Chapter 35: Monster Raid (2)

All the weapons considered powerful—Hyeongung, Tow, K-201 Grenade Launcher, and K-6 Machine Gun—were stationed around the area where the dragon had made its nest.

“We have to aim as cautiously and accurately as possible. Once they’re spent, we can’t get replacements until we secure more from other units.”

Yoon Seonghun boldly committed firepower, but he couldn’t shake off the feeling of regret.

After all, these were military supplies that might never be produced again—from now on, maybe even forever.

“It’s a monster worth that much, isn’t it?”

“That’s true. It’s dangerous, but just by the skills it showed, the title from that lizard isn’t something to take lightly.”

“Indeed. Who do you plan to give the title to?”

With the emergence of a faction, the authority to distribute titles also appeared.

Naturally, Yoon Seonghun, who had formed a faction in the Bucheon region, checked the faction members’ stats through the Status Window and spoke.

“I’d like to give it to Sergeant Park, the strongest one, but we have to consider compatibility. If it doesn’t match with Sergeant Park, giving it to him would be pointless.”

“You’re right.”

Leaving the sycophantic aide behind, Yoon Seonghun turned to look at the unit gathered as one.

Officers, special forces NCOs, soldiers—everyone was mixed together, forming the newly established Superhuman Unit.

Once the faction was formed and stat checking became possible, it became a unit composed only of personnel with abilities over 5,000.

Rank is important in the military, but inspired by special forces teams, it was structured to operate based on ability, aiming for efficient use.

It was a military’s self-rescue plan to prepare for when consumables ran out, but it was still only in the trial stage.

“We have a long way to go.”

In a situation where every game changes day by day, administrative issues remain slow.

That’s the problem with the military.

No matter what you push forward, the system moves passively.

A structure that can be clumsily forced through with rank and military seniority might eventually become a shackle.

“If we unify the region first, there might be fewer problems.”

Yoon Seonghun muttered, looking ahead.

At that moment, the operations officer approached.

“Preparation is complete, Brigade Commander.”

“Good work. Let’s begin immediately.”

“Understood.”

As the operations officer rushed off, the soldiers stationed at their weapons began moving busily.

“Hyeongung, Tow, Grenade Launcher—ready.”

Vehicles and soldiers wielding Hyeongung and Tow aimed the two weapons at the dragon perched atop Litsia.

At the center of it all, the dragon lay coiled with its eyes closed.

Whether it was asleep or lost in thought was unknown, but one thing was certain—at this time every day, it remained motionless in that posture.

“Aim!”

Tension spread with the radio command.

“Fire!”

Boom! Boom boom! Pshuuuu!

Grenade launchers and anti-tank rockets simultaneously fired at Litsia.

The dragon, sensing the incoming rockets and grenades, belatedly opened its eyes wide and looked down.

They were unfamiliar objects, but even so, it could tell these things flying at it were not friendly.

Kruuu…!

The dragon rose up and began to take a deep breath.

It was a mistake brought on by ignorance of modern weapons.

KWAANG!

It should have flown away before releasing its breath.

Rockets and grenades struck, erupting in a massive explosion.

The firepower was so immense that even at a distance, the shock was felt. Litsia couldn’t withstand it and began to crumble.

“Concentrated fire! Pour everything in!”

The brigade, having already calculated Litsia’s collapse, unleashed all its firepower the moment the dragon was hit.

Rifles, machine guns, and anti-aircraft guns blazed.

It was an attack designed to establish a comprehensive fire net, taking into account both the possibility of the dragon flying up and crashing down with Litsia.

Tududududu, tutututututu.

KWAANG!

Bang!

Grenades, Tow, and Hyeongung rockets exploded, and hundreds, thousands of bullets rained into the area.

As acrid gunpowder smoke thickened, Yoon Seonghun raised his hand, signaling a ceasefire.

“Is it done?”

With that level of attack, not even a dragon ancestor would survive, but the problem was that no one received a notification that the dragon had been killed.

No, from the start, since Yoon Seonghun was the faction leader, he should have received a title acquisition notice.

Even as the ceasefire was called due to poor visibility, everyone stayed vigilant.

“Hmm?”

Yoon Seonghun’s eyebrow twitched as he saw black smoke swirling strangely.

KWAANG!

A blue beam burst through the smoke.

HYUUNNNNG!”

As Yoon Seonghun shouted urgently, one of the prepared Hyeongung fired head-on.

The Hyeongung and the breath collided mid-air, causing an explosion.

“Phew, thank goodness. It’s unfolding as we planned.”

Looking for a way to block the breath mid-flight, they created a scenario of firing Hyeongung head-on to trigger an explosion.

Seeing it work perfectly, the staff clenched their fists in excitement.

But only Yoon Seonghun, with a hardened face, leapt to his feet.

“That bastard’s running away!”

“What?”

“Superhuman Unit! Superhuman Unit, pursue! Send the radio—hurry!”

Yoon Seonghun could see it clearly.

Through the thick smoke, the dragon’s wings flapping desperately as it tried to flee.

From the beginning, the Superhuman Unit was prepared for this operation, ready to chase down any dragon attempting to escape.

Riding in Retona vehicles on standby, the Superhuman Unit immediately located the dragon and started the pursuit.

“Tell them not to let it get away. It could recover its strength and come back for revenge. There’s no guarantee we won’t fall next time. Understood?”

“Yes, understood.”

***

“Phew, that’s incredible.”

Yohan, watching the military’s overwhelming firepower from the Living the State residential complex not far from Litsia, clicked his tongue.

“They said the Bucheon Brothers Clan drove out the 17th Division, so did the main force come in?”

It was known as the 17th Division of Dreams, but no matter what anyone said, Yohan couldn’t fully believe that a division defending a region had been driven out by the Bucheon Brothers Clan.

Even if they were driven out, he assumed only a small detachment sent to support the shelter was withdrawn.

Sure enough, out on a reconnaissance, he found the 17th Division wielding tremendous firepower.

“Now that I think about it, didn’t they form a faction too?”

He thought things would quiet down once he got rid of the Bucheon Brothers Clan, but it seemed now he had to keep an eye on the military as well.

As Yohan watched their power firsthand, his brow furrowed.

“It’s running away, not dead?”

From his high vantage point, he could see the dragon’s movements.

He watched as the dragon frantically flapped its wings through the smoke.

[12,000]

When he first faced the dragon, its stat was 26,000. Now it was less than half that.

“No need for a scouter, really…”

A dragon, depicted as an absolute being in fantasy novels, seemed far less imposing in reality.

After taking a barrage of rockets and grenades, it was tattered, riddled with holes, its wings barely holding up.

“Time to hunt.”

Yohan’s eyes flashed as he dashed after the dragon, using Projection Step.

Having taken a serious hit in Litsia, the dragon struggled to fly between buildings and apartments before finally entering Wonmisan.

Its huge size would normally stand out, but deep in the mountain, it was hard to spot from below.

Of course, that only applied to ordinary people. Yohan could track the creature, overflowing with murderous intent and rage.

Kruu… Kru…

The creature, filled with fury, dragged itself with heavy breaths.

Seeing the wretched state of a beast ignorant of humans, Yohan let out a dry chuckle.

He didn’t know where it had lived, but clearly, it had underestimated humans.

Having been battered by those very humans, it must have been seething with anger.

‘That ends now.’

Yohan closed the gap quickly using Projection Step.

The dragon, hearing the rush through the air, turned its head toward Yohan.

Krrr….!

Recognizing him as human, the dragon hesitated for a moment, but noticing Yohan was unarmed and alone, it unleashed its ferocity, whipping its tail like a lash.

Yohan saw the swinging tail and immediately leapt high.

The tail struck the ground where Yohan had stood, kicking up a cloud of dust. Meanwhile, Yohan unleashed Heavenly Demon’s Strong Energy above the dragon.

Red energy blazed, and the Heavenly Demon Spear materialized.

“Die!”

As Heavenly Demon’s Strong Energy concentrated into the Heavenly Demon Spear, Yohan thrust it toward the dragon.

The red energy, pointed like an arrowhead, shot at the dragon, and startled by the speed, it hurriedly shielded its face with its wings.

CRACK!

The condensed Heavenly Demon’s Strong Energy not only pierced the dragon’s wing but burrowed deep into its neck.

KWOAAAAARGH!

As it screamed in agony, Yohan, analyzing its defenses, maximized his Heavenly Demon Divine Art and Heavenly Demon’s Strong Energy, swinging at the dragon.

Bang! Crack! Crunch! Crackle!

Wings pierced, wing bones shattered—one side drooped limply.

Dark blue blood gushed from its neck under its head.

Its vicious killing intent, once overwhelming, turned to fear directed at Yohan.

“Just die already.”

Yohan swung the Heavenly Demon Spear, unleashing a crescent wave of energy.

Slice.

Thud… Roll.

At the moment he delivered the futile death of a being ignorant of modern civilization, the dragon’s corpse turned to black smoke and vanished.

“Whoa… How big is this thing?”

It was a massive monster stone, twice the size of a human head.

[You have slain Blue Drake.]

[Drake Slayer title acquired.]

[You can activate new titles starting from the end of the game.]

Unable to use the title immediately, Yohan lifted the monster stone.

Unlike the ominous red stones he’d seen before, this one shimmered with a murky blue.

“So it wasn’t a dragon, but a drake…”

Still, this alone seemed enough to fill the energy needed for 4 stars and then some.

“With this, I should be able to cover the weakness of lacking both offense and defense.”

If so, he could wield genuine Strong Vital Energy and, if combined, turn Heavenly Demon’s Strong Energy into the real thing.

“Better hurry back.”

He felt a little guilty for stealing someone else’s kill, but Yohan turned with a smile.

At that moment—

“Hands up! Move and we fire!”

At the sudden shout, Yohan turned his head.

There, soldiers in various colored combat uniforms pointed not guns, but their own abilities, at Yohan.