Chapter 30
The dragon, still in agony, had no time to dodge as I quickly and accurately aimed at the same spot.
Kyaaaaah—!
The sea dragon, fearful of fire, let out another terrible shriek.
But its thick dragon skin endured even as the fire pillar repeatedly struck its body.
My attack couldn’t penetrate deep enough to damage the dragon’s internal organs.
As the dragon angrily stomped its massive feet, the inverted space shook threateningly.
I muttered in a voice tinged with dismay.
“Damn. I only have one fire mana stone left…”
Even the messenger who had provided information about the Leviathan remained silent after displaying a message about being in review.
“Noah!”
At that moment, black poison gas spewed from the dragon’s wide-open maw.
Baek Yi-heon grabbed me in his arms and leaped to an unbelievable height using the strength in his thighs.
Whoosh—!
The concentrated poison gas engulfed the spot where we had been.
The clothing left in that place dissolved without a trace.
Even the edge of my shirt, which had barely been grazed by the poison breath began to melt away.
I quickly took off the shirt I was wearing and threw it away.
Even though I was wearing a tank top underneath, I saw Baek Yi-heon swiftly looked away.
Seeing us dodging, the dragon began to flap its enormous wings.
It was trying to attack from the air.
No matter how fast Baek Yi-heon was, it would be difficult for me to dodge an aerial attack.
I only had one fire mana stone left.
‘What should I do? Think. Think, Yoo Noah…’
That’s when it happened.
[(Messenger) Indra, who has been watching your inner thoughts, comes running breathlessly, saying not to forget about him and that he’s passed the causality review.]
It was the first time I was glad to hear this voice in my head, which had been as irritating as spam mail.
‘Passed the causality review?’
As if answering my question, the messenger’s voice continued immediately.
[(Messenger) Your synchronization rate with Indra increases to 0.23% due to improved compassion!]
[The implementation rate of divine power increases due to relaxed causality constraints. You can now implement 0.23% of Indra’s divine power in the mortal world.
-Cost: Requires mana stones as a medium.]
‘…Only 0.23 percent?’
My brief excitement faded.
I coldly mocked the god.
Who are you trying to impress with that ant-sized increase?
[(Messenger) Indra waves his hand triumphantly, telling you to see for yourself before speaking.]
Why is he so confident?
‘Just to annoy me?’
[(Messenger) Indra is once again shocked by your poor character.]
Regardless, I grasped the last remaining fire mana stone in my hand.
‘You said the implementation rate of divine power increased, right?’
That meant I could implement stronger divine power even using the same mana stone.
In other words, while the amount of mana contained in the stone was fixed, I could output it at maximum efficiency without loss.
I focused and infused power into the mana stone.
Suddenly, I felt a chilling sensation as if energy was being sucked out of my bloodstream through my palm.
‘W-what’s this?’
Despite my confusion, the mana stone that had absorbed my energy glowed red as if burning.
And then.
Whoosh!
With an incredible sound, a pillar of fire erupted right above the dragon’s body.
It was a flame pillar incomparably larger and more powerful than before.
Kyaaaaaah—!
The monster screamed as it was engulfed in flames that consumed its body like a volcano.
Even the dragon’s skin couldn’t withstand this flame.
And then.
Thud… thud…
The dragon, after crying out in agony, fell down as a roasted carcass.
The soaring flames continued to sizzle and burn the dragon’s body for a while before finally dying down as their power was exhausted.
[(Messenger) You have defeated the boss monster!]
[E-rank Hidden Dungeon, ”Sea of Mangsang (望祥)’ cleared!]
[As you are not a formally contracted avatar, the mana capacity and overall stats of the primary contributor do not change.]
The messenger’s voice continued to buzz busily in my head.
[(Messenger) The mana capacity and overall stats of the secondary contributor, Avatar Baek Yi-heon, increase significantly.]
[Avatar Baek Yi-heon’s divine skill ‘Yaksha’s Claws’ evolves to ‘Lv3’.
Avatar Baek Yi-heon’s divine skill…]
Even as the messenger’s voice buzzed busily in my head, I stood there dumbfounded.
‘…This much power from a C-grade mana stone?’
So, this is what happens with just a 0.23 percent increase in synchronization rate?
A boastful voice echoed in my mind.
[(Messenger) Indra, having rushed over, slyly offers you a contract.]
[Saying, look at this, if this much is possible with just a 0.23 percent increase, if you contract with me…]
Heh.
But before the god’s voice could finish, I smiled deviously and muttered to myself.
‘What? At this rate, I might not need to make a formal contract at all.’
Of course, there are several restrictions on using divine power without being an official contractor, but to be able to defeat an A-rank boss monster with just a provisional contract…
Although, admittedly, the sea dragon is on the weaker side among A-rank monsters in terms of combat ability.
[(Messenger) Indra is speechless at your wickedness and falls silent.]
I sneered at the god, chuckling with a villainous smile.
“…Are you alright, Noah?”
At that moment, Baek Yi-heon asked as he draped his large shirt over me.
I felt a bit embarrassed, having been caught smirking to myself.
“The heat should have subsided by now. Let’s go check out that monster dragon.”
Ignoring his concern, I pointed to where the flame-engulfed monster had disappeared.
“Ah, there might be items there.”
Baek Yi-heon nodded and obediently went to retrieve them.
It’s not that there might be items—there definitely are.
To implant such a powerful tool in the human realm, an equally powerful medium of thought is necessary.
“There are!”
Baek Yi-heon straightened up and approached me.
In his hands were a bluish mana stone and an ivory-colored item shaped like a sword.
‘Item inquiry.’
[(Messenger) Item: Water Mana Stone
+Item Grade: A-grade
+Type: Unprocessed raw material
+A water-attribute mana stone. A stone containing pure energy mana, with various potential uses.]
.
[(Messenger) Item: Sea Dragon’s Fang
+Item Grade: A-rank
+Type: Unprocessed raw material
+A fang from the legendary sea dragon. Can be used as a weapon as is or to craft other items.]
“Perfect…”
I muttered words of victory quietly, out of Baek Yi-heon’s earshot.
Though it might look like a worn-out fang at first glance, it’s a weapon with the best compatibility for Baek Yi-heon, who uses the Yaksha’s power.
Since Yaksha originally comes from evil monsters that opposed the gods in ancient times, it matches well with such primal tools.
‘And if we ask Choi Yudam, who we’ll meet in Busan, to enhance it…’
Even now, it’s already an A-class weapon, more than sufficient for Baek Yi-heon to use in the early stages…
But then, we could aim for S-class, or even SSS-class if luck is on our side with the enhancement.
It was a weapon Baek Yi-heon frequently used even in the latter part of the story.
“You should use that.”
I said, carefully taking the A-rank gemstone from Baek Ihun and putting it into my hip pouch.
“Me? But isn’t this what you obtained, Noah?”
He’s so inflexible, as always.
At his words, which didn’t deviate an inch from my expectations, I waved my hand dismissively.
“What would I do with a fang sword?”
Seeing him still hesitating, I drove the point home.
“Or would you prefer that I fight monsters directly with a sword?”
At those words, he quickly retreated, holding the fang sword.
Only then did he carefully examine the shape of the sword with his eyes.
After all, he is a swordsman who handles swords.
How could he not be pleased to finally have a proper weapon?
Baek Yi-heon stroked the blade with his hand, muttering with a face full of emotion.
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