Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Adaptation (3)
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The apartment reconstruction site was so close that even a human body without any transformation process could reach it in five minutes.
With quick steps, it would have taken less than three minutes before, but now in Selverion's body, I arrived effortlessly in under a few dozen seconds.
"…."
Like a ninja leaping from rooftop to rooftop a few times, the reconstruction site soon came into view.
I landed lightly on the sandy ground of the site and steadied my stance. The workers had already evacuated; not a soul was in sight.
"Ah."
Meanwhile, a black shadow loomed overhead, the Dark Wyvern's form growing even clearer.
— Kieeeek!!
"Hm…."
Was it because Selverion's small frame meant it hadn't noticed me right below? The creature was still roaring toward downtown Seoul.
If there had been a skill like 'Killing Intent Release,' it would have drawn enemies' attention without me doing anything specific, but hoping for more skills than this would be greedy.
"Hup."
Pushing aside my regrets, I swung a powerful basic attack toward the Dark Wyvern. Just like with the troll earlier, the greatsword form of Chains of Death and Frost shot toward it at ferocious speed.
Shwoong—
A red greatsword slicing through the air with a sharp whistle. Even for a Dark Wyvern, it seemed impossible to dodge.
Hitting it directly could mean an instant kill if lucky, or at least critical damage, but unfortunately, my target this time wasn't the Dark Wyvern's body.
……What I aimed for was the rebar of the apartment building under its feet.
Kwang!
Thus, Chains of Death and Frost shattered the rebar it was perched on with a thunderous boom. With its footing suddenly gone, the Dark Wyvern panicked and hurriedly took to the skies.
— Kieeek?!
The monster looked flustered as it turned its head toward the direction the Chains of Death and Frost had come from—me, standing boldly on the site's sandy ground.
— Kieeeek!!
Daring to attack it, of all things.
Spotting me, who had hurled the greatsword at it, the Dark Wyvern let out a roar filled with rage. I smirked at it.
"Good…."
Success in drawing its attention.
What was the point of a sneak kill? What I wanted was to adapt to Selverion's body. A proper battle.
— Kyaaargh!!
"…."
The wyvern bared its sharp fangs at me. The stage seemed set. I took a deep breath, mentally steeling myself for true 'combat.'
…And immediately, five holographic screens appeared before my eyes.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Passive: 'Blessing of Ice Spirits' has activated.] [Passive: 'Piercing Frost' has activated.] [Passive: 'Snow Veil' has activated.] [Passive: 'Endless Cold' has activated.] [Passive: 'Ashen Snowstorm' has activated.] "…."
Notifications that all passives had successfully triggered as proper combat began. And no sooner had I confirmed them than massive changes overtook my surroundings and vision.
The first change: two magic circles unfolded at my sides, from which two enormous ice golems rose.
— Graaah!!
"Ice spirits…."
Selverion's first passive, Blessing of Ice Spirits, automatically summoning two ice spirits. Their forms varied each time, and this round, they'd chosen hulking golem shapes.
Covered head to toe in solid ice, they looked immensely strong and durable.
I could feel the plight of players facing not just Selverion but these massive ice spirits too.
…The next change occurred above the gliding Dark Wyvern's head. Small text crept up, forming a status screen.
⚔ ENEMY STATUS ⚔ 👹 Name: Dark Wyvern 📊 Level: 1480 🌑 Attribute: Dark ⚠️ Status: None "Level 1480…."
With Piercing Frost activated, I could pierce and reveal the previously invisible Dark Wyvern's info. In PvP rather than PvE, this would let me scout classes, hidden healers, and strike first—truly invaluable.
"…Snow Veil."
A thin blue protective barrier formed before me, activating Snow Veil. Selverion's status ailment chance was 0.8%, but with Snow Veil periodically cleansing it, my effective chance was 0%.
…The final passive to manifest was, without doubt, Selverion's highlight: Ashen Snowstorm. The infamous one that made challengers weep blood.
Kugung.
As if meeting my expectations, ominous dark clouds gathered over the reconstruction site. And from them scattered gray flakes.
They looked like sleet at a glance, but these were no joyful first snow of winter or romantic Christmas flakes.
They were Selverion's Ashen Snowstorm—flesh-eating agony, nightmare fuel, the worst ash that brought all to their knees.
"…Pretty."
I murmured, catching the falling gray snow in my palm. Probably the only one in the world who could call this gray snow romantic was me, Selverion herself.
"Good."
The stage was set.
Attention drawn, all passives active. Now, just test the skills firsthand and sever that Dark Wyvern's breath.
"……."
The anticipation and thrill of battling while using December stage boss Selverion's skills myself.
Facing a quasi-boss monster, yet smiling instead of tensing—an absurd situation unimaginable for a mere player.
Regardless of my will, my lips curled, heart pounding like it might burst. Adrenaline surged, doping my mind.
"…Not bad."
Smiling at this unknown emotion, I extended a hand toward the Dark Wyvern. Quietly, I intoned the first skill.
"…Ice Blade."
…A massive blue magic circle unfolded before me.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 02.
"Ah."
The moment his side took a direct hit from the Cyclops's iron mace, Kim Dong-wook—nicknamed 'Sin Sadong Masochist'—realized once more this wasn't a game.
…Sensations vividly beyond VR, brutal pain heavy throughout his body, even the single tear welling in his eye.
Terror of real death made Dong-wook's legs tremble.
'Should've stayed hidden at home,' 'Should've watched longer.' What sense of duty or bravado made a low-level guy like him rush outside? Regret surged from his chest depths.
"Dong-wook!!"
Meanwhile, his college classmate and Priest, Yun Ji-ah, anxiously called to him as he flew several meters back from the mace strike.
"Urk…."
It hurt, but not enough to keep him down. Hearing Ji-ah, Dong-wook planted his shield like a staff and rose, steadying himself.
"I-I'm fine…."
He gestured reassuringly to fidgeting Ji-ah. It hurt, but his class was the quintessential tank, Holy Shield Knight, with all stats in defense. No way he'd fall to this.
— Gr, graaah!!
"…."
The Cyclops roared at him rising again. As exhausted as Dong-wook looked, so did it. How long had they been at this B-rank monster? Thick sweat dripped from his chin.
"Damn…."
Dong-wook grimaced.
Cyclops: B-rank, level 850. High HP and toughness annoying, but his average-level-800 trio should have crushed it.
He'd started the raid cockily, expecting easy win, but all predictions failed; combat dragged over 30 minutes.
"Ugh, u, uwaa, m-mom…."
"Fuck, seriously…."
…The main reason combat dragged: their sole DPS, mage Park Sang-hyuk, panicked hard right at raid start.
"U, uwaa, n-no…."
"…."
One roar from Cyclops and Sang-hyuk was combat-ineffective, unreachable in terror. Left with healer Ji-ah and tank Dong-wook, neither had offensive skills.
Ji-ah's Priest class: only heals and buffs.
Dong-wook's Holy Shield Knight: sole tanking class with purely defensive skills in Season Off Fantasy.
Without explosive DPS fire mage Sang-hyuk, Priest Ji-ah and Holy Shield Knight Dong-wook's only damage was pitiful basic attacks.
Thus, a five-minute fight stretched over 30, their HP and MP nearing limits.
"Park Sang-hyuk, you troll bastard! Snap out of it?!"
"Uuu, uwaaa…."
…Dong-wook gnashed teeth, calling again, but Sang-hyuk just huddled, shaking worse. No trace of his in-game blaze.
"Fuck, seriously…."
Running? Their rundown neighborhood, full of vulnerable poor, wouldn't see soldiers or players soon. Until then, they—as likely the only players—had to defend it.
— Grrr….
"Damn…."
No choice: exclude Sang-hyuk thoroughly, win with just Ji-ah and himself. They were tired, but 30 minutes of steady damage meant the Cyclops was at its limit too.
Just a bit more endurance.
"Yun Ji-ah! Attack buff!"
"Got it! 'Song of the Sword'!"
At his request, Ji-ah cast the attack boost. Red aura enveloped Dong-wook; he felt power surge versus before.
— Graaah!!
Kung.
As if knowing this was the final clash, Cyclops slammed its mace down, roaring thunderously.
"U, uwaaaaa!!"
"P-Park Sang-hyuk?! Don't run, you dog bastard!!"
…That roar snapped his last courage thread; huddled Sang-hyuk teared up and bolted down the alley.
"Y-You fucking troll bastard!! Don't gooo!!"
Dong-wook lunged to grab, but Sang-hyuk full-sprinted out of sight.
…Now truly just Dong-wook and Ji-ah.
"Damn…."
Sang-hyuk was dead weight anyway. Dong-wook swallowed boiling rage, refocusing on Cyclops.
"End it in one go…."
Gnashing teeth, he prepared to charge. No more breaks; MP depletion meant their loss. This attack had to clinch it.
"Here I gooo!!"
Dong-wook kicked off powerfully, charging Cyclops. Target: high critical chance weak spot, its single eye.
With attack buff, a hit could one-shot it.
— Graaah!!
"Urk!!"
…Incoming mace swing. But trusting Holy Shield Knight defense, Dong-wook took it, feet never stopping their powered charge.
— Gr, graah?!
Unharmed despite clear side hit, charging still—Cyclops panicked, trying another swing. But maces have long prep time, pre-delay.
Plenty for uninterrupted Dong-wook to strike.
"Dieee!!"
Dong-wook leaped high, smashing down with both hands on his massive iron shield into the eye.
— Gr, graaaaaah!!
Pain-filled scream echoed. Cyclops dropped its mace, clutched face, staggered, and collapsed.
Kung.
"Hah, hah…."
Dong-wook panted raggedly at the fallen giant. Dropping his shield, he slumped, regulating breath.
"D-Dong-wook!!"
"Ji-ah…."
…Ji-ah rushed anxiously. Dong-wook gave her a wry smile, flashing V-sign with fingers.
"…We won."
Truly, including VR battles, the toughest, most draining fight of his life.
And the cause? Undoubtedly troll-of-trolls Park Sang-hyuk who fled.
Wherever he ran, Dong-wook vowed to beat him senseless on sight.
"Good job, drink this."
"…Thanks."
Battle over, Ji-ah beamed, handing bottled water from her bag.
"…."
Dong-wook gulped it down, vividly feeling survival, victory in this unprecedented disaster's first fight.
"Whew…."
But not over. Fewer monsters than elsewhere, yet many aberrations still prowled, eyeing civilians.
…No rest. Though DPS Sang-hyuk fled, C-rank they could handle duo.
If another B-rank….
……Didn't want to think.
"…Let's check that way."
"Yeah."
Dong-wook rose after water, telling Ji-ah. She looked exhausted too but said nothing of rest. She knew they were likely the only ones to defend here.
"Say if tired. We can hide indoors."
"Yeah, got it."
Ji-ah nodded; post-Cyclops, they moved again.
……Then, ear-splitting cry from above.
— Kyaaaaargh!!
"W-What's that…?!!"
"Dark Wyvern…?"
Sudden massive Dark Wyvern gliding over neighborhood skies. At that infamous A+ powerhouse's appearance, Dong-wook and Ji-ah froze.
— Kieeeek!!
"……."
Dark Wyvern perched on towering rebar at nearby reconstruction site, roaring chillingly again.
Overwhelming presence numbing legs. Sub-1000 levels, they'd never faced such a notorious beast—pure terror.
"W-What do we do?!"
"Damn…."
Ji-ah worried at sudden calamity monster; Dong-wook pondered deeply.
Normally, rush site to slay. But this Dark Wyvern dwarfed Cyclops.
No reliable DPS now; charging meant pointless deaths.
But ignoring? Neighborhood razed. No clue what to do.
"F-First, evacuate nearby people…."
Dong-wook urged Ji-ah: prioritize evacuation.
Memory: rundown daycare beside site. Prime wyvern target; even if can't kill, evacuate kids fast.
"…Yeah. Evac people first."
Ji-ah agreed, nodding. Consensus quick, they dashed site-ward faster than before.
"Faster, just a bit mo— ……?!!"
Thud-kwang!
…Mid all-out sprint, another boom from site.
"Rebar… collapsed…?"
Looking urgently: as if attacked, wyvern's perch rebar shattered, crumbling.
— Kyaaaaargh!!
Raging at attack, wyvern—and unknown dark clouds gathering over its head. Unnatural motion: artificial, like mage skill.
"Someone fighting…?"
"Another Sio-pan player here besides us…?!!"
…Dong-wook and Ji-ah muttered, eyeing each other. Shattering rebar, conjuring clouds: only transformed Sio-pan players now.
No, only Sio-pan players.
So a player tackling Dark Wyvern. What level to preemptively strike A+?
Guild unit?
Or local ranker?
Or mentally broken Park Sang-hyuk…?
"Damn…."
Dong-wook couldn't confirm any, but one certainty:
…Whether evacuating citizens or aiding that someone, hurry to the rampaging Dark Wyvern's site.