Chapter 63
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: The Event Proceeds Smoothly!
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The protagonist's first Ultimate Skill tutorial event.
It began while shopping with Yume.
Of course, "shopping" didn't mean it happened inside a store.
The event triggered while taking a break in the park after browsing the shops, when a Strenger appeared.
An event where you encounter the Chapter 1 boss Strenger and somehow use your Ultimate Skill to force it to retreat.
And right now, standing before our eyes was that very Chapter 1 boss Strenger.
Kang Cheolsan appeared with a booming laugh.
Kang Cheolsan.
The Chapter 1 boss who wielded a massive greatsword as his weapon. The reason he had fallen and become a Strenger was his relentless pursuit of strength and destruction.
He had originally been a decent C-rank Hunter, but deep down, he craved even greater power. He had a violent streak and derived pleasure from smashing things.
That twisted nature had been exploited, leading him to easily degenerate into a Strenger. His hobby? Suddenly appearing out of nowhere to destroy nearby objects and attack people.
He was the perfect fit for a villain.
"Kuhahaha! Plenty of smashable stuff today too! Haaah!"
Kang Cheolsan drew the sword from his back and slammed it into the ground.
A deafening roar echoed as dust and debris flew everywhere. People panicked at the sight of the destruction and the Strenger's mana.
"S-Strenger!"
"Hunter! Someone call a Hunter!"
"Kyaaah!"
"A-Ahh! Ah...!"
Screaming people, those crying for help, and others whose legs gave out from sheer terror, collapsing in place.
The civilians' reactions erupted in an instant the moment the Strenger appeared.
"Kuhahaha!"
Kang Cheolsan reveled even more at those responses.
The destruction he craved wasn't limited to mere physical objects.
The shattering of peace.
The breaking of tranquility.
And the fear and screams that followed—he loved those too.
Becoming a Strenger had amplified his destructive impulses, broadening his tastes even further.
"R-Rubelt...!"
Just like how Isihoon had been wary and startled by the pseudo-Strenger mana I'd created.
Yume's face was etched with tension and anxiety as she faced the Strenger.
Unlike Isihoon, her reaction leaned more toward fear than hostility.
A natural response for a cadet experiencing a Strenger for the first time.
"Yume, snap out of it. It's okay. I'm right here."
"...! Y-Yeah!"
But Yume pulled herself together at my words.
Proof that the reliable image I'd built and her favorability toward me were working perfectly.
"Let's go! Yume!"
"Yeah!"
"Three!"
I activated Hepai alongside Yume, switching to my combat suit and grabbing my weapon.
I wore my usual white suit, gripping a greatsword similar to Kang Cheolsan's.
Yume donned her Academy cadet uniform and held the White Prism she'd bought today.
"Huh?"
Kang Cheolsan sensed the mana surge from activating Hepai and turned toward us.
"What the...? A Hunter? No... that outfit means Academy cadet! Hahaha! Perfect! Perfect! A fun one to smash was nearby after all!"
He was thrilled to see us.
Probably excited at the prospect of crushing some fresh Hunter sprouts.
Well, he wouldn't get that joy.
"Yume, buffs please."
"Strength! Enchant Shield!"
At my command, Yume immediately cast strength enhancement and defensive enchantment magic.
"Yeah, yeah, slather on all the buffs you want. I'll smash 'em all!"
Kang Cheolsan, brimming with confidence now that he knew we were Academy cadets.
Indeed, he belonged to the realistically strong category.
After all, he was the RPG's Chapter 1 boss.
Meaning a boss you had to gang up on with a party to take down—so with just two of us, we must look like easy pickings.
But that assumed normal early-game specs.
With my mid-to-late-game stats and ongoing growth, I could handle Kang Cheolsan solo.
"You're... Strenger Kang Cheolsan."
"Haha! You know me? Guess I'm famous!"
"You pop up everywhere smashing stuff— it'd be weirder if you weren't known."
"Got a sharp tongue, huh? Facing me without fear, full of guts!"
"Naturally. No reason to fear trash like you."
"What? Cocky little punk? I was gonna go easy since you use a greatsword too, but nah."
Kang Cheolsan gripped his greatsword tightly, veins bulging on his forearms.
"First off, I'll teach you not to get cocky with me! Haaah!"
Kang Cheolsan kicked off the park ground and swung his greatsword down at me one-handed.
Of course, a mere one-handed greatsword swing was something I blocked just as easily, one-handed, with the flat of my blade.
"What!?"
Not even full power, but his eyes widened seeing me block his attack so effortlessly.
"Why the surprise?"
"You bastard...! What!? How'd you block my sword so easily...!"
"'Cause I'm stronger than you! Hah!"
I swung my arm, launching him flying with his greatsword still pressed against my blade.
"Kuhk!"
He landed immediately and glared at me.
In that moment, I shouted to Yume.
"Yume! I'll handle things here, so help evacuate the people!"
"Yeah! Be careful!"
With buffs already applied, her best role now was guiding civilians to safety.
"Everyone! Please get out of the park!"
Yume called out to the civilians, approaching those whose legs had given out and helping them up, following my lead.
"You're... no ordinary cadet. No way an Academy brat sends me flying. Just who the hell are you?"
His arrogant smirk vanished, eyes narrowing into a glare.
Times like this called for a proper introduction.
"I'm Rubelt. Rubelt Eldra."
"Rubelt... Eldra? Ha! Figures. You're that golden prodigy everyone's hyping up. No wonder—not your average cadet."
"Even Strengers know my name, huh."
"You're primed to be a huge pain for us. Plus, no way I'd forget the heir to the top conglomerate, Eldra."
"Yet you didn't recognize me at first glance. Strengers got crap intel? Or are you just too stupid to remember key faces?"
"What'd you say?"
Veins throbbed on Kang Cheolsan's forehead.
Provocation successful—his full attention was on me now.
"Ha, all that 'golden prodigy' praise's gone to your head, huh? Fine...!"
As Kang Cheolsan surged more mana, a sinister aura coiled around him.
"Time to smash that arrogant attitude right now! Don't get smug just 'cause you knocked me once!"
He kicked off the ground again, charging me and unleashing a horizontal slash with mana-clad sword.
Destroy Edge
Destruction-focused horizontal slash
Destroy Edge.
A horizontal cleaving skill emphasizing raw destructive power.
In Blaze Blood, the standard was to put the tank up front to draw aggro and block it.
Of course, that's game logic. This was reality.
So.
I easily dodged the telegraphed horizontal slash by jumping high.
"What!?"
He clearly hadn't expected me to evade.
Switching to a two-handed grip, he unleashed a basic greatsword attack skill.
Power Edge
Basic greatsword power strike
"Kuhk!"
Kang Cheolsan hastily blocked my attack with his greatsword.
"Urgh!"
Crack! The ground beneath his feet spiderwebbed.
With my mid-to-late-game stats driving a greatsword skill downward strike, that was only natural.
I landed and kept pressing down on his greatsword with relentless force.
"What's wrong? Weren't you gonna smash my attitude?"
"You... bastard! Uwaaa!"
He gripped his sword two-handed in a frenzy and swung wildly, sending me flying this time.
Even as a Chapter 1 boss, he had the power to launch people.
But I landed gracefully with a provoking smile.
"Strengers aren't all that. Or maybe just you're weak?"
"Grit...! Getting cocky like this, you damn punk's looking down on me?"
Even knowing I was no pushover, he fell for the taunt hook, line, and sinker—blinded by the urge to crush me.
Kang Cheolsan's hot-blooded nature was on full display.
"Rubelt! Evacuation's done!"
At that moment, Yume called out to me after finishing with the civilians.
"And I contacted the Hunter Branch! Other Hunters will be here soon!"
"Thanks, Yume. Good work. But you didn't need to call them."
"Huh?"
"I can handle this guy solo."
"You bastard!!!"
Kang Cheolsan's rage exploded, his mana swelling massively.
"Field Deploy!"
Sinister mana enveloped the surroundings.
"Rubelt!"
Yume cried my name, her voice thick with worry.
I turned to her with a gentle smile.
"Don't worry. Trust me, Yume. That meathead won't lay a finger on you."
"Ah..."
"Eyes off me while I'm here! Die!!"
Destruction
Chapter 1 Boss ultimate - massive purple mana blade downward slash
Kang Cheolsan leaped sky-high.
Then.
"Spike!"
The Chapter 1 boss's ultimate—a direct hit without defense would wound even me.
But.
I'm no idiot; why take something like that head-on?
"Number 8, Number 6."
The greatsword vanished, replaced by gauntlets on my arms and legs.
A shield appeared in my hand.
"Field Deploy."
I surged my mana, deploying my field, then retreated to Yume's side. With my free hand, I pulled her into a protective embrace.
"Rubelt!?"
I ignored her startled surprise and raised my shield toward the incoming Ultimate Skill hurtling at me.
Aegis Shield
Absolute Defense effect
I unleashed the Ultimate Skill with its 'Absolute Defense' effect.