The legendary Moonlight Sculptor

V55C4P2 - Dragon Lair Defense

"We are done for, right?"

"Are we all going to die here trapped in this lair? We have to escape right now!"

The dwarves in the middle of the search began screaming and ran around anxiously.

Nide turned back with a concerned face.

"What do we do, Hyung? The monsters right now are… We didn't even look over half of these treasures. At this rate, the rest of the monsters or Kaybern are going to get here before we're even close to done."

On the contrary, Weed felt more composed.

"Of course, this kind of danger is to be expected when robbing the dragon's lair."

They've been found out by the dragon within no time and driven into a predicament.

He had to keep his head straight at a time like this.

In that moment he had the resolve of a man drinking ice cold water right after a dental treatment!

"Unless we have Kaybern's breath coming right at us, then it can always get worst. Also, we already smuggled some treasure, so we already got ourselves out of the worst scenario."

Weed spoke with determination.

The dwarves got emotional while listening to him, but not all shared the same feeling.

"If this isn't already the worst, it means we can fall further to certain doom."

"Yeah… Kaybern is on his way too."

***

Pale fired his arrows against the draconic warriors.

His arrow flew 30 meters through the air in a flash, striking right in the forehead of a draconic warriors soldier. He loaded the next arrow as the draconic warrior fell.

"Pale-nim, what do we do now?!"

One of the assault squad members asked with a trembling voice.

Kaybern had discovered their plans and the monsters were frantically rushing to the entrance of the lair.

The sheer danger of the lair they were staying in made them anxious.

Pale's answer was simple.

"We prevent those monsters from coming inside."

"But… Aren't we doomed if Kaybern gets here? It's already too much defending against just the monsters."

*Flack!*

Pale's arrow this time pierced through a monster.

An arrow, released from his fully drawn bow, pierced through several monsters, but only one died.

It was a reptilian creature fuming with a strange smell.

It was their first encounter with these monsters, and they lacked information about them. So, he struck down the one who looked the most dangerous.

"Focus on the battle at hand. Fluttering around isn't going to get us anywhere. If you're unsure about what to do, just fight the enemy in front of your eyes."

"But… What if we advise Weed-nim to retreat? We already have plenty of treasure. You can ask him since you're close to him, can't you?"

It was only then that Pale looked to his surroundings.

He saw that the assault squad was shaky. They were of high level, but lacked experience dealing with a crisis.

The Central Continent users had never engaged in large-scale raids as they were oppressed by the Hermes Guild.

Even for the prestigious guild users that went through all sorts of events, the dragon's lair was a place that planted fear inside their hearts.

In comparison, the dwarves of Thor in their territory acted independently and experienced various battles.

This was likely the reason why they were the majority of the warriors leading the frontlines.

"Hah."

Pale let out a sigh.

Oberon was holding the line together with the dwarves that followed him, but they looked overburdened.

It felt like breakwater barely holding against the raging tides.

The monsters came clashing ferociously, and the dwarves had their hands full defending with their shields upfront.

At the same time, they retaliated with swords and spears, defending their severely wounded comrades.

Pale grit his teeth.

"Make it your own choice whether you want to fight or not. We won't fall back."

"Why? There is no reason to die intentionally."

"If we back out now, when are we going to get stronger?"

"The situation is bad. Instead of being greedy over the treasure…"

"Don't think about the disadvantages. The enemy is here, so we just fight. Please speak with your heart. Aside from our objective in the lair, if we retreat, can the other dwarven users escape too?"

"…"

If they were to withdraw, the dwarves that were barely holding back the draconic warriors and monsters were guaranteed to be slaughtered.

"Weed-nim said that battles are fought with the heart more than the body. If you don't want to fight, leave by yourself."

Pale didn't have the extravagance to engage in a long conversation at such a dangerous time. After all, who could really understand it? He just did what he was capable of!

Since he followed Weed through the most dangerous and difficult battles, Pale thought there was still a fighting chance.

Extremely efficient hunting speed was about keeping health points and mana at the smallest sliver possible whilst continuing to engage the monsters.

Without concentration, it was always dangerous, no time for relaxing.

*Pa-pa-pat!*

Pale stepped up and sprinted sideways on the lair wall.

The agility stat turned his movement light and fast.

"Multi penetrating arrows!"

*F-f-fwoosh!*

He rode the wall, spun in midair as he fired the arrows that consecutively landed on the monsters' heads.

< The arrow penetrated through the head of monster Prem!

Death Shot!

You killed Monster Prem. >

< Bow skill proficiency is significantly increased. >

Pale let go of his bowstring while spinning in midair.

He never missed a target within 200 ~ 300-meter distance.

The entire process of precise aim, the arrow launch and striking the target formed a natural flow.

"You're gonna get screwed over listening to your friends."

"You need to hold your own ground. You have to know how to express yourself firmly."

Pale thought about all the things he heard when he was little, and he smiled.

'Everyone was wrong.'

His personality made it difficult for him to turn down the requests of others.

His school teacher was worried that in the future Pale would become a 'loser'.

However, he came across friends and comrades that he could walk with for the rest of his life. After he became known to the public, people that he met were all envious of him, and relatives he hardly knew constantly contacted him.

Occasionally his combat videos were posted online, easily reaching 10 million views.

'I must not get overconfident. I have to be careful with my behavior. I'm just a lover of adventure.'

Pale thought that he himself was living and growing proudly as one of the veteran archers and a lord of the Arpen Empire.

***

"K-ugh."

Oberon witnessed nearby dwarves sent flying by Bademix's attack.

The dwarves were his comrades and friends from Royal Road.

"Hold your positions!"

All Oberon could do was butt up against the draconic warriors assault and shout desperately.

It was getting out of hand defending against the ones right in front of them. Using War Cry at every chance he got to recover stamina and health points, keeping them alive and allowing them to stall Bademix was all he could do.

'We will defend. We must.'

If the entrance were to be breached, the dragons and monsters would stream into the lair.

The consequence was inevitable destruction!

The warriors and soldiers put everything on the line to defend.

< The Sky's Blessing has been applied. Defense is enhanced by 200% for 3 minutes.

Health points are recovered 5.2 times faster.

Strength and endurance are increased temporarily.

Combat level will be improved against strong enemies. >

A protection spell from an unknown priest was applied.

The holy magic of the priests gave the warriors on the frontline limitless courage to fight.

*Crack!*

That instant, the draconic warrior going on a frenzy with a spear against Oberon collapsed slowly.

There was a giant man that appeared after smashing the dragon soldier's head with a greatsword.

"I'm Python. You?"

"Oberon."

"I've heard a lot about you."

"The same goes for you. I think we will both have to take care of that one."

Python and Oberon after a short greeting began to set up a plan.

Bademix was the commander of the draconic warriors.

In a mass battle, having a commander in the ranks had a great effect. That being said, the draconic warriors and monsters would rush in regardless of Bademix.

"How many minutes do you think we can hold?"

"We have to try for at least 5 minutes."

"Seems like this is going to be one deadly battle. Let's go."

Oberon and Python charged together at Bademix.

- "Idiots! How dare you challenge me? I will slice you in half by the waist."

The leader of the dragon soldiers Bademix accepted their challenge and the warriors parted around them, leaving them room to duel.

- "This is my power. Rumbling Swing!"

Bademix's halberd wiped out even his own men that had cleared the space around him

Oberon easily dodged it thanks to his shortness, but Python slammed his sword into the ground and leapt.

"Skull Crush!"

Python struck hard from the air.

"Such big attacks are dangerous!"

Oberon screamed in panic, but Python had his reasons.

Monsters with intelligence took weak hits directly but could not bypass a menacing attack to the head.

'It will definitely dodge or deflect it.'

As anticipated, Bademix swung his halberd up in a direct motion.

"Pierce the sky!"

Bademix went against Python's Skull Crush with his halberd enveloped in a blue aura.

"Blade Defense!"

Python quickly cancelled his skill and changed to a defense skill. He was able to respond swiftly because he already anticipated the move.

*Crash!*

Even then, his health points decreased over 30% from Bademix's attack.

Python, after taking the unbearable hit fell in the middle of the draconic warriors

While the monsters were rushing towards them, Python shouted with no sign of defeat.

"Come on, you damn lizard servant!"

"You wish to die. I'm going to chop you up into pieces."

Bademix broke free from the surrounding dwarves with big strides.

"Get out of my way."

It swung his halberd and slashed through the draconic warriors in its path.

"What are you doing?!"

Oberon chased after Bademix, screaming.

He could not bear to watch Python die in isolation.

"It's a good day to die."

Python grinned as if he was having fun. Then he shouted to someone.

"I never really fought with my back entrusted to someone else."

"…!"

Oberon wanted to question the absurd comment but swallowed his words after seeing the following scene. Bademix did not pay any attention to the surrounding monsters and draconic warriors as he swung his halberd.

The attacks were aimed at Python but inflicted more damage to its own forces.

Due to the battle with Bademix, a third of the enemy was dead or being pushed away.

Oberon's eyes glistened.

'He drew him in on purpose.'

Python did look more comfortable sitting in the middle of enemy lines.

One-sidedly taking hits from Bademix was all the same, but it was different from when he couldn't evade because of their comrades.

Monsters and draconic warriors within the range of the halberd were also being blown away, giving him enough space to move around.

No comrades nearby.

If he meets another dangerous moment, he will surely die, and how much worse could it be than being surrounded by monsters?

"This is a ridiculous move but…"

Oberon loved it so much.

The dwarves that have been suffering until now could be relieved of some pressure.

'Just a bit of breathing room will last us a few more minutes.'

Out of nowhere, light sparked, and healing spells concentrated on Python and Oberon.

< Purification of light healed abnormal conditions of the body. >

< Healing Touch mends your body.

Health points recovered by 4,950. >

< Shell of the sea turtle was applied.

The skin becomes hardened ,and defense is enhanced. >

< Wings of the badger has taken effect… >

< Origin of the adventurer has been applied. >

< Strong lower body! >

< The mind is enlightened. >

Over ten kinds of blessings that recovered health points, stamina and mana to full capacity and buff over combat level were concentrated.

*F-f-fwoosh!*

The sound of wind coming from behind caused Oberon's heart to run cold.

*P-p-pwack!*

But, those flew right by Oberon and stuck to Bademix's chest.

Five arrows.

It was a special arrow with a tip crafted from obsidian, capable of piercing through monsters.

Python grinned widely.

"It's Pale-nim. So, this means that he read my mind and is out to support me."

-K-ooooooh!

Bademix raised its halberd high and shouted.

The shockwave swept the surroundings, but Oberon laughed.

"Weed-nim's comrades. I am in love with all of you and so disappointed that I only got to know you this moment."

To be overwhelmed or defend was still to be decided.

An intense battle was taking place.

(To be continued…)