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Chapter 168: Kieeeek!!

The sharp cry of the Sea Serpent echoed throughout the auditorium.

However, the four individuals isolated on the only island in the middle of the sea showed no reaction to the scream, solely gripping their weapons and focusing.

“Woorrrrr!!”

Kargas let out a typical Orc roar as he clashed the pair of axes in his hands.

He looked like a classic frontline warrior, but strangely enough, it was a characteristic strongly associated with shamans, especially among Orcs.

Those unfamiliar might think of “shaman” as a type of magic, akin to black magic but with noticeable differences.

Indeed, shamans could cast curses upon their enemies much like black mages, so there was some similarity to be noted.

However, unlike black magic, which is fundamentally a form of magic, shamans utilized the power bestowed by their ancestral gods.

The Orc’s god, Gurdaal, not only brought curses but also had the core focus of empowering allies.

As the roar burst forth, divine power surged and enveloped the four.

Feeling the ominous presence, Albert and Im Yu-bin leapt back to avoid the Sea Serpent’s tail strike.

“Thank you!”

“Thanks!”

As soon as their feet hit the ground, the two sprang forward.

The most troublesome aspect of fighting the Sea Serpent was that there weren’t many opportunities to attack while planted on the ground.

It was a creature that always lurked beneath the surface, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

So it was crucial not to miss moments when its tail or body revealed itself out of the water.

While the trio, including Kargas, engaged in peeling the scales off the Sea Serpent, Yeon-woo was up to something else.

“Ah, it’s cold.”

From a distance, he was soaking his hands in the water, splashing about as if playing a game.

It was nothing short of a group project gone wrong.

The scene was a cognitive dissonance between the lazy leader and the hardworking members.

In fact, several students were visibly struggling with headaches from the bizarre sight.

Ah, I came here to show you a landscape you don’t understand…

‘I’m doing my part in my own way.’

Jokes aside, the best method to deal with the Sea Serpent with this combination really would have been to just evaporate the water completely.

Although that was contingent on the environment supporting such a feat, in this situation, it seemed probable that they would have to fight for over an hour.

There was a reason why the Sea Serpent was considered a boss-level monster. Being called a “sea dragon” was a given.

Creatures like wyverns had fundamentally superior stats. Just like the Earth Serpent, a natural god of the Earth Gorge.

No, they even surpassed dragons, perhaps one might say dragons were just a lesser version of the Earth Serpent.

‘Ah, I wish I could use Elemental Mana.’

If he could tap into the Ice Elemental Mana within him, it wouldn’t take long at all.

Yet, he still harbored a desire to conceal the fact that he could utilize multiple elemental manas.

He didn’t want to give any information about himself to the minions of the Demon King lurking in society.

‘Eventually, I’ll be found out, but not now.’

It wasn’t a life-or-death fight; it was merely about catching a Sea Serpent conjured by an illusion spell.

It wouldn’t be hard to manage this level of magic without relying on Shar’s skills.

*

The audience’s attention suddenly focused on the training ground where the raid was unfolding.

It was not on the three engaged in an intense battle with the Sea Serpent but rather on Choi Yeon-woo, who sat in the corner with his hands in the water.

The viewers likely didn’t understand why their gazes were drawn to that direction.

Yeon-woo was unleashing an overwhelming purity of mana through his magic, which naturally attracted people’s attention.

As mentioned before, mana was a form of life force.

Just like how people’s eyes are drawn to crowded market places, when pure mana accumulates in one area, it tends to attract attention.

Even if only synesthetes could perfectly sense the flow of mana, anyone awakened could feel when someone was using mana.

– What is Student Choi Yeon-woo doing, dispersing such powerful mana? What do you think, commentator Kim Jeong-hwan?

– To be honest… it’s hard to imagine, but I feel like he’s trying to remove the hiding spots of the Sea Serpent. In other words, it seems he aims to alter the surrounding environment.

– Oh… is that even possible?

Kim Jeong-hwan shrugged, signaling his uncertainty.

How could he know? Discussing common sense in front of the first of its kind, an unprecedented Dragon Slayer, would be utterly pointless.

– We’ll be able to tell by observing the Sea Serpent’s actions.

With a curious glint in his eyes, Kim Jeong-hwan turned his gaze to the Sea Serpent.

*

Bubbling, foam and steam began to rise from the water around Yeon-woo’s hands.

What will happen if I brew the Sea Serpent broth? It’s seasoned with salt, so it shouldn’t lack flavor.

The reaction occurring nearby meant the surrounding water was warming up.

Naturally, the Sea Serpent, a temperature-sensitive creature, began to react violently to the changing environment.

Like an eel being scalded alive in hot water, the Sea Serpent twisted its body, glaring at Yeon-woo with its dark, enormous pupils.

The sense of rage reflected in its glare felt overwhelmingly different from Nea’s stare, causing Yeon-woo to flinch slightly.

“Why are you looking so scary? Do you not like bathing like our Momo? Hey, don’t you think soaking in warm water feels great~?”

As Yeon-woo teased the Sea Serpent, it seemed to realize it was being mocked, and began to rise up, pushing toward Yeon-woo.

It moved like a snake sweeping through the training ground.

“Oh.”

“What’s coming, you stupid fool!!”

Just then, Im Yu-bin’s shield charge struck the side of the Sea Serpent.

While the massive body didn’t budge much, it clearly felt the impact, diverting the Sea Serpent’s charge towards Yeon-woo.

It felt like watching a train derail right in front of him.

“Geez, I trusted you, Im Yu-bin…!!”

“Haha, if you have time to yap, shouldn’t you focus?”

Agreeing with Kargas’s pointed words, Yeon-woo started to concentrate.

He had a point. Focusing could help speed up the task.

“But I’m not planning to shut up.”

Doing what needed to be done while free from the Sea Serpent’s attack wasn’t a bad approach either, but since it had come to this, taking the role of aggro handler wouldn’t be too bad.

Yeon-woo’s shadow rippled, and as it transformed into a wave, he slid across the training ground like surfing.

Of course, with both arms still submerged in the water.

“Haha, you can’t catch me~”

Thinking back, it really wasn’t a bad method.

If he only heated from one side, it would take too long for the mana to spread; spinning around while heating the water would evenly warm it up quicker.

‘I’m a genius.’

[No, you’re just a dumb dad.]

‘How could you say something so harsh?’

Shar, who was with Noel, replied in unison. Apparently, while playing with Noel, she had been keeping an eye on this side too. Well, calling upon Shar would quickly solve things, but wasn’t that too much reliance?

Regardless, I need to grow stronger; I didn’t want to be treated like a mere support for Shar.

As a parent, I have my pride; I couldn’t be chuckling while pushing my daughter into a battlefield.

‘Alright, let’s give it our all.’

Even though transforming mana into heat was absurdly simple magic, surely something would improve through repetition.

*

The jump rope battle with the Sea Serpent, staring contest, bumper car match, and after overcoming numerous crises, Yeon-woo finally realized he could no longer ride the shadows as his mana was depleted.

Indeed, converting mana into heat was an overly simple form of magic, hence the conversion efficiency wasn’t high.

‘But I still managed to raise the water temperature sufficiently.’

In this aspect, it was clear he hadn’t studied magic enough.

If he were as good as Alisa, the water would have been boiling by now. He could’ve cooked ramen.

Although then, it wouldn’t be long before his party turned into dumplings in a steamer, either.

────!!

The Sea Serpent let out a pained scream. As the temperature skyrocketed, several of its injured scales began to lift, revealing charred, red flesh underneath.

The scales that had been sharp and firmly upright began to plummet into the gradually cooling water.

‘Guess it won’t die.’

In that regard, it was indeed a monster.

A creature surpassing the limits of biology, embodying both ferocity and evolution through the possession of mana.

However, given the current situation, Yeon-woo couldn’t say it was particularly advantageous.

After all, he had exhausted almost all his mana, rendering him unable to fight effectively.

But he had a contingency plan prepared for such circumstances.

As Kargas rushed to his side in an instant, Yeon-woo spoke up.

“Looks like it worked. Kargas, I’ll need you to do as I mentioned.”

“Hmm, I’m not entirely sure if it’s okay to do this, but since you say so, I guess you have a reason.”

With a hesitant murmur, Kargas grasped his axes tightly and lifted his arms toward the sky.

From the robust body of the Orc emerged a soft glow from the intricately patterned war paint, transforming into a foreboding reddish hue that enveloped Yeon-woo.

“Oof…!”

He staggered slightly, momentarily feeling as if someone had grasped and pulled at his ankles, but that sensation vanished just as quickly.

“Are you okay?”

“Uh, I think I’m fine. Alright, let’s go hunt that eel again!”

Despite staggering from the brief lethargy caused by Gurdaal’s curse, it fortunately didn’t have a significant impact on Yeon-woo.

‘Our Tae-oh once swallowed the Demon King’s curse and laughed it off.’

No matter how powerful Gurdaal’s curse might be, it was merely borrowing the strength of the ancestor spirits.

There was no way it could match the malice of the souls of the cursed who died tainted by various curses.

As Yeon-woo felt the curse woven into his body being swallowed up by his shadow-type Mana, purifying into pure mana, he unsheathed his sword.

…

From that point onward, the battle wasn’t particularly challenging.

In fact, once the Sea Serpent began to suffer in the water, it could be said that the victory was already decided.

Having lost most of its means for attack, the Sea Serpent had no choice but to resort to a physical brawl, which would provide the three of them more opportunities to strike.

Within minutes, the Sea Serpent had become completely battered.

It seemed like it was preparing its last resort.

“Here it comes!! Ultra High-Pressure Breath!! Dodge!!”

At Yeon-woo’s shout, the three tensed up. With no time for amusing reactions, Yeon-woo plunged the Doppelganger weapon into the shadow while crossing his fingers to create a bond.

The fact that he could use it without forming seals was a significant advantage of Dragon Spirit Magic, but forming seals to visualize the magic was also an option.

In an instant, a transparent barrier enveloped the group. By bonding his fingers, he imparted the idea that the barrier shouldn’t break as long as they remained connected.

Thus, as long as his will held, the barrier would endure.

Simultaneously, the Sea Serpent’s mouth, which had been tightly coiled up, opened wide to the limit.

The luster running along its scales faded as the moisture from its skin evaporated, and a thick torrent of water burst forth furiously.

Should it make contact, the force of the water would easily crush even diamond, but it collided against the defense Yeon-woo had erected.

The world’s logic started pulling on Yeon-woo’s fingers to shatter the barrier.

It felt as if he could hold on for barely three seconds. Meanwhile, his companions dashed from either side, racing toward the Sea Serpent.

Boom!!

The ultra-high-pressure water stream carved a deep trench into the training ground’s floor, cutting straight through the center.

Normally, the Sea Serpent would have aimed its breath at its enemies, but it couldn’t withstand the pressure of the stream it unleashed, raising its head thanks to Kargas’s intervention.

“Ancestors, punish those who stand in the way of our descendants!!”

With that cry, Kargas clashed his axes against each other, and a radiant light erupted from his war paint.

With a surge of strength, the apparitions of several ancestors lunged at the Sea Serpent, constricting its thick muscular neck.

Kieeeek!!

With a tortured scream, the Sea Serpent tilted its head back, exposing the vulnerable part of its body, revealing the shorn scales due to the party’s assault.

Without hesitation, Im Yu-bin threw herself into the fray.

Accelerating from zero to full speed in an instant, Im Yu-bin thrust her short sword beneath the partially lifted scales, using the lever principle to drive the sword deeper.

Barely held by a thin layer of skin, the scales fell off as Im Yu-bin quickly pushed away and dropped into the water.

“Finish it, gulp!!”

“Got it!!”

Albert, gripping his twin swords, leaped in pursuit. The swords clasped in his hands transformed instantaneously into the fangs of a lion.

Double Lion Fangs, the ferocious fangs of a predator. The reckless attack, disregarding defense, targeted the Sea Serpent’s tender flesh.

With the sword slicing through the flesh that just barely protected it, the soft heart of the creature was exposed.

However, just before piercing the heart, Albert’s ascent time reached its limit, and he dropped down hastily, glancing back.

“Oh, just in case, here’s a prepared finishing move.”

Zzap, crackle, shadows sparked and took shape. The shadow gripped in his hand transformed into the form of a spear.

Once the spear was fully inflated with mana to shatter the heart,—

“Damn it, if it weren’t an illusion, I could enjoy a whole eel feast!”

Fwwaack!!

The blood of the Sea Serpent, conjured by magic, splattered across the training ground, only to dissolve into the air and vanish.

– The Harmony Party brilliantly showcased their teamwork to subdue the Sea Serpent! Strategy, potential, and coordination! What a uniquely impressive way to hunt!

– Regardless of its nature as a monster, you successfully exploited its instinct and characteristics. Although these methods might not apply when facing a Sea Serpent in a gate, I want to praise the flexibility shown in adapting to the situation.

Thus, with the commentary team’s approval, the raid match concluded.

(To be continued in the next chapter)

 

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