73 Death flag appears abruptly.
Yes, head to the mid-tier.
Impulse is fortune, they say.
At this speed, I should be able to evade most enemies. I’ve survived worse injuries before—so what’s a little more now?
Fear of injury prevents action.
Healing is indulgence.
It’s clear now.
Normally, I should’ve leveled up more thoroughly, but… I feel it’s better to leave this place sooner.
It’s restless. Uneasy.
Therefore, I’ll vacate the fourth home today.
Farewell, fourth home.
You’ve been kind.
Stay well.
The next moment, the fourth home detonated.
I’m thrown by the shockwave.
Rolling down the slope, I come to rest midway.
My HP has decreased slightly.
If this is what it’s like outside, what would have happened inside the home?
I look at the one responsible for this devastation.
『Earth Dragon Kaguna LV26
HP: 4198/4198 (Green)
MP: 3339/3654 (Blue)
SP: 2798/2798 (Yellow)
: 2995/3112 (Red)
Status assessment failed』
It is a dragon.
Compared to the Earth Dragon Alba I saw before, it gives the impression of being stocky.
In turn, it appears powerfully built.
No wings.
It runs.
At full speed toward the summit.
Climbing the slope, it continues past the peak.
Yellow stamina gauge depletes, yet it does not stop.
Legs exceeding their limit scream in protest.
Painful.
But the legs do not stop.
Avoiding magma, it runs relentlessly across the narrow stretch of land.
Skill level has reached threshold. Skill 'SP Consumption Reduction LV2' upgraded to 'SP Consumption Reduction LV3'.
Skill level has reached threshold. Skill 'Fear Resistance LV6' upgraded to 'Fear Resistance LV7'.
Skill level has reached threshold. Skill 'Explosive Speed LV7' upgraded to 'Explosive Speed LV8'.
Skill level has reached threshold. Skill 'Endurance LV7' upgraded to 'Endurance LV8'.
The limit has been reached. Legs halt, trembling.
A strong urge to collapse remains, but willpower is summoned to turn back.
No sign of the Earth Dragon pursuing.
Thankfully.
Confirming no monsters nearby, then finally collapsing.
Ah.
Not possible.
No warning at all, Earth Dragon attack? Seriously not possible.
Thought I was dead.
No. If I had delayed even slightly, I would have died.
That was the source of the bad feeling.
But what was that?
Is there a rule that Earth Dragons must breathe fire upon spider webs?
What is that, terrifying.
Could it be that the lower levels were simply something I failed to notice—a nest of Earth Dragons?
What is that, terrifying.
No, no.
It’s impossible that such beings would be scattered about so casually.
Recalling the status values revealed by the successful鉴定.
All were four-digit numbers.
That’s impossible.
There’s no way I could win.
Moreover, despite having just unleashed a powerful attack capable of destroying my home, both MP and SP remained abundant.
Therefore, that attack was not a single discharge, but capable of repeated firing.
Impossible.
What kind of monster is that?
Earth Dragons are frightening.
Still, that Earth Dragon was clearly a different species from the one I had seen before—the Earth Dragon Alba.
Lower level than Earth Dragon Alba, but since Alba’s assessment remains incomplete, it is impossible to determine which is stronger.
Regardless, neither is an opponent I could defeat in combat.
Alba and Kaguna are both Earth Dragons—there must be some connection between them.
Perhaps they originated from the same species, diverging through evolutionary branching.
Ah, that’s plausible.
Dragons are symbolic of higher-tier races, so multiple evolutionary paths aren’t unexpected.
Or perhaps each Earth Dragon species exists as a single individual.
That’s possible too.
Few in number, limited to higher-tier races, yet each individual is extraordinarily powerful.
No—calling that level of power “extraordinarily strong” is not inaccurate.
If that’s the case, the likelihood of encountering one would be extremely low—ideal.
Wait—hold on.
In that scenario, I would have been attacked twice by Earth Dragons, despite the near-impossible odds of such an encounter.
Alternatively, am I not actually that unlucky?
S-s-s-s-stop it, that can't be right...
I've faced near-death situations plenty of times, but I still survived. My luck must be good.
Wait.
But don't people with good luck usually avoid such near-death encounters altogether?
Hmm?
...No.
I mustn't dwell on this anymore.
Really, it was by the thinnest margin.
Good thing I didn't get greedy and try to level up further.
My luck still isn't worthless.
I'll just go with that.
Someone say that.
[Proficiency has reached threshold. Skill 'Prediction LV8' upgraded to 'Prediction LV9'.]
I didn't even ask you!!
What kind of timing is that? Perfectly timed!
You're waiting for a punchline, aren't you!?
Heavenly Voice (temporary) — you might actually be a comedian!
Phew.
Got a little excited over something silly.
Yeah.
The worst possible start, but let’s begin the middle-tier campaign by gradual accumulation.
I want to get away from the Earth Dragon as soon as possible.
Updated the activity report with a Q&A section.