I Became a Raid Boss Chapter 96

Crack!

Its claws struck down on the corpse of a monster that had already stopped breathing.

The claws easily pierced through the hide without any resistance, tearing apart muscles and splitting the corpse in half.

Crunch, crunch.

It savagely chewed on the monster that once ruled over the fears of rcenaries but had now been reduced to re chunks of at.

Red blood dripped down between its sharp teeth.

After devouring the remaining half without leaving a single piece behind, it scratched the ground irritably.

“Not enough….”

This was not enough to sate its hunger.

These alone were not enough to restore its forr strength.

To regain its strength…

The prey that looked like humans but gave off an ominous scent.

When it first encountered those prey, it had instinctively fled due to the ominousness that rang an alarm bell deep within its instincts.

The closer it got to those beings, the more it felt as if its own existence was being twisted.

But now, it understood.

In order to regain its strength, it needed to consu those prey that gave off that ominous scent.

It had realized that it, too, now emitted a scent similar to theirs.

It turned its gaze.

Toward the distant, tranquil scenery of the village.

***

“Was it really just a coincidence that Krumo’s Shadow attacked the village while we were away?”

“…It’s too long and cumberso to keep saying Krumo’s Shadow. Let’s just call it Shadow for short.”

“Anyway, was it really just a coincidence that the Shadow appeared?”

“Or did it target the village knowing it was vulnerable?”

‘Hmm, I have no idea.’

Personally, I’d like to believe it was a coincidence.

If it’s the latter, then that ans it has a level of intelligence, which would make it an even more troubleso opponent.

Either way, what needs to be done doesn’t change.

“We have to go back.”

As soon as possible.

Artisha’s voice, saying this, was cold and firm.

The languid tone that had always hung in her words had disappeared, as if it had never existed in the first place, making wonder if she was the sa Artisha.

A serious-talking Artisha feels so strange.

It hasn’t even been a day since we t, and yet, the image of her in my mind has already solidified as soone endlessly lethargic.

Of course, that aside, I fully understood why Artisha was reacting this way.

There’s no way that creature, which had torn apart all the monsters around its lair, had co to the village with good intentions.

Expecting it to suddenly show up and say, ‘Hi, I’m the new neighbor, Krumo. Please take care of ,’ is not being optimistic—it’s just being plain stupid.

“Canaria.”

For the first ti, my na slipped out of Artisha’s mouth.

“Please help.”

“I was planning to do that anyway.”

I ca here in the first place to do exactly that, so there’s no need to ask so earnestly.

I’d be in trouble too if the ships bound for Laxia were destroyed due to that thing rampaging around.

More importantly, the village isn’t only occupied by the Demonic Race right now.

‘I should’ve brought her out with when I had the chance….’

Sotis, the decisions that seed like the best option at the ti turn out not to be, in hindsight.

Yeah, just like right now.

As I let out a sigh, frustrated and preparing to set out, a warm presence gently reached out to .

“…Celine?”

Celine and I didn’t talk much.

It wasn’t that it was awkward or uncomfortable—it was simply the language barrier.

Whenever Celine spoke to or I spoke to her, we had to go through Da-eun, which made the whole process tedious.

Thanks to the word cards Da-eun had made for us, communication had improved a little, but having a natural conversation was still difficult.

That’s why Celine coming over to pat my back like this was a first.

“It’ll be okay.”

A short sentence.

Maybe it was because of that brevity.

I could feel the sincerity of her heart in those words.

“…Yeah.”

Well, we have the magic tools, so we should be fine.

Because it’s made of the Dragon Orb, it should have so resistance against attacks that use Mana….

If it’s crushed by that enormous body, it won’t matter, but as long as it has even a bit of intelligence, it won’t recklessly descend to the ground.

That’s what the wings are for, after all.

‘Hmm, maybe not.’

If the Shadow really has a personality similar to a Dragon, then that could be a different story.

If it’s anything like the one I know, it would scoff, thinking that re humans couldn’t possibly harm it, and charge straight in.

“Hoo….”

I should stop overthinking this.

Panicking and worrying here isn’t going to help solve the situation at all.

“I’ll go first.”

Exhaling a faint breath, I drew upon my Mana and shot off without waiting for a response.

‘Ah, I should’ve brought Celine along.’

Her Holy Arts would’ve been helpful.

But it’s too late to regret now; I’m already far ahead.

It would be better to arrive and fight first rather than go back to carry Celine over.

With the sparks flashing and the Magi flaring violently, it already seems like a huge ss over there.

Even as the surrounding scenery blurred and distorted, my eyes stayed focused on my target.

As the distance between and the village closed, the figure of the creature beca clearer.

‘It’s definitely not a Dragon.’

Not only is its size too small, but it also can’t use magic.

A Dragon, known as the Lord of Magic, unable to cast spells? That’s a ridiculous joke.

Say sothing like that in a cheap tavern, and you’d get scolded for spouting nonsense.

“Talk sense,” they’d say.

Though I was lost in trivial thoughts, I ran diligently, and soon, the entrance to the village ca into sight.

Even though I could see it, the actual distance was still quite far, but at this pace, I’d cover it in no ti.

Luckily, I’m not too late.

Just as I was about to feel relieved,

I saw the Shadow taking a deep breath.

“A Breath Attack…?”

…Co to think of it, despite not being able to use magic, it can still use Breath Attacks.

I have no idea what made it so angry, but it had stopped shooting fireballs and was now preparing to launch a Breath Attack.

This is bad.

It wasn’t just mimicking the form of a Breath Attack—seeing the imnse amount of Magi gathering around it was unsettling.

“Magi… Breath….”

The more I understand, the more absurd this becos.

But ridiculous or not, I had to block its Breath Attack.

Where the Shadow’s gaze was fixed stood soone very familiar to .

‘What did you do to get into this situation….’

No, I can guess.

If it’s Da-eun, she probably ddled where she didn’t need to.

I won’t say it’s wrong, but….

Seeing her standing boldly in front of the Shadow, holding her sword as if to block it, made let out a helpless laugh.

With that determined expression, she clearly knows what it ans when that thing takes a deep breath, yet she’s still trying to block it.

No matter how much power she borrows from the Dragon Orb, there’s no way it’ll work.

‘…Guess I have no choice.’

I withdrew so of the Mana encircling my body and directed it elsewhere.

Buzz—

A small vibration rang out as the ring started to glow red.

Simultaneously, fierce Mana surged within , sending searing pain through my body as if I were being stabbed all over with needles.

“Urgh…!”

I clenched my teeth, but couldn’t completely suppress the groan that slipped out.

…This is why I don’t want to use it.

As I always feel, Dragon Mana is just too ferocious.

Every ti I activate it, it leaves my body in shambles. No matter how much this is an item directly gifted by a Dragon, it’s practically a burden.

The personality of this item is just the worst—whoever made it did a fantastic job of being absolutely nasty.

– It’s been a while since you called for , and you haven’t changed one bit.

“People die if they change.”

– No, I ant your appearance.

“….”

…Whose fault do you think that is?

Responding halfheartedly to the voice ringing in my head, I reached out my hand.

In my hand was now a sword, faintly pink yet tinged with a pale red hue.

“…Hmph.”

Suddenly, a laugh escaped my lips.

To think I’m standing against an Evil Dragon, borrowing the power of Grasid.

It almost feels like I’ve beco the protagonist of an old story.

Of course, I’m not Zigrid, and I didn’t directly make a contract like he did, but the creature in the sky over there isn’t the Evil Dragon from back then either.

It’s just a feeling, that’s all.

I gripped the familiar sword and infused it with Mana.

Whoosh—!

The red Mana, darker than my usual one, flowed along the blade.

It looked as if I were holding a blazing fla in my hand.

There’s no ti to waste.

The Breath Attack it had already unleashed was pouring down on Da-eun.

Swoosh!

With a light leap, I jumped over Da-eun’s head.

The searing heat, mixed with Magi, rushed towards as if it would swallow whole.

It’s quite hot for a fake Dragon’s Breath Attack.

“But it’s nothing compared to the real thing.”

While still airborne, I swung the sword down.

─────!

Red flas blossod along the sword’s path.

The flas, flickering like a mirage, seed weak, as if they would be extinguished any mont in front of the crimson Breath.

However, the small fla that blood amidst the intense blaze did not wither.

Ssshhhh—!

Rather, the flas began to devour the Breath flying toward it and pressed forward.

Little by little, but surely.

The further it advanced, the stronger and more ferocious the flas beca.

As the flas burned through the Breath and reached the source—

Fwoosh—

Sensing the danger right in front of its neck, the Shadow abruptly stopped its Breath Attack and quickly moved its body away.

It was almost amusing to see it flail around, desperately trying to avoid the flas despite its large size.

…For now, this is taken care of.

I turned to look at Da-eun behind , and fortunately, she seed unscathed.

Not that she would’ve been hurt, since I blocked the attack from the front.

Da-eun’s tightly shut eyes slowly opened as she glanced around.

“Ah, ahaha…! I did it! I did it!”

Confirming that the Breath Attack had stopped, she jumped around with joy.

I could clearly feel Da-eun’s emotions flooding into , leaving baffled.

“You did it, huh.”

…Sure, I get that you’re happy to be alive, but am I invisible or sothing?

The way her gaze just barely skimd over made wonder for a second if she was doing it on purpose.

“Barely saved you from getting burned to a crisp, and this is what I get.”

If I hadn’t helped, she’d be one of those ashes scattered around here.

Or perhaps she would’ve been incinerated without leaving even a trace.

Suppressing the throbbing pain in my body, I grumbled to her.