I Gave Up Being Stronger

Julius tilted his head. ‘Where have I heard that voice before?’

‘I’ve been waiting for a chance to tear your throat out. I had just been too busy with child-rearing lately to get my revenge,’ Atanna said telepathically. Her anger had flared like lightning the moment she sensed the Fire Dragon’s soul.

Intense electrical discharges flashed within Cha Jin-Hyeok’s mental realm.

‘Don’t tell me… You’re that little Thunder Dragon?’ Julius telepathically replied.

Long ago, the Fire Dragon had deliberately attacked a young Thunder Dragon. He had hoped the Thunder Dragon would rise and kill him. However, Julius didn’t die then. Much time had passed since, and he had completely forgotten about the incident, but the Thunder Dragon pettily remembered everything.

‘What’s this? You two know each other?’ Jin-Hyeok said telepathically.

Jin-Hyeok sat cross-legged and meditated. Inside his microcosm, a ball of fire and a crackling form of lightning faced off in the dark space. The minds of Atanna the Thunder Dragon and Julius the Fire Dragon had met in Jin-Hyeok’s microcosm. Being mentally connected to both, Jin-Hyeok could sense Atanna’s immense hostility toward the Fire Dragon.

‘I want you two to tell me what happened between you guys.’

After hearing the whole story, Jin-Hyeok let out a deep sigh. He could understand both sides’ perspectives. ‘Still, Julius was in the wrong. He should have just asked the Thunder Dragons to kill him outright.’

Julius felt that he had been wronged a little. The Thunder Dragons who came to the Dragon’s Nest were weaker than expected. Since he had grown up in the Dragon’s Nest, Julius was stronger than the Dragons that had grown up in other regular Servers. So, he had to resort to somewhat extreme measures.

Atanna, the Thunder Dragon, was uncharacteristically agitated. ‘Even if it’s your order, Master, I cannot befriend that brutal Fire Dragon!’

‘This won’t do. Let’s meet face to face and talk,’ Jin-Hyeok said telepathically.

He felt they could make some progress if they spoke in person. So, he opened his eyes wide and summoned Atanna to the Dungeon.

***

Even high-ranking Players who had endured the Dragon’s Nest began to ponder retreating. Encyclopedia was the first to take a hit.

“I’ve been building up my resistance to fire attributes so much, but it’s not enough!” Encyclopedia yelled. He had given up everything else to focus solely on fire resistance. But when the Thunder Dragon appeared in the boss room, electrical energy filled the surroundings. Though the Thunder Dragon wasn’t attacking him directly, Encyclopedia found it difficult to withstand just the ambient electricity in the space. “Damn it!”

As Encyclopedia continued to struggle, Marshmallow picked him up and threw him. Marshmallow wasn’t in a good situation either. The Tank Players he had hired were protecting him, but it didn’t seem like they could hold out for long.

Muenne, who was in a relatively stable state, said, “Sir Marshmallow, don’t you think it’s time for you to leave?”

Muenne thought Marshmallow’s situation was precarious and that it would be better for him to leave. He wasn’t even an official Chul-Soo Lander, and since livestreaming and recording were impossible for him, there was no need for an Eltuber like him to stay here.

“Are you trying to chase me out?” Marshmallow asked.

“Chase you out? Sir Marshmallow, that’s going too far…” Muenne flinched. It did seem like she was trying to chase him out. “I was just worried about you.”

‘Am I being true to myself?’ Muenne thought. She seriously questioned herself. ‘If he had been an official Chul-Soo lander, would I have told him to leave? Perhaps not.’

It was only natural to want to see Chul-Soo for even a second longer. She wondered if she had harbored thoughts like ‘You’re not even a Chul-Soo Lander, so why don’t you just scram?’

“Sir Marshmallow?” Muenne looked at Marshmallow, but he had already fainted. The Tank Players helping him collapsed one after another.

“Lady Muenne, I need you to help me,” Kyle said. The emperor of the Swedeen Empire led his Sword Emperor Unit in evacuating the Players.

The energies of flame and lightning clashed, causing explosions here and there. Each of these explosions posed a significant danger to the Players.

After evacuating most of the Players, Kyle extended his hand. “Lady Muenne, it would be best for you to escape as well.”

“But I’m a Chul-Soo Lander.”

“Can’t you see the battle of wills between that Thunder Dragon and Fire Dragon? Even you won’t come out unscathed if you get caught in their fight.”

“Then isn’t Chul-Soo in danger as well?”

“...”

They looked at each other. Being top-tier rankers, both accurately assessed each other’s condition. In this space where fire and lightning were exploding, neither of them was going to survive. Then, as if on cue, they both turned to look at Jin-Hyeok.

“...”

“...”

They realized something.

“Chul-Soo is…”

“Completely unaffected.”

They knew that the gap between top-tier rankers was usually paper-thin, but this wasn’t the case for Chul-Soo.

“I feel like my common sense is crumbling down as we speak.”

“I’m glad it’s Chul-Soo making that happen, Your Imperial Majesty,” Muenne said.

Kyle retreated outside the Dungeon. The enormous flames and lightning were still clashing, threatening to devour each other.

‘Is it even possible to reconcile those two Dragons?’

***

Jin-Hyeok sighed. “Atanna, do you have no intention of reconciling with Julius?”

“Absolutely none! I swear!”

Jin-Hyeok let out another sigh. He had been considering using Taming (Physical) to commune with Atanna. However, after summoning her, he realized that would be difficult. ‘If I couldn’t feel what Atanna was feeling, I would’ve easily used my taming Skill, but…’

His deep mental bond with her made it even more apparent. He didn’t want to forcefully suppress those emotions welling up from the depths of Atanna’s heart.

“Julius, it seems you were in the wrong this time.”

“I barely even remember it. Asking me to apologize for something that happened thousands of years ago is crazy! Besides, look at that young Dragon’s eyes. Even if I felt like apologizing, that look makes me not want to,” Julius replied.

Julius felt that he had been wronged too. While he had made a minor mistake in the past, fundamentally, the young Thunder Dragon who came to the Dungeon uninvited and started throwing lightning around was the one who had erred first.

Among Dragons, entering another’s nest without permission was considered a grave offense.

Jin-Hyeok pondered it for a moment. ‘Should I tame Julius instead of Atanna? Maybe a bit of rough communication would make him apologize. But Julius is a Chul-Soo Lander.’

Jin-Hyeok suddenly felt like he understood people’s hearts much better now. Before his regression, he would have prioritized efficiency. He would have ignored others’ feelings and wielded Miri to tame the Dragons.

“I guess there’s no choice,” Jin-Hyeok said. He wondered whether it was right to give up on one of them if neither of them wanted to improve their relationship. ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have tamed Julius after all.’

Jin-Hyeok thought he should have just used Miri to break the settings and help the Fire Dragon leave the Dungeon. As that thought crossed his mind, Julius’s eyes filled with tears.

“Have I become useless?” Julius asked.

“No, it’s not that…” Jin-Hyeok said.

“Please, don’t abandon me, I beg you!” The brutal Fire Dragon Julius knelt before Atanna. “Atanna, child of the Thunder Dragon Clan, I sincerely apologize. I was wrong back then.”

“I don’t need your apology, you detestable fireball.”

“Please forgive me. I truly regret my actions. I will do anything you ask.” Julius pleaded with his hands clasped together.

However, Atanna did not waver. Thousands of years of resentment couldn’t be dissolved with a few words of apology.

Jin-Hyeok stroked his chin and made a decision after some contemplation.

“I suppose…” he said. He had realized it was strange to keep one and discard the other. The Thunder Dragon was the one he first communed with, while the Fire Dragon was an official Chul-Soo Lander. Given the situation, the right thing to do was to set them both free. If they couldn’t coexist, then both should be given their freedom.

“No!!!”

“I refuse!!!”

Both Dragons screamed simultaneously, their cries colliding to create a storm of intertwined flames and lightning that swept the surroundings. It looked as if the end of the world was approaching. However, the atmosphere quickly turned warm and friendly.

“I will accept your apology, you brutal Fire Dragon.” Atanna grasped Julius’s hand. “I haven’t fully forgiven you yet. But I will try to open my heart a little so we can coexist.”

Then Atanna glanced at Jin-Hyeok as if she were asking whether this was enough.

“You don’t need to force yourself. I understand what you’re feeling right now,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“I’m not forcing myself! I’m being genuine. Actually, I have always wanted to be friends with the Fire Dragon, Master! Our clan admires strong Dragons!” Atanna shouted again.

Not wanting to be outdone, Julius quickly added, “I understand your feelings, Thunder Dragon. I’m truly sorry. I know I can’t be forgiven all at once, but I will seek your forgiveness over time. Ah, didn’t you mention you have a young son?”

“I do…,” the Thunder Dragon replied.

“Are you the mother or the father?”

“The mother.”

“Then I will be the father. Let’s raise the child together.”

“...”

“Look around, Atanna. Have you ever seen a place so rich in mana? I grew up here and became strong enough to fight several adult Thunder Dragons unscathed. There is no better place for your child to grow up.”

Jin-Hyeok cleared his throat. No matter how different the common sense and standards between Dragons and humans could be, this forced marriage proposal(?) did not seem good for either of these two Dragons. So, he said, “Hey, there is no need to force yoursel—”

“Very well, Fire Dragon. I was just thinking I needed a stronger father figure for my child.”

“Welcome, my Dragon companion. I offer my nest to you and our child. I promise by Dragon’s oath to stay with you both.”

Atanna, who lived in the harsh Scanorbia Server, now had an excellent new home.

***

“That’ll do,” Jin-Hyeok said.

He was happy that his training had paid off. While observing this world’s energy, he felt as though he had become one with the world. In other words, he had subjugated this entire space under his domain. Finally, with a single hammer strike, he succeeded in shattering the settings surrounding Julius.

“Julius, do you want to go outside?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because this place is….” Julius hung his head low. Although it had been like a prison confining him, this place was also where he had met Chul-Soo. This was the place of their first encounter. It was permeated with Chul-Soo’s scent. He didn’t want to leave it. “I have a child now. I think I need to focus on parenting for a while.”

“I see.” Jin-Hyeok found Julius a bit admirable. “I will summon you about once a month.”

“Really?” Julis was overjoyed.

Everything had been beautifully resolved, and Jin-Hyeok finally left the Dragon’s Nest.

[Exploring the Worst Dungeon in History. Views: 6,859,302,944]

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[Our Precious Dragon Has Changed. Views: 6,647,382,710]

-Where are all those bastards who said Chul-Soo died? LOL!

-Chul-Soo seems perfectly fine to me.

-He even tamed the Fire Dragon!

Jin-Hyeok gradually revealed everything that had happened in the Dragon’s Nest. It was his biggest hit yet, with even the least-viewed video surpassing five billion views.

-Wait, so did Chul-Soo become stronger again?

-Didn’t he say that he didn’t want to get any stronger?

-Shh, let’s pretend we didn’t notice. T_T

Those who disliked Chul-Soo mocked him, saying things like, “LOL, he tried his best to not get stronger, but he can’t help himself! Haha!”

-Why is the worst Dungeon boss in the universe so nice? LOL

-How is this the most brutal Fire Dragon in history?

-His seduction technique is insane!

The Fire Dragon known as the most brutal in the universe turned out to be gentle and kind.

As the whole universe buzzed with news of Jin-Hyeok clearing the Dragon’s Nest, another surprising piece of news broke.

Rumor had it that a ferocious Thunder Dragon had suddenly gone berserk and was heading toward the Dragon’s Nest. According to witnesses, the Thunder Dragon was shouting, “I’ll fry that damn fire lizard once and for all!”

Other rumors said that it was a Dragon once contracted to the legendary panda Beastkin Tamer.

‘Oh? This could be great content for my Eltube channel!’ Jin-Hyeok thought.

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