Became a Dragon kidnapped by Humans

The Fourth Laboratory was a living hell.

Dozens of hostile unknown phenomena had escaped containment.

However, there were absolutely no casualties caused by them.

It was only natural.

The monsters that would usually tear people apart with glee were now flattened in a corner of the room, suppressed by the oppressive aura emanating from it, doing nothing but breathing.

To begin with,

it wasn’t “dozens,” but rather “hundreds.”

There was a reason this place was called a living hell. It was obvious where most of those numerous unknown phenomena had disappeared to.

IF-190, the entity known as ‘Jangsan Cat,’ a 4-meter-sized white jumping spider, did not step outside even after realizing its confining walls were gone.

It didn’t release its tranquilizing hairs,

nor did it rub its front legs together to mimic the sounds of other creatures.

It was only natural.

No creature hunts while being hunted itself.

IF-190 merely lay low, pressing itself against the floor.

Then, with an enormous roar,

— BOOOOM!

Half of the containment room was cleaved away.

Gradually, it revealed itself.

Teeth like sawblades, red scales, and a forked tongue emerged.

And IF-190 faced vertical pupils the size of its own body.

“Bug, buggg… What is it that you fear so muchhh…”

— KEEERRRK.

IF-190 couldn’t even attempt to flee, only shrinking back in terror.

The colossal reptile sneered.

With a fiery breath inside its mouth, it mimicked IF-190’s cries perfectly, laughing as if amused.

“KEEERK, KEEERRRK. Hahahaha… You are powerless, so powerlessee… Rejoice in dying to become part of my flesh and blood…”

— CHOMP.

A bus-sized tongue stretched out between rows of teeth, slowly coiling around IF-190 and crushing it.

Yellow bodily fluids splattered onto the half-destroyed ceiling and walls.

Soon after, IF-190 disappeared into the gargantuan maw capable of swallowing entire buildings.

— SLURP, SLURP.

A sulfurous black breath exhaled once, and that was all.

That arachnid, which had ruled over Mount Jangsan for decades and devoured hundreds of humans, met its end as nothing more than a single bite.

Amidst a barrage of firepower that seemed disproportionate for killing just one creature,

it continued moving its head ceaselessly, devouring anything alive in sight.

“Disgusting taste indeed…”

IF-684.

Within the Fourth Laboratory, it ascended vertically, rampaging upward. This entity was a dragon straight out of mythology.

Mobile strike team members moved in unison.

“Level 2 ‘Tonton-i’, decompression initiated. Countdown started.”

“Take cover! Take cover!”

A dark spear flew like a rocket and struck the scale-covered body.

A flash seemed to ripple, then

— KAABOOM!!

An explosion swept through, creating a mushroom cloud the size of a building.

A chilling roar echoed.

“KYAAAAAA!!”

With a splash of blood,

IF-684 flashed its vertical pupils as it spat blood from its broken scales.

In response, the ‘Siegfried’ operatives prepared for its impending rage and counterattack.

“Foolishnesssss…”

Contrary to their preparation,

IF-684 turned its gaze away from those who fired ‘Tonton-i’ and looked elsewhere.

A movement distinctly different from previous containment breaches.

“…What is it?”

Regardless of their confusion,

IF-684 extended its tongue through the collapsed corridors, swallowing dozens of people at once without caring about the small wound.

Those suppressed by the oppressive aura couldn’t resist, dragged into the throat where flames awaited, incinerated instantly.

Its bomber-sized head licked its lips.

“Warmth indeed. Truly, the tastier ones are… you land-dwelling vermin.”

Three scales were shattered by ‘Tonton-i.’

During the same time, five new scales grew back.

An unfair exchange ratio.

Members of the ‘Siegfried’ unit expressed their despair.

“We’re mistaken. The thing’s focusing solely on regeneration; no matter how much we reduce its mass, it regenerates too quickly.”

“At this point, it should’ve flipped its eyes and sprayed breath in every direction. Did anyone advise it could escape by ignoring stamina waste and just breaking through?”

“If its wings regenerate completely…”

He stopped mid-sentence, but everyone there understood his implication.

Even crawling on four limbs, it was already this terrifying.

It was obvious what would happen once it took flight.

Long-serving members of the ‘Siegfried’ unit knew this meant the imminent destruction of the laboratory and surrounding areas.

IF-684, whose wing frames were sturdy and membranes nearly healed, suddenly looked upward.

“You won’t run, will youuu…? Hehehe. Good, gooood… Face meeee…”

Immediately after,

a sound that any ‘Siegfried’ member would associate with PTSD reverberated.

— SCREECH.

Everyone could see it.

Nine rings encircling IF-684’s heart glowing and spinning simultaneously.

Everyone could feel it.

The heat radiating from IF-684’s entire body concentrating toward its mouth.

The dragon tilted its jaw upward.

“BREATHHH…!”

“Get out of the way!! To the corners!!”

The light flowing from the gaps between its scales converged into its mouth in an instant.

As everyone hurled their bodies backward,

———!

A deafening roar erupted along with a blinding flash.

Dozens of research lab floors, designed to be robust, tore apart like paper.

This was beyond an explosion—it emitted a sound closer to a shockwave.

They all understood.

This was IF-684’s true power and identity.

Its Breath.

“Grhrhrhr…”

The light faded.

Through the gaping hole cutting through dozens of floors, sunlight poured in.

The sun shone brightly.

“…Monster brat. You’ve pierced through the roof of the laboratory.”

One member of the ‘Siegfried’ unit muttered blankly.

Complete failure of initial suppression.

At the center of the now desolate laboratory, the dragon hovered with fully unfurled wings.

At this point, there was nothing left for them to do.

Now was the time to retreat, reorganize, and return later.

Just as he was about to rise, he hesitated.

His legs trembled, his stomach churned, and his feet felt glued to the ground, unable to move.

The other operatives conversing beside him were all in the same state.

“Here you areeee…”

Fear Aura.

He locked eyes with the massive vertical pupils.

Realizing this sudden end,

he accepted his death.

“Unmoved by my gaze, are youuu…? Hehehee. Fitting for a cunning water snake like youu….”

But despite waiting, there was no sign of death.

IF-684 seemed to pay him no mind.

Perplexed, he noticed something small and pure white fluttering below its vision.

IF-684 was staring only at that pure white object.

He immediately recognized what it was.

There was only one humanoid anomaly in this laboratory capable of overwhelming even IF-684.

Object Class: Top Tier.

Threat Level: Friendly.

IF-017.

“The Dragon.”

Appearing from somewhere unknown,

the small figure of IF-017, resembling a child, stepped forward and blocked IF-684’s path.

With a snap,

“All those who served your kind, I burned them all to ashes… Those who worshipped your kind, I tore them apart and made them my flesh… How does it feel? Are you upset? Angryyyy…?”

IF-684 laughed joyfully, urging a response from the dragon.

IF-017, the Dragon, declared thus:

“ROAR.”

And that was it.

—–

?

Since last time, I’ve been thinking…

For some reason, this mountainous guy keeps reminding me of Gwangcheol-i the snake.

It became clearer as they got closer.

Is my perception wrong?

I compared this guy with Gwangcheol-i the snake.

Standing proudly and crawling toward me.

And then…

‘Fast! Excessive! Progenitor! Help!’

Gwangcheol-i the snake, nestled in my arms, kept sending telepathic messages incessantly while wailing.

What?

Nothing alike at all.

What’s fast about anything? If you’d just fallen, you’d have gotten down faster than this. I’m slowing down my descent by spreading my wings.

Apparently, this height must feel like a terrifying cliff to Gwangcheol-i.

For this mountainous guy, it would be like jumping down two stories easily.

Still, they don’t resemble each other at all.

So why do they give off a similar vibe?

Hmm.

Though extremely noisy, it feels like I might understand if I get closer…

While I was pondering this,

“Won’t you run awayyyyy…? Hehehe. Good, goodddd… Face meeee…”

Hey?

What was that? I thought I saw something…

Fire spewed from its mouth, but that was irrelevant.

As long as I protect Gwangcheol-i the snake from burning, that’s enough.

Rather, look at that, over there.

Inside its wide-open mouth. Beyond its throat, something shining.

I think I know what it is.

The sparkling rings circling its heart!

I just realized because it’s so damaged, but it’s definitely it.

Ah.

Now I’m starting to understand.

What kind of entity this is, why it provoked me for no reason.

But why does it feel similar to Gwangcheol-i the snake?

Still unclear.

“ROAR.”

BOOM.

I landed softly on the ground.

Finally, I came face-to-face with it.

This chaotic guy who’s been making noise since the day I opened my eyes.

“Here you arerrr…”

I’m standing on the ground, not flying.

It was flapping its wings wildly while flying above me.

Despite being able to match eye level easily, it arrogantly looked down from high above.

Whatever nonsense came out of its mouth went unheard.

I always knew it was loud, but hearing it up close is truly excessive.

I’m tired.

It showed no signs of lowering its volume.

My irritation grew.

“SCREECH.”

Wouldn’t it be nice if those wings flapped quietly? Every time they move, they make that WHOOSH, WHOOSH sound.

It’s messing up my bangs.

Enough of everything else.

First, I need to quiet it down.

I sent a telepathic message. It surely understands telepathy.

Hey.

Gwangcheol-i.

Attention.

“…Don’t call me by such a demeaning nameeee!!!”

It won’t lower its volume till the end…

Fine.

Since the beads are shattered, you’re Gwangcheol-i now.

You’ll soon be shattered too,

until you’re silent.

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