The private Security members around the Factory let us in after thoroughly making sure we aren't drunk or high and know what we are doing.

It's surprisingly easy but I can't help but feel like they are betting on our survival.

I use [Sneaking] and load my rifle, stalking through the assembly lines with Loona behind me.

I'd prefer more infused bullets for my rifle but I've got to keep my Mana topped up for combat and waiting around is just going to make things worse for me. My Magitech Revolver is filled with the last of my premade Air Bullets.

Loona is stalking after me, pocketing whatever they find while keeping a look out for the Dragon.

We sneak along conveyor belts filled with half-finished bullets, small workbenches where rifles and more advanced machines would be built by high-level [Tinkerers], and huge incinerators.

Once we pass the incinerators, I use [Elemental Infusion: Earth] on the bullet in my chamber, using just enough Mana to stay one beneath my maximum and empowering it for the full duration.

I reach my limit as we approach the last storage hall where the Dragons must have made their lair and the bullet in my chamber began to thrum.

That is usually not a good sign but I have no time to focus on it as I can see a Dragon, twice as tall as me and many times longer, lying on a huge pile of ammunition and weapons with its tail stretching through half of the room.

With my prior encounter and some nudging from the System and [Dragon Butcherer] I recognise that he is another [Dragon of the North], a dozen years older than the sibling.

[Dragon of the North Swamp-lvl 26]

I apply [Inevitable] to him.

He's got the same muddy grey scales but with vines covering a big portion of his body, shielding him. His snout and tail are both longer in relation to the rest of his body than his siblings, probably a quirk when they mature.

It has 11 levels more in its primary class than I have in all my classes combined. I need more time to prepare but I also told the Sheriff that I'll take care of this now.

I pick my lucky coin and flip it.

The Dragon's eye snaps open as my lucky coin clatters to the floor.

Purely reflexively, I use [Reap Shot], pressing the trigger on my rifle.

Instead of a regular bullet that's too fast for me to see, a red, glowing needle shoots out and embeds itself in the dragon's neck, smoking.

He roars in pain as the bullet continues to burn, singing his scales and catching the vines on fire.

Loona opens fire and I stop paying much attention to them, their weapons didn't do any damage against the small sibling and the big brother will care even less.

The Dragon inhales deeply, chest expanding to comical degrees as a deep, feral voice sounds out from seemingly the entire room

"[Breath of the Swamp],[Dragon Odem]!"

I jump to the side, barely getting behind the pillar as a huge plume of green gas shoots out from the Dragon, corroding anything it hits.

Loona manages to dive behind a barrel and is clutching a grenade in their hand as the gas disperses rapidly.

I reload my rifle with a hand over the ejector, catching the casing without making too much noise.

"You dare intrude on a Dragon's lair?!" he bellows, steps thundering through the room as he walks away from me.

Loona glances over the side of their barrel but quickly ducks back, grabbing the pin of the grenade and casting some Skill.

"I did not think you humans were as foolish as to invoke a Dragon's wrath," he stomps down on the barrel next to Loona, crushing it to bits, "Alas this city has to burn because of you. A Shame."

He slowly lowers his head next to Loona and into my view, green gas billowing out from between his teeth.

Loona clutches their grenade and is continuously casting Skills on it but isn't finished.

I've got to buy some time.

I activate [Steady Aim] for only six seconds and shoot him in the cheek, blowing a small hole into it.

His head snaps to me, face twisted in an ugly snarl as he steps over Loona to reach me. He jumps forwards, leaving tracks in the ground from his sheer weight and strength, and claws at me.

I barely roll out of the way and retaliate with a round to the neck but that only serves to enrage him further.

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

His claw slams down, pinning me to the ground and restricting my breathing. My new Cloak must have caught some of the blow because I can hear metal groaning from all the force while I am fine. I am restrained but I can feel the hot metal of my rifle press into my side.

He leans down, blood dripping from his wounds and onto me. "Explain yourself, human."

"What exactly do you mean? I did a lot of stuff." I evade, trying to buy Loona more time to finish whatever they are doing and using [Elemental Infusion: Fire] and [Elemental Infusion: Air] in tandem on the same bullet. It's just a hunch but I've got the feeling I will only have one shot at him.

He squeezes tighter, cracking coming from beneath my cloak. "Your title and class. Explain."

"Why do-" I try to dodge his demands but he squeezes tighter, causing a sharp pain to go through my leg, "I got the title for killing your sibling! I've had the Class since my System was unlocked, I don't know what the deal with it is!"

Snarling, he leans down further and slowly inhales as he says "I am going to enjoy watching you writhe. [Dragon Odem]"

"Catch!" Loona yells.

The Dragon turns to face Loona and a small metal cylinder harmlessly bounces off his head before violently exploding into thousands of shards of shrapnel.

His [Dragon Odem] discharges into the air as he recoils from the thousands of metal shards puncturing his scales, lifting his claw from me to shield his face on instinct.

I raise my rifle with its barrel snapped at the end and against my better judgement, press the trigger.

[Reap Shot]

A blinding flash of light occurs as a bolt of lightning leaves my barrel, ripping right through the bent portion at the end and through the base of his head.

I drop my now scorching hot rifle and roll away as he roars in pain.

[Congratulations, -]

I dismiss the notification and start running away, hearing him rip through steel in his rage as he tries to catch me. He survived that.

More gunshots ring out, telling me that Loona is still alive but they don't seem to bother the Dragon.

A few seconds later, I can hear a loud crash and the gunshots stop.

I run through the production lines, sliding under conveyor belts and behind machines to dodge the blows from him but I just uselessly slam against the exit door.

It's locked.

I've got no hope of forcing it open with my low strength and my revolver can't punch through the lock enough to break it completely.

He towers over me, covered in blood and shrapnel, breathing raggedly.

He raises his hand and I drop my revolver.

I've survived way longer than expected.

At least Idanu won't follow me any longer and maybe he will be lost, unable to hurt more people.

My breathing quickens as I realise that this is my end. Not Idanu catching up, but my incompetence killed me. My own ego.

I should have done recon.

I should have taken another bounty.

I should have talked to the sheriff and gotten support.

[Congratulations, you've defeated a Dragon of the North Swamp-lvl 27]

The Dragon falls to the ground, succumbing to his countless wounds.

It takes me a few seconds to realise what just happened and I reread the message twice to make sure he isn't pretending to be dead.

I poke his cheek but he isn't moving anymore.

"Loona!" I yell out, shakily standing back up. "Loona!"

I stagger back to where I lost sight of Loona while sorting through my notifications with a demented grin.

[Congratulations, a new sub-skill has been created: Twin Infusion]

[Twin Infusion (Elemental Infusion): You can now infuse items and gems with two elements at once, creating advanced Elements.]

That must have been the Lightning Shot and the weird burning needle. It must have been fire and earth combined for lava.

[Bounty: Dragon completed. Additional experience rewarded for increased difficulty. ]

[Congratulations, Death has reached level 8. Stats have been awarded.]

[Congratulations, Death has reached level 9. Stats have been awarded.]

No Skill for reaching level 9? I always gained a skill every two levels or does the sub-skill mess with it?

No, the sub-skill is from another class.

[Congratulations, Marksman has reached level 5. Stats have been awarded.]

[You've gained Class Skill: Marksman persistence]

[Marksman Persistence: The longer you trail a target with your- şĉœp]

[Error.]

[Marksman Persistence and Inevitable have merged, creating Unique Skill: Deaths Mark]

[Deaths Mark: Death sometimes comes abruptly but the majority are slow, painful and terrifying deaths. Mark a target and know its location, the longer they are marked, the more dread they will feel and your damage against them is increased. 15 Mana to apply, -10 MR for every target Marked.]

What the fuck?!

[Congratulations, Marksman has reached level 6. Stats have been awarded.]

[Congratulations, Magitech Tinkerer has reached level 4. Stats have been awarded.]

I've never seen the System bug out like that.

The lair of the Dragon looks like a wreck, shrapnel is covering everything and there is even a barrel of oil that is merrily burning away.

I can't see Loona anywhere but I can hear their voice as I stagger into the room. "Grant," they weakly rasp from behind a pile of rubble.

"It's okay, we won. I'll get you out of here." I reassure them as I round the pile, finally seeing them.

It seems Like Loona got thrown against the wall, left an indent, and fell into a pile of debris. They are in pretty bad shape but will survive.

I grab them from beneath the rubble and carry them out, grabbing my coin on the way before giving the guards strict orders to help Loona and send them to a [Healer].

Seeing Loona get taken care of, I turn away and start walking away from Buzzards Dale.

I am way overdo for some levels so I need to get materials and I know just where to get them.