"...Did we come to the right place?"
[We should have..... we should have, but what is happening here!?]
The scene where dragons and angels fought bloody battles. The one that lead the charge against the other side was the dragon Teraka that Yu IlHan knew all too well.
Wait, he came here? He succeeded in making Yu IlHan, who was proficient in reading the flow of incidents, panic. Of course, this would be his first and last success. After all, this turned out to be the worst result for him possible!
[No, we shouldn't stay still like this. We must go save them now!]
Spiera also didn't' seem to have imagined that there would be a battle so early on, and took out her spear. Yu IlHan found the figure of Teraka that was driving the angels into a corner, and made a bitter smile.
"Is this fate…"
"*Yawn*, what is it? Wasn't I allowed to sleep for a little more? Why can I feel a prickle?"
"You could...… but the situation is heading towards a strange direction."
"Hmmmmmmmm."
Liera walked sheepishly out of the mansion with her pajamas on and defenselessly forced her way into Yu IlHan's arms. It wasn't that she didn't notice Spiera, but she didn't seem concerned about her at all. Spiera burst out laughing while looking at Liera's peaceful expression and flew up with her two wings.
[I can't bear to watch. Yu IlHan, I'll go first. I'll need to beat up that arrogant lizard.]
"Don't forget that your concealment only lasts until the first attack."
[First attack? I think you're mistaken.]
Spiera's two eyes glistened. As she was receiving the effects of Yu IlHan's concealment, she was unseen by anyone other than Liera and Yu IlHan – and had a confident smile. Bringing up all her power as a 6th class, she declared.
[If it's the current me, the first attack shall be the last.]
"...."
[Yu IlHan, my single greatest strike – etch it into your two eyes. Be thankful to your luck in having acquired an opportunity to bear witness to the Great Cosmos-severing Spear up close.]
Never in her life did Spiera rely on concealment. It was an embarrassment for her, who had always fought from the front! However, that thought changed gradually while she watched Yu IlHan.
The one who survives is the victor, and until now Yu IlHan had gained successive victories with his concealment. Watching what he possessed at the end of all that, cowardice or embarrassment became laughable things. Moreover, this was a war for a higher world! Anything that could be used advantageously must be used.
[Then, I shall go.]
"It's thanks to me that you can conceal yourself so give me half the spoils, ok?"
[So greedy... Eei, this is a bribe for the alliance. I'll give you all of it. So you open your eyes wide, and watch me from this place.]
Spiera's spear glowed with a mysterious power. This was the spear that Yu IlHan had never seen before – the spear that harbored all of Spiera's power as a 6th class!
With zero presence thanks to Yu IlHan's concealment skill, Spiera flew straight towards Teraka. Her body glowed in light blue and drew a trail like a comet, but the only one that could see that was of course, Yu IlHan and Liera.
[Hhhhhhp.]
The moment before Spiera and Teraka clashed, Yu IlHan thought – don't protagonists usually beat such guys? – like so.
[Proceed! Go against an angel by teaming up! Threat to your lives? You just need to charge.... Mm?]
[This.]
Not that it was meaningful though. Spiera had no thoughts in leaving the one that stirred up trouble in the Heaven's Army camp to someone else.
[is what it means to sever the cosmos.]
Spiera's spear severed the very fabric of space. Teraka, who was facing tens of angels at once with his magic, didn't even notice Spiera's approaching and received her attack in full, and without even any time to activate defense magic, he was cleanly cut in the neck.
Like that! Just like that! Without any time for any screams or final words, and above all, without any room to leave behind foreshadows! While watching that, Yu IlHan muttered absentmindedly.
"That's the Great Cosmos-severing Spear?"
"It really is strong."
"Well, yeah, it is indeed strong, but...."
Muttered Yu IlHan while redrawing the trajectory that Spiera had drawn in the air; that was only seen by Liera and Yu IlHan himself.
Her technique was indeed very strong, enough to ignore the defenses of a 6th class, but, well? In Yu IlHan's eyes, it did not look that strong. If it's that amount of destructive power, he could probably block it with the Spear of Untraceable Trajectory. Not that he'll honestly tell that to Spiera.
[Fuu.]
Spiera fully extended her two pairs of wings and grabbed Teraka's severed head and body. Although her technique looked to be lacking somewhat, her figure holding up Teraka's head couldn't look any cooler.
It didn't seem to be his thoughts alone, and the other angels also rejoiced and shouted.
[Spiera has returned! She has killed the leader of the enemy at the same time!]
[Spiera, how can she move so discreetly?]
[The remaining ones are mere lower existences, kill them all!]
Yu IlHan saw that Teraka had died too easily and thought 'that must not be the end of him, is it?' but he did die with that one strike. The evidence of it appeared on Yu IlHan's retina after all.
[You have earned experience.]
[You have earned the record of Lv 411 Teraka.]
It seemed that Yu IlHan's influence was quite big as he gained experience and record as well. However, Yu IlHan couldn't really be happy.
"I feel like my stage was just stolen by Spiera. I even have the Eight-tailed dragon spear which is effective against dragons, I feel like I've made a loss...."
"Do you really have to be dejected because you couldn't fight a 6th class....? Rather, if IlHan's concealment is added on top of a monster like Spiera, such an absurd thing happens..."
Liera was still half asleep and was talking nonsense even while dragons were rampaging around. However, Yu IlHan did not bother replying to her. Spiera threw the body of Teraka behind her, and at that moment, the possession of Teraka's body was transferred to him.
He received Teraka's body into his inventory while being careful of his concealment. The dragons despaired while watching Teraka disappear into thin air.
[Lord Teraka!]
[That damn angel killed Lord Teraka!]
[W, we need to flee. We cannot win against them with our power alone!]
[No, if we make it through this fight, we'll become stronger!]
On the enemy side, no one other than Teraka were bigshots. Yu IlHan also immediately helped out the angels. Though, in fact, he just wanted to take all the dragon remains for himself!
"Mir, can you fight them?"
"Hing, I don't like those cowards. Dad, will I become a coward like them if I eat them?"
"If you're worried about that, it's fine. If I cook it well, all those weird things will disappear."
"Then I'll fight!"
Yumir also got off the Guardian fortress and charged towards the battlefield. Yu IlHan was relieved at Yumir's figure and he also went into the fight. Against higher existences, he had to conceal himself and had to put all his power to his surprise attacks, but right now, there was no need to do that.
"Mystic, maximum output. I don't care how many 4th class magic stones you use, so shoot to your heart's content."
[While not damaging the bodies, right? Roger that!]
Hundred Eyes floated in the air. As more mana gathered, the resting personnel also gathered their attention on that, and when everyone woke up, Mystic's strike pierced through the battlefield and instantly annihilated over a hundred dragons. It was a refreshing strike indeed!
[Wh, what is that!?]
[Lower existence! It's the one that Lord Teraka talked about!]
[B, but right now.]
Right now, you guys are all being lynched so it's no time for you to be hunting us! With an evil smirk that any villainess would have fallen for, Yu IlHan drove both the Flying fortress and the Guardian fortress.
"Hunt as much as possible. They are weak so there's no worry about dying! Miss YuNa, output as much blessings as possible!"
"Hiiing, I thought we could finally rest, but it's work again! I hate you, Mr. IlHan!"
However, even while she was grumbling, blessings were being poured onto the army filling the two fortresses.
Yu IlHan also felt his vitality rise after being blessed by her and took into the air. His concealment was revealed anyway. Right now, the one that rampaged the most was the winner.
"Orochi, let's work a little more!"
[There are a lot of easy food. I also welcome this hunt!]
The Eight-tailed dragon spear burned with a translucent flame. Yu IlHan thought that there was no need for Falling Down with the angels here. In fact, the dragons couldn't even escape properly so he didn't see the need to either!
[W, we cannot endure anymore.]
[We need to flee, but how?]
[Lord Teraka is not with us anymore! What we can trust... is nothing, dammit! Kugh!]
Even dragons over level 250 were mere mobs that were lower levelled than Yu IlHan himself! Yu IlHan moved faster than the angels who were now freed from the threat of Teraka, and tried his best to kill as many dragons as possible.
As long as he had his Eight-tailed dragon spear, Yu IlHan received 120% increase in his damage, so any random swing of his spear would annihilate the dragons here.
"Haaaaaaap!'
[Dragons, it's dragons! Master, swing bigger! Output your flames stronger!]
"IlHan is so cool!"
[J, just what is that lower existence!? I half-doubted it when they said we'll ally with them, but if it's him....!]
[A single strike from him killed twelve dragons! Just what is he!?]
[Yu IlHan, Yu IlHan of Earth!]
Thought not as much as Yu IlHan with the Eight-tailed dragon spear, it was the same for the two fortresses and the armies inside that had an easy time facing the dragons!
They finally met an enemy that 'won't kill them even with their strongest attacks'. Free experience was referring to this alright! Under Lier and Yumir's command, each of the armies rampaged around in joy.
[Khaaak!?]
[W, we cannot win. Not even against those small beings!]
[Lord Teraka, Lord Teraka!]
Yu IlHan-made armors and weapons increased the league of the members by a tier, and dragons that weren't higher existences could not possibly go against them. Like the first time Yu IlHan had hunted dragons, they were being given dragon slayer, dragon hunter and other titles of the like.
[W, we need to flee.] (T/N: We get it already, don't say it over and over again, sheesh)
[We grabbed onto to the wrong rope. Destruction Demon Army, we need to return to....]
"Where?'
The weapons held by angels glowed. Magic cast by hundreds of angels struck against the dragons continuously, and Yu IlHan's spear severed the lives of countless dragons.
Although their experience was way smaller compared to higher existences, their remains were one of the most needed materials for Yu IlHan right now! Yu IlHan did not stop and rampaged around. Right now, he was etching his existence deeply into the mind of the angels.
[What the hell, we abandoned Earth and gave up on that human?]
[S, shut up. What are you going to do if he hears it?]
[We need to bring him to the Heaven's Army. Although I had seen him once, his growth is frightening.]
Yu IlHan had killed dragons during his 2nd class days. Now that his level and his equipment have risen by several tiers, he could hunt dragons at a speed where even Spiera could not catch up.
His throw of the spear would kill several dragons, and his swing of the spear, containing ten strikes, would simultaneously behead ten dragons. It was only a matter of time until the dragons, numbering 5,000, all died.
[R, resentful.]
[I did not want to die like this. I only, wanted to live on in this continent....]
[Lord, Teraka....]
Listening to the final words of the enemies would provoke sympathy. As so, Yu IlHan killed the ones that talked a lot with priority. In fact, he had succeeded in concealing himself in mid battle, so no one could find him!
[Khhhhhhmmmm.]
At the time when Yu IlHan was butchering the enemies (and gathering them) like mad, the sky above the battlefield 'opened'. The sky, the atmosphere, and the clouds were literally splitting in half, so it could only be described as 'opened'.
[You maggots.]
A horrible aura that Yu IlHan had 'never felt before' was being emitted from beyond that.
[I finally thought I found a suitable successor, but they all died.]
The voice from the gap made Yu IlHan shiver. Just what kind of being was it to possess such an aura? Although he had expected this to a certain extent, never did he imagine he would meet such a frightening monster so early on!
[That's why us dragons are no good. We always let our guard down too easily. Since the powers we possess are too strong...]
Yu IlHan quickly returned to the Flying fortress and pulled his concealment over the two fortresses. Fortunately, the enemy hadn't shown himself, so his attempt succeeded. Liera and Yumir, who were watching him all the time, also followed him back. The same with the wolfkin, the elves, and the Dragon's Army!
[The Destruction Demon Army headed to Dareu has been 'annihilated', so I can finally show myself in this place...]
The enemy's voice rang out in the air. Unlike the angels that were confused at the 'annihilated' part, Yu IlHan had guessed what was going on and was sweating cold sweat. The enemy did not put him into consideration and continued speaking.
[I shall go to that place. The memorial of my kin, I shall have it paid using your blood. The power of Echjar, the 13th Battalion Commander. Receive it with your power.]
[E, Echjar!]
The angels shivered. Liera was also shocked and grabbed Yu IlHan's arm.
"I, Ilhan, Echjar is...."
"Oh, I know. You don't have to explain."
"How do you know!?"
"Well, that's because I couldn't finish off Teraka myself – meaning, the Eight-tailed dragon spear hasn't had its chance to act yet. And that means only one thing."
Yu IlHan's voice lowered. He continued after looking at the gigantic monster that showed itself slowly through the gap in the split sky.
"A dragon that's stronger than Teraka, in other words..."
The enemy he thought that he may have to face one day; one that he thought that it would only be after he became a higher existence that he would have to face it.
"A 7th class dragon."
[Kuooooooooooooooooooh!]
The dragon that could only come to Dareu after all of his kin were slaughtered, roared loudly throughout the world. While the angels and the army under Yu IlHan, immersed in the joy of victory, fell into despair, only one, Yu IlHan, had glistening eyes.
"What would pop out if I make equipment out of that guy?"
"Get yourself together, you idiooooooooooooooot!"
Shouted Liera with all her soul. Immediately after that, the Dragon of Despair descended upon Dareu.
The curtains to the biggest battle yet had risen.
Author's notes
6th classes aren't enough anymore to call nervousness from our MC.
[How can this be.]
[7th class....! The Dragon of Despair!]
[How can that being already be here? The Destruction Demon Army was annihilated!? Whatever happened that caused it to be able to come here? Just who, and how?]
[Kugh....]
Spiera momentarily tried to look at the Flying fortress where Yu IlHan and his army was residing in, but endured from doing so with her superhuman will. Yu IlHan also noticed what she was doing. At least, he could realize that she had done that for him.
That was why, he was more confused.
"....Humans really are unpredictable. They aren't just evil, nor just insane, nor just single-minded."
"Spiera is not a human but an angel."
"But I still can't understand her."
"Spiera won't fall for IlHan, right....?"
Yu IlHan had no confidence that his concealment would work against a 7th class being, but looking at things now, it seemed that his enemy did not see him. His gaze was fixed on Spiera.
[Only you here are capable of making this scene. Yes, how was it to behead a dragon?]
[Very satisfying. I think beheading you will be even more sensational.]
Spiera raised her spear. The 7th class dragon Echjar burst out in laughter at Spiera's words.
[Interesting, very interesting! It was worth it for me to come here!]
[It is only now that you're at your leisure. Do you not see the dragon blood flowing on this spear?]
Spiera was provoking an enemy on a higher league than hers without fear. The angels were shocked at her attitude, while contacting Heaven or casting defense magic on her. Of course, the enemy seemed to have confidence as he slowly walked out the gap in the skies.
[I wanted to leave at least one... No, now that this world became a higher world, if I acquire this world, dragons will naturally keep appearing in the future.]
[You'll acquire this world?]
[I alone am enough to fight you bitches, but.... The Army of Brilliant Light will also come here soon. We decided to hand them a treasure of the Destruction Demon Army. Well, if you're frustrated, why don't you ally with the Garden of Sunset?]
Even while knowing that the alliance will not happen, the dragon provoked the angels. An overwhelming mass of mana that covered its enormous body, enough to eclipse the size of all dragons Yu IlHan had hunted now put together, each materialized into large and sharp weapons.
[Were you so proud to kill a dragon? Well then, how about you show your skills to me as well.]
[You oversized lizard. I'm joyful that I can break a corner of the Destruction Demon Army today.]
The materialized mana charged towards Spiera and the nearby angels. The angels all cast defensive magic, but the weapons penetrated it easily, and as their movements were read already, they instantly pierced through the angels and their defenses.
[Khhak!]
[My LORD!]
"E, eeeek."
Over ten angels died on the spot. Liera's hand grabbing Yu IlHan's shoulder tensed. Although she had left the Heaven's Army, she could not leave behind her feelings towards the individuals as well.
"It's not that the angels are moving slowly. That guy's mana is hindering the angels' movements...!'
"I'm also analyzing it right now."
Yu IlHan's voice that replied to Liera's words that she said while clenching her teeth, was also full of nervousness. Currently, he was focusing his all on recording everything within his range of senses with the Record skill, but as the enemy was of 7th class, he was feeling a pressure. Falling Down would probably not work either.
The reason was simple. The enemy's reserve of mana was way too large. An overwhelming amount of mana that Yu IlHan could not bear was hindering him from recognizing, recording, and restricting the enemy! And this was relatively fast as well since he had concealed himself.
[Haaaaaaap!]
While all other angels had given up on resistance, only Spiera shouted and swung her spear towards him – with the Great Cosmos-severing Spear that killed the 6th class Teraka instantly, despite being helped by concealment!
[Fuu.]
However, the shield that the enemy made in less than an instant with just a snort simply blocked that strike. Spiera's full out attack continued for several more times, but the shield blocked everything.
[Hm.]
Muttered he in exclamation.
[You are especially strong for a 6th class. However, that's it. You cannot reach me. No, oh, is that it? Was this to buy time for your allies to retreat?]
The moment the dragon's wings unfolded widely, the moment flames filled the air! – the wings of the angels that tried to flee while leaving Spiera, could not endure and melted like the wings of Icarus. And then a large-scale ice magic came afterwards! Spiera desperately swung her spear to cut apart his mana, but just the traces of the magic was enough to freeze a part of an angel.
[Oh, Lord God.]
[Please give us salvation. If you cannot save me, please bestow salvation upon my colleagues…..!]
[That damned God, that disgusting God! Call him out here, I SAID CALL HIM OUT!]
The more the dragon's wings flapped, the more it snorted, the more angels groaned in pain. Only the sole 6th class, Spiera, was holding out relatively well.
Yu IlHan was worried that Erta might be within their ranks, but fortunately, she could not be seen among them. It seemed that she had fled early on.
Mystic was retreating from the moment the dragon appeared, but judged that that was not enough and reported to Yu IlHan.
[Master, I think we'll be affected soon. I can nullify it, but the concealment would probably wear off in the process.]
"Yes, flee. We need to flee."
Even with Yu IlHan's reckless attitude, he could not enforce it on the army he had, there were still loads of 3rd class beings here, there's no way he could let them go against a 7th class!
Even Yumir, a 4th class, and of the same kin, had a nosebleed while standing on the outer wall of the Flying fortress. Although he seemed to have been inspired a lot from the extreme limits that his race could reach, any more than this would be dangerous even for him.
"Mystic, I will now send the Flying fortress and the Guardian fortress to a safe region... the concealment would wear off immediately, but there should be no problems in defending yourself on the spot, so don't worry about that."
[Concealment will wear off...? Master, you?]
"I, I.... of course, gotta kill that guy."
Even the ever-confident Yu IlHan could not keep his confidence in this situation. He felt his own voice trembling and let out a laughter. However, he did not plan to retreat here.
"As long as the battle is within this continent, no one will catch me, so I have the confidence to survive. Moreover."
I said this last time, but a person's heart is mysterious indeed.
He muttered that inside his heart and looked at Spiera who was facing off against a 7th class dragon. Although he never changed his mind to screw her up, and was also building his plans towards that...
"I can't send her off so easily like this. If I did that, I'll die due to the tugging on my mind."
"You really are an idiot. Though, that side about you is cool as well."
Liera did not stop him. Instead, she stood by his side quietly. This was her expression of never leaving his side even if she had to die.
"That magic formation can cover for the two of us, right?"
"I can't help it I guess."
Yu IlHan accepted her with a bitter smile. Yumir, Na YuNa, and Yu IlHan's other subordinates that saw the two wished to go with them, but he firmly shook his head.
"You guys are too lacking. Moreover, I'm going to come back alive so don't look at me as if I'm going to die there."
"But Your majesty, we met after such a long time..."
"I said I won't die."
"But...."
The most worried was Na YuNa.
"Mr. IlHan. Let's just all escape to Earth, please?"
"Miss YuNa, if we don't proceed, what remains is only regress. Fleeing will become a habit. We'll have to face that guy anyway once the Earth becomes a higher world."
Although Yu IlHan didn't know this, his words were similar to what Teraka said. And Teraka, had met a vain death after saying those words.
Of course, Teraka and Yu IlHan had differences, but whether that will work against a 7th class being, he did not know. Looking at the rampaging dragon, he thought that he had acquired enough records, but even the most amazing of records would lose meaning without the ability to realize the potential.
Despite that, Yu IlHan's voice was full of confidence.
"Go first. I'll finish it off real quick and come back.'
"Uuuu, that's really dangerous though. Mr. IlHan, you idiot, iiiiidiot!"
Having felt that she could not stop him, Na YuNa muttered in dejection and hopped towards him. Even Liera, who would have normally blocked her, let her be for now, and Na YuNa could be embraced by Yu IlHan. She dug her face into his chest and spoke.
"I'm going to curse you if you die. I'm going to reveal the contents of the "New Folder" on your pc or the entire D drive!"
"I'm fine with everything else, but please delete the 'English lectures' folder."
"Iiiiiidiot."
[Kahak.]
While Yu IlHan was persuading his subordinates, the battlefield was progressing rapidly as well. Over half of the angels that came to Dareu had died, and half of that number safely escaped the battlefield, and Spiera, who was swinging her spear without holding back in order to buy time for the others to flee, was already half-dying.
[Hmm, you're not enough.]
However, at this point, Echjar felt a sense of awkwardness.
[You should not have been able to kill Teraka so easily with that much power.]
[Why don't you test me. You have not brought out my all!]
[Hah.]
At the same time the dragon swung with his wings, the wind that generated assaulted Spiera. She severed the attack with several attacks of the Great Cosmos-severing Spear, but the aura that she could not cut apart inflicted a light wound on her body. Right now, even that light wound was very serious for her.
[Your attack power is strong indeed, but something is definitely lacking. Just what could it be. So that's it. You lack speed and concealment.]
Echjar reached the conclusion quickly.
[There is someone else. There is someone else that I don't know about, in this place!]
At the same time he shouted that, a violent surge of mana exploded outwards with him as the center! Yu IlHan immediately activated the magic formation to send everyone other than himself and Liera, but he coulndn't safely bypass the shock of the mana explosion even with five Aegis shields stacked together.
"Kugh."
"Kyaak!"
The shock that even Infernal dragon body could not absolve inflicted shock on Yu IlHan. However, it was fortunate that Liera wasn't seriously injured as he had embraced her.
[I definitely felt something. But I still cannot know where that is.]
[Dragon, did you get Alzheimer's after living so long? I said there was no such thing.]
Spiera laughed at him and took up her spear. Although her blood-covered arms were trembling minutely, the aura at her spear tip was still as bright as ever.
[You must not be thinking that only the Destruction Demon Army possess 7th class beings. You were too reckless. You've blown this war very far out of proportion.]
[Do you think I fear anyone? I am the King of Dragons. The 13th Battalion Commander of the Destruction Demon Army, Echjar!]
Echjar's attention that was headed to a certain someone hiding within the area fixed on Spiera yet again. Liera thought that this was the perfect time to do a surprise attack, but Yu IlHan shook his head.
"What he showed from the beginning until now is all a feint. From the moment he appeared, he knew of my existence, and he has not let go of his wariness towards me. You remember how the 5th class giant was prepared against my surprise attack right? This guy definitely has something as well."
However, the option on Yu IlHan's gauntlet – calling out a shadow to distract the others – was not ready to reuse yet. He wondered if it would work even if he could use it.
"Then... then what are you going to do? We can only run away."
"Actually, it's not quite like that either."
Yu IlHan watched as Spiera attacked with all her power, and as the dragon only snorted and prepared a large scale magic, while he prepared his own skill as well.
What would be consumed as 1,300 4th class magic stones and 15 5th class magic stones. This was a tremendous requirement to prepare for a single skill, but he could only use them all as the 'target of accompaniment' of the skill was quite a high tiered being after all.
"If it is found out that I used this method, I wouldn't be able to use it again, and though I thought about using this against Spiera, though this is a method I did not plan to use without Erta's help…"
"IlHan..."
"However, against an opponent that's firing large scale magics like nothing, it should be possible. It's probably trying to discover where I am, but..."
That would instead be his downfall. Yu IlHan noticed that the skill was ready and waited for the right timing nervously.
[Die, beast!]
[Kroaaaaaaaaar!]
Not yet, Spiera had just commenced attack on him.
[You'll do what with this puny attack? It's so funny that I don't know what to do, you angel!]
His mana puffed up. The mana forms a meticulous structure and into magic.
The magic activates. The shiveringly cold icy aura that spread from him instantly spread towards the surroundings and put not only Spiera into his attack range, but Yu IlHan and Liera as well... and at that moment.
"Now!"
Yu IlHan activated the skill.
The name of the skill was Warp, and the destination was none other than Earth.
The rarest of skills, Warp, that allowed him to leap worlds with others if he consumed additional magic stones. The 'target that the user wants to' on the skill explanation, did not necessarily mean allies, and it could be anyone that he wanted to accompany him.
In other words, if he wished to, and had enough magic stones to consume, even Echjar could be drawn into the Warp skill, and that meant…..
"Kuuuuuugh."
"Ugh."
[....What?]
The four beings that were safely warped to Earth, voiced out with different expressions. Yu IlHan and Liera in pain, Spiera in confusion and panic, and.
[Kkuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahk!]
Due to the fact that he attacked a 'lower existence' 'first' in a 'lower world', Echjar screamed as the pain of his qualifications of a higher existence being stripped from him began.
Author's notes
Like what he said, the 'warp attack' was a method that Yu IlHan was going to use on Spiera. Some of you may have realized from the previous chapter!
Translator's notes
Note: Do NOT ask ME for answers. I don't know how that works, I'm the translator not the author. I thought he told the kids 'don't resist' when he took them to Breya. I have a lot of doubts as well. Just don't think about the theory. Just sit back and enjoy the read, and marvel at Yu IlHan's smarts.
If you ask me why there were only two chapters for the past few days, it's because I'm having a neural meltdown from the translation and heat. (I also set up a new PC – a cheap one – and I'm not used to the keyboard yet, and that took time to set up as well.)
[Khaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Damned insect! You dirty and cowardly lower existeeeeeeeeeeence!]
Echjar instantly realized what had happened to him. He noticed that an unfamiliar mana had wrapped around him the moment Warp activated. However, at that moment, he was controlling his magic and could not push back or evade that mana. Like that, he was swept in the dimensional transportation. Without any time to cancel his magic, the magic attacked Yu IlHan and Liera, and naturally, the qualifications of being a member of the Destruction Demon Army was stripped from him.
[Kuaaaaaaaak!]
[Just, what...]
"Good, perfect."
"So this is the cowardly method you mentioned? How can it be so cowardly...?"
"Didn't I say exactly that it would be very cowardly?"
In fact this was also the highest achievement his Record skill had gotten so far. The moment he was careless, the moment he could only be swept away by the skill even while knowing that it was happening, and the moment direct harm was inflicted on Yu IlHan and Liera!
All the records he had gathered using the Record skill, was used to spot that one moment. And the result was a big success. That guy was spewing blood and leaking mana everywhere!
[Kill, I'll kill kill you! I WILL KILL YOU!]
Of course, as the realm he had reached was very high, it wasn't like he fell to a lower existence right away, but despite that, the continuously dropping league, the continuously leaking mana, was inflicting horrible wounds and excruciating pain.
However, despite that, if there was something that frustrating him, it was that Yu IlHan and Liera was only inflicted damage by his magic, and did not act directly, so the concealment hadn't worn off!
[Come out! I SAID COME OUT!]
[Would you have come out if you heard that? Truly laughable, no, truly frightening....]
While he emitted mana in all directions while roaring in pain, Spiera, who had slightly recovered, re-gripped the pure-white spear and laughed. Spiera had also been attacked by the dragon after coming to Earth, so her qualifications will not get stripped even if she attacked!
[Truly an interesting man.]
Thinking up of such thing and putting it into action as well, who could have imagined that? She was not afraid of the enemy anymore. Although she was same in the regard that her body was exhausted, the one here was not her alone.
[Well then. The one in front of you is me, dragon. I don't think you can escape death at this rate... but wouldn't you love to rampage to your heart's content before that?]
[You dare laugh at me?]
Echjar roared. A 7th class was a 7th class after all. The magic that flowed out from his control reversed into his mouth momentarily and the next moment, it changed into black flames and shot out like a ray of light!
[Kugh!?]
"Kyak!"
"Insane...!?"
The large-scale beam of destruction, that made not only Spiera who was a little relieved right now, but Yu IlHan and Liera who were still concealed, shiver in fear, destroyed everything in its path and made a gigantic hole on the ground.
That was not the end, and the mana harboring a frightening curse instantly polluted the surrounding region and was encroaching to the other areas! If Earth had a will, it would have expelled him long ago!
[Kraoooooooooooooooh!]
A roar containing a very, very dense amount of mana, unbelievable for one that was losing his league, filled the air.
[I am not strong because I reached the 7th class. I! COULD REACH 7TH CLASS BECAUSE I WAS STRONG!]
[Hmph.]
Spiera was also the same in the regard that she was proud to have reached the realm where she was. She extended her two pairs of wings, and evaded the attacks of the dragon by using all the mana in her surroundings. The mana crystals on the surface of her spear peeled off one by one and started to rotate around her.
[Trying to harm me using mana? FOOLISH!]
[We won't know if we don't try. No, seeing as you can't even control your own mana, I think the outcome is obvious!]
A 7th class losing his league clashed against a gravely wounded 6th class. However, Echjar was still a lot stronger than Spiera. Like the time he shout out a beam of destruction, he did not just let go of the mana leaking from his body, and used it to attack Spiera instead.
[Khaaaaaaaaaah![
[Kufufu….. *cough*, you look horrible for someone who shouted so arrogantly, angel!]
[Hah, you too....!]
The white blood bursting out from Spiera's body made a rainbow in the atmosphere. Of course, the dragon was not in a good state either. Not because he had received injuries from Spiera, but because the more it tried to move its body and control the mana, the destruction of his body accelerated.
"Uaaaah, just looking at someone falling to a lower existence is horrible. I remember back then."
"I'm fine with you sticking to me, but please, save it for later."
Meanwhile, what Yu IlHan was doing, was estimating the time he would attack that guy. Although he did not expect the enemy to be weakened so instantly, never did he imagine that guy would last so long either! However, thanks to that, another one of his hopes became achievable.
"Although I had given up by coming to Earth, perhaps I might be able to get intact 7th class remains."
"My IlHan, this noona likes your unchanging attitude to things."
And so, Yu IlHan was aiming for only one thing – the moment he was weakened enough to the point where he would not longer be able to block Yu IlHan's attack, while the body still retained its value as a 7th class!
'That's mine. I can't give that to Spiera, or the Heaven's Army.'
In fact, Spiera didn't wound that guy much either, so if Yu IlHan's attack succeeded, he would be able to take the remains fair and square. There was only one thing that tugged his mind – the possibility that the dragon was preparing something against Yu IlHan's surprise attack.
"But even so, I need to get in there before it's too late."
The spear that flew out with a push of his hand killed around three monsters on the ground and the Deathgod skill activate to enhance Yu IlHan's abilities.
After that, he threw the spear around two more times to achieve 100% increase of all his abilities, and checked that Na YuNa's blessing was still in effect and imbued mana into his spear. Meanwhile, Liera took out her spear as well and breathed deeply to calm herself down.
"I'll take it after you."
"He might have put up self-defense measures. Though, I'm not sure if it will be effective now that he fell to a lower existence.... But rather than trying to inflict damage, please deflect any possible counterattacks."
"Got it."
Even right now, Spiera was having a hard time against the enemy. He wouldn't have brought her here if he wanted her to die. Yu IlHan did not hesitate anymore and charged forward.
Blaze, purple flame, Eternal Flame, and Dragonic blood! The strongest flame that Yu IlHan could make while not using Falling Down, burned in a translucent ball at the tip of his spear.
'Fuuuuu.'
The moment he struck out, what replayed in his mind was the Great Cosmos-severing Spear that Spiera had shown him!
'Of course, there's no way I could do that if it was possible just by seeing her demonstration once.'
Although it was quite frustrating to acknowledge, by this time, he wondered if the problem was with his talent. Skills weren't so easily learned just because someone taught you, or you were qualified to learn it.
However, if he tried more, he would be able to reach that realm someday. The path Yu IlHan had walked until now was like that after all. Yu IlHan hid his short thoughts and picked up his spear. Now, Echjar's gigantic body was right in front of his eyes.
'The sharpness of the sword, the speed of the whip, the strength of a blunt weapon. And physical combat that tie all of them into the spear!'
And using all of that, while striking several times with the Spear of Untraceable...!
"Hhhhhhhhhp!"
[Got you!]
'Kugh!?"
However, the moment Yu IlHan's spear inflicted a deep wound on the gigantic body, the dragon caught onto Yu IlHan's position with frightening reflexes and immediately focused his mana on the wounded part.
[Yu IlHan!?]
"Hbbb!"
A Jetstream of blood burst out from the wound without any delay! From the frightening and deadly aura inside that blood, the identity was a vicious curse that Yu IlHan had experienced before. As it used blood as the medium, it required sacrifice from the user, and was just as vicious and unrelenting curse!
Though he didn't know it was an ability that reacted to the moment of an attack, but he did indeed expect a counterattack. Yu IlHan immediately tried to escape the place and pass the baton to Liera and Spiera, but...
"Ugh!? Uhhhhhp!"
"Eeeek, this is!"
It didn't go as he wished to – he could not move, and Liera's spear could not cut apart the blood.
[Frightening resistance alright. If any more time had passed, I might have failed....!]
Muttered the gigantic dragon while pouring out black blood from all of its body. All of the leaking blood flowed according to the flow of curse that the dragon had used as a final attack and was assaulting and restricting Yu Ilhan.
[Even though I'm in the midst of my falling, to think you can resist the curse I've used my blood and mana to inflict... are you really a lower existence?]
"Wha, jus, wha….."
Muttered Yu IlHan in shock, but the blood already covered his entire body and he couldn't even speak properly. As if to drown Yu IlHan to death in his blood, the dragon was pouring out endless streams of blood!
"Eeeeeeeih! The blood does not cut so well! IlHaaaaan!"
[Li, LIera! Stop. That curse is spiritually connecting Yu IlHan and Echjar directly. If you attack Echjar right now, you may inflict damage on Yu IlHan as well!]
Liera tried to cancel the curse with her spear, but like what Spiera said, the curse of the dragon had a complex spiritual structure, and if something went wrong, even Yu IlHan would be put into dire straits.
Although he was prepared for any counterattack of power, never did Yu IlHan imagine that what the dragon had prepared was a curse that even his higher curse resistance could not block against. He was gritting his teeth in the pitch black world of blood.
Echjar laughed heartily even while his spirit and body was being weakened real-time, seeing Yu IlHan's situation.
[My main source of intake is despair and fear. I become stronger as you despair!]
"Even though you're being weakened....!"
However, thinking back, Liera also possessed her powers as an angel for quite a long time while she fought against Chaos Will. It was not surprising that Echjar, a 7th class, was holding out longer.
Thinking of the power of the curse that seeped into Yu IlHan's body and boil his blood and burn his flesh, Yu IlHan's death would come faster than the dragon's fall.
'Fu, fuuu....'
The Infernal dragon body had no option against curses, so it couldn't do anything to the curse either – he had added another option instead of something related to curses since he believed in his own curse resistance. He thought that the was a fool for being completely relieved against curses since there was no higher stage of curse resistance.
So by 7th class, one can ignore even a mastered skill! Even if it was one during a fall to a lower realm! Yu IlHan acquired a new realization. Though, it was slightly late.
"IlHan!"
[Dammit, I did hear that you were one of the most vicious and evil of the dragons, but...!]
[Blabber all you want. Yes, if I kill this human and absorb his records, then I might be able to return to Dareu! Then, only you will remain in this closed world... huh?]
Having felt that he could not resist with just curse resistance alone, Yu IlHan agitated all his powers he had in his body to resist.
First was Falling Down, something that could be seen as a higher version of curse resistance! In his domain of Falling Down, his recovery rate will increase by 5 times as well. If he brought up his Transcendent regeneration to the limits to resist, then perhaps!
[You really are no ordinary human... I will have to kill you off here!]
The pressure from the curse became stronger. The blood that seeped into every single hole in his body was frightening!
Yu IlHan tried to focus all of his flames within the Falling Down domain to burn the blood, but the curse did not disappear even after the blood became vapor, and instead, it stuck to him even more to make him more agonized. Flames were no good!
'Then...!'
Right now, the dragon definitely said that the curse will not dissolve unless one of the two, Yu IlHan or himself, dies. That meant that if Yu IlHan somehow survived this curse, the one to die will become the dragon instead!
"Even though you're falling to a lower existence without being able to do anything, you want to kill me....? Let's do it then!"
Yu IlHan gritted his teeth and activated Dragonic blood. Of course, the target of enhancement was Transcendent regeneration! In the domain of Falling Down, if he could not win against the curse even with the Transcendent regeneration enhanced by Dragonic blood, he shall welcome death!
However, at the moment he activated Dragonic blood, something completely unexpected reacted inside of him.
It was the aura of a dragon that seeped into him from the moment he got into a contract with Yumir.
'....Huh, wait.'
Yu IlHan forgot about the pain from Echjar's curse and focused on what was happening inside him. Echjar's enormous mana, the curse he was controlling, as well as the mana of Falling down – numerous different types of mana were clashing against each other, somewhere within the frenzy, there was an aura that burned in bright white even amidst all of that.
A dragon's aura – he had felt this early on when he 'bathed' in the Giant Bucket. The special kind of flow that changed his mana from the foundation, little by little, could not be forgotten even if he wanted to.
However, right now, it was reacting again at the moment he tried to enhance Transcendent regeneration with the help of Dragonic blood. Yu IlHan predicted that it was due to Echjar's mana that was being poured into him
[...Dragon? You, you harbor the aura of dragons!]
Echjar also realized that fact. Of course, Yu IlHan couldn't even respond right now. He was busy just thinking about what kind of method he had to use with that aura to help him survive or going further, to control Echjar's mana.
However, the conclusion was simple. If dragon's mana was reacting, then he just needed to make the same environment when it reacted before!
So, what Yu IlHan did, was to summon the Giant Bucket in midair without any hesitation.
[Just what is, an artifact that harbors the essence of dragons... what!?]
"There we go."
Then, he moved his body very slowly through the blood and sat himself down in the bucket. He even called out Aegis to hold the bucket in midair.
"...IlHan, you."
Echjar's blood naturally enveloped the Giant Bucket as well, and although it was hard to recognize, it wasn't like it was hard to realize that Yu IlHan was bathing in Echjar's blood.
"..."
[...]
[...]
To think he'd start bathing when he could barely move thanks to the curse – seeing a completely unpredictable scene in front of them, both allies and enemies fell into silence. However, like a loner, Yu IlHan didn't mind the gaze of others and focused on himself and the Bucket.
'I can do it. I can do it...!'
He activated Dragonic blood to forcefully change his own blood to closer to that of a dragon's, and used that for Transcendent regeneration. While the blood within his body caused a rejection to Echjar's blood, the Giant Bucket finally started resonating with him!
[Just, what....!?]
Echjar, who had initially been full of rage at the one that made him fall to a lower existence, questioned what he was doing, rather than continuing to rage.
However, as long as the curse had been activated, he would have a hard time moving, and as he could not cancel the curse as he wished to, and could only watch what Yu IlHan was doing.
"Kkhhhhhh , but this."
While the Giant Bucket and Yu IlHan's blood were synchronizing, the blood containing Echjar's curse, rampaged violently, trying to dissolve Yu IlHan to nothing.
It would be the best if the Giant Bucket could encroach on the dragon's blood as well, but the owner of the blood was still alive! As if to resist the Giant Bucket's aura, it started to affect the Giant Bucket as well. Reddish black smoke was coming off from various parts of the Giant Bucket.
[Master, even though the Giant Bucket is an artifact, his blood is too strong!]
"Right?"
Yu IlHan was also aware of that threat – his Giant Bucket may become unusable! That was why, he took out whatever 5th class magic stones there were in his inventory. – there were four of them. This should be enough!
"If that's so, I'll just upgrade the Giant Bucket right here and now!"
[Master's imagination always exceeds my imagination...]
[Kugh! My curse.... YOU!]
Now that things came to this, he would stop at nothing. This fight was already no longer a fight between Echjar and Yu IlHan, but Yu IlHan against the very concept of dragons.
He smashed down with the 5th class magic stones in his hand and made it clash against the Giant Bucket and activated Mana crafting that was at level 99!
Golden mana colored the world. The mana that all the magic stones had emitted were sucked into the bucket, temporarily pushing Echjar's blood back as well.
[Th, this...!]
"What the hell is IlHan doing?"
[Just what kind of curse resistance allows him such free movement inside such a frightening curse…..?]
Yu IlHan's body resonated with the Giant Bucket and started glowing as well. He had to maintain Falling Down, resist the dragon's curse, and even focus on the upgrade process, so his head felt like it would explode, but he endured. Endured and focused his senses to their limits!
[Kuuugh.]
If his conditions were normal, he would have poured more mana in order to drive Yu IlHan into further straits, but as he had to hold his body from collapsing due to the rapid fall in league, he could not do that. It was quite the deadlock.
"Spiera, what can I do for IlHan...?"
[We cannot do anything, Liera. Just prevent Echjar from doing anything else.]
Focusing on the control of his mana for Mana crafting on the Giant Bucket, while fighting against the curse that tried to dissolve his skin, blood vessels, nerves, muscles and even bones, was something that even higher existences would shudder in the thought of it – he had endured through an unknown amount of time while in that state.
[Kugh!?]
"I did it!"
Now, the golden mana that glowed as if to fill the world with light, even dawned on Yu IlHan's vision as well!
After the flash, an enormous amount of mana was absorbed into the Giant Bucket at once. The magic stones in his hands had long since disappeared, all the mana contained inside them were used in the upgrade of the Giant Bucket.
[Cradle of Miracles was completed.]
A single line of text etched itself onto Yu IlHan's retina. There was no need to read the follow-up texts – Yu IlHan had a complete understanding of this artifact. The only important thing was that this artifact, born during the most dangerous times of Yu IlHan, was of the God rank.
"Good."
Yu IlHan acknowledged that it was his fault for trying to win against an enemy so easily. That was why, and precisely because of that.
"This is the final round."
The Cradle of Miracles and Yu IlHan, the resonance between the two became deeper as time went on. Even the Infernal dragon body, that could not show its light until now, participated in the resonance.
The lump of Echjar's blood that tried to dissolve the Cradle of Miracles, the Infernal dragon body, and Yu IlHan's body, clearly halted this time. Immediately after that, a slight tinge of gold emerged from the depths of the reddish black blood of curses.
Ehcjar finally realized what Yu IlHan was doing.
[...? Nonsensical. Don't tell me you, a mere lower existence, is trying to take over the control of my mana?]
"We won't know if we don't try, no..."
Yu IlHan realized that the blood that seeped into his eyes behind the eyeball, had disappeared from his eyes, and that his transcendent regeneration had recovered his eyesight as well.
The battlefield that he had to rely on his other senses to feel finally entered his eyes.
"IlHan!"
[Yu IlHan...truly amazing!]
Liera and Spiera shouted in joy when they saw Yu IlHan's 'revival' after they were at loss what to do from the moment Yu IlHan attacked the dragon. They could also see the gigantic dragon roaring in the air connected to Yu Ilhan via a path of blood.
Although the dragon was still retaining its form as his mana control was tremendous, but the more Yu IlHan held out against the curse, the worse his state became. Really, it was a curse that would not end unless one side died.
"Seeing as you can't even control your own mana, I think the outcome is obvious!"
[You immediately used my line…]
Disregarding Spiera's grumbles, Yu IlHan accelerated the resonance between himself and the Cradle of Miracles. As the intervals between the resonances became shorter, the dragon's blood also thumped in a manner similar to a heartbeat, and reacted to it. Eventually, the moment Yu IlHan had been waiting for, had arrived. The blood full of curses started being purified!
[This, cannot...!?]
Echjar voiced out in shock. No one in his long lifespan had erased his curse from resisting it head on!
No, it wasn't just that. From the moment the blood was cleansed of the curse, it emitted golden light and resonated with the Cradle of Miracles, and started flowing back to Yu IlHan.
It was a fundamentally different flow compared to when the curse was trying to destroy Yu IlHan's body. The blood containing lifeforce and mana had regenerated the wounds Yu IlHan had and was transforming his mana!
"See?"
Yu IlHan felt that his internal mana was resonating with Echjar's blood and was intermixing. It wasn't that he didn't feel a sense of resistance or rejection, but as Transcendent regeneration recovered his body, the blood was also being changed to suit him. Echjar voiced out his shock.
[Th, this cannot be. I, the King of Dragons, cannot lose to a puny human! There's no way I'd fall to being a foothold for a mere human's growth!]
"I feel like I've grasped the path I should walk on in the future. So I'll say a word of thanks – thanks."
[You have absorbed a portion of the blood and mana of the Dragon of Despair, Echjar, through the Cradle of Miracles. Magic permanently increases by 235. The body has commenced evolving, but the results are minute and does not show on the outside.]
Yu IlHan eventually stood up from the Cradle of Miracles and stored it back into his inventory. His body movements were very light, and was full of vitality.
Right now, who was it that could not move due to the curse? Yu IlHan's mana was steadily being amplified while he absorbed the golden blood, but Echjar's blood was being drained without being able to move. Of course, that would also stop the moment his mana is depleted!
[I, the 13th Battalion Commander of the Destruction Demon Army, Lord Echjar…..!]
And that, would be the moment of his death.
"But I won't let that happen."
It wasn't that Yu IlHan had a change of heart and decided to join the Destruction Demon Army. It's just that he could not bear to watch the dragon's body falling in league anymore. He didn't even know when he could meet and beat another 7th class!
"It should still have a value as a 7th class remains. It's fine. If it's now, it will be fine…..!"
[YOU, YU ILHAAAAAAAAAAN!]
Echjar roared towards Yu IlHan in rage, as he finally realized that Yu IlHan had only seen him as equipment materials until the very end!
However, Yu IlHan completely ignored his roar, and pushed all the mana that was enhanced by the dragon's blood into the tip of his Eight-tailed dragon spear and called the flames inside the domain of Falling Down to one place.
Right now, there was no need to bind that gigantic thing with the soulflame chains. He had bound himself up like a present.
[Is that, the power that Yu IlHan had acquired…..?]
"IlHan....!"
As long as the curse connected the two, Liera and Spiera could not interfere. Spiera, who had her stage stolen mid-way, looked at the scene absentmindedly, and Liera was gripping on to her spear just in case.
However, Liera's turn would not arrive. With the Eight-tailed dragon spear that raised his attack by 120% against dragonkin, if he could not kill the half-dead dragon, his title as a dragon Slayer would cry.
[Stop!]
Shouted Echjar hurriedly. It was a voice that plead for life.
[Do you know what it means to kill me!?]
"I've heard that around a billion times from your underlings, so don't worry."
Once again, he thought of the trajectory that Spiera had drawn. The amazing trajectory that allowed her to inflict a wound on a 7th class as a 6th class.
He still didn't have the confidence to recreate that. He thought that those clothes weren't a fit for him.
"But if it's something else!"
[Kuoooooooooh!]
He pierced his spear forward with a step forward. Right now, the things he could do were enough to kill the enemy.
Although the things he could imbue into his spear were the sharpness of the sword and the speed of the whip – just those two, there were ten of the same strikes that struck out simultaneously!
[Critical Hit!]
The text that told the fatal strike covered Yu IlHan's retina. Once, from those ten strikes.
From the moment he gave up on learning the Great Comsos-severing Spear, he ironically gained a hint on the path he could walk.
[The skill, Spear of Untraceable Trajectory, has become level 98!]
[You, shall definitely...!]
Echjar, who was still conscious after his head was bisected, muttered with the last bit of willpower.
[You, sh....!]
The contents that came afterwards were the same – The Destruction Demon Army shall not let you go, or the other Commanders won't go down so easily or other things like that! Yu IlHan nodded his head as if to say that it was unnecessary to warn him.
"I'll take care of everything. Leave everything to me and go on your way."
[I don't think that's something you should say to someone you killed...]
Spiera retorted, but Yu IlHan did not react to that. The moment Echjar died, an absurd amount of experience came in thanks to him holding out for so long despite the fact that he should have fallen to a lower existence long ago, and according to that, he had to focus on receiving all of it.
[You have earned experience.]
[You have earned the record of Lv502(539) Echjar.]
[The ability of the title, Untouchable, becomes stronger. All abilities will increase by 15% every league the opponent is higher than you.]
[You have become level 299. 6 Strength, 4 Agility, 3 Health, 7 Magic gained.]
[You cannot become level 300 without becoming 5th class. All experience earned beforehand will be calculated after you have acquired 5th class.]
Well, then!
Yu IlHan calmed down his excited heart and focused on his retina. The path he had walked on until now was already so hard, but what was necessary to become 5th class? Come at me! I'll take you all on! – was his feelings right now.
"...Huh?"
However, when nothing appeared no matter how long he had waited, Yu IlHan suspected that the Akashic Record was broken or something.
"What the hell? What is this?"
[What is it, Yu IlHan? Is his curse still remaining?]
"IlHan, are you alright!?"
The angel and the former angel flew over to him in fear. Yu IlHan replied with an awkward voice.
"There's no guide to earning 5th class?"
"Oh, that."
Liera smiled brightly while replying, as if she was worried for nothing.
"Because there is no such thing in the first place."
"Wh, at....?"
If Erta was here, if Erta, who acquired the dao in explaining things simply thanks to Yu IlHan, was here! – she would have said this.
That from 5th class onwards, it was no longer multiple choice.
Author's notes
Now, I find it's nothing new to go over quantity like this…. (cries)
Some of you might have noticed, yes. IlHan met a dragon 5th class as his first higher existence encounter, and encounters stronger monsters after he grows up a bit. Unlike Echjar, who he could beat thanks to various circumstances, other 7th classes are quite hard!
Translator's notes
$4 left! 0 Sponsors now! (though there's a regular chapter tomorrow) (The queue does not get updated that frequently, the 196 you saw yesterday was actually 96 after the two were posted)
If he was asked what he preferred between multiple choice questions and writing-type questions, Yu IlHan would definitely answer multiple choice. Not only Yu IlHan, this was a common occurrence in any other Korean youth that have received the cramming education.
But slightly exaggerating, this was the most important moment in Yu IlHan's life, the entry to higher existence! But now, it was a massive essay question!
Yu IlHan checked with Liera with a gloomy face.
"There's no hint? Not even one?"
"If you're looking for a hint, there's one right in front of you."
Liera stabbed her fingers into Spiera's wings. He was about to say something to Liera, but even Spiera seemed to be on business here and only smiled.
[The Heaven's Army is very good, Yu IlHan.]
"..."
They were going about on business against a guy they just betrayed, like nothing had happened. Really, the moment it had anything to do with factions, he didn't want to talk with this woman.
Yu IlHan shook his head and stared at Liera. She only shrugged and put her hands down.
"Even if you look at me with such eyes, if there is any shortcut to becoming a higher existence, it's to join a faction. Didn't I say this before?"
"But I didn't even know there was no advancement mission."
[Yu IlHan, all you need to do is to come to the Heaven's Army. Everything will be solved that way. You shall become a higher existence to acquire eternity and infinite potential, and the Army acquires a talent that could kill a 7th class despite being a 4th class – This is a splendid win-win scenario!]
"That's....let me think over it carefully."
He had no plans to join the Heaven's Army even if he died, but it seemed that Spiera completely considered him as an ally as he moved in to 'save' her. Well, it would become easier for him to strike her on the back of her head later the more she trusted him, however, it was also the truth that it would burden his conscience more.
Yu IlHan looked at Spiera with an awkward expression, but Spiera continued her business pitch with glistening eyes.
[A new angel is always welcome, Yu IlHan!]
"Fine, I get it."
Even while sighing, Yu IlHan cleaned his spear and put it back inside his armor. Thinking back, the situation wasn't so grim either. Although he did panic a lot when there was no information on how to become a 5th class after receiving guidance all the way from 1st class to 4th, it wasn't like his path of growth was completely blocked.
Just in this battle alone, there were two: his path with the spear as well as the opportunity to transform himself using the Dragon's blood, mana, and the Cradle of Miracles. That was definitely a power that Yu IlHan had to acquire, and that was only possible for him to acquire.
"Then let's head back."
"Yes, the others will be worried sick by now."
[I was worried about what would happen when Echjar appeared, but to think it will be absolved in such an absurd way...]
Spiera muttered out her surprise, and thought that these kind of things happened as everyday occurrence when she was with Yu IlHan, and nodded her head naturally.
[It was just that you were insanely nonsensical.]
"You're insulting me as if it's nothing."
[It was not an insult, did you receive it that way?]
"It was a leading interrogation?"
Instead of replying, Spiera smiled. Yu IlHan also smiled. Then, he activated the Warp skill in order to move to Dareu again.
As he had the record of warping to Dareu once before, and as Echjar had died, the number of magic stones he required this time were a few 3rd and 4th class magic stones. After a brief wait, the three immediately returned to Dareu, where the Heaven's Army camp was located, and also where there was war going on between them and the Destruction Demon Army.
[I cannot feel the presence of Echjar anywhere in this world... Just what happened to Spiera!?]
[What happened to Yu IlHan, and Liera!?]
[How can they so perfectly conceal themselves from the world? Did Yu IlHan take them with the method he used to come over... no, even if that were the case, he should not have been able to bring Echjar into his magic!]
At that time, all angels in the scene were in panic.
[We need to report to the higher ups... a Battalion Commander had moved!]
[But that very same Battalion commander disappeared!]
[But shouldn't we report anyway? Perhaps the scale of this war will become bigger than we think!]
They were surprised when Teraka ambushed them with the army of dragons, and a second time when Spiera killed Teraka with a surprise attack and Yu IlHan wiped the floor with the dragons, and a third time when Echjar had appeared, but since Yu IlHan took all of them and disappeared, even angels, as higher existences, were becoming confused.
Until the moment Yu IlHan's group came back, their chaos did not calm down at all, but the battle between Echjar and Yu IlHan with their lives on the line wasn't that long.
[We've returned.]
[Wh... Spiera?]
[...Spiera!?]
When Spiera herself showed up in the scene, the angels looked at her while blinking their eyes continuously as if they were poured cold water on their faces. Why, and how? Countless question marks from their gazes struck Spiera's face.
Spiera shrugged her shoulders and opened her mouth.
[Although it's difficult to explain... Echjar has died.]
[Did you kill it, Spiera!?]
[It was not me. Explaining things would be long, but the result is that Yu IlHan by my side has killed...]
However, when Spiera turned her head around to the side, she noticed that Yu IlHan and Liera were no longer there. They immediately disappeared to where the others of their group were using the ancient elven magic formation!
[Oh, they're gone.]
[Spiera, where is Yu IlHan?]
[Can you tell me where you were? We require an explanation.]
[...Dammit.]
The angels were still looking at her with confused eyes. Realizing that explaining was her share of work, Spiera swore, but there was no way Yu IlHan would return just because of that.
The alliance of Heaven's Army and Yu IlHan, could finish the first battle with relatively small casualties. It was also a very thankful battle for Yu IlHan as he could acquire both a 7th and a 6th class dragon corpse, and thousands of 4th class magic stones.
Yu IlHan and Liera dumped Spiera amidst the angels and immediately teleported to the others. The 'safest' place that he had sent the two fortresses and the members inside was none other than the frontier camp of the Destruction Demon Army. No, to be exact, the 'former' frontier camp.
"I'm back."
He showed himself in the air for everyone inside the two fortresses to see and told them of his return as if nothing had happened.
"Mr. IlHaaaan!"
Of course, that did not work. Na YuNa, who always wished for his safe return jumped into the air faster than anyone and into Yu IlHan. The speed was akin to a lion jumping onto its prey.
"Eih!"
"No you don't!"
The moment Na YuNa was about to hug Yu IlHan, Liera, who was by his side, immediately rushed forward in attempt to strike her back. However, Na YuNa was already prepared for that, and cast Leytna's protection magic on herself!
"Yap, Ugh!?"
"Sorry, I have an owner already."
"Whoaa!"
While Liera had struck the shield around Na YuNa instead of the person, Na YuNa herself was deflected by Aegis that Yu IlHan had called out. Yu IlHan's guard was meticulous as always.
"Eeeeek!"
However, at that moment, shining light came out of her body. The light was so intense that it could temporarily block Yu IlHan and Liera's vision! Na YuNa's shouts could be heard in the middle.
"Lady Leytnaaaaa!"
"Eeeeeeek!"
"Do you really have to go that far!?"
Just what were these women fighting for!? With such a question, Yu IlHan opened his eyes amidst the light. Na YuNa was already up against his chest.
"Ehehe, I wanted to see you so muuuuch."
"It was just a few minutes though..."
Yu IlHan looked at Na YuNa, who was rubbing her face against his chest like a puppy and laughed awkwardly.
"You weren't worried about me at all, right?"
"I know that you aren't one to die so easily~. Of course, I did worry because you might get hurt!"
"I'm fine so don't worry. You'd be flabbergasted if you hear how I fought... where do you think you're touching?"
"Kyak."
Na YuNa touched all over his body to look for any injuries, but a superficial wound like that would have long since been regenerated by Transcendent regeneration. He picked her up as she was about to touch 'somewhere', and gave her to Liera. A horrifying punishment immediately befell Na YuNa.
"Kyaaaaaaaaa! Mr. IlHan you idioooooot!"
"Your Majesty, I am glad to see you are safe!"
"We were waiting for master's return."
Leaving Na YuNa behind him, Mirfa and Ericia greeted him. It was as if looking at puppies waiting for their owner's return. Yu IlHan, who became a little proud, stroked their heads alternately, but as he had expected, they rejoiced, also like puppies.
"Is that frightening dragon really dead?"
"Yeah, I killed it for sure. Although it was not a fair fight, at least you wouldn't meet that guy alive again. The Destruction Demon Army also shouldn't have any more wits to participate in this war anymore."
Of course, he couldn't deny the possibility that some kinda monster popped up saying "The 13th has died, so now I, the 12th shall step in!" or whatnot, but Yu IlHan also thought that the balance between the four factions wasn't so easily broken like that.
Even if new members of the Destruction Demon Army came, they would just be scouts that just watches how the battle turns out. Of course, they would also die by Yu IlHan's hands.
"Rather than that."
Yu IlHan turned his mind to his nearly full inventory and spoke to Mirfa.
"A few of the elves learned smithing, right?"
"Yes, there are some who have polished the knowledge Your Majesty has bestowed upon us and has reached quite a high realm of ability."
"Very good, call them all here."
Yu IlHan gathered around ten elven blacksmiths and took out a gigantic corpse in front of them – a 4th class dragon's remains.
"D, dragon."
"The pressure is amazing even after it's dead. I can't believe we hunted such things."
"But His Majesty has killed one that's over a 100 times as big as this."
"Don't tell me he will show us the art of making weapons out of a dragon
Although it was just 50 times instead of 100, Yu IlHan did not bother correcting them. Instead, he told them one other fact.
"You guys will be the ones handling this dragon, not me."
"Us...sir?"
"It, it's impossible! We know better than anyone that our abilities are lacking!"
Dragons were the best materials for blacksmithing, but the level of the smith was just as important.
Would Yu IlHan be the only one who had acquired remains of dragons, and even higher existences? If good materials always resulted in good artifacts, then artifacts at the rank of epic or chaos should be overflowing in this world.
Yu IlHan also knew that very well. In fact, it was precisely why he took out a dragon's corpse.
"I won't expect much, you can just waste them all. But if you train your blacksmithing against a dragon, the things you learn will be quite big as well."
"But, Your Majesty....."
"It's fine."
Yu IlHan made a peaceful smile and spoke to them.
"I still have around 3,298 dragon corpses remaining."
Author's notes
The next chapter, it's the dragons' turn!
Translator's notes
RIP me
While the elven blacksmiths busied themselves with dismantling the dragons on the spot, Yu IlHan made most of the elves and the wolfkin to go inside to rest, while leaving a few to be on guard, then he went looking for Yumir.
He was in his room in the Flying fortress, and when Yu IlHan opened the door, Mir slowly walked towards him and hugged Yu IlHan. He looked like a 15 year-old, but his actions were natural even if you take 10 years away.
"Dad."
"Yes."
"Did you kill him?"
"Yes."
"That's good."
"Yes."
The child dragon in Yu IlHan's arms thought about something after hearing the natural reply and asked him.
"How did you kill him?"
"I aimed for the moment he used a large-scale magic that had me in the range and moved to Earth with him. As he had broken the rules of the Destruction Demon Army, he fell to a lower existence, his mana leaked out, and from there, it wasn't that difficult to win against him."
"Hing, I can't do that. I won't be able to win."
Yumir, who understood everything with Yu IlHan's simple explanation, bit his lips and grumbled. Yu IlHan smiled by at the sight of his son struggling, and patted his back.
"Well, of course now. Even I wouldn't be able to win if not for such a cheat."
"But in the end, dad won and the dragon died. Then dad is stronger... but I'm too weak."
The standard of strength for a dragon was cold-blooded and frightening. However, the words he added made Yu IlHan smile.
"Mir still has a lot of time. You can become plenty stronger in the future."
"Like that dragon?"
"Hm.... You'll need a lot of time, but yes. Definitely."
"But if I don't become stronger right now, I'll only be a burden to dad."
"I don't fight against such guys all the time. And you are already of plenty help to me right now."
"I want to fight with dad though... Hing, but that dragon is still impossible."
It seemed that Yumir had taken quite a shock after looking at Echjar. In addition, Yu IlHan also thought that Echjar's appearance had not been a good influence on Yumir.
As he had grown shockingly fast until now, it would be fine if he had confidence in his strength now, but such an absurd monster had appeared and snapped his confidence in half! Moreover, it was a dragon species as well! Now, it wouldn't be strange if he thought his powers were nothing in the face of overwhelming might, and lose his will to progress.
Yu IlHan thought about what he could do to cheer him up again, and remembered the reason he looked for Yumir in the first place.
"Dad has brought a lot of dragon mean. You'll become stronger faster if you eat them. I'll give you Teraka and Echjar's meat as well."
"Uuu, I'm always receiving things from dad."
Oh, it seemed like he had completely fallen into self-denial mode. Yu IlHan thought that there was still time to puberty since he was still young despite being big, but perhaps that wasn't it?
As Yu IlHan had no experience rearing a child, he could not judge how to console the current Yumir.
"Uh, eeeei."
However, just as the daddy Yu IlHan was looking for a way out, Yumir cheered himself up. Perhaps due to not being with Yu IlHan since young, he had grown up to be a confident child.
"That's why I'll find something that I can do for dad."
"You're already giving me so much!"
Yu IlHan voiced sorrily to Mir. However, Yumir shook his head and spoke as if he had already decided.
"I'll give you a daughter-in-law!"
"No, I don't need one. You're still too young for marriage... but who said that to you?"
Mir asked back in shock when Yu IlHan said that he didn't need a daughter-in-law.
"Then just what can I give you?"
"You can just become stronger. With dad. You have to eat meat and train as well."
"Yeah."
Hearing 'stronger', he looked more cheered up than before.
"I'll become strong."
"Yes."
"I'm going to eat a lot and become a lot stronger."
"Yes, yes."
"I'm going to become stronger than that dragon."
"You will."
Good, he had climbed over the big hill. Yu IlHan stroked Yumir's head as he grew relieved. Perhaps because his mind was sorted out, Yumir stroked his own stomach and muttered.
"Dad, I'm hungry."
"Yes, there should be no battle for a while, so let's eat up first."
"Yeah!"
It wasn't just Yumir, Today, he would host a banquet to celebrate the day he acquired a 6th and a 7th class dragon corpse...I mean, to celebrate the first victory of the alliance.
"Good, let's call them all here."
"What about the guys dismantling dragons over there?"
"They'll eat their own dismantled meat."
Yu IlHan, who became busy because he now had to cook all the cooking ingredients that had piled up in his inventory, walked to the kitchen inside the mansion. Yumir also wiped away the last bit of tears on his eyes and followed his back.
The news about the obliteration of the Destruction Demon Army invasion party, and the death of Echjar, the 13th Battalion Commander that came for revenge, rapidly spread to each of the factions.
Everyone in Dareu had felt his descent, and he did not come back after disappearing, so only an idiot would not notice his death.
[The 13th Battalion Commander....? That dragon died? And in Dareu, a colony of dragons?]
[I'm not sure about 6th classes, but it has been thousands of years since the last 7th class being died.]
[Will there be a large-scale war again? To think such a battle would occur not on the Wall of Chaos, or Earth, but Dareu instead...]
The death of a Battalion Commander was definitely not light. There may be a shift in balance that could possibly bring about further chaos, so not only the Destruction Demon Army, and the other factions didn't really welcome this matter either.
And the most important piece of news in this matter was not the dead Echjar, but the identity of the one that killed him.
[So?]
[Who did it? Which faction do they belong to?]
[That's.]
[Definitely from Heaven's Army. But I don't know who it is.]
The ones that survived the battle after the Destruction Demon Army were obliterated were only angels. Other than the Heaven's Army, it was difficult for the other factions to find proper information. As such, they could only judge with what little clues they had.
[The last he was seen was him attacking the Heaven's Army. Echjar, who was enraged at the death of his successor, went to Dareu, but died just like that... I do not understand what kind of method was used.]
[It was confirmed that he had teleported through dimensions. A sudden, forceful teleportation that pulls every bit of the surroundings... this is impossible with just magic alone. There was a skill involved here.]
[The 6th class high angel there was definitely called... Spiera? She was an angel that was predicted to reach 7th class within the next thousand years. However, it should have been impossible for her...]
[I cannot understand what is happening.]
They stopped their thoughts there. They only put up their guard against the Heaven's Army and forceful dimensional teleportation. As Yu IlHan had expected, the attention and wariness towards him was targeted towards the Heaven's Army instead.
However, the Destruction Demon Army was different. Although all forms of communication was severed from the moment Echjar was dragged off to Earth, the one they clashed against the most was Yu IlHan, and they had collected a lot of amount of information about him.
[Yu IlHan, it's definitely that human. Everyone felt that Echjar had lost his qualifications as a Destruction Demon Army member, right? He made that happen.]
So, it wasn't that difficult for them to find out who and how Echjar was killed.
[That human? The one that Teraka set his eyes on?]
[Teraka was killed by Spiera. That courageous and beautiful angel!]
[Spiera, she's a woman I want to trample on one day. She's as stiff as she is lovely.]
[Everyone shut up, we are talking about Yu IlHan right now.]
Inside a temple so huge that hundreds of pillars exceeding 300m tall had to support the roof, several monsters were giggling unpleasantly around a round table that had a fountain of boiling blood in the middle. Any one of these monsters could destroy several worlds.
[Yu IlHan?]
[I haven't heard of that name before.]
[He's a lower existence.]
[A lower existence? I was called here because of a lower existence? Oooh, very surprising.]
Not many worlds could host all of these frightening monsters.
The name of this world, where everything was gigantic and overwhelming, was Elo Katra. It was a higher world located beyond the Wall of Chaos, where the war between the Heaven's Army and the Destruction Demon Army happened the most frequently, and was also the main headquarters of these predators.
The 'mankind' of this world became extinct long ago as a thick fog containing curse and heat, one that made breathing impossible for any beings lower than 4th class, had covered this world. The weather changed according to the ruler's whims, and so, even the most rigid of plants could not grow and withered easily.
And so, those that were able to endure living in this world were all strong and vicious. The Destruction Demon Army was just the most vicious of the bunch.
And the ones here were those that were not lacking in any way to be among the best of the best. The conference of the Battalion Commanders of the Destruction Demon Army. This was the identity of the frightening meeting. Although not all Battalion commanders had come, this number was still very splendid!
[Is it important that he is a lower existence? Isn't it more important that he killed Echjar!]
From the mouth of the 8th Battalion Commander of the Destruction Demon Army, Zenusva, a breath like magma flowed out. It was a giant bird that was made of pure mana fire.
[A strong pillar of the Destruction Demon Army had disappeared! Are you going to just laugh over his death!]
[Echjar's mana was vicious alright.]
[His curse was even more vicious. But, didn't you say he fell to a lower existence? Isn't it possible for him to die then? Is it something to be so surprised about?]
[What IS surprising, is that a mere lower existence has the power to lower a 7th class Battalion Commander to the same level.]
[That's definitely something we can't overlook.]
The 10th Battalion Commander, Melohinne, nodded her head. It was one of the rare female commanders, and excluding her frozen white skin and a 20m tall stature, she was a very beautiful lady even by human standards.
She continued speaking in agreement to Zenusva.
[Then we can just make him join the Destruction Demon Army.]
[Oh, that's good!]
[What!?]
Zenusva shouted in surprise. However, the majority of the Battalion Commanders in this conference liked her suggestion very much.
[The one that killed a Battalion Commander!?]
[That's precisely why we need to bring him in. Whether it's petty tricks or whatnot, it's the undeniable truth that he killed Echjar, no? I can't wait to see how he grows up in the future. Oh, and I'm also curious about how he looks. Very, very much.]
[Yes, I'm also curious about what his face looks like.]
[But Melohinne, no ordinary size should satisfy you.]
[Fufu, shut up.]
[The one that massacred the Destruction Demon Army so much, as a member... no.]
Zenusva, who was listening to the opinions of other Battalion Commanders, sighed a little, but still shook its bird head and muttered.
[Is that so? Yes, this was our way of doing things. It seems that my brain has rotten from the long years of peace.]
[I did hear that the Heaven's Army has their eyes on him.]
[We can just tell him what happened with Earth. Then, he will never be able to choose the Heaven's Army. Well, then. Let's hurry while he's still in Dareu. We still can't go to Earth yet after all.]
[Earth? Heaven's Army? Someone explain.]
A charming woman with three pairs of bat wings behind her back, the 3rd Battalion Commander, Helièna, asked and Zenusva palmed its face with a sigh, when the Battalion Commanders that did not know the specifics all closed their eyes. Just with that, the thoughts in Zenusva's head was transferred to them.
[Oh my, quite the interesting man indeed.]
Hearing everything, even Helièna started to take interest in Yu IlHan. Melohinne, who half expected things to come to this, roared at her.
[He's mine.]
[Well, wouldn't he like me more?]
[It doesn't matter who takes him. What's important is the matter about how to bring him to the army.]
[Yes. That's my field of specialty indeed.]
Helièna stuck out her red tongue and licked her upper lips and glistened her eyes charmingly.
[No man can reject me. He might have killed a dragon, but he shouldn't be able to win against the power of the Succubus Queen.]
Yu IlHan was a guy that could reject the full on advances of a 6th class angel blessed by the god of love, and the woman who was blessed by the goddess of beauty, but Helièna was overconfident in her ability and ignored that vital piece of information.
That day, another Battalion Commander headed to Dareu once again.
The war for Dareu had just increased in scale by an entire order of magnitude.
Author's notes
If every kid was like Mir, then Earth in 10 years would have become a planet of war.
The Destruction Demon Army has a mysterious way of thinking. Would Helièna be able to put up her pride as a woman?
I'll say this because I predict a comment like this will appear, but there are no more additional heroines. (T/N: Does that mean Helièna counts?)
"Hmm."
In the plains where the frontier camp of the Destruction Demon Army was once situated, Yu IlHan, together with his subordinates and the Dragon's Army were having a banquet, when Liera, who was eating wolfkin meat by Yu IlHan's side, suddenly shivered.
"What is it, Liera? Do you...."
"I'm going to slap you if you ask me if I want to go to the toilet."
"….f, feel cold?"
Yu IlHan switched topics while thinking that she definitely had some sort of mind reading skill. Liera grabbed onto one of his hands tightly, perhaps to just skip over his lie, or rather, because something much more grave was about to happen.
"A new woman appeared that's aiming for you. I'm sure about this."
"...Oh, okay."
Yu IlHan wanted to shake Liera's hands off, but she didn't allow that to happen.
"The power of the god of love is speaking to me. I'm absolutely convinced."
"Yes, I believe you. So let go of my hand and eat some more meat."
Of course, he lied. Although he had barely realized that he did have some kind of charm to receive love from two women, he was almost fed up with Liera being overly wary against other women.
However, his thoughts vaporized when Liera opened her mouth again.
"Helièna. 7th class. Succubus. Level 519. 33,985 years old. 3rd Battalion Commander of the Destruction Demon Army. Her main skills are..."
"...What?"
"Charm magic and she possesses these titles..."
Liera muttered for ages like that and when she finally finished she glared at Yu IlHan while panting.
"Did you remember everything?"
"... Well, yeah, I did, but how do you know so many details about that frightening woman?"
"With the power of the god of love! I found out that such a woman is aiming for you!"
By this point, Yu IlHan couldn't ignore Liera's words so easily. To think she had the ability to find out all the information on the beings of opposite gender that were aiming for him… The power of the god of love was amazing! But why didn't it activate against those of the same gender?
Liera immediately resolved Yu IlHan's question.
"The mechanisms behind this makes it such that I can't find out about those that aim for you physically."
"So it's an ability that seems helpful while it's really not that helpful at all."
The problem lay in the fact that despite the considerable amount of time that had passed since she received the blessing, it was only now that Yu IlHan came to know of that ability. Of course, it did help substantially since the one trying to seduce him was a strong enemy of 7th class!
"Anyway, we've got to retreat. Another 7th class? And a succubus specializing in seduction at that!? This is no time for a banquet. Let's go back to Earth!"
"No."
Yu IlHan slowly shook his head.
"We can't just leave while dumping Erta here. Also, the magic formation will set off an alarm when that woman appears so we don't have to be in such a hurry, this woman aiming for me and that woman actually finding me are different matters altogether.... And perhaps."
"Perhaps?"
Yu IlHan stood up from his seat and took a few steps backwards before touching the ground. The part where his hand was in contact with glowed blue. Naturally, this area was within the magic formation.
"Let's see, you said it was Helièna, right..."
"...What are you trying to do?"
"Although it will be difficult to prepare against a completely unknown enemy, if we have that amount of information, we can do something with the magic formation even if it is a 7th class being."
Of course, killing one was a different matter altogether... such a though flashed through his mind.
Perhaps true chaos would ensue if he managed to manipulate the current Heaven's Army, and the Garden of Sunset that had relations with Erta?
"Very good. Liera. It's wonderful that we got to know of that woman beforehand. You're the best."
"Wow, you're making a really evil smirk... so cool."
Besides Liera, who thought that Yu IlHan was cool no matter what he did, Na YuNa showed up. On one hand, she had a massive piece of bone with meat attached to it, and on the other, she had a glass of the fruit wine that Yu IlHan had brewed himself, with crusts of cookies around her lips.
"So there's a woman who dares to seduce our Mr. IlHan?"
"I meant you!"
"Unni, I'm only trying to support him from the side!... if possible, forever, and if also possible, right by his side?"
"You're the most dangerous, YOU ARE!"
Ignoring the two women that started to quarrel, Yu IlHan entered the information into the magic formation.
Right now, he was saying this easily in order to make the others rest easy, but whatever he did, a 7th class was a frightening enemy. Any amount of preparation was likely to be insufficient.
Although he had won against Echjar due to circumstances and luck, this was vastly different. She was an enemy that differed from the others he had faced before, whether it was her abilities or her race! Moreover, if she was in the Destruction Demon Army, she should have information about Yu IlHan's dimensional teleportation ability. It would be near impossible to use the trick he used against Echjar once again.
The worst part about the Demon Destruction Army was that reasoning did not work against them. They just did whatever they wanted!
'But if there's something fortunate, it's that this is a relatively easy enemy....'
Through acquiring Echjar's records, he could know the specific stats that he had. And he was about fall into despair thinking all 7th class beings had such high stats but... from what Liera told him about her, the 7th class succubus called Helièna was very much lacking in stats compared to Echjar. In fact, she was similar to what Liera had been was when she was 6th class.
Perhaps the race of dragons is special, or the race of succubi is lacking, he didn't know, but according to Liera's information, it seemed doable.
'Of course, it does pain me that she is overwhelming in regards to psychological magic, I can't block charms completely with just Higher curse resistance. I was done in by Echjar due to the gap in leagues even though I had mastered Higher curse resistance and acquired immunity to curses as the characteristics of the Hell Bringer class… and 7th class charm should be no different from that, if not worse.'
She had mastered an unspeakably high realm of charm. Who knows how many times she evolved that skill. In any case, a 7th class was a 7th class. Even if she was lacking regards to personal might, she would be able to compensate for it with magic.
Once was enough for him to get beaten up while having faith in his skills. Yu IlHan gritted his teeth and stood up.
"I've done entering the information. Fortunately, she hasn't come to Dareu yet."
"Hm? But there's still something to do?"
"Of course, there's something I have to finish as soon as possible."
It was very fortunate that he got to found out about the enemy beforehand. Thanks to that, he could prepare for it like this.
Yu IlHan sighed lightly and dusted of his knees and retreated far back enough in order to not bother the ones enjoying the banquet. Na YuNa and Liera also followed him.
"I wanted to save it up and give it to myself as a birthday present, but since things came to this, I can't help it."
"A present for yourself... your thought process is really like a loner. I'll give you a splendid present for your birthday this year! ...But what can't you help?"
"Oh, I think I get it..."
Na YuNa tilted her head and Liera sweated cold sweat. Amidst of that, Yu IlHan checked the surroundings to see if there was enough space and opened his inventory in midair.
The body of a gigantic black dragon showed itself from the inside.
"Wao!"
"It's still absurd even when I see it now. Just how did we kill this guy...?"
While Na YuNa and Liera retreated while sweating cold sweat, Yu IlHan rubbed his cheeks on the head of the dragon's corpse that barely retained its 7th class power.
"Thanks for retaining your power!"
"That's the worst appreciation speech I've seen in my life."
Since a gigantic dragon corpse appeared, there was no way his subordinates would not notice that. However, Yu IlHan just shook his hand, saying it was no big deal, and called out the Cradle of Miracles prior to dismantling it.
"Why did you take that out? Are you going to bathe here or something?"
"I can't just throw away the blood of a 7th class dragon. This thing will collect all the blood and make it more concentrated."
"From when was such a hypertech attached to it!?"
"Here."
Yu IlHan let Liera check the information on the Cradle of Miracles. She hesitated before extending her hand slowly and touching the Cradle of Miracles. A series of magnificent text appeared on her eyes!
[Cradle of Miracles]
[Rank – God]
[Durability – indestructible]
[Options –
1. Purifies and concentrates all materials containing mana.
2. Amplifies the power of the first option by 2 times against dragonkin materials.
3. Stimulates a positive mutation of all materials, but the direction cannot be willed.
4. Amplifies the power of the third option by 2 times against dragonkin materials.
5. Stimulates the evolution of all lifeforms that enter the cradle.
6. Amplifies the power of the fifth option by 3 times against all dragonkin.
7. Can enhance the abilities by consuming dragonkin materials.]
"What, is, this...?"
Liera muttered dumbfoundedly, and Yu IlHan, answered in a bright voice.
"It's our shared bath."
"That's one luxurious bath you have right there…."
At the same time, it was also a key that showed the path he, Yumir and the others would have to walk on in the future. However, it was quite strange that the key was not that related to his innate talents or the thousand years he had lived, but from an unintended crafting process.
Thinking back, this was the biggest miracle Yu IlHan may have encountered. In that sense, the name of this artifact was very suitable. And in the birth of this miracle, Erta's influence was absolute. Although she shouldn't have intended for this... he was only thankful to her for that – that was what he thought.
"Shared? Kyaa, so embarrassing, but if it's with you, I'm always wil...."
"I never said we'll go in together."
Yu IlHan severed Na Yuna's delusions and ignored Liera who was dumbfoundedly looking at the Cradle of Miracles and proceeded to start work.
By 7th class, even the best of his dismantling knives wouldn't work, so he had to use the Eight-tailed dragon spear to dismantle it.
[Master, I think it's a little late to say this now, but.]
Orochi suddenly spoke to Ilhan just as he enchanted Orochi to the Eight-tailed dragon spear, as even Superhuman strength was not enough.
"What is it?"
[Can't you just erase that thought-soul?]
[Kuoooooooooooooooh! YOUUUUUUUUUUUU! DARE DO THAT TO MY BODYYYYYYYY!]
Of course, Yu IlHan had successfully activated the Death Collector skill and acquired the thought-soul of Echjar. Although he had thrown it somewhere deep since he didn't dare to touch him yet, it seemed that the effect he had on Orochi as the same thought-soul, was quite big. Yu IlHan replied with a bitter smile.
"But that's such a waste, though."
[I'll say this now, but I have no confidence in winning against that guy.]
"It's fine. I'll do something about it soon."
[You think it will be over with just this? I'll EAT YOU ALLLLLLLLLL!]
If it was the immature Yu IlHan of before, he might have become scared because of that, but it wasn't like that now. Being interfered by a mere thought-soul was enough with Reta Kar'iha alone.
Yu IlHan had already mastered various skills related to souls, and had learned the advanced version, Falling Down. A mere fragment of Echjar's soul could not harm Yu IlHan. No matter how much he shouted, the body was dead after all!
"Just you wait. In the future you'll definitely be useful."
[Yu, YU ILHAAAAAAAN!]
He ignored Echjar's shouts and boldly picked up his Eight-tailed dragon spear and struck it right in the center of the head.
This was the beginning of a dismantling that would never happen in this world again (or in all the other worlds… for that matter).
Author's notes
Book 10 is over with this. There's still a lot to go, but please stay with IlHan in the future too!