Chapter 44

EP.44 C-Class Holder Advancement (3)

-Kelek!

-Ker, kerlek…!!

Once again, the cries of the hobgoblins echoed.

Those annoying bastards.

No matter how many I kill, they never end.

No matter how many daggers I throw, how many swords I thrust.

Even when I punch and kick them with my fists and feet…

All it does is drain my stamina, their numbers never decrease.

Therefore, I couldn't just keep using the same monotonous attacks.

To hunt more easily and quickly.

I had to develop various attack routes.

[An arrow that hits right in the center! Your accuracy with the bow has significantly improved.]

[The rune's level has increased.]

The first one was [Bow].

A reuse of the rune I had left at level 1.

Even though I have become a multi-holder by mastering various runes, the only ones I could use as my main combat runes were [Sword], [Dagger], and [Fighting].

This is because these three combat runes are the most efficient when dealing with enemies and are also versatile in the holder class.

However, when facing multiple C-class monsters of the same level, the use of [Bow] is inevitable.

“Starting with a hit from a distance.”

Those annoying ranged monsters that are so bothersome in close combat.

It's advantageous to take them out first.

I had prepared for such situations by asking Chae Yumin to make various weapons in advance, not just swords and daggers.

At first, my archery skills were terrible, but they gradually improved as I hunted the endless stream of hobgoblins.

[With a wall-like firmness. Your shield skills to block enemy attacks are becoming more proficient.]

[The rune's level has increased.]

The second one was [Shield].

Using [Lizard Scales] or the derived skill [Strengthen] is good, but there are limits to the continuous use of specific runes and skills.

No matter how durable it is.

If you keep getting stabbed and slashed, you will eventually take damage.

“The potion I got from Chae Arin is almost gone….”

So I developed another rune.

[Shield].

A core common rune for warriors who mainly take the role of a tank.

For me, it was a hidden piece I obtained in the early stages of being a holder, along with [Bow].

The use of [Shield] allowed me to block the endless wave of hobgoblins to some extent.

Although I was used to using a two-handed sword, the switch to a one-handed sword due to the shield was a bit inconvenient, but as the dungeon exploration and battles dragged on, I got used to it.

[Rushing with rage and charging! Your merciless charge will make the enemy fall helplessly.]

[The rune's level has increased.]

[The rune's tendency grants you 1 speed.]

[Blazing flames, flickering fire. Your ability to handle fire has improved.]

[The rune's level has increased.]

[The rune's tendency grants you 1 magic.]

Lastly, [Merciless Charge] and [Flickering Flames].

The growth of runes that I hadn't used for a while.

Being able to hunt alone in the dungeon without anyone watching, I could freely use such runes.

The value of using these two runes was unexpectedly enormous.

“Yada-da-da-!!”

-Kelek?

-Kerlek!!

[Merciless Charge] ignores physical attacks during a charge, allowing me to advance without hesitation and collapse the enemy's formation on the first attack.

Using [Charge] to rush and [Merciless Charge] to bulldoze through the enemy lines.

In a one-against-many battle.

Piercing through the middle of the crowd and disrupting the formation…

This battle setup brings significant advantages.

Whoosh-!

-Ke, kerlek…!!

The use of [Flickering Flames].

Fire attached to various parts of my body and weapons.

Using different weapons in the middle of the formation and adding magic attacks with fire…

The hobgoblins couldn't regain their composure.

“Normally, it would be impossible….”

A C-class holder alone.

Diving into a group of C-class monsters?

It would be a dangerous action that could result in serious injury.

But I can do it.

Performing both the roles of a tank and a damage dealer, and with stats and runes far surpassing a regular C-class holder.

The appropriate use of the runes mentioned earlier also played a role.

Most importantly, the power of the epic rune [Intimidation] was significant.

When facing an enemy with lower stats than myself.

The special effect of the rune holder's power becoming even stronger.

The hobgoblins, being C-class monsters, all had lower stats than me, so the special effect of [Intimidation] was constantly applied.

Therefore, without much effort.

I could hunt easily.

“Ow… my arms are sore.”

I slowly relaxed the muscles in my left and right arms.

I fought without giving myself a moment to rest.

Adding the use of runes I hadn't used before.

It felt like I had muscle pain for the first time in a long while.

“It seems to be all over now….”

The annoying “kelek” sound.

Hasn't been heard for a while.

The countless hobgoblins have now been cleared.

What remains is the boss room, the “Chieftain's House.”

And the boss, the hobgoblin chieftain.

If I find and successfully hunt him.

The exploration of this dungeon will be complete.

“……!”

After searching for a while.

A wooden house came into view.

I quickly hid my body to avoid being detected by the monsters.

Fortunately, there were many bushes around, providing plenty of places to hide.

‘The chieftain's house… it seems to be the right one.’

The wooden house looked anything but ordinary.

And a few hobgoblins guarding in front of it.

It seemed to be the chieftain's house I had been looking for.

‘A boss with guard monsters.’

The form of the boss room varies from dungeon to dungeon.

In the previous academy underground dungeon, the boss Grizzly Drake guarded the boss room alone, but in this case, regular monsters were guarding the boss room.

Both have their pros and cons, but in this case, the disadvantage was that I had to face the boss and the guards together.

I slowly closed the distance.

And to gather any information…

I strained my ears to eavesdrop on their conversation.

-Kelek! Ke-rek?

-Ker, kerre…

Damn.

Of course.

Those damn kelek, kelek.

In other novels, goblins can use human language, but I can't understand why these monsters can only make crying sounds.

I scolded myself for listening to such useless sounds.

‘What information gathering.’

Let's just fight.

I carefully took out my equipment from the magic bag.

The combat style I had been using all along.

A preemptive attack using [Bow].

‘Does the bow need to be level 5 for a skill to appear?’

I don't even hope for flashy skills like Moon Ga-eun's [Extreme Shot] or [Triple Power Shot].

If [Single Shot] appears, the usability of [Bow] would significantly increase.

The growth of runes and skills is generally related to the talent of the holder, so it's hard to predict when a skill will appear.

I obtained [Sword]'s [Combo] at level 3, but a regular holder would get it at level 5, and a holder with no talent might get it at level 7 or 10… or even never.

In that sense, I might be a surprisingly talented holder, as I have already obtained 7 derived skills, as Professor Kim Myung-hyun said.

Of course, there are special cases like [Declaration of War] or [Poison Claw], where the rune comes with a skill from the start.

Creak-

With a slight tension.

I slowly pulled the bowstring.

The unique sound of the arrow and string being pulled, but the distance was far enough that the hobgoblins didn't seem to notice my attack.

There were two hobgoblin warriors guarding in front of the house.

The target of this attack was the one on the left.

The aiming point was the monster's head.

If I hit.

The battle would start with one of them down.

‘Now…!!’

With a twang, I released the bowstring.

The moment I lowered the bow, I realized.

This aim was…

The most perfect [Bow] attack in my battles today.

[Perfect Accuracy! Your archery skills have improved.]

[The rune's level has increased.]

-Kelek, kerrek!!

With the sound of the [Bow] rune's level increasing.

The hobgoblin on the right jumped and screamed.

It seemed enraged that its comrade was killed instantly by an arrow.

I didn't hesitate and used [Charge] to rush forward.

[Merciless Charge].

A special effect that ignores all physical attacks during a charge and pushes the enemy back with double the strength.

The remaining hobgoblin tried to block with a shield, but with my strength reaching nearly 70, it couldn't stop my push.

-Kelek?!

The hobgoblin warrior was lifted into the air by my push.

I didn't wait for him to fall to the ground.

While he was in the air.

I swung my arm to the side, delivering a hook.

Boom-!!

If you could do a bicycle kick with your elbow, it would feel like this.

My elbow hook, assisted by [Fighting], hit the monster's chin, slamming his entire body into a tree.

But it wasn't over.

“Huff…!!”

The cold sensation of a blade on my back.

I could feel intense hostility and malice.

I instantly drew the sword from my back.

And turned my body to face the sensation.

Clang-

Squeak!!

My sword clashed with a large axe.

Despite the strength difference, it was quite a struggle…

But I wasn't completely overpowered.

I smiled.

“A bit too slow for an ambush, isn't it?”

The last enemy blocking my path.

A monster with a very fierce expression.

The boss of this dungeon.

The hobgoblin chieftain.