I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 202

202.

“Are you running away because you’re scared, you little brat?”

Ruben, seemingly forgetting that it was a 500-year-old dragon, charged out first, huffing and puffing.

Jackson and Seoa followed calmly behind him, and Milla used her newly acquired skill [Teleport] to instantly move outside.

“This is the best, so thrilling.”

Stepping outside, the group was confronted with the sight of a red dragon, the size of a four-story building, smacking its lips as it looked down at them.

The hatchling seemed to have come out to return to its true form. If it had transformed into a dragon inside, the mine would have collapsed.

Seeing its true form, they could definitely feel it. This hatchling was not to be underestimated just because it was young.

Ruben, who had been chasing after it with high spirits, could no longer move forward. His face was filled with tension.

That was because, when comparing monsters and hunters of the same rank, monsters were generally considered stronger.

An S-class hunter could face an A-class monster alone. However, they couldn’t finish it overwhelmingly without injury, and if the S-class hunter’s stats weren’t significantly higher, they could even die.

In the case of the orc horde they had encountered on the way, they were barely A-class, and several S-class hunters had joined forces to create a synergy effect, so they were able to defeat them relatively easily.

Of course, ‘relatively easy’ was the word, and the orc horde was by no means easy. Seoa alone was quite injured.

【What are you doing? Why are you frozen? No fun? Should I go first?】

Due to its oral structure, the dragon could not pronounce human language. Instead, it communicated in a form that resonated directly in their minds [telepathically].

The hatchling lifted its large foot and slammed it down on the ground. The ground shook, and at the same time, flames erupted from its foot and spread around in an instant.

The hunters defended and dodged.

In the meantime, Seoa approached Hose and quietly handed him a magic stone containing [Fire Resistance].

“What’s this?”

“Keep it until you leave the gate.”

She also cast [Love Yourself] and [Ironclad Pine] on Hose, protective spells to enhance his resilience.

She assumed the others, being S-class hunters, could handle themselves. But Hose was an A-class healer. He might be weaker, but his safety was paramount, especially if others got hurt.

The young dragon seemed to view the hunters as a swarm of flies, and excitedly stomped its feet.

“This damn dragon! How can it be so fast with that huge body?”

Because of its seemingly impenetrable scales, intense flames, and quick movements, Ruben and Milla couldn’t easily find a weak point to attack.

At that moment, a torrent of cold water poured down, extinguishing the flames in an instant.

【Oh, not bad?】

The dragon’s scales looked hot enough to be steaming.

“Milla!”

Jackson shot ice spikes at the dragon’s belly, which appeared to be a relatively vulnerable spot.

Some of the spikes embedded slightly, but the rest melted before they even made contact. Even the embedded ones disappeared as soon as they touched the skin.

Ruben used his whip to restrain the dragon’s tail. Seoa watched, assessing the situation.

“Let’s see if you can withstand this!”

Milla used [Teleport] to appear directly in front of the dragon’s chest.

Jackson blocked the fiercely surging flames with cold air, and simultaneously, Milla attacked the dragon’s belly with her greatsword.

【Kuaaaa! It stings!】

The dragon, stabbed by the greatsword, roared in annoyance and thrashed around.

“Ah, hot…!”

Milla, stepping back, grimaced and poured potion on her scorched forearm.

If Milla hadn’t dodged with [Teleport], she would have been crushed. She had been too hasty; she hadn’t even retrieved the greatsword that fell at the dragon’s feet.

Jackson’s cold air couldn’t completely negate the dragon’s heat. To truly withstand that heat, proper [Fire Resistance] was essential.

【You bugs! I’ll kill you!】

The young dragon, consumed by pain and anger, spewed fire breath indiscriminately. If this hatchling had been more experienced, it would have focused its attacks, used magic more effectively, or controlled its breath in bursts.

But the hatchling lacked experience relative to its power, and it also lacked the patience to control its rage.

It rampaged as if it would tear apart the humans who had caused it pain, using its breath without aim. The breath was threatening, but easily avoided by S-class hunters.

At that moment, Jackson suddenly approached Seoa, picked her up like a sack of potatoes, and hoisted her onto his shoulder.

“Why, why are you doing this?”

“You have [Fire Resistance], right?”

She hadn’t mentioned it, but how did he know?

“You don’t seem to be very afraid of fire.”

Jackson said, as if reading Seoa’s thoughts. Seoa dodged the fire, but her reaction was noticeably less panicked.

Usually, even S-class hunters felt the fire’s heat. They endured it because the damage was less severe than for ordinary people or lower-level hunters, but they couldn’t calmly watch the flames approach.

“Please buff me.”

He had noticed, even though she was trying to conceal it.

Jackson’s directness left her no room to refuse. Seoa, still perched on his shoulder, cast [Love Yourself], which increased magic power and mental strength. Performing the spell while touching him would enhance its effect.

With the increased magic power, Jackson extinguished the fire the hatchling set almost as soon as it appeared.

“Then please take care of me.”

“What? Ugh!”

He suddenly threw Seoa towards the dragon.

Seoa, landing near the dragon’s feet, quickly retrieved Milla’s greatsword and retreated.

The flames engulfed Seoa, but didn’t singe a single hair on her head. The [Fire Resistance] granted by the fire spirit [Ignis] was truly remarkable.

Around that time, the hatchling’s mindless fire breath began to weaken and subside.

If it had regained its senses, unleashed magical attacks, and then fled, it might have survived. But the hatchling didn’t seem to believe that the humans it was preying on could be so strong. It refused to give up and swung its tail – or, rather, attempted to.

Before she knew it, Ruben, with Jackson’s assistance, had approached from behind and tightly wrapped the dragon’s tail with his whip, anchoring it to the ground.

While the hatchling struggled to free its tail, Jackson floated into the air and conjured dozens of sharp ice arrows.

Perhaps amplified by Seoa’s buff, his magic casting speed was faster than usual, allowing him to create and launch multiple arrows simultaneously.

“Amazing, this is.”

Jackson briefly admired his work, then approached Seoa again and lifted her up.

“Why again this time…!”

“I really want it.”

Jackson seemed to steel himself, then threw her towards Milla as if he had made a difficult decision.

“What, a human shield?”

Milla, catching Seoa with ease, frowned but held her securely.

Seoa, having been thrown twice in quick succession, was bewildered. Yet, even in this chaos, she remembered something important.

“Here, Milla.”

Seoa handed Milla the greatsword she had retrieved earlier.

“Thank you, I was in trouble without it.”

Jackson signaled them. Dozens of ice arrows pierced the dragon’s vulnerable belly all at once.

Pow, pow, pow!

【Kuaaaaak!】

Unlike before, the ice arrows easily penetrated the hatchling’s belly and melted inside.

This attack was fatal. The hatchling’s scream echoed, and its massive body staggered, losing its balance.

“Is it my turn now!”

Still holding Seoa, Milla flew in at the perfect moment. Without Seoa’s [Fire Resistance], getting close would have been impossible.

Seoa cast [Fighting] on Milla for a short duration, adjusting the power to 30%. Milla felt the surge of power and swung the greatsword down on the dragon’s neck.

“Goodbye, kid!”

Thud, thud!

The head fell to the ground, followed by the huge body collapsing.

“T-to think it would be cut in one go… ?”

She had expected to cut halfway through, but Milla herself was surprised by the clean severance.

Milla, landing on the ground, stared at her accomplishment in disbelief.

At that moment, Seoa saw a system window.

[Skill ‘Love Yourself (LV.4)’ -> ‘Love Yourself (LV.5)’ leveled up!]

‘Leveled up!’

Seoa cheered inwardly. Not only [Fighting], but also [Love Yourself] could now adjust the range, intensity, and duration at level 5.

But there was a problem.

Milla, still holding Seoa in one arm, showed no sign of letting her down.