Chapter 19 of 100

Chapter 19

7 min read1,683 words

EP.19 Academy Underground Dungeon (4)

[You have won the duel! Your victory is recognized due to your high contribution in the duel. With the mysterious power of the Rune Hunter, you can duplicate one of the opponent's runes. Please choose the rune to duplicate.]

[1. Underwater Breathing 2. Herculean Strength 3. Spear (Not selectable)]

After successfully hunting the lizardmen, the effect of [Rune Hunter] was activated again.

The subsequent lizardmen did not deal any damage, but the four lizardmen I hunted earlier had a significant share of my contribution.

Thanks to this, my high contribution in the duel was recognized as a victory.

The lizardmen possessed a total of three runes.

For a C-rank monster, this was quite a large number.

[Spear] is already in my possession, so it is not selectable.

I had to choose between [Underwater Breathing] and [Herculean Strength].

'Hmm...'

Both are good-quality rare runes.

However, I valued [Underwater Breathing] a bit more.

The reason is simple.

[Heruclean Strength] sounds like an incredibly powerful rune just by its name, but in reality, it is merely a useful rare rune that assists physical strength.

In short, it doesn't have the kind of cartoonish power that can split the ground with a single punch.

Especially, [Herculean Strength] is aptly named for the 'strength of a monster,' and quite a few monsters possess it.

'There's no need to choose it right now.'

On the other hand, [Underwater Breathing] is a 'completely new form of ability' that allows free breathing underwater.

It could be helpful when tackling dungeons like rivers or seas in the future, and there's no telling from which monster I might obtain such an ability.

It's similar to choosing [Lizard Scales] after defeating the Sizzling Salamander.

I chose [Underwater Breathing] for the potential of the future.

[You have chosen Underwater Breathing. As it is a level 6 rare rune, its level will decrease to level 3.]

[You have obtained a new rune.]

[The rune grants you 3 water resistance.]

[New resistance activated.]

◎Name: Underwater Breathing

◎Rank: Rare

◎Level: 3

◎Engraved Part: Nose

◎Special Effects

: Allows free breathing underwater like other creatures.

: +3 Water Resistance

◎Derived Skills: -

◎Detailed Information

: Increases affinity and resistance to water.

I slowly read the information windows that appeared one after another.

The content was as expected.

Additionally, a new resistance, 'water resistance,' was activated.

This was a rather unexpected gain.

Resistance values can be helpful at any time and place, so there's no downside to having them.

Especially, water resistance is a highly valuable resistance as it provides resistance to water-based magic when increased.

Both [Poison] and [Underwater Breathing]...

It feels like I've luckily obtained attribute resistances early.

Certainly, the hard work of hunting the lizardmen was worth it.

But that wasn't the end.

[You have obtained a new rune.]

[The rune grants you 1 physical strength.]

"...Huh?"

The effect of [Rune Hunter] appeared again, even though it had already appeared once.

...What is this?

I was already satisfied with obtaining a useful rare rune, [Underwater Breathing], but suddenly I was told I had obtained a new rune?

Staring blankly at the information window, I soon realized.

'They are different individuals!'

The lizardmen I hunted simultaneously were all different individuals.

This affected the effect of [Rune Hunter].

[Rune Hunter] is a rune that allows you to duplicate the opponent's rune when you win a duel against them.

However, one drawback of [Rune Hunter] is that once you duplicate a rune from an opponent, you cannot duplicate it again even if you win another duel against them.

This is why I still haven't obtained [Clear Mind] despite dueling Park Jin-woo over 20 times.

But even if they have the same rune...

If they are different individuals, the story changes.

There are countless monsters in the dungeon, but each of them is a separate individual with different intelligence.

Since they are new opponents, they are not 'once duplicated opponents.'

I had already obtained [Underwater Breathing] by hunting a lizardman, but by hunting another lizardman, I could duplicate the remaining runes.

That's why the rune duplication information window appeared again.

I quickly checked the information of the newly obtained rune.

◎Name: Herculean Strength

◎Rank: Rare

◎Level: 0

◎Engraved Part: Right Bicep

◎Special Effects

: When pushing or lifting specific objects, you can exert twice the strength of your physical strength value.

: +1 Physical Strength

◎Derived Skills: -

◎Detailed Information

: The overwhelming power of monsters with high physical strength. A more powerful force will envelop your body.

"Wow..."

I really obtained [Herculean Strength].

There was no reason to agonize over which of the two runes to obtain.

...Since I got both anyway.

Now that I have obtained all the runes the lizardmen possessed, it will be difficult to obtain more runes, but I already feel like I've gained a lot.

[Heruclean Strength] assists physical strength and synergizes well with the [Combat] rune, making it a very attractive rune.

"Do Jae-hyun!"

Just as I was absorbed in checking the rune information.

Mun Ga-eun, who had roughly finished the battle summary, called me.

"What are you really? Why are you so good at fighting? Are you really D-rank?"

Although the two of them finished the hunt,

I was the one who held off the four C-rank monsters simultaneously, which is quite a feat for a D-rank holder.

Mun Ga-eun seemed genuinely surprised.

This attitude wasn't limited to her.

I could see the surprise in Kang Ju-yeon's eyes as she slowly walked over.

Kang Ju-yeon's such expressions are rare.

"It... was just luck."

"Are you teasing me?"

"Ha-ha. No, it really was luck. If the first lizardman hadn't been hit by the Quarter Knife, I would have struggled. Dealing with three was already tough, and four was really difficult."

Honestly, I did fight well.

The [Quarter Knife] I threw in a surprise attack hit the target ideally, and I cleverly used [Flowing Water Sword Technique] to offset the strength difference with the lizardmen.

But as the only tank and bruiser in this three-person party,

Perhaps it was something I should have done anyway.

"What about the mana stones?"

The most basic byproduct obtained from hunting monsters, mana stones.

The lizardmen had mana stones embedded in the center of their heads.

Mana stones are the main source of income for holders.

Even low-grade ones can earn a decent amount, and C-rank monster mana stones can fetch millions of won.

The scattered lizardmen corpses.

This was all our money.

"While you were spacing out, Ju-yeon took care of it."

"Kang Ju-yeon?"

Looking at Kang Ju-yeon, she quietly nodded.

"The distribution... after the dungeon is cleared."

Indeed, the difference between having dungeon experience and not is significant.

As a dungeon novice, I was just excited about obtaining runes, while the experienced ones had already collected the mana stones from all nine lizardmen.

This is why they hire experienced people.

I shook off the dirt from my hands and gathered my equipment.

"Let's go!"

"Right now? Can't we rest a bit more?"

"Yeah. I've fully recovered."

My voice was full of energy.

Thanks to obtaining [Underwater Breathing] and [Herculean Strength],

The fatigue that felt like a weight on my shoulders disappeared instantly.

I felt like I could fight much more.

* * *

We advanced through the dungeon with a relentless momentum.

The pattern was almost the same as the first battle.

I would create a confrontation with multiple lizardmen, and Kang Ju-yeon and Mun Ga-eun would unleash their prepared magic and shooting.

This battle pattern, which was like a victory formula,

continued until we cleared all the lizardmen at the entrance of the dungeon.

While the decisive blows and finishing touches were mostly handled by Kang Ju-yeon and Mun Ga-eun, I, who fought at the front, also showed growth.

[Your skill in throwing daggers becomes smoother and more flexible.]

[The level of the rune has increased.]

[The rune grants you 1 speed.]

[Your sword, which parries various weapons, becomes more imbued with the subtleties of flowing water.]

[The level of the rune has increased.]

[The rune grants you 1 speed.]

They say the biggest opportunity for a holder to grow is through actual combat.

While the abilities gained and rune levels increased through training were significant, the growth from hunting monsters directly was much greater.

The [Dagger] and [Flowing Water Sword Technique], which I used frequently in this dungeon,

easily leveled up through monster hunting.

With various growth factors, my abilities steadily increased, and both my physical strength and speed exceeded 25.

"Haah...!!"

My sword deflected the lizardman's trident and immediately stabbed the neck of the nearby lizardman.

At first, dealing with three was tough...

Now, I can handle five without being overwhelmed.

Swoosh! Clang!!

Suddenly, Mun Ga-eun's arrow flew and hit the remaining lizardman.

It was the final blow to end the almost finished battle.

"Seems like it's over?"

After collecting all the mana stones from the lizardmen,

Mun Ga-eun looked around.

Then, just like before,

she placed her hand on the ground and focused.

Detecting nearby monsters and mana through [Dolphin Sonar].

"None left?"

"Yeah. I think we got them all."

Mun Ga-eon slowly opened her eyes.

If she declared there were none, there really were none.

Doubting the detection ability of a top-class archer in the first year would be stranger.

We had

finally cleared all the lizardmen at the entrance of the dungeon.

"Then, now..."

Everyone's gaze naturally turned forward.

Academy Underground Dungeon.

At the end of the entrance, there was a path.

There was an annoying obstacle there.

The reason Park Jin-woo and Kang Ju-yeon couldn't advance further in the original story.

The reason their dungeon exploration only reached the entrance.

The path leading to the next stage of the dungeon.

Blocking it...

was that huge rock.