Chapter 22

Ch.22 The Regression Of Calamity-Level Monster Tamer

As the Waves progressed, as higher-level Magic Beasts appeared, Geri and Freki continued their steep growth.

[Geri and Freki’s experience increases greatly.]

[Geri and Freki’s Level increases by 1.]

[Geri and Freki’s Level increases by 2.]

[Geri and Freki’s Level…]

Should I say the Wave’s Magic Beasts are nothing but good nutrients for those two?

Of course, the two are strong, but it also seems like the Magic Beasts can’t use their power to a strangely weak degree compared to their Level.

‘Wait. Now that I think about it…’

Blood Wolf, Steel Sheep.

Both Magic Beasts felt like I defeated them quite easily compared to their Level.

There’s definitely something about me.

Something that makes dealing with Magic Beasts easier.

“Wow— it burns well.”

Hwareureureuk―!

Right before my eyes, a massive tree burning brightly like dry kindling, ‘Lv.40 Giant Trent.’

[Cleared the 35th Wave!]

[Geri and Freki’s experience increases greatly.]

‘It’s true that in terms of compatibility, this guy is poison to Geri and Freki but…’

Geri froze the water the creature contained, and Freki burned the wooden trunk with Sparks of Muspelheim.

‘…Is it okay to clear it this easily?’

I thought the two would handle it on their own, but I didn’t know it would proceed this smoothly.

This is a guy even I struggled with in the past.

Because it was designed that way from the start.

Of course, back then I challenged it on a different ‘floor.’

‘That’s why I had many conquest options available…’

Because the higher you climb the Tower, the more types of Relics and Items you can encounter.

That’s why I could somehow defeat it.

Though it’s true my past self had exceptional sprouts, I wasn’t an overtly overpowered Player from the beginning.

‘It’s not unreasonable that Earth’s Players repeatedly get blocked by that tree Magic Beast.’

Rather, you could say they’re doing well at that level.

Perhaps that’s why, I even feel like I’m committing a crime against other Players.

‘But so what! Isn’t life originally unfair?’

Since I lived kindly before Regression, I must have met windfall packages like those, right?

“Keureurung―“

“Keuwang―!!“

Look at those magnificent appearances.

Already standing atop the Giant Trent that turned to ash, magnificently biting the necks of Magic Beasts that appeared in the next Wave.

“So reliable, so reliable!”

The strength of Geri and Freki doesn’t simply come from the Epic Items I fed them, ‘Sun’s Eye’ and ‘Moon’s Eye.’

Of course, that’s part of it but…

‘More than that, their true power comes from their combination.’

Mathematically, 1 plus 1 is 2, but when has life ever been so clear-cut?

When the two combined their attacks, it wasn’t simply twice as strong—depending on the situation, they seemed to become so strong the numerical value couldn’t be measured.

‘I did well to complete that Hidden Quest even if it was difficult then.’

If there’s something I did best after Regressing.

First was being able to save Mother, and second was meeting those two.

And Geri and Freki are proving that with results right before my eyes.

[Cleared the 37th Wave!]

[Geri and Freki’s experience increases greatly.]

[User’s experience increases slightly.]

[Cleared the 39th Wave!]

[Geri and Freki’s Level increases by 1.]

[User’s experience increases greatly.]

“Keu! This is it!”

Picking up the experience the two earn is a bonus.

It’s absolutely delicious.

Originally, I planned to grow alone until I Tamed ‘that guy,’ but I was lucky.

Except for serious cases like with the Followers, I could just stand with hands behind my back and watch like auto-hunting every time.

‘But this luck will only work until the 41st Wave.’

In the past, the stage that made me give up.

The 41st Wave.

Because baby ‘Drakes’ appear there.

‘Of course, they’re babies and the weakest Green species but…’

Still, Drakes are Drakes.

The dragon bloodline doesn’t run away.

Their insane durability alone easily exceeds B Rank danger level, so that says it all.

But does that mean I give up here?

‘No. That wouldn’t make it legendary, would it?’

I’m no longer my pre-Regression self.

If those two and I combine our strength, defeating baby Drakes definitely won’t be impossible.

[The 41st Wave arrives.]

[Two ‘Lv.41 Baby Drakes’ appear.]

Keurararara―!

The baby Drakes roared toward the sky upon appearing.

From the momentum that made skin tingle, I could feel the dignity of soul unique to dragons.

‘But they’re still babies, so their souls haven’t properly matured…’

At that level, even my current momentum can sufficiently counter it.

At that moment, the two baby Drakes began rushing toward us.

‘…They’re coming.’

Geri and Freki faced them without fear.

Coincidentally, it became a 2 versus 2 fight.

“Kaaak! Kaaaaaaak!!“

“Geureureurung―“

“Kaengkaengkaeng!“

I’ll say it again, but fights are about momentum.

Especially when power levels are similar.

I spewed momentum properly and seriously for the first time in a while.

“……”

“……”

Uuttuk―

Then the four Magic Beasts, mid-rush, suddenly stopped.

Their appearance looked like they froze in fear.

Is it an exaggeration to say they’re like prey unable to move after meeting a superior predator?

[Talent, ‘Beast’s □□(?)’ activates.]

[Remaining cooldown time 72:00:00]

And the System message that soon followed along with their appearance recalled old memories.

‘This is…’

After Regressing when I tried to tame Freki.

Back then, I released momentum to the maximum without knowing anything.

Then the guy immediately showed submission by lying belly down.

‘Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve properly released momentum since then?’

Until now, I didn’t have the opportunity because I hadn’t met proper Magic Beasts or needed to tame any.

But now that I’ve spread momentum, I understand.

‘The newly obtained Talent is definitely related to my momentum.’

To be precise, the soul that’s the foundation of emanating momentum.

Mental energy granted at birth, a concept referring to the totality of experience, memory, and emotion throughout life.

‘Simply put, the foundation forming the mental body…’

It seemed related to that.

Anyway, regarding this, I’ll need to investigate more over time.

“Geri, Freki!”

Tseupat―

At the call directed at them, the two who urgently came to their senses kicked off the ground and leaped.

Probably because they stayed in the ‘Nest,’ they’re more familiar with my energy.

“Kaeng―!“

“Keureurung!“

The two, without even being commanded, used ‘Elasticity — Giant’ to grow larger, then bit the necks of the still-frozen baby Drakes.

But befitting dragons, their hides were incredibly tough.

Udangdangdang―!

The four tangled and tumbled across the ground.

The earth shook and the atmosphere vibrated.

“Keurararara!!“

“Kaaaaaaak!!“

Finally coming to their senses, the two also began counterattacking.

The baby Drakes with flames in their mouths tried to bite their respective opponents.

But those movements were remarkably slower than initially.

‘…Don’t tell me that too?’

If power-wise Drakes are superior, then agility-wise Geri and Freki, who are wolf species, are superior.

But if those guys move that slowly, even if I commanded our kids not to dodge, they couldn’t help but dodge because of instinct.

Hwiririk― Kwaaaaaaa!!

As expected, Geri and Freki retreated as if performing acrobatics.

Then they each shot their breaths.

“Keuwaaaaawang!“

“……”

Freki’s flames only pained the baby Drake, but Geri’s frost breath completely froze the other one.

Jjeojeojeojjeok―

An appearance like a dinosaur in the Ice Age.

This made it 2 versus 1.

‘Once more!’

I concentrated the momentum I was spewing in all directions on the roaring guy.

Then the creature flinched and trembled again.

And Geri and Freki weren’t ones to miss that moment.

“Keureurung!“

“Keuwang―!“

Geri and Freki rushed at the lone remaining baby Drake.

Freki bit the neck, Geri bit the tail.

“Kyaaaak! Keurararara―!!“

Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!

The creature struggled wildly, but the two brothers never let go of prey once bitten.

Rather, they violently shook it, gradually turning the baby Drake’s hide into rags.

‘…They’re tearing that off?’

I seem to have underestimated the two’s potential abilities.

When they’re together, the ‘Wolf Pack Max(B)’ Skill is always ON. Though weaker than when forming a pack.

When Geri and Freki are together, 1 plus 1 not being 2 also contains that meaning.

“Kyaak, keuruk…”

Moreover, the Drake’s struggles were gradually subsiding.

Because Geri’s frost was gradually freezing its tail.

“You’re catching this without me?”

As its movements dulled, Freki positioned itself and began drawing up Magic Power.

Then its large fangs heated red as if glowing.

Chijijijijik―

“Kyaaaaaaaak―!!“

The baby Drake screamed in agony.

But Freki’s fangs melted the creature’s hide and finally dug into its flesh.

And finally…

“They caught it…”

Geri and Freki caused an incident.

They successfully hunted the baby Drake.

And once is difficult, but twice is easy.

Geri and Freki hunted the remaining one in the exact same way.

“Auuuuuuuu―!!“

“Auuu―! Auuuuuu!!“

The two raised their heads and howled filled with joy.

The baby Drake corpse at their feet turned to dust and disappeared with a seureureuk―.

[Cleared the 41st Wave!]

[Geri and Freki’s Level increases by 2.]

[User’s Level increases by 1.]

“Wow, they cleared it like this.”

I, who had steeled my mind, feel like a fool.

Originally, I thought clearing the 41st Wave and advancing a few more stages would be the best.

Actually, even that much could have been sufficiently called legendary.

However.

‘If it goes well, we might be able to go all the way?’

If that happens, Eye of the Storm?

No, I could become the storm itself.

“Hekhekhek…”

“Kaengkaeng!“

Before I knew it, the two settled in front of me.

Both with faces dyed red with blood, sitting before me wagging their tails with innocent expressions.

Where did that fierce appearance from just before go—they’re incredibly cute.

“Oh, these windfall packages!”

I hugged their faces tightly and rubbed cheeks.

At that moment, the long-awaited message appeared.

[As Geri and Freki’s Level becomes 30, their final latent ability, ‘Weaponization(S)’ is unlocked.]

“…Huh? Another good latent ability appeared?”

I looked back and forth between the System message and the guys’ expressions, smiling with joy.