Monster Summoning Exam (2)

-Gwaaaah!

A sharp noise reverberated in my ears.

How should I put it?

It was like the screeching sound of nails scraping a chalkboard, if I were to describe it.

“Meoooow…!”

Meowi shivered as if in agony.
She had particularly acute hearing.
She had as many as four ears.

The cat ears on top of her head and the two human ears quivered in distress.

I covered Meowi’s cat ears.

“Meeeoow~ Seha, thank you.”
“No problem.”

Then, I turned my gaze to the writhing tree monster ahead.

- Gwaaaaah!!!

<Trent Hydra>.

Unlike the barely A-grade monsters like <Twin Head Troll> and <Basilisk>, it was a formidable foe that earned a fully mature A-grade rating.

Of course, this space was an exam site where the ‘Illusion Magic Circle’ system created by <Archmage Amelia> was applied.

Therefore, it was true that it was somewhat weaker than the original.

‘…Still, it’s a tricky opponent to go against.’

Its stats were slightly lower than normal, but all of its unique abilities and characteristics remained intact.

That was why this fight was dragging out.

<Trent Hydra>, in terms of raw strength alone, wasn’t that overwhelming.

It didn’t have the absurd regeneration and brute toughness of a troll.

Nor did it have powerful venom or high single-hit damage like a basilisk.

The problem was the combo of its special abilities.

Swish!

“Yu Seha!”
“I know!”

Moon Bora’s shout signaled the starting point.
I dodged the tree root that aimed for my back like lightning.

Even without [Unprecedented Sense], I could now somewhat predict the danger.

I swung the sword like a flash.

The tree root was cut in an instant, but soon, an astonishing sight unfolded.

The severed part wriggled, regenerated, and then split into two roots.

“Hissss!”

A snake’s face appeared at the end of the root.

This was its signature trait—its [Splitting Head] ability.

The creature, named Hydra, indeed had the traits of the mythical Hydra monster.

‘Well, of course, it doesn’t split indefinitely.’

It could split up to 30 times, max.
Even so, that alone was troublesome.
The number of attacks doubled.

In fact, this could be tolerated.
The real problem appeared right now.

“[Ice Javelin]!”

Moon Bora’s newly learned <Ice> magic struck the creature’s body.

With a violent sound, the ice spear pierced through.

The struggling <Trent Hydra> soon began to adapt to the ice spear as if nothing had happened.

Its body started to change to a blue hue.

This was its most troublesome ability.

The Hero-grade ability called [Outstanding Adaptability].
Combined with another Hero-grade skill, [Evolution of Resistance], it allowed it to evolve mid-battle.

In other words, once it successfully adapted to an attack, it could develop a natural resistance to it.

‘Very annoying.’

Therefore, Supervisors classified the strategies to tackle the <Trent Hydra> into two main methods.

The first was to smash it instantly with overwhelming firepower, giving it no time to adapt.

This was immediately dismissed.

‘If [Monstrous Strength] and [Monstrous Dominion Step] are activated, it would be more than enough…’

This wasn’t even a real dungeon.
It felt a bit excessive to exert that much effort against a mere exam boss.

Besides, the professor, acting as an observer, was watching through the glass.

Therefore, the second method.

We would induce desired changes with minor attacks.
Once the changes were complete, we would use the counter attribute to finish it off.

The attacks continued.
The main attacker was Moon Bora.

“Good. Moon Bora, fall back!”
“Yes!”

I intentionally asked Moon Bora to use her usual magic formula, not the power learned from Cheon Mira.

The stronger the attack, the faster the <Trent Hydra> adapted.

I didn’t want to unnecessarily burden Moon Bora.

Soon, the body of the <Trent Hydra> turned a suitable shade of blue.

Realizing it was time, I asked Meowi.

“Meowi!”
“Meow!”

With a cute battle cry, Meowi dashed forward.

Dodging the <Trent Hydra>’s attacks, she slid underneath.

Raising her shield, she executed a combination of [Unstoppable Shout] and [Playful Cat].

“Meow, meoww!”

-Screeeech!!!

The Hydra, caught in the taunt and attack power reduction, frantically pounded on the shield.

Meanwhile, Ju Na-young prepared for the decisive blow.

“Go, Yong-Yong!”
“I’ve been waiting for this call!”

Ju Na-young clenched her fist and struck the ground.
A giant tree grew.
It began to burn, engulfed in flames.

It soon transformed into a suitably sized wooden spear.
The spear radiated intense heat.

A skill of the <Druid>.

[Flame-Wrapped Tree].
Here, the somewhat mastered [Flame Forest] was entwined like thorny vines.

Finally, [Burning Flames] was cast.

Though it seemed simple, it was the manifestation of an ability with a combination of three elements.

For someone like Ju Nayong, who usually preferred straightforward attacks, this was the first time she had ever executed such a complex skill combo.

‘Also known as…’

“Fiery Dragon Spear!!!”

Uh, um…

Not such a cheesy name, but…

Whoosh!

Anyway, the fiery wooden spear flew powerfully and pierced the Hydra’s body at once.

-Rooooaaaar!!!

A bizarre roar echoed everywhere.

The <Trent Hydra> struggled desperately to pull out the fiery wooden spear embedded in its body.

But soon, as if realizing it was futile, it staggered and collapsed with a thud.

Meowi, who was watching, raised her shield and shouted, “Meow!”

“Yay~ We did it!”
“Great job!”
“…Phew, everyone did well.”

Moon Bora, seemingly exhausted, waved her hands around.

Then, looking at the burning Hydra’s corpse, she carelessly uttered those words.

Words that should not be spoken!

“Is it dead?”
“……”
“……”

The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

Ju Na-young opened her eyes wide, stammered, and protested.

Meowi, standing nearby, joined in.

“Wh-what?! M-Moon Bora, how could you say such a thing recklessly?!”
“Meow! That’s right, Bora! That’s a magical spell!”
“What?”

A flustered Moon Bora looked at the Hydra.
It remained motionless.

“…I-It looks fine, though?”
“No way! It will definitely rise!”
“Meow! If it does, it’s Bora’s fault!”
“Huh, what? Uh-oh?!”

I chuckled quietly at the trio’s antics.

It was fine.

I had already calculated its HP.

Not to mention, the fiery wooden spear had struck a critical spot.

There was no way it could survive after taking that…

“…Huh?”

However, as if to deny all that…

The tree roots began to move with a crackling sound.

“Meow! It revived because of Bora!”
“Yong-aah! Moon Bora, you troll!”
“I-Is it my fault?”

I was as bewildered as the three of them, but my surprise was for a slightly different reason.

It was shocking that it resurrected, but…

I felt an alien force swirling from the Hydra’s body for a moment.

This distinctively disgusting yet intense scent…

No way?!

’…demonic energy?!’

Soon, the aura vanished as if it had never been there from the beginning.

It was so faint that it was hard to detect properly.

I observed the others.

They were just bickering with each other; no one seemed to have sensed the <Magi>.

‘…Was it my imagination?’

If I had more time, I would have pondered over it, but… there was no time for that.

“Yu-Yu Seha! That thing stood up again!”

Krrrreeek!!!

The <Trent Hydra> shrieked, wrapped in flames.

As the blazing fire subsided, its skin, not blue like before, but crimson, gleamed like armor.

Undoubtedly, it was proof that it succeeded in acquiring strong resistance.

“…Wh-what?!”
“Meoww?!”

The girls let out cries of despair.

The creature, which held out till the end, finally succeeded in becoming a massive wall.

Bang!
Crash!

Screeech!

More than twenty snake-headed roots lashed out like writhing tentacles.

Although each blow wasn’t particularly powerful, it became uncertain whether we could win if this turned into a prolonged battle.

“…Damn it. I guess it’s my turn now!”

Ju Na-young clenched her fist, seemingly ready.

Ziiing!

A red light surged from Ju Na-young’s mouth like a flash.

It was undoubtedly a sign that she was about to unleash [Dragon Breath].

I quickly approached and grabbed her hand to stop her.

“Yong-ah? Y-Yu Seha?”
“Ju Na-young. If you use Breath, you’ll be bedridden for days.”

I had heard the explanation recently.

The restrictions on [Dragon Breath] had been lifted, meaning she could use it whenever she wanted.

But just because she could, didn’t mean she should.

Her body still couldn’t withstand the overwhelming power of a dragon’s judgment.

At minimum, she’d be stuck in bed for two days, groaning ‘Yong-aaah…’ while barely able to move.

“B-but… Yu Seha. You and I both have Rare-grade [Burning Flames], and they don’t deal enough damage, do they?”
“It’s fine.”

I walked forward.

Should I say this was good timing?

Or should I say it was bad because I needed to exert more effort?

“A few days ago, I got my hands on something very hot.”
“Yong-ah?”

‘Hoo…’

I exhaled.

It was difficult to fully wield this immature power.

I had to focus my mind to use it completely.

As I concentrated on the ‘flame,’ the conflagration began to envelop my entire body.

The unique mana emission.

A fiercely powerful Unique-grade skill, [Burning Demon Flame], unleashed its power.

Then the Hydra, which had been swinging its roots wildly, turned its eyes.

Screeeech!!!

It struck dozens of tree roots down towards me.

The monster had instinctively determined that I was the greatest threat.

Bang!

However, no tentacle ever touched my body.

“Meow!”
“Seha, hurry up!”

The reliable [Raise Shield] of Meowi, standing firm like a fortress.

Additionally, Moon Bora’s [Ice Wall] formed a barrier to protect me.

In a brief moment, my strength was fully restored.

Before I knew it, my left hand was aiming at the <Trent Hydra>.

I held my wrist with my right hand.

The volcanic-like mana surged, and the tattoo signaling the <Ultimate Skill> took root on both arms.

“Everyone, step back!!”

Immediately after shouting, Meowi, showcasing [Powerful Agility], embraced Moon Bora and dodged to the side.

“<Burn>!”

The <Word of Power> was shouted from my mouth.

The swirling flames on my left hand amplified in size.

Kukwakwa!!!
Kwakwakwa!!!

A massive fireball.

The fiery judgment that melted whatever it touched struck directly at the body of the <Trent Hydra>.

Kwakwakwakwa!!!

The small flames soon turned into an uncontrollable volcano, starting to burn its body to ashes.

-Keeieeek!!!

The <Trent Hydra> screamed desperately.

And then…

With a popping noise, its body shattered and scattered everywhere.

“Phew…”

I turned around.

My teammates stared at me.

Eyes wide, stunned into silence.

Especially Ju Na-young, who looked at me with a mix of shock and admiration.

I smiled.

“Everyone, you did well on the exam.”