Level Eater

Tatsuro and Ai, with the help of Cardina, had their [Fear] dispelled. They quickly retreated to the spot where they had previously set up their tent to ensure the workshop behind them remained unharmed.

Seeing their escape, the Magic dragon swung its tail angrily and lashed out towards the space above.

"Ai!" (Tatsuro)

"I got it!" (Ai)

Ai immediately grabbed Tatsuro and kicked the ground once and the air twice, executing an emergency evasion along the straight line of the tail. Cardina followed suit. A blinding flash, in the shape of the tail and filled with visible energy, swept across the ground vertically for several tens of meters, cutting deep into the earth.

"Tatsuro, that was close!" (Ai)

"Yeah, I'll neutralize it with [Level Eater] right away. Get ready to fly!" (Tatsuro)

"Got it!" (Ai)

Whoosh!

Tatsuro and Ai, observing the scar-like line on the ground, hopped onto their boards and approached the Magic dragon to efficiently nullify its power.

"Raaaaaaaahhhhhhh!"

Whoosh!

They smoothly bypassed another [Fear] attack and closed the distance for the optimal use of [Level Eater]. However, as they got closer, the enemy's tactics multiplied.

The Magic Dragon switched to [Breath of Ice] and released it in their direction.

"It's cold!" (Tatsuro)

"Tatsuro!" (Ai)

"No worries, I'm fine." (Tatsuro)

Despite successfully evading the [Breath of Ice], Tatsuro's back was frozen by its aftermath. However, he had discreetly wrapped bear fur under his clothes, which only gave him a chilly sensation. Nevertheless, without it, he might have suffered frostbite. As Ai watched with concern, he quickly used a combination of fire and light magic to thaw it out and escape the danger.

However, realizing that they could not keep doing this every time, Tatsuro gave Cardina an order.

"Cardina! If it comes at us with that attack again, I need you to analyze it!" (Tatsuro)

"Pyu" (Cardina)

The opposite wavelength of ice magic was earth magic. Based on this theory, even if they could not completely neutralize it, they could at least dissipate the aftermath, and it worked. They endured the aftermath of the second [Breath of Ice] while analyzing it and successfully canceled out the aftermath of the third attack.

At this point, the Magic Dragon realized its attacks were ineffective. It summoned twelve enormous scythes made of ice around itself, spinning them towards Tatsuro and his companions.

"I've got this!" (Ai)

"Thank you!" (Tatsuro)

Ai retrieved a gem sword from her [Item Box] poured energy into it until it became vibrant and colorful, and then sliced through the scythes in mid-air. Each time a scythe was shattered, the Magic dragon attempted to replace it with a new one, but as Tatsuro's skill level with [Level Eater] decreased the more he used it, the number of scythes gradually dwindled from twelve to ten, then five, until it couldn't summon any more ice scythes.

"Raaaah!"

Unable to do what it could previously, the Magic dragon let out an uncomfortable cry and attempted to unleash another [Breath of Ice], which also failed.

Moreover, by that time, the extraction with [Level Eater] had made significant progress.

——————————–

Level: 86

Skill: [Total regeneration] [Bite Lv.10] [Dragon flight Lv.0]

[Dragon Tail Flash Lv.0], [Ice Breath Lv.0], [Ice Blade Lv.0]

[Fear Lv.0]

——————————–

(As expected, [Total Regeneration] without a level cannot be absorbed. Then, what should I do…?) Despite harboring some concerns, Tatsuro decided to temporarily leave that aside and continued to lower its level.

However, for some reason, the absorption process was proving difficult. During this time, Ai used her [Air Walk] to accelerate and dodge effortlessly, while Tatsuro performed acrobatic maneuvers to evade the tail and [Bite]. Ai used her gem sword to scrape off scales from the dragon's skin, but the effect of [Total Regeneration] quickly rewound them, restoring the dragon's skin.

After several more minutes, they finally completed the level extraction.

——————————–

Level: 1

Skill: [Total regeneration] [Bite Lv.5] [Dragon flight Lv.0]

[Dragon Tail Flash Lv.0], [Ice Breath Lv.0], [Ice Blade Lv.0]

[Fear Lv.0]

——————————–

(The fact that I cannot remove the most troublesome one is concerning… but I have no choice. This should put a stop to it.) Tatsuro thought.

"I've only left [Bite Lv. 5] I've taken everything else." (Tatsuro)

"Then, shall we begin the counterattack from here?" (Ai)

"Ah, sorry. I couldn't remove the [Total Regeneration] skill." (Tatsuro)

"Huh? You couldn't remove it?" (Ai)

"Yeah. It is hard to put into words, but it felt like something inherent to it, like its own body's function from birth…" (Tatsuro)

Mid-conversation, the slowed-down [Bite] attack came their way, but Tatsuro changed the trajectory with the wind and slipped past it beside its face. Seizing the opportunity, Ai attempted the feat of pulling out its eyes with the gem sword and storing it in her [Item Box].

"Raaaah!"

"It's true. It's back." (Ai)

Though it cried out in pain, both of them stared at the regenerated eyeballs with exasperation.

"Is it inside the [Item Box]?" (Tatsuro)

"I was wondering about that too… And yes, it's in there." (Ai)

"So, it's truly just regenerating as the skill name implies." (Tatsuro)

"Is there no limit to it?" (Ai)

To test that theory, the two of them clung to each other in mid-air and launched their attacks. Tatsuro started first. Thanks to his increased level, he could use other magic while flying with Ai's support.

Tatsuro extended his staff toward the Magic dragon and compressed the air with wind magic, creating multiple rows of it. Once that was ready, he placed a super-hardened, red-hot, human-sized clump of earth, created with a combination of earth, fire, and darkness magic, and then sequentially released the compressed air, propelling it like an air gun, striking the gigantic body.

The massive body was an easy target for this magic, as it struck all over, puncturing its tough scales, burning its insides, then cooling down, and attaching foreign objects to its insides.

"Raaaah!"

"No effect even if we embed them?" (Tatsuro)

"Let's try the next one!" (Ai)

"Yeah." (Tatsuro)

The embedded clump of earth was expelled as it swelled, and new flesh closed the hole. Ai then launched her attack.

"I'll show you my improved skills!" (Ai)

"Go for it!" (Tatsuro)

With these words, Ai raised her gem sword and infused it with even more energy, swinging the multi-colored blade toward the void. The blade emitted a burst of energy that struck the cheek of the Magic dragon, which persistently continued to [Bite]

"Raaaah!"

"Isn't the power a bit weak!?" (Tatsuro)

"I'm still practicing!" (Ai)

The Magic Dragon, having received only a minor shock, remained unscathed and grew even angrier. But Ai had finally succeeded in releasing her energy and wore a triumphant expression.

Since this attack was only hitting the creature with a small amount of energy that had been partially detached, it did not deliver a slashing blow; it was just a blunt strike. However, considering the high durability of the Magic dragon, even this level of power was capable of easily shattering the bones of a low-level ordinary person. Fueled by confidence, she rapidly swung her sword, striking the Magic dragon dozens of times.

"Raaaah!"

"We're just making it angrier…" (Tatsuro)

The dragon's anger had made its attacks predictable, which was not a disadvantage. However, if they continued this way, the battle would never end. It seemed the Magic dragon had similar thoughts, as it struggled in anger but also attempted to use different skills.

During this brief opportunity, Tatsuro continued to strike the heated clumps of earth, forcing the use of the [Total Regeneration] skill repeatedly.

At that moment, as the Magic dragon seemed about to use its futile [Breath of Ice] again, Tatsuro observed it using [Mana Perception] and noticed that magic was visibly gathering.

"Quick! Cardina! Activate [Anti-Magic] for [Breath of Ice]!"

"What? What's going on!?" (Ai)

"Pyu" (Cardina)

Ai, who did not understand what was happening, questioned Tatsuro in her sudden panic. However, Tatsuro could not afford to explain at the moment. He immediately activated [Anti-Magic] with Cardina, creating a double barrier.

"Raaaah!"

Whoosh!

"Why can it still attack!?" (Ai)

The power of the suddenly released [Breath of Ice] was significantly weakened. However, the first barrier was destroyed upon direct impact, and they managed to escape from the ice beam while being protected by Tatsuro's second barrier.

"You removed the skill earlier, right?" (Ai)

"Yeah. It should have been converted to my SP. But… why can it? Could it be that [Total Regeneration] can reverse it too?" (Tatsuro)

"That's so unfair!" (Ai)

While the Magic Dragon might want to complain about unfairness, it lacked the intelligence to do so. Instead, it unleashed the newly available [Breath of Ice] once more.

Tatsuro and the others found themselves in another predicament, so they took to the air to avoid the attack completely.

By the way, the reason the Magic dragon regained its skill had nothing to do with the [Total Regeneration] skill. It was because this creature belonged to a species known as dragons or dragonoids. Dragons, just by being dragons, received preferential treatment in every aspect. This included the speed at which they acquired skills. While not as fast as Ai's [Valkyrie] skill, the dragon regained the lost levels through its efforts.

However, unaware of this, Tatsuro and Ai continued to believe that even skill levels could be regenerated. As a result, the battle continued.

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