Hunter Academy's Battle God - Chapter 175

Hunter Academy’s Battle God

[Translator –  SCM]

[Proofreader –  ilafy]

Chapter 175

[You’ve logged in to the Tower Records.]

[Information Type: Boss]

[No5661: Red Dragon Sardonyx]

A blue hologram floated in the middle of darkness that resembled space.

“Explain to me the table of contents,” YuSung asked, just as Rosa had instructed.

[Sardonyx has 2 tables of contents.]

[1. Red Dragon Sardonyx’s Biography]

[2. Dragon’s Weakness ]

The first one was about Sardonyx’s background—most of it was stories about what kind of dragon Sardonyx was and how she’d lived.

YuSung had searched for information in the library for the subjugation.

‘I’ve already studied a bit.’

Dragons were beings that humans couldn’t get close to in the dimension Sardonyx was from, but she was even an unprecedented genius among red dragons.

Sardonyx had mana comparable to that of an adult dragon when she was a 100-year-old hatchling. Not only that, but she was great at all sorts of magic.

She was the tribe’s genius, but that’s all the book said. The dragon’s characteristics and how to subjugate it weren’t anywhere to be found.

“The second option. I want to hear about a dragon’s weakness.”

As YuSung chose option two, the dark place began fluctuating, and the scenery changed.

[The 2nd table of contents details the Wilhelm Kingdom’s Dragon Slayer, Aslan.]

* * * *

While Rosa was testing the mentees through the Tower Recordss, the mentors were reunited in the waiting room.

“I wonder how many are going to pass…” Mei Lin said.

Rosa said she’d done it that way to make sure they read the information, but that wasn’t the case.

“Even one person completing it would be great. It should be enough to give them information regarding the subjugation. To think she’d ask them to contact the Tower Recordss…” Ju HimChan fell into thought.

“I’d be happy if one manages to pass,” Reina said in a cold voice.

“But still, it’s obvious that students might be able to participate in the subjugation of the avatars… but if the opponent is Sardonyx, the story changes.”

Everyone went silent at Shoichi’s words.

Reina, there from Italy, narrowed her eyes. “But this is an order from Arden. I’m sure you aren’t suspecting him, right?”

From the moment the raid was confirmed, Arden said that the students who had obtained the right should participate in the subjugation of the main body.

He’d said that, as long as they were strong enough, it didn’t matter whether they were students.

As Arden’s name came out of Reina’s mouth, the other hunters were unable to form any arguments.

“But still, it would be impressive if they got the right to participate in the subjugation… To think they’d be able to participate in a rank 7 raid… If they get an artifact…”

Just as Ju HimChan said, if a student passed the exam and got to hunt Sardonyx and obtain an artifact, it would be a world first.

Shoichi was one of the hunters who wished for his mentee to be the student who managed to do that. “It’s wishful thinking, but it would be impressive… After all, if it’s Sardonyx, it should be at least unique. Maybe it could even be a legendary artifact.”

If it was successful, Shoichi could make his mentee, Isshin, like Italy’s legend, Arden.

“Elixirs, hunter equipment, attributes! Anything you grab from Sardonyx is great!” Ultra said very loudly; then he added, “Of course, that’s only if we succeed in the subjugation. Since the opponent is a rank 7 boss, it wouldn’t be weird if someone lost their life.”

The better the reward, the higher the risk. Ultimately, the only thing hunters could do was wait for the one who passed the test to be the student they were in charge of.

* * * *

YuSung slowly looked around before a lit altar. There were all sorts of treasures around him.

“Surprised? To catch a dragon, you must go inside a dragon’s lair. There’s no better place than this to learn about their weaknesses.”

YuSung turned his head and saw a knight wearing leather, frayed clothes.

[You’ve met Dragon Slayer Aslan.]

[Learn the weakness of dragons from Aslan.]

YuSung nodded.

‘So this is what they meant by reading the Tower Recordss…’

It was weird if he thought about it—if the Tower Recordss were a simple book, there was no reason to limit contact. No, it was more like they should have used as many people as possible to organize the contents in that case.

But if the ‘Tower Recordss’ were an artifact, the story was different.

It was an Association test.

‘Rather than reading already-organized information, they’re asking us to experience it on our own and learn it…’

The Association was testing if they had the right to participate in Sardonyx’s raid by using the Tower Recordss.

“Don’t be nervous. It’s a dummy, after all. If you want, you can try it many times,” an NPC created using Aslan’s data said.

Aslan walked again toward the treasure, sat, and then said, “I said that I’d tell you a dragon’s weakness, but in reality, most dragons don’t have something like a weakness. They’re perfect beings. There’s a simple reason for that.”

Dragon Slayer Aslan got up. From a hunter’s perspective, he’d be equivalent to a rank 7. He grabbed a wooden stick as if it were a sword. “The first is their scales.”

He tried to use the wooden stick to poke at a treasure, but it ended up breaking.

“Dragon scales are harder than steel, so most swords don’t work on them.”

Catching a monster with just swordsmanship was hard, so that wasn’t just a characteristic of dragons; there was a reason why hunters hated fighting against them.

“Not only that, but they have high resistances. A magician’s magic and a magic swordsman’s buffs are reduced.”

The scales blocked physical attacks, and their resistance reduced the effectiveness of mana.

Therefore, if you didn’t know a dragon’s weakness, you couldn’t deal much damage.

“Of course… Even dragons have a weakness. The strength of words becomes like poison to them. Scars appear when they aren’t able to keep their promises.” Aslan moved the wooden stick. As he did that, mana began gathering until it took the shape of a dragon.

“Rather than explaining, it would be better to face it firsthand.”

Aslan smiled at him as if he were making fun of him. Although he was data that the Tower Recordss had created, he had Hero Aslan’s memories, so he wasn’t planning to teach him anything unless he recognized YuSung’s strength.

“People usually get a grasp after dying 30 times. You won’t get hurt in real life, so don’t worry and try to find the dragon’s weakness. Of course, you can give up anytime you want.”

Boom!

The red dragon was fully summoned and spread its wings. Sardonyx was a lord among the red dragons. The one YuSung was facing was weaker than Sardonyx, but he was still a dragon.

“-!” YuSung felt dizzy. Dragons were often called emperors of mana, so even their screaming had magic in it.

Aslan made a satisfied smile at YuSung. “To think you wouldn’t lose consciousness after hearing the dragon’s roar for the first time… Still, facing a dragon isn’t easy.”

YuSung calmly looked at the dragon. He’d faced many strong opponents, but it was his first time facing one like that.

‘The amount of mana they have can’t be compared to hunters.’

The amount of mana dragons had was from a hundred to a thousand times more than humans. There wasn’t a single hunter with an amount of mana comparable to a dragon.

Hunters relied heavily on mana, and that’s why they found facing dragons hard.

‘But…’

Shin YuSung could easily learn the dragon’s weakness because of that. It wasn’t something that could be learned through experience like Aslan said, but it was a structural weakness that only Shin YuSung could see.

‘It’s thanks to this huge amount of mana that I can see it.’

Although a rank 6 boss stood before him, YuSung gave a relaxed smile as if he’d discovered something.

‘Before activating a skill, dragons also manifest the mana inside their bodies. In the end, the structure is the same. Then…’

YuSung got into position.

“Then, should I check your skills?” As Aslan waved his hands, the red dragon moved its front paws, but YuSung wasn’t afraid.

‘I’m sure…’

If what he thought was right, he’d easily be able to defeat the Avatars. Not only that, but there was a chance he might be able to face Sardnyx. Dragons were called Mana Emperors, but YuSung had a perfect way to counter mana. Finishing his thoughts, YuSung disappeared.

Thanks to the experience he’d gained during the International Competition and training, he’d already exceeded the abilities of a rank 6 hunter.

‘Mana Resonance should also work against dragons.’

He was going to confirm it for himself.

* * * *

[3rd Floor Entrance Condition: Eliminate 3 boss monsters.]

[Ferocious Forest Tiger, Ponta 0/1]

[Sky Eagle, Ripon 0/1]

[Lord of the River, Clapis 0/1]

The boss monsters that came out in the Tower were rank two or three. A normal student wouldn’t be able to deal with them, but it was too easy for YuSung’s party members.

[ROAR!]

[Ferocious Forest Tiger, Ponta 1/1]

Sumire’s undead easily hunted Ponta.

[KIEK!]

The collaborative whip attacks of Amy and Lilith easily defeated Ripon.

[Sky Eagle, Ripon 1/1]

The only one left was River Lord Clapis.

EunAh had been having the worst match luck, but she was facing a water-type boss for the first time.

“EunAh! Good luck!”

“EunAh! Show it what you’re capable of!”

Listening to her party members cheering her on, EunAh summoned up her electricity.

“Charge!” Electricity began fluctuating around her to the point that it would cook any normal person.

But EunAh’s skill had just begun.

WHOOM-!

Rain clouds began gathering, and EunAh shouted a familiar name.

“ORCA!”

Swoosh!

It was the easiest shape for her to think about. An orca figure landed on EunAh’s hands and concentrated on her index finger.

GRRR-!

The Clapis widened its mouth to threaten EunAh and began rushing toward her.

WHOM!!!

It was a nightmare-inducing bipedal fish, but because it was a water-type boss, EunAh wasn’t afraid. Instead, she smiled in satisfaction and used her index finger as if it were a gun.

BZZZ-!!

As the electricity’s strength peaked, the surroundings turned white; the ground beneath EunAh’s right foot began cracking.

The Clapis increased its speed before EunAh could activate her skill.

“Pierce it-!”

In the end, there was no way a fish could move faster than EunAh’s electricity.

Pang-!

A spear of light shot from EunAh and pierced the fish from head to tail.

WHOOM!

After its head was pierced, the Clapis collapsed in place without being able to do anything else.

EunAh’s electricity had grilled the fish instantly.

“She won!”

“EunAh! You’re the best! That was really cool!”

As Amy and Sumire began praising her, Kim EunAh made a proud expression.

“Water-type boss? Fu. That’s nothing.”

“Hehe, that’s right! It’s just grilled fish before EunAh!”

[Will you move to the 8th floor?]

A message popped out, announcing they’d cleared the quest, but Sumire didn’t accept right away. Instead, she looked at the Clapis.

“It says that this is quite delicious…”

[Information: The Clapis is very delicious.]

[Information: The grilled Clapis’s scales are good for your skin.]

The Pocket’s hologram was trying to make them try Clapis meat, but Amy was looking at EunAh with a troubled expression.

“I’ve heard that it’s expensive, but… it’s something that EunAh hunted. Isn’t it weird to eat it?!”

The delicious scent was stimulating their noses. When Sumire pressed on it with her finger, the fish’s elasticity was such that it bounced back in place.

Sumire was good at cooking, so she already knew…

‘The Clapis is the best ingredient…’

Ultimately, because of Sumire’s insistence, the 7th floor became a camping barbecue site. The main course of the barbecue was, of course, the Clapis meat.

As Sumire finished seasoning it, a delicious smell started to come out of the Clapis.

Amid doubt, expectations, and confirmation, the three began eating almost simultaneously as if they’d practiced it beforehand.

“It… it’s delicious!”

“This is the best…”

“It melts in my mouth…”

EunAh had a picky taste, Sumire was good at cooking, and Amy just enjoyed eating.

Even active hunters struggled on the Tower’s 7th floor, but the three were eating ecstatically.