Chapter 1008
“It looks like we’ve just heard from Arev. It turns out the one we just killed was indeed ranked second.”
“Is that so? In that case… Can we get rid of this now?”
“Hmm, let’s wait a bit longer just in case the third-ranked one decides to come.”
“Phew, understood.”
Blaugrunn replied, sweat dripping profusely from him.
Even as he agreed, his arms stretched towards the air were trembling noticeably. Leeha glanced at Blaugrunn and chuckled lightly.
“But it is impressive, isn’t it? Blaugrunn-ssi seems to have gotten really strong. How can you create and control an illusion from this distance? Isn’t the normal summoning range for an illusion around 100 meters?”
“Please don’t compare me to humans. Besides, I’m not your typical adult class.”
Blaugrunn forced a smile. Although he was putting on a brave face, Leeha knew very well how arduous it was for him.
The thin threads of mana extended from the tips of his ten outstretched fingers.
Beyond the midpoint, they became so faint that it was difficult to discern, but to Leeha’s “Distorted Eyes,” they appeared quite clearly.
“Hehe, so should we continue for about two more hours?”
“What? That would be a bit… Even for me, it’s quite taxing. Honestly, controlling an illusion the size of an ‘Adult-class Black Dragon’ from a distance of 6 kilometers is nearly impossible, Ha Leeha.”
The Black Dragons they were facing were actually illusions created by Blaugrunn!
Since dragon’s territory detection capabilities were incredibly expansive, Leeha and Blaugrunn couldn’t get anywhere near it.
Moreover, if other dragons decided to investigate, Blaugrunn’s mana might be discovered. Entering the detection zone was a challenging feat under the current conditions.
However, what if they fought outside the detection range?
What if they waited outside the detection range and lured the target dragons to a point where sniping them would be easier?
This was one of the strategies Leeha had devised.
‘It was a close call, though. Even with the strength of Hwajung’s forces, breaking through the guardian defenses was tough as it was.’
Jachung had led Hwajung’s elite forces, but with merely thirty or so troops, it was tough to break through the guardians protecting the lair of the Ancient-class Black Dragon, Harveti.
That critical moment was even more nerve-racking than worrying about the bullet veering off course due to the wind during the extremely long-range sniper shot of 6 kilometers.
“Still, it was certainly entertaining.”
“Huh? What was?”
While Leeha shivered slightly as he recalled that moment, Blaugrunn spoke up, his face drenched in sweat yet sporting a faint smile.
“The battles within your ‘combat range’, Ha Leeha. To always fight in such locations with unseen enemies… I admire it.”
“Oh, come on, I’m practically immobilized right now because of this whole ‘Joint Stiffness’ thing.”
Leeha shook his head and modestly replied, though in reality, it was no easy feat.
For the Black Bass to possess enough energy to kill a dragon, it had to be effective at not just maximum range, but within effective range, requiring the mobilization of all skills to manage within the 6-kilometer limit.
“No, really. The time it took for Ha Leeha to pull the trigger and for the bullet to hit was 8.7 seconds. Even though I controlled Seoryu’s illusion―you shot considering the point where my fake breath would land; it’s truly…”
“Well… hehe. To be honest, I was aiming for it to hit before the breath reached. In a sense, it allowed Harveti to contact the 2nd rank one since the breath did hit, but… it was risky.”
The velocity at which a bullet is fired cannot be maintained continuously until it hits the target.
Typically, the distance did not greatly affect the speed difference, but the 6,000-meter barrier turned out to be higher than Leeha had anticipated.
“I never expected it to take 1.5 seconds longer. Actually, in reality, it would’ve taken even longer… Is the discrepancy due to Middle Earth’s gravity and physics being about that much? I’ll need to keep this in mind for future sniping.”
The expected arrival time was 7.2 seconds, while the actual arrival time was 8.7 seconds. With a projectile flying at over 800 meters per second, “one second” was a significant difference.
〈Achievement: Six Million Millimeter Man (A+)〉
Congratulations!
You successfully hit a target over 6,000 meters away! What did you think? From now on, you are not just calculating the Earth’s rotation in Middle Earth! If you do not also calculate energy loss due to physical laws, your projectile may only have the destructive power of a “finger flick” upon reaching its target distance. Did you think that would be enough? Oh dear! Then this is as far as you’ll go. Please do not underestimate the miracle of 6,000,000 mm. Remember, the wall of unofficial records created by Middle Earth’s legends awaits you.
Reward: Agility +18
Overall continent-wide reputation 200
You are the first to register the 〈Six Million Millimeter Man〉 achievement.
The first three registrants of this achievement will be recorded in the Hall of Fame with an additional 200% of the existing effect applied.
Effect: Agility +36
Overall continent-wide reputation 400
“It was just as the achievement description said. I need to perfectly calculate the flying force in addition to the trajectory affected by gravity. It’s not just about hitting the target. But is it really justified that a distance of 6 km is only A+ grade? Middle Earth is oddly strict toward snipers.”
Leeha grumbled half-jokingly as he reviewed his achievement.
Leeha himself had accomplished the longest-range sniping across both Middle Earth and reality.
Even Blaugrunn, who was well aware of Leeha’s sniping prowess, would have found the distance astonishing. He expressed “respect” because he had another reason beyond mere astonishment.
“More than anything, to think you’d kill the ancient dragon with just that ‘one shot’…”
As Leeha had resolved, it was not just about punching through the immense distance and hitting a target.
The number one in current combat power rankings among chromatic dragons, the oldest surviving Black Dragon, ancient-class dragon.
To have a destructive power strong enough to kill her in one strike was overwhelming.
―Haha, this dragon underestimates the Bearer too much. If I ever get the chance, I’d like to destroy his heart.―
“Don’t say nonsense, Black. Even though he has already experienced it once.”
“Excuse me? What did you say?”
“Nothing! Ahem, I didn’t say anything.”
Leeha hastily covered it up. Although Blaugrunn tilted his head, he couldn’t afford to pay much attention as he still had to focus on the vision of Seoryu.
As Leeha watched for Blaugrunn’s reaction, the bolt of Black Bass glinted once again.
―Haha, I say this out of concern, Bearer, but the power of destruction was no help. While he may have removed a barrier or two, remember that it was I who pierced through everything and chewed up the heart of the senile Black Dragon, its essence.―
“All right, all right.”
There was no need to find the location of the dragon’s heart.
There was no need to choose a brute force method to collide heart to heart for its destruction.
“To think it was just one shot. I knew it was strong, but—this is… it’s too much. The plan was to remove the barrier with 〈Single Destruction〉 skill and then attack.”
Had the overall ability reduction applied to the Ancient-class dragon? Was that why Harveti, whose stats and HP were reduced, died with just one bullet?
The important point was that Harveti had suffered no other damage, falling solely to one bullet from Leeha.
“There, physical defenses were all ignored… Dragon Scale had no defensive power in front of me. ‘Single Destruction’ didn’t just take out a few barriers. It was because there weren’t any barriers—
Black Bass was able to unleash its full potential.
The bullet from Black Bass, activated by the ‘Single Destruction’ skill, obliterated all the shields and barriers assembled by Harveti, ultimately even destroying her Dragon Heart.
Even if one wanted to think otherwise, it was impossible. The Middle Earth system provided ‘achievements’ that backed this up.
〈Achievement: One Shot,One Kill—Ancient Black Dragon (R-)〉
Congratulations!
You have vanquished an 『Ancient Dragon』 in a single hit!
Ancient-class dragons are precious and powerful beings that have dwelled in the timeline of Middle Earth for over 5,000 years. However, now they have fallen to being mere creatures.
You, who killed such a magnificent creature in one blow, are indeed a rarer human than the towering being that lived for 5,000 years!
Among the dragons, 『Black Dragons』 are known for their formidable magical abilities and tough scales, making them difficult opponents.
You, who dispatched one with a single attack! To you, who has achieved an unprecedented feat in Middle Earth’s history, Ancient Dragons now merely serve as sources of combat enjoyment. Whenever you confront dragons or massive creatures, your heart will beat faster.
Reward: 50 Stat Points
+30% damage dealt in battles against Black Dragons below the Ancient-class
+10% to all stats in combat against battlefield or creatures taller than 15m
You are the first registrant of the 〈One Shot,One Kill—Ancient Black Dragon〉 achievement.
The first three registrants will be recorded in the Hall of Fame, and an additional 200% of the existing effect will be applied.
Effect: 100 Stat Points
+60% damage dealt in battles against Ancient-class Black Dragons or below
+20% to all stats in combat against battlefield or creatures taller than 15m
“I think R- grade could be considered inadequate. After all, I took down an Ancient Dragon with a single shot… And now, it may be even easier. Just like when I defeated the 2nd rank Black Dragon.”
The term ‘Ancient-class or below’ implied inclusion of the Ancient-class.
When defeating Harveti, it was due to the synergy of ‘Single Destruction’ skill and Black Bass’s attributes. But what about the second Ancient Dragon?
Wasn’t it said to be more powerful than Flamme, the top-ranked red dragon?
The reason for being able to kill that dragon in one blow was precisely due to the achievement rewards obtained from slaying Harveti.
“An additional damage of a staggering 90% against all Black Dragons below the Ancient-class. On top of that, a stat bonus was applied…”
Currently, an attack with twelve times the agility stat.
With various buffs ‘inflating’ it, when striking from stealth, the instant single-target damage was approaching a staggering 160,000.
Recalculating with agility increased by 30%, that damage rose to 200,000. Adding the +90% additional damage to Black Dragons below the Ancient-class?
“Three… eighty thousand?”
Estimated single-attack damage was about 380,000.
Leeha felt a brief wave of dizziness.
He knew he was strong. He was confident in killing dragons.
But this was a strength that surpassed even his own expectations.
“This is exactly…”
The power of a 『Mythic』 Firearm.