I, and Yuhyun along with , held our breaths at the sa ti. Even with confusion clouding my mind, my body moved as a hunter. Thanks to the tall pile of gifts and the large boulder, Rauchtas hadn’t discovered us yet. The monster, a king among the cursed poisonous dragons, possessed trendous power but was equally careless.
It did attack if it caught sight of us, but it didn’t actively scout the surroundings. That’s why Yuhyun could tell to stay hidden then.
“Hyung.”
Yuhyun’s expression suddenly turned calm, almost cold, as if he hadn’t trembled before. His younger brother spoke in a low voice.
“The exit seems blocked. So don’t move, just stay here—”
“There’s a way.”
That bastard was trying to act alone again. Yuhyun now must be about a junior SS-rank. So with his skills doubled and us as shields, this fight wasn’t hopeless... unless that lizard brat hadn’t received the dungeon buff.
Then.
[Nightmare applies.]
Suddenly, a ssage window popped up. A newbie? But the feeling was off. My nightmare was already active; what was this now—
“Ugh...”
“Yuhyun?”
The pre-regression called out to my brother urgently. My voice was low, but surprise showed clearly. When I turned quickly, Yuhyun’s body had gone limp, falling into my arms.
“What is it, suddenly? Yuhyun? What’s wrong?”
“My body... isn’t working well...”
Yuhyun struggled to continue.
“I have no strength. My waist... it feels like all sensation is gone.”
...His last image flashed in my mind. Was this it? But not yet, we hadn’t been attacked.
“Hyung, we should avoid it...”
“Are you in pain? Hey, co here too. Maybe curse resistance will help.”
This wasn’t a curse. But I approached anyway. My fingertips trembled weakly. Fortunately, Yuhyun was only paralyzed; no further issues. No wounds, no pain.
“It seems it’s trying to keep Yuhyun from interfering.”
“What? No way...”
The pre-regression quickly grasped the situation and glanced at Rauchtas from afar, just barely visible above the rocks. Its eyes narrowed deeply.
“...That bastard.”
“Yeah.”
“Here.”
“...Yeah.”
[It is dayti.]
The ssage window appeared again. This feeling was strange too.
[Nightmare weakens.]
A faint mist seeped in along with the ssage.
Krreek
The giant cursed poisonous dragon’s body was wrapped once by the mist, then the fog dispersed. It was weakening? Maybe. I used the Sprout skill on Rauchtas.
[Grade 1 Cursed Poisonous Dragon – Dragon King of Poison and Curse, Rauchtas (Dayti Nightmare)
Current stat grade: S (Weakened)
Awakening possible stat grade: SS~SSS
Initial optimization skills
Acquired Dragonkind Ruler (L) (Weakened to SSS)
Acquired Endless Dragon’s Curse (SSS) (Weakened to SS)
Acquired Overflowing Poison Mist (SSS) (Weakened to SS)
Acquired Arrogant King’s Roar (SS) (Weakened to S)
Acquired Boiling Breath (SS) (Weakened to S)
Acquired Regeneration (S) (Weakened to A)]
As expected, the stats were trendous. I thought this was higher than the Rauchtas I had faced. Diarma said they sent a sowhat weaker one.
But every one of these abilities was weakened. Skill ranks dropped one step; stats likely dropped two or more.
An upper S-rank boss monster.
If it were the current Han Yuhyun, he could handle it easily. The problem was Yuhyun couldn’t move.
“That bastard dropped to S-rank.”
At my words, the pre-regression also used the Sprout skill.
“...Curse and poison won’t work on us. Still, stat grade is S.”
“Dragonkind Ruler doesn’t seem like an attack skill, and without poison or curse, it doesn’t even leave scratches.”
With Eunhye’s help, we could block it well. The problem was how to attack. I looked at myself reproachfully.
“How co you don’t have a single attack skill with that status window?”
“I’m frustrated too.”
Dragon Slayer, Perfect Nurturer, Miracle Rookie, Veteran F-rank, Untraceable — the skills tied to these titles were all resistance, support, or special types. Soothing and patting skills were the sa. Points wasted, but should I buy an attack skill? The problem was I had no points for a high-grade attack skill. Even mid-grade was too expensive.
“Let’s do the math.”
Double with Rauchtas’ natural enemy, then double again with Veteran F-rank. That’s not enough. We needed sothing more.
“...By the way, can they apply to each other?”
If that was possible, it would be double again.
“Maybe. Then we’d have to fight hand in hand.”
“You and I could probably count as connected even without touching. Hey, can the skills doubled once be doubled again?”
Rauchtas’ natural enemy was SS-rank, so no; but with the Veteran F-rank title, it quadruples, and if we pass the quadruple skills again... how many tis is that? Theoretically possible.
“Let’s try it. Use the bonus skill on . Veteran.”
I carefully laid down Yuhyun in my arms and brought my hand to myself. Skills shared.
[Veteran F-rank (S)
A superhuman with the utmost experience as an F-rank hunter.
Doubles the effect of offensive skills held (quadruple when stacked).]
The effect stacked! I took a short breath and passed the Veteran title to the pre-regression . Then we shared skills with magic control again, both acquiring the doubly stacked Veteran title.
It was possible because ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) we were simultaneously different and the sa being.
[Veteran F-rank (S)
A superhuman with the utmost experience as an F-rank hunter.
Doubles the effect of offensive skills held (sixfold when stacked).]
Not eightfold unfortunately, but sixfold. Plus Rauchtas’ natural enemy existed. Both of us swallowed dry saliva.
“At this rate, if even C or D rank.”
“It’ll work.”
Even a D-rank attack skill would have S-rank effect. I quickly checked the point shop. Attack skills were all lined up but were ridiculously expensive for my aptitude. I had given up before, but now even D-rank was enough. I could buy that.
D-rank attack skill.
[Powerful Stab (D)]
A simple stabbing attack skill. It was the cheapest among D-rank attack skills because it had no special effects. I didn’t need those now. This was enough.
I bought the attack skill and shared it with the pre-regression .
“Does this skill need a weapon?”
“Yes. A sturdy one.”
The strongest weapon in the world. But I handed the pre-regression a wildcat gun. Like with Eunhye, the bound item wildcat gun could be used. We checked our equipnt and split the items.
“Then.”
“Shall we go?”
Seeing us rise, Yuhyun struggled to lift his upper body.
“Hyung. Don’t... whatever you’re planning, please...”
I looked back at my brother. We smiled simultaneously, assuring him.
“Don’t worry, Yuhyun.”
“Hyung will never die.”
“I’m a bit stronger now.”
“Strong enough to catch that lizard brat.”
This ti, to protect my brother and pierce the dragon’s head. I took the anxious Yuhyun to the cave’s end, soothing him.
“You have a shield skill, right? Use it.”
“Hyung...”
“Here, this is your birthday cake.”
The pre-regression put a cake box down beside Yuhyun leaning against the wall.
“For the first ti in a while, with candles lit. Let’s eat together.”
“Hey, you’re totally buying that...”
“Shut up. Don’t be annoying.”
No, normally this kind of thing would be a death flag, but if you say it outright, it can’t be a foreshadowing.
Leaving my brother behind, I turned away. A warm heaviness filled my chest. I put on SS-rank handcuffs and transford Eunhye into a long spear with a chain. I tightly wrapped the chain around my wrist so it wouldn’t fall if dropped. Unless that lizard brat grabbed and carefully untied the knot with his claws, it wouldn’t co off.
I threw the A-rank spear from my inventory to the pre-regression .
“Good curse resistance. Not scared at all.”
“It’s L-rank, why would that be scary?”
We walked side by side. Climbing the rock and descending beyond, Rauchtas finally turned its head toward us.
Grrr
Three dragon heads rose high. Fierce eyes glared at us but sohow flinched.
[Dragonkind Ruler skill effect nullified by Dragon Slayer title!]
A welco ssage appeared. With two Dragon Slayer titles, Rauchtas dared not attack and stepped back.
I couldn’t help but smirk. I felt the happiness too.
How much we had wished for this mont. I wanted to stand next to it. I wanted to stand in front. I wanted to protect.
I said.
“It’s damn huge.”
“We have to aim for the head.”
Even with lowered stats, its size remained. Stabbing its body would be unlikely to cause fatal damage. Han Yujin replied, “I know.”
Kyaaa!
Rauchtas roared loudly. Thud, thud, its massive four legs shook the ground. It probably felt threatened, but its movents were sluggish, so it seed confused. Its stats were still low rank. Understand that.
“Co at , you miserable lizard brat.”
Scales clashed with a crackling sound as a terrifying poison spread. I worried about Yuhyun but luckily the poison’s concentration was thick but the area small. Sticky poison darkened the air right before us, soaking clothes damp.
At the sa ti, I used stealth skill.
Krrek
Against cursed poisonous dragons, it doubled. A re S-rank lizard wouldn’t recognize us. When the poison fog cleared, Rauchtas rolled its three pairs of eyes. Keeping a safe distance from the scanning monster, I gripped my spear tightly.
No matter how powerful stealth is, if it touches the body directly, it will notice. I had no flying skill or ability to leap to that high head. aning, I had no imdiate way to attack that head. It would easily shake off anything climbing its body.
So.
“Tough luck.”
“Prepare yourself, brat.”
It was really annoying how we could talk telepathically in our heads like twins. We had to catch that lizard soon and cut it off.
Han Yujin’s feet stepped on the floor — no, the ceiling. The fully charged gun aid downward. I planted my feet firmly. The white muzzle faintly glead as it released all the mana stored in an instant!
Bang!
The magic bullet fell like a teor made of light,
Boom!
It hit the leftmost of the three dragon heads, the one closest to , roughly. Rauchtas’ head sank deeply to the ground as if struck by a huge hamr. The wound itself wasn’t large. But with that.
My spear reached.
As soon as the gun fired, I ran madly. The dragon’s jaw dug into the ground, scattering debris and shaking the earth, but I leapt up with all my might.
Powerful Stab.
That simple D-rank skill was activated through the translucent glass spear. The skill’s power gathered at the tip of the spear, which had no option besides being solid.
Double, quadruple, sixfold, then doubled again. Compared to the giant dragon, my weak arms bent far back. No matter how much force I put in, it would be hard to even scratch the scales. Normally. That arm, that hand, pierced the space between the dragon’s eyebrows with the spear.
Kwakagak!
The scales touching the spear shattered instantly. Everything blocking the way was destroyed. Like hitting tofu with a club, so easily.
Kraaah!
Rauchtas, now missing one head, thrashed wildly. My body tumbled across the ground in an instant.
“Be careful!”
Before Han Yujin could shout telepathically, a huge foot blocked my vision. Ugh! Thanks to Eunhye, I avoided being crushed, but my breath was montarily cut off. Luckily, it just felt like a rock and the foot soon lifted, replaced by a rush of hot air.
Kyaaaak!
The dragon’s breath boiled the air. The heat was just hot, but breathing beca difficult again. Without Silekia’s wings, it would have been dangerous.
“S-Rank or below dragon breath effect halved.”
One of Silekia’s wing options. Since the item was obtained from killing a fire dragon, it had fire resistance and extra effects against dragonkind. This reduction worked on the burning air too.
“There are still two heads left but you’re exaggerating!”
I jumped up from the floor, disabling stealth skill and shouted. Look at , . That bastard’s movents were impossible for us to keep up. So we had to stop him sohow.
“Everything cos in pairs. With two left, it’s just right!”
Kyarururuk!
“Ah, you prefer odd numbers? Then co here. I’ll finish you off!”
Co here, co here! But Rauchtas didn’t dare rush . The pressure from the Dragon Slayer title was heavy, and losing a head quickly made it wary, hesitating.
How kind.
While I distracted it, Han Yujin quietly moved along the ceiling. He stopped above one of the two remaining heads.
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