Chapter 26
11 min read ·
A Visitor to the County (1)
The translucent message announced that I had devoured the Gelu Drake's genetic material. The moment it appeared before my eyes, my body responded, transforming my fingernails and toenails.
Their appearance hardly changed. Anyone looking at them would see human fingernails and toenails, but their durability and strength were anything but human.
◆Dragon's Claw[A]
: Upon acquisition, strengthens the player's [Keratin]. Its density and strength are refined to an extreme degree, making it comparable to a dragon's. The hardness of the player's [Fingernails, Toenails, Hair] then increases by [+1,601,200%], and their strength by [+1,992,500%].
When attacking with this skill, all damage dealt ignores [-35%] of the target's defense.
<This is a passive skill. Its effects apply permanently upon acquisition.>
The skill description appeared before my eyes. Like Toughened Skin[D], it was a passive skill. And passive meant the opposite of active. In other words, a passive skill required no action on my part. Simply possessing it kept its effects active at all times—a very, very convenient and useful kind of skill.
It was also complete. A fully developed ability that required no further use of Predation.
“But I didn't get any other abilities in exchange.”
Apparently, focusing on Dragon's Claw[A] had kept me from acquiring the Gelu Drake's other abilities. My Predation[S+] wasn't complete enough to obtain them all. To gain one thing, I had to give up another.
“This is better, anyway.”
Securing one fully developed ability was far better than getting some half-finished ones. After all, who knew when I would get another chance at a Gelu Drake's genetic material? Their numbers weren't merely low; they were practically nonexistent.
The lower a creature sits on the food chain, the stronger its urge to reproduce. With death such a constant threat, it needs to leave behind offspring quickly, and in large numbers. Conversely, the higher a creature sits on the food chain, the more sharply that urge diminishes.
And the Gelu Drake was the master of the snowy mountains. More precisely, it was the apex predator that had once been called their master. With nothing in the snowy mountains to threaten its life, the Gelu Drake has no great urge to reproduce. It didn't go out of its way to seek a male or female mate, and its reproductive rate wasn't particularly high either.
That wasn't to say there were no other Gelu Drakes, but...
“Maybe I'd find a few more if I combed every inch of the north.”
So it was far better to secure one solid piece of dragon genetic material than a scattered assortment of useless abilities. And this one was a staggering [A] grade. The Regeneration ability I'd obtained from an ice troll performed that well at only [B-]. I couldn't even imagine what an [A]-grade ability could do.
“My nails are too short to test it...”
Hunting monsters in the snowy mountains hadn't left my nails intact. They had worn down so far that I could barely call them nails anymore.
After a moment's thought, I burned calories with Nutrient Synthesis[C+] to synthesize keratin. Then I immediately used Regeneration[B-], and my short nails grew out in an instant. Dragon's Claw[A] took effect on the new growth at once.
Since a passive skill applied permanently once acquired, I'd effectively gained my own weapon that I could replace endlessly through Regeneration[B-].
“It has incredible synergy with Regeneration.”
This meant I could shorten or lengthen my nails however the situation demanded.
Just as I'd thought. One fully developed ability was better than several incomplete ones.
“How strong are they now?”
The enhancement numbers alone were absurd. But they didn't give me an intuitive sense of just how tough my nails had become.
“Something to test them on...”
I looked around, but nothing suitable caught my eye. The white mountain landscape was nothing but snow, and even that had frozen solid under the Ice Breath. Perhaps that was why a lone sword lying in the snow stood out so clearly.
“That's...”
It was the sword I'd thrown away while fighting the Gelu Drake. There was nothing special about it, but it was forged from steel, and its quality wasn't poor.
I walked over and picked up the sword buried in the snow. Its edge had been badly damaged during the fight, but it would do for a test. I angled my nails against it, then gripped the blade—
CLANG!
“Huh...?”
The sword simply broke in two.
I hadn't done anything special. I'd only applied a little pressure. Yet the sword had split in half. On closer inspection, saying I'd torn it in half was more accurate.
“I expected them to be harder than steel, but...”
I'd never imagined they would wreck it this thoroughly.
“Even the Heightened Keratin I devoured in my previous life wasn't this powerful.”
Heightened Keratin, which I'd acquired through Predation in my previous life and had been aiming to obtain again, had been on par with a steel sword. Only by combining it with other abilities could I contend with an aura-coated sword.
That was why I'd assumed Dragon's Claw[A] wouldn't be much different. In the end, it was still just strengthening the keratin in my body. Yet all on its own, it far surpassed a steel sword.
“At this rate, couldn't I just shatter aura too?”
I hadn't tested it directly against aura, but it seemed entirely possible. I'd faced countless kinds of aura during my days as Predator. Judging by that experience, I could easily overwhelm an aura sword.
And that wasn't all.
“Maybe even a Master's aura blade wouldn't stand a chance?”
Master—the pinnacle of aura. The dream realm that knights, martial artists, and every other aura-wielding warrior longed to reach. Even an aura blade wielded by a Master didn't seem capable of surpassing Dragon's Claw[A].
After all, this ability truly matched a dragon's claws. And even a Master was mere prey before a dragon. Dragons were the pinnacle of biological evolution. The claim that no genetic material on this continent surpassed a dragon's was neither exaggeration nor empty boasting.
“Holy shit...”
The words escaped me unbidden. This truly was an ability gained by devouring dragon genetic material. It more than justified all the hell I'd gone through to hunt the Gelu Drake.
With this...
“Perfect.”
I'd taken a step beyond my previous self. I was one step closer to the Ultimate Lifeform Ian had spoken of. And that brought me one step closer to Ian.
More importantly, Dragon's Claw[A] wasn't the only thing I'd gained.
==「Player Information」==
[Name] - Adrian Whitewolf
[Title] - Master of the Snowy Mountains
[Level] - Level 26
[HP] - 26
[MP] - 0
[Stats] - Strength:27(+5) Agility:13(+5) Stamina:20(+5) Mana:6(+5)
[Experience] - 34.7%
<Additional Stat Points +13>
My level had reached a whopping 26. A new [Title] field had also appeared in 「Player Information」. Its effects had raised all my stats by +5, and the additional level-ups had given me another +13 stat points to distribute.
“I'll put all my level-up points into Agility.”
I was able to raise Agility all the way to 26. This dramatically improved not only my processing of stimuli transmitted through the nervous system, but also my ability to receive them.
My vision sharpened until I could make out individual snow crystals. My sense of smell grew keen enough to detect even the scent of ice. My hearing missed not even the faintest whisper of wind. My sense of touch became so acute that I could detect any sign of a presence.
“This is basically ESP, isn't it?”
I wasn't joking. If I kept raising Agility, it seemed it would become indistinguishable from ESP. No, it seemed it would surpass ESP.
Of course, that would require investing every level-up point in Agility. I wouldn't be able to put any into Strength or Stamina... but that was fine.
“I'll just have to train my body even harder.”
There were other perfectly good ways to raise Strength and Stamina.
With that in mind, it really was time to return to the county.
“I wonder if Ian has returned...”
I started down the snowy mountain with that hope in mind. Then I stopped short.
“I can't leave the Gelu Drake's carcass behind.”
The Gelu Drake was valuable in many ways beyond its heart. Its hide alone, which could easily stop a steel sword, would make superb armor.
I carefully put the Gelu Drake's carcass into my Inventory. Now that the <Master of the Snowy Mountains> title had raised my Strength by +5, the Inventory weight limit had also increased to 1,080 kg.
◆Inventory weight limit exceeded.
“It won't all fit.”
Even that wasn't enough to hold the Gelu Drake. Then again, the enormous beast had been a full ten meters long. Even a rough estimate put it comfortably at 1,500 kg. In other words, even if I stuffed as much as possible into my Inventory, I'd have to leave about 500 kg behind.
“How could I do that?”
Naturally, I had no intention of leaving any of it behind.
I emptied all the remaining monster carcasses out of my Inventory. There wasn't much left, since I'd eaten most of them while fighting the Gelu Drake. I dug my sharp nails in and tore into the carcass. The Gelu Drake's hide, which a steel sword couldn't even scratch...
CRUNCH!
...tore like paper beneath Dragon's Claw[A]. I finished severing its half-cut neck, then cut off its tail too.
Butchering wasn't particularly difficult. In fact, it was harder to think of something I hadn't done during my time in the special task force.
“... This should do.”
After removing what needed removing and leaving only the torso, I figured it weighed roughly 1,080 kg. I put it in my Inventory, and the Gelu Drake's carcass vanished before my eyes. Of course, it hadn't really vanished. It was stored in my Inventory.
That left the severed tail and head. I'd have to carry those myself. When I hoisted them onto my shoulders, I sank deep into the snow. No surprise, considering the head and tail alone weighed around 500 kg.
That gave me a good idea.
“This would be great for lifting, wouldn't it?”
Changing my mind, I took the Gelu Drake's torso out of my Inventory and stored its head and tail instead. Then, using the 1,080 kg torso as a barbell, I made my way down the snowy mountain in lunges.
◆Your muscle fibers are tearing again!!
◆Your muscle fibers are being restructured!
◆Your Strength stat increases by +3!!
... The results were incredible.
* * *
RUMBLE!
Whitewolf Castle's thick wooden gates swung open with a deafening roar. Yet even that ear-splitting noise was drowned out by the shouts erupting now.
“Th-that...!!”
“A Gelu Drake...!!”
Every soldier guarding Whitewolf Castle's gates jumped in shock. Without a single exception, they all stared at me with the same emotion.
“Lord Adrian...”
“He killed a Gelu Drake...?”
“What Sir Kai told us was true?!”
“I-impossible...!!”
Astonishment. Astonishment at the Gelu Drake on my shoulders, and at me.
'This wasn't what I intended.'
I hadn't carried it here to attract attention. It was simply a good weight to lift, so I'd shouldered it to raise my Strength and Stamina. Thanks to that, I'd gained +6 Strength and +3 Stamina.
Anyway, I wasn't particularly fond of drawing attention. What good was a special warfare unit's Chief of Covert Operations who stood out?
I lowered the Gelu Drake's torso from my shoulders to the ground.
THUD!
Its massive 1,080 kg weight sent a small tremor through the ground.
“G-good heavens...!!”
“He carried that all the way here...?”
“Uwaaah...!”
... I'd unintentionally drawn attention again. While the soldiers were practically fainting, the gates finished opening. I spotted a soldier who appeared to be the captain in charge of the gate guards.
“You there.”
“M-me, my lord...?”
“Who else here is in charge?”
The captain glanced around at my words. There were plenty of other soldiers nearby, of course. But apparently realizing he was the only one in a position of command, he hurried straight over to me.
“You called, my lord!”
He'd been a little dazed for a moment, but his discipline was solid. Even this much showed how well Kai had trained the soldiers.
I pointed at the Gelu Drake's carcass on the ground.
“This. Store it properly so it doesn't spoil.”
Of course, keeping it in my Inventory would have been convenient. But I needed to leave that space free to store nutrients for Regeneration.
“... Pardon? Y-you mean... the Gelu Drake?”
“Yes. Is that a difficult order?”
“N-not at all!!”
The captain snapped to attention as though the very thought was absurd. I brushed the snow off my head, then asked another question.
“Oh, and has anything unusual happened in the county while I was away?”
“Unusual, my lord...?”
“Someone coming to visit the county, for instance. ... Anything like that?”
“In that case... Sir Kai did bring a man into the county earlier.”
My eyes lit up at his answer. Calling him “a man” meant the captain didn't know him either. In other words, he wasn't from the county, which meant there was a very good chance it was Ian.
“Who is he?”
“I'm not quite sure myself...”
“You don't even know his name?”
The captain gave a small nod. I glanced around at the soldiers, but none of them seemed to know either. I turned back to the captain.
“Where is he now?”
“He's currently at the lord's castle, meeting with our lady—no, Lady Seraphia.”
“Seraphia?”
“Yes, my lord.”
I needed to go there right away.
“Make sure you store the Gelu Drake's carcass so it doesn't spoil.”
“Have no fear!! I'll guard it with my life!!”
The captain stood rigidly at attention. Then, as I started walking away, his shout rang out.
“Form ranks!!!”
The soldiers snapped to attention in unison and lined up on either side of me. Every stance was rigid with discipline.
“To Lord Adrian, who risked his life fighting for the county—salute!!”
The way the soldiers looked at me was utterly different from two weeks ago.
“““Loyalty!!”””
I walked between the saluting soldiers and headed straight for the lord's castle.