Chapter 50

EP.50 Swall Leviathan (4)

Jeong Seonyeong pulled up her mana with a tense expression.

It had been a long time since an S-class monster appeared.

She, who always applied to be an A-class holder, a leader figure, whenever a disaster monster appeared, thought this monster would not be easy.

Although five A-class holders participated.

An S-class monster, a grade higher than them.

Moreover, it was a giant monster that appeared in the sea.

The terrain was not favorable, and the monster's abilities were also challenging.

'The level of these holders... doesn’t look good either.'

She glanced around.

The groans of the injured filled the scene.

Most of the C-class holders were experiencing such a large-scale hunt for the first time.

The disaster monster hunting party, despite its grand name, was not very popular among holders.

'...Because the rewards are low.'

While the risk and hunting difficulty were very high.

The compensation was disappointing.

There was no rest room obtained from the first conquest of a dungeon, and there was no need to hunt a disaster monster if they were going to hunt field monsters.

Especially holders who led or belonged to clans did not participate in disaster monster hunts.

It was much more beneficial to conquer dungeons they operated themselves or to continue their training curriculum.

At least, S-class monsters were better.

They had more by-products and the rewards were more luxurious compared to other monsters.

But everything comes at a price.

S-class monsters also had enormous risks.

'I need to be more careful.'

If the strategy went wrong or a variable occurred.

The risk would materialize and return.

The main target would be the C-class holders.

Unlike A-class and B-class holders who frequently participated in disaster monster hunts, many C-class holders were newly promoted rookies.

Therefore, they were more easily exposed to danger, and the number of injured or dead holders was relatively high.

"The attackers are coming this way!"

"Damn! All 5th squad warriors, get your shields up and move forward!"

And as if to prove it.

Swall Leviathan's water magic flew towards the rear, where C-class holders and support personnel were heavily positioned.

Water projectiles shot out without hesitation.

Jeong Seonyeong hastily cast [Ice Wall] to minimize the damage to the warriors she was guarding.

"What the...?"

While casting defensive magic.

She clicked her tongue at the S-class monster's relentless counterattack.

She was a mage.

Specifically, a holder who used ice magic as her main magic.

The rune she possessed was [Frozen Battlefield].

An epic rune highly rated among [Freezing] series runes.

The ultimate skill of this top-tier epic rune.

[Blizzard] was used, but the monster did not fall.

While she dealt a clear effective hit, seeing the skin peeled off and blood spilling, it was impressive that it still had the strength to counterattack.

Indeed, hunting an S-class monster was not easy.

'That kid... is doing well.'

Jeong Seonyeong's gaze fell on another side.

A C-class holder who was suddenly assigned to guard her.

His good looks and young appearance suggested he was a holder who had just graduated or was still studying at the academy.

Jeong Seonyeong had placed him as a guard because she could defend herself with the derived skill [Ice Wall], but...

He was surprisingly doing well.

A shield item of a decent grade.

And the use of the [Shield] rune with a solid stance.

It was the standard posture of a tank-type warrior.

Despite the sudden counterattack from the S-class monster, his calm attempt to protect her was both admirable and trustworthy.

Among the C-class holders gathered here.

His combat sense and judgment were probably the best.

"Again, again...!!"

And another variable occurred.

Swall Leviathan's water magic, which was thought to end with one counterattack, poured down like a rapid fire.

The direction was still the rear.

The front-line warriors were trying to stop the monster, but there was no way to block the water magic that had already been launched.

'...It’s dangerous.'

Jeong Seonyeong bit her lip and cast more [Ice Wall].

Many of the warriors she was guarding were already injured or dead.

If she allowed more attacks, the rear support personnel could suffer significant damage.

'...Ah! That kid!'

While blocking as many water projectiles as possible with [Ice Wall], Jeong Seonyeong suddenly remembered the C-class holder guarding her.

He had firmly protected her using [Shield], but when the last water projectile fell, his shield's durability was almost gone, and he had to discard it and draw his sword.

In other words, he was now defenseless.

If not for Jeong Seonyeong's [Ice Wall].

He could have been hit by the water projectile and died.

"No...!!"

A clear mistake.

Jeong Seonyeong tried to change the direction of [Ice Wall] as quickly as possible to save the kid.

But.

"Flow."

He was definitely a C-class holder.

A new face, young.

A squad member of the warrior class.

His shield, with low proficiency, quickly wore out and disappeared.

He was one of the...

50 C-class holders recruited for this attack team.

But a verbal command came from his mouth.

What is usually only possible for A-class holders.

Or at best, B-class holders...

The manifestation of an 'ultimate skill.'

"It... can’t be."

Jeong Seonyeong stared at him with wide eyes.

It was like a dance move.

Holding his sword with both hands, he moved his feet gracefully, and his sword, which was so fast it was invisible, successfully deflected all the incoming water projectiles.

Physical impact.

Magical momentum.

Everything was deflected by his sword.

No more water projectiles approached Jeong Seonyeong and him.

All were blocked by his sword.

Flowing water.

It was like a dance move expressing flowing water.

'This is definitely an ultimate skill.'

The verbal command and his current appearance.

This was definitely an ultimate skill.

It was impressive that a mere C-class holder could use an ultimate skill, but it was also noteworthy that he possessed a rune capable of deriving an ultimate skill.

Generally, the 'normal runes' that holders possess...

Rarely derive ultimate skills.

In other words, the C-class holder in front of her possessed a rune of at least rare grade and had the ability and senses to use it sufficiently.

'An incredible talent is here.'

Jeong Seonyeong thought as she stared at him blankly.

The nameless young C-class holder.

It was a brilliant decision to leave him as her guard.

Indeed, her choice was not wrong.

...Although it was a sudden assignment, it was still brilliant.

* * *

'F*ck, s*x. I did it.'

I can't help it if you curse me for my crude language.

[Flowing Water Sword Technique].

I successfully implemented it perfectly.

Although [Flowing Water Sword Technique] is not at level 10 and my mana is insufficient, causing another 'use restriction'.

Still, the implementation is important.

If the conditions are met, I can use [Flowing Water Sword Technique] again.

'I feel so good.'

It's a different feeling from when I obtained [Wave-Crushing Sword Technique].

Back then, I was in a desperate situation and not in my best physical condition, so there were many elements of luck.

I couldn't even use a verbal command.

But this time, I was in my best physical condition.

There was no problem using my sword and mana, and I had the belief that Jeong Seonyeong would protect me with an ice wall if I failed.

Moreover, I had been practicing [Flowing Water Sword Technique] consistently while going through dungeons and fields.

Although I never succeeded, I never gave up on the method.

That ultimate skill, at the most crucial moment.

At the time when it was most needed, it was implemented, and I feel so good.

[Flowing Water Sword Technique] also increased in understanding, reaching level 7, the same as [Wave-Crushing Sword Technique].

"The monster is in a weakened state!"

"All members of the attack team! Focus on killing the monster!"

After using [Flowing Water Sword Technique] to deflect all the water projectiles.

The temporary attack team launched another counterattack.

The attack team's charge, Swall Leviathan's counterattack, and the attack team's charge again.

It was a similar pattern.

Although the water magic attack was fierce, it was a desperate act beyond its limits.

The monster had already allowed too many attacks.

The small attacks from the front-line warriors, the unbearable bombardment from the rear-line attackers, and the ultimate skills of some A-class holders.

Its solid durability began to crack.

Its endless stamina was depleted.

It was bound to tire out.

-Ka, kaah...

The advantage completely shifted to the attack team.

The attackers, who were confused by the water magic attack.

They regained their energy and launched a third bombardment.

In its already battered state.

Another bombardment from the attackers.

Handling it...

Even for an S-class monster, it was not easy.

Kuwoong-!!

Swall Leviathan allowed all the attacks.

Finally, it fell.

"Yaaah!"

"We, we won...!!"

"You f*cking monster! Killing my friend...!!"

"We survived...!"

The holders around.

The holders in the front.

All threw their weapons and shouted.

The tedious battle was finally over.

The successful S-class monster hunt, achieved through the efforts and sacrifices of many.

Finally, a victory was achieved.

'A little disappointing... though.'

While clenching my fist and cheering with everyone.

I expressed a slight disappointment in my heart.

Through this battle, I obtained new skills like [Flowing Water Sword Technique] and [Ironclad Defense], achieving valuable growth, but there was one thing I was disappointed about.

It was the difficulty of activating [Rune Hunter].

[Rune Hunter] is a rune that can downscale and copy the opponent's rune when you win a duel.

The criteria for a duel and victory are quite generous.

Even a many-against-one battle can be judged as a duel, and if the contribution is high, it is recognized as a victory, allowing the copying of a rune.

'But my contribution in this battle was low.'

In this battle, both tanking and dealing damage were ambiguous.

Although I held a shield, I couldn't block all the monster's attacks, and in terms of dealing damage, I didn't inflict any.

Although I blocked the monster's water magic with [Flowing Water Sword Technique] at the end... it was honestly a bit of a fluke to say that it significantly increased my contribution.

'Sigh. I'll be satisfied with getting two skills.'

I sighed and quickly gave up.

The original goal was the monster's mana stone.

If I got greedy, I might end up overexerting myself.

It seemed that obtaining an S-class monster's rune would have to be postponed to a distant future.

However...

[You have won the duel! Due to the ambiguous contribution in the duel, the victory is only partially recognized. By the mysterious power of Rune Hunter, you can copy one of the opponent's runes. Due to the partial victory, the copied rune is randomly selected.]

[Swallowed Whirlpool Wave has been selected. As it is a level 7 epic rune, its level will decrease to level 4.]

[You have obtained a new rune.]

[The rune grants 4 water resistance and 3 mana.]

No, this is crazy.

Ambiguous contribution?

Is this possible?