Chapter 61: The Joining of a New Fairy

Kwaaang!

The clash between the black breath and the Wind Spear unleashed a powerful explosion and a fierce gust of wind.

The violent wind shook the forest.

Irellin, who had been using the wind’s power to gain speed, staggered.

She almost lost her balance and was swept away by the wind.

An orc beside her caught her just in time.

“…Thanks.”

“No time to waste. Lead the way quickly.”

Irellin nodded and took the lead once again.

Following the path guided by Sylph, they arrived at a place guarded by various races protecting a Corrupted Statue.

Black Lizardmen.

Black Orcs.

Black Centaurs.

They were beings who had inherited the power of the Corrupted Dragon.

They grew stronger by drawing energy from the Corrupted Forest, making it difficult for elves—who weakened in the tainted forest—to fight here.

“If we can just break that statue.”

“Got it.”

“Pig, let’s go.”

“Both of you take the lead. If it gets dangerous, I’ll back you up.”

A middle-aged human man stood with his arms crossed, watching the battlefield.

“You’re not going to help?”

“Don’t worry. Just watch.”

Biting her lip slightly, Irellin looked at the orc and goblin.

“Uoooooooh!”

With a spirited battle cry, the orc charged forward.

Quickly advancing, the orc grabbed two axes from his back, one in each hand, and swung them wide.

Swish!

The enemy’s necks were cleanly severed.

The orc didn’t stop there.

Calmly, he moved his body to dodge enemies rushing at him.

Dodging their attacks, he swung his axes again.

Swish! Swish!

The mana infused in the axe blades increased their cutting power, slicing through the enemies’ tough skin in an instant.

“Uoooooooh!”

As the orc let out a triumphant roar, his muscles rippled.

It was a show to lower the enemies’ morale.

Those who had been about to charge him hesitated, then turned to target the goblin.

“Focus on the goblin!”

“Hmph. Do I look like a joke to you?”

The goblin threw a small pouch.

It burst open, releasing a purple mist.

The enemies inside scrambled to cover their noses and mouths, but—

Cough!

Gag!

“Poison…!”

“P-please… spare me!”

They were already exposed to the poison.

“Heh heh heh.”

The goblin stepped into the poisonous mist, throwing a needle in his hand.

Poke!

Poke!

Even those fleeing the poison were struck by the needles and collapsed one after another.

Hundreds of enemies couldn’t stop the two of them and scattered in disarray.

“How about we clean up quickly and move to the next location?”

The middle-aged man spoke, and Irellin nodded, drawing her bow.

She fired an Arrow of the World Tree’s Essence, shattering the statue.

As the statue crumbled to dust, the surrounding corrupted mana was purified by the arrow, and the forest began to regain its lush greenery.

“Let’s move quickly.”

Irellin led the orc, goblin, and the middle-aged man toward their final destination.

Kwaaang!

Kwang!

Kugugugugung!

Thunder struck from the sky, accompanied by a sound as if the heavens themselves were tearing apart.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Irellin’s gaze turned upward.

A sky filled with dark clouds.

Beneath them floated a colossal dragon and a human.

The dragon’s size made the human seem minuscule. Yet the human’s strength was by no means weak.

While dodging the magic unleashed by the Corrupted Dragon, the human counterattacked.

Dozens of spears shot from his hands, charging toward the Corrupted Dragon.

The Corrupted Dragon spread its wings wide and evaded all the wind-formed spears.

Pew!

The wind spears that flew into the void created a massive hole in the dark clouds.

Such was the power of the magic.

Irellin watched the scene, unable to close her mouth.

“How… is a human… doing this?”

Dragons were called the sovereigns of all things.

They created magic.

They were chosen by the gods.

The strongest beings in this world were dragons.

Creatures unmatched one-on-one.

And yet, a single human—the weakest of beings—was holding them off alone.

“The master is no ordinary human. He possesses the power of a dragon.”

“The master is the best.”

The orc and goblin praised the man, but the middle-aged human spoke with a colder tone.

“Yongje is strong, but the opponent is abnormally powerful. He can’t hold on much longer.”

“…Let’s move quickly.”

Since Irellin had broken the Corrupted Statue, the Corrupted Dragon’s momentum had significantly decreased.

Still, the inherent traits of the dragon species were overwhelming. The dragon’s morale had lessened, but its extraordinary traits remained.

The dragon’s scales blocked my magic.

The Dragon Heart supplied it with infinite mana.

Wooooong!

Kwaaaang!

Seeing the black breath spewing from the giant maw aimed at Irellin, she used Teleport.

She blocked the attack with Absolute Barrier.

Like pouring water into a bottomless jar,

The mana within the Dragon Heart was disappearing.

Although the Power Elixir replenished some of it, the time it could be maintained was running out.

Gooooo!

The Corrupted Dragon flapped its wings after seeing its breath blocked and quickly charged toward Irellin.

‘Now it’s targeting Irellin deliberately.’

It was likely because one Corrupted Statue remained.

The Corrupted Dragon knew that if that statue was destroyed, it would lose this battle.

“Hoo. Now it’s a race against time.”

Irellin used Teleport to move beside me. Wrapping an arm around my waist, she used Fly magic to swiftly ascend.

The Corrupted Dragon’s jaws swept past where we had been.

[What’s that?!]

“Give me your location. Quickly!”

[O-over there!]

Irellin’s face flushed as she pointed in a direction.

We flew quickly toward the indicated spot.

Feeling strong magic behind us, I used Teleport again, evading the black breath and flying faster.

[There!]

It’s easier to Teleport when you know the exact location, but since we didn’t, the Fly magic allowed for more flexible movement.

We dodged the Corrupted Dragon’s attacks while moving in the direction Irellin pointed.

[There, down below.]

In the middle of the forest stood the remaining Corrupted Statue.

Monsters with black skin surrounded it, determined to protect the statue with their very bodies.

“That was close.”

I could clearly feel the Power Elixir’s effects waning significantly.

We had at most two chances.

To decisively deal with the Corrupted Dragon, succeeding on the first attempt was ideal.

[I can’t shoot the arrow like this.]

“I’ll create an opening. Take your shot then.”

Watching the Corrupted Dragon prepare magic directed at us, I flew close to the statue using Fly magic.

Goooo!

The dragon swallowed its breath attack without unleashing it, conserving mana that would otherwise be spent on defense magic.

‘This is it.’

I gathered the saved mana into my fist, igniting flames. I blew mana into the flames to intensify them.

Then, releasing Fly magic, I dropped down onto the black monsters.

“Burning Impact.”

As I thrust my fist forward, a massive explosion engulfed the area.

Everything within my sight melted away.

All living things perished in the searing heat and explosion.

The Corrupted Statue was still visible through the blazing heat.

Before I could even signal, Irellin fired an arrow. The black monsters lunged to block it, but—

Fwoosh!

The intensifying flames stopped them.

[W-we have to stop it!]

[Ackkk!]

The arrow pierced through the flames and struck the Corrupted Statue.

Bang!

The arrowhead shattered the statue, purifying the corrupted energy. The explosive magic dissipated instantly.

Goooooo!

With the Corrupted Statue’s destruction, the Corrupted Dragon’s body underwent a massive change.

Its overwhelming momentum diminished.

Its size shrank accordingly.

It no longer felt threatening.

[Kyaaah!]

I caught Irellin as she fell from the sky and gently set her down. Then, I pulled out a Highest-grade Mana Recovery Potion from the Dragon Lair.

Click.

I popped the potion into my mouth and prepared magic.

[Using Gold Dragon’s Eye.]

Information filled my vision. The Corrupted Dragon’s grade had dropped to S+.

‘Let’s finish this.’

I used the Ring of Laccas to create darkness. Naturally, the skill I had was activated.

[Darkness’s Blessing (SS) activated.]

[All stats and power increase fivefold within the darkness.]

I poured every ounce of overflowing power into the magic.

Teleporting above the Corrupted Dragon trying to flee, I unleashed the black flames blooming atop my fist.

“Dark Impact.”

An explosion burst forth from my fiercely extended fist, engulfing the Corrupted Dragon.

Kwaaaang!

The dragon’s body exploded violently.

Blood and flesh were torn apart, scattering in all directions.

Releasing the darkness of Laccas,

The dragon’s ragged corpse fell to the ground, its blood soaking the forest floor.

Because of the remaining corruption,

The entire forest rapidly became tainted and began to rot.

Like a curse the Corrupted Dragon left behind in this world.

[Corrupted Dragon defeated.]

[Dungeon cleared.]

Using Fly magic, I landed on the ground.

Among the corpse, a shimmering golden thread caught my eye. Approaching it, I found a round orb—a Dragon Heart.

[Dragon Heart (S+)]

-A Dragon’s heart containing vast mana.

-Consuming it grants a massive amount of mana.

-Without meeting sufficient conditions, it can be fatal.

-It allows one to master the Dragon’s power engraved upon it.

‘Is this the question mark additional reward?’

The rewards weren’t over yet.

The Gold Dragon’s Eye revealed another path.

Before moving, I glanced at Irellin.

She was looking at the forest with a complicated expression, as if needing some time alone.

Leaving her behind, I followed the Gold Dragon’s Eye.

A cave resembling a Dragon Lair appeared, and inside were piles of treasures.

I moved everything I could see into the Dragon Lair.

Then I found an egg.

A massive egg, about the size of a car. Using the Gold Dragon’s Eye to confirm, it was a Dragon’s Egg.

[Dragon’s Egg (SSS)]

-Requires the blessing of a Mature Dragon to hatch.

-Hatching it will yield a hatchling.

For now, I moved the Dragon’s Egg into the lair as well and exited.

After sorting out her thoughts,

I saw Irellin’s expression had lightened considerably. I approached her side.

“Have you come to terms with it?”

[Yes. Thank you for waiting.]

“Then let’s go back. Bring all the tribe members.”

[We can bring them all?!]

“Yes.”

Together with the much brighter Irellin, we moved toward the place where the elves of the Warm Forest gathered.

The World Tree, which seemed to be withered, stood nearby.

At a shabby elf settlement, dozens of elves had gathered.

After Irellin persuaded them personally, I used a portal I created to relocate all the elves there to the Dragon Lair.

[Wow… There really is a World Tree!]

[…It’s warm. Can we really live here?!]

[The mana is abundant… the power of nature is rich.]

[Welcome! I’ll introduce you!!]

Fryra personally guided the elves.

Watching this, Irellin knelt before me.

[I swear my loyalty.]

“Good.”

[Do you appoint Irellin of the Warm Forest, High Elf, as Guardian?]

“Yes.”

[Guardian appointed.]

As Irellin became bound to me, the World Tree also underwent a change.

It grew to the size of a single tree.

[The World Tree grows due to the Fairy’s Blessing.]

[The Blessing of the World Tree grows stronger.]

Satisfied watching the World Tree grow rapidly, I shifted my gaze to Irellin.

“Irellin. I want to contract with a spirit too. Can you teach me how?”

[Understood.]