Chapter 25

EP.25 Lizard Den (2)

The Toxin Iguana is a B-rank monster.

As its name suggests, it possesses poison and, due to its small size, it reveals its strength in speed.

In particular, it also has a speed-related rare rune called [Agile Movement], making it a dangerous monster that can easily dodge attacks if you don't concentrate during combat.

‘This isn’t good…’

I bit my lip slightly and immediately drew my sword.

Although it was natural for B-rank monsters to appear in the middle section since C-rank monsters appeared at the beginning, I didn’t expect them to come in a group like this.

Even though Jino and I are growing rapidly…

Dealing with multiple B-rank monsters is still too much for us.

At first glance, there are five Toxin Iguanas.

One of us has to take on three of them.

“Jino!”

“I know without you saying!”

At my shout, Jino immediately rushed out.

I, too, held my breath for a moment.

Then I drew the daggers from my waist.

“Huff…!!”

The combo I had consistently used in the previous party.

First, I threw the [Quarter Knife] and then charged in with my sword to tank.

It’s a strategy that can start by drawing aggro and is quite effective when dealing with multiple monsters.

Of course, I don’t think I can render them combat ineffective like the Lizardmen in the previous battle.

Just annoying them and limiting their movements a bit would be a success.

“……?!”

But this surprise attack didn’t even scratch them.

The Toxin Iguana is fundamentally fast and, with the [Agile Movement] rune, its movements are even more enhanced.

They have the judgment to dodge the suddenly thrown daggers and the ability to easily avoid clumsy attacks.

-Kee…

The Toxin Iguana’s roar is quiet.

Similar to the Sizzling Salamander’s cry, but not loud enough to echo through the dungeon.

However, this makes them even more dangerous.

They are ready to attack us at any moment.

-Kee…!!

It happened in an instant.

I didn’t charge first; they did.

Two Toxin Iguanas were engaging Jino.

The other three Toxin Iguanas simultaneously charged at me.

“Damn.”

I tried to hide my confusion as I drew my sword.

Honestly, with my current durability and strength, I’m not confident.

How long can I hold them off?

I can only hope to buy time and let the backline dealers quickly take them down.

Clang-

The longsword made by Jumin herself clashed with the hard teeth of the Toxin Iguana.

Her rune in the defensive category is still in the growth phase, so it doesn’t provide any special effects to the equipment or show up in the item information.

But it’s not so weak that it would break from the monster’s teeth.

“Ugh…”

In the state of clashing swords.

I didn’t even have time to catch my breath.

Another Toxin Iguana immediately charged, taking advantage of any opening.

I switched my sword to one hand and drew a dagger from my waist with the other, barely blocking the second attack.

Clang- Clank-

A slight cold sweat trickled down.

I managed to block the attack somehow.

If I keep this up, the dealers’ support will soon pour in.

But unlike Jino.

The problem is that I have to deal with a total of ‘three’ Toxin Iguanas.

I blocked two with my sword and dagger, but one was completely free to attack.

It aimed for an opening and charged at my waist.

In this extremely dangerous situation.

I finally came up with a solution.

‘Strengthen!’

[Strengthen].

A derivative skill of [Lizard’s Scales] which has reached level 6.

The name is quite ridiculous, but it’s a powerful skill that temporarily increases durability, enhancing the holder’s defense.

Clang-

It sounded like hitting steel.

The sound of the Toxin Iguana’s body colliding with [Strengthen].

It seemed to stagger for a moment but quickly regained its momentum and charged again.

“Huh?”

But something felt off.

[Strengthen] is supposed to double durability for 5 seconds, and the backline dealers’ attacks should be enough to finish the job in 5 seconds.

But even though the 5 seconds hadn’t passed.

I could feel the damage from the Iguana’s attack.

In the urgent situation, I quickly checked and saw that the Toxin Iguana had sharpened its ‘teeth’ differently from before.

I immediately understood the reason.

‘It’s a rune!’

Just as I blocked the monster’s attack with the power of a rune, it was using a specific rune to penetrate my [Strengthen].

At least the part of my waist with protective gear was fine.

But there were also exposed parts of my body without any gear.

‘Damn…’

The unprotected part of my shoulder.

The Toxin Iguana charged at it without hesitation.

It bit into my shoulder with its gleaming teeth.

“Gah, gahh…!!”

“Jae-hyun!”

Chae-eun’s urgent voice helped me hold on to consciousness.

Shit.

It hurts like hell.

The curse words came out involuntarily.

The Toxin Iguana’s teeth were as sturdy and sharp as a well-made blade.

The pain from the bitten shoulder was as intense as being stabbed with a sword, continuously transmitting agony.

If I didn’t have a mental strength value of 17.

It would be a pain I couldn’t endure even if I were dying.

To make matters worse, I felt my strength draining from my body.

It was likely due to the ‘poison,’ the Toxin Iguana’s specialty.

“Grr… Die…!!”

Chae-eun’s freezing magic enveloped the Toxin Iguana.

Her main skill, [Frozen Fog].

The other monsters quickly dodged, but the one that bit my shoulder was frozen in place.

…Is this going to freeze me too?

Sizzle- Sizzle-!!

Whoosh, whoosh-!!

And as if Chae-eun’s magic was a signal.

Juyeon and Ga-eun’s support attacks also began to pour in.

Arrows imbued with intense magic rained down, and flames erupted everywhere.

The overwhelming firepower I felt when hunting the Sizzling Salamander.

This time, it was directed at the Toxin Iguanas.

“Oof…”

I didn’t have time to stare at it in a daze.

I stabbed the Toxin Iguana, whose mobility was significantly reduced by [Frozen Fog].

-Kee, kee…

It seemed hard to believe that this was the opponent that pushed me to the brink of extreme danger.

The Toxin Iguana made a groaning sound and fell helplessly.

The battle was over.

The other monsters were no different.

Chae-eun and Juyeon’s magic flew towards the monsters around me, and Ga-eun’s support attacks hit Jino’s Toxin Iguanas.

Burned, frozen, and pierced by arrows like skewers…

The monsters were left as pitifully mangled corpses.

“Jae-hyun! Are you okay?”

Chae-eun quickly ran to me and asked.

Worried expressions were also on Juyeon and Ga-eun’s faces as they slowly approached.

…It was quite a dangerous scene.

The monster bit me while I was completely defenseless.

If the bite had been on a vital spot instead of my shoulder, it would have been truly dangerous.

I raised my hand to signal that I was okay.

“I’m fine. Chae-eun, can you give me an antidote?”

“Ah, yeah. Here.”

A large amount of blood was flowing from my shoulder.

Chae-eun, who was about to hand me a health potion, quickly gave me an antidote instead.

The continuous pain was definitely due to the poison.

The Toxin Iguana’s poison is known for its potency among poison-using monsters.

Just as I was about to swallow the antidote.

The information windows I had momentarily forgotten clouded my vision.

[You have directly received the monster’s poison! You are gradually becoming accustomed to the poison’s energy.]

[Your rune level has increased.]

[You have gained 1 poison resistance due to the rune’s nature.]

[You have won the duel! Due to your high contribution in the duel, you can replicate one of the opponent’s runes. Please choose the rune to replicate.]

[1. Toxic (Not selectable) 2. Agile Movement 3. Sturdy Teeth]

Before entering the academy.

I obtained [Toxic] as an unexpected gain while clearing Outholders.

I thought it was a rare rune that was too good for a scoundrel’s rune, but it was also present in the Toxin Iguana.

It made sense given the name ‘Toxin’.

‘It’s a bit disappointing that I can’t choose [Toxic].’

The level of the rune obtained by [Rune Hunter] is adjusted based on the level of the opponent’s rune.

The [Toxic] of the Outholder I faced was level 1.

So, the [Toxic] I obtained was registered as level 0.

But the Toxin Iguana has a high understanding of poison and its potency is considerable.

Naturally, the [Toxic] level would be quite high.

It was a chance to obtain at least a level 4-5 [Toxic], but it was disappointing that it was determined as not selectable.

At least, experiencing the poison’s energy firsthand after being bitten by the monster and increasing the [Toxic] level was fortunate.

‘So, the remaining options are…’

[Agile Movement] and [Sturdy Teeth].

Both are quite good rare runes.

Especially [Agile Movement], which Jino also has, provides assistance in all speed-related actions.

I had wanted this rune for a while, and fortunately, I could obtain it through this hunt.

Just as I was about to choose the rune…

“Juyeon, be careful!”

I heard Jino’s urgent shout.

I quickly turned my head.

One of the Iguanas Jino was handling was staggering and taking an attack stance.

‘Ah, what’s this?’

The monsters Jino was handling were mainly attacked by Ga-eun, so one of them wasn’t completely finished.

With the tension easing after the battle ended.

If Juyeon didn’t react, she would be hit by the Toxin Iguana’s poison attack.

I quickly chose the rune and immediately launched myself.

[You have chosen [Agile Movement]. As it is a level 4 rare rune, its level will decrease, and it will be registered as level 2.]

[You have gained 2 speed due to the rune’s nature.]

With the speed value reaching 30 by immediately gaining 2 points from the rune.

For the first time among my holder abilities.

My speed surpassed my strength.

With [Charge], which provides an incredible speed boost when running.

Thanks to the assistance from the two speed-related runes, I reached Juyeon in an instant.

The Toxin Iguana’s venomous fangs were about to strike.

The poison attack that was flying towards Juyeon.

Fortunately or unfortunately, it hit my other shoulder.

“Suck…!!”

My whole body felt drained, and a sharp, piercing pain invaded my shoulder.

…It really hurt to the point of death.

These guys’ poison never gets easier to handle.

“Ah…!”

I saw Juyeon’s shocked face.

It’s surprising.

This girl can make such expressions.

“Jae, Jae-hyun!”

“Hey, Jino! Are you okay?”

“What are you doing, Jino! Take care of that Iguana first!”

“Ah, right. Got it.”

Amid the noisy shouts of my party members.

I noticed Juyeon’s hands.

Her hands gathered in the center, and the magic power around them was intensely concentrated.

Seeing this.

Even amidst the intense pain in my shoulder, a question arose.

‘…Could she have blocked it?’

Thinking about it, Juyeon is a magic user with extreme proficiency in [Magic Control].

In the previous live training, she used a derivative skill called [Magic Shield], and