Chapter 27 Lizard Lair (4)
Seoul Holder Academy.
Inside Professor Tak Won-ho’s office, who specializes in the Warrior field.
Due to his busy schedule with lectures and administration, an unexpected visitor had come to see him.
“Has it been almost a month?”
Tak Won-ho asked as he poured coffee into a cup.
Kim Myeong-hyun, who was sitting on one side, smiled.
“It’s been about two months since the beginning of the semester and the Warrior Professors’ meeting…”
“You’re still using formal speech. When do you plan to drop the honorifics with me?”
“I apologize. I’m just used to using formal speech.”
He never dropped the honorifics with anyone other than his daughter.
Although known as a gentle and flexible professor, when it came to this aspect, Kim Myeong-hyun was more stringent about following rules than Tak Won-ho.
Tak Won-ho set the coffee on the table with a slight frown.
“Drink it. You’ve improved your skills after a long time.”
“You’re treating your guests generously. Coffee made by you… I’ll enjoy it.”
The steam and rich color, as if the coffee had just been brewed. An espresso that showed the marks of devoted effort.
It felt completely different from Tak Won-ho’s rough and firm personality.
Kim Myeong-hyun sipped the coffee cautiously and soon frowned.
“Your coffee still tastes bitter.”
“That’s the characteristic of the Liberica variety. It has a mild aroma but a strong bitterness. Haven’t you gotten used to it yet?”
“It still feels unfamiliar to me.”
Tak Won-ho slowly sipped his coffee.
“When I drink coffee, I try not to follow the aroma but to experience the coffee itself. If you keep roasting only pursuing good aromas, you will reach the limit of coffee varieties you can accept on your own.”
After downing the bitter coffee in one gulp, Tak Won-ho opened his eyes.
“Swordsmanship is the same. If you only follow the fragrance emitted by sword techniques, you will eventually miss the true nature of the sword you are seeking. It’s like Holder Hwang Seong-yeon, who was consumed by his sword.”
“…Indeed. I’ve learned something new today.”
“You should learn. You probably have your own philosophy of swordsmanship too.”
Tak Won-ho chuckled lightly and spoke.
“How’s Do Jae-hyun doing these days?”
Do Jae-hyun.
The freshman Holder of the Assassin field…
He was the main focus of the two Warrior Professors lately.
Among the students Tak Won-ho had taught recently, Do Jae-hyun showed the most talent in swordsmanship and had the passion to achieve more.
He had the ability to grasp five things when taught one and the adaptability to immediately incorporate what he learned into his training.
Despite being labeled as a Multi-Holder with the [Sword] Rune, he was more devoted to swordsmanship than any other freshman in the Warrior field.
If there were others with a similar talent, it would be Lee Tae-joon, the top student in the Warrior field, and Park Jin-woo from the intermediate class.
However, Lee Tae-joon lacked the same passion Do Jae-hyun possessed, and Park Jin-woo seemed to be more interested in the swords he created himself.
Kim Myeong-hyun answered with a slight smile.
“There’s nothing more to ask for. I feel really fortunate to teach such a student as my exclusive disciple.”
“I never thought you’d take him as your exclusive disciple.”
“You believed in his potential. And you proved that you were right.”
Do Jae-hyun was more than qualified to become the exclusive disciple of the two professors at the same time.
He immediately grasped the intricacies of both [Water Sword Technique] and [Wave Sword Technique] and showed attempts to integrate the two sword techniques using the runes he registered afterward.
Naturally, the two professors who taught him couldn’t help but be impressed.
“Have you taught him the ultimate skill? I heard he’s achieved quite a bit in Wave Swordsmen.”
Ultimate skill.
The most powerful skill that runes could derive.
The skills that were so overwhelming…
They were also called the ‘finishing moves’ of Holders.
Generally, these were skills that could be obtained only after mastering the rune level, but there were cases where they were learned in advance depending on special circumstances and situations.
Kim Myeong-hyun widened his eyes at the sudden word.
“The ultimate skill? Haha. Professor Tak, you have quite a sense of humor. Do Jae-hyun, the Holder, is undoubtedly talented, but he’s not at the level to learn the ultimate skill yet.”
“Is that so? Hm…”
Tak Won-ho looked out of the window in his office for a moment.
At this moment, his disciple would be exploring the underground dungeon.
Do Jae-hyun’s face appeared vividly in his mind.
Then, he formed a meaningful smile.
“For some reason, this time, I feel like your judgment might be wrong.”
***
ippotranslations
***
[You have entered the boss room.]
[The destructive aura of Grizzly Drake is applying pressure. Your Holder’s speed and strength are reduced.]
“Grizzly Drake…?”
As soon as we entered the boss room, our bodies felt as heavy as a thousand catties. Our physical reactions indicated that our strength and speed had significantly decreased.
And the unfamiliar monster’s name appeared in the information panel.
Grizzly Drake.
A giant drake covered in gray fur…
It was lying comfortably in the center of the boss room.
“D-Drake… Isn’t it an A-grade monster?”
Kim Chae-eun asked in a trembling voice.
A-grade monster.
A monster that typically requires a party of five B-grade Holders to hunt it down.
Even A-grade Holders find it difficult at times, depending on the monster’s temperament and the surrounding environment.
Grizzly Drake.
The boss of this dungeon, a special monster with the additional term ‘grizzly’ in its name.
It was a monster so powerful that it was impossible to gauge how strong it was compared to ordinary monsters.
To put it bluntly, even ten B-grade Holders working together might not be able to defeat it.
‘But our party…’
Furthermore, our party primarily consisted of lower-level Holders.
One B-grade Holder, one C-grade Holder, and three Holders close to C-grade.
Although we could be considered a powerful party in the Academy, we were just an ordinary party found anywhere in Holder’s world.
A party like theirs facing an A-grade monster.
Even without looking, the outcome seemed obvious.
“Hey… Hey.”
Park Jin-woo called out in a trembling voice.
Seeing the nervous look on him, my own voice trembled.
“Y-Yes… what.”
“Are we really going to fight? We’ll all get wiped out if we go up against that thing!”
The Grizzly Drake remained still, lying there.
If it were to open its eyes…
It would likely devour us immediately.
I glanced at the others while observing the creature carefully and then smiled at my party members.
“Right? It seems like we still have some way to go before we can handle it. Let’s clear the other monsters quickly and retreat…”
-Rumble….
And just like a lie.
As soon as we decided to give up the strategy and retreat…
The Grizzly Drake opened its eyes.
Damn it, really…
“Haah… Park Jin-woo, go with the scattered large formation.”
“Damn it. What a day to have bad luck.”
Park Jin-woo cursed fiercely and moved back, creating some distance between himself and the monster.
Scattered large formations.
Unlike the straight formation that was deployed when catching the Poisonous iguana, this formation involved me and Park Jin-woo as tanks, splitting up and handling different monsters.
We mainly used this formation when hunting Lizardman and Sizzling Salamanders.
‘Now we need to attract its attention.’
There was only one monster.
Since it was our first time encountering it, we couldn’t check its stats, but considering it was an A-grade Drake and a boss, we probably wouldn’t stand a chance against it in terms of stats.
We needed to attract its attention as much as possible and divert its attacks.
-Grrooaaarrr…!!
While preparing for the battle.
Perhaps because we were too noisy.
The Grizzly Drake suddenly roared with a terrifying scream.
And with that explosive roar.
All our movements came to a halt due to the fear effect.
“……!”
I knew this situation all too well.
‘Crazy. Does it even have a fear effect?’
The fear effect instantly immobilized the body.
The Grizzly Drake seemed to possess runes that were somehow linked to its roar and fear.
“Why… Why are you all standing still? Aren’t we going to fight?”
Of course, some party members were unaffected by the fear effect.
Park Jin-woo.
Thanks to his other epic rune, [Keen Mind], he was immune to such status effects and didn’t lose his composure.
…It’s a real cheat rune.
That’s why I wanted it so badly.
-Grrooaaarrr…!! Grrooaaarrr…!!
The Grizzly Drake began to move at a furious speed.
Its first target was thankfully Park Jin-woo, who hadn’t been affected by the fear.
He barely managed to block its charge with his sword.
“Crazy…!! What kind of strength…”
At the same time, the fear effect was lifted from everyone.
I quickly drew my sword and charged towards the creature that had just attacked Park Jin-woo.
In a matter of seconds, Park Jin-woo could have died if I hadn’t intervened.
“Haap…!!”
Using [Agile Agility] and [Sprint] to accelerate my speed.
I used the intricacies of [Water Sword Technique] to perform the skill [Combo].
Originally, [Combo] was a skill specialized in slashing, however, the [Combo] I inserted this time involved slashing three times at once, followed by a finishing thrust.
-Grrooaaarrr…!!
But as I had anticipated.
It didn’t even leave a scratch.
Whether its toughness was high or its [Lizard’s Scales] rune level was high, my attack, which I put my all into, couldn’t do any damage to the Grizzly Drake.
‘It’s okay.’
As planned.
This attack was merely meant to attract its aggro.
It would have been better if it had dealt some damage, but it didn’t matter much even if it didn’t.
The Grizzly Drake shifted its attention from Park Jin-woo to me.
-Grrooaaarrr…!!
“Haah…!!”
Maybe about 3 seconds?
I put all my strength into blocking his attack.
From blocking with a sword from the front…
Using [Hardening] to enhance my body and…
Dodging the attack with [Wave Sword Technique].
Finally, utilizing [Hardening] to directly withstand the attack.
I did everything I could as a temporary tank.
This was my limit.
Perhaps Park Jin-woo wouldn’t be in a condition to help me either.
“Do Jae-hyun, step back!!”
And just like usual.
The signal flare from Moon Ga-eun, who would save us, exploded.
I poured all my remaining strength…
And quickly retreated as far as possible from the Grizzly Drake.
Kang, kagang-!!
The attacks from the dealers rained down on the monster.
Kim Chae-eun’s freezing magic, Kang Juyeon’s fire magic, Moon Ga-eun’s supporting shots.
All of their powerful attacks were aimed at one target, pouring down just to hunt it.
In terms of the performance of individual skills, they could all be considered B-grade Holder skills, powerful attacks.
It looked almost like a scene from a real hunt.
I stared at the fog where the attacks were landing.
Park Jin-woo, who had been looking at it blankly, said quietly.
“… Was that you?”
Ah.
I wanted to reply but now was not the time.
All sorts of magic and shooting were pouring in, but the grizzly drake was nowhere to be found.
Just to be sure.
Moon Ga-eun in the back looked into the smoke with concentration.
And soon, with her eyes widened, she spoke to me.
“Do Jae-hyun, it’s inside…!!”
“……!!”
Within the fog was the Grizzly Drake.
Just like when it had first blocked my full-force attack.
It was still standing there proudly, without any sign of damage.
“…Does this make any sense?”
My party members were enveloped in silence.
An A-grade monster they had never encountered before.
Moreover, a boss monster.
They hadn’t expected it to be such an overwhelming barrier.
We poured all our attacks into it.
Yet, it seemed like we couldn’t deal any damage at all…
And just like that, as if mocking us.
The information panel that appeared when we entered the boss room reappeared.
[The eerie energy within the dungeon gathers around Grizzly Drake, protecting it with an unknown force and overwhelming toughness.]
[Grizzly Drake is in an immune state.]
Is this a joke?….
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