Finally Got Stronger but Ended Up Regressing

Chapter 26 The Dragon’s Tail (3)

The dungeon is connected not only to another world but also to the legends, myths, and folktales of the country where it was created.

I intend to pursue one of those legends.

“Yoon-ho, you should go to the southwest.”

“Understood.”

Southwest.

The place closest to its habitat.

“Go to your respective positions, search until 16:15, and then return here. Be careful of the beasts around.”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s begin.”

The squad members scattered in all directions.

I also headed straight southwest.

Getting to the vicinity wasn’t difficult, but finding the exact location was the problem.

“They said there are three trees of the same height lined up, and in the middle of them, there’s a rectangular rock wedged in.”

Muttering with my hand on my chin, I looked around.

Time is running out.

Finding it isn’t the end; I have to move to another place and deal with the legend.

Running around frantically, I finally found the place.

Three trees with a rectangular rock.

I crossed between them.

Now, I just have to run forward.

I also mentally prepared myself as I went.

It will be a tough fight.

Compared to it, Hexton is nothing more than a puppy.

I ran further.

Pushing through trees and jumping over bushes, I moved not just southwest but all the way to the end of the dungeon.

And I really reached the end.

The forest that had spread out like an ocean suddenly turned into a solid wall.

When I touched the tree, my hand bounced back.

Looking closely, there was something like a curtain.

Literally the end of the dungeon.

But you see.

This isn’t really the end.

It’s a disguise.

To hide the area beyond.

I carefully observed the curtain.

Among the trees lined up, there was one that was particularly shorter.

“This is it.”

I reached out with both hands.

Unlike before, it didn’t bounce off but passed through.

Something is caught in my grasp.

It was a curtain.

I grabbed it on both sides and tore it apart.

Rip.

With a pleasant sound, a space large enough for one person to enter was created.

I went inside.

I cut down the obstructing trees and bushes with my sword.

Thus, I stepped into another area.

Swoosh.

At the same time, a cold wind enveloped my entire body. It was as if it was sending a silent warning.

I ignored it and kept walking.

The scenery of the new area looked similar to the forest path I had been running on.

Just fewer trees?

A deer was running around nearby.

The sound of insects chirping resonated softly in my ears like a melody.

What a bountiful world it was.

Though it won’t be from now on.

I looked up.

The final destination came into view at once.

A gigantic lake whose width couldn’t be measured.

I approached it silently.

Judging by the situation, it seemed that the creature was still in the lake.

‘That’s it.’

On one side of the lake, a single round pillar stood tall.

It was a kind of ruin.

If Captain Oh Jun-beom had seen it, he would have drooled with excitement.

Rubbing my palms together a couple of times, I climbed up the pillar in earnest.

There were steps following the shape, so it wasn’t too difficult to climb.

I was just careful not to wake the creature.

‘If I had acrophobia, I wouldn’t have even tried.’

Now that I was up, the height was considerable.

About 10 meters, maybe.

I licked my upper lip.

Even better.

What I’m aiming for is a single strike.

A single strike from above.

The higher it is, the more powerful it will be.

I held my breath even more, checking if there was anything wrong with the blade.

The preparation was complete.

All I had to do was wait here.

For a while.

Looking at the calm lake, I bit my nails, which I usually don’t.

The skin broke, and blood came out.

‘What are you doing? Come out quickly, quickly.’

I was extremely nervous.

Time was limited, but the target didn’t appear.

‘Ah, damn… If this goes on, it’s over.’

At that moment, anxiety overwhelmed me.

Swoosh.

The familiar cold wind scratched my cheek.

The beasts that roamed the forest disappeared in an instant.

The sound of insects also subsided as if it were a lie.

‘It’s coming.’

Instinctively, I gripped my sword.

Swallowing dryly, I watched the lake.

Rumble, a big wave rose in the middle of the calm lake.

It was finally coming out.

Swoosh!

The biting cold of midwinter swept over my body.

My limbs stiffened.

But it wasn’t the cold.

It was the killing intent.

“…!”

The creature appeared at the same time. A giant serpent burst out of the lake.

Vertically slit eyes and scales as dark as pitch.

I gasped for breath.

The creature was several meters long, even by rough estimation.

Its body was thicker than most logs.

From my high vantage point, I could see its majestic form clearly.

That made the tension rise even more.

‘At my current level, I can never catch that thing.’

Winning aside, the fight itself wouldn’t even be possible.

I wouldn’t be able to swing my sword once before it coiled around me and crushed all my bones.

If that were all, it would be fortunate.

I might be swallowed whole.

‘But, there is a way.’

The center of its head.

If I strike there hard, it will die instantly.

It had scales strong enough to withstand high-level magic, but there was no way around its fatal weakness.

That was why I climbed up this tall pillar.

‘Just come this far. Just this far.’

I muttered as if casting a spell. Of course, making sure no sound escaped my lips.

In the meantime, the creature had completely left the lake and was wandering nearby.

The places it passed were deeply indented.

Then.

A deer that hadn’t managed to escape got caught in its radar.

Sssssssssssssss!!

The massive body, which had been moving sluggishly like a grub, shot forward like lightning and bit the deer.

The tightly closed jaws opened wide.

Squelch, I was momentarily speechless at the sight reminiscent of a hippo’s maw.

The legs, like wooden sticks, trembled.

That was the end of the roe deer’s fate.

Crunch.

It was swallowed whole by the creature.

The teeth, extending like hooks, glinted.

“Gyaaak…”

A sorrowful cry echoed from within its maw.

I flinched involuntarily at the sound that resonated like an echo.

‘It’s a complete monster.’

Now I realized that Hexter was not even at the level of a puppy, but rather an ant compared to this mad serpent.

After finishing its meal, the creature turned back into a sluggish grub.

It flicked its tongue, searching for the next prey.

The direction was now towards me.

It’s coming.

The creature is approaching.

I took a deep breath and carefully waited for the right timing.

The bulging eyes touched the pillar.

The creature came closer and closer.

Its head, like a massive boulder, filled my vision.

Now, it’s the moment.

Without hesitation, I leaped towards the creature, precisely aiming for its head.

The sword, held in a reverse grip, was directed solely at that spot.

“Ha!”

With a shout, I struck down with the sword.

Thud!!

The creature, finally aware of my movement, twisted its body, but the entire blade had already pierced the center of its head.

Dark red blood spurted in all directions.

Being so close, I was drenched in it.

Thwack, I spat out the blood that had entered my mouth and exerted more force.

I thrust the sword in with the intent to drive it in up to the hilt.

Rumble!!

The creature thrashed violently in agony.

Nearby trees were swept away like reeds.

My body shook violently as well.

If I fell to the ground like this, I would end up like the deer earlier.

I gripped the sword tightly, trying to maintain my balance.

A few seconds passed like that.

I could feel the strength gradually leaving the creature’s thrashing.

The critical point had been crossed.

I mustered my last bit of strength.

Using every ounce of strength I had left, I finally began to overpower the creature.

The massive body that had been flailing wildly now flopped like a fish out of water.

“Just die already!”

Sweat poured down my forehead.

Without a moment to wipe it away, I focused solely on the creature.

The creature’s head, which had been raised, slowly descended to the ground.

Then, at some point.

Thud.

It collapsed completely.

Its long tongue hung out of its mouth.

Its fierce eyes had lost focus.

Finally letting go of the sword I had been gripping, I collapsed to the ground.

“Huff, huff.”

I gasped for breath as if coughing up blood.

At the same time, vitality returned to my body.

《Due to extreme fatigue, [Momentary Fatigue Recovery] is activated.》

The fact that [Momentary Fatigue Recovery] was activated showed just how grueling the battle had been.

Anyway, I regained my strength.

I slid down from its head as if I were on a slide.

“You could use this as the protagonist in a monster movie.”

Up close, its visual was truly overwhelming.

Its size was too large to take in all at once.

I can’t believe I caught this thing.

If I hadn’t known the strategy, I would have been killed instantly.

Of course, if that were the case, I wouldn’t have thought of coming here.

As its lifeline was cut off, its scales began to melt away.

I roughly turned my body and grabbed the sword again.

The blade was a bit dull, but with the scales gone, there was no problem cutting through.

I quickly dismembered its body.

I didn’t have to do it all.

Just below the head was enough.

Given its size, its internal organs were enormous.

The smell was fishy and foul.

But I had dissected the corpses of far more grotesque monsters dozens, if not hundreds, of times.

This one might even be considered cute.

With that self-hypnosis, I barely managed to finish the dissection.

Among the unknown organs, a hexagonal lump rolled out.

It was its heart.

“Phew.”

If I absorb this heart as it is, I can contain this giant serpent within my energy.

I would be materializing it.

However, the vessel to contain it is too small for now.

Too small.

Just like my physical strength, my energy hasn’t improved much compared to before the regression.

Even if I materialized it, nothing would be created.

I shrugged my shoulders.

It doesn’t matter.

What I’m trying to shape is not this serpent.

It’s the origin of this serpent.

I picked up the sword again.

I swung it wide.

Chunks were cut off, and blood splattered everywhere.

The black combat boots were stained red.

What should I say if the squad leader or squad members ask why I look like this later?

I don’t know, I’ll think about it later.

I rolled up my sleeves and rummaged through the fresh blood.

A small chunk came out of the big chunk.

The origin of the serpent.

An unripe legend.

When the mystical snake becomes an adult, it becomes an Imoogi, and the Imoogi trains underwater for 1000 years to obtain the Yeouiju.

After that, it ascends to the sky and becomes a legend.

Dragon (龍).

With this, all the work is done. The heart that was pounding with tension now starts to beat with anticipation.

I grafted the heart of the being that would become a legend onto my heart.

《The heart of a snake has been embedded in your body.》

《A new ability [Mystical Snake] has been unlocked.》

《From now on, you can shape a snake with your energy.》

The moment the legend becomes an ability, there’s no need to wait for it to become an adult or train underwater for 1000 years.

You just need to awaken it like any other ability.

And I know all the ways to awaken it.