Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Shadow Shepherd King (1)
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“Hoo.”
I let out a deep breath and scanned my surroundings.
Brightness on the level of a full moon, a floor eroded by sticky darkness. And endlessly rising black smoke.
‘This place.’
It was a space absolutely advantageous for ambushes.
A place where the Shepherds could unleash their innate powers without restriction.
Like a desert to the Sun Spear.
Also like a forest to Eldrin.
But.
I didn’t blame the environment.
I didn’t make excuses, and instead worked to adapt quickly.
“Hup!”
Instinctively, I spun the spear in my right hand once.
Whoosh!
As my shoulders grew stiff.
Thud!
A heavy impact spread through my entire body.
- Grrr...!
The one that got hit and bounced away glared with wild eyes again.
Thick drool dripped from its mouth.
‘It’s not even whimpering anymore.’
It had been about two hours since I entered this place.
Their level had clearly risen compared to the initial ones that appeared, and the Shepherds’ ferocity had grown fiercer.
- Grrr! Yap yap!
As if I were their mortal enemy.
They didn’t back down even when hit, and the more I adapted, the more intensely they pressed.
But even so, what comforted me was.
“Hey, behind you!”
The old man advising me from the side.
Upgrading [Teachings of the Myriad Arts] had truly been a godsend.
Rather than getting stronger right away with other skills.
It was a choice that amplified my growth speed with the future in mind.
Swish!
I twisted my head, dodging a strike from a Shepherd flying toward the back of my skull.
“These mutts are faster than before, but their claws are blunt.”
The old man said.
“That means you can parry some attacks instead of just dodging. Mindlessly evading isn’t the answer.”
“Understood, Elder.”
Honestly.
I thought there would only be about ten types of Shepherds no matter how many there were.
‘But.’
Their varieties were beyond imagination.
From basic pitch-black Shepherds.
To spotted Shepherds, triangular-eared Shepherds, shaggy Shepherds, large Shepherds, and so on.
Even Welsh Corgi-type Shepherds.
Just counting the ones I’d encountered so far exceeded twenty types.
Moreover, each had distinct characteristics.
Some used [Invisibility] skills, some were fast, some dealt heavy damage, and so forth.
‘That’s why they’re perfect for training.’
If Theme 3 was tempering through repeated training, Theme 4 was real combat experience.
The advantage of real combat experience is facing diverse opponents.
Of course, that’s thinking positively.
“Damn.”
Right now, I felt like I was dying.
Thud!
A Shepherd’s blunt claw dug into my ribs.
“Guh!”
With sharp pain, my balance crumbled.
Since I’d already taken the hit, rolling once was better than trying to endure.
Rolling to disperse the impact.
“Hng! That hurts like hell.”
For a dog, its entire body was a mass of muscle, making the pain excruciating.
Of course, my Pain Resistance skill was S-rank.
I could endure this while fully conscious.
“Come here, you son of a bitch.”
After taking one hit, could I just let it go?
As soon as I regained my balance and stood, I smashed the incoming one’s face with my spear.
Thud!
With the sound, it bounced away.
I charged right after and thrust my spear at its neck.
Stab!
It went in properly, and the Shepherd collapsed limply.
I stabbed it a couple more times.
Stab! Stab!
Blood spurted out.
With the metallic scent filling my nose, it slithered! into the shadows and vanished.
“Haa, haa.”
Now it was getting overwhelming.
New Shepherds kept joining, reaching a level I couldn’t handle alone.
‘I wonder if the party is doing okay?’
As we fought, we’d moved quite a distance.
I couldn’t hear the party anymore.
The moment I tried to glance back just in case.
“Hey, focus on your own situation. Your friends seem to be holding their own pretty well out there with your skeletons.”
“......Is that so?”
“More importantly! Left!”
Swoosh!
That’s when my left field of vision flashed.
‘What?’
My heart sank.
A claw at a speed my Taiqing Heart Method couldn’t even detect grazed my waist.
Splurt!
Blood gushed.
“If you don’t get your act together, you’ll get eliminated before meeting that final boss you want to catch, kid.”
Blood rushed to my head.
My face burned.
- Grrr.
Lowering its stance and looking ahead.
Three newly appeared Shepherds were howling.
‘They’re strong.’
Strong enough for their fur to bristle all over.
No, since they’re dogs, strong hounds?
This is ridiculous.
Did they really make these to be caught?
I clicked my tongue and lowered my spear.
“Milord.”
A familiar voice came from the right.
“Taeyang? When did you get here?”
“I’ll join you from now on, milord.”
Taeyang’s spear flashed brightly.
“Well, no one’s better than the Sun Spear at dealing with ones buried in shadows. Milord.”
A voice came from the left as well.
He’d been helping allies but now joined me.
Just the two of them.
That must be Taeyang’s judgment.
“I ordered the others to keep assisting your comrades.”
“Well done.”
I nodded.
It was perfect timing.
Those three were too much for me alone right now.
Of course, using the essence of fire or water would make it easy.
“......”
But there was no response from them.
Even calling them got no reply.
My guess was.
‘They don’t care unless it’s dragon-rank monsters.’
They might not even find mere Shepherds interesting.
They were beings who could afford that.
“Alright.”
Anyway.
With reinforcements, let’s start again?
“Come at me, mutts.”
- Grrr, yap!
The fight resumed.
A dogfight, literally.
I charged with spear raised.
Swinging and thrusting.
In sync.
Taeyang and Eldrin wielded their weapons.
‘Solar Chain Strike’(太陽連擊).
‘Moonlight Fall’(月光落下).
Spear tips consecutively sprayed sunlight, flashing.
Arrows shot into the air fell as moonlight.
Techniques from absolutes who’d regained over half their original power.
And their bodies were dragon bones, unbreakable by ordinary attacks.
- Grr?
The charging Shepherds faltered.
Shock filled their eyes as they backed off warily.
‘Heh.’
They came at me like mad when I was alone.
In the end, just beasts after all?
Ta!
I leaped into the air and thrust my spear with full force.
One Shepherd pulled back.
But into that space.
Stab!
Eldrin’s arrow flew and embedded.
“Nice!”
With my subordinates’ join, the battle tide turned.
Of course, they weren’t just dodging.
Swish! Thwack!
Dodging and blocking.
Whoosh! Thud!
Me swinging and striking.
After dozens of exchanges, the skirmish ended.
- Grr......
“Hoo, hoo!”
We and they retreated to catch our breath.
Shepherds and I were living beings with stamina.
We had to regulate breathing while fighting.
Of course, the skeletons didn’t need to.
“Milord, are you alright?”
“I thought they were just regular monsters, but they’re pretty tough, milord. On the level of drakes in our world?”
Even so, they fell back for me to regroup.
“......”
I saved my words, staring at them.
While keeping tension, searching for openings.
- Hoon, can you hear me?
Someone’s voice rang in my eardrum.
“Kapu?”
- Good connection. It’s a communication skill, Hoon.
Whoa.
You could use a skill like this?
Kapu’s the ultimate utility king.
- You seemed to be going too far, so I attached a device to your sleeve. We’re sticking close together and holding up okay, but how about you, Hoon?
Kapu asked via voice.
“......It’s a bit hard to say I’m okay.”
As I replied, another voice flowed.
- Makes sense. We’re the problem more than you, Hoon. You always handle things well on your own.
I glanced back slightly.
No sign of the party.
From fighting, we’d moved a distance beyond visual range.
- Things are getting more intense here. But we’re racking up points by taking them one by one. Don’t worry too much. We’ll catch as many as possible to build contribution this time too. And... whew......
Kapu’s voice sounded breathless.
Seemed like fierce combat on their end.
- I’ll relay quickly. According to my scouting, these guys pursue silence. Moving without sound, literally. That’s the pinnacle for this race. So stay cautious always, Hoon. Stronger Shepherds won’t make a sound.
“Sound, got it. Roger.”
Static.
Communication cut off abruptly.
Probably strained due to distance.
“Kapu, that guy’s impressive.”
The old man who’d been watching muttered.
“Even in that chaos, minding communication. Going out of his way to relay minor info for you. Thoughtful one.”
“Yeah.”
Definitely a character.
“Guess I’m blessed with good people? Just random picks from Theme 2, but each shines in their role.”
“Tsk tsk. Because you’re a good guy, they strive to be good too.”
Huh.
Elder.
Why so complimentary lately?
Ever since summon time changed to 12 hours, he’d been oddly favorable.
“......Coming from you, Elder, it’s kinda embarrassing.”
“Shut it, kid.”
The old man crossed his arms and continued.
“And do you know?”
“What?”
“That Shepherd final boss. It’s right nearby.”
“......?!”
“Must be interested. Watching from pretty close.”
Chilling words.
Not just nearby, but watching?
I hadn’t sensed a thing?
‘Where?’
I muttered inwardly without realizing.
“What, gonna go find it and fight right away? Forget it. Just deal with the ones in front of you. Up close now, I see clearly. You couldn’t catch it even in death. Absolutely not.”
“......”
That bad?
“You know I don’t stop challenges if there’s even a sliver of possibility.”
“Yeah.”
“But that one’s too much still. Especially here—it’s made for it. Hiding aura-less things even tighter.”
“......”
This is getting my blood up.
- Grrr!
Ahead, the three Shepherds prepared for battle again.
Who knows what other Shepherds lie ahead.
Probably even stronger ones.
‘Normally.’
I should take them one by one.
That way I rack up more contribution, helping the team more.
But why.
I didn’t want to waste time.
Going step by step like this, I felt like I’d get eliminated before meeting the final boss?
‘Don’t want that.’
Since I started.
Even if it’s an opponent I can’t beat.
I want to at least see it.
‘So where?’
“......This kid. What have you heard so far.”
‘Elder, it’s not life or death this time, right? Worst case is elimination. I need to see what that thing looks like.’
“Sigh.”
The old man sighed.
“Who calls you Skeleton King. You’re Stubborn King, Stubborn King.”
‘Thanks.’
“Insolent brat. Fine, not life-or-death like you say.”
The old man raised his hand, pointing one direction.
“Exactly 30 degrees left from your front, 500m away.”
Okay.
I nodded.