139. Explosive Dragon Unsealed (1)
Inside the training ground.
Fwoosh!
As Explosive Dragon practiced the Explosive Dragon Art, Hwang Jiwoo sat beside her, practicing her breathing technique.
“Inhale, exhale.”
Now Explosive Dragon’s sudden quest was in its final stage.
[Current duration - 99 days, 23:30:00]
There were only exactly 30 minutes left until 100 days.
At this point, it was practically certain to end without the timer resetting, so it was no different from having already completed the mission, but... Hwang Jiwoo stayed by her side until the very end.
‘I have to do my best until the last moment.’
Once that time ran out, 100 billion would land in her hands.
Hwang Jiwoo had decided to give all of it to her parents.
After all, she was now a national representative.
And not just that, but a member of SKY, the world’s best elite guild.
She no longer had to worry about money.
Hehe.
Explosive Dragon, who had finished organizing the floating flames, slowly lifted her head.
—Jiwoo. I feel like my heart is gradually stabilizing now.
“Really? But until yesterday, didn’t you say it was beating faster and faster? Are you feeling better now?”
—It’s really strange. Is this what it feels like to be carrying a child? It feels like movement, but instead of in the belly, it’s in my heart...
“Then I guess that would make it kind of scary too. If we’re calling it pregnancy, then this would mean you’re already full-term, right?”
—Hehehe, is that how you’re going to put it again?
The two had practically become best friends over those 100 days.
One hundred days sounded short.
But they had spent almost all their time together, including sleeping hours and training hours.
There was no way they wouldn’t grow attached.
—Thank you for everything, Jiwoo.
“I’m the one who should be thanking you.”
—Me?
“Yeah.”
If anyone had more reason to be grateful, it was actually Hwang Jiwoo.
Fiery Body.
That useless, frail constitution had been turned into something useful by Explosive Dragon, and thanks to that, she had become Baek Jinwoo’s disciple.
Even without being a ranker, she had become a national representative and was now walking the path of a player under the best conditions and treatment possible.
Everything had improved.
She had realized her dream, and she had shown filial devotion to her parents.
Even if she ended up attending a reunion with Ajin later, she would be able to stand there proudly with her shoulders back.
Hwang Jiwoo believed all of this was thanks to Explosive Dragon.
“If you ever need to train again later, let’s do it together. Since I have Fiery Body, wouldn’t it help if I’m around?”
—Of course, I’d be grateful if you did!
Explosive Dragon smiled brightly.
Of course, once she mastered Devour, training would lose its meaning.
Rather than training, actual combat and hunting to build stacks would be the best approach no matter what.
But Explosive Dragon had enjoyed those past 100 days.
More than anything, she really liked Hwang Jiwoo, who had stayed with her. She was kind and genuinely good-hearted.
How much time had passed like that?
Baek Jinwoo, who had been training farther away, walked over.
“Jiwoo.”
“Yes.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“...It was nothing.”
[Current duration - 100 days]
At last!
Beep.
At last, the clock signaled the end of the sudden quest.
[You have cleared the sudden quest of ‘Explosive Dragon Sorcerer’ (EX-rank)!]
[The authority of the Ancient Explosive Dragon (S-rank) is being unsealed!]
Rumble...!
“T-that...”
“.....!”
Along with a tremor, the shape of a deep crimson dragon began rising from Explosive Dragon’s heart.
Neither Hwang Jiwoo nor Baek Jinwoo could take their eyes off that form.
Was that the power of the Ancient Explosive Dragon that had been sleeping inside the heart of the Explosive Dragon Sorcerer?
Fwoosh!
The surrounding air grew hot.
An intense heat surged upward, strong enough to vaporize even the dust lying on the floor.
Was this what it would look like if a demonic dragon from legend were to revive?
Rather than feeling positive, the atmosphere felt slightly ominous.
Huuuuup.
At the same time Explosive Dragon drew in a breath, she exerted force.
Baek Jinwoo realized instinctively.
The 100 days weren’t the end.
Rather, this was only the beginning.
“HunGyo.”
—Yes, my lord.
HunGyo, having sensed that the flow of energy was far from normal, had arrived before anyone noticed.
And he was not the only one.
The rest of the guild members had all entered as well.
“What is going on?”
“What’s that supposed to be?”
“A dragon?”
“...It kind of looks similar to that Yellow Dragon, doesn’t it?”
As they came in one by one, watching that overwhelming sight,
—My lord.
HunGyo spoke with an uneasy expression.
—It seems the Ancient Explosive Dragon is trying to fight Explosive Dragon for control.
“Huh? Fight for control?”
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
The Ancient Explosive Dragon is a dragon, but it has the trait of parasitizing someone else’s body.
.....A dragon that parasitizes?
Ancient Explosive Dragon was a parasite dragon?
Under normal circumstances, before it became strong, it would have slowly consumed Explosive DragonSorcerer and devoured her brain. But Explosive Dragon Sorcerer has become much stronger mentally through all this training with the Fiery Body.
“Then what about this contest?”
—There is a high possibility that Explosive Dragon Sorcerer will win. If she succeeds, then...... she will be reborn into a truly tremendous existence. She will become a true Explosive Dragon Sorcerer. But if she cannot endure it.....
HunGyo lowered his voice with a grave expression.
—Explosive Dragon Sorcerer will cease to exist. In her place, only the savagery of the Ancient Explosive Dragon will remain.
Damn.
What kind of bullshit is that?
“If I’d known it was something like this, I never would’ve done it!”
—I only found out just now as well, my lord.
Once Explosive Dragon Sorcerer entered that state, the explanation had naturally surfaced in HunGyo’s mind. Before that, even he had not known.
“......”
Hwang Jiwoo, who had been listening to the conversation, swallowed hard for a moment.
Kwagagagagaga!
She looked sorrowfully at Explosive Dragon’s distorted face as she fought so violently that all the furniture around her was being destroyed.
“.....Explosive Dragon.”
Over the course of all their countless training sessions together, they had formed more than enough of a bond.
“Please endure.”
—Krrgh!
—Kroararararar!
The Ancient Explosive Dragon roared even more fiercely, and Explosive Dragon Sorcerer fought against her own power, breathing more and more harshly.
The form of the crimson dragon erupting from her body gradually became clearer, and at the same time, something began to change in Explosive Dragon Sorcerer’s eyes.
—My lord.
“......Yeah.”
—We need to prepare to fight. If, by any chance, the Explosive Dragon Sorcerer loses...... a tremendous disaster could befall your world.
“That serious?”
—To be honest, I’m not entirely sure either. But just looking at that form... doesn’t it seem dangerous?
Hmm.
That was certainly true.
Was it because this was Explosive Dragon in her completed form?
Her very existence felt like looking at a high-floor boss from the Tower of Trials.
“No.”
That was when Hwang Jiwoo stepped in.
“I don’t think there’s any need to go that far.”
“Huh?”
Baek Jinwoo frowned.
Because Hwang Jiwoo was slowly walking into that space.
“Hwang Jiwoo, what are you doing?!”
“Sir Jinwoo. I don’t know why, but I feel like I have to go. Explosive Dragon Sorcerer is desperately looking for me.”
“....Explosive Dragon ?”
How exactly was this situation unfolding?
Should he watch a little longer for now?
* * *
A pitch-dark space.
Explosive Dragon Sorcerer was there.
No, to be precise, she was drifting there in an unconscious state.
The trauma of her childhood.
- Die.
- I heard a cursed life-form is sealed inside your body?
- It’s horrifying that you’re breathing the same air as us.
- Can’t you just disappear?
Explosive Dragon Sorcerer was flustered.
Why did those childhood memories keep resurfacing?
She was kneeling, pleading to someone.
‘Please save me. I’m a person too. I want to be loved too.’
A person too?
She could feel the hateful stares of her classmates.
Even her own parents had looked at her as if she were a monster.
For only one reason.
Because Ancient Explosive Dragon had been sealed inside her heart.
- I’m sorry, but you are not human. You’re a monster.
- If society is to be maintained, it can’t be helped. Who knows whether a monster like you, once grown, might produce another monster later? For our sake, be isolated.
People locked her underground.
They did not even give her food, wrapped her in layers of chains, and ordered everyone to stay away from her.
She hated people.
She was lonely.
She was hungry.
All of those negative emotions accelerated the resurrection of Ancient Explosive Dragon, and about ten years later, the ancient magic empire came to ruin.
At the hands of Explosive Dragon Sorcerer imprisoned beneath a rural village.
* * *
—Krrgh.
Explosive Dragon Sorcerer struggled to cast off those negative emotions.
She had already overcome that kind of trauma long ago.
Back during Battle of Summoners, through her master, God Ji-nu.
However, back then, it had not been a matter of completely uprooting the Ancient Explosive Dragon.
She had merely coexisted with Ancient Explosive Dragon in relief.
But now things were different.
Even a worm wriggles when stepped on, right?
During the process of uprooting the Ancient Explosive Dragon together with the Fiery Body, Ancient Explosive Dragon was writhing.
It was probably something close to a survival instinct for the sake of living.
—Child, what are you doing right now! Have you forgotten? Have you really forgotten how those humans treated you?
The Ancient Explosive Dragon was desperate.
—Recall that agony! That underground cell. Recall that dark space! Bound in chains! Your childhood, when you cried out in hunger and loneliness! That resentment of yours, when you could do nothing against those humans who trampled you while calling you a monster!
The voice of the Ancient Explosive Dragon grew more and more intense.
—That contracted, crushed power... it is power on an entirely different level. No one will ever look down on you again, and you will have the power to make all humans kneel and beg forgiveness!
Power?
Power was necessary.
Because if she had that power, Jinwoo would like it.
Did that reveal a slight opening?
The Ancient Explosive Dragon’s voice softened, then whispered slyly.
—Exactly. That’s it. Jinwoo? Then for the sake of that Jinwoo, take my power! Become one with me.
But.
At that moment.
—Explosive Dragon Sorcerer.
Another voice was heard.
Unlike the savage and seductive voice of the Ancient Explosive Dragon, that voice was warm and familiar.
—You’re not a monster. That’s nonsense. If you were a monster, would Sir Jinwoo or I have stayed by your side?
Whose voice was that?
The moment she thought about it, the image of Hwang Jiwoo came to mind.
—What are you!
The Ancient Explosive Dragon cried out in shock.
No being should be able to enter Explosive Dragon Sorcerer’s inner world!
Unless it was the legendary Fiery Body, no one could ever interfere with its authority.
—If you’re a monster, then are HunGyo, Lamba, and Gale Slayer monsters too? Ignore some weird parasite like that and come with me.
—P-parasite? Silence! That is the whispering of a wicked human! Fearing your revenge, she is deceiving you with sweet words!
—Is Sir Jinwoo wicked? Or is that parasite wicked? That’s way too easy a question for the smart Explosive Dragon Sorcerer.
The answer had already been decided.
Explosive DragonSorcerer slowly nodded.
‘I’m sorry, Ancient Explosive Dragon. But I’m not weak anymore. I’m not lonely, and I’m not hungry either.’
Because things had changed.
Rather, she could say that the moments she spent with Jinwoo were happy.
Explosive Dragon Sorcerer did not want to break that happiness.
‘I don’t want to be together with negative emotions like you anymore. Now I just... want to become my whole self.’
—K, kkuk...! Kuhahahahat!
—You dare! Do you think I’ll just let that happen! If it’s come to this, there’s no helping it. Rather than controlling the child, I’ll just slaughter her master! If I kill that being called Jinwoo, won’t that girl stop agonizing over this?
Kroarararararara!
The roar of the crimson dragon manifested inside the training ground shook the space, and immediately after, powerful flames burst forth like an explosion.
—My lord!
HunGyo drew his sword and blocked it.
“Sir Jinwoo.”
Hong Ari, who had been watching, stepped forward.
“Don’t worry about that fire.”
Then she raised her hand.
Fwoooooosh!
And then, a being appeared.
The master of fire.
—Kirurururururururu!
Phoenix (S-rank) cried out.
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