The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player Novel - Chapter 349
Chapter 349 – Drakania
Originally, there were no restrictions on the number of people in the boss room.
One person or several could enter without being eliminated.
Those were the original conditions.
But then…
‘That damned Goddess changed it.’
Gaia arbitrarily changed the settings so as not to lose Ryu Min.
She established that if at least five people did not enter, they would be eliminated.
“Why did you do it?”
Ryu Min’s voice was heavy.
However, Gaia smiled as if the question was obvious.
[Why did I do it? A talent I found after centuries was going to enter the boss room without defeating the archangel. Did you think I’d stand by idly?]
“If you hadn’t changed the settings, I would have completed the boss room in the 99th cycle and touched the Stone of Desire. With that wish, I would have revived the dead and finally led a normal life.”
[Probably. But what about Chaos? You wouldn’t have fulfilled your purpose of killing Chaos. Is that okay with you?]
“Chaos wasn’t interested in me at that time. Nor was I in him. It was only after my deification that I caught his attention.”
Ryu Min looked at Gaia with eyes full of resentment and hatred.
“You’re the one who entangled me in this. If you hadn’t interfered, I would have had a normal life.”
[In that case, humans from other dimensions would have suffered. Chaos would have continued implementing his policy of annihilation to consolidate his power.]
“Other dimensions? What do they have to do with me?”
[They are humans like you. Are you saying it’s okay for them to die just because they’re from another dimension?]
Faced with Gaia’s attempt to justify her actions, Ryu Min smiled cynically.
“Do you expect me to save humans from other dimensions when I can barely protect my own? Do you expect me to risk my life to kill Chaos for people I don’t even know? I’m not that altruistic.”
[You are selfish. But it’s already too late.]
“I know. It’s too late to turn back. But remember this.”
His sharp gaze turned to Gaia.
“Now that I know the truth, I can’t continue seeing you in a good light.”
[How funny, coming from a mere human.]
[Hello, Mrs. Gaia.]
Rubuahi, who had been coughing, approached Gaia and whispered something in her ear.
Gaia regained her composure and calmed down.
[I’m sorry. I was reckless before. I apologize.]
“You don’t have to be so humble. I have no intention of backing out now. I even signed a contract to kill Chaos, didn’t I?”
[So you’ll help us?]
“Sure. But that doesn’t mean I forgive you. It doesn’t change the fact that you made me lose the chance to live a normal life.”
‘What a petty human. Why cling to something that’s already passed?’
Although Gaia found Ryu Min’s attitude toward a primordial Goddess like her annoying, she couldn’t show it in front of Black Scythe.
She needed him to be able to end Chaos.
“We’ve talked about the past. Now tell me, what’s your plan to kill Chaos?”
[It’s a plan I designed in case you couldn’t gather 100 billion Terra. Listen and decide.]
Ryu Min nodded and listened to Gaia’s words.
With an indifferent look.
——————-
In the world, there are five great races.
Gods, angels, demons, dragons, and humans.
Of all the races, if you had to choose the most despised, the gods would choose humans, but that’s only because they don’t know the truth.
The most despised race was not humans, but dragons.
‘Is this it? The planet of dragons?’
Ryu Min, in the body of Black Scythe, stepped on the ground.
It was a temporary avatar Gaia had created for him.
His real body was on Earth.
‘And this is not Earth.’
Drakania, known as the land of dragons.
A world solely for dragons, but in reality, it was an exiled field abandoned by the gods.
‘Maybe that’s why the land is so barren.’
There wasn’t a blade of green grass; an environment more suitable to be called the land of death.
‘Originally, they had a better place to live, but they were banished here due to Chaos’s hatred.’
Gaia hadn’t told him why they were hated.
Ryu Min hadn’t asked either, assuming there would be a reason.
‘I don’t like it, but I have no choice. Now, the most urgent thing is to defeat the common enemy, Chaos.’
Although he didn’t trust Gaia, Ryu Min had no choice but to accept her help.
It was the only option left.
‘It’s just a temporary alliance. Only temporary…’
Gaia had also been the one who sent him to Drakania.
Here lay the key to defeating Chaos.
-Drakania hides an enormous amount of Terra. It’s a reserve of energy I’ve accumulated for this moment. It’s an emergency fund that even Chaos doesn’t know about.
-You buried an emergency fund in the land of dragons? In that place where Chaos banished them?
-Don’t worry. There’s no risk of it being discovered. Chaos no longer pays attention to the dragons. As the proverb from your world says, “darkness is under the lamp.”
-So you want me to find that Terra energy?
-Exactly. Absorb the Terra and defeat Chaos. That’s my plan B.
-Where is it?
-I can’t explain it to you with just words. Besides, the dragons guard it. You must go and find the Dragon Emperor.
-Dragon Emperor?
-It’s a dragon that holds a deep grudge against Chaos. It’s a safe ally. Go and mention my name. It will guide you to the place where Terra is buried.
-Why don’t you infuse me with the Terra directly? It would be simpler.
-It’s not that simple. I don’t have Terra to infuse you with. If, as a creator Goddess, I could do everything, we wouldn’t be in this situation. I could do it myself.
-You have your limitations.
-Yes. That’s why you must find it yourself. That’s why you completed the second deification, right?
-You want me to search for it in a spiritual state?
-No. I will give you an avatar in Drakania similar to the one you used in life. Although it won’t have level or player functions, it will be sufficient.
-Runes or skills can’t be recovered?
-Erased data cannot be recovered.
-What a shame.
-If you get the Terra, those skills won’t be necessary. Go, find the Dragon Emperor and absorb the Terra. Then come back.
Ryu Min recalled his conversation with Gaia and showed a determined expression.
‘Absorb the hidden Terra with the Dragon Emperor and return? A simple mission.’
But his expression was complex.
Could it be because Gaia’s betrayal still hadn’t healed?
Ryu Min, lost in his thoughts, lifted his head.
‘At this point, I have no other choice.’
First, he had to find the Dragon Emperor.
Although he didn’t know the exact location, finding it was simpler than it seemed.
‘Temporary skill: Vengeance.’
[Tracking the location of a target that holds a grudge against ‘Chaos’.]
[Location of Dragon Emperor ‘Karmithris’ detected.]
[Currently located 27,389 meters away.]
[To track the target, follow the arrow that appears before you.]
Using the skill obtained from Nemesis, he could easily locate its position.
Although he had no level or skills, the eternal equipment and registered temporary skills were still useful.
Even the soul contained in the gauntlets.
‘On the way, I could inquire about the Dragon Emperor.’
Since Gaia hadn’t told him, there was no other option but to find out that way.
Ryu Min thought of the soul stored in the gauntlets and called it.
Nemesis.
Yes?
Tell me everything you know about the Dragon Emperor.
Dragon Emperor? Why all of a sudden…?
Just answer what I ask. If not, I’ll annihilate you…
Alright! I’ll do everything you say, but please, don’t threaten me.
What do you know?
I don’t know much about the Dragon Emperor. Only that he’s the king of dragons and that Chaos hates him, which is why his power is limited…
Why does Chaos hate him?
Because he hid and protected Cronos.
-Cronos?
Yes. Cronos stayed for a while in the land of dragons and, before leaving, slowed down the aging of the dragons to prevent their extinction. Thanks to this, the dragons lived for thousands of years and became an advanced race, increasing their power. Since then, Cronos is revered as an idol among dragons.
But Chaos found out about that, right?
Exactly. Chaos was looking for Cronos and heard the rumors. He came and asked the Dragon Emperor about Cronos’s whereabouts. But the Emperor didn’t betray him and, consequently, drew Chaos’s wrath.
‘So that’s why they live as an abandoned race on this inhospitable planet.’
Now he understood why the dragons appeared as mere monsters in Round.
They had incurred Chaos’s hatred.
‘By protecting Cronos, they ended up like this. It’s understandable that they hold a grudge.’
Since the Grudge skill activated, the Dragon Emperor’s resentment was real.
At least, they could work together against a common enemy.
‘But why such a mission…?’
Ryu Min shook his head for a moment.
Leaving everything aside, he first had to meet the Dragon Emperor.
Using the eternal item, the God Step, he advanced through the sky until reaching his destination.
‘Is that where the Dragon Emperor is?’
Among the slopes covered in vegetation, he spotted a cave.
He expected a more impressive place for the leader of the dragons, but it was nothing more than an ordinary cave.
‘At least the size of the cave is considerable.’
Ryu Min entered the cave, large enough to give an idea of the Dragon Emperor’s size.
He had only taken three steps when he heard a voice.
[How dare you tread on my abode. You still have time. If you’re lost, turn back now.]
“I think I’ve found the right place. Dragon Emperor.”
[Who are you? Identify yourself.]
“Will you understand if I say I’m Gaia’s envoy?”
Shortly after, red eyes glowed in the darkness.
A dragon’s head emerged and looked down at Ryu Min.
[Human? No, a god?]
“Could say I’m both.”
[Are you really sent by Lady Gaia?]
“I was supposed to have been notified already.”
[Then tell me, why have you come?]
“They say there’s Terra hidden on this planet. I’ve come to absorb it.”
[Ah, so you are the vessel Lady Gaia spoke of.]
‘Vessel?’
Ryu Min’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
Although it made sense in the context of containing Terra, it wasn’t an expression he liked much.
[You must be the human known as Black Scythe, the weapon against Chaos.]
“Yes, that’s correct.”
The Dragon Emperor, apparently more at ease, emerged from the darkness and changed form.
His enormous body quickly shrank until it looked human.
[My name is Karmithris. I am the Dragon Emperor.]
“I am Black Scythe. I was human, but I became a God.”
[I know. Follow me. I’ll guide you to where the Terra is.]