The Hero Returns

Rumble, rumble—

Flutter—

The huge black wings appeared sparsely through the clouds. The whole body did not appear yet, but people could tell, that the monster was on a different level than other monsters. It was only spreading wings above the sky, but a huge wind reached to the ground. The monster's body looked like more than 100 meters, and it had giant wings. It breathed out the ominous magic that nobody could ever experience.

"B-boss?"

"Is that…?"

That monster was the boss of the green dungeon. It was the boss of the highest level among the green dungeons.

"The half demonic dragon, Igolas," Su-hyeun mumbled.

It looked like a dragon, but it was not technically a dragon. That was why it was called half demonic dragon. The reason why it had "demonic" in the name was that it had such ominous energy.

"If this monster flies to other places... not just Anyang City, the close cities like Seoul, Ansan, and Suwon could be in danger as well," Su-hyeun thought.

Everywhere this monster would go, more and more people would die. Especially, at this time, the S-rank awakeners had been vacated their seats.

"I will take care of it," Su-hyeun said.

"You mean, by yourself?" Kim Do-ui was surprised.

He knew Su-hyeun was pretty good, but the energy from Igolas was something beyond anything an individual could afford. Kim Do-ui, though, even if Su-hyeun was S-rank, there would be no way he could catch it by himself. But Su-hyeun stepped up and said he would catch the Igolas.

"Please take care of other random monsters. Can you do that?" Su-hyeun asked.

Su-hyeun considered Kim Do-ui as the head of the awakeners. When an outbreak occurs, the highest command on the field was held by the owner of the highest rank among the awakeners who belonged in the country. Kim Do-ui was in the highest rank beside Su-hyeun in this place. He was also the closest assistant to the director. So it was natural that Kim Do-ui had control of the situation. Su-hyeun left other monsters to him, except Igolas.

"Don't let any monsters go out of this city. Do you understand?" Su-hyeun ordered.

"...I will try." Kim Do-ui answered.

"Trying is not good enough."

"Okay. I got it. I won't let that happen."

At Kim Do-ui's definite statemen, Su-hyeun smiled a little and nodded. Then, Su-hyeun noticed somebody came next to him. He turned his head.

"When it's over, we need to talk."

Hak-Joon was glaring at Su-hyeun with fierce eyes. He looked like he was feeling sorry rather than angry. Su-hyeun thought Hak-Joon would react like this, but when he saw his face, he had no idea what to say.

"Yea. Let's talk later," Su-hyeun answered.

They were busy with their own businesses, so they did not have many chances to see each other, but still, they contacted often. Somehow, they became brothers and got closer. That was possible, of course, because they were interested in each other. Su-hyeun was interested in Hak-Joon's talent, and Hak-Joon was...

"He was contacting me… For what?" Su-hyeun thought.

He had no idea why Hak-Joon did not avoid his contact. What he heard was ever since Hak-Joon had decided to join Ares Guild, he cut off all other people except the guild members. He thought it was something he should check it out, but he was too busy to do it. He decided to find it out after this thing ended.

"But at first—"

Krrrr—

The clear cry covered the sky. Igolas's body finally appeared under the clouds. The dark scales and skin, and the darker eyes than those scanned the ground. Su-hyeun looked up at Igolas and muttered.

"—I guess I have to something with that first."

Whirl—

Whoosh—

The Blue Flame skill wrapped around his body. There was no reason to save his magic anymore.

[The Flame.]

[The Flame - Phoenixes]

[The Indomitable body.]

[The Transfiguration Skill: Imoogi.]

His body started to harden like steel and scales started to cover his arms and neck. The blue flame surrounded his body and two Phoenixes spread their wings.

"Here I go."

Bang—

He used Leap skill and jumped higher. Soon, he used Imoogi's characteristics and floated his body. He used Leap skill again and floated his body to a higher place.

Krrrrr—

Even though he did not use Provocation skills, Igolas looked at Su-hyeun. Perhaps the power of Flame and magic from Su-hyeun caught its eyes.

"Come on, half-lizard," Su-hyeun yelled.

Kiyaaaa—!

As if it understood what he said, Igolas open up his mouth and roared to Su-hyeun. The black breath started to cover Su-hyeun's body.

"Should I avoid or fend off?" He briefly thought and decided to break through.

Whoosh—

The sword in his hand, Gram started to form his Flame. Soon, he wielded his sword in front of his face.

Rip—!

There was a path through Gram's cut. Su-hyeun used the Leap skill again and jumped through it. It was the last jump that could be used in the air without steppingstones.

Whoosh—!

Su-hyeun quickly narrowed the distance, and Igolas swung its wings toward him.

Whiz—

Crack—!

Su-hyeun quickly wielded Gram and struck the wings. He cut Igolas's skin through its heavy scales, but he could not block the impact all the way. His body flew away. His whole body was soaring. He found a tall building and barely landed on it.

Crack—

The roof of the building, which looked like a department store, was broken. Su-hyeun raised his head again to look at Igolas.

Kiiyaaaak—!

Igolas let out a horrible shriek. Blood was dripping from the wing where he wielded his sword.

"Gram is the best."

The Gram's sharply wrapped magic pierced even the hard scales of Igolas. He did not expect he would cut it at once, but Gram's performance was better than what he had expected. The angry Igolas started to breathe out to Su-hyeun. If that breath reached to the ground, this department store building would melt.

"I can't help the building…," Su-hyeun thought.

The building was empty anyway. Near here, there were no civilians except awakeners. And awakeners would protect their bodies by themselves. Su-hyeun put Gram back into the scabbard and pulled the spear from his back. It was the spear that he had specially prepared for this day.

[Dragon Slaying Spear - Nir.]

It was an item that is made by mimicking a mythical spear Gungnir. He could buy it from the store. It was quite expensive. It was a weapon that could give overwhelming additional damage to reptilian monsters. To the monster like Igolas, this spear would be more harmful than Gram.

"Although there is a limit that, I can use this only once."

Su-hyeun grabbed the spear with one hand and largely bowed his body like a bow.

Swish—!

The breath of Igolas came closer. Su-hyeun could faintly see Igolas through the breath. He aimed spear to its body.

"One, two, three."

He counted number in his head as his habit. And—

Boom—!

The spear flew and torn Igolas's breath. At the same time, the tip of the spear split and scattered into hundreds and thousands of thin pieces.

Whoosh—

At a time, the magic in the spear began to fire. The blue flame covered the spear, the pieces became countless spears and beat the body of Igolas.

Boom, boom, boom—

Wham—!

Kiyaaaaaa—!

Igolas screamed out. Su-hyeun frowned at the loud crying that sounded as if it would tear his eardrums.

But the effect was useful. It was worthwhile to pay a high price.

"It is too bad that it is just a one-time use item," Su-hyeun thought.

He could use it only once, but if it was this powerful, it would not be bad to buy more just in case. The time for the Leap skill reset. When Igolas was in a panic, Su-hyeun flew up again.

Swish—

Soon, Su-hyeun arrived above the clouds and looked down Igolas. It was still suffering and could not see Su-hyeun. He gulped air.

Boom—!

Shortly after, he used the last Leap skill and ran into the top of the Igolas's body. Su-hyeun, who got on the body of Igolas, grabbed Gram and started to cut his body.

Rip, rip—!

Whack, whaaack—!

The thick scales were cut in small pieces. It was too thick to cut deep in the first try, but he was able to cut the minor wounds quickly.

"More, more."

Hack, slash—

Igolas struggled from the sword of Su-hyeun. It screamed out in pain, swung its wings, and breathed out to resist. The giant wing and tail of Igolas almost grazed the tip of Su-hyeun's nose. One attack from Igolas had enough power to destroy Su-hyeun's body.

"A little more!"

Riiiip—

Kiyaaa—!

He put Gram into the deep of Igolas's back and drew it down. The blood spilled out like a fountain. Igolas let out a scream louder than before. At that moment, Su-hyeun's eyes sparkled.

"Now!"

Whooosh—!

The blood fountain that spouted out fell towards Su-hyeun. It moved as if it were a living thing, tried to pierce Su-hyeun like a sharp awl.

Whoosh—!

Crackle, crackle—

As Su-hyeun's gesture, the flame burst from the below. That flame blocked the awls of the harden blood of Igolas and burn those.

"I was looking forward to seeing you."

Su-hyeun looked at Igolas's wound he just made with his sword Gram. From the wound, that spilled blood like the fountain before, the blood came out slowly once more.

Rumble, rumble—

The dark blood gathered together and started to make a form like a human. The man who had an elaborately shaped dragon face turned his head from side to side and stared at Su-hyeun.

"Who are you…?"

Igolas asked in wonder. He had been looking down at the ground from behind the clouds for hours. He also had seen Su-hyeun was fighting with other people. But somehow, he teamed up with other people now and fought against him. Su-hyeun acted as if he knew their existence beforehand. He could not help but ask. However, instead of answering, Su-hyeun told a completely different story.

"Are you... Happy to live like that?"

"What?"

Igolas asked back at Su-hyeun's question like building castles in the air.

"What the hell is talking about," Igolas thought.

At Su-hyeun's words, Igolas's face contorted. He felt like he could remember something.

"Hey, you, half demonic dragon. You who tried to kill this monster now became one with it and run amuck. Remember. You... Are not a demonic dragon."

The being in front of Su-hyeun was Igolas but not Igolas. He was...

"The knight of the half demonic dragon, Falcon."

He was a misfortune knight who decided to assimilate with the half demonic dragon Igolas to stop it. He had been united with Igolas and fought against it for a long, long time. And while that, he lost the initiative of the body, and he became like this.

"I… I…"

The eyes of Falcon made with dark blood started to have a focus. But the focus that spackled once quickly disappeared. And at that moment, Su-hyeun raised his sword again.

"Well, if you don't remember, it can't be helped," Su-hyeun said.

He did not expect much in the first place.

"I will make you remember."