Dungeon Training (1)
Dungeon Training (1)
The Hero Academy is built on an island. It's a bit of a misnomer to call it an island. That's because the Fairy King brought a piece of another world, along with the land where the Fairy Race and the World Tree live, from a world that had long since perished.
Starting from mountainous regions, there are cave dungeons, hilly areas, volcanic zones, a recreation of a part of the Antarctic with a cold climate, and even a jungle.
There are currently 19 confirmed dungeons at the Hero Academy. Excluding the ones for practical training, four of them occurred naturally due to the academy's environment, and these four dungeons are so dangerous that only professors can use them.
'And one unconfirmed dungeon.'
Actually, it was ambiguous to call it a dungeon. It was just lumped together as a training dungeon.
Even among users, it's called a training ground.
It's a dungeon that helps you acquire the [Eye Technique] and [Intuition] skills, and besides that, it also gives minor stat boosts or raises a few traits depending on your characteristics.
If I used a few tricks, I could probably raise my [Eye Technique], [Intuition], and related traits and stats even with my current stats, but I didn't think those tricks would work. Tricks only worked in the game, and this is reality.
"Today, as scheduled, we will begin the dungeon practice."
At the assembly point, students were swarming around besides our class. The number was about 200. Since there are about 100 students per class, including our class heading to the assembly point now, that meant a total of 3 classes were gathered here.
"Rock Golems inhabit this dungeon. That is all we will tell you. The rest is up to you all. Once you obtain the marker we've designated at the end of the dungeon, the class will end. I will announce the team compositions. Each team is composed of 6 people."
Usually, when using playable characters, the team composition consists of 3 vanguards, 1 rearguard like an archer or mage, and 2 mid-guards with long-reach weapons or those who can move quickly.
"Team assignments were distributed as fairly as possible, considering overall grades. High-ranking students will be with low-ranking students."
Vrrr.
My phone vibrated. I looked at my phone and saw a group text message.
I checked my team.
[Team 12]
[Yoon Seung-ha/Ayane/Jamie/Lee Si-woo/Kim Chang-seop/Jake]
Yoon Seung-ha.
I was on a team with Yoon Seung-ha. The reason I both loved and hated this game.
I looked toward Yoon Seung-ha, and he looked back at me. A languid expression. Silver hair falling to his nape. Sapphire-like blue eyes shining brightly were directed at me.
"Hello."
"...Yeah, hello."
He smiled slightly with a languid expression and reached out his hand to me. It was Yoon Seung-ha's way of saying, "Let's get along well." He usually brushed off most students because they didn't meet his standards, but he would express himself this way if he liked someone.
"Let's get along well. I'm glad we're on the same team."
"Yeah. I feel reassured, too, knowing you're in the same group."
At my words, he raised the corners of his mouth slightly as if he felt good. Damn, he's handsome.
"Hello, I am Jake."
Awkward Korean was heard from behind.
I saw a boy with blonde hair and blue eyes. Besides the boy, there was also a girl with a round impression next to him.
"Hello."
The girl greeted me brightly. I looked at her for a moment, and her name came to mind. Ayane. The girl called the hope of Japan who handles swords well. I could remember her because she had a fair amount of importance until the middle part.
"Hi-hi."
A red-haired girl full of freckles with a bow on her back, and a man taller than me armed with a round shield and a halberd also came. His muscles were pumped up so much that it looked like he was saying, "I'm a vanguard."
"Hi. I'm Kim Chang-seop."
"I'm Jamie. Let's get along."
Six people gathered. Yoon Seung-ha scanned each person one by one and opened his mouth.
"Then, shall we start with self-introductions?"
"Yes! My name is Jake. My specialty, as you can see, is handling a greatsword."
Jake said in awkward Korean. As Jake opened his mouth, Kim Chang-seop also opened his mouth.
"My name is Kim Chang-seop. As you can see, I use a shield and a halberd. Leave the vanguard to me."
"I'm Ayane. My specialty is this."
Ayane tapped the hilt of her sword and smiled slightly.
"Wow, our team is reassuring because we have a lot of vanguards. I'm Jamie. My position is archer, but actually, I'm not good at shooting a bow. However, my search and detection abilities are excellent, so just leave it to me."
"I'm Yoon Seung-ha. Nice to meet you. I can do most things from the rearguard to the mid-guard."
Everyone clapped and cheered at Yoon Seung-ha's languid words.
"I'm Lee Si-woo. My physical abilities are a bit lacking, but I'm decent at one-on-one combat."
"Boo, pretending to be humble!"
Jamie playfully booed at my introduction. After one round of self-introductions, we talked about how to divide our positions.
"Let's divide the positions, with the most basic formation."
"Then I'll stand at the very front."
Kim Chang-seop said arrogantly while holding his round shield. Everyone, including me, nodded and agreed with that opinion.
"Behind that is Jake, who handles the greatsword. Behind him is Ayane. Si-woo, you're using a spear, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then Si-woo is right behind Ayane. Si-woo and I will be in the mid-guard, and Jamie in the rearguard. Let's do it this way."
Everyone nodded at Yoon Seung-ha's words. And a moment later, a text message came to my phone.
"We have sent the location of the dungeon entrance to each of your smartphones. Everyone, depart immediately."
50 teams, each consisting of 6 people, scattered in all directions and headed toward the entrances. Naturally, even though it was practical training, everyone was moving quickly because the faster they finished, the higher the bonus points.
Watching that, Yoon Seung-ha said languidly.
"Let's go, too."
We entered the dungeon entrance. As I stepped into the cave, the space changed. Black rocky mountains were visible here and there.
"Wow, this is fascinating. I didn't expect much since they said it was an artificial dungeon."
Kim Chang-seop nodded at Jamie's muttering.
I looked at them and briefly recalled information about Rock Golems.
Rock Golems are golems made of rock, centered around a Magic Crystal. Naturally, the Magic Crystal, which corresponds to the heart, is protected most safely, and vanguards focus on breaking the Magic Crystal by delivering impact with blunt weapons rather than swords.
"Then shall we go? Just in case, Jamie, please do the detection right behind Chang-seop."
"Okay. Don't worry about ambushes."
Everyone nodded at Yoon Seung-ha's languid tone and began to climb the rocky mountain. Since Rock Golems blend in with the rocky mountain and have protective coloration, we had to be careful.
"Come to think of it, hasn't Chae-rin said anything lately?"
"Yoon Chae-rin?"
Yoon Seung-ha spoke to me. Why is she suddenly coming up, making me anxious?
"No, she didn't say anything. The last time was the first time I'd ever met her."
"Is that so?"
Yoon Seung-ha said, looking slightly puzzled.
"Why Yoon Chae-rin?"
"When was it... I remember her mentioning something briefly after you and Kang Hannam fought."
"...What?"
"That your technique is incredibly excellent, so she wants to spar with you once."
I don't want to. Even if my technique is excellent, if there's a difference in stats between Yoon Chae-rin and me, technique is meaningless. What's the point of parrying? If she just crushes me with overwhelming power, I can't do anything.
"What, what. What are you two talking about?"
Jamie said to us with a grin.
"Are you two close?"
Ayane asked us in awkward Korean. We've only exchanged a few words, but I nodded, afraid it would get weird if I shook my head.
"Well, if you call it close, then we're close?"
When I casually put my arm around Yoon Seung-ha's shoulder, Ayane looked at us with shining eyes. Why is his skin so soft for a guy? It's making me feel unnecessarily flustered.
"Oh my, oh my."
Ayane blushed slightly, covered her mouth, and smiled with her eyes. Did she say she likes being with men together? I glanced over and saw Jamie also looking at us with shining eyes.
"Wow, two truly beautiful men doing this is art."
"That's true. I want to kick the men in my house every time I see them."
"Hehe, actually, I thought I was lucky to see Si-woo and Seung-ha when I came in here. It's really hard to see men who are a feast for the eyes just by looking at them like that."
"That's right. Ah, by any chance, could you two take a picture together later?"
I gave a nod with an awkward smile at Ayane's words. Yoon Seung-ha was silent, so I glanced at him and saw his face had turned red.
His milky skin was dyed red. Does he hate having my arm around him that much? Still, there's no need to hate it that much.
I grumbled to myself and let go of his shoulder.
Ayane and Jamie sighed softly, as if disappointed.
"Five Rock Golems ahead!"
Jamie said that and approached us. In an instant, the atmosphere changed. The languid expression disappeared from Yoon Seung-ha's face, and he began to chant spells while watching the front.
Kim Chang-seop took a defensive stance with a stiff face, raising his round shield to the center of his body. Behind him, Jake lowered his greatsword, preparing to jump out at any moment, and Ayane drew her sword with a cold expression.
"They're coming!"
One Rock Golem rushed toward Kim Chang-seop.
Boom!
Kim Chang-seop stopped the Rock Golem's charge with a stable stance. Jake, who was preparing behind Kim Chang-seop, jumped forward and swung his greatsword widely.
Thwack!
'I need to learn blunt weapon skills quickly too.'
I thought while watching Jake, who was striking the Rock Golem's arm with his greatsword, and Jake, who was striking with the side of his halberd's axe blade. Seeing a Rock Golem approaching me, I put on a mask. Feeling the unpleasant sensation of something being overlaid on my face, I swung my spear toward the Rock Golem.
Clang.
However, it was easily blocked.
Since Rock Golems are weak to impact rather than slashing, Ayane and I probably wouldn't be able to do much. I focused on hindering the Rock Golem's movements by swinging my spear around.
"Hup!"
That was when it happened. Ayane cut the Rock Golem's torso exactly in half. Come to think of it, Ayane's unique trait was [Severance]. It was a trait specialized in cutting things.
...I'm the only one not doing anything. I glanced to the side. Jamie was focusing on searching the surroundings to see if there were more Rock Golems rather than shooting her bow, and Yoon Seung-ha was dealing with three Rock Golems all by himself.
Flames and shimmering wind were lingering beside him. I looked at him with a puzzled gaze for a moment. His trait was [Destiny of the World]. It was a crazy trait where all kinds of talents increase just by breathing.
That's why what Yoon Seung-ha symbolized as a playable character was "versatility." He is a warrior, a mage, a spiritist, and an archer. The standard of a solo player who handles the vanguard alone and also handles the rearguard with spirits or magic.
His martial power is lower than Yoon Chae-rin's, but he covers it with magic and spirits. His destructive power is lower than Eun Sua's [Seven-colored Sword], but excluding that, he has the advantage over her in everything else.
'Come to think of it, they were set up as twins.'
So, his magic skills were more exceptional than in the game, but he had no exceptional physical parts. He just simply dodged the Rock Golem's attacks and chanted magic.
[Wind Crush]
[Earth Beat]
[Gravity Force]
Three spells exploded in succession. While bursting vacuum waves toward the Rock Golems, dozens of small rock crystals floated up and headed toward the Rock Golems. And a sphere of gravity made of purple light exploded.
The battle briefly entered a lull due to the spectacular feast of magic. I saw Jake and Kim Chang-seop making dumbfounded expressions. Except for one, all the Rock Golems we encountered were crushed and destroyed by the previous blow.
"This is no joke."
I nodded and agreed with Jamie's muttering. In the meantime, Ayane cut the Rock Golem's body. Perhaps the Magic Crystal was cut as well, as the Rock Golem stopped moving.
Hmm, if it goes like this, my score won't be very good. I sighed inwardly.
"Is everyone okay?"
"Ye-yes. I'm okay."
"Let's go."
Jake said in surprise, and Kim Chang-seop spoke politely. That guy was acting arrogant just a moment ago. Ayane also nodded while sheathing her sword.
Our group moved forward at a reasonably fast pace. Even though we were moving while doing detection, it was also because of my physical stamina issues. I need to eat an elixir quickly to raise my stats.
Then I pondered for a moment. Is there really no way for me to give an impact to the Rock Golem? Is there really no way to efficiently attack the inside of the golem with a spear?
'There is one, though.'
[Penetration Strike]. A type of [Balgyeong], it's a method of delivering a blow to the inside.
It's a technique that doesn't originally exist in reality, but it's an attack method focused on internal injuries rather than external trauma due to the transcendental power called mana.
'Shall I try it?'
I looked at the Rock Golem approaching us and raised my spear.