Chapter 75

EP.75 The Forest Covered in Snakes (9)

‘I almost died, damn it...’

It’s impossible not to swear.

The guy who was switching bodies suddenly stopped the transfer and started using multiple magic attacks with another gimmick?

From the perspective of the one facing him, it was a difficult situation that made one want to curse.

Still, it was fortunate that the runes of sword techniques rose in time and the restrictions on ultimate skills were lifted, or else I would have been killed without any countermeasures.

‘Thank goodness the professors are my mentors.’

Although the use restrictions were suddenly lifted...

I calmly used [Flowing Water Active Sword] to block the wooden snakes.

This was based on the long hours of training I spent refining ultimate skills.

[Crashing Heaven Sword] and [Flowing Water Active Sword] are the main ultimate skills of Professors Tak Wonho and Kim Myunghyun, respectively. As their exclusive disciples, I could study the manifestation, application, and movements of the skills, as well as their various applications.

I received a lot of advice from the two professors.

I also trained a lot on my own.

Thanks to this, even though it was only the second time using an ultimate skill, I could use it skillfully without any awkwardness.

‘Now I need to help the front side.’

The party members were scattered and in chaos.

It’s the perfect condition for the Imugi in the wild mountain to wreak havoc.

So I quickly made a decision, gave orders to the rear members, and was approaching the creature with Kang Juyeon.

"Juyeon, you haven't used Inferno yet, right?"

"......!"

While running to match her pace, I asked about her current situation.

But Kang Juyeon's reaction was strange.

She didn't even answer, just looked at me with slightly widened eyes.

Considering her usual expressionless face...

She seemed quite surprised.

...What is it?

I tilted my head and asked again.

"Why? Did you already use Inferno?"

"...No, I didn't."

Of course, she didn't.

She wouldn't have had the chance to use it while focusing on the forest fire strategy.

I just asked to confirm, but her reaction surprised me.

‘Maybe Juyeon is also tense because the situation is bad.’

It was entirely possible.

No matter how much of a complete genius and B-rank Holder she is, this is the first time she’s been in such a dire dungeon since the ‘Academy Underground Dungeon’.

I erased any other thoughts and nodded.

"Okay. Then use Inferno when I give the signal. To capture that tough Imugi, your magic attack is essential. I'll try to create an opening like last time."

"...Okay."

With that answer, we finally arrived at the front.

The situation was as bad as expected.

Choi Dongwook was lying on the ground, battered and bruised from blocking the wooden snakes' attacks, and Kwon Ohjun was alone, blocking the boss's attacks.

I quickly took out a sword from my bag using the weapon change technique.

I didn't need a shield.

Now was the time to attack the creature with all my might, even if it meant risking my own life.

The dungeon gimmick was fully cleared, and the body switch was no longer possible.

Capturing this guy would end the dungeon strategy.

It was the perfect opportunity to bring down the Imugi in the wild mountain.

"Team Leader! Step back for a moment!"

I shouted to Kwon Ohjun.

Then I immediately charged at the Imugi in the wild mountain.

My body, healed by Lee Sumi's [Cure] and [Rest], was in top condition.

I also used [Emergency Treatment] from [Battle Healing] while running.

My current condition was as good as when I first started fighting.

"His body has become even stronger after the switch! Be careful, Joonjaehyun!"

Kwon Ohjun, as expected, was an experienced Holder.

The sudden appearance of me and Kang Juyeon.

My reckless charge and overstepping orders.

He didn't have any doubts about these situations.

He realized his own battle had reached its limits and, without hesitation, stepped back when I came to support.

He completely handed over the strategy to me.

Considering my position as a C-rank intern clan member, it was an incredible level of trust.

I leaped towards the monster, responding to that trust.

‘The direction is behind the guy!’

As soon as I reached the battlefield, I immediately tried to position myself behind the Imugi using [Charge].

The creature could turn its head at any moment, but at that time, it was too busy dealing with Kwon Ohjun to notice.

In other words, I was out of the monster's sight.

‘Stealth...!!’

[Stealth], which I obtained from defeating Electroporus, is a rune that helps erase one's presence when hiding in a specific location or object.

However, as long as the target is out of sight, [Stealth] can be used even if you are nearby.

I used [Stealth] as soon as I got behind the creature and instantly erased my presence.

In other words,

I could use [Stealth]’s derivative skill, [Hide Attack].

Kyaoo-!!

The Imugi in the wild mountain screamed.

[Hide Attack] ignores a certain amount of the opponent's durability and increases my attack power.

I also infused my sword with a lot of magic and stabbed the creature.

The sudden ambush.

The effective hit that seemed to tear through its scales.

The creature's panic was evident from its scream.

But that wasn't the end.

"Explode."

The reason I infused my sword with magic.

The reason I didn't pull it out after stabbing.

The reason I stubbornly clung to the creature as it thrashed violently.

It was for one chance.

One attack.

The best offensive ultimate skill I could use now.

[Crashing Heaven Sword].

Kya, Kyaoo-!!

Kya, Kya, Kyaoo-!!

The scream was incomparable to when it was hit by [Hide Attack].

After entering the boss room,

The creature's scream was the most painful-sounding.

The Imugi in the wild mountain seemed to be struggling to withstand the power of [Crashing Heaven Sword].

It thrashed wildly and screamed.

As a result, I, who was clinging to its back, was thrown to the ground without mercy.

‘Damn. I can't get used to falling.’

This is already the second fall.

The pain when hitting the ground is something I can't get used to.

But as much as I suffered,

The results were clear.

The sword embedded in the middle of the creature's back was glowing intensely, and the area where [Crashing Heaven Sword] fully hit had a large hole, as if it had been hit by a cannon.

An opening.

I did my best to create an opening for the creature.

I shouted with all my strength while lying on the ground.

"Kang Juyeon!! Now...!!"

Before my shout reached her,

A scorching heat already filled the ground.

Where I was thinking.

Kang Juyeon was also on the same wavelength.

The preparation for her magic was already complete.

"Rise."

Kang Juyeon murmured.

[Inferno], the ultimate skill of [Eternal Flame].

If there is a gap for the flames to enter,

It is a destructive attack magic that burns everything of the target.

The flames of [Inferno] started from the Imugi's back and spread to various parts of its body, eventually covering its entire body and burning everything.

Whoosh, whoosh-!!

Kya, Kyaoo...

Boom, boom!!

After thrashing in the flames for a while,

With a sound like a giant tree falling,

The Imugi in the wild mountain finally collapsed.

The fierce battle that we poured everything into.

The end of the long fight.

I fell to the ground, lying down.

"It's over…."

I felt drained.

I just wanted to sleep and do nothing.

* * *

"Everyone, good job."

After the Imugi in the wild mountain finally fell,

The scattered party members gathered.

Thanks to the time that had passed, the team members seemed to be in relatively good condition.

Choi Dongwook, who was in the worst condition, quickly recovered his color with Lee Sumi's treatment.

Kwon Ohjun's gaze turned to one side.

Where I and Kang Juyeon were.

"Especially Miss and Joonjaehyun. You two really did a great job. Joonjaehyun, your contribution was immense. Without you, our party would have been wiped out."

Kwon Ohjun, who had been pushing me and Shin Yuna throughout the strategy, praised me to the highest degree.

...Honestly, being wiped out is a bit exaggerated.

Even if the strategy became impossible,

We could have tried to escape from the boss room.

Someone might have died or been injured in the process, but it was possible.

Still, rescuing the team members from danger and finishing the boss hunt with Kang Juyeon was an achievement I wanted to praise myself for.

I bowed slightly and replied.

"Thank you. It was possible because the team leader trusted me."

"There was nothing else to do but trust. I'm sorry."

"What are you talking about? You were facing the boss alone while we were dealing with the wooden snakes in the rear."

While we were blocking the wooden snakes in the rear,

Kwon Ohjun faced both the wooden snakes and the Imugi in the wild mountain alone.

He must have used his ultimate skill during that time.

If he hadn't bought us time,

Capturing the boss monster would have been impossible.

A worthy performance for an A-rank Holder team leader and a dispatched operation party leader.

"Anyway, the boss room strategy was well completed and..."

Kwon Ohjun paused for a moment.

He looked at Choi Dongwook and then turned his gaze to Min Chae-hwan.

"We need to finish what needs to be done."

Swoosh-

Swish-

It happened in an instant.

Choi Dongwook, who had been fidgeting with two short swords at his waist, moved at lightning speed as soon as Kwon Ohjun finished speaking...

And pressed the short swords to Min Chae-hwan's neck.

Min Chae-hwan was subdued and threatened in just one second.

"Team Leader!! What the hell are you doing!"

Min Chae-hwan shouted in a voice filled with anger.

His tone suggested that he didn't understand the sudden subjugation.

Of course, I didn't understand it either.

What's going on after we successfully captured the boss?