Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant-Chapter 311

Su-ho pulled out the Gi Seung-hwan and then checked the details of the [Weaken] skill.

[Weaken]

Crusader-exclusive skill.

Uses 65% of total mana to reduce the target’s overall stats by 25%.

The [Weaken] skill he had obtained at level 180, initially rated F-grade, had naturally ranked up to E-grade with level progression.

Thanks to that, he gained the option of reducing the enemy's stats by 25%, but even so, it still consumed 65% of his mana.

“Judging by the effect alone, it’s not inefficient, but it’s still burdensome to use.”

He figured that this would remain the case even at higher levels, so he never felt the need to invest Gi Seung-hwan into it.

Su-ho’s standard for using Gi Seung-hwan was not about preparing for an uncertain future—it was about upgrading the skill most urgently needed in the moment.

That’s why he hadn’t upgraded [Weaken].

Although [Weaken] had a destructive effect, it only applied to a single target, so outside of boss fights, its utility was limited.

But the situation had changed.

“If his physical stats are that high even after [Weaken], then the only answer is to weaken him even more.”

Su-ho didn’t have much time.

He had pushed himself to reach Ieodo, and now he had to clean this up quickly and move on to Seoul.

The Unification Purification Operation was just around the corner.

Su-ho began using the Gi Seung-hwan.

[You have consumed Gi Seung-hwan.]

[You are absorbing the skill experience contained within Gi Seung-hwan.]

[Please select the skill you wish to enhance.]

A list of skills appeared before his eyes.

Naturally, he selected [Weaken].

[Skill experience from Gi Seung-hwan is being absorbed into [Weaken].]

[Absorption complete.]

[Skill experience from Gi Seung-hwan is being absorbed into [Weaken].]

[Absorption complete.]

[Skill experience from Gi Seung-hwan is being absorbed into [Weaken].]

[Absorption complete.]

...

Su-ho planned to use all of his remaining Gi Seung-hwan on [Weaken].

Judging by the situation, no other skill seemed worth investing in right now.

And just as he was about to run out—

[Your understanding of [Weaken] has become extremely high.]

[The system is reassessing the talent you possess.]

[Congratulations! The skill grade of [Weaken] has been adjusted to S-grade.]

[The information of [Weaken] has changed and an additional effect has been generated.]

Finally, [Weaken] had been promoted to S-grade.

Su-ho immediately checked the new details.

[Weaken]

Crusader-exclusive skill.

Uses 30% of total mana to reduce the target’s overall stats by 50%.

Can be used twice.

[Weaken] had become S-grade.

Su-ho’s eyes widened as he read the update.

It wasn’t just about the improved efficiency—there was a brand new effect.

“If I can use it twice, that’s a game changer.”

Thanks to the new option, the mana burden was essentially halved.

Once done with the Gi Seung-hwan work, Su-ho finished healing his injuries and replenished his mana through Movement Energy Technique before finally standing up.

It was time to hunt a dragon—seriously.

*

FLAP!

Whoooosh!

The Reincarnated Dragon was still flying high above.

Its yellow glowing eyes remained fixed on the sea.

As far as it knew, the target had not yet emerged from the water.

There was no way it could let this prey escape.

It was a dragon, after all.

It had an extraordinary sense that would never let a lowly human slip through its grasp.

That’s when—

“Run out of cash? What the hell are you staring at?” 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

– Grurung?

The voice came from right in front of its face.

Hallucination?

No.

That couldn’t be.

[Heart Slash is activated.]

[Enhancement is applied.]

[The power of Heart Slash is greatly amplified.]

Shhk!

– GRAGGHHHH!!

A massive burst of pain exploded from its open jaws.

[The Incomplete Reincarnated Dragon uses Dragon Fear.]

[Dragon Blood is activated.]

[Due to the Dragon Mind effect of Dragon Blood, Fear has no effect.]

The Reincarnated Dragon let out a howl of agony.

But by the time it roared, Su-ho had already escaped the range of its breath.

[Spear Throw is activated.]

[Shadow Movement is activated.]

Su-ho used Guiyeong Spear’s Shadow Movement to flee far into the sky.

“Lucky that the Guiyeong Spear is still stuck in its mouth. Otherwise, I’d have had to swim out.”

He wasn’t exaggerating.

Su-ho had entered the subspace house underwater.

Since subspace houses always exit from the same spot they were entered, he would’ve emerged in the sea.

Luckily, the Guiyeong Spear he embedded earlier was still lodged in the dragon’s mouth, letting him escape without swimming.

Once in the air, Su-ho immediately used a skill on the dragon.

[Weaken is activated.]

FLASH!

The moment [Weaken] activated, the Reincarnated Dragon blinked white for an instant, followed by a shattering light effect.

This was a new visual effect, likely tied to its recent S-grade promotion.

Su-ho immediately drew his Blood Weapon.

Just then—

[The Incomplete Reincarnated Dragon uses High-Speed Flight.]

Shaking off the pain, the dragon surged forward with incredible speed.

And then—

BOOM!!

It rammed Su-ho head-on like a dump truck.

But—

Sssmirk—

Laughter.

It was Su-ho’s laughter.

He was clinging to the dragon’s speeding maw—with the blood sword embedded in it.

“A 50% debuff really is huge.”

25% and 50%—a full twofold difference.

And 50% was literally half of 100%.

It was only natural the destructive power would be on a different scale from the previous [Weaken].

Maybe that’s why...

Even the dragon’s high-speed movement was now visible to Su-ho.

Which is how he managed to lodge the sword in its mouth.

That’s not all.

Last time it felt like getting hit by a car.

This time... he could handle it.

“Not that the pain’s gone, but at least I can keep my mind from blacking out now.”

As he was being dragged along, Su-ho yanked out the blade he had stabbed in earlier.

Then, for the first time in a while, he summoned Dokryong.

“Dokryong.”

“Sssaaah!”

Coiling around Su-ho’s forearm, Dokryong appeared.

It had grown significantly in size.

That was the result of feeding it Suzuki’s venom diligently all this time.

“Give me some of your stockpiled venom. The strongest one you’ve got.”

“Sssaaaah!”

Since obtaining Dokryong, he had only ever fed it poison and never harvested it.

There was no particular reason—he simply hadn’t needed to use venom until now.

But now he did.

Responding to the command, Dokryong swelled its body and spat out a small vial.

It looked like a snake’s egg—transparent, with the liquid inside clearly visible.

It had a split nozzle, and the liquid inside was divided in two.

“Haven’t seen this stuff in a while... Dokryong’s venom.”

It wasn’t his first time seeing it.

He had seen the venom used by Dokryong in his past life.

Su-ho checked the vial's info.

[Dokryong's Venom]

A venom synthesized by Dokryong from multiple poisons.

A type of hybrid venom, serpent venom, and deadly toxin, with extremely potent toxicity.

To detoxify someone afflicted with this venom, you must feed them the exact amount of the same venom again.

There was no precise indicator of how deadly it was.

But that didn’t matter.

Most poisons were like that.

Still, Su-ho knew this venom was incredibly dangerous.

Not just because of its hybrid amplification properties, but because of the final line in its description.

The venom could only be neutralized with an equal dose of itself—nothing else.

“Of course, if you have a powerful detoxification skill or item—like Isabella’s Detox skill—you might survive. But still.”

The stronger the poison, the harder it is to cure without a specialized antidote.

That’s why Su-ho shoved the entire vial of venom into the wound where he’d stabbed the dragon earlier and detonated it—leaving no extra for an antidote.

“Alright, let’s do this again.”

Even weakened by 50%, a dragon was still a dragon.

But thanks to [Weaken], he could finally see its movements.

Now, the real fight could begin.

Su-ho broke away from the dragon and activated Baekgeunchu.

[Hundred Pounds Throw is activated.]

Descending downward, Su-ho landed on the sea’s surface using the Flowing Step technique.

At that moment, the Reincarnated Dragon stopped its high-speed flight and roared from the skies.

– GRAAAHHH!!

Dragon Fear.

Naturally, it didn’t work.

The beast, still roaring, glared at Su-ho with its signature yellow eyes.

Su-ho grinned back, holding up his Blood Weapon and ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) taunting it.

Come at me if you can.

The Reincarnated Dragon charged once again.

*

How much time had passed?

During that time, Su-ho and the Reincarnated Dragon had exchanged wild blows.

And the longer the battle dragged on, the more victory tilted in Su-ho’s favor.

It had to.

The dragon’s power had been halved—and now, it was also poisoned by Dokryong’s venom.

Gradually, its stamina and physical functions were deteriorating.

Proof?

Flap— Flap—

Its wingbeats were visibly slower.

– GRAGHHHH!!

It let out another massive roar and charged once more.

And then—

KWAANG!!

Su-ho and the Reincarnated Dragon collided head-on.

WHAM!! CRASHCRASHCRASH!!

An enormous explosion of impact.

And something surprising happened.

Normally, Su-ho would have been dragged into the ocean by the dragon’s high-speed flight.

But this time, he didn’t budge from the surface.

Thanks to Flowing Step, and the fact that the dragon had weakened to the point where its impact could now be countered.

Of course, he didn’t stay completely still.

Upon impact, his body slid backward across the surface with a shooook—but eventually came to a stop.

Su-ho grinned.

“Let’s finish this.”

With a razor-sharp smile, he activated a skill.

[Rage Mode is activated.]

FWOOSH!!

As the skill triggered, a dense orange aura flared from his body.

Truthfully, he could’ve used [Rage Mode] earlier.

His Rage Gauge had been full ever since his thigh was caught in the dragon’s jaws.

But [Rage Mode] only lasted about 10 seconds.

So Su-ho waited until the moment was right.

He activated one more skill.

[Heatstorm is activated.]

WHOOOM!!

A torrent of heat surged forward, bursting with concentrated mana.

The blast of searing heat made the dragon flinch and recoil.

Su-ho, meanwhile, focused all his senses.

“Now!”

His eyes flashed open.

And—

FLASH!

[Heart Slash is activated.]

[Enhancement is applied.]

[The power of Heart Slash is greatly amplified.]

CRACKKKKKK!!

Su-ho’s sword tore into the Reincarnated Dragon from the inside.

And then—

[You have defeated the Incomplete Reincarnated Dragon.]