Chapter 28: Holy Fire Dragon (1)
While the Lizardmen were busy moving all the drake eggs…
“What’s this?”
Rakuowak, who had been carrying the eggs, suddenly stopped and started heading somewhere, as if he had coincidentally discovered something.
‘As expected… he’s going.’
To even enter or find the dungeon Rakuowak was headed to, someone with the blood of a Lizardman Lord needed to approach it.
In other words, no matter how powerful Jin-hyuk was, even with the power of the Imoogi, he wouldn’t be able to discover this dungeon on his own.
So Jin-hyuk silently slipped through the bustling Lizardmen, following Rakuowak.
“Could this be… a refuge that the drakes made for themselves?”
“It seems so. The temperature here is quite low.”
Pretending not to know anything, Jin-hyuk casually approached and inspected the entrance.
“Yeah. Maybe the drakes ended up here because of this cool temperature.”
Although Rakuowak hadn’t realized it yet, the interior and surroundings of this dungeon were maintained at a consistent temperature.
That meant… on the scorching 3rd Floor, the so-called <Lava Ocean>, this was the coolest place available.
That’s why the six drakes had instinctively gathered here.
“There’s something…”
A faint white glow was leaking from the ruins, radiating a sacred energy.
Like savoring a delicious meal, Rakuowak carefully examined the entrance, piece by piece.
Seeing him in this trance-like state, Jin-hyuk grabbed his shoulder.
“General.”
“S-Sshik?!”
Even from a light touch, Rakuowak jumped and looked around cautiously.
But Jin-hyuk had a good reason for interrupting.
“Shouldn’t you be supporting the attack unit now?”
By this time, the Lizardman strike force had already secured all the eggs and was on the move.
Except for the egg carriers, they had to quickly join the main attack unit to deal with the remaining male drakes.
“You’re right. This isn’t the time for this.”
Snapping out of it, Rakuowak stood up.
“Yeah. Our kin come first over this lousy dungeon. Let’s go help them.”
“Yes, sir.”
Back at the Palace of <Kuik>.
The Audience Hall.
“Well done! I never expected such a great performance from you!”
Was it because of the unexpected achievements and gains?
Lord Kukokawik couldn’t hide his joy as he began distributing rewards for merits.
Jin-hyuk and General Rakuowak.
Together, they had managed to slay or drive off six drakes.
More importantly, they secured dozens of drake eggs.
With this many eggs, they could domesticate or even breed drakes—a massive advantage.
So Lord Kukokawik personally praised their contributions.
Before everyone’s eyes, he bestowed treasures and rewards.
“General Rakuowak! State your desired reward!”
Rakuowak only asked for points for his soldiers and knights, plus a few pieces of equipment and weapons.
‘Just like before regression…’
Even when he was a disciple of the <Pure Radiance>, he had always put his subordinates first.
A true leader.
If only he hadn’t betrayed everyone in the Tower later on, he really could’ve been a decent guy.
“Understood!”
Rakuowak received his requested rewards.
Now it was Jin-hyuk’s turn.
“General Jin-hyuk! What reward do you seek?”
“I…”
After a brief pause, Jin-hyuk spoke.
“Please give me points.”
To copy the next Constellation’s power via the <Stellar Archive>, the more points, the better.
Jin-hyuk’s decision had been made from the start.
“Sshik! Very well! I’ll grant you points from the national treasury!”
[Player <Kukokawik> has paid 100,000 points.]
▶ Current Points Owned: 696,882
Perhaps it was because he ruled an entire world and race?
Kukokawik generously gave him a whopping 100,000 points.
“Continue to serve our <Kuik> loyally!”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
Once the awards ceremony ended, Lizardmen began gathering around Jin-hyuk.
“Congratulations, General!”
“Such achievements right after promotion… amazing!”
Just from their eyes, Jin-hyuk could tell.
They were now genuinely recognizing him as their general.
‘Unlike before, these guys are sincere now.’
In truth, he had planned this.
Even though he’d defeated Rakuowak and been appointed by the Lord, it hadn’t been enough to fully win their hearts.
What he needed was real, tangible contribution.
Having the power of the Imoogi didn’t change the fact that, outwardly, he still looked more human than Lizardman.
But now things were different.
Jin-hyuk had actively used his Imoogi power to restrict the drakes’ movements.
He proved he could make a real difference.
Not just that…
Even when doing nothing would’ve been enough, he took the initiative to attack and slay the drakes.
Using his sword, the <Scale Breaker>, he shattered and ripped off their scales, creating openings for the other Lizardmen to exploit.
That’s right.
Even though he had just cleared the 3rd floor as a novice, Jin-hyuk had proven his value through superior tactics and power.
So now, all the Lizardmen of <Kuik> acknowledged him.
He wasn’t just some lucky novice who landed a general’s position.
Jin-hyuk.
He had the strength, personality, and bravery befitting a real general.
“Sshik.”
“Even the Lord recognized him.”
“He’s a true general.”
In a race that worshipped strength, the Lizardmen didn’t even consider the weak as equals.
But by that same principle, those with deserving strength, qualifications, and ability were highly respected.
Right now, Jin-hyuk was more necessary than anyone in the fight against the drakes, the Lizardmen’s natural predators.
That’s why they genuinely followed him now.
“Is he really… just a novice?”
“A new 3rd-floor player doing all this?”
“Is the Tower bugged or something?”
“Would there be a bug like this?”
“Even the Heavenly Demon’s Daughter and the Holy King couldn’t do this much…”
“He’s outperformed both of them! Didn’t you check the <Archive>?”
“Guess the rankings weren’t just inflated.”
“Doesn’t seem like he’s cheating either.”
At least the players who’d joined as mercenaries now knew for sure.
Jin-hyuk’s skills weren’t fake.
He was a thoroughly experienced and skilled player.
‘Good.’
Pretending to be indifferent, Jin-hyuk observed their reactions.
A moderately heroic, righteous image.
And now, the reputation of having the greatest combat potential among all players.
His image was solidified.
‘Now I can start asking for more.’
When Jin-hyuk glanced at Rakuowak beside him—
Lord Kukokawik shouted loudly.
“A new star has risen in <Kuik>! And with the drake eggs secured, let’s hold a grand festival!”
“We obey!”
“We obey!”
Later, at the drinking party…
Sip.
“Getting drunk!”
“Hey, Elf! Drink! Scared?”
“Haha. We elves only drink fruit-based wine…”
“Scared, huh? Pointy ears.”
“…Fine. Pour me a glass.”
The Lizardmen’s afterparty consisted entirely of alcohol… and more alcohol.
The most common drink?
The toxic, magma-infused hard liquor called ‘Fire Lung,’ only found in the <Lava Ocean>.
Jin-hyuk took a sip of Fire Lung and smirked bitterly.
‘This wasn’t how it tasted before regression…’
Originally, drinking Fire Lung felt like your stomach was on fire.
Once that pain settled, a sweet aftertaste followed.
Normally, by the time you tasted the sweetness, you’d already be dizzy from intoxication.
But for Jin-hyuk now?
He felt neither drunk nor the sweetness.
Thanks to the <Indomitability> trait, all status effects—including intoxication—were blocked.
“Drink up, General!”
“Bottoms up, sir!”
Surrounded by many Lizardmen, Jin-hyuk played along while thinking of the past.
‘Where was I around this time before regression?’
Thinking carefully—
‘Yeah… I was still barely taking the 2nd-floor trial.’
Even as a top-ranked player with the title of Rank 1 and a vessel of a Constellation, Jin-hyuk couldn’t help but feel sentimental in moments like this.
‘I hope everyone’s doing okay.’
Cheon Hyang-woon, who would later become the Heavenly Demon, was probably breaking records climbing the Tower.
Dang Sowol was likely receiving strict training under Majuron.
Russell would be in seclusion, training hard.
Jin-hyuk wanted to see them or help them immediately… but he was still too weak for that.
‘For now, I’ll do what I can here.’
Muttering to himself, Jin-hyuk grabbed his drink and headed somewhere.
“General.”
“General Jin-hyuk.”
There stood Rakuowak, scales shimmering as he chugged Fire Lung.
“Thanks to you, we secured the drake eggs.”
Even his tone had changed—no longer condescending, but respectful.
Proof that he valued Jin-hyuk’s contribution.
“Not at all. It was your trust in me that made it possible.”
“They say true heroes are humble… guess that’s not a lie after all.”
Together, they drank one cup after another.
But there was one key difference.
Jin-hyuk didn’t get drunk no matter how much he drank.
Meanwhile, Rakuowak was clearly getting more and more intoxicated.
“Did you know, General…?”
With the alcohol taking effect, Rakuowak’s guard dropped.
“I was bullied a lot as a kid.”
Even so, he didn’t share any truly deep stories.
Just how his childhood had been tough.
How he rose to the position of General by overcoming hardship.
How he survived when other siblings, who had staged rebellions, were purged.
How he’d sworn never to rebel.
Surface-level stories that all the Lizardmen already knew.
It sounded like drunken rambling.
But Jin-hyuk understood.
For Rakuowak to even share this much, it meant he was now accepting Jin-hyuk as one of his own.
Not as a human.
Not as a pseudo-immortal Imoogi.
But as a fellow Lizardman.
‘His thirst for power… that’s at the root of all this.’
Before regression, Rakuowak would soon lead his elite knights into the dungeon near the drake’s nest.
Inside, he’d discover a sacred relic and awaken, surpassing the limits of the Lizardman race.
The other Lizardmen would then pledge loyalty to him and encourage him toward rebellion.
They were a race that worshipped strength.
Naturally, they believed only the strongest should be Lord—not some strategist.
‘Even if he was pushed… breaking his vow and rebelling was still Rakuowak’s own decision.’
Rakuowak hadn’t been a traitor from the start.
‘So… what I need to do is…’
Jin-hyuk grinned slyly.
‘Seize the sacred relic from the dungeon first.’
For that, Rakuowak’s cooperation was essential.
“General.”
“Yes, General Jin-hyuk?”
“What exactly did you discover earlier at the nest?”
“Hmm…”
After a brief hesitation, Rakuowak answered casually.
Since they’d grown closer and he didn’t yet know the dungeon’s true value, there was no reason to hide it.
“I found… something that seems like a dungeon.”
“…”
“I felt this… instinctual pull toward it.”
“Actually… I felt it too.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Jin-hyuk’s eyes sparkled.
“You know I can use the Imoogi’s power… Maybe that’s why I was drawn to it naturally.”
“Hmm…”
“What do you say? How about we gather troops and explore it together later?”
“Good idea. With you along, even if a drake is hiding inside, we should be able to handle it.”
Even without Jin-hyuk prompting, Rakuowak’s curiosity would’ve eventually driven him into that dungeon.
But now, Jin-hyuk had planted the seed to ensure he’d get taken along.
‘The bait is set.’
Now all that remained was to enter the dungeon… and secure the sacred relic.
