gesture wanting to escape the influence of such a powerful being. And it.


    Crack.


    Was crushed instantly. Just by the dragon ncing at it, it turned into a ssh of blood.


    -I’m sorry. Child of the n. It’s been a while since I woke from sleep, so I’m not used to containing my emotions.


    “…It’s alright.”


    -Oh, I see. This form must be ufortable.


    A sh of light.


    Then a ck-haired beauty appeared. Her ck hair flowed down to her waist. Her outfit was light. A mini skirt maid dress, moderately mixed with ck and white. It wasn’t for others’ eyes but for her ownfort. The dragon approached me.


    “Child of the n. What is your name?”


    “…Lee Seo-ha.”


    “Alright, I am the Dark me Dragon, Cecilia H. Dark me. You can call me Cecilia.”


    “…Yes.”


    I suppressed the cringing feeling. Because I knew the meaning of H in the middle name, Dark me was thest name.


    She casually exined things that no sane person would name themselves.


    ‘That’s characteristic of dragons, though.’


    I forced a smile as I looked at Cecilia.


    “Alright, child of the n. Come with me.”


    “To where?”


    “To my nest? You’ll learn from the beginning there. After shedding some of your human habits.”


    Cecilia spoke casually.


    This was bad. I felt like I couldn’t hold out for even 10 minutes, let alone an hour.


    “Did humans do something to you? Shall I destroy them?”


    Her words pierced my heart coldly.


    I realized this was a critical juncture. One wrong word, and everything I had built so far could be for nothing.


    First of all, I needed to buy time.


    How? I knew her weakness.


    She was weak to the children of the n. Moreover, I was now (or not) one of thest descendants of the dragon race, with fewer than ten remaining.


    So what I could do was…


    “…Wah.”


    The only thing I could do was cry out.