Wasn’t This Supposed To Be a Strategy Game? Chapter 36

“The monster I’m searching for is a high-tier beast. It flies through the sky, slaughtering people indiscriminately—a dragon-type monster.”

Zephar’s smile had completely vanished.

Eden instantly realized that the creature he was referring to was Seruka.

That meant she had only one course of action.

“Seruka information.”

A window immediately popped up above Zephar’s head.

[Seruka]

• Length: 50 feet / Weight: 4,000 pounds

• Type: Dragon Hybrid / Highest-tier

• Description: With the head of a dragon, the wings of an eagle, and the body of a lion, Seruka is the apex predator of all avian-type monsters. It preys on other monsters’ food, and if that isn’t enough, it devours the monsters themselves.

• Fortunately, its population is not abundant.

Eden hastily read through the details.

Then—a large, chilling whistle rang out through the forest.

Whiiiiiik—.

Everyone turned instinctively.

Eden also spun around, but the forest was eerily still.

“What was that?”

Zephar asked, frowning.

One of his men, clearly unsettled, shook his head.

“I-I’m not sure.”

Whiiiiiiik—.

The sound grew closer.

A cold shiver ran down Eden’s spine.

She turned back to the information window.

[Despite its enormous size, Seruka’s wingbeats are eerily silent. It uses this to ambush unsuspecting prey, snatching them away before they can react.
If you hear a strange whistling sound out of nowhere, nine times out of ten—it’s Seruka.]

Eden’s eyes widened.

And then—

A whistle rang out so close it felt like it was blowing directly into her ear.

Whiiiiiiik—!

“Everyone, get down!”

Without hesitation, Eden grabbed Asmun’s collar and forcefully yanked him off his horse, rolling with him to the ground.

At the same time, Karon, Zephar, and the more perceptive soldiers immediately dropped to the ground.

And then—

Whiiiiiiik!

A massive shadow fell over them.

“Aagh!”

A blinding blur tore through the air.

Seruka swooped in like lightning, snatching a soldier’s horse before shooting back into the sky.

“It’s here!”

The hunting party froze in shock, staring up at the monstrous creature.

But even as she lay on the ground, Eden forced herself to focus.

She needed to finish reading the information window.

[Do not recklessly attack Seruka with a sword. Because—]

“What?”

Eden barely inhaled before Asmun, still holding her down protectively, narrowed his eyes.

But before she could explain—

Whiiiiiiik—!

The ominous sound rang out again.

Seruka was diving.

Asmun pulled Eden tightly against him while Karon, Zephar, and the soldiers regained their formation.

“Swords won’t work—!”

But it was already too late.

Karon leapt off his horse, soaring through the air.

With a brilliant flash of steel, he severed Seruka’s neck in one swift motion.

CRACK!

Seruka’s massive head fell to the ground.

Without its head, its body lost balance—

BOOM!

The earth trembled violently as Seruka crashed down.

Silence fell over the battlefield.

For a monster of such grand stature, the fight had ended far too easily.

“…….”

Asmun, who had still been shielding Eden, only let go once he confirmed Seruka’s head was completely detached.

Eden slowly sat up, staring at the giant corpse before them.

“I’ve never seen this species before.”

Karon commented, wiping the blood from his blade.

Zephar, too, looked at the twitching corpse with a serious expression.

“Indeed. It appeared about ten days ago, slaughtering nearly a hundred people. If only it had died without losing its head—it would have been better.”

His tone was unnervingly indifferent, despite the gruesome reality of his words.

And then—

“Step back!”

Eden shouted.

“Its head—! Seruka regenerates the more it’s cut apart!”

Everyone’s gaze snapped toward the corpse.

And then—

The severed neck—

Began to twist and pulse.

“Gah…!”

Before their very eyes, a new, elongated neck sprouted from the remains.

“Damn it…”

Karon clenched his teeth, gripping his sword tightly.

At that moment—

Another neck sprouted beside the first.

“What the…?”

Karon furrowed his brows in disbelief.

“KRAAAAH—!”

Now with two heads, Seruka glared at Karon, its four eyes flashing with fury.

The earth trembled as the massive beast stomped in rage.

Watching the terrifying transformation unfold, Zephar coldly commanded his soldiers.

“Kill it. No matter what.”

At his words, his men sprang into action.

Magic scrolls were hurled one after another at Seruka, creating bursts of destructive energy.

But it was futile.

Even as the spells struck, the monster’s flesh regenerated almost instantly.

“Unbelievable…”

It was getting bigger.

More grotesque.

More unstoppable.

“Priestess! Can you see its weakness?”

Karon, who had rushed to Eden’s side, asked desperately.

Eden, pale-faced, opened her mouth—but no words came out.

“If not, we should leave this to the Grand Duke and retreat.”

Asmun, clearly irritated by the unnecessary trouble, spoke coldly.

Karon’s face hardened.

“Are you sure?”

Karon’s voice was almost pleading.

Eden bit her lip.

Of course, Seruka—like every other monster—had a pre-programmed weakness.

But…

[Seruka’s body regenerates endlessly, doubling in heads each time its neck is severed.]

[The only way to kill it is by cutting it from the inside.

Since Seruka’s inner flesh lacks regenerative properties, attacking it from within will result in permanent destruction.]

‘The game developers were complete lunatics.’

Eden clenched her fists.

Inside?

That meant one thing.

The only way to defeat Seruka… was to get eaten.

‘Who in their right mind would believe a novice priestess and willingly get swallowed by that thing?!’

She already knew one person insane enough to try.

Her eyes flickered toward Karon, who looked absolutely determined to fight.

Eden hesitated.

Not seeing her respond, Karon tightened his grip on his sword and prepared to charge at Seruka again.

He knew it wouldn’t work.

But he had no other choice.

Meanwhile, Zephar’s men continued throwing magic at the beast.

Scrolls—expensive, high-tier magic scrolls were being burned through at an alarming rate.

Zephar was fully committed to killing Seruka tonight.

If they failed, the consequences would be severe for both sides.

Karon. Zephar. Asmun.

Even herself.

She might not survive.

‘Damn it…’

Just as Eden tried to think of a way out—

“AAAGH!”

A soldier was snatched into the air.

Everyone froze.

Seruka clenched its massive talons around the helpless man.

“NO!”

The soldier screamed, struggling desperately.

The monster squeezed.

Crack.

The sickening sound of breaking bones filled the air.

“Please! Help me!”

The soldier’s agonized screams sent a wave of nausea through Eden.

She had witnessed monsters die.

But this—this was different.

A person was dying before her eyes.

“ATTACK!”

The soldiers launched another assault, but Seruka didn’t let go.

The wounded soldier screamed in agony.

It was pure chaos.

Eden’s heart pounded.

“Wait… This isn’t a game.”

The thought struck her like a hammer.

This wasn’t just some NPC dying.

This was real.

Because of the event quest she had accepted—this was real.

“We need to retreat and return with reinforcements.”

Despite the dire situation, Asmun remained composed.

But Karon shook his head.

“We can’t leave them behind!”

“Then stay behind, Holy Knight Captain.”

Asmun’s voice was cold.

He turned to take Eden away—

But then he froze.

“Priestess…?”

Eden was gone.

Alarmed, both Asmun and Karon turned toward the sound of rushing footsteps.

Eden was running.

Straight toward a horse.

“Priestess!”

Karon shouted in shock.

Asmun, momentarily stunned, then noticed something in Eden’s grip.

His eyes narrowed.

His scabbard—

It was empty.

Asmun’s gaze snapped back to Eden.

In her hand—

She was holding his sword.

The realization hit Asmun like a thunderbolt.

Eden was planning something insane.

His body moved before he could think—

Asmun leapt to his feet.