Chapter 83

EP.83 A-Class Beating C-Class (3)

The boss monster has changed.

It's no longer Grizzly Drake, but Red Drake.

A monster with red mane instead of gray.

It was growling at me, the uninvited guest in the boss room.

'Why the change?'

Once the monsters inside the dungeon are cleared, they respawn a week later.

While the system that generates new monsters, similar to a game, hasn't been fully explained yet, there are a few established rules about respawning.

For example, after the initial clearing, the 'Rest Room' no longer opens, and if the dungeon's boss had a gimmick, that gimmick also disappears. These are the rules that have been revealed through the Holders' dungeon clearings over time.

However, nowhere in those rules does it mention that the boss monster can change.

Even if the 'Magic Resistance' gimmick disappears, the boss should remain the same.

'Could it be because of the dragonling's magic stone?'

A fairly reasonable hypothesis came to mind.

The magic stones that fill the [Forgotten Dragonling's Stone Plate].

All of them are magic stones from dragonling monsters.

And the monsters that qualify as dragonlings are unknown to the Holder community.

Grizzly Drake, Swell Leviathan, and Imugi of the Wild Mountains.

All of these monsters lack any known information.

In other words, if Grizzly Drake initially occupied the dungeon as a special dragonling, and Red Drake was originally the dungeon's boss monster, then the current situation is actually the norm.

'Then the forest covered in snakes...'

There's a possibility that the boss monster there has also changed.

Unfortunately, that dungeon is owned by <Judgment of Fire>, not me, so I'll have to request a clan dispatch to find out later.

-Grrr...!!

While I was organizing my thoughts.

Red Drake's body moved.

After confirming I had entered the boss room.

It was a sudden charge not long after.

I was about to use the [Hobgoblin's Bronze Shield] through my equipment change skill...

But then I realized something was off and stopped the change.

'Too fast?'

Red Drake's speed was excessively fast.

A speed that couldn't be achieved by speed stats alone.

A movement that couldn't be categorized as a stepping rune.

I knew this form of rune better than anyone.

"It's a charge."

It could only be explained by the [Charge] rune, a type of rush rune.

His movement was a 'charge' assisted by the rune.

Or, is it really [Charge]?

Considering his level, his speed was too fast even with the rune's assistance.

It might be a higher-level rush rune than [Charge].

'First, the dagger...'

Just in case, I threw the dagger from my waist.

To check if he only had a rush rune or if he also had [Relentless Charge].

Clang, Clang!

'As expected.'

As expected.

He also had [Relentless Charge].

My daggers, which flew quickly, bounced off without causing any damage.

It meant physical attacks were ignored.

Red Drake then ran even faster, using the acceleration as a medium, and soon reached right in front of me.

-Grrr...!!

"Whoa...!!"

I used [Agile Movement] at the right moment.

I had no intention of blocking his charge with a shield.

Even though the monster's species has changed, Red Drake is still an A-Class monster.

With high strength and speed, and assisted by a rush rune, the destructive power is unimaginable.

Thinking I could block it with a shield, even with my defensive runes and related skills, would be quite naive.

BOOM!!

-Grrr...

'Crazy. I almost got wrecked.'

The spot where I was standing a second ago was destroyed.

I narrowly avoided Red Drake's charge.

Even though my main stats are mostly over 40 and close to the B-Class average of 50...

There's still a significant gap compared to the A-Class Red Drake.

Therefore, his rush rune with incredible speed.

Avoiding it wasn't easy.

'I need to find a solution quickly...'

While avoiding the charge, I quickly thought of a plan.

The best strategy would be to use my core skill combo, just like when I defeated 'Imugi of the Wild Mountains'.

Using [Stealth]'s [Hide Attack] to chip away at his durability and land effective hits, followed by the ultimate skill [Piercing Thousand Swords] for a decisive follow-up.

If it connects properly, it's incredibly powerful.

However, the problem is I can't use [Stealth] now.

The boss room is too small to hide, and Red Drake follows up with a charge as soon as he sees me, making it hard to disappear from his sight.

There are no allies to help like before, so it's difficult to land the combo on him.

'Proclamation... Damn, I used it earlier.'

Using [Intimidate]'s [Proclamation] is an option, but it's on cooldown.

Unfortunately, after continuously hunting B-Class monsters, not all my skills are at their best.

'I need to use an earth-type magic rune.'

The only remaining option.

Using [Garden of Split Earth] to deform the ground.

If I can twist the path by splitting or moving the ground...

His charge will have to stop, and then I can find a way to clear the dungeon.

What I lack now is evasion or tanking, not damage.

-Grrr...

Red Drake prepared for another charge, his body turning bright red.

'Not red from fire, but from running so fast...'

I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity.

I thought 'Red' meant he used fire like a Sizzling Salamander, but he's more like a B-Class Centaur, using charges.

Fortunately, he doesn't have the 'Magic Resistance' gimmick like Grizzly Drake...

But the destructive power and difficulty in stopping his charges make him surprisingly more challenging than Grizzly Drake.

-Grrr...

He charged again.

Using his high speed and rush rune level.

If I hesitate, he'll reach me in no time.

'The protrusion...!!'

I quickly used [Garden of Split Earth].

The goal was to create a protrusion on the ground in his charge path.

Like creating a rock or boulder, making part of the ground rise.

Grinding...

Although my proficiency isn't high enough to create a protrusion right in front of him, I managed to create one in a part of the path he would likely reach.

If the charge continues...

Red Drake will definitely stop when he hits the protrusion.

I need to seize that opportunity.

I gathered mana to prepare for the next attack...

-Grrr...

"Huh?"

He turned.

Not in the sense of losing his mind...

He actually turned during the charge.

Red Drake rotated halfway through the path and then started charging at me again.

Damn it.

What the hell.

Is that even possible?

'To change direction during a charge?'

This confirmed it.

The rune he has isn't [Charge].

My [Charge] can't change direction during a charge.

It can be done, but the charge assistance from [Charge] is immediately cut off.

It can only charge in one direction, and if it's interrupted, it needs to reset the charge stance.

But Red Drake changed direction during the charge and even maintained his speed.

It's definitely a higher-level rush rune than [Charge].

'I need to raise my shield.'

I already missed the timing to evade.

Moreover, considering what happened earlier, there's a good chance I'll get caught in his charge while evading.

Now, I have to face this charge, no matter what.

I summoned the [Hobgoblin's Bronze Shield] using the equipment change skill.

Immediately followed by the skill [Iron Defense].

But that's not all.

'Attack is the best defense...!'

Just evading and defending won't give me a chance to turn the tide.

While raising the shield, I also gathered mana.

[Flaring Flame] and [Penetrating Lightning].

Two elemental magic attacks flowed from the shield to both sides.

Fire on the left, lightning on the right.

Double-prepared magic attacks, just in case.

If he hits the shield...

Red Drake's body will likely not be unscathed.

-Grrr, Grrr...

Clang, Clang...

BOOM!

"Kuh, ugh...!!"

The shield was crushed, and the immense destructive power hit my body.

Pain beyond imagination.

Experiencing that pain firsthand, I realized...

'Ah... the Relentless Charge effect...'

[Relentless Charge] doesn't just ignore physical attacks during a charge.

It also has the effect of dealing damage equal to twice the user's strength if the charge is successful.

While it's not a broken effect due to various constraints, it's incredibly destructive if it connects.

Especially when used by an A-Class monster with massive stats, the power is doubled.

Since it broke through [Iron Defense] and hit me, it's as good as done.

As a result, my body is now battered and bruised.

-Grrr...

Of course, Red Drake isn't completely unscathed either.

The two magic attacks I prepared in advance were effective.

His mane was burning, and his body twitched as if electrocuted, showing signs of restraint.

Clearly, without the 'Magic Resistance' gimmick and being focused on charges and attacks, he's vulnerable to magic.

-Grrr...

Red Drake charged at me again.

I watched his movements closely with both eyes.

[Dragon Scale] and [Strengthen] are still available, but blocking him directly with my body is impossible.

I realized this painfully when I blocked him with the shield just now.

Even if I manage to block it somehow, the impact will be enormous.

In the end, I need to evade.

I need to evade at the last moment using [Agile Movement] and then use magic attacks and ultimate skills to finish him off.

If my prediction is correct, once.

If I can land a proper attack once more...

I think I can defeat him.

"Come on, lizard brat."

I looked straight at him.

Not missing a single moment of his charging movement.

To ensure I evade at the last second.

-Grrr, Grrr...

Red Drake charged at me fiercely.

I watched his movement...

Huh?

...Stopped?

"What?"

Dust and rock fragments from the sudden stop covered Red Drake.

He suddenly stopped.

After 'turning', he stopped.

Literally.

His fierce charge came to a halt.

And he stared straight at me.

Shaking his entire body.

As if...

'Paralyzed'.

"What the hell is this?"

So absurd.

I forgot to counterattack and muttered to myself.

What's going on?