[EP2. Vampire's Castle]
The people who had just escaped from hell moments ago nodded dazedly in agreement.
If he had the time, Jae-jun would have escorted them to a safer spot, but he didn't have that luxury.
With a light bow to the group, Jae-jun moved again.
Whoosh!
Jae-jun deliberately targeted a lone gargoyle, attacking it separately from the rest.
If several clustered together, there was a risk of accidentally drawing aggro and getting swarmed by dozens.
He could escape if needed, but if they bunched up, it'd make picking off isolated ones like this even harder.
Slash!
Vampire's Kin: Gargoyle defeated!
Kraaaah!
Jae-jun sliced through another gargoyle's neck and turned.
"D-don't go!"
A young woman behind him reached out to grab him.
But he couldn't stop to soothe every single person one by one.
Ignoring her voice, Jae-jun kept moving.
The woman who'd tried to grab him blinked as he vanished before her eyes, glanced around, then huddled into a shadowy corner.
Whoosh!
How many had he gotten?
Not even one random box yet.
As he dashed along, he reached a corner.
Heavy gargoyle footsteps thudded from beyond it.
'Quite a few gathered there.'
Jae-jun pressed carefully against the wall.
To minimize his presence, he melted into the shadows.
Thanks to his boosted agility, his steps made no sound at all.
Peeking out just his face, he saw a group of gargoyles heading upstairs.
'Where are they off to?'
About five left.
He considered clashing with them, but decided there was no need to push it.
He might end up fatigued like last time and get caught in a bind.
As Jae-jun hugged the wall, watching them, another sound approached.
Grrrrk.
Grrrrk.
A harsh noise accompanied each step.
The floor vibrated faintly with it.
The sound grew closer.
'Dragging something?'
Jae-jun grimaced at the scraping of metal on stone.
He wanted to peek, but caution was key.
Finally, it came into view.
Grrrrk.
Grrrrk.
'What the hell is that?'
Jae-jun's eyes widened.
A monster wrapped head to toe in iron plates.
Over 4 meters tall, built like a massive sumo wrestler.
Its face was hidden by a crude helmet.
The growling came from the weapon it gripped—a massive flail as tall as Jae-jun.
Each step dragged the flail head across the floor, grinding out the noise.
Instead of gargoyles patrolling? No random box was disappointing, but this slow-mover looked easier.
Conveniently, it lumbered straight toward him.
Grrrrk.
Grrrrk.
When it moved far enough from the gargoyles, Jae-jun gripped his sword tight.
The floor trembled as its huge shadow loomed.
Jae-jun sprang out, aiming for its neck—the exposed spot the helmet missed.
Clang!
Metal on metal.
The blade didn't pierce.
'What?'
No visible iron before.
But as Jae-jun inspected, his eyes widened.
Torn leather revealed iron plating underneath.
The monster halted, glaring at him.
No face visible under the helmet, but inhuman red eyes gleamed.
Grrrrr.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
Each bounding step cracked the ground.
It charged wildly, swinging the flail, but Jae-jun twisted aside effortlessly, out of range.
Its own weapon's weight threw it off-balance; it barely recovered.
'If it's plated under the skin everywhere, where do I hit?'
Test every spot first!
Jae-jun stomped forward and dashed in.
In a flash, he was above its head, unleashing Slash.
Whoosh!
The blade carved its exposed flesh freely.
Clang!
Clang!
Wrist, lower back, nape—all revealed solid iron beneath the rips.
Annoyed by the nimble Jae-jun, the monster swung its flail like swatting a fly.
'This slow? No way it hits!'
Clang!
He slashed its side again and passed.
Just more scraping.
Grrrrr.
Then a flash in Jae-jun's mind.
'Acceleration.'
His body surged faster—in truth, the world slowed around him.
The monster swept the flail in a wide arc.
Whoosh!
Jae-jun ducked under it.
The flail grazed his hair, barely missing.
He leaped up, thrusting swiftly.
Blade tip through the helmet gap, straight at the yellow eye.
Puk!
Slash!
The thrust wasn't once.
In that instant, Acceleration fused with Slash, stabbing the eye inside the helmet multiple times.
Kraaaah!
The monster screeched, flailing the iron wildly in rebellion.
Whoosh!
Jae-jun retreated swiftly.
Boom!
The floor shattered where the flail hit, debris flying everywhere.
His blade tip dripped viscous fluid.
No eyes visible inside the helmet now—both slashed clean.
Then it yanked off its helmet in rage.
Crackkk.
Splat—
The face beneath was grotesque.
Skin fused to the helmet? Flesh torn away, leaving exposed bone and overlying iron plates.
Grrrr.
Blind, it searched for Jae-jun.
'Poor thing.'
Plating slowed it, no cunning either.
Just brute strength and high defense.
Jae-jun backed up further, stowing Frost Blade in his inventory.
He'd faced armored foes before—giant ants, centipedes.
Compared to them?
'This is nothing.'
And wrapped in iron?
Makes it extra vulnerable to fire.
'Inferno!'
Inferno!
Roarrr!
Yellow-tinged red flames engulfed the monster whole.
Kraaaah!
It screamed in agony, but Jae-jun pressed on.
Soon, the plates melted into slag, dripping to the floor.
Thud!
Vampire's Kin: Iron Plate Ogre defeated!
The level-up chime signaled the fight's end.
Always a satisfying sound.
The ogre was charred crisp.
Remaining iron scraps and flail yielded no items or cores.
All monsters here were stingy.
Gargoyles, ogres—same deal.
He shook his head ruefully when more ogres approached from the corner.
Thud!
Thud!
Two this time.
Spotting him, they charged in sync, swinging flails just like the last.
Thud!
"Keep showing up—you're starting to look cute."
He knew how to one-shot them now.
'Come closer.'
As if reading his mind, they lumbered in.
Jae-jun smirked, extending his hand.
'Inferno!'
Superheated flames incinerated the ogres once more.
Vampire's Kin: Iron Plate Ogre defeated!
Vampire's Kin: Iron Plate Ogre defeated!
No expectations for these two, yet items dropped.
One from each—a surprise gift.
◈ Physical Attack Power +10%
◈ Special: None
◈ A special item infused with ogre tooth shamanism. Wearing it surges with ogre energy.
[Acquire Ogre's Necklace?]
'Of course.'
He pulled the necklace from inventory.
Physical attack boost!
His first necklace item—and B-grade no less.
But...
'Sigh.'
'How do I even wear this?'
Dozens of huge ogre teeth—too big and heavy for his neck unless he bulked to 300kg.
'What a shame.'
Still, might come in handy someday. Back to inventory.
Next item: a ring.
◈ Skill Damage +7%
◈ Special: None
◈ A special item infused with ogre bone shamanism. Wearing it surges with ogre energy.
[Acquire Ogre's Ring?]
'Another ogre series item.'
Obviously yes.
Pulled it out—not oversized or heavy, thankfully.
Skill damage boost—perfect for him.
Slipped it on his thumb; it resized perfectly.
'Nice.'
Speaking of inventory, he spotted an unused item from before.
'Shadow's Robe!'
Too flashy outside, so he'd stashed it.
C-Grade (Rare)
Luck ↑
Special: Stealth ↑ in darkness
A lightweight robe of blessed goblin fur. Perfect for blending into shadows.
'Luck, huh?'
Not even a visible stat.
But stealth in dark? Better than nothing.
Flutter.
Fitted him perfectly, luckily.
'Time to finish off the rest.'
Jae-jun eyed the escalator above.
―Afterword―
Thank you.