Hydragon Enhancement
The sewer dungeon of the golden city Arcana.
The reward for a dungeon that could only be cleared after reaching at least level 8 went up by a full two stages.
There were only four items on the reward list, but even that was enough.
[Seal of Wind], [Mutant Captain's Hook], [Black Iron Dagger], [Mutant Monstrous Rat Core]
'They're all core ones.'
Is it because these are rewards two stages above those for clearing a level 8 dungeon?
It feels like only essential treasures were gathered here.
I examined the reward list in order.
First, the 'Seal of Wind' is a talisman.
Because it raises Agility and reduces resistance to Wind, it was the fundamental talisman that assassination or archer-type classes absolutely had to take.
And the 'Mutant Captain's Hook' and 'Black Iron Dagger' are upper-grade auxiliary weapons. They would probably be the best equipment rewards that exist in this sewer.
Usually, hook-type auxiliary weapons grant additional options to sailing-related classes. And if I gave the Black Iron Dagger to Isabella Von Dersian, it would immediately translate into a rise in combat power.
But among these, the one that caught my eye the most was of course the last one, the 'Mutant Monstrous Rat Core.'
'It's a shame it isn't a soul, but this is useful in its own way.'
If the soul of a Mutant Monstrous Rat had dropped, I would've cheered, but a core was also useful in many ways. Especially Mutant-type cores had the most crucial function.
[Mutant Monstrous Rat Core (Material)]
★ An unidentified core that caused a Mutant in the monstrous rat
★ If fed to a beast, it causes a Mutation, and is sometimes also used as a material for special tools or equipment.
★★ Beast Lord, can enhance the 'beast-type souls' you possess
A hidden option visible only to those with the hidden trait 'Beast Lord.'
The ability to enhance souls is the core's most important function.
'Hydragon is also a beast-type boss monster.'
By setting, Hydragon was a composite of all kinds of beasts created by a mad doctor. That meant it could be enhanced with the Mutant Monstrous Rat Core.
However, even I was holding Hydragon's soul for the first time.
I couldn't even guess what kind of change would occur if I enhanced a 12-man raid boss monster.
'…To think there's something I don't know.'
With an unknown realm right in front of me, a smile naturally formed.
Even though the Heart of the Iron-Blooded Monarch should keep me from getting excited, I was excited.
For the last five years, I played Pangaenia almost without a single day of rest.
I'm the gamer who has played Pangaenia the longest, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I've grasped every inch of this world.
And yet, there is still endlessly more in Pangaenia that I don't know.
The difficulty is insane to the point that clearing it is impossible, but it always stirs a strong desire to challenge it.
Behind that lay this kind of unknown realm, a mystery.
'…That's why I couldn't quit this game.'
Of course, there was also a clear possibility that no special change would happen even if I enhanced it.
But I loved even that possibility.
<
So was there any need to worry further?
***
I bought an entire four-wheeled carriage.
I ordered it to be as sturdy and tough in material as possible.
Of course, not with my money, but with Hudson's.
Instead, I prepared the horses to pull the carriage.
"...."
Hudson, riding in the carriage, lifted his head and stared blankly ahead.
The reason his gaze and mind were both taken at once was the "horse" pulling the carriage.
With his soul gone, he only opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish.
'That… is a horse?'
What is a horse?
Well, a horse is a horse.
An animal that runs on four legs, the fastest and longest-running among livestock.
But what was in front of us wasn't an ordinary horse.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Every time it moved, the ground shook.
A body so huge it was absurd.
A monster with nine heads!
'That's not a horse, that's a Hydragon...?'
Because the Star Bearer said he would prepare the horse to pull the carriage himself, Hudson bought only the carriage without thinking much.
Only when preparations were finished and it was time to leave Arcana did he learn the true identity of the "horse" the Star Bearer had spoken of.
It was a Hydragon.
And not some crude, man-made Hydragon, but a complete one summoned through a soul!
A boss monster engraved into a soul retains its primordial form exactly as it was.
Even if the appearance is similar, even if the level is similar, you can't dare compare the very rank itself.
But it was treated like established truth that Hydragon souls didn't exist.
Chimeras are created things. People believed there was no way a primordial form could exist.
Yet it did. A Hydragon summoned by a soul.
'...What is that?'
Hudson's eyes looked over Hydragon's heads.
One of the nine heads, the one in the center, had a long horn like an elephant tusk growing from its crown.
A trait that ordinary Hydragons also do not have.
Ziiiiik.
Kwarrrrung!
"Kwaaaak!"
"S-save me!"
"Run away!"
The screams from outside were from a band of thieves settled near Arcana.
They were one of the giant bandit groups that were the biggest nuisance to merchants traveling to and from Arcana, a symbol of terror, but they were being massacred like flies by the Hydragon.
Especially the lightning fired from the horn. Once it compressed its power and released it, more than ten bandits at a time evaporated without leaving even bone dust behind.
Its destructive power at least matched mid-grade or higher lightning-type skills.
"It's noisy outside."
"...Those are the screams of the Red Hood bandit group."
"Is that so? Then it's nothing."
The Star Bearer closed his eyes again.
'Nothing?'
…That sound?
"Please save me!"
"Kiiiaaaak!!"
"Mooommm!!"
***
For about ten days, we crossed seven warps and passed through two high-risk, high-level zones.
We had practically crossed half of the Central Continent, but finding what we wanted wasn't easy.
"Is this not it either?"
"Mm. It's already dead."
I said that while looking at the bluish tree in front of us.
The tree itself wasn't dead, but the 'spirit path' was already closed.
'Spirit Tree.'
What I was looking for was a Spirit Tree.
A Spirit Tree refers to the tree from which a spirit was born.
A tree that birthed a spirit temporarily opens a path leading to the Spirit Realm.
Only by entering that path could one head to the Spirit Tower.
And the tree before my eyes had long since closed its path after its spirit was born.
"To my eyes, it doesn't look much different from other trees..."
To Hudson's eyes, this Spirit Tree didn't look any different from any other tree.
What on earth was the difference?
Tsk. I clicked my tongue lightly and spoke.
"There's no choice. We have to take the risk."
I couldn't waste any more time.
I pulled out Michella's sword.
When Hudson and Isabella Von Dersian stepped back, I swung the sword wide and cut the tree down.
Kuroong!
The waist of the tree was severed and it fell over.
At that moment.
Hiaaaaah!
Sounds like screams, like groans, rang out across the entire forest.
"D-dryads! Damn it!"
Hudson drew his hammer and guarded the surroundings.
Soon after, multiple dryads appeared, their lower bodies like deer and their upper bodies human.
"Cutting down the tree that bore a spirit."
"A human has lost fear."
"Let's tear him apart and kill him."
They were half-elves.
Wardens of the forest.
[Lv.7]
Monsters above level 7!
And their number was over fifty.
A tree that bore a spirit is also deeply symbolic to them.
Since I cut it, they weren't going to let us go alive.
"...."
Gulp!
Hudson swallowed, tense.
Isabella Von Dersian was also in a combat stance. Instinctively, she knew that fighting that many would never be easy.
I slowly walked forward toward them.
"Open the 'door.' Then I will gift this forest a spirit once more."
"A human spouts nonsense."
"Is he crazy?"
Several dryads raised their bows.
If no one here could understand me, this gamble would fail.
I opened my mouth again.
"This tree's spirit is already dead. This forest is also dying. I am a Druid, master of spirits, so I can gift your forest a new spirit."
Forests are born through spirits.
If a spirit dies, the forest dies as well.
And the spirit of this forest had died long ago.
If a new spirit was not born, this forest would eventually die too.
But that only mattered if someone here could understand.
Whether these simple-minded dryads who only knew how to protect trees would understand my words was the key.
"Shoot him to death."
"Pierce him to death."
"Just kill him first!"
…These ignorant fools.
Is there no choice?
If so, I'd have to open a portal and return to Arcana.
I thought all the effort of the past ten or so days was about to vanish—
"Wait. I will hear him out, self-proclaimed Druid."
I turned my gaze.
[Lv.9]
A High Dryad with a thick beard.
He seemed to be the owner of this place, the master of the 'Rustling Forest.'
I thought it was just one of many forests, but the presence of a High Dryad meant the spirit that created this forest must have been quite strong.
'At least that's fortunate.'
At least this one looked like someone I could talk to.
"Is what you said true?"
"It is. If you open the 'door,' I will go to the Spirit Tower and bring a spirit back to this forest."
"We can't open the door to the Spirit Tower either."
"Even so, you must be keeping the spirit's corpse."
"...."
The High Dryad shut his mouth tightly.
He looked at me as if asking how I knew that.
But it was obvious. They wouldn't just scatter a dead spirit in the forest.
In case it ever revived, or birthed a new spirit, they would keep it.
"How can we trust that you are a Druid?"
"How else could I have found and cut down this tree?"
Only a Druid can distinguish a Spirit Tree.
The High Dryad frowned, looking back and forth between the cut tree and me.
"If you are lying, you will become nourishment for this forest."
"And if I speak the truth?"
"...Then we will give you a reward befitting it."
<>
<
<
Battle with the Forest, huh.
Looking at the grandiose message, I shrugged my shoulders.
***
What they presented as the spirit's corpse was a rough stone.
It seemed the forest's spirit had been a rock spirit.
'There's still a path left.'
I could see it.
The spirit path engraved in the stone.
This too was a Druid's ability.
Because a Druid is a being who can communicate with spirits and open spirit paths.
But the entrance was far too narrow and small. There was only one way to temporarily widen it.
"I guess we have to break it to enter."
"...."
The High Dryad's eyes trembled finely.
This stone was a spirit's corpse. If we broke it, it would disappear forever.
The High Dryad barely opened his mouth.
"If you are lying..."
"Kill me."
The one who reacted to my clean, simple answer was Hudson.
His body trembled as he threw me a look that seemed to say, 'What are you saying, Star Bearer?!'
Anyway, permission was given.
All that remained was to smash this stone.
Boom!
I clenched my fist and brought it down.
Boom!
As I kept striking, I could see the door widening temporarily.
Ziiiiiiing!
Then, above the stone, a single golden portal formed.
<>
<
At the portal's entrance.
Beyond it, I could see a golden spirit guarding the doorway.
A cute little thing wearing golden armor and a helm.
Soon, the spirit pointed at me.
It meant only I should enter.
But I looked back and forth between Hudson and Isabella Von Dersian.
The golden spirit hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
—Are they friends of the Druid?
When I nodded, the golden spirit spoke again.
—Companions to whom you can entrust your back, and your life?
I nodded again.
—Then I will allow you to enter together.
Fwaaa!
The portal grew larger.
In that instant.
"Main Quest 3: Climb the tower!"
"Mysterious towers erected across the world. If you climb one of them, Main Quest will be completed."
"Tip: It is recommended to first climb the 'Foundation Tower' that exists in each city."
"Reward: Differentiated according to content"
Seeing the message that Main Quest 3 had begun, a smile formed at the corner of my mouth.