Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Ninth Wave Onslaught
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The Tutorial's ninth wave had begun.
As expected, starting from the seventh wave, the monsters' level had risen another step.
Red Wolves with blood-red hides, Red Boars. And now, facing the people in the camp were Red Monkeys with their fiery red fur whipping in the wind.
"Block them! Block them!"
"Behind us too! They're behind us!"
These creatures weren't just physically enhanced.
Their bulk had increased, but some of them even wielded iron weapons amid their crude arms.
They seemed more intelligent too, employing proper tactics to toy with the humans.
"Protect the wounded!"
"Damn it, we don't have the luxury to watch the wounded anymore..."
The red-furred monsters were powerful.
Moreover, the camp's strongest fighter, Se-woon, hadn't been seen since the sixth wave.
Yoo Seo-ah and Kang Han-cheol were stepping up even more, but from the seventh wave onward, injuries had started piling up.
The eighth wave hit in that state—no fatalities, but six people were out of commission, and everyone else bore wounds great and small.
As if sensing this, a few Red Monkeys lunged toward the wounded.
At this rate, the injured wouldn't stand a chance.
At that moment, two swords sliced through the air like the wind, sweeping into the monkey pack.
Sergergek-!!
If Se-woon had seen it, he might have recalled her pre-regression moniker, 'Whirlwind.' No, her current form suited 'Gale' even better.
Her swordsmanship, wielding dual blades without pause, resembled a spider darting through foes on eight legs.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Constellation 'Spider with Crown' corrects Player 'Yoo Seo-ah's' posture, deeming it insufficiently flashy. After her swing, two sword afterimages lingered.
To the Red Monkeys' eyes, it looked like she wielded four blades.
Even with proper weapons, they couldn't withstand her strikes.
But.
"Hah... hah..."
Yoo Seo-ah was running low on stamina too.
Though others were pitching in, the camp's defense relied almost entirely on her and Kang Han-cheol.
Her body was covered in wounds from prior clashes with Red Wolves and Red Boars.
With mounting injuries and growing dependence, she was nearing her limit.
"Ukik!"
Sensing her fatigue? The Red Monkeys circled her, biding their moment.
She tried to swing again, but her trembling hands could barely grip the hilt.
Just as the Red Monkeys raised their weapons—
"Hup!"
Bam!
Kugugugu-!!
A booming shout shook the ground beneath them like an earthquake.
Rocks burst up intermittently, the earth caved in, claiming nearly half the Red Monkeys.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Constellation 'Old Man Riding Crocodile' gazes at the quaking earth with delighted eyes. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Constellation 'Spider with Crown' bares its fangs, telling them not to interfere. The quake's originator was Kang Han-cheol, one of the camp's key figures.
Contracted with Hell's Grand Duke Agares, he wielded superhuman strength like Yoo Seo-ah.
However.
"Thanks!"
"Catch your breath."
"But the wounded..."
"If you collapse guarding them, the whole camp wipes."
His condition wasn't normal either.
Unlike Yoo Seo-ah's agile style, Kang Han-cheol tanked hits with his natural build to unleash devastating counters.
Even with Se-woon's martial arts shifting his style, his low agility meant wounds accumulated.
Dozens peeked through his torn coat.
In truth, he might be the camp's most injured.
"Can we two hold them off?"
"We have to."
They'd cleared the sixth wave unscathed with confidence, but now the future looked bleak.
Even surviving this wave, the next seemed impossible.
In that instant, one man filled their minds: Jeong Se-woon.
Others might doubt, but they believed. He'd return.
"Uwaaaak!"
Meanwhile, far off, a staggering man fled Red Monkeys, clutching bananas.
Park Jeong-pil. He'd been luring a chunk of the pack.
Without him, even Yoo Seo-ah and Kang Han-cheol might've fallen to focused assaults.
But he was at his limit too. He tossed the bananas and collapsed between them, gasping.
"I'm done! Can't do more!"
"Good work."
"Where the hell's your bro? Contribution's still rising, so he's alive!"
"Uk! Kiek!"
"Uwaak!"
The original Red Monkeys plus Park Jeong-pil's lured ones—dozens surrounded the trio.
Cold sweat beaded on Yoo Seo-ah and Kang Han-cheol's brows.
Could they repel this assault?
They clenched trembling fists.
"Kieeeek!"
As the victorious monkeys lunged—
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Constellation 'Spider with Crown' bows its head to the Demon God. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Constellation 'Old Man Riding Crocodile' bows its head to the Demon God. Pajijijik!!
A bolt of lightning arced through the Red Monkeys.
Like a serpent, it relentlessly tracked its prey.
Electrocuted monkeys charred black without a scream.
Park Jeong-pil teared up, staring at the lightning's source.
"Brooo!!"
* * *
⚔ TREASURE VAULT OPENED ⚔ [Chain Lightning] One of Zatap's signature spells—a lightning magic that chains purple thunderbolts like links, ravaging enemy lines. Purple lightning erupted from Se-woon's hand, ravaging the foes.
True to a 2nd-circle spell, its power surpassed his mainstay Fire Ball.
Some twenty Red Monkeys charred instantly; weakened chains felled others, eyes rolled back in unconsciousness.
'The situation's worse than I thought.'
Without his timely arrival, they'd have failed the wave.
Numerous combat-incapable wounded, and the rest far from fine.
'Or maybe they've held up impressively?'
Injuries aplenty, yet zero deaths.
Yoo Seo-ah and Kang Han-cheol's growth was evident at a glance.
Most fallen Red Monkeys here were their kills, no doubt.
Prior waves likely unfolded similarly.
"Brooo!!"
'No idea what that guy's deal is, wedged in there.'
Park Jeong-pil.
Meant as bait for surveillance and torment, yet he'd performed admirably.
Even.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Constellation 'Flying Fish with Donkey Head' points at Player 'Park Jeong-pil' and cackles. 'Donkey Head... Valefor?'
The guy even drew a constellation's eye.
Flying Fish with Donkey Head—Valefor.
Rank 6 demon king, duke over ten demon legions.
Valefor had another famous moniker.
'Fits him well, somehow.'
The 'Duke of Thieves.'
A top-6 powerhouse with thieving skills useless in straight fights.
That explained Park Jeong-pil evading nimble Red Monkeys so long.
"M-magic! No way!"
"He's here! He's back!"
"Blood Wolf!"
The dazzling purple lightning revealed Se-woon quickly.
They'd resented his absence, but only he could save them now.
More importantly.
"Blood Wolf?"
What was that? Seemed aimed at him, but Blood Wolf out of nowhere?
Players in towers got monikers sometimes, but never in the Tutorial.
Then Park Jeong-pil sidled up slyly.
"Bro, like it?"
"...You came up with that?"
"Heh, how'd you know? That wolf pelt cloak you're wearing, the bloody scent when you swing swords or cast spells! Perfect fit, right?"
Se-woon frowned.
Monikers mattered—they stuck more than names.
Assigning one without permission?
And if others shouted it, the camp saw him as Blood Wolf now.
Hard to gather everyone and say 'Don't call me Blood Wolf.'
Se-woon sighed softly.
"I'll name yours myself."
"Huh? An honor! Can't wait, bro!"
Se-woon vowed: Park Jeong-pil would get a matching moniker.
'For now...'
"Ukik!"
Ninth monster raid.
Red Monkeys still numbered plenty.
Despite Yoo Seo-ah and Kang Han-cheol's kills, and Se-woon's spell felling dozens.
His display drew every nearby Red Monkey's gaze.
Others too exhausted to help.
'If they clump on me, all the better.'
They'd gathered thinking one target easy—monkeys were monkeys, smarts or not.
Ignoring the spell he'd just unleashed.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ By the Black Tower's mysteries, 'Lightning Chain''s power is enhanced. The new shared mana cultivation method.
His second circle gleamed black from the Black Tower's influence.
Not limited to dark magic—dark mana circles amplified spells with destructive mana.
Pajijik!!
Lightning from Se-woon's hand darkened beyond purple.
Lightning's nature defied evasion or defense.
Unless mana-wielding, Red Monkeys couldn't resist.
Chiiik-!
Black lightning left scorched husks.
Empowered, it accelerated, sweeping the enemy horde in a flash.