Chapter 91

EP.91 Stained Rock Pile (3)

-Then I'll see you tomorrow.

Tak Wonho, who had set a schedule after a long time of not meeting, retreated with those words.

The holder I've been looking for might be at the Academy!

Although slightly tempted by the possibility Tak Wonho suggested, Yoo Eunseol didn't have high hopes.

After all, it's just a student holder.

Most are C-grade holders, and even the B-grade holders, who are considered outstanding students, don't quite meet Yoo Eunseol's standards.

Naturally, there was no reason to expect much.

‘Maybe the successor of the Fire Judge would be okay…’

Of course, it's not that there are none.

There is one.

Kang Juyeon.

A student holder who achieved B-grade at the age of twenty and is already preparing to lead a clan.

She has been a topic of discussion since her admission to the Academy and is considered the top prospect among young holders at this point.

‘…It would be difficult, though.’

Kang Juyeon is the successor of the Fire Judge.

The daughter of Kang Woo-hyun, a famous S-grade holder and clan master.

Going on a raid with her would be no different from bringing Song Do-hyuk of the Dragon Sword Road to the party.

Ultimately, it would involve getting entangled with a large clan's interests.

This was something Yoo Eunseol would refuse.

Moreover, even if Kang Juyeon is an outstanding prospect, it's questionable whether she meets the standards Yoo Eunseol is looking for.

“……”

Yoo Eunseol looked at the dense trees of Seoraksan.

The field she had led a temporary party to climb every day for nearly a month.

She didn't form a party today because of the appointment for tomorrow.

As a result, she was alone at the entrance to the Seoraksan field.

“A walk… maybe.”

For her, who had already reached the highest level in solo play, field hunting was more like a walk.

…Even if it was the Seoraksan field, where high-level monsters roamed.

Yoo Eunseol slowly climbed the mountain.

Perhaps today, she might encounter an S-grade monster at the top by sheer luck.

* * *

Auuu-!!

The howl of a wolf echoed throughout the mountain.

A cry that made her realize she had entered the Seoraksan field.

Famous for its wolf-type monsters, the Seoraksan field was well-known for having many wolf-type monsters, unlike the Inwangsan field, which was famous for tiger-type monsters.

“Those are….”

Monsters appeared as we climbed the mountain.

Wolves that often appear at the entrance of the Seoraksan field.

C-grade monsters, Dire Wolves.

As is typical of these creatures, which travel in packs, about ten of them were occupying the bushes.

‘Why are there so many?’

I've seen monsters travel in packs before, but ten is the first time I've seen this many.

Even though C-grade monsters are easier to hunt now, this is not a number to be ignored.

We needed to approach them carefully.

Just before the monsters charged.

A tense standoff in the bush.

Suddenly, a voice came from behind, where Kim Chae-eun was standing.

“Jae-hyun, I'm ready!”

Already ready?

I almost blurted out a surprised question but managed to hold it back.

[High-Speed Incantation]?

Even if she had been raising her mana and staying tense, it was still a very fast speed.

I nodded while keeping my eyes on the front.

“Okay, now!”

“Okay!”

The breathing we had practiced countless times.

Without hesitation, Kim Chae-eun cast her spell.

[Frozen Fog], a derivative skill of [Freezing], spread through the bushes.

Kim Chae-eun's skill to immobilize the monsters.

Then I charged in and unleashed close-range attacks.

By reducing the number of the monster pack this way, our roles would switch.

I would tank at the front, and then Kim Chae-eun would focus on casting magic and skills.

This was a composite combo we often used when hunting the Academy's underground dungeon together.

‘Definitely… the ice fog is thicker.’

I thought as I watched the fog spreading to the Dire Wolves.

Kim Chae-eun, who had received short-term training from Jung Sun-young a month ago.

Although it's too short a time to see a significant change, she had clearly grown to a new level.

The density of the ice crystals was much higher, and the speed at which she cast her spells was faster.

Especially the considerable amount of mana swirling around her.

Now, I could tell that a high-level [Mana Amplification] was being used.

With this level of magical support.

I thought we could hunt the monsters faster than expected.

I started the ‘charge’ with a sense of admiration.

This time, the charge was not [Charge].

It was the newly learned [Furious Charge].

Auuu-!!

As the [Frozen Fog] touched their bodies, the wolves howled more fiercely.

A control-type spell that slowly restrains the body.

It seemed they could feel the discomfort.

‘Not all of them, though.’

Unfortunately, not all ten wolves were immobilized by the ice fog.

Seven Dire Wolves were completely frozen and immobilized.

The remaining three wolves.

They were growling and charging at me.

‘Stupid brats.’

When I was already in a difficult position, they charged at a holder who was in the middle of a charge.

There's no better opportunity than this.

“Huh…!!”

Using the momentum of the charge, I collided with the wolves with all my strength.

Auu-?!

The Dire Wolves, which had been charging at me with the intent to tear me apart, were all swept away in a single collision.

Is this really just the effect of a simple charge?

The collision was so intense that I had this thought.

‘…They were swept away like fallen leaves.’

The reason for this lies in the combination of various runes.

First, [Furious Charge], obtained from the Red Drake raid.

This rune, which belongs to the higher-level runes among the charge-type runes, maximized the charge speed.

[Charge] was good, but a rare rune is definitely different.

It was faster and more accurate.

Then, using [Ruthless Charge], which ignores physical attacks during the charge and deals double the strength of the impact.

Here, the [Intimidation] ability, which boosts the effect due to the lower stats of the Dire Wolves compared to mine, came into play.

The fact that the wolves collapsed helplessly after a single collision with me.

Was a somewhat predictable result.

Auuu-!!

Sak- Sak- Sasak-

The howls of the Dire Wolves could be heard, and my sword moved in rhythm with them.

The strength and weakness control using [Flowing Water Sword Technique] and [Wave-Crashing Sword Technique].

The Dire Wolves received appropriate hits from the fast yet smooth sword strikes.

‘The seasoning is done…’

The seven Dire Wolves slightly frozen by [Frozen Fog].

To deal a greater blow to them.

I activated [Penetrating Lightning] on my sword.

Pats- Patsu-

The lightning flowing from the sword gradually intensified.

It's not just because the level of [Penetrating Lightning] is high.

It's the effect of [Mana Amplification] I obtained from Kim Sung-chul yesterday.

Now, I could use the common rune of mage-type holders.

After completing the preparation for the mana attack.

I plunged all the lightning into the wolf at the front.

A, Auu-!!

Patsu- Patsu-!!

The lightning connected through the [Frozen Fog].

It produced a loud noise and a burst of electricity, which was poured into all seven Dire Wolves, electrocuting them.

There's no way C-grade wolves would have lightning resistance.

Naturally, the effect was significant.

But it didn't end there.

Although the lightning-infused mana attack was intense, it couldn't kill all seven.

A finishing touch was needed.

‘Mana… is all gathered.’

After strongly gathering mana in [Repentant Blade].

I immediately converted it into holy power.

The blue mana gathered and turned into a massive light, adding a white hue.

The high-powered mana, shaped like a curved sword.

The preparation for the innate skill [Divine Slash] was complete.

Kwa, Kwaah-!!

Auu, Auk….

The mana strike split the air and enveloped the seven Dire Wolves.

For the Dire Wolves already in a critical state, [Divine Slash] was an overwhelmingly powerful mana attack.

The A-grade boss monster Red Drake had charged at me again after taking this hit…

But the C-grade Dire Wolves had neither the ability to block it nor the time to dodge.

The seven wolves were quickly hunted.

Auuu-!!

“Were they still alive?”

The seven were hunted, but the Dire Wolves I had knocked down with the ‘charge’ earlier had gotten up.

Although Dire Wolves are not particularly durable as they focus on offense, it seems the collision effect of [Ruthless Charge] was not powerful enough to instantly kill them, and they had regained consciousness.

I looked at them with a relaxed smile.

If I could kill seven at once, three would be much easier.

‘One with Quarter Knife.’

Four daggers from my waist.

I threw them at one Dire Wolf.

[Quarter Knife], now a derivative skill of [Martial Arts Master].

A skill I always use for individual hunting or preemptive attacks, like a reliable bowl of rice.

The four daggers, slicing through the air quickly, stabbed the Dire Wolf, dividing its head to its waist into four parts.

‘The other two with consecutive strikes…!!’

Using the techniques of [Agile Movement] and [Flowing Water Sword Technique], I swung my sword at the remaining two wolves.

[Consecutive Strikes], which cuts three times simultaneously.

Once at the body of the left wolf.

Another at the body of the right wolf.

The final cut, slicing the legs of both simultaneously, finished them off.

Suruung-

By the time I sheathed the [Repentant Blade], which was covered in blood, all ten Dire Wolves were dead.

I smiled contentedly at the scene.

‘It was clean.’

The effort of not slacking off in clan activities and training, and growing steadily, paid off.

My skills had definitely improved since before the break.

Even compared to when we hunted the ‘Hobgoblin Village’.

Back then, we had to hide behind trees, use a [Bow] for long-range attacks, and barely manage to herd hunt by blocking the monsters' attacks with a [Shield]…

Now, I could finish them off with just a charge, sword, and mana.

Dealing with multiple C-grade monsters was not difficult at all.

‘And I hardly used any skills.’

[Quarter Knife], [Consecutive Strikes], and the innate skill [Divine Slash].

I only used a total of three skills.

Now, I could herd hunt with just the use of runes and my inherent power.

Hunting at the entrance of the Seoraksan field was a highly satisfying battle for me.

But there was something I hadn't anticipated.

“Jae, Jae-hyun. What is all this…?”

Kim Chae-eun looked around with a confused face.

Then she stared at me blankly.

Seeing her bewildered expression.

I finally realized the situation.

“…Ah.”

The ten monsters were quickly dispatched.

A battle where the mage-type holder didn't even need to deal damage.

What do I say to this…?