[Object Number] IF-684
[Object Name] Dragon
[Object Class] Highest
[Threat Level] Extremely Hostile
[Fake]
The Dragon is a gigantic creature appearing in Western mythology and legends, described as a reptilian beast covered in scales, possessing wings and a pair of horns.
Breathing toxic fumes and fire while soaring through the skies, dragons were long considered the legendary nemeses of knights.
However, due to their anatomical trait of possessing six limbs, they have been relegated to mythical status in modern biological understanding.
[Reality]
IF-684 is an enormous, origin-unknown monster resembling a Komodo dragon or a crocodile with a pair of long horns and wings.
In its intact state, the creature measures approximately 300 meters in length and weighs about 100,000 tons.
IF-684 is an exceptionally intelligent sentient being with an extremely aggressive temperament.
It attempts to either possess or destroy everything that exists, without discrimination.
Even when it loses 88% of its body mass, leaving behind only “bones and a heart,” it has been observed to remain alive.
The creature can rapidly regenerate beyond its consumed mass by consuming precious metals and living beings.
These characteristics grant IF-684 an almost immortal level of survivability.
IF-684 breathes fire.
Centered around its heart, named “Dragon Heart,” is a ring-shaped, ultra-high-temperature organ that, for a short duration, supplies energy on the exawatt scale to its entire body.
The creature uses this energy to release a primitive aerial bombardment through its mouth, capable of completely incinerating an entire country in a short period.
There are extremely limited ways to harm IF-684. It is purely massive, fast, and overwhelmingly powerful.
It possesses near-immunity to almost all non-anomalous and anomalous attacks.
The only way to silence it, even temporarily, is through the application of greater physical force.
[Containment]
Currently, there is no stable method to contain IF-684.
The following containment procedures are all temporary measures, and more effective containment methods must be developed.
IF-684 must be confined in a specialized containment chamber located 500 meters underground.
The entity must be maintained at a state where it has lost at least 50% of its body mass at all times.
To ensure continuous body mass reduction, at least 80% of the containment chamber must be submerged in molten metal exceeding 1,200°C.
(Omitted details)
IF-684 becomes enraged at the mention of keywords such as “asceticism,” “lake,” “dragon,” and “orb”.
Thus, uttering these words inside its containment chamber is strictly prohibited.
The potential value of researching IF-684 is immense.
However, regardless of its research value, a containment breach would cause catastrophic damage beyond estimation.
Therefore, if Level 3 ‘Gram’ fails to recontain the entity, the FPL will completely cease all direct intervention and delegate the re-containment effort to the Overseer Foundation.
The Overseer Foundation will not tolerate IF-684 being left in a breached state under any circumstances.
Even if FPL abandons the effort, they will be forced to attempt recontainment.
“We do not act for the sake of the world, so there is no need for justification.”
[Chaotic Control Room]
Elena Miller, a member of Mobile Task Force ‘Marijan Ballet,’ pounded the side of the console, urgently pressuring the pilot.
“We need to take off immediately. CODE DARK. It’s IF-684, damn it.”
Elena couldn’t comprehend what was happening.
She had come here as usual to kill a single IF-769-1, only to find herself dealing with an unidentified, ultra-high-risk entity, a pitiful survivor, and now IF-684 on top of it all.
It was almost impossible to believe all of this happened within a single day.
But despite her urgency, the pilot’s hands didn’t move.
Because standing behind them, shaking his head, was the ghost of the captain—IF-401-1.
“I cannot authorize this.
And, speak quietly.”
In a situation where IF-684 was rampaging just below them, the ghost told her to stay quiet.
Elena was baffled beyond belief.
However, she knew exactly what it meant when IF-401-1 issued a directive.
She couldn’t understand why talking too loudly could possibly cause the plane to be destroyed,
but she begrudgingly lowered her voice.
“…Why?”
“Imagine if your hearing suddenly became a hundred times sharper, and then someone started yelling right next to your ear.
How would that feel?
And don’t even get me started on engine noise.”
Elena clenched her teeth at his cryptic nonsense.
If IF-401-1 weren’t an intelligent being, she would have cursed him out right then and there.
Then suddenly—
The ghost closed his eyes, as if seeing something, pondering for a moment.
And then, he spoke.
“…Open Gate 2 for just 15 seconds.
Then I will authorize takeoff.”
A completely incomprehensible instruction.
But if obeying it meant avoiding disaster, there was no choice but to comply.
“Gate 2…?
Understood.”
The pilot, still dazed, manipulated the controls.
A distant metallic wall somewhere, which had been tightly sealed, briefly opened and then closed.
Then, IF-401-1 opened his eyes and clapped his hands—though the sound did not collide.
“Takeoff is authorized.”
“Control Room.
IF-401-1 has authorized takeoff.
Proceeding now.”
Watching the scene unfold, Elena instinctively touched her chin, feeling unsettled.
Something felt off—as if she had forgotten something important.
All they had done was open and close a random section of the plane’s hull.
How did that single action change their fate from certain crash to safe takeoff?
Through the cockpit window, the sky stretched endlessly above them.
“…We’re airborne.”
Even though they had barely escaped the jaws of death, Elena couldn’t shake off the ominous feeling.
She turned to the pilot.
“Where exactly is Gate 2 located?”
“Oh, here.
If you check this section…”
And upon hearing the pilot’s response, Elena’s face hardened.
“No way…”
She hurriedly pulled up the CCTV footage.
The location of Gate 2 was…
…The exact spot where Lugh had been lying just moments ago.
The gate had opened briefly.
And Lugh had vanished.
Had she walked out on her own?
Why?
Staring at the captain’s ghost, Elena sought an explanation.
But he remained indifferent, as if he had merely spoken the truth.
There was no doubt about IF-401’s anomalous nature.
“So if we took off with Lugh on board, we would crash.
But if we left her behind, we wouldn’t?”
Everything about Research Lab 4 felt suspicious as hell.
A mysterious, ultra-high-risk entity that roamed freely.
A powerless girl, Lugh, found in the midst of it.
And then, the perfectly timed escape of IF-684.
Could all of this really be a coincidence?
A sudden realization crossed Elena’s mind.
“No way… those lunatic bastards in Lab 4… were they planning to cover everything up by crashing us?”
Her distrust toward Research Lab 4 only deepened.
It has already been a long time since the number of humans who became stars of the lake surpassed four digits, yet no one prays.
Even if their faith is weak, you’d think they would at least pray before dying…
Back then, whenever something like this happened, I used to get so many prayers that even picking which wish to grant was a hassle.
But now, no one offers a sincere prayer.
What am I supposed to do?
If I’m going to throw away my dignity and rush over there to mercilessly punish that guy, someone needs to at least send me an urgent prayer.
Last time, I didn’t get any prayers either, but I went anyway because it looked fun—and Mnaha scolded me for it.
“Oh, great ancient being.
Why did you save those who wished to die in your name?”
“Gyaaah………”
“That… that is not a god.
That is not a god but merely…”
…Seriously.
If they had just gotten mad at me, fine.
But they cried their eyes out, pleading with me not to do such things.
How am I supposed to just ignore that?
Ugh.
If no one desires my help, what am I supposed to do?
This is a first for me.
I’m a dragon.
The dragon god that you humans used to worship so dearly…
I used to find all those prayers annoying, but now that they’ve completely stopped, I feel strangely… useless.
Sniffle.
Just as I was starting to feel down, I felt something wriggling inside my arms.
It was the plump little snake.
It had been so terrified that I shifted into my divine form to hold and comfort it—but even in my embrace, it was still panicking like crazy.
“Ancestor!
Run!
Wings, failed.
Angry!
Run!”
What the heck is it saying?
Even when I tried reading its intent, I couldn’t understand a single word.
Come on now.
Calm down.
You’re safe with me.
I sent that thought to it through my will.
“Lies?”
And immediately, it sent back a response as if it had heard this nonsense before.
…What?
No, I’m serious.
It’s true.
This is undeniably the truth.
Does the plump little snake really think I’m weaker than that guy?
Geez… what kind of warped perspective does it have?
I shot it a look filled with deep resentment, trying to convey just how ridiculous that idea was.
After staring into my eyes for a moment, it finally calmed down.
Guess my sincerity got through.
But still…
BEEEEEEP!
The confidence radiating from the snake’s tiny sound was…
…Oh no.
It must have gotten a little too convincing.
“Ancestor!
Request!
Attack!
Request!”
The plump little snake bounced excitedly, ‘requesting’ that I go and punish that guy.
…Eh?
A request?
Not a prayer?
Hmm.
I guess this technically counts as a form of prayer.
At least, unless a more genuine prayer comes along…
Alright then.
Plump little snake.
Your great and mighty dragon ancestor shall grant your request!
Just in time, the wall ahead of me started opening in an interesting way.
That must mean I’m supposed to pass through here, right?
I held onto the plump little snake and trotted forward.
Before leaving, I glanced back.
As soon as I stepped out, the wall sealed shut again, and then—
With a loud mechanical roar, the entire building I had just been in shot up into the sky.
Whoa.
How cool.
Human buildings fly these days?
But no thanks—I would never fly in something that loud.
I can fly just fine on my own, so why would I ever use something like that?
Still, I was so fascinated by the sight that I stood there watching for a bit.
And then—
I felt more struggling in my arms.
“Ancestor!
Move!”
It was rushing me again.
What the heck?
I barely stood still for a few seconds!
Humans are the ones turning into stars of the lake—so if anyone should be in a hurry, it should be me!
Why does the plump little snake look way more impatient than I do?
Curious, I asked it why.
Then, for once, the plump little snake gave me a serious look and responded.
“Don’t know.
Mother. Heard.
Fire snake.
Revenge.
So, revenge.”
…What?
Revenge?
That’s not the kind of word that fits you at all.
What kind of plump little snake suddenly starts talking like it has some tragic backstory?
The thought felt so weird that I lifted my tail and covered its eyes with it.
“What?
What?”
It let out a confused beeeep?
Phew.
Now that’s more like it.
After sorting through its intent, it seemed like it didn’t fully understand either—it had just heard it from its mother.
That’s all I needed to know.
No more questions.
Now then, let’s check the ground to make sure no one is around…
Trot, trot, trot.
Meanwhile, that guy with the exaggerated facial features must have eaten a lot of humans by now.
The once skeletal frame of his gaunt body was already plumping up with fresh flesh.
Alright then…
Hop!
The ground—no, the ceiling—collapsed beneath me.
I spread my wings, holding onto the plump little snake, and plummeted downward.
The temple must have been massive because even after breaking through the ceiling, I kept falling for quite a while—but that was fine.
After all, that exaggerated-faced guy was already rushing up to meet me.
And most importantly…
“Falling!
Falling!
Fall, damage!
Help!”
Kueeeeeh—!
The plump little snake’s chaotic wails were so funny to listen to.
Heehee.
It won’t be long now!