Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Tutorial First Act – Adaptation
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⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Tutorial First Act – Adaptation The fifth wave begins. Repel the monster wave and prove your existence. Not long after, the fifth wave followed hot on the heels of the last.
With wounds just barely healed and battle commencing right away, tension etched deeply across everyone's faces.
A far cry from the fourth wave just moments before.
No need for Yoo Seo-ah to shout anything this time—each person gripped their weapons tightly, bracing for the monster assault.
"Kweeeek!"
Wolves, boars, monkeys. True to the pattern, deep gray-furred boars charged out this time.
Like the Gray Wolves, these beasts boasted far greater size and power than the Brown Boars.
"Hyungnim, I'm all set! Should I charge in?"
"No, we're good this time."
"Pardon?"
Park Jeong-pil, now somewhat acclimated, had been ready to leap forward on his own without a word from Se-woon. Se-woon blocked him.
Until now, he'd matched their numbers to suit their level. But if Se-woon's hunch was right, that wouldn't be necessary anymore.
"They're charging! One, two, three!"
"Scatter!"
Their previous tactics had been crude at best: block the front with makeshift shields and jab with sharpened wooden sticks from behind.
But not this time. Yoo Seo-ah, anticipating boars based on the sequence, had devised a new plan.
Instead of the usual camp center, they positioned themselves with the wolf forest at their backs. The moment the boars charged, they darted swiftly behind.
Kwang!
The boars couldn't halt their momentum and smashed headfirst into the tree trunks.
Immediately after, the group's attacks poured in. They unleashed a one-sided barrage on the dazed boars pinned against the trees.
In a forest cluttered with obstacles, dealing with boars became far easier.
And moreover.
Kwajik!
Kwang, kwang!
Constellation 'Old Man Riding Crocodile' strokes the rough hide of his crocodile and peers down below. No one shone brighter than Kang Han-cheol, whose performance stood out dramatically.
During the second wave, he'd clash head-on with charging boars and wrestle them down with brute force. Not anymore.
Now, he harnessed their momentum, seized their tusks, and flung them aside.
'An application of Tai Chi Fist.'
It was clear. He was putting what he'd learned in his spar with Se-woon to good use.
And apparently, he'd sealed a contract with Agares in the interim—his strength had surged, letting him hoist Gray Boars like toys.
'At this rate, I won't even need to step in.'
Se-woon turned his back on the group, locked in fierce combat with flames of determination blazing.
No contribution points or experience from waves for him, so he'd hunt hidden pieces instead. Truth be told, that could net even more points than waves.
"Hyungnim, where are you headed? Then I'll..."
"No need."
"What do you mean, no need? I'm your trusty right-hand man, no matter what anyone says! I'll follow you anywhere!"
"I'm climbing that rock mountain."
"Heh heh, have a safe trip! I'll guard the camp while you're gone!"
The guy sure knew how to pivot fast.
Leaving Park Jeong-pil sheepishly scratching his head, Se-woon set off in earnest.
The rock mountain where monkeys had appeared during the third wave.
"Ook!"
As expected, the moment he passed the base, monkeys swarmed around him.
Calling allies, no doubt—their numbers swelled to double digits in seconds.
Confident in their horde, they swung weapons wildly as they closed in.
Of course, the outcome was the same as with every other monster so far.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Blood Wolf Sword Technique Second Form: Blood Wolf Fang Strengthened via internal energy
Kwajijik!
The newly acquired Blood Wolf Sword Technique.
A technique learned to counter wolves, but infused with internal energy, it cleaved foes indiscriminately.
Monkeys and their weapons shredded apart, staining the rocks red.
Constellation 'Hungry Prince' mutters that he hoped for a barbecue party, but this won't fill him up. "Didn't we agree no excessive nagging?"
Constellation 'Hungry Prince' plays dumb, claiming his memory is fuzzy. "And there's something tastier than boars at this summit, so no worries."
Constellation 'Hungry Prince' gives a thumbs-up, saying he trusts you. Pacifying Beelzebub felt like minding a young child. Or maybe a starving pet dog fit better?
Se-woon, having cleared the monkeys with the Authority of Gluttony, looked up.
'The monkeys aren't the real challenge here.'
At first glance, it seemed more hill than mountain, but past the entrance, the terrain flipped entirely.
"Nearly vertical."
A sheer cliff, carved as if by a blade. "Rock cliff" suited it better than "rock mountain."
Scarce handholds: weathered cracks too narrow or blunt protrusions hard to grip.
This terrain had stumped even pre-regression Se-woon, despite Journey's Compass guidance.
But.
"Not anymore."
⚡ AUTHORITY ACTIVATED ⚡ Treasure Vault of Greed opened. 🗝 TREASURE REVEALED 🗝 Balatan Cliff's Proboscis Monkey The apex predator inhabiting Balatan Cliff, a realm brimming with rocky mountains and sheer cliffs. No matter how sparse the holds or steep the incline, it was home to monkeys. With this power, no reason a human couldn't climb it.
Chak.
Se-woon wedged fingers into a cliff crack. So narrow, only two fit.
Undeterred, he raised his other hand overhead, body weight borne solely by those fingers.
Chak, chak.
Each reach made his arms tremble.
Even promising holds crumbled under his weight at times.
Then, he'd gulp, staring at the distant ground far below.
'Without Mammon's treasure, I'd have fallen already.'
Maintaining on these slits, enduring gusts while hugging the wall—all thanks to the treasure's bestowed might.
Where to grip, countering winds, mid-cliff rests: the monkeys' lifelong expertise now infused in Se-woon.
Constellation 'Hungry Prince' questions where any food could be in a place like this. Indeed, post-climb, not a monster in sight—not even the rock mountain's monkey masters.
Catching his breath, he looked up, but clouds obscured the peak.
As impatience crept in, a new sight emerged—not solid gray rock.
'Monkeys.'
Unlike the rock-strewn path below, up there, mysterious branches sprouted everywhere.
Monkeys moved or rested atop them.
Moreover, Se-woon spotted monkey-sized holes dotting the cliffs.
'Do they have a separate entrance?'
A reasonable suspicion.
No matter how skilled, this cliff wasn't easy for monkeys.
For stability and convenience, those holes might connect below somewhere.
Though they looked barely wide enough for monkeys.
"Ook?"
Despite stealth, the nearest monkey spotted him.
"Keeek!"
"Ook?"
"Keek! Ook!"
The startled beast alerted others with wide eyes.
Lazing carefree until spotting the intruder—they were shocked.
Makes sense: mid-cliff, bottom barely visible. An enemy breaching this natural fortress? Unthinkable for them.
'First, up to there!'
The treasure's power got him this far, but cliff-scaling combat was tough even for Se-woon.
Like monkeys swinging branches freely, reaching those would lift many limits with their infused strength.
"Oookeek!"
No more climbing allowed—they hurled stones at him.
Chunky ones, sourced from who-knows-where, plenty threatening.
Just before stones hit.
Hwaruk!
A crimson fireball formed above Se-woon's head.
Mana circle spun furiously, swelling the blaze. It engulfed incoming rocks and surged upward unchecked.
Kwaruk!
"Keeek!"
Faced with sudden fire from below, the monkeys panicked and fled higher.
Seizing the gap, Se-woon roused dormant internal energy in his dantian, channeling it to limbs.
Fingers in cracks glowed red-hot; strained holds groaned pitifully.
Like a compressed spring—slow, gathering max power until the hold neared breaking.
Taat!
Se-woon's body rocketed vertically.
Thankfully, monkeys had evacuated upward to dodge the fireball.
He stretched vigorously for the nearest branch.
But.
'Not enough!'
Forgot the wind.
A downward gust slowed him critically.
This meant certain fall.
Then, calmly, he drew not his longsword, but Go Chang-seok's crafted Tusk Dagger from his belt.
Kwak!
'Perfect!'
No matter Se-woon's rapid growth, stabbing rock was no easy feat.
But the Tusk Dagger bore "Stone Piercer"—boosted pierce and cut power for thrusts.
Infusing internal energy, it sank deep enough for solid purchase.
Taat!
Leveraging it, he leaped again.
The intruder-repelling wind battered fiercely, but this time, it failed.
'That was close—nearly a real disaster.'
Atop the sturdier-than-expected branch, Se-woon dusted his wrists.
Looking up, monkeys gaped at him.
Shocked by his monkey-er-than-monkey feat, straight out of a movie.
Finally with free hands, he stretched lightly and drew his sword on them.
"Now, shall we hunt some hidden pieces?"
Soon after, monkey corpses began plummeting down the cliff.