The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 429: Nightmare at Midday (2)

All three of us—me, the other me, and Yuhyun—held our breath simultaneously. Even with my mind spinning in confusion, my body responded with Hunter instincts. The pile of presents and scattered boulders had hidden us from Lautitars’s view. The monster possessed tremendous power befitting the king of the Venom and Curse Dragonkin, but that same strength made him careless.

He would attack if spotted, but he wasn’t actively hunting for us. That’s why Yuhyun had been able to warn me to hide.

“Hyung.”

Yuhyun’s expression turned ice-cold, completely steady now, as if he’d never wavered. My little brother spoke in hushed tones.

“The exit’s blocked too. Don’t move and stay here—”

“There’s a way.”

This stubborn kid was planning to go out alone again. Current Yuhyun would be semi-SS-Rank. With doubled skills and us as backup, it wouldn’t be hopeless. That is, assuming that lizard bastard didn’t get a dungeon buff.

So.

[The nightmare is applied.]

A message window flashed into view. Was it the Rookie? Something felt off. My nightmare had already manifested, so what else—

“Ugh…”

“Yuhyun?”

The pre-regression me called out urgently. His voice stayed low, but surprise bled through clearly. I spun around to find Yuhyun’s body going limp in my arms.

“What happened? Yuhyun? What’s wrong?”

“My body… it won’t…”

Yuhyun struggled to speak.

“No strength. My waist… I can’t feel anything below it.”

My little brother’s final moments flashed before my eyes. Was this it? But nothing had even attacked him yet.

“Hyung, you need to dodge…”

“Are you in pain? Hey, you—come here too. The curse resistance might help.”

This wasn’t a curse. But I moved closer anyway. My fingertips trembled slightly. Thankfully, Yuhyun’s body was only paralyzed—no other problems. No wounds, no pain.

“I think he’s trying to keep Yuhyun from interfering.”

“What? Could it be…”

The pre-regression me quickly grasped the situation and looked back at Lautitars, whose head barely showed in the distance. His brow creased deeply.

“It’s that bastard.”

“Yeah.”

“Here.”

“Yeah.”

[It is midday.]

Another message window appeared. That strange feeling again.

[The nightmare is weakened.]

Faint mist seeped in with the message.

– GRRRR.

The mist wrapped around the massive curse dragon once before scattering and vanishing. It was weakening—could this be? I used Promising Talent on Lautitars.

[1st-Rank Venom and Curse Dragonkin – Dragon King of Poison and Curse, Lautitars (Midday Nightmare)

Current Stat Grade S (Weakened)

Possible Awakening Stat Grade SS~SSS

Optimized Initial Skills

Ruler of the Dragonkin (L) Acquired (Weakened to SSS-Rank)

Endless Dragon’s Curse (SSS) Acquired (Weakened to SS-Rank)

Overflowing Poison Mist (SSS) Acquired (Weakened to SS-Rank)

Arrogant King’s Roar (SS) Acquired (Weakened to S-Rank)

Boiling Breath (SS) Acquired (Weakened to S-Rank)

Regeneration (S) Acquired (Weakened to A-Rank)]

Just as expected—an enormous stat spread. I’d suspected this might be a higher rank than the Lautitars I’d faced before. Diarma had mentioned sending a moderately weak one.

But every single stat had “weakened” attached. Skill grades dropped by one rank, stats seemed to have fallen by two ranks or more.

A high-rank S-Rank boss monster.

The current Han Yuhyun could handle this easily. The problem was that Yuhyun couldn’t move.

“That bastard’s grade dropped to S-Rank.”

At my words, the pre-regression me activated Promising Talent as well.

“The curse and poison won’t affect us. But it’s still stat S-Rank.”

“Ruler of the Dragonkin doesn’t seem to be an attack skill, and without poison and curse, it won’t even scratch us.”

I could block sufficiently with Grace. The real problem was our attack method. The other me gave me an accusatory look.

“How do you not have a single attack skill? With that status window?”

“You think I’m not frustrated too?”

Dragon Slayer, Perfect Nurturer, Miracle Rookie, Veteran F-Rank, Unfindable. Even the title-based skills lined up in rows, but they were all resistance, support, and special types. Same with Lullaby and Pat Pat. I felt bad about the points, but should I buy an attack skill? Problem was, I didn’t have enough points for a high-rank attack skill. Even mid-rank was too expensive.

“Let’s calculate this.”

Twice with Lautitars’s natural enemy, and twice again with Veteran F-Rank. That wasn’t enough. I needed something more.

“As a bonus, can we apply it to each other?”

If this worked, that would be twice again.

“Wouldn’t it work? Do we have to fight holding hands then?”

“Since it’s you and me, I think we can count it as working even without touching. Hey, maybe we can pass on the skill that’s been applied twice again?”

Lautitars’s natural enemy was SS-Rank, so impossible, but I could get the Veteran F-Rank title and make it four times, then pass that four-times skill again… how many times would that be? In theory, it seemed possible.

“Let’s try it first. Use the bonus skill on me. With veteran.”

I carefully laid Yuhyun down and placed my hand on myself. The skill shared, and—

[Veteran F-Rank (S)

A superhuman with extreme veteran skills as an F-Rank Hunter.

The effect of any attack-type skills is doubled (quadrupled in a duplicate state)]

I’d successfully duplicated the effect! Taking a quick breath, I passed the Veteran title to the pre-regression me. Then I shared our skills again with mana control, and we both acquired the Veteran title in double duplicate state.

This loophole was possible because the other me and I were different beings and simultaneously the same being.

[Veteran F-Rank (S)

A superhuman with extreme veteran skills as an F-Rank Hunter.

The effect of any attack-type skills is doubled (sextupled in a duplicate state)]

Unfortunately not eight times, but a whopping six times. And there was also Lautitars’s natural enemy. The other me and I swallowed dryly in unison.

“With this much, even a C—no, a D-Rank would—”

“It would.”

Even with a D-Rank attack skill, we could produce S-Rank or higher effects. I quickly checked the point shop. All sorts of attack skills were available, but ridiculously expensive since they didn’t suit my aptitude. I’d given up before, but now D-Rank was enough. I could afford that much. A D-Rank attack skill.

[Powerful Thrust (D)]

A simple thrust attack skill. The price was cheapest among D-Rank attack types, probably because it had no special effects. I didn’t need anything fancy right now. This was enough.

I purchased the attack skill and shared it with the pre-regression me.

“Isn’t this skill weapon-dependent?”

“I have one. A sturdy one.”

The sturdiest weapon in the world. Instead, I handed the wildcat gun to the pre-regression me. Just like Grace, the wildcat gun was a bound item that could be shared. We checked our equipment and divided items.

“Then.”

“Shall we go?”

Seeing us stand, Yuhyun struggled to raise his upper body.

“H-Hyung. No… what are you planning to do, please…”

I looked back at my little brother. We both smiled simultaneously, trying to reassure him.

“Don’t worry, Yuhyun.”

“Hyung will never die.”

“The current Hyung is a little strong, you know?”

“Strong enough to catch that lizard bastard.”

Strong enough to protect my little brother this time and pierce the dragon’s head. We soothed the anxious Yuhyun and carried him to the cave’s far end. I reassured him not to worry.

“You have a barrier skill, right? Use that and stay here.”

“Hyung…”

“This is your birthday cake.”

The pre-regression me placed the cake box next to Yuhyun, who was leaning against the wall.

“It’s been a while since we lit candles. Let’s eat it together.”

“Hey, you—that’s completely a death—”

“Shut up. You’re jinxing it.”

No, normally you have to say it’s a death flag to feel more reassured. Because if you say it, it can’t be foreshadowing.

I turned away, leaving my little brother behind. My chest felt pleasantly heavy. I put the SS-Rank handcuffs on and transformed Grace. It became a spear with a long chain attached. Since it couldn’t fall from my hand, I wrapped the chain tightly around my wrist. Unless that lizard bastard grabbed me and carefully untied the knot with its claw tip, there was no way I’d drop it.

Then I threw the A-Rank spear from my inventory to the pre-regression me.

“The fear resistance is good. I’m not scared at all.”

“It’s L-Rank, so why would I be scared of that thing?”

We walked side by side. As we climbed over boulders and descended the other side, Lautitars finally turned its head toward us.

– GRRRRR.

Three dragon heads rose high. A fierce gaze glared at us, then for some reason, flinched.

[The effect of the Ruler of the Dragonkin skill is nullified by the Dragon Slayer title!]

A welcome message window appeared. The Dragon Slayer title—and there were two of them—meant Lautitars couldn’t dare attack easily and stepped back.

My lips curved upward on their own. I could feel the other me was happy too.

How much had we wished for this sight. I’d wanted to stand by his side. I’d wanted to stand in front of him. I’d wanted to protect him.

I.

“It’s so damn big.”

“We have to aim for the head—the head.”

Even with lowered stat grade, the size remained the same. Even if I stabbed its body, inflicting a fatal wound would be difficult.

“I know.”

The other me, Han Yujin, replied.

– RAAAAAR!

Lautitars let out a massive roar. THUD, THUD—the huge four legs shook the ground. It clearly sensed we were threats, but its movements were sluggish, confused. Because its stats were still low. You understand.

“Come at me, you mangy lizard bastard.”

I heard scales clashing, and terrifying poison gas began spreading. For a moment I worried about Yuhyun, but fortunately the poison was extremely concentrated but limited in range. The sticky poison gas that soaked through clothes to the bone obscured my vision.

I activated stealth skill simultaneously.

– GRRRR.

Twice as effective against Venom and Curse Dragonkin. A mere S-Rank lizard couldn’t see us. When the poison mist cleared, Lautitars rolled its three pairs of eyeballs. I kept moderate distance from the bastard as it looked around and gripped my spear tightly.

No matter how powerful the stealth skill, direct body contact would reveal us. I had no flight skill, no ability to jump to that high head. In other words, I had no means to attack that bastard’s head right now. Climbing its body would just get me shaken off easily.

So.

‘You’re working hard.’

‘Just get ready, you bastard.’

It wasn’t even twin telepathy—being able to exchange thoughts was really uncomfortable. I had to catch the lizard quickly and cut this connection or something.

Han Yujin’s feet stepped on the ceiling. The fully charged gun aimed downward. Strength flowed to my feet tips. The white gun barrel flashed faintly, then instantly released its stored mana!

BANG!

The magic bullet fell like a light meteorite, and—

BOOM–!

It roughly struck the leftmost of three dragon heads, the one closest to me. Lautitars’s head buried into the floor as if hit by a massive hammer. The wound itself wasn’t very large. But with this—

My spear would reach.

The moment the gun fired, I ran like mad. The dragon’s jaw dug into the floor, fragments flew everywhere, the ground shook, but I didn’t care and jumped with all my strength.

Powerful Thrust.

That simple D-Rank skill activated through the translucent glass spear. The skill’s power gathered at the spear tip, which had no option but to be sturdy.

Twice, four times, six times, and twice more. The arm so weak and frail compared to the giant dragon drew back greatly. Even adding all my strength would normally struggle to scratch its scales. Normally. That arm, that hand, stabbed the spear between the dragon’s brows.

CRUNCH!

Scales touching the spear tip instantly shattered. It destroyed everything in its path. Like striking tofu with a club—so easily.

– KRAAAAA!

Lautitars, having lost one head, began thrashing. My body was instantly thrown to the floor.

‘Be careful!’

The moment Han Yujin shouted in my head, a huge foot obscured my vision. Ugh! Thanks to Grace, I avoided being crushed to death, but I was suffocating. Fortunately, it seemed to perceive my presence as just a stone, and the foot soon moved away. Instead, hot energy rushed in.

– KRAAAAAAK!

The dragon’s breath made the air boil. The heat was just hot, but breathing became difficult again. It would have been dangerous without Cilekia’s Wing.

‘The effect of the breath of a dragonkin of SS-Rank or lower is halved.’

One of Cilekia’s Wing’s options. Being an item obtained from catching a fire dragon, besides flame resistance, it also had dragonkin options. This half-effect also worked on the breathing difficulty from burning air.

“You still have two heads left, and you’re making such a fuss!”

I quickly got up, released stealth, and shouted. Look at me, look at me. We couldn’t match that bastard’s movement speed. So I had to somehow stop its movements.

“Everything should come in pairs, so two heads left looks perfect!”

– GRRRRR!

“Oh, you like odd numbers? Then give it here. I’ll finish blowing it up!”

Come here, come here! But Lautitars didn’t attack rashly. Between the Dragon Slayer pressure and losing one head instantly, it bared its teeth fiercely while staying wary and hesitant.

How well-behaved.

While I drew its attention, Han Yujin moved quietly on the ceiling. He stopped over one of the two remaining heads.