Chapter 273 - Defeat the Dragon
The player who becomes a commander usually stays in the barracks.
Why?
Because they cannot intervene directly in the war.
They don't even know where the war is taking place, and the system blocks access to the area.
That is the rule in Round 17.
Outside the barracks, players don't have much to do.
"I knew it. Until you leave the barracks."
In the past, Ryu Min actually explored the surroundings to see if he really couldn't participate in the war.
Even though the surroundings were filled with mountains and rough terrain with no paths, it wasn't completely isolated.
"After crossing the mountains, there was a city. A small kingdom called Deccan."
But he encountered a barrier that didn't seem to be guided by the system and couldn't reach the war area.
Still, there was no lack of income.
They could use the kingdom's mercenary company.
[Deccan Branch of Golden Eagle Mercenaries]
Even though it was written in an unknown language, it was understandable.
"With the mercenary company, we could hunt dragons."
Of course, they had to do it before the war ended.
"Don't worry. There are still more than 3 hours left."
When he entered, the receptionist of the mercenary company asked with a smile.
"What brings you here?"
"I came for an elimination request."
"One moment, oh, your rank plate in the mercenary company is [Master]. One moment, a suitable request for a master rank...".
The receptionist was checking, but Ryu Min already knew.
He knew there was only one request a Master could make.
"There is a request for the elimination of a dragon... Do you accept it?"
[Accept the mission to eliminate the Black Dragon Karsynox? Y/N]
"If you don't, I can recommend another side mission...".
"I'll accept it."
There was no reason to refuse.
After accepting, the receptionist nodded and told him to wait outside, as the elimination team would arrive soon.
It wasn't long before the elimination team arrived in front of the mercenary company.
"Are you Black Scythe? I'm Antonio Richardson, the second leader of the Golden Eagle Mercenary Company's elimination team. Did you join because you want to hunt the Dragon of Death?"
"Yes."
"You're brave. Here are other brave ones like you. Let me introduce them."
Ryu Min saw twenty mercenaries.
They were a variety of professions, like mages, archers, warriors, but all were just NPCs.
"I shouldn't rely on these companions."
The dragon hunt was exclusively the responsibility of the aspiring member Ryu Min.
"Since we've introduced ourselves, shall we depart?"
Following the mercenaries, they approached the nearby teleportation platform.
"Keep your resolve."
In the blink of an eye, the background where Ryu Min was standing changed.
Towards the Valley of Death, where it is said the rare Black Dragon resides.
The place where the Dragon resides is not accessible to just anyone.
Even if you know the location, if you don't reach the highest rank of the mercenary company, "Master," you are blocked from entering.
This is why they didn't bring Joo Sung-taek, who increases the boss appearance rate tenfold.
"Even if he could, I have no intention of bringing him for the insignias and runes."
When you are the first player to kill the dragon, you can get titles and runes.
I can't give this up for anything.
Conditions like these make no sense, how is it possible that Joo Sung-taek would give up just to slightly increase the item drop rate?
"Anyway, with such a high luck stat, all the items we need will drop."
Not only does it affect lotteries, but also the item drop rate.
Even though only Min Juri's blessing is applied right now, his luck stat exceeds 870,000.
With that level, even items with very low probabilities would have to drop with 100% certainty.
"There are monsters ahead!"
"Everyone, prepare for battle!"
"Stay on high alert!"
The mercenaries tensed up at the sight of the monsters appearing at the entrance of the gorge.
They were the Dark Phantoms that had appeared in round 15.
Uhhhh-
Seeing them move freely in the darkness with clothes like rags, the mercenaries trembled with fear.
They were terrified.
However, although they were a dragon extermination group, they quickly regained their composure, but it was already too late.
The monsters' claws were about to reach them.
But.
Swoosh!
"It's better not to let the guides live."
Ryu Min's scythe strike was faster.
The Dark Phantoms were torn apart like parchment and disappeared.
"You have defeated the Dark Phantoms!"
"Thanks to the title, experience increases by 1.5 times."
"Thanks to the effect of the Rune of Predation, experience and gold double."
"You have obtained stack 5 and 1 stat point with the Rune of Predation."
"Predation stack accumulated 5."
"Experience +0.47%."
"Gold +20,000."
"Additional gold +10,000."
"Hero rune stacks: 1/100."
"Thanks to the hero rune, all stats increase by 1."
"Current kill count: 1/100."
"Thanks to the effect of the Rune of Slaughter, all stats increase by 1%."
"There are 19 enemies within a 100-meter radius."
"Thanks to the 100 per day, all stats increase by 19%."
Even killing a basic monster, too many messages appeared.
"Weren't they basic monsters?"
Since the Dark Phantoms were stronger than High Orcs, they weren't exactly basic monsters.
But, for someone like Ryu Min, even bosses were like basic monsters.
"Back then in round 15, we were invincible, but..."
Swish!
With a single scythe strike, another Dark Phantom vanished.
"But now things are different."
No matter how many appeared.
He was willing to kill them all.
With that resolve, the mercenaries had no chance to intervene.
"You are truly impressive."
"So you're Black Scythe? You weren't just a Master rank, were you?"
Even with the NPCs' praises, Ryu Min didn't smile.
Smiling during established dialogue would damage his pride.
"Well, it's not like killing basic monsters is something to brag about."
By killing twenty Dark Phantoms, Ryu Min accumulated 20 stat points.
It was a modest number for him, but it was significant when considered.
It meant a 10-level increase in terms of experience.
"This is what makes the Rune of Predation great. It increases all my stats."
But that wasn't all.
"You have reached a stack of 100 of the Rune of Predation."
"As an additional effect, your strength and size increase by 10%."
Ryu Min's size, which was 180, almost reached 2 meters.
Looking at his stats window, he also saw that his strength stat had increased by 10%.
"Even though my height has increased a bit, it's not uncomfortable."
Ryu Min was no longer an adult with average height.
The increase in size also applied in real life.
"Surely my height which was 165 has now become 180 or more."
He became the ideal height suddenly, but he didn't feel any excitement.
More than those small things, he felt that the increase in stats was a much greater gain.
At that moment, a mercenary who was at the front pointed forward with his finger.
"Captain! We found it! There's the cave where the evil Black Dragon lives."
"That's right. Everyone, proceed with caution!"
The 21 NPCs and Ryu Min entered cautiously.
Then, a message appeared.
[Entering the Rare Black Dragon's Lair.]
[A terrible deathly smell is felt.]
[All stats decrease by 25% as a penalty.]
Such a large penalty that it could provoke bad words upon reading it.
But for Ryu Min, it was no reason for any excitement.
"Reducing by 25% won't make much difference against a dragon with a single hit."
The mercenaries lit the cave with magic and advanced in a line.
"Let's go a bit faster. We don't need to walk so slowly."
Despite people's concerns, nothing came out at the entrance.
They would have to go further to find it.
The guardians protecting the dragon.
And just then, after a considerable time, the roar of a guardian was heard.
"Grooaaaar!"
"Yikes! Here, I'm here!"
A Dark Ogre.
A monster twice as powerful as the ogre considered the strongest on the surface.
Although it could be considered a boss level, compared to the real boss, the dragon, here it was only like a simple gatekeeper.
"Everyone, attack!"
"Waaaaah!"
The 21 ran towards a Dark Ogre.
Even though they were a dragon extermination group, their skill was considerable.
"Level 60, like a player?"
But that was still far off.
At most, they could only handle a Dark Ogre.
"In the end, I'll have to intervene."
When Ryu Min intervened, everything became easier.
"Groooar... Guh!"
Even though all his stats decreased by 25%, Ryu Min's stats were enormous.
Besides, the damage was doubled thanks to the yin and yang runes.
A single mixed blow with magical damage was enough for a Dark Ogre.
[You have defeated the Dark Ogre!]
[Experience increases by 1.5x thanks to the title effect.]
[Experience and gold double thanks to the Rune of Predation effect.]
[You have obtained 10 stack points and 2 stat points thanks to the Rune of Predation.]
[Predation stack accumulated: 110]
[+0.95% experience]
[+40,000 gold]
[+20,000 additional gold]
[Current kills: 21/100]
[All stats increase by 21% thanks to the Rune of Slaughter effect.]
[There are 5 enemies within a 100-meter radius.]
[All stats increase by 5% thanks to the one to hundred runes.]
Nearby were four more Dark Ogres.
Ryu Min, who quickly defeated them, was soon able to face the Black Dragon.
"T-that's..."
"T-that's the Dragon of Death...!"
A vast space.
A space where only darkness that didn't allow light to enter was visible.
And there, you could see red eyes like serpents.
"Humans who venture out of their boat. How dare you invade my territory?"
The Black Dragon's voice was transmitted in waves towards certain targets, like an angel.
"Well, that's not my concern."
Ryu Min raised his scythe alone.
The mercenaries, who did nothing but tremble, looked at Ryu Min in disbelief.
"I am Karsynox, the dragon of death. Don't even think of returning alive after invading my territory..."
The dragon lowered its gaze without finishing its sentence.
A human, as small as an ant, stood before its over 20-meter body without showing any trace of fear.
"Even with your stats decreased, wouldn't it be better to use your skills to ensure a definitive death?" he said indifferently, facing the terrifying presence.
"An insignificant human who can't even match a horde of ogres dares to challenge..."
The dragon couldn't finish its murmur.
It belatedly realized the powerful energy emanating from the scythe's edge.
Ryu Min had consumed the accumulated judgment runes he hadn't used until now.
"Divine Judgment."
The light suddenly burst into the dark space.
A technique used by the fifth archangel, Lagui, rose in the form of an X, pushing the darkness.
Crack!
"Gah!"
"Ugh!"
Even though the cave trembled from the impact, what bewildered people was the subsequent result.
"The dragon?"
"Is it gone?"
"Where did it go?"
The space that was once filled with the colossal body of the dragon was now empty.
There was no trace of a corpse or blood.
The dragon had disappeared without leaving any mark after that strike.
"The Black Dragon Karsynox has been eliminated!"
"Experience increases by 1.5x thanks to the title effect."
"Experience and gold double thanks to the Rune of Predation effect."
"100 stacks of the Rune of Predation and 20 stat points have been obtained."
"Predation stack accumulated: 250."
"Experience +9.52%"
"Gold +400,000."
"Additional gold +200,000."
"Current kill count: 26/100."
"All attributes increase by 26% thanks to the Rune of Slaughter effect."
"'Condensed Ether' has been obtained."
"'Dragon Scale' has been obtained."
"'Dragon Horn' has been obtained."
"'Dragon Fang' has been obtained."
"'Pattern: Aura of Death' has been obtained."
"It has been confirmed that you are the first player to kill a dragon."
"The title 'Dragon Slayer' has been obtained."
"The 'Dragon Slayer's Necklace' has been obtained as a reward for killing the first dragon."
"The 'Rune of Memory' has been obtained as a reward for killing the first dragon."
"The acquired runes are automatically engraved on the player's body."
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