Chapter 96

EP.96 Stained Rock Pile (8)

As soon as I saw that peculiar information window,

I told my party members that I would be back after a quick bathroom break.

Of course, there was no bathroom in the dungeon, but it meant that I would quickly take care of my business and return.

And when I had moved a little distance away,

I could check the information window comfortably again.

"Suddenly, a Superior Rune...?"

I rubbed my eyes and looked into the air.

I had only intended to review the information on the newly acquired runes, but a golden information window about 'Superior Rune Combination' appeared, something I had forgotten about for a while.

The Superior Rune I currently possess is [Martial Arts Master], the only one.

It was the rune I obtained when the function for Superior Runes first became available.

If this combination succeeds, it would mean I would obtain my second Superior Rune.

I rechecked the information window I had left off earlier.

[There are currently combinable runes. You can obtain a Superior Rune using the mysterious power of the Rune Hunter.]

[Superior Rune: Heir of the Barbarian King / Inferior Runes: Lizard Scales, Tough Wolf Skin, Herculean Strength, Sturdy Teeth, Sharp Claws, Pointed Fangs, Prey Detection, Quadruped Combat]

"Damn, why are there so many?"

The number of runes selected as Inferior Runes was quite large.

Actually, it's not that many.

Last time with [Martial Arts Master], 8 runes were also selected.

However, the reason why the Inferior Runes for this combination seem particularly numerous,

and what stands out more than before is...

"Almost all of them are Rare Runes."

The reason is that, except for [Quadruped Combat], all the runes selected as Inferior Runes are Rare Runes.

Considering that all the Inferior Runes for [Martial Arts Master] were Normal Runes, this is quite a costly combination.

Moreover, from [Lizard Scales] and [Sturdy Teeth], which have been excellent runes, to [Prey Detection] and [Pointed Fangs], which I recently obtained...

Most of the runes are auxiliary runes for physical enhancement.

From this, it can be predicted that the Superior Rune to be combined will also be in the physical enhancement category.

"Hmm... Before combining, let's check the newly obtained runes first."

I don't know the abilities of the Inferior Runes to be combined yet.

I needed to check the information on the newly obtained runes.

I called up the information on each rune.

After entering the dungeon, I obtained a total of 4 runes.

[Agility], [Tough Wolf Skin], [Pointed Fangs], [Prey Detection].

The first two were obtained from the Gray Wolf, the next from the Black Wolf, and the last from the A-rank mid-boss monster, Azena.

"They all seem pretty ordinary..."

When I skimmed through the rune information, the first three didn't seem particularly special.

[Agility] is a Normal Rune in the movement category, similar to [Nimble Movement], and [Tough Wolf Skin] and [Pointed Fangs] are Rare Runes in the physical enhancement category that I have consistently obtained.

But [Prey Detection].

This is definitely different.

As the name suggests, it is a 'Detection Rune' common to the archer category... and because it is a Rare grade, it has much better performance than the Normal [Detection] rune.

<Rune Information>

◎Name: Prey Detection

◎Grade: Rare (R)

◎Level: 6

◎Engraved Part: Nose

◎Special Effects

: Can detect all movements within a certain distance. The performance increases with the rune level and mental stats, and can detect even hidden targets depending on the gap.

: If the target to be detected is an animal, the rune's performance doubles.

◎Derived Skills: -

◎Detailed Information

: The detection of a predator seeking prey. Prey caught in the radar will not easily escape.

"Pretty solid."

It was a standard detection rune.

During dungeon runs and field hunts, I often struggled without a detection rune, but now I wouldn't have to deal with such inconvenience.

Moreover, because of the 'prey' in the name, the detection performance for animals doubles.

This additional effect could be helpful in certain situations.

"Then, now... "

I called up the golden information window again.

I had confirmed the information on all the newly obtained runes.

Now it was really time to combine the 'second Superior Rune'.

After calming my inexplicably racing heart,

I slowly proceeded with the combination.

[You have combined the Superior Rune 'Heir of the Barbarian King'. Lizard Scales, Tough Wolf Skin, ..., Quadruped Combat, etc., a total of 8 runes are selected as Inferior Runes. The judgment level of the Superior Rune, synthesized from the Inferior Runes, is 3.]

[You have obtained a new rune.]

[The rune's tendency grants 4 points each in Strength and Durability.]

The rune information appeared immediately.

<Rune Information>

◎Name: Heir of the Barbarian King

◎Grade: Legendary (L) / Superior (S)

◎Possessed Inferior Runes

[Lizard Scales] [Tough Wolf Skin] [Herculean Strength]

[Sturdy Teeth] [Sharp Claws] [Pointed Fangs]

[Prey Detection] [Quadruped Combat]

◎Level: 3

◎Engraved Part: Throat

◎Special Effects

: The special power of the Superior Rune can apply proficiency corrections to the Inferior Runes. Each Inferior Rune can increase its proficiency as a single rune, and can also increase proficiency through the Superior Rune's correction.

: Receives proficiency correction for specific weapons (axe, mace, hammer, knuckle-hand) and increases power when using these weapons.

: The law of the predator, which seeks to conquer a pack, is always applied. When fighting alone against a minimum of three or more enemies, specific stats (Strength, Speed, Durability) increase by 15% (Lv.3). The stats return immediately when the battle ends or the conditions are not met.

*Inferior Special Effects

: (Detailed)

◎Derived Skills

[Rage]

*Inferior Skills

[Strengthen]

◎Detailed Information

: The power inherited from the barbarian king, Magnus Barbarian, who is said to have used all the abilities of beasts and become a 'beast man'. It allows the use of physical or magical abilities possessed by beasts like limbs, and the newly obtained powers can also be freely controlled.

"......"

The overwhelming amount of information.

I was speechless as I looked at it.

It wasn't just the sheer volume of information.

The grade, effects, skills...

All the related content was shocking.

It was one of the most impressive things I had seen so far.

It felt like I had been hit on the head.

The silence was due to the overwhelming information before my eyes.

"What about the stats...?"

First, the stat corrections didn't make sense.

Strength and Durability.

These are the main stats that are crucial for me, who engages in direct combat.

They each increased by 4 points.

Durability shot up to 40, and Strength, which had been stagnant recently, reached 45, surpassing the Speed stat.

Considering that the increase when I obtained [Martial Arts Master] was Strength 2 and Speed 3, this was a very high level of increase.

Especially since the stats have all been increasing and getting harder to raise recently...

This was a much-needed boost, like a drop of rain in a drought.

But the most important thing isn't that.

"Legendary?"

The Superior Rune [Heir of the Barbarian King].

The grade of this rune is 'Legendary (L)'.

This is the first Legendary rune I have obtained.

A rune I have never encountered before.

If I had a plan, it would be the [Forgotten Dragon's Stone Plate].

The Legendary rune I would obtain by unsealing this item.

I had been filling up the magic stones to obtain it...

I never thought I would get such a Legendary rune through a Superior Rune combination.

Of course, not all Legendary runes are the same.

The Legendary grade is determined when a rune is a kind of inheritance or is connected to ancient history.

Naturally, there are differences even among Legendaries, and it's hard to consider the 'legend of dragons' and the 'legend of the barbarian king' to be of the same level.

"Not necessarily better than Epic."

Just because it's Legendary doesn't mean it's always better than Epic.

After the Epic (E) grade, the origin of the runes can differ, but the performance can be quite similar.

For example, the Epic runes [Rune Hunter] and [Sweat of the Seeker] have performance that surpasses many Legendary runes.

Still, obtaining a Legendary rune...

This is definitely a pleasant fact.

I calmed my excited heart and slowly read through the information.

First, the 'Special Effects' that caught my eye.

"The law of the predator. This is a completely personalized effect for me."

The law of the predator, which seeks to conquer a pack.

A special effect that assists stats when fighting alone against a minimum of three or more enemies.

This is a completely optimized effect for me, who often does solo hunts.

'Minimum of three or more', 'fighting alone'...

All the condition phrases match me.

My runes, which can perform all major roles in a party, are set up to the point where I can almost be called a one-man party.

"Flail, axe, hammer... This seems to have good synergy with [Martial Arts Master]."

Perhaps because of the 'Barbarian' title.

There is an effect that provides proficiency and power corrections for four types of weapons.

I don't use other weapons much, but 'knuckle-hand' is something I use frequently after swords and daggers, so it seems quite useful.

And finally.

Derived Skills.

"Rage, this actually exists."

I said in amazement.

The [Rage Potion] used by my clan members in <Villain> in extreme situations.

The source of that potion's power actually exists as a skill.

[Rage] is a skill that, for a certain period, makes the user's body boil with rage and increases the power of all attacks by 50%.

Originally, it would cause the user to lose their sanity during use, and the rune's power would be lost after use...

But that is the penalty for the [Rage Potion], not the [Rage] skill.

The only penalty is a slight decrease in speed and a drop in directional sense after use.

This is manageable compared to the power it unleashes.

"...It's a jackpot."

Even after finishing reading,

I could only stand there in a daze.

Just to confirm Kim Chae-eun's improved skills,

and to tackle an undiscovered dungeon,

an unexpected variable occurred, and I managed to escape with the help of an S-rank holder by luck.

The runes I obtained as a reward for winning the duel through that help.

They were just rewards for receiving a bus...

But these rewards piled up and piled up.

And they were now creating an incredible jackpot.