Chapter 40: Grim Reaper.

Grim Reaper.

This being was no ordinary monster.

An entity from another Dimension.

A foreign presence that had flowed in from elsewhere.

That was why the Grim Reaper wasn’t just a being with overwhelming power.

Death.

It carried the very essence of death itself.

More than physical strength, it manipulated the power of death—just its presence alone sent a chilling aura through the air, enough to freeze the atmosphere around it.

“Shiiik-shik—”

For that reason, Nagattara, who was leading the Grim Reaper through the dragon’s lair, felt like it was dying every step of the way.

Nagattara had thought the Grim Reaper was among the weaker of those foreign entities.

But up close, the Grim Reaper exuded a terrifying aura that transcended mere power, radiating pure fear.

Truthfully, this was still the mild version.

Ssss…

From the Grim Reaper’s body stretched a thick, black mist.

It wasn’t just a shadow—it was saturated with the energy of death, instilling fear and despair.

Normally, just being near the Grim Reaper would gradually numb one’s will, and a helpless dread would seep deep into the bones.

It would even drain away one’s vitality.

But now, the Grim Reaper was intentionally suppressing its aura.

If Nagattara, who had volunteered as a guide, collapsed from the aura, it would be a problem.

“Shiiik-shik—”

Even so, Nagattara struggled to withstand even the faint traces of the Grim Reaper’s power.

Nagattara’s breath came out more ragged than usual.

As Nagattara’s strength slowly ebbed away and its face grew increasingly pale.

Off in the distance, a lush green shimmer began to ripple into view.

“Tzrrr—!”

“There… That must be it…”

Nagattara’s eyes brightened, and the Grim Reaper’s voice echoed like a cave.

From the Grim Reaper’s empty, black eyes, flames of darkness flickered.

Sasasasasat!

They picked up their pace.

In an instant, they arrived before the Elatrium.

“I feel it… yes… the aura… of a young… hatchling…”

The black flames burning in the Grim Reaper’s eyes curved like crescent moons.

Seen from the side, it was a chillingly grotesque sight.

“T-tzrrit.”

Nagattara hunched its neck even further.

Sssst.

The Grim Reaper moved closer to the Elatrium.

Dark mist billowed thickly around the Grim Reaper, and with every step, the ground wilted, the nearby grasses withering away.

[A foul… presence… has arrived…]

[What business… brings you… here…?]

The sleeping Elatria awakened.

They showed a fierce vigilance, unlike anything they had ever revealed before.

“Make way… spirits… of the withered trees…”

The Grim Reaper’s low, cave-like voice echoed with a chilling resonance.

With it, a dense wave of darkness surged up from beneath the Grim Reaper’s feet.

An aura that drove all living things toward death and despair.

The ground beneath the Grim Reaper’s feet darkened deeply, the darkness spreading toward the Elatrium.

KWAaaaaa!

A wild wind whipped out from the Elatrium in response.

[Begone… foul… presence…]

[You would even… steal life… from this land…?]

[This place… you… shall never… claim.]

KWA-d-d-dk, KWA-d-d-d-dk!

Waves of green thrashed fiercely.

The roots of the Elatria burst from the earth, intertwining and tangling together.

It looked as if a fence had been raised.

An unyielding will not to permit the Grim Reaper’s intrusion could be felt.

“You hasten… your own end… How foolish…”

A Dark scythe formed in the Grim Reaper’s hand.

Raising the scythe high, it gathered a chilling aura of fear.

Saaaaaaa!

The air itself began to scream.

Chwaak!

As the scythe swung, <Death Wave> was unleashed.

A wave of darkness surged toward the Elatrium’s <Forest Defence>.

SAAAAAAA!!!

The Forest’s Defense began to darken.

Some of the roots forming the barrier burned black, enveloped in the power of death.

[Ahhh…!]

[GGeeuuu…]

The Elatria trembled, letting out pained moans as their branches shook.

“Tzrrr!”

At that moment, Nagattara, who had been waiting for an opportunity, sprang into action.

Flash.

KWAaaaaaaa~!!!!

From Nagattara’s gaping maw burst a breath attack.

It hadn’t even scratched the Forest’s Defense before.

But now, things were different.

Jj-j-j-j-j-jik!!!

The breath struck the roots that had been blackened by the scythe.

Those roots ripped apart, and the Elatria screamed once again.

[Stop them… never… allow… intrusion…!]

[Reform… the lines…!]

But the Elatrias would not back down.

New Elatria, waiting in reserve, surged forward and reinforced the barrier anew.

“Will you drive… our entire kin… to death…?”

At that sight, the Grim Reaper let out a low growl, raising the scythe of darkness once more.

Their resistance was meaningless.

It would only delay the inevitable.

Eventually, the Elatria would all rot and be consumed by the power of death.

But then—

That moment.

Ziiiiiiiing!!!

A dimensional vibration pulsed from within the Elatria.

“…!”

The Grim Reaper’s eyes twitched.

A being capable of wielding the power of <Dimension> had appeared among the Elatria.

Only those who had reached a certain <Level> could wield the power of <Dimension>.

Even for the Grim Reaper, it was a force that could not be taken lightly.

“Tzrrrit!”

Just then, Nagattara surged forward again, jaws wide open.

Nagattara seemed oblivious to the new presence within.

Excited that its attack had worked on the Elatria, it was about to unleash another breath attack.

[Arkeron. Intruder identified. Incineration protocol initiated.]

A low, faint mechanical voice sounded.

A warning blared in Nagattara’s mind about charging forward.

But it was already far too late to turn back.

Intimidation initiated.

Extermination beam targeting.

The mechanical voice sounded again.

Nagattara’s body froze.

Flash.

KWAaaaaaaa!

The last thing Nagattara remembered was a flicker of red before its eyes.

Because—

THUD!!!

There was no longer a head left to continue thinking.

“A Guardian… is it…”

The Grim Reaper murmured quietly, looking at Nagattara’s now headless body.

SHWEEE! KUUUNG!!

As if in answer, a small, black-lustered Magic-Powered Battle Golem appeared before the Grim Reaper.

“Magic-Powered Battle Golem… a familiar… Guardian of the Rare Dragon Lair…”

The Grim Reaper recognized what Arkeron was.

[Arkeron. Assessing intruder combat power.]

[……]

[Assessment complete.]

[Battle Mode LV 4 initiated.]

Ziiiiiiing.

Grrrr..

The mana circuits engraved on Arkeron’s surface glowed with more intense magic than ever.

With a rough exhaust sound from the Energy Core, a red aura began to spill out.

Cannons embedded in its shoulders and arms extended outward, while powerful Energy Discharge Devices emerged from its hands and feet.

The entire body became encased in thick Adamantium armor, and Arkeron’s eyes and Energy Core shifted from red to a deep violet, radiating even greater magical power.

Finally, a Booster unfolded from its back, ready to demonstrate even greater agility.

“Only a Level 4… Battle Mode… to stop me…?”

The Grim Reaper let out a low growl at Arkeron’s battle stance.

He knew them well.

He had encountered Magic-Powered Battle Golems in other Rare Dragon Lairs a few times before.

Back then, all the Magic-Powered Battle Golems had entered Battle Mode Level 5.

Even so, they were all torn apart by his scythe.

And now, with only a Level 4 Battle Mode standing in his way.

He let out a mocking laugh, raising his arm to cut the golem down in one stroke.

But—

[Targeting complete. Energy discharge ready.]

Ziiiing. Clack!

The moment Arkeron’s cannons all aimed at him—

He realized something was wrong.

Firing sequence initiated.

Ziiiiiiing.

KWAaaaaaaa!!!

From Arkeron’s cannons, violet beams erupted all at once.

The destructive force far exceeded what the Grim Reaper had anticipated.

“H-how… Royal Grade…”

With a final, bewildered scream—

The Grim Reaper was engulfed by the violet beams and vanished completely.

Pssssst!

Lacking a physical body,

The energy that had formed his shape unraveled, and the Grim Reaper was erased.

Yet, where the Grim Reaper had stood, something the size of a fist remained.

“Chuchu~!!”

Chuchu, who had been quietly watching the battle from behind, scurried forward.

And picked up what the Grim Reaper had left behind.

★.

It was a star-shaped gem.

“Chu?”

Chuchu sensed an unusual aura from the ★ and immediately tucked it into its belly pouch.

This was something that had to be shown to Master at once.

“Chuchu.”

But Chuchu didn’t leave right away.

Because—

Next to it lay the massive corpse of Nagattara.

Chuchu swallowed, remembering the Mandragora Soup made from Nagattara’s meat earlier.

“Chuchu!!”

Chuchu began to process Nagattara’s corpse at an even faster speed than usual.

And—

As Chuchu packed Nagattara’s body into its belly pouch,

[Arkeron. Intruder elimination complete]

Arkeron declared victory.

***

At that moment—

“The Grim Reaper’s presence has vanished.”

“Has it been destroyed?”

“That weak one was bound to be eliminated sooner or later.”

How amusing, truly amusing…

The other entities from the Dimension, who had been silent, began to show interest in the direction where the Grim Reaper had vanished.

And then—

“Owoooo… woof!”

“Awooooooo…”

Beings in the form of wolves, as if one with the darkness.

Their bodies not fixed, shifting like dark mist or shadow—mysterious creatures

Began to run toward the place where the Grim Reaper had disappeared.

“Owooo…”

At the center of the pack—

A wolf cub, newly born.

It was carried in the mouth of what appeared to be its mother, limp as if dead.

In their eyes, urgency and desperation could be seen.

***

“Wow.”

I was quite shocked just a moment ago.

Because after Arkeron left the lair, I felt an incredible surge of magical power.

“It’s so frustrating not knowing what’s going on.”

An intruder had appeared, and there seemed to be a battle.

But not knowing the details left me restless.

As I fretted, Vellerin came over.

“Should I try making an Exploration Drone that can be attached to Arkeron?”

“Exploration Drone?”

“Yes! That way, we can observe the outside from here.”

Oh.

That’s possible?

“Get started right away!”

“Yes, but… the materials…”

Vellerin’s explanation continued.

Mithril… Magic Stones… wow.

Not cheap at all.

Just a glance told me it was a money sink.

‘Vellerin’s skills are great, but the maintenance costs are sky-high.’

Still, it was an investment I had to make.

I had a strong feeling that exploring outside the lair would bring great growth and wealth.

Just then—

Ziiing!!

With a ripple in the air, Arkeron returned to the lair.

[Arkeron. Mission complete, now returning.]

“Good work.”

I praised Arkeron and checked it over, but there were no signs of damage at all.

Despite that terrifying surge of magical power, it seemed Arkeron’s opponent was no match.

‘Well, how many beings can stand against a Level 250 entity?’

This little guy looked more imposing than ever.

Next time the mineral room opens, I should ask Vellerin to upgrade Arkeron’s outer armor to Orichalcum.

“Chuchu!”

At that moment, Chuchu ran up to me.

And from its belly pouch, it produced—

A star-shaped gem.

“Uh… what’s this?”

Even with my Dragon Blood, which lets me sense the flow of magical energy,

I couldn’t properly read the massive and mysterious energy contained within it.