The S-Classes That I Raised [EN]: Chapter 431

429. A Midday Nightmare (2)

Yu-hyun and I held our breaths simultaneously. Even in my disoriented state, my Hunter instincts kicked in. Thanks to the high pile of gifts and the boulder, Rauchitas hadn’t spotted us yet. The monster, with power befitting the king of the Cursed Poison Dragon species, was also, conveniently, careless.

It would attack if it saw us, but it wasn’t actively searching the area. That’s why Yu-hyun told me to hide back then.

“Hyung.”

As if he had never faltered, Yu-hyun’s expression was chillingly calm. My brother continued in a low voice.

“The exit seems to be blocked, too. So, stay here-”

“There’s a way.”

That kid, always trying to go it alone. Even now, Yu-hyun was close to SS-class. So, with double the skills and us as shields, it wasn’t a hopeless fight… if that lizard hadn’t received the dungeon buff.

That is.

[Nightmare is applied.]

At that moment, a message window popped up. A newbie buff? But something felt off. My nightmare had already appeared, so what else could it be?

“Ugh…”

“Yu-hyun-ah?”

My past self hurriedly called out to my brother. Though his voice was lowered, his surprise was evident. When I quickly turned around, Yu-hyun’s body was limply drooping into my arms.

“What’s wrong, suddenly? Yu-hyun-ah? What’s wrong?”

“My body… it won’t…”

Yu-hyun continued with difficulty.

“I have no strength. And in my waist… it feels like I’ve lost all sensation.”

…My brother’s last moments flashed before my eyes. Is this it? But not yet, I haven’t even been attacked yet.

“Hyung, you need to avoid…”

“It’s not painful, is it? Hey, come here too. Maybe curse resistance will work.”

This isn’t a curse. But I approached anyway. My fingertips trembled slightly. Fortunately, Yu-hyun seemed only to be paralyzed; there were no other problems. No wounds, no pain.

“…Is it trying to prevent Yu-hyun from interfering?”

“What? Could it be…”

My past self quickly understood the situation and looked back at Rauchitas, whose head was barely visible in the distance. The monster’s eyes were narrowed.

“…It’s that bastard.”

“Yeah.”

“From here.”

“…Yeah.”

[It is midday.]

The message window appeared again. There was definitely something strange going on.

[Nightmare is weakened.]

Along with the message, a faint fog seeped in.

– Krrr.

The fog briefly enveloped the massive body of the Cursed Poison Dragon before dissipating. Weakened, perhaps. I used Seed Skill on Rauchitas.

[Level 1 Cursed Poison Dragon Species – Rauchitas, Dragon King of Poison and Curse (Midday Nightmare)

Current Stat Grade S (Weakened)

Awakening Possible Stat Grade SS~SSS

Optimized Initial Skills

Dragon Species Dominator (L) Acquired (Weakened to SSS-grade)

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

Overflowing Poison Smoke (SSS) Acquired (Weakened to SS-grade)

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

Surging Breath (SS) Acquired (Weakened to S-grade)

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

As expected, the stats were incredible. It seemed higher than the Rauchitas I had faced before. Diarma had said he sent a moderately weak one, too.

But all those stats had ‘Weakened’ attached to them. The skill grades dropped by one level, and the stats seemed to have fallen by more than two levels.

A high-S-grade boss monster.

At the current level, Han Yu-hyun could handle it without difficulty. The problem was that Yu-hyun couldn’t move.

“That guy’s grade dropped to S-class.”

At my words, my past self also used Seed Skill.

“…Curse and poison won’t work on us anyway. But the stats are still S-grade.”

“Dragon Species Dominator doesn’t seem to be an attack skill, and aside from poison and curse, we won’t even get scratched.”

Grace could block it sufficiently. The problem was the method of attack. I looked at myself accusingly.

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

“I’m frustrated too, you know?”

Dragon Slayer, Perfect Nurturer, Miracle Rookie, Veteran F-class, Unsearchable. The skills that came with the titles were all resistance, support, or special types. Lullaby and Pat-Pat were the same. It’s a waste of points, but should I buy an attack skill? The problem was that I didn’t have enough points to buy a high-level attack skill. Even a mid-level one was too expensive for me.

“Let’s do some calculations.”

Rauchitas’s natural enemy, doubled, and Veteran F-class, doubled again. That’s not enough. Something more is needed.

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

If that works, it’s doubled again.

“Wouldn’t it work? Then do we have to hold hands to fight?”

“Since it’s you and me, we can count it as done without touching. Hey, can we transfer the doubled skill again to double it again?”

Rauchitas’s natural enemy is SS-grade, so it’s impossible, but if I get the Veteran F-class title and make it four times, and then transfer that four times skill again… how many times is that? It seems theoretically possible.

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

Carefully laying down Yu-hyun, who I was holding, I put my hand on myself. The skill is shared.

[Veteran F-class (S)

A superhuman with extreme skill as an F-class Hunter.

Doubles the effect of the attack skill you have (quadrupled in duplicate state)]

Successfully duplicated the effect! I took a short breath, and this time I gave the Veteran title to my past self. Then, by controlling mana again, we shared each other’s skills, and both acquired the double-duplicated Veteran title.

It was a trick possible because I and I are different beings and the same being at the same time.

[Veteran F-class (S)

A superhuman with extreme skill as an F-class Hunter.

Doubles the effect of the attack skill you have (six times in duplicate state)]

Unfortunately, it wasn’t 8 times, but it was a whopping 6 times. There’s also Rauchitas’s natural enemy here. I and I swallowed dryly at the same time.

“With this, even C, no, even D-grade would be enough.”

“It’ll work.”

Even a D-grade attack skill could show an effect of S-grade or higher. I quickly checked the point store. All sorts of attack skills were lined up, but they were disgustingly expensive because they weren’t my aptitude. That’s why I gave up, but now even D-grade was enough. I could buy that much. D-grade attack skill.

[Powerful Stab (D)]

A simple stabbing attack skill. The price was also the cheapest among D-grade attack types. It’s probably because there are no special effects. But I didn’t need that right now. This was enough.

I bought the attack skill and shared it with my past self.

“Isn’t this a skill that requires a weapon?”

“I have one. A sturdy one.”

The sturdiest weapon in the world. Instead, I handed the Lynx Rifle to my past self. Like Grace, the Lynx Rifle, which was a bound item, could also be used. Checking the equipment and sharing the items.

“Then.”

“Shall we go?”

Seeing us get up from our spots, Yu-hyun struggled to raise his upper body.

“Hyung, hyung. No… what are you trying to do, please…”

I looked back at my brother. We smiled at the same time, reassuring him.

“Don’t worry, Yu-hyun-ah.”

“Hyung will never die.”

“The current hyung is a bit strong.”

“Enough to catch that lizard.”

Enough to protect my brother and pierce the dragon’s head this time. Despite our words, we took Yu-hyun, who was still uneasy, to the end of the cave, reassuring him not to worry.

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

“Hyung…”

“This is your birthday cake.”

My past self placed the cake box next to Yu-hyun, who was leaning against the wall.

“It’s been a while; let’s light the candles, too. Let’s eat together.”

“Hey, you’re completely sa…”

“Shut up. Don’t jinx it.”

No, originally, saying these things is a death flag [a trope where characters who express confidence in their survival often meet their demise]; saying it should be more reassuring. If I say it, it can’t be foreshadowing.

Turning away from my brother, the inside of my chest felt rewarding and heavy. I put on the SS-grade handcuffs and transformed Grace. It was a spear with a long chain. I tied the chain tightly around my wrist so it wouldn’t fall out of my hand, unless the lizard grabs me and meticulously unties the knot with the tip of his claws.

Then, I threw the A-grade spear in the inventory to my past self.

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

“It’s a whopping L-grade; why would I be afraid of something like that?”

We moved our steps side by side. Climbing over the boulder and descending beyond it, Rauchitas finally turned its head towards us.

– Krrr.

The three dragon heads are raised high. The fierce gaze stared at us, but for some reason, it flinched.

[The Dragon Species Dominator skill effect is nullified by the Dragon Slayer title!]

A welcome message window popped up. The Dragon Slayer title, even two of them, made Rauchitas unable to easily rush at us, and it stepped back.

The corners of my mouth went up on their own. I also felt good.

How much we had wanted this moment. I wanted to stand next to him. I wanted to stand in front of him. I wanted to protect him.

I am.

“It’s disgustingly big.”

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

Even if the stat grade is low, the size is the same. So, even if I stabbed the body, it would be difficult to inflict a fatal wound. I know, I, Han Yu-jin, replied.

– Kyaaaa!

Rauchitas roared loudly. The huge four legs shook the ground. It was clear that we felt threatening, but the movement was dull, so it seemed strange. The stats are still low. You understand.

“Come on, you worn-out lizard.”

Tadadak, the sound of scales colliding was heard, and a terrifying poison began to spread. For a moment, I was worried about Yu-hyun, but fortunately, the concentration of the poison was extremely thick, but the range was not very wide. The thick poison that soaked my clothes blackened my vision.

At the same time, I used the stealth skill.

– Keureuk.

Doubled against the Cursed Poison Dragon species. There was no way a mere S-grade lizard could recognize us. When the poisonous fog disappeared, Rauchitas rolled its six eyeballs. I held the spear tightly, keeping a proper distance from the guy who was looking around.

No matter how powerful the stealth skill is, it will be noticed if it touches the body directly. I didn’t have a flight skill, nor the ability to jump up to that high head. In other words, I had no way to attack that guy’s head right now. Climbing up the body would be easily shaken off.

So.

‘You’re suffering.’

‘Prepare well, you bastard.’

It’s really uncomfortable that we can even exchange words in our heads like twins. I have to catch the lizard quickly and cut it off.

Han Yu-jin’s foot stepped on the floor, no, the ceiling. The fully charged gun is aimed downwards. Strength entered the tip of my foot. The pure white muzzle flickered faintly and instantly spewed out the mana it was full of!

Tang!

The magic bullet fell like a meteor made of light, and

Koo-oong-!

Roughly hammered the leftmost of the three dragon heads, the one closest to me. Rauchitas’s head sank to the floor as if hit by a huge hammer. The wound itself was not very big. But with this.

My spear touches.

At the same time as the gun was fired, I ran like crazy. The dragon’s jaw dug into the floor, debris splattered everywhere, and the ground shook, but I didn’t care and jumped up with all my might.

Powerful Stab.

That simple D-grade skill was activated through the semi-transparent glass spear. The power of the skill was formed at the end of the spear, which had no options other than being strong. Two times, four times, six times, and then two times more. Compared to the giant dragon, my insignificant and weak arm was greatly stretched back. Even if I added all my strength, it would be difficult to make even a scratch on the scales. Originally. That arm, that hand, stabbed the spear between the dragon’s eyebrows.

Kwagagagak!

The scales that touched the tip of the spear burst out in an instant, destroying everything that blocked it, like hitting tofu with a club, so easily.

– Kyaaaa!

Rauchitas, who lost one head, began to writhe. My body rolled on the floor in an instant.

‘Be careful!’

As soon as Han Yu-jin shouted in my head, a huge foot blocked my view. Ugh! Thanks to Grace, I avoided being crushed to death, but my breath was choked. Fortunately, it seemed to feel my existence as just a rock, so the foot soon fell off, and instead, a hot energy rushed in.

– Kyaaaak!

The dragon’s breath made the air boil. The heat was just hot, but this time it became difficult to breathe again. It would have been dangerous if it weren’t for Silakea’s Wings.

‘Halves the breath effect of dragon species below SS-grade.’

It was one of the options for Silakea’s Wings. As an item obtained after catching the Fire Dragon, there were more options attached to the dragon species in addition to fire resistance. This effect of halving also worked to make it difficult to breathe by burning the air.

“There are still two more left, but you’re making a fuss!”

I 벌떡 [with a start] stood up from the floor, released the stealth skill, and shouted. Look at me, me. We couldn’t catch up with that bastard’s movements. So, I had to somehow make him stop moving.

“Everything has to be in pairs; it’s nice to see only two left!”

– Kyareureureuk!

“Oh, do you like odd numbers? Then come here. I’ll blow it up!”

Come here, come here! But Rauchitas couldn’t easily rush at me. Even though the pressure of the Dragon Slayer was great, he had lost one head in an instant. He bared his teeth fiercely, but he was wary of me and hesitated.

How kind.

While I was drawing attention, Han Yu-jin on the ceiling moved quietly. Above one of the remaining two heads, he stopped.