In folklore, it’s a mythical creature from Western tales.
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In fantasy novels or games, it’s different.
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“The ultimate creature.”
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The mightiest being in the realm, master of magic, guardian of the world.
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A true final boss, adorned with grand titles—that’s a dragon.
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Often the game’s boss monster or the novel’s endgame king.
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And that dragon is Zone 4’s boss.
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“How am I supposed to handle a dragon?”
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Ridiculous.
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A dragon in a smith’s mine?
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How’s a lowly smith like me supposed to deal with that?
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Though, a mine and a dragon…
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It kinda fits.
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Dragons, greedy for treasure, often lair in gold mines or dwarven strongholds… Ugh, never mind.
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Anyway.
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“A real dragon?”
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“I’m not sure if it’s a dragon, but its appearance matches your description.”
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“Oh, you don’t know what a dragon is. Did it look like this?”
Except for slightly more vestigial wings, yes. It’s a bit smaller.
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“Not a full dragon, then.”
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A shred of mercy?
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Not an ancient dragon, at least.
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With degraded wings, maybe a drake—a dragon variant.
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Whatever it is, it’s a tough opponent.
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“A dragon’s too much for just us.”
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Like Zone 3, taking one assistant to clear it wasn’t happening.
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I decided to prepare thoroughly.
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“Crafter 1!”
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[Using Production Skill.]
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[Select the shape of the item to craft.]
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“Shield!”
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[Specify the details of the shield’s shape.]
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[Choose the material for the shield.]
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[Crafting begins.]
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First, shields.
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Not one—four shields.
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As thick and sturdy as possible.
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Able to withstand dragon claws and dragon breath, with boosted fire resistance.
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Fire resistance wasn’t hard.
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Zone 1’s mined ores included Firestone, high in fire resistance.
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[Crafting complete.]
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[‘Flame Barrier’ obtained.]
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[Flame Barrier]
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Type: Shield
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Grade: SS
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Restriction: Level 50+
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Description: A special shield designed to block a dragon’s fiery breath.
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Defense: 600
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Abilities:
Heat Resistance – Greatly increases fire resistance.
Fire Wall – Defense and fire resistance rise when multiple Flame Barriers are linked within range.
Stability – Reduces knockback from enemy attacks.
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Fire Wall.
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Modeled after Crafter 1’s Stronghold ability for the mass-produced tower shields.
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These shields were meant for four to wield together.
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“Gather up!”
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At my shout, assistants assembled in the corridor.
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Miners and Zone 3 crafters and disassemblers.
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Well, they came more from my thoughts than my voice.
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“Crafters 1 and 2, Disassemblers 1 and 2. Take these.”
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“Shields?”
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“Yes. We’re entering the mine. Hold the shields and block the dragon’s attacks. Got it?”
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“Understood.”
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Crafters 1 and 2, and Disassemblers 1 and 2, who’d only ever swung hammers, accepted without hesitation.
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I’d give detailed orders in the mine.
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Next, the mining team.
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“Hand over your weapons!”
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“Understood.”
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They presented their pickaxe, scissors, axe, and sword.
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I’d upgrade them, starting with the pickaxe.
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The pickaxe and axe were SSS-grade adamantium weapons, but they weren’t enough.
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Now, I’d enhance them into Dragon Slayers.
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For a dragon-killing weapon.
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“What materials?”
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Dragon Slayer.
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Not my first time.
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A few days ago, an Association Hunter requested one for a draconic monster.
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Back then, I puzzled over it.
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The solution was simple.
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Dragon materials.
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Dragon teeth, bones, or similar.
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That’s the standard for a Dragon Slayer.
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You need dragon materials to kill a dragon—what a paradox.
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“Oh, lots of materials.”
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The auction had more than expected.
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Until recently, dragon materials were scarce and pricey.
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The Gate Burning must’ve flooded the market.
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Good news for me.
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[Draconic Serpent’s Fang]
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[Sea Dragon’s Fin]
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[Wyvern’s Claw]
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Mostly from lesser or variant dragons, but good enough.
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True dragon materials rarely hit the auction and cost a fortune.
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I bought a few promising ones.
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[Using Enhancement Skill.]
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I started upgrading.
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First, Pippi 1’s sword.
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Like Zone 3, where the axe worked best, Pippi 1 would be the main dealer.
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[Select the part to enhance.]
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The material.
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For the Dragon Slayer, I infused Pippi 1’s sword with a Wyvern’s Claw.
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It seemed the most weapon-appropriate among the auction’s dragon materials.
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I added adamantium.
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Freshly mined yesterday, after not appearing since the mine’s golems strengthened.
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[Enhancement begins.]
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Clang!
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As I hammered, the Wyvern’s Claw melted into Pippi 1’s sword.
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The blade took on the claw’s pale hue.
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Adamantium added a shimmering metallic sheen.
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The adamantium extended the enhancement time.
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[Enhancement complete.]
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[‘Adamantium Blade (DS)’ obtained.]
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Finally done.
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[Adamantium Blade (DS)]
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Type: Sword
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Grade: SSS
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Restriction: Level 50+, Pippi 1
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Description: Crafted by Hephaestus’ heir for Pippi 1, using adamantium, the finest mineral. Infused with a wyvern’s claw, it gains Dragon Slayer traits.
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Attack: 600
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Abilities:
Pippi – Greatly increases attack against beast and reptile monsters.
Butcher – Improves quality and quantity of meat and hides when using butchering or skinning skills.
Precision Strike – Damage increases with repeated hits to the same spot.
Dispel – Can’t use magic but counters and destroys magical elements.
Adamantium – Unbreakable.
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Dragon Slayer – Deals bonus damage to draconic monsters.
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An enhancement, not a new craft, so it didn’t become a full Dragon Slayer.
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It gained Dragon Slayer traits.
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No matter.
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Dispel counters dragon magic, and since dragons are reptiles, it deals extra damage.
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The description’s long, but performance matters.
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“Now, the rest!”
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I enhanced the pickaxe, scissors, and axe.
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[Enhancement complete.]
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[‘Adamantium Pickaxe (DS)’ obtained.]
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[Enhancement complete.]
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[‘Obsidian Scissors (DS)’ obtained.]
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The mining team received weapons with Dragon Slayer (DS) abilities.
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These four would be the attack team.
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Preparations were complete.
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Almost.
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My gear.
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With four tanks and four melee dealers, balance required—
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“I’ll be the ranged dealer.”
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I began crafting a crossbow, the easiest ranged weapon.
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I felt my assistants’ sharp gazes.
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[Entered Hephaestus’ Mine.]
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The Dragon Raid Team—Dre Team—was formed.
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Four crafters for shields.
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Four miners for attacks.
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Me.
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And Spark on my shoulder.
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A neat ten-member team.
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“Everyone, board!”
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The Dre Team climbed the cart.
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But…
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“Uh, four of you hang outside? Can you manage? Or we go first and summon you.”
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“We’ll hang on.”
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The cart was cramped.
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We’d never packed so many.
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The crafting team clung outside.
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Their first mine trip, and it starts rough—felt bad.
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“Engine on!”
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I moved the lever, and the cart sped up.
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The tracks were repaired.
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The cart glided smoothly, unhindered by golems, reaching Zone 4 quickly.
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At the track’s end, we followed Pippi 1.
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“Here.”
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We arrived.
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I peeked cautiously around a corner.
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Dim lighting, but I saw it.
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Pippi 1 was right—reptilian slit pupils.
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Scales.
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Tattered wings.
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Sharp claws.
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A monster resembling a dragon.
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[Mine Drake]
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“A drake?”
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A Mine Drake.
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Drakes are degraded dragons.
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Similar in appearance but unable to use magic, with animal-level intelligence.
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Vestigial wings prevent flight, and they’re smaller than true dragons.
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Still, no room for complacency.
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Even degraded, a dragon is a dragon.
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Half of half a true dragon’s strength, but far stronger than most monsters.
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“At least it’s not a real dragon.”
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A silver lining?
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Expecting a true dragon, a drake felt relieving.
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“Ready?”
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“Yes!”
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I turned to see the crafting team with shields and the mining team with weapons, perfectly positioned as briefed.
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A drake is at least Rank 4.
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Beyond my level to tackle.
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But—
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“Let’s go, Dre Team!”
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I trust my gear.
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The ten-member Dre Team—
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No, eight, excluding me and Spark—charged fiercely at the drake.
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