Chapter 22

 

‘Acceleration!’

 

Seo Woojin instinctively used his skill.

 

Then, the sword swung at a speed faster than before.

 

Swish!

 

The black sword blocked Draconis’s fangs.

 

However, because it happened so suddenly , his posture was unstable.

 

“Kuk!”

 

His two feet lifted into the air.

 

He couldn’t withstand Draconis’s strength.

 

“Grab him!”

 

Fortunately, soldiers behind him securely held onto Seo Woojin.

 

‘Shit.’

 

He didn’t expect that guy to suddenly join the fight.

 

Even during the battle, he continued to stay alert, but for a moment, all his attention was focused on the sword.

 

Draconis took advantage of that opening and rushed in.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

One of the soldiers supporting Seo Woojin asked.

 

“I’m fine.”

 

He was surprised..

 

He did receive some shock.

 

But he wasn’t injured.

 

Because he used “Acceleration” to defend against the fangs in time.

 

Seo Woojin fixed his gaze on Draconis and checked his own physical condition.

 

‘My body is fine. It’s still a mana issue.’

 

Using the skill in the heat of the battle depleted his magic power more than he initially estimated.

 

Faced with the insufficient mana, Seo Woojin bit his lip.

 

“I can’t stop him like this.”

 

The soldiers were fighting well.

 

Under Jo Han’s command, they focused on defense, steadily reducing the number of monsters one by one.

 

But even that had its limits.

 

‘There are still too many.’

 

Before Draconis intervened again, Seo Woojin had hoped to reduce their numbers as much as possible…

 

Now even that seemed impossible.

 

Several monsters rushed at him, but all of them were torn apart by the black sword and could not even come close.

 

Grrrr-

 

Draconis looked at Seo Woojin and growled slowly.

 

It was filled with death and threat.

 

In the past, he might have succumbed to fear and hesitated, but…

 

“Close your mouth, it stinks.”

 

He was not the old Seo Woojin.

 

* * *

 

Van Slaine literally ran like he was flying.

 

His movements were so light that despite stepping on lightly settled snow, he left no footprints.

 

However, contrary to his movements, Van Slaine’s heart was incredibly heavy.

 

Awoo-!

 

At that moment, a herd of Snow Wolves appeared in front of him.

 

They seemed to be the ones the soldier messenger had encountered.

 

There were about 100 of them.

 

Even seasoned knights would have to exert considerable effort to deal with them…

 

“Get out of the way.”

 

For Van Slaine, a single sweep of his sword was enough.

 

Swish-

 

The Snow Wolves in front of him were torn apart and blood spurted out.

 

A red river appeared in an instant on the once white land.

 

However, not a single drop of blood stained Van Slaine’s clothes.

 

It had been a long time since he had moved from that spot.

 

‘I hope it’s not too late…’

 

Van Slaine continued running with an anxious expression, heading precisely towards where Seo Woojin was.

 

* * *

 

‘What should I do?’

 

Reducing the number of monsters was now out of the question.

 

‘It would have been better if I had a little more time.’

 

If he had more time, he could have reduced the number of monsters enough for the soldiers to hold them off.

 

But as long as Draconis was back in action, that was impossible.

 

There was only one option now.

 

‘Kill Draconis.’

 

Before the soldiers were trampled by the monsters, kill him and help the soldiers.

 

There was no other way.

 

“I might as well give it a try.”

 

There was still some mana left.

 

Although he had used quite a bit with the ‘Acceleration’ just now, he was still okay.

 

It might be better to face Draconis while he still had strength.

 

No, it was better.

 

“Hey, come on.”

 

Seo Woojin flicked his sword.

 

A clear provocation.

 

From Draconis’s perspective, it must be incomprehensible for a pest-like creature to provoke him.

 

But he didn’t hesitate.

 

Didn’t that tiny pest block his attacks twice just now?

 

Moreover, it was a precise and well-timed ambush.

 

Yet he easily blocked it.

 

Draconis instinctively realized that Seo Woojin was not an easy opponent.

 

Step by step –

 

In Seo Woojin’s eyes, he could see Draconis gradually stepping back.

 

It seemed like he was retreating to find another opportunity.

 

“Where do you think you are going?”

 

It was an obvious thing, but Seo Woojin didn’t just stand there.

 

Acceleration.

 

Once again, mana drained as Seo Woojin’s movements became faster.

 

In an instant, he appeared in front of Draconis and swung his sword.

 

Swish-

 

Maybe he used ‘Aura’ just now, as a blue destructive aura burst one of Draconis’s eyeballs.

 

Gaaah!

 

A scream of agonizing pain echoed.

 

It didn’t expect Seo Woojin to move this quickly, and the delayed response cost Draconis one eye…

 

However, Seo Woojin’s expression was not particularly bright.

 

Even though he took Draconis’s eye with a single attack, he was not satisfied at all.

 

‘Tch.’

 

In truth, Seo Woojin aimed not for the eyeball but for the temple.

 

The temple was a weakness most monsters had.

 

It was the same with Draconis.

 

However, the creature noticed and turned its head.

 

Although he lost an eyeball in return, it was a much better outcome than having his temple pierced.

 

The enraged Draconis’ front paw fell towards Seo Woojin.

 

It meant to crush him under its weight.

 

Still, Seo Woojin didn’t consider dodging.

 

If he used ‘Acceleration,’ he could easily escape the attack range, but there were soldiers behind him.

 

‘If I dodge, everyone will die.’

 

Seo Woojin didn’t want that.

 

There was not no way to block its attack entirely…

 

“‘Power Strike.'”

 

Seo Woojin’s sword rose from below to above.

 

It soared in a beautiful arc.

 

And…

 

Kwaang!

 

Draconis’s front paw that was descending exploded.

 

The power of ‘Power Strike,’ which condenses mana and explodes at the impact, was enormous.

 

With one foot already lost, Draconis screamed again and retreated once more.

 

Blood turned into rain, showering Seo Woojin’s head.

 

‘Ugh…’

 

Not good.

 

He managed to block the attack and inflict a meaningful blow, but Seo Woojin also felt his mana draining rapidly.

 

‘Once? No, maybe twice?’

 

With the remaining mana, he could use a skill once or twice more.

 

After that, he would have to rely solely on his body and sword.

 

‘The initial plan has gone down the drain.’

 

If he had used the combination of ‘Rampage’ and ‘Aura,’ he could have easily held off Draconis.

 

Maybe even won.

 

Those two skills had such powerful synergy.

 

However, he missed the opportunity to use them as the monster army intervened.

 

It was so regrettable.

 

“But it’s not too late yet.”

 

One last time.

 

If he scraped every bit of mana to the bottom, it seemed he could somehow make Draconis taste defeat once more.

 

Seo Woojin chased after the retreating Draconis, and wrapped his sword with ‘Aura’.

 

And simultaneously, he used ‘Rampage.’

 

Whaaaack!

 

The surging destructive energy vibrated like an explosive eruption.

 

It grew several times larger than before, overwhelming the surroundings.

 

Of course, it wasn’t just about size.

 

‘Rampage’ literally causes mana to explode, maximizing the user’s abilities.

 

Of course, it wasn’t that there were no aftereffects…

 

“But now is not the time to think about such things.”

 

He swung the sword.

 

The enlarged ‘Aura’ could sever Draconis’s colossal neck in a single blow.

 

Desperation flickered in the one remaining eye of the creature.

 

Instinctively sensing danger, it tried to tilt its head back and evade, but Seo Woojin’s sword was faster.

 

Swish-

 

The remaining front paw was cut off.

 

Feeling the threat to its life, Draconis ordered the monsters to kill Seo Woojin.

 

However, just approaching Seo Woojin’s sword caused the lower-level monsters to dissolve.

 

They couldn’t withstand the destructive energy of ‘Aura.’

 

Thanks to that, Seo Woojin could swing his sword once again without any interference.

 

From the lofty sky to the pristine white ground.

 

A clean and flawless strike descended onto Draconis’s head.

 

Krooooh-!

 

Draconis roared and tried to resist, but it was already too late.

 

With one eye lost and both front paws gone, there was simply no way for him to escape.

 

The massive sword created a red line from Draconis’s head to its midsection.

 

There was no more noise.

 

The endless stream of monsters.

 

The soldiers who were shouting battle cries.

 

As they looked at Seo Woojin and Draconis, who was splitting in two directions, they couldn’t utter a sound.

 

Then, a bright light burst out.

 

* * *

 

The black space reappeared.

 

Having experienced this several times already, Seo Woojin calmly looked around without being surprised.

 

“Did I level up?”

 

Luckily, he did.

 

Leveling up meant that Draconis was defeated.

 

Now, with his body and mana restored to perfect condition, he should be able to easily defeat the remaining monsters.

 

“Haha…”

 

Seo Woojin laughed in the darkness.

 

He had hunted down the terrifying Draconis alone.

 

He knew he had become much stronger during this time, but it was the first time he truly felt it.

 

“To defeat that monster.”

 

Now he could confidently say that he wasn’t under the command of Testeron or Gerald.

 

Of course, he still had a long way to go before matching Van Slaine.

 

“And now I’ve reached level 10.”

 

For Heroes, reaching level 10 held special significance.

 

It meant they could choose their profession.

 

He heard that most Heroes who had gone elsewhere had already chosen their professions.

 

Seo Woojin, who did not take the bus, was particularly slow.

 

“Did everyone choose a profession that suits their aptitude?”

 

While it was possible that one or two might have chosen a different profession, Seo Woojin felt a slight unease.

 

What if the Demon King’s profession was predetermined?

 

Just thinking about it made him uneasy.

 

“But I still don’t know.”

 

Trying to reassure himself, Seo Woojin looked around, and suddenly, characters appeared before him.

 

[Level 10 Achieved .]

 

[A profession will be assigned.]