Pick Me Up!

Chapter 85: Mission Type, Subjugation (5) (2)

The black dragon’s right claw flew off.  Every bone and muscle in my body creaked. My vision turned red.

And then…

[The Hero’s Soul is Awakening in a Critical Situation!]

[Skill Awakening!]

[‘Han (★★)’ has acquired the ‘Invincible’ skill!]

[‘Han (★★)’ has leveled up ‘Frenzy’ by two levels! It’s now level 6!]

“Take this too!”

Velkist’s dagger was handed over.

I transferred the flames and discarded the broken weapon. Wings flapped. I dodged and leaped over the creature’s knee. Holding its wings firmly with my left hand, I drew my right-handed dagger down.

Szzzzz!

The skin was shredded.

It felt like carving into bones.

“Rrrrgh!”

One of the black dragon’s wings was severed.

The fallen right wing on the ground flapped as if it were still alive.

“This is not bad.”

I became faster and stronger.

And the scales and skin became softer, enough to be cut with a dagger.

So it was possible. I chuckled and applied pressure with my hands.

The black dragon crawled towards Eloka.

Its tail lashed out like a whip. I avoided it. The distance between the black dragon and Eloka was less than 5 meters. The creature suddenly crouched down.

I rushed forward and climbed onto the black dragon’s body like a ball.

I thrust the flaming dagger into the creature’s long neck. 

Thud.

I grabbed the hilt of the dagger with both hands and sliced through the neck.

“Rrrurrruck!”

“SHUT UP!”

The black dragon’s posture unraveled in an instant.

I used all my strength and plunged the dagger into its neck.

The leather and muscles supporting the neck tore apart, and

“Rrrgh!”

Nearly 1 meter around, the black dragon’s head flew into the sky.

[Achievement Unlocked!]

[‘Han (★★)’ has acquired the ‘Dragon Slayer’ skill!]

Fwooosh.

Black blood spewed like a fountain from the severed neck.

The creature thrashed wildly, swinging its tail and claws.

[Frenzy has been released for ‘Han (★★).’ ]

[‘Han (★★)’ has entered a state of extreme fatigue. All attributes have decreased by 90%.]

Strength was drained from my body.

As the blind claws descended to crush my head, Jenna swiftly leaped in and pulled me back. Instantly, the claws struck where I had been.

Fwoosh. Fwoosh.

The blood spewing from the black dragon’s neck intensified.

But the black dragon was still moving.

‘So you won’t die until we burst its heart.’

“You filthy bastard.”

I muttered as Jenna handed me a potion.

My entire body was drenched in blood. I couldn’t tell if it was mine or the dragon’s.

“Senior, I have a question.”

Velkist spoke up.

I looked around. The shadows were almost cleared. The only thing left was the black dragon, missing its neck and wings, thrashing about. Eloka’s chant was nearing its end.

“What is it?”

“Are you even human?”

Velkist wore an indifferent expression.

“This is the first time in my life that I have seen a human stand up to a dragon and tear its throat out.”

“…What are you talking about?”

I collapsed onto the ground.

If I hadn’t gained Invincible at that moment, I wouldn’t have been able to move. As I coughed, the blood I had swallowed came pouring out.

‘Luck was on my side.’

Skill Awakening.

My Frenzy level increased, and I gained Invincible, a skill suitable for the situation.

My body had no strength left.

I had no strength to even move my fingers. I took a deep breath. The area where the scale had pierced throbbed.josei

“Are you okay, Oppa? Do you want me to remove the scales?”

“Don’t pull them out; it might worsen the bleeding. Just keep your distance from that thing. And take me with you.”

Jenna dragged me away from the black dragon.

Eloka’s spell was complete.

[Inflare. Combine.]

Tier 4 fire magic.

The entire black dragon’s body turned white. The flames consuming its body gathered near its heart, forming a circle and undulating. Gradually, it grew.

A small sun was forming.

The sun swallowed the black dragon whole, growing to a certain size, and then vanished.

Pop!

A white flash spread across the entire field.

[Stage Clear!]

[‘Han (★★),’ ‘Jenna (★★),’ ‘Eloka (★★★),’ ‘Velkist (★★),’ ‘Neryssa (★★)’ level up!]

[‘Edis (★★★),’ ‘Roderick (★★★),’ ‘Aaron (★★)’ level up!]

[Rewards – 150,000G, Lesser Dragon Heart, Black Dragon Scales (C) x 5, Black Dragon Bones (C) x 2, Black Dragon…]

[MVP – ‘Han (★★)’]

[Congratulations on clearing Floor 20, Master!]

[Now, Master, you’ve graduated from being a novice too. We’re all very moved. Please continue to enjoy Pick Me Up and have fun!]

[A lower-level dungeon has been unlocked.]

[The second exploration dungeon, ‘Halsea,’ is now open.]

[Additional facilities have been unlocked. Please check the instructions.]

[There are heroes waiting for promotion among the Master’s heroes. If you have the materials, combine them, and reclaim the fragments of forgotten memories!]

The 20th-floor field disappeared in succession.

The soldiers on the castle walls turned into particles of light and disintegrated.

Amidst this, I looked at the messages that kept appearing.

[Ding!]

[The dimensional rift is ready to be opened.]

“No one died.”

“None of us.”

Velkist chuckled at Jenna’s words.

We were enveloped in light. I got up with Jenna’s support. The scales fell off by themselves, and the bleeding stopped. My vitality gradually returned.

“Take care of Eloka. Her recovery is slower.”

“Got it.”

Jenna walked over to Eloka, who looked dazed.

For a moment, the light flashed so brightly that we found ourselves back in the rift of space and time. 

I sighed lightly. 

I turned my shoulders and it moved without any difficulty.

“All that’s left is…”

I surveyed the circular room.

Party one five people. The second party has three members.

It was over.

“Fifteen went, eight returned.”

Neryssa’s expression darkened.

“The third party was wiped out.”

It wasn’t complete annihilation, but it was a significant setback for sub-party development.

The same went for the second party. Edis looked gloomy.

Edis, who had been hesitating, approached me.

“Han, I’m sorry. We couldn’t do our job properly…”

“What are you talking about? Thanks to you, we made it.”

I patted Edis on the shoulder and whispered.

“Take care of the party. Don’t let it fall apart like this.”

“…Hum.”

Edis, along with the other two members, left through the rift of space and time.

Only five members from the first party remained. Eloka, who had collapsed, leaning on Jenna. I stored the recovered shield, sword, and dagger and said,

“Great job, everyone. Rest tomorrow. Do whatever you want.”

“I want to fight with you tomorrow, senior.”

“You should be quiet.”

We exited to the first-floor plaza.

Iselle flew over, sprinkling stardust. Something familiar rested against my chest.

[The ‘Warhorse Statue’ was gifted to ‘Han (★★)’!]

Iselle exhaled.

Her white cheeks were tinged with red.

“Great job on the 20th floor! You were awesome. This is a Master’s gift to our Dragon Slayer, God Loki!”

“I don’t need it.”

I scratched my cheek.

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!