Chapter 174:
The dragon thrashed, swinging its legs and tail, trying to break free, but the Ogre Vine, having tasted the potent energy of a dragon, wouldn’t release its grip.
This particular Ogre Vine had been cultivated in the nutrient-rich soil of the forest dungeon, infused with the dungeon master’s power, and nurtured with Seo Jae-yi’s flames.
Infused with the power of two powerful beings, it was too strong for even a dragon to easily break free from.
‘Now that its legs are bound…’
Seo Jae-yi looked down at the lava flowing between the fissures in the ground. She could withstand the heat, thanks to her exceptional fire resistance.
She focused on the molten rock, enduring the scorching heat.
To control this immense heat, to make it hers.
And the moment she understood the lava’s essence…
Dozens of lava spears erupted from the chasm, rising high enough to reach the dragon, now immobilized by the Ogre Vine.
The lava spears easily pierced the dragon’s tough hide, the molten heat melting its flesh from the inside.
<Raaaaargh!>
The dragon thrashed in agony, but the liquid spears, instead of breaking, only burrowed deeper.
Sizzling sounds filled the air as its molten innards flowed down the lava spears, quickly becoming a part of the lava itself.
“Does it hurt? Don’t worry; I’ll end it quickly.”
Seo Jae-yi extended her hand, and a scythe, formed from lava, flew towards her. She swung it at the dragon’s neck without hesitation.
A light thud, a soft scraping sound, almost incongruous with the dragon’s massive size, and then a rolling sound as something heavy hit the ground.
The headless body collapsed, its strength gone. The air, instead of the metallic scent of blood, was filled with the acrid stench of burning flesh.
“Ouch, hot!”
Seo Jae-yi quickly dropped the lava scythe after the dragon was dead.
Her heat-resistant glove had melted and fused with her skin, unable to withstand the intense heat of the lava. Blisters formed on the exposed skin beneath the torn glove.
It was painful, but she just stared at the wound, watching as the blisters subsided and new skin began to regenerate.
It was a level of healing far beyond even an S-rank Esper, defying common sense.
‘No, this isn’t even healing; it’s regeneration.’
She looked at her rapidly healing palm and then checked her receiver.
【Overload Progress — 0%】
The number remained unchanged.
Regeneration, not just accelerated healing, and an unchanging overload level…
She couldn’t ignore it any longer. This wasn’t just a change in her body.
Something had changed within Baek Joo-won’s power, the power residing within her.
“Jae-yi.”
Grayson, who had been resting, approached her.
Seo Jae-yi, lowering her hand, looked at him with a neutral expression.
“Are you feeling better?”
“I should be asking you that. You practically took down two dragons by yourself.”
“…I’m fine. For now.”
She hid the changes in her body.
Not because she didn’t trust Grayson, but because this wasn’t the right place to reveal such a secret.
She would tell him later, in private, after he knew everything.
“I’m really okay. And my average overload level used to be in the 60% range. I’m used to controlling my power and fighting in this condition.”
She gave him a half-truth, a plausible explanation.
“…Okay.”
Grayson, after studying her for a moment, nodded. He didn’t press further.
“Nine left, then.”
They turned their attention to the other battles raging around them.
Everyone was still fighting. Some teams were clearly gaining the upper hand, while others seemed to be struggling.
Only one was dominating completely: Airok.
“He’s impressive.”
Grayson muttered, watching Airok fight.
Water and fire were natural enemies, and yet, Airok was effortlessly blocking all of the blood-red dragon’s attacks.
And the blood-red dragon couldn’t defend itself against Airok, its body covered in wounds.
A sharply honed water blade sliced through one of its wings. The dragon roared and crashed to the ground.
“Like dragon, like Master. They even fight similarly.”
Airok unleashed his breath attack on the fallen dragon, and it shrieked in agony.
Another enemy down.
“We don’t know when the remaining three will appear, so we should secure our advantage.”
“You’re joining the others?”
“Yes. Some of the teams are struggling.”
Elizer had assigned the dragons based on compatibility, but that wasn’t absolute.
He had only considered their elemental attributes, not their individual strengths and abilities.
“You should join them too if you think it’s necessary.”
Grayson flew towards the team that needed help the most.
Seo Jae-yi hesitated. It would be better to eliminate as many dragons as possible, but she had a nagging sense of unease.
The dragons, known for their intelligence, seemed to be acting too… passively.
And her unease was soon proven to be justified.
The ground shook violently, just like when the dark brown dragon had emerged. But this time, the epicenter wasn’t in front of her, but behind her.
More precisely, near Elizer and the Guides, who had retreated to the rear.
“Damn it!”
Seo Jae-yi’s face paled as she turned around. The ground cracked open, and a sunset-colored dragon emerged.
There was only one reason why she hadn’t been able to detect its approach.
‘It can control its body temperature!’
That was why her heat detection ability hadn’t picked it up.
It wasn’t just a Fire Dragon; it was a Heat Manipulation Dragon, like her, capable of controlling its own temperature.
“Eli!”
The sunset dragon was already preparing its breath attack.
She couldn’t reach him in time, and neither could anyone else. They were too far away.
Only Elizer could stop it.
Elizer, having sent the terrified Guides even further back, extended both his hands, creating two purple portals simultaneously.
One portal swallowed the Guides, teleporting them to safety, away from the breath attack’s range, and the other appeared right in front of the dragon’s face.
They initially thought he was going to redirect the breath attack, but they were wrong.
Elizer waved his hand, and the purple portal spun, flying towards the sunset-colored dragon. The portal expanded rapidly, engulfing the dragon’s neck just as it unleashed its breath.
<What?>
The dragon’s head, forced through the portal, reappeared… above its own body.
For the first time in its life, the dragon was looking down at itself from above. And it was horrified.
Its breath attack, unleashed before it could react, struck its own body.
<Aaaaaargh!>
The sunset dragon screamed, its own flames scorching its scales. It quickly dispersed the flames, but not before they had left burns across its body.
<You little…!>
The enraged dragon tried to pull its head back out of the portal.
But Elizer was faster.
“Close.”
He clenched his fist, as if trying to close the portal and sever the dragon’s neck.
But…
Crackle!
“Ugh!”
A powerful electrical current surged through his hand, sparks flying.
Something dropped to the ground with a soft thud. Elizer, his face contorted in pain, looked up.
The portal hadn’t closed. He could usually bisect most monsters with this technique, but a dragon’s thick neck bones, especially one from a Rank 1 dungeon, were too tough to sever completely.
But it wasn’t unscathed. A ring of blood, like a gruesome necklace, appeared around the dragon’s neck where it had been caught in the portal. The wound was deep, judging by the amount of blood flowing from it.
<You insolent human!>
The proud dragon was enraged.
<Die!>
Dozens of massive fireballs, far larger than the ones Seo Jae-yi had created, appeared around the dragon.
Even Elizer couldn’t redirect all of them.
“You bastard!”
Seo Jae-yi, finally arriving, leaped high into the air and kicked the injured dragon’s head. The wound reopened, gushing even more blood.
While the dragon reeled from the blow, she conjured her own fireballs and intercepted the ones heading towards Elizer, neutralizing them.
The fragments of the destroyed fireballs rained down on them.
“Wow, that’s amazing! It’s like a fireworks show!”
“Is this really the time for sightseeing…?”
Elizer sighed at Seo Jae-yi’s cheerful remark, his face contorted in pain.
The backlash from failing to sever the dragon’s neck seemed to be taking its toll. He was gasping for breath.
“Drink a potion, quickly. We’re doomed if you collapse.”
Seo Jae-yi took out a healing potion and shoved it into his mouth.
He couldn’t afford to collapse; the Guides’ safety depended on him.
“I’ll take care of this one. You should go back.”
“You can’t handle it alone, not even you.”
Elizer, having finished the potion, shook his head.
The sunset dragon, like Seo Jae-yi, was a Heat Manipulation Esper, not just a Fire Esper.
They could cancel each other out; Seo Jae-yi couldn’t defeat it alone. And it was stronger than the dark brown Earth Dragon she had just fought.
Seo Jae-yi, though aware of that, shook her head.
“Eli, you’ll be more helpful if you retreat now.”
He needed to rest; the backlash had been too severe.
“Don’t worry and watch your Unnie fight. You can help me if I’m in danger.”
“I’m older than you.”
Seo Jae-yi chuckled at his words, his brow furrowed in annoyance.
“Hey! Are you feeling dizzy?”
Elizer finally relented and retreated, and Seo Jae-yi turned her attention to the dragon, which had recovered and was now glaring at her. A menacing aura emanated from it, enraged by her kick.
<You insignificant insect!>
An intense heat surged from the dragon. As expected, it was a Heat Manipulation Esper. Seo Jae-yi could feel her own body temperature rising.
She was glad she had sent Elizer away.
Seo Jae-yi waved her hand, and the rising temperature around them plummeted, her own body cooling down as well.
The dragon, losing control of the surrounding heat, stared at her, its eyes wide.
“What? Did you think you were the only one with this ability?”
Seo Jae-yi grinned and snapped her fingers. The dragon’s wound, which hadn’t fully healed, burst open.
She had instantly raised the temperature of that area.
‘This ability used to drain my energy significantly, but I feel fine.’
Regeneration, surpassing mere accelerated healing, and an unchanging overload level…
She could unleash all her attacks without hesitation now.
<You… you have the same ability as me.>
The sunset dragon looked at her warily as Seo Jae-yi chuckled, her excitement growing.
Heat Manipulation was a superior ability compared to simple fire manipulation. Even though she was human, the dragon wouldn’t underestimate her.
She was beyond being underestimated.
‘I have to kill this one.’
There were a few other annoying Espers, but none as much as this dragon.
She felt a primal urge to eliminate it, as if its very existence was an affront.
The sunset dragon, now serious, focused all its attention on Seo Jae-yi.