Chapter 19 Academy Underground Dungeon (4)
[You won the duel! Thanks to your significant contribution during the duel, your victory is recognized. With the mysterious power of the Rune Hunter, you can duplicate one of the opponent’s runes. Please choose the rune to duplicate.]
[1. Underwater Breathing 2. Strengthen 3. Spear (Not selectable)]
I succeeded in hunting the Lizardmen, and the effect of the [Rune Hunter] was activated once again.
Although the Lizardman that followed didn’t manage to land a single hit, I had quite a share in the four Lizardmen I had hunted before. Thanks to that, I was acknowledged for my high contribution in the duel.
The Lizardman had a total of three runes, which was quite a lot for a C-grade monster.
[Spear] was already in my possession, so it was not selectable and excluded from the options.
I pondered between [Underwater Breathing] and [Strengthen].
‘Hmm…’
Both are decent rare runes.
However, I slightly valued [Underwater Breathing] more for a simple reason. The [Strengthen] rune might sound like it holds tremendous power, but in reality, it is just a useful rare rune that assists with physical strength. It does not grant any over-the-top, comic-like abilities such as splitting the ground with a single punch.
Especially considering that [Strengthen] is named after the ‘strength of monsters,’ many monsters possessed this rune.
‘I don’t really need to choose it right now.’
On the other hand, [Underwater Breathing] offered a completely new ability that allowed one to breathe freely underwater. This could be helpful in tackling dungeons like rivers or seas, and who knows what abilities I might gain from hunting other monsters in the future.
It was similar to when I chose [Lizard’s Scales] after defeating the Sizzling Salamander. I chose [Underwater Breathing] for the potential it held.
[You have chosen Underwater Breathing. As it is a level 6 rare rune, its level will decrease to 3 upon registration.]
[You have gained a new rune.]
[You gain 3 points of water resistance as the rune’s attribute.]
[A new resistance has been activated.]
<Rune Information>
◎Name: Underwater Breathing
◎Grade: Rare
◎Level: 3
◎Engraved Location: Nose
◎Special Effects: –
: Enables breathing underwater like any other creature.
: Water Resistance +3
◎Derived Skill: –
–
◎Detailed Information: Affinity and resistance to water are enhanced.
I read the consecutive information windows that appeared before me slowly. It contained the expected contents, and there was an unexpected gain in the form of ‘Water Resistance.’
This was quite a pleasant bonus. Since I couldn’t predict when and where resistance might come in handy, there was no harm in having it. Water resistance was quite valuable, as increasing this stat would grant resistance to water-based magic as well.
It was similar for both [Poison] and [Underwater Breathing]. It felt great to obtain elemental resistances quickly through luck.
It was certain that defeating the Lizardmen in the hunt was quite rewarding.
However, it didn’t end there.
[You won the duel! Thanks to your significant contribution during the duel, your victory is recognized. With the mysterious power of the Rune Hunter, you can duplicate one of the opponent’s runes. Since your opponent has only one rune, you will duplicate that rune.]
[You have gained a new rune.]
[You gain 1 point of Strength as the rune’s attribute.]
“Uh…?”
The [Rune Hunter] effect, which had already appeared once, showed up again.
…What’s going on?
I had been satisfied with gaining a useful rare rune like [Underwater Breathing], but suddenly, I gained another rune?
As I stared blankly at the information window, I soon realized.
‘They are different individuals!’
Each of the Lizardmen I hunted had different characteristics. This influenced the effect of the [Rune Hunter].
The [Rune Hunter] was a rune with the power to duplicate the opponent’s rune upon winning a duel. However, it had one drawback. Once you duplicate a specific rune from an opponent, you couldn’t duplicate it again, even if you won a duel against the same opponent.
That was the reason why, despite dueling with Park Jin-woo more than 20 times, I still couldn’t gain his [Famed Sword Technique].
But, even if the opponent had the same rune…
If they were different individuals, the story changed.
The Dungeon monsters might be numerous, but they were all separate beings with distinct intellects. So, they were not considered ‘opponents I had duplicated a rune from’.
You may have gained [Underwater Breathing] by hunting Lizardmen, however, if you hunt another Lizardman, even the remaining runes can be duplicated.
That’s why I was presented with the information window to duplicate another rune.
I quickly checked the newly gained rune information.
<Rune Information>
◎Name: Strengthen
◎Grade: Rare
◎Level: 0
◎Engraved Location: Right Forearm
◎Special Effects: –
: When pushing or lifting certain objects, you can exert twice the strength of your strength stat.
: Strength +1
◎Derived Skill: –
–
◎Detailed Information: Overwhelming strength possessed by high-strength monsters. A stronger strength will envelop your body.
“Wow…”
Now I gained [Strengthen] as well. There was no need to ponder which one to choose between the two. I could get both anyway.
I already acquired all the runes that the Lizardmen possessed, so it might be difficult to get more runes from them. But I already felt like I gained a significant advantage.
[Strengthen] was an attractive rune that assisted physical strength and had good synergy with the [Combat] rune.
“Jae-hyun!”
While I was absentmindedly reading the rune information, Moon Ga-eun called me.
“What’s going on with you? Why are you so good at fighting? Are you really a D-grade Holder?”
Although we finished the hunt together, I was the one who fought fiercely and led the combat.
As someone still at the D-grade Holder level, subduing four C-grade monsters simultaneously was quite remarkable.
Moon Ga-eun seemed quite amazed by it, and she wasn’t the only one. Kang Juyeon, who was slowly walking over, also had surprise written all over her face.
Her expression was visible.
“Uh… I was just lucky.”
“Are you teasing me?”
“Haha, no. I really got lucky. If my Quarter Knives hadn’t hit the first Lizardman, it would have been tough for me, even with three. Dealing with four was really challenging.”
Honestly, even in my own opinion, I fought well. The surprise attack with the [Quarter Knives] was most effective, and I cleverly maneuvered the duels against the Lizardmen, considering the difference in strength with the [Water Sword Technique].
But as the only tank and damage dealer in this three-member party, it was somewhat expected of me.
“What should we do with the magic stones?”
The most basic reward from hunting monsters, the magic stones.
The Lizardmen had magic stones embedded in the center of their heads.
Magic stones were the main source of income for Holders.
Even lower-grade magic stones could fetch a decent price, and C-grade monster magic stones were priced in the millions.
There were Lizardman corpses scattered around us. This was all our money.
“While you were daydreaming, Juyeon took care of everything.”
“Kang Juyeon?”
Suddenly, when I looked at Kang Juyeon, she nodded quietly.
“We’ll split the loot after finishing the exploration.”
It was true that there was a big difference between having dungeon experience and not. While I, a dungeon newbie, was simply happy about acquiring runes, these experienced girls had already collected all nine Lizardman magic stones.
That was why they were chosen as experienced Holders.
I brushed off my dirty hands a few times and collected the equipment.
“Let’s go right away!”
“Already? Don’t you need more rest?”
“Nah, I’m all energized now.”
My voice was full of life.
With the acquisition of [Underwater Breathing] and [Strength], the fatigue that weighed heavily on my shoulders disappeared in an instant.
I felt like I could keep dueling for as long as I wanted.
***
ippotranslations
***
We continued to conquer the dungeon with great enthusiasm. The pattern was almost the same as the first duel. When I confronted multiple Lizardmen, Kang Juyeon and Moon Ga-eun would unleash their prepared magic and ranged attacks.
The duel formula that led to victory repeated itself until all the Lizardmen at the beginning of the dungeon were cleared. While Kang Juyeon and Moon Ga-eun handled the decisive blows and finishes, I also didn’t show any lack of growth dueling at the front.
[Your throwing skills with the dagger become smoother and more flexible.]
[The level of your rune has increased.]
[You gain 1 point of Speed as the rune’s attribute.]
[The subtlety in your swordplay that parries multiple weapons becomes even deeper.]
[The level of your rune has increased.]
[You gain 1 point of Speed as the rune’s attribute.]
They say the biggest moment of growth for a Holder is during a real duel. While training helps in gaining abilities and leveling up runes, the growth from directly hunting monsters is much more significant. This dungeon, where I frequently used [Dagger] and [Water Sword Technique], allowed their levels to increase easily through hunting monsters.
Various growth factors contributed to steadily increasing my attributes, and both Strength and Speed had surpassed 25.
“Haap…!!”
I dodged the Lizardman’s trident and immediately thrust my dagger into the neck of the Lizardman next to it. It was challenging to face three Lizardmen at first, but now I could handle five of them together without being overwhelmed.
Shiiiiing- Bang!!
In an instant, Moon Ga-eun’s arrow flew and pierced the remaining Lizardman, finishing the nearly completed battle.
“Is it over?”
After collecting all the Lizardmen’s magic stones, Moon Ga-eun examined her surroundings. Then, like before, she placed her hand on the ground and focused her mind. It was her detection using [Dolphin’s Sonar] to sense nearby monsters and magic.
“None left?”
“Yeah, it seems we got them all.”
Moon Ga-eun slowly opened her eyes. When she declared there were none, there were genuinely none. It would be strange to doubt her detection abilities, especially since she was an upper class archer in the first year.
We had completely cleared all the Lizardmen at the entrance of the dungeon.
“Now then…”
Everyone’s gaze naturally turned to the front.
The Academy Underground Dungeon.
At the end of the entrance, there was a critical point.
There was a nuisance that hindered the progress of the original Park Jin-woo and Kang Juyeon. The reason their dungeon conquest was limited to the entrance. It was the path that led to the next level of the dungeon, blocked by a massive rock.
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