Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Boss Monsters Emerge
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Go Chang-seok.
Sweat beaded thickly on his forehead from how frantically he'd sprinted here. And clutched in his hands was exactly what Se-woon had been hoping for.
"That was a close one. I got a bit delayed trying to wring out just a little more quality from those premium materials."
"Not at all. You timed it perfectly."
"Haha, glad to hear it."
Se-woon slipped on the armor that Go Chang-seok handed over.
Custom-made to his exact build, it fit like a glove—neither too tight nor too loose. He twisted his arms and waist experimentally, but felt no discomfort whatsoever.
⚔ ITEM INFO ⚔ Red Wolf Armor
Type: Armor Grade: C- Description: Scale armor crafted by embedding Giant Rocks from Monkey Rock Mountain into Red Wolf hide. Made with both defense and the wearer's mobility in mind. Abilities:
1. Red Wolf's Fang – Attack power increases by 10%. 2. Wolf's Threat – Instills fear in monsters weaker than the wearer. 3. Essence of the Rock Mountain – Greatly increases defense and durability. Checking the item's details, Se-woon couldn't help but be even more astonished.
A full C-grade item, no less.
It had a minus attached and used the special material known as Giant Rocks from Monkey Rock Mountain, but still—for a blacksmith in the Tutorial to produce a C-grade item? Even Se-woon had never heard of such a thing.
"How is it? To your liking?"
"Yes, beyond my expectations."
"Haha, it's my favorite piece out of everything I've made since arriving here."
And one of the abilities on the armor, 'Red Wolf's Fang,' was truly exceptional.
Attack power boosts on defensive gear were incredibly rare.
How on earth had this come about?
As Se-woon pondered that, he soon uncovered the reason.
⭐ CONSTELLATION MESSAGE ⭐ Constellation 'Soldier with Golden Crown' guarantees the armor's performance, noting that a sliver of his own technique has been incorporated. The 28th Demon King, Berith.
If his technique was infused, it made perfect sense.
'Well, contracting with a constellation of this caliber in the Tutorial isn't exactly common.'
Constellations were no light matter.
They observed players throughout the Tutorial, extending a hand only to those who met their high standards.
Thus, contracting with one early on was no easy feat.
In other words, this outcome stemmed from Go Chang-seok's exceptional skill, plus the interest from the 72 Demon Kings watching over Se-woon—the two Demon Gods included.
'With this, I can pretty much ignore all but the heaviest hits.'
No matter how tough the tenth wave was, Se-woon's gear had long surpassed that difficulty.
Durandal might be sealed, but it still held B-grade power; the D+ dagger for backup; D-grade cloak; and now C- armor.
In the Tutorial's first act, where even F-grade gear was a treasure, he was a blatant balance-breaker.
"Elder, you should head back to the forge for safety."
"Nonsense! How could I miss witnessing my masterpiece in action?"
Go Chang-seok's eyes sparkled.
From his downward glance, it was clear he wanted to check out not just the armor, but Durandal's prowess too.
"Besides, you'll handle everything just fine—what's there to worry about?"
"Then stay behind the others and keep out of sight."
"You got it. Can't wait to see how you wield it."
Go Chang-seok gave Se-woon's gear one last appraising look—clearly disappointed he couldn't inspect Durandal up close—before heading back to his spot.
⚙ TUTORIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ⚙ [Tutorial First Act – Adaptation] The final, tenth wave begins. Repel the monster wave and prove your existence. Right on cue, the brief five-minute intermission flew by, and the final wave kicked off.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Gulp.
As the wave began, a heavy silence blanketed the camp. You could even hear the person next to you swallowing.
And small wonder—Yoo Seo-ah's warnings during preparations had everyone on edge.
'A boss monster?'
'Stronger than the red monsters? No way.'
'But with Blood Wolf... Se-woon, was it? He'll handle it, right?'
Boss monster.
At first, they'd dismissed it as nonsense—'This isn't a game.' But this world had already shattered Earth's common sense.
The system messages floating right in front of them were proof enough—phenomena that would've been dismissed as dreams back home.
As tension gripped the camp, the underbrush in Wolf Forest began to rustle.
"Grrr..."
Animals usually blended with their terrain.
It helped them hide, hunt stealthily, or evade predators.
But these monsters were different.
Monsters with blood-red hides and fangs gleaming like daggers.
Red Wolves.
The moment they appeared, the tension in people's bodies eased just a fraction.
"Phew, just Red Wolves."
"Yeah, stronger than those? No way."
Red Wolves.
Plenty tough, but they'd faced them back in the seventh wave.
Naturally, the group started falling into their anti-wolf formation.
Then—
"Ov-over there!"
"What? Get in formation—"
"Monkey Rock Mountain! From the mountain!"
"The mountain?"
Turning toward the mountain in confusion, their faces twisted in horror.
The craggy gray rockface was staining red.
"Red Monkeys!"
"Wh-why?!"
"Eek-eek!"
Monsters from the ninth wave.
If Se-woon hadn't shown up dramatically, the camp might've collapsed under their assault.
This shattered the pattern of monsters spawning from one spot at a time.
"Th-then!"
A few whipped their heads around in panic.
With Red Wolves and Red Monkeys out, one more type remained.
The system, uncaring of their dread, pressed on.
Thud thud thud!
"Damn it, Red Boars too!"
"Why?!"
"What do we do?"
"F-formation?"
"Everyone! Don't panic—form up around the barricades! They're numerous, but we've beaten them before!"
Yoo Seo-ah desperately rallied them.
The final wave.
Se-woon had warned them, and they'd prepped, but even she felt uneasy.
'At least the boss monster Se-woon mentioned...'
"Awoooo—!!"
As Yoo Seo-ah clung to that silver lining, a massive, ear-shattering howl from Wolf Forest betrayed her hopes.
The Red Wolves emerging from the forest bowed their heads and cleared a path.
Between the trees lumbered a colossal wolf.
Nearly 3 meters tall, covered in wounds large and small, its fangs protruded menacingly even with jaws shut.
⚙ BOSS APPEARANCE ⚙ Red Fang, Canil, has appeared. "B-boss monster!"
It had arrived at last—the boss Se-woon had foreseen.
Even mighty Red Wolves bowed to it; Canil's power was obvious.
And that wasn't the end.
Rumble rumble—!
"Fr-from the hill too!"
"Oink!"
"And Monkey Rock Mountain!"
⚙ BOSS APPEARANCE ⚙ Red Tusk, Pag, has appeared. ⚙ BOSS APPEARANCE ⚙ Red Claw, Yashak, has appeared. Boss-grade monsters were emerging from both flanks of the camp as well.
Terror washed over everyone's faces.
"W-we're done for."
"This can't be real..."
"L-leader. What now...?"
"I-I..."
This was leagues beyond prior waves.
All eyes turned to Yoo Seo-ah, begging for orders to pull through.
But she had no hopeful words to offer. The overwhelming force had cowed even her.
'Se-woon...'
She clenched her fists and scanned around.
She might be the nominal leader, but Se-woon was the camp's true backbone. She'd seek his advice.
The man who'd predicted this surely had a plan.
Yet no matter where she looked, Se-woon was nowhere.
He'd been right here moments ago.
As she and the others panicked, he'd vanished like a ghost.
"Brooother! Where aaaare you?! D-did he run?! You bastard!"
Park Jeong-pil didn't know either, sadly.
Even as they fretted, the monsters inched closer, tightening the noose.
A do-or-die crisis.
Then—
Kraaaang—!!
From the front of Wolf Forest, a red aura surged alongside a wolf's howl.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Blood Wolf Sword Technique Third Form: Blood Wolf Assault is enhanced via inner power. Boundary-Breaking Heart Art's mysteries further amplify the technique's power.
The aura, thick enough to see, took the shape of a blood-red wolf and savagely tore into Red Fang Canil's flank.
Canil shrieked and recoiled, but too late. The unforeseen strike had ripped open its belly.
Piercing hide, severing muscle and peritoneum—the brutal blow spilled its entrails.
🛡️ ARMOR EFFECT 🛡️ 'Red Wolf Armor' ability 'Wolf's Threat' terrifies nearby Red Wolves! 🛡️ CLOAK EFFECT 🛡️ 'Gray Wolf Cloak' ability 'Intimidation' enhances charisma, worsening enemy fear! As their boss reeled from grievous wounds, the wolves guarding Canil succumbed to terror.
The proud beasts whimpered like scared pups, heads bowed low.
In stark contrast, the camp dwellers watching Se-woon's strike felt a spark of hope, eyes alight.
"Yoo Seo-ah, Kang Han-cheol."
"......"
"Se-woon!"
The red aura's source was Se-woon himself.
Even after the strike, inner power roiled along his blade, hungry for more blood.
Se-woon gazed at the camp with his usual deep intensity and uttered a single command.
No shout, yet his voice rang crystal clear across the camp.
"Get it together."
"Got it."
"Yes!"
"Kraaaang!!"
Red Fang, Canil.
To overcome the primal terror stabbing deep into its instincts, it ignored its gut wound and howled with all its might.
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