#131: The Sea Dragon Temple (11) — Starborn Cheat Character

['Overlord Sword Technique' has been activated.]

[It is an Epic-grade skill.]

[The sword of calamity that kills enemies with strength and swiftness unfolds in your hand.]

It felt like I was going to break.

That was my immediate thought as I relentlessly swung the [Saint’s Sword].

Not only my stamina but even the mana stored inside me was being drained.

Like a broken faucet, all my inner energy was being exhausted.

But I didn’t care.
In fact, I felt exhilarated.

The first thing that made me happy was the growth of Meowi, who had achieved her .

The second was the sheer thrill of witnessing myself attacking so fast that afterimages were left in the air.

‘Fast.’

It was as if someone had doubled the regeneration speed of my body.

For a moment, I recalled my conversation with Divine Light Garam a few days ago at .

―Senior, I have one more personal favor to ask.
―What is it?
―Recently, the restrictions on a skill I’ve acquired have been lifted. Therefore, I want to perform a ‘prayer’ to transfer the option.

In ‘GAL,’ the played a significant role not only in testing for ranks but also in redistributing skills.
They also had important tasks such as reallocating .

I asked Divine Light Garam to transfer one of the options from the [Kappa Rhino] Rune to the [Overlord Sword Technique].

‘The option is [Adrenaline Booster (P)].’

[Adrenaline Booster] increases all action speeds by 10% per hit, up to a maximum of 100%.

Undoubtedly, it was one of the top-tier abilities among all enhancement types.

But when I first obtained it, it hadn’t been as impactful as I thought it would be.

The reason was quite simple.

‘It just doesn’t match with [Flowing Slash].’

[Adrenaline Booster] was definitely not a bad option to have.

It was just that the synergy with [Flowing Slash], used as a one-hit kill concept, didn’t work that well.

Foolishly, I overlooked that matter.

In fact, it was like letting a treasure rot.

Thus, I switched to the [Overlord Sword Technique].

Since it was a continuous ‘sword technique’, each normal strike had the [Adrenaline Booster] applied to it.

In other words, maintaining all stacks fully was possible even with just ten slashes.

‘…The option change that cost me a whopping 200 million!’

Shaking, the resolve I had when I paid the huge amount of shone through.

['Overlord Sword Technique' is activated.]

['Adrenaline Booster (P)' effect is added. All action speed is amplified during combat. However, the consumption of stamina and mana also increases. Current stacks: 100% (maximum 100%).]

[Extreme pleasure surges as you ride the [Sword of Calamity].]

Shrazzak!
Shrazak!
Crunch!
Crack!

“Roaaarrr!!!”

The painful scream of the echoed in my ears.

Drip…

Blood flowed, possibly from a damaged eardrum, but I didn’t care about all that.

‘Focus now.’

The angelic Meowi had risked her life, using her [Ultimate Skill] to give me this window of opportunity.

As the

, I had to repay that determination.
I had to push in as much damage as possible.

‘Imagine.’

Imagine Peng Jin-ah beside me.

Recall the direction of the hand she had taught me.

The absolute strength that comes from a single swing.
Recall the absolute speed that supports it.

Speed and strength.

The sword technique flowing through my hands was a world in itself.

It was an overlord’s sword that nothing could block.

[The mysterious talent flowing in your blade becomes even clearer.]

['Song of the Sword' level has increased. As a level reward, Strength +1, Speed +1, Endurance +1, Magic +1.]

['Song of the Sword' options are unlocked. You can now apply the 'Flowing Slash' skill.]

['Song of the Sword' is activated. The final power of the Flowing Slash skill increases by 100%.]

Thanks to [Song of the Sword], the sword became even sharper.

I stabbed the eye of the Sea Dragon with my sword, splitting it in half, and pulled it out.

The let out another shriek.

Its whole body began to emit a subtle blue light.

Instinctively, I recognized this as the ’s unique [Healing] skill.

“Not a chance!”

I gripped the [Saint’s Sword] in reverse.

As the eye began to regenerate, I drove the blade in and unleashed the [Holy Slash].

['Holy Slash' hits.]

[The <Sea Dragon>'s regeneration and healing abilities are reduced by 80%.]

With its recovery being blocked, it seemed that the had turned its focus to attack.

Bubbling!

The water gathered on the ground surged into the sky.

And then, like rain, it began to pour down, each drop sharp as a needle.

It was undoubtedly the derivative skill of the Epic grade [Tsunami of Rising Dragon], [Dragon’s Rain].

Bam-bam-bam-bam!

“Ugh!”

It was a powerful area attack inflicting water attribute damage indiscriminately within a certain zone.

My back felt as though it were being shredded by a giant sheet of sandpaper.

“Dragon…!”

And this was the same for Ju Na-young.

The dragon scales she had covered herself with through her [Dragon’s Child] ability were being stripped away by the relentless assault of the rain.

Thud-thud-thud! Unable to withstand the piercing pain, Ju Na-young staggered back.

“Cough…!”

Ju Na-young spat blood from her mouth.
It was evidence that even her internal organs were injured.

“Yu Seha! You should also retreat—”

Ju Na-young couldn’t continue her words.

Swoosh!

The whirling sword energy of the [Overlord Sword Technique].

And me, the master of the sword energy.

I continued to swing my sword, covered in blood.

I never stopped.

Despite the [Dragon’s Rain] tearing at my ears, gouging my limbs, I didn’t stop.

I knew that if I didn’t push through now, we’d lose this opportunity.

So, I pushed myself to the limit, slashing again and again, even managing to gouge out the [Sea Dragon]’s remaining eye.

“Roooar!!!”

As if shouting, “You persistent bastard!!!” the screamed.

In retaliation, it lashed out wildly with its massive tail, smashing it into the ground and its own head in an attempt to crush me.

Thud!
Wham!

The tail, dozens of times larger than my body, came down like a mace, but I stood firm with my sword plunged into the ground.

Then I swung the [Overlord Sword Technique] again.

“……”

Thud, thud, thud!

Ju Na-young couldn’t even think of helping and just stared at the scene, mesmerized.

The determination to defeat the enemy, even while bleeding.

Ju Na-young’s heart began to race.

Her mind flashed back to childhood stories of brave heroes battling fearsome evil dragons.

Of course…

I wasn’t standing because I was some kind of brave hero.

‘Damn it!’

It hurts like hell! Really.
Even with [Stone Hardening] and [Pain Tolerance of Endurance] activated, this level of pain was intense.

Without these skills, I would have fainted long ago.

Crack!

Finally, my leg gave out, the bone shattering from the immense pressure.

A catastrophic injury, but I remained unfazed.

“[Rapid Healing]!!!”

A skill obtained from an ancient book given by Su Ok-bin noona.
My swollen knee and the puncture wounds all over my body were instantly healed.

‘Almost there!’

The [Sea Dragon]’s head was nearly completely exposed, its flesh peeled back to reveal its fractured skull.

A few more blows and I could deal a lethal strike.

That’s what I thought, anyway.

But before I could land the finishing blow, the dragon let out one final, ear-shattering roar that filled the entire [Boss Room], as if saying, ‘Stop!’

“Roooooar!!!”

A level of intimidation different from before radiated from the mouth of the [Sea Dragon].

My body stiffened like a stone.

Ju Na-young, who had been watching, caught my naturally falling body.

“Yu Seha!”
“I-I’m okay…”

This intimidation.
It was unmistakable.

The absolute terror used by all [Dragons], the origin and pinnacle of the materialization of ‘Killing Intent’.

Even the ‘Killing Intent’ I used had to bow before this…

A power akin to actual authority.

[Dragon Fear].

Rumble!!

“Ugh!”

Once again, [Dragon Fear] spread out.

I was completely immobilized, as if someone had tied me up with chains.

‘…Wait a minute.’

Using an authority like [Dragon Fear] consecutively?

‘…How many phases has it skipped?’

For a boss like the , there would be phases where special abilities activate each time its health drops by a certain percentage.

This [Dragon Fear] must be one of those.

Thanks to that, I realized that I had reduced the ’s HP more than I had expected.

Seeing the signs of victory, a smile naturally formed on my face.

But…

A foreboding warning soon wiped all the smiles away.

[The <Sea Dragon> reveals the 'Pride of the Fallen Dragon' to the intruders.]

[This is the final special phase of the <Sea Dragon>.]

[The <Sea Dragon> is temporarily granted 'Invincibility'.]

“…Shit!”

What?

What the hell?

Invincibility?

The following content was also quite a sight.

[For a certain period, the power of everyone's [Dragon] series skills will increase dramatically.]

[If you are not of the [Dragon] series, the Sea Dragon will not be affected by any status abnormalities.]

[Only [Dragon] series skills can penetrate the [Sea Dragon]'s [Invincibility].]

[Power increase: 1000%.]

[The [Sea Dragon] is preparing 'Breath'.]

[Charging time: 5 minutes.]

“……”

Everyone, including me, turned pale.

I closed my eyes with a sigh.

I had a hunch.

Surely, this was that.

’[Instant Death Pattern]…’

Sometimes it happens.
An instant death-level skill that activates if you don’t disable a specific gimmick…

Usually, you could only see it with [S-grade] monsters.

The we were facing right now may be powerful, but it was only at the high A-grade level.

Such a creature, and not just an .
It even brought out a conditional .

In reality, without a type skill, killing it was impossible.

‘Even if it’s fallen, a dragon is still a dragon, huh?’

I fiddled with the for a moment.
Should I give up on the strategy and retreat…?

“…Huh? Wait a minute…”

A dragon?

We have a dragon too, don’t we?!

“Ju Na-young!”
“Cough, cough!”

I shouted as I turned around.

I saw Ju Na-young coughing up black smoke and shedding tears.

From that sight, I could already guess she had attempted something earlier.

“Dragon… Just, just wait… just wait a moment.”

Ju Na-young opened her mouth wide.

An incredible aura began to condense from her mouth.

It was the kind of amplification of power that could only be seen in a [Dragon] gimmick.

But she failed again and coughed up black smoke.

“…Sorry…”

Ju Na-young clenched her fist in frustration.
“Why the hell isn’t it working?!” she shouted, stomping on the ground.

“……”

There were four minutes left.

I listened silently to the cries of the party, “Seha! What should we do?”, “Seha!”, “Junior! Let’s use the pendant!” while deep in thought.

‘…Sigh.’

I was the one who had raised Ju Na-young to her final potential.

The number of powers she could reach.
Along with the minor sub-stories.
I had seen all the major personal stories.

‘…Of course, there are some things I don’t know since no background about her family was revealed…’

Anyway, thanks to that, I knew how Ju Na-young could unlock the power known as the Dragon’s Judgment, a kind of authority.

[Dragon Breath].

If I set my mind to it…
I could make her shoot a [Breath] right now.

‘But…’

The reason I hadn’t revealed this to her yet was because…

To Ju Na-young, [Breath] wasn’t just a skill.

It was a testament to prove herself as a descendant of a .

It wasn’t just about gaining strength.

She would also achieve mental growth through the device called [Breath].

‘If I mess it up…’

My hasty intervention could distort Ju Na-young’s future.

‘…Hoo.’

Many thoughts crossed my mind.

But the hesitation was brief.

Seeing it this way felt novel.

I had long been prepared since the moment I first fell into this world.

‘This is my world.’

It’s not just a world inside a game.

I won’t hesitate to intervene, fearing the future.

Since I appeared here, everyone was precious.

I will not hesitate.
I will not fear.
If they want, I will teach them without hiding anything.

Even if it means being betrayed and meeting a miserable end.

As long as my children are happy, that’s enough.

‘For that…’

Right now, the best option was to crack the skull of that insolent and steal the serendipity.

Having made my decision, I quickly approached Ju Na-young.

I grabbed her hand and waist, pulling her right up to my face.

Ju Na-young, flustered by the sudden skinship,

blinked her jewel-like green eyes.

“…Huh? Eh? Uh, ah?, Y-Young-ah? Y-Yu Se-ha?!”
“Ju Na-young. I apologize in advance.”
“…Huh?”
“I’ll kneel and beg later. I’ll do whatever you ask… just bear with me this once.”
“…Young-ah?”

I took a breath.
Just like that…
I pressed my lips against Ju Na-young’s.

I didn’t stop there.
I pushed my tongue deep into her mouth.

“…?”

Ju Na-young stared blankly.

She blinked once.

She stared blankly again.

Then, soon grasping the situation, her eyes widened in shock.

A scream burst out from within Ju Na-young, ‘Young-ah…!!!’

“……”

Finally…

As a bonus, Moon Bora stood silently in the background, staring with dead eyes at the scene.