Chapter 94

EP.94 Stained Rock Pile (6)

The first thing that came to mind was [Rushing Water Thrust].

Among the evasion or defensive skills I possess, [Rushing Water Sword Technique]’s ultimate skill has the best effect.

In extreme crisis situations, 80% of the time, it was [Rushing Water Thrust] that saved me.

But I shook my head.

‘That’s not a projectile.’

Just as not all ultimate skills are invincible, [Rushing Water Thrust] has a clear limitation.

The objects it can deflect or defend against are generally limited to ranged attacks.

No, to be precise, it can also block close-range attacks.

However, when facing multiple opponents, its efficiency is not high.

If I were to use [Rushing Water Thrust] to block the wolves, Chae-eun would be the first to suffer, and I would find it difficult to defend against all-out attacks.

[Rushing Water Thrust] is a skill specialized in defending against attacks that come from a distance or are poured in one-on-one.

Auuu-!!

The wolves didn’t give me a moment to think.

The ones running at their characteristic high speed were already close and about to charge at us.

To buy some time.

I first inflicted a status effect on them.

“……!!”

Auu?

Auuu….

[Overwhelming]’s [Declaration of War].

A skill among those I possess that almost certainly inflicts a status effect.

Fortunately, the Gray Wolves, with their low mental stats compared to their physical abilities, easily fell into ‘fear’ and stopped moving.

But this time wouldn’t last long.

It was merely to buy time for a counterattack.

I quickly called out to Chae-eun.

“Chae-eun, the field…”

“It’s already ready!”

Chae-eun’s [Field Freezing] spread around.

[Field Freezing] is one of the two area-of-effect skills she possesses.

While it has less control over the enemy compared to [Frozen Fog], it has slightly more destructive power and a much wider range.

The ground, which quickly began to freeze with magic, soon covered almost all the surrounding wolves.

Of course, this didn’t end the hunt.

Even though they were bound, the Gray Wolves are B-class monsters.

They are not the kind of monsters that can be taken down with a single area-of-effect skill.

‘But it bought us much more time.’

[Declaration of War] gave Chae-eun time to cast her magic.

[Field Freezing] gave me time to hunt the wolves.

The skills that followed in quick succession were all to buy time.

Pats- Patsu-

I quickly raised [Penitent’s Sword] and started hunting the wolves closest to me.

A battle using the agility of [Agile Movement] and the fluidity of [Rushing Water Sword Technique].

The sword already had the lightning of [Penetrating Thunder] attached to it.

Auuu-!!

However, when I had cut down about four Gray Wolves.

The effects of [Declaration of War] and [Field Freezing] were almost over.

The status effects on the wolves were starting to wear off.

The deferred crisis was about to resurface.

That’s not all.

The four Gray Wolves I had cut down didn’t die.

The lightning attack of [Penetrating Thunder] was effective, but the physical attack didn’t deal much damage.

I knew the reason.

‘Damn. They have defense runes too.’

I had momentarily forgotten.

The Gray Wolves, with their excellent physical abilities focused on speed and strength, also possess the rare-level defense rune [Tough Wolf Skin], making them highly durable.

Unless one has extremely high strength, it’s not easy to pierce their skin.

The special effect of the [Firm Fangs] rune or the [Hide Attack] skill.

These effects to reduce durability were desperately needed.

But the conditions to use them were not met.

“Chae-eun, come to my side!!”

“Okay!”

Chae-eun, who had been using attack skills in quick succession after [Field Freezing], quickly moved behind me.

The most dangerous in a physical attack is the damage dealer, Chae-eun.

In such a chaotic battle, it’s safer for her to be on my side, the clear front-liner.

‘Mana… is all gathered.’

Surrounded by dozens of wolves.

All the prepared attacks were nullified.

It’s quite desperate, but there’s still some leeway.

Because this isn’t the end of what I’ve prepared.

I used the mana skill I had saved until the last.

‘Power Break!’

[Power Break], a derivative skill of [Garden of Split Earth].

A skill that shakes the surrounding area by impacting the ground.

I had planned to use this skill from the beginning.

But to maximize the efficiency of [Power Break], there needed to be many monsters around, and it wasn’t suitable for the situation where the wolves were charging in sequence like before.

So, I used Chae-eun’s magic and [Declaration of War] to buy time and create a space where the wolves could gather.

The fully prepared [Power Break]…

Turned an impossible situation into a possible one.

Kaga, kagagaga-!!

Gugugug- Gururur!!

Auu, auuu…!!

The surroundings completely collapsed.

[Power Break] caused a massive tremor, shattering the ground.

Rocks rolled down from all directions.

‘Stained Rock Pile’ is a rock mountain overflowing with rocks.

Large rocks and boulders split one by one, pushing the wolves standing on them into chaos.

“Wow, wow….”

[Power Break] did not affect the spot where I was standing.

Thanks to this, Chae-eun, who was right behind me, was also unharmed.

The sight of the giant rock mountain collapsing and the terrain changing.

This is not a scene one can easily witness.

Gururur-

Rururur…

The shaking of the ground, which lasted for a few seconds, stopped.

The result was dramatic.

The rock mountain, which had maintained a certain interval, was split in various places, unable to maintain its balance, and the landslides caused by the massive earthquake were crushing some of the Gray Wolves.

It was a much greater impact than before.

Looking at this…

I made a decision.

“Chae-eun.”

“Yeah?”

Chae-eun turned her head at my words.

“Let’s go back.”

“Huh? Now?”

“Yeah. We’ve broken their formation, but I’ve used up almost all my mana. If we drink potions and fight again, it might become dangerous.”

Although we dealt a significant blow to the Gray Wolves, we didn’t hunt them all.

Some managed to escape the impact of [Power Break] and minimize their damage, and many were severely injured but not dead.

We would still need to engage in an endless endurance battle to hunt them all.

“Besides…”

I turned my gaze to the top of the rock mountain.

The giant wolf that had been standing majestically among the Gray Wolves.

A special monster that displayed an overwhelming presence, which could be considered a ‘boss monster’ at first glance.

A monster that definitely didn’t appear in the original.

Although it didn’t completely escape the effects of [Power Break], it quickly regained its balance due to the distance.

The only damage it received…

Was a few scratches from the flying rock fragments?

‘We can’t win if we fight now.’

A monster that looks at least A-class.

And it’s in full condition, having received almost no damage.

On the other hand, I’m out of mana and exhausted from the battle that started from the Snow Mountain Field.

Especially, I don’t have [Piercing Heaven Sword], my main attack skill and core ultimate skill.

I didn’t have the confidence to hunt this monster under such poor conditions.

Even though I’ve hunted many A-class monsters so far…

It would be overconfidence to think it’s all due to my own skills.

“But can we escape?”

Chae-eun asked me, looking anxious.

The method to leave the dungeon without clearing it is the same as when we entered.

The ground of the place we entered through.

By placing our hands on it and inputting mana like when we entered, we can exit.

However, this process takes some time.

It’s similar to using a warp gate, so sensing the mana, inputting it, and the transfer phenomenon all take quite a bit of time.

About 15 seconds.

Enough time for the monsters to attack.

The reason we couldn’t escape from the wolves when we first entered the dungeon was also due to this.

“Since we’re a bit far from that guy, let’s try. There’s no other way.”

The giant wolf, looking at us with a fierce gaze from a distance.

I ignored its gaze, grabbed Chae-eun’s hand, and quickly headed towards the entrance we first came through.

“Chae-eun, you input the mana.”

“Huh? Oh.”

I assigned the mana input to Chae-eun and looked ahead.

I told her it would be fine, but the probability of it not being fine is high.

The monsters that took the initiative wouldn’t let us go after receiving such a significant blow.

I had to prepare for the worst and be ready for it.

Gururur-!!

Auuu-!!

Sure enough.

The giant wolf, standing majestically, let out a roar.

The Gray Wolves, who were slowly getting up.

A few uninjured Gray Wolves and the giant wolf in the center…

Started charging at us with incredible speed.

‘They have the Rushing Stream rune.’

I felt it before, but the Gray Wolves and the giant wolf definitely have the Rushing Stream rune.

Probably not [Furious Rush], but the normal rune [Rush].

I don’t know if they have [Relentless Charge], but the fact that they have a rune that can close such a distance in an instant…

Is not good news for us.

‘Damn…’

I bit my lip and took out [Hobgoblin’s Bronze Shield].

Now, attacking is out of the question.

I need to focus on defense as much as possible.

Even if I stay and send Chae-eun alone, I can’t let the mana for the dungeon exit be interrupted.

Gururur-

Auuu-!!

5 seconds, 4 seconds.

As the mana input for the dungeon exit was about to end and the transfer was about to complete.

The wolves finally reached us.

They arrived much faster than expected.

In this desperate situation, I raised my shield and prepared for [Iron Wall Defense].

I had to block it somehow.

Only then could I find a way to proceed.

And finally.

The moment the giant wolf and the Gray Wolves reached us and were about to open their mouths to devour us.

Pabat- Pababat-

Swoosh- Swoosh-

Auu?!

“Huh?”

In an instant.

It was a matter of an instant.

Numerous daggers flew and stuck into the wolves, and a woman who suddenly appeared slashed the giant wolf with two short swords.

Overwhelming speed and destructive power.

Shocking movements and skilled dagger techniques.

A battle that looked like a single dance of a sword.

The female holder suppressed all the Gray Wolves at an incredible speed and quickly finished hunting the giant wolf, which felt like a formidable opponent.

“This, this….”

Chae-eun also stopped the mana input and watched the situation in surprise.

Actually, there was nothing to watch.

It was already over.

The battle ended.

After the female holder arrived.

It happened in less than 10 seconds.

[You have won the duel! Due to your high contribution in the duel, your victory is recognized. By the mysterious power of the Rune Hunter, you can duplicate one of the opponent's runes. Please choose the rune to duplicate.]

[1. Tough Wolf Skin 2. Agility 3. Rush (unselectable) 4. Claw Combat (unselectable) … ]

…

…

[You have won the duel! Due to your ambiguous contribution in the duel, your victory is only half recognized. By the mysterious power of the Rune Hunter, you can duplicate one of the opponent's runes. As it is a half victory, the rune to be duplicated is randomly selected.]

[Prey Detection has been selected. As it is a level 11 rare rune, its level will decrease to level 6.]

[You have obtained a new rune.]

[You have gained 1 mana and 1 mental point due to the rune's attribute.]

And numerous information windows appeared.

I looked blankly at the air and the woman alternately.

‘What, what…’

We won the battle with an unexpected bus.

But the bus wasn’t just a bus.

It was a super high-speed bus traveling at 200 km/h.