Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: King of Wolves (2)
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As they rode, Hyun-soo listened to Bellia's explanation.
‘The Fifth Calamity?’
Hyun-soo looked puzzled.
‘Isn't he way stronger than me?’
Though the Fifth Calamity was among the weakest serving the Calamity Cult, the power gap between him and Hyun-soo was undeniable.
“The Calamity Jack used the Book of the Evil God.”
Bellia explained that only those level 200 and below could approach.
“Because its power is so immense, Jack and his followers received a penalty as well. Jack's level dropped from 365 to 270, and his followers dropped to around 180.”
The gap had narrowed considerably.
‘If he thought I couldn't do it, the God of Blacksmiths wouldn't have given me this mission.’
Still, the difficulty seemed absurd. He racked his brain as he rode.
Hyun-soo slowly nodded.
‘It's not entirely impossible.’
A thought flashed through Hyun-soo's mind. Before long, their horse was arriving at the Sacred Ground of Wolves.
“We're passing through the Sacred Ground of Wolves because it's the fastest way to the shrine. For you, the savior chosen by the god, passing through should be a simple task.”
The two arrived before the Sacred Ground of Wolves.
“The wolves here are faster than horses. It's better to hunt our way through.”
Hyun-soo dismounted and set the horse free.
“Also, the wolves here are much stronger than their level suggests. But for a Descendant of Changcheon like you, Hyun-soo, they must be mere pups, right?”
“Descendant of Changcheon?”
Hyun-soo looked confused.
“That's not my class.”
“What? Then...? Are you perhaps the Hidden Descendant of the Sword King...?”
“No, I'm a blacksmith.”
Bellia's mind went blank, as if someone had struck her head with a heavy hammer.
“A b-blacksmith?”
Just then.
Screams and ferocious howls echoed from within the Sacred Ground of Wolves.
But for Bellia, something else was far more important right now.
“Y-Your level?”
“120.”
Something was very wrong.
Pale-faced players continuously rushed past the bewildered Bellia.
Wanting to deny this reality, she asked again.
“A level 120 blacksmith? Not a Descendant of Changcheon?”
“Yes, but it'll be fine. I may be a blacksmith, but I'm also a skilled fighter. Plus, we have your sacred power, Bellia.”
“Hyun-soo. Are you sure we should go in? When the Ashen Wolf appears, many other wolves gather around it.”
Hyun-soo looked into her eyes with a resolute gaze.
The restless Bellia made a decision.
‘It'll be too late if we look for someone else.’
They had no other choice but to go.
Bellia was stronger than she appeared.
She decided to chase a one percent chance rather than sit back and let the Saintess be sacrificed.
The two of them rushed inside.
“I have been thinking about how to save the Saintess from the Fifth Calamity. I have a few ideas.”
Hearing Hyun-soo's voice, Bellia entered and froze.
It was a mistake.
A moment ago, most of the players had fled while hunting.
The mobs whose aggro had been drawn had desperately chased after them.
Because the players had escaped to the safe zone, the mobs had no choice but to linger near the entrance.
About twenty giant wolves bared their fangs at the two of them.
One giant wolf in particular, which had just torn a straggler from a party to shreds, had its mouth covered in blood.
[Giant Wolf Lv. 179]
Bellia had played the game very differently from ordinary people.
She loved performing good deeds and helped those in need.
One day, people from the Church of Ares came and guided her, granting her the epic class, Child of the Saintess.
Leveling up as a Child of the Saintess was unique.
She leveled up through good deeds, prayer, and praise.
In the game of Ares, she was one of the players who had done the least amount of hunting for her level.
Facing giant wolves taller than herself, with the scent of blood tickling her nose, was a terrifying experience for her.
*Fwoosh-*
As one of them leaped at her, drool dripping from its maw, her thoughts shut down.
Just then, Bellia felt a man brush past her.
[King of Wolves.]
[You exude the dignity of a king toward monsters classified as beasts of prey.]
[If their level is higher than yours, they will tremble in fear for 4 seconds.]
The leaping wolf suddenly changed. It flew past Bellia, landed, and slammed its head to the ground.
“Whimper, whine...!”
“Whimpeeeer...”
Bellia's eyes trembled.
‘Wh-who is that...?’
Watching the man step forward, Bellia wore a look of bewilderment.
‘Fenrir?’
The crest of Fenrir, the king of wolves, was drawn on the back of his red cape. The helmet he wore seemed to be modeled after Fenrir's face.
His back was broad, his figure immense from behind.
Before him, dozens of giant wolves bowed their heads as if in worship.
Looking at the unknown man, Bellia had a thought.
‘A Descendant of Fenrir...?’
Yes, he looked like a Descendant of Fenrir.
An unknown thrill ran through her.
‘Could it be...?’
Had the god given the mission not only to Hyun-soo but also to this rookie, this Descendant of Fenrir?
The Descendant of Fenrir slowly turned his head.
“Thank you for believing in me, Bellia.”
Bellia was taken aback. As he turned his head, she could see that it was Hyun-soo.
“Let's take care of this quickly and move on.”
Hyun-soo struck down the blood-mouthed wolf that was right in front of Bellia.
[6 consecutive instances of damage are applied.]
The sword, Baekya.
The masterpiece of the blacksmith Pere, a sword he had gifted to Hyun-soo.
The 6-hit damage was a passive skill embedded in Baekya.
It activated at a low probability, unleashing the power to deal six additional instances of damage on a single normal attack.
*K-k-k-k-k-k-k-k-crack-!*
With a single swing, one of the wolves was completely hacked to pieces, turning to ash and scattering.
[You have hunted a Giant Wolf.]
[You have acquired 886 experience.]
[You have leveled up.]
The level difference between Hyun-soo and the Giant Wolf was so large that he was able to level up just by hunting one.
“Bellia, do you have an experience buff?”
“Yes.”
Coming to her senses, Bellia clasped her hands and prayed.
[Child's Blessing.]
[Experience acquisition rate increases by 18% for 30 minutes.]
Hyun-soo was surprised.
[Bellia Lv. 201]
Despite Bellia's level not being very high, the acquisition rate had increased by a lot.
‘Doesn't a level 200 healer usually give a 6% boost...?’
Hyun-soo swiftly cut down the bowing giant wolves with Baekya.
Hyun-soo's stats were comparable to those of a level 180 player.
On top of that, he had Baekya, a weapon closest to legendary.
The unique artifacts, Fenrir's Helm and Fenrir's Cape, transformed Hyun-soo into a hunter of absurd strength.
[You have leveled up.]
He gained four levels in an instant.
Their worship over, the wolves charged at Hyun-soo.
*Kwajak-*
A wolf swiped its foreleg at his chest.
“Kyaaah!”
Bellia screamed. She was sure Hyun-soo's armor would be torn, and blood would gush from his chest...
Bellia was stunned.
Far from being torn, the armor only sustained a small scratch, and Hyun-soo's HP dropped by a mere 2%.
‘What in the world is this person?’
At that moment.
[A new story begins.]
[At the appearance of a new challenger for the title of Wolf King, wolves begin to flock.]
Wolves began to charge from all directions, without end.
‘I didn't know about this... but what's this about a Wolf King?’
In any case, Hyun-soo had to kill the wolves to pass through.
Seeing Bellia panic at the sight of wolves appearing from every direction, Hyun-soo smiled.
“Do you remember what I said?”
“That you had a few ideas?”
Bellia recalled his words.
‘I have been thinking about how to save the Saintess from the Fifth Calamity. But I do have a few ideas.’
A way for a level 120 blacksmith to save the Saintess.
“Let's hit level 160 or higher right here. You have heals, right? Please give me a boost.”
Hyun-soo needed to grow stronger.
Not just as a blacksmith, but he also needed the strength to protect himself.
The best healer was healing him.
In other words, Hyun-soo was being power-leveled by the best healer.
The justification was clear.
“I'll do my best to heal you... Let's get you to 170!”
She had to rescue the Saintess Aria, and the higher Hyun-soo's level, the greater the chance of success.
‘Is that really possible?’
That small doubt.
As dozens of giant wolves charged at them simultaneously.
*Piiiiing-*
[Cry of the Sword]
Seeing the wolves get shredded and turned to ash by the Sword King's Secret Art, the thought that it might be possible crossed Bellia's mind.
‘I wished he was a Descendant of Changcheon.’
Not anymore.
‘With him, we might actually be able to save the Saintess...!’
Hyun-soo was listening to the notifications of his rapid level-ups.
[You have leveled up.]
[Level up...]
Having gained 15 levels in one go, Hyun-soo was approaching level 140 when a notification appeared.
[You have hunted many wolves in a short period of time.]
[A new, never-before-seen episode will begin shortly.]
[If you hunt the Ashen Wolf, you can become the Wolf King.]
Hyun-soo looked puzzled.
Just a moment ago, he had received a notification about being a challenger for the title of Wolf King.
‘What on earth is the Wolf King?’
Just then.
[A boss monster has appeared!]
[Ashen Wolf Lv. 212]
[The one who hunts the Ashen Wolf will become the Wolf King.]
A giant Ashen Wolf had suddenly appeared.
*Kwaaaang-!*
[Wolf Strike]
[The powerful impact sends you flying far away.]
The Ashen Wolf leaped like a flash of light and collided with Hyun-soo, sending him flying about 50 meters.
***
Pureum Corp. CEO's Office.
CEO Lee Se-jin wore an intrigued expression.
CEO Lee Se-jin had considered various scenarios, wondering if Hyun-soo could truly stand against the Fifth Calamity.
No matter how he planned it, he couldn't see a path to victory. But the prospect of becoming the Wolf King changed his mind.
‘The Wolf King...’
The Ashen Wolf had never been hunted before, and killing it would trigger a hidden piece.
The Wolf King hidden piece.
“If he obtains it, he'll be able to command the wolves in the Sacred Ground.”
A thought crossed Lee Se-jin's mind.
‘Hundreds of followers are guarding the shrine. It'll be difficult for player Hyun-soo to break through.’
But if he becomes the Wolf King, it's a different story.
Of course, the Ashen Wolf was not easy to hunt; it was far too cunning.
As if to prove it, the Ashen Wolf appeared like a flash of light, rammed Hyun-soo, and sent him flying.
“Smart, as expected.”
Why send him flying? Wouldn't it be better to tear out his throat?
No, that's not it.
The Ashen Wolf may be just a monster, but it judged that it had to eliminate the healer first.
By sending Hyun-soo flying, it created an opportunity to tear out Bellia's throat.
‘I was wrong.’
Hyun-soo can't become the Wolf King.
It would be possible with Bellia, but she was about to die.
‘From that distance, there's no way he can hit the Ashen Wolf, also known as the Flash Wolf.’
Just as Lee Se-jin was convinced of this, he was startled.
Because above the head of Hyun-soo, who was flying backward, a holographic mineral began to be smelted.
***
The Ashen Wolf sensed the challenger to its throne.
The one who had killed its underlings and now coveted its authority.
Looking at him, it cunningly devised a plan.
Separate the man and the woman, then tear out the woman's throat.
*Kwaaaang-!*
Arriving like a beam of light, the Ashen Wolf watched the man fly away as it approached the woman.
“Hy-Hyun-soo? Kyaaaaaah!”
As it moved to tear out her throat, it witnessed a bizarre sight.
Above the head of the man tumbling through the air, a mineral shot up.
The mineral melts.
Smelting.
Impurities vanish.
Refining.
The mineral forms the shaft and point of a spear.
Forging.
The moment the man, who had flown far away, landed on the ground.
*Thuuud-!*
He skidded across the ground and snatched the spear.
It was laughable.
Pathetic.
Even if he threw that spear, it would have already dodged.
It could just snatch the woman and devour her elsewhere.
“U-Uwaaaah...”
Snatching the crying woman in its jaws, the Ashen Wolf leaped powerfully.
*Fwoosh-!*
The man threw the spear.
But the Ashen Wolf had already leaped, moving out of the spear's trajectory.
And yet.
*Swiiish-!*
The unknown spear let out a savage roar as it tore through the air.
*Crackle-*
Emitting a massive spark, the accelerating spear changed its trajectory and shot up toward the sky.
“...!?”
The Ashen Wolf dropped the woman it was carrying.
The beast couldn't read the words on the spear, but on it was written:
‘Gungnir.’
The spear said to have been wielded by Odin.
This spear is known to never miss its target.