Boss Monster Hunt (3)
“Ice Boom!”
The battle kicked off with A-ra's spell. After a somewhat lengthy incantation, she thrust her staff forward. A sphere of clustered ice granules plummeted into the midst of the 31 Lizardmen.
Crack!
“Kieeeek!”
The Lizardmen, vulnerable to cold damage, writhed in agony, letting out pained shrieks. But unlike the orcs, none dropped dead in a single hit.
Following A-ra's magic, Gil-su charged ahead.
“Smash!”
He brought his one-handed axe crashing down savagely toward a Lizardman. The slowed creature barely managed to raise its scimitar in defense.
Clang!
The Lizardman's body shuddered violently. As Gil-su swung his axe again to finish it off, another Lizardman closed in from the side and thrust its scimitar.
Gil-su reflexively raised his shield to block.
Kang!
“Kiek!”
You have acquired the Counter Skill.
“Huh…?”
Gil-su stared at the floating message window, his face a picture of bewilderment. A skill just from blocking one attack? It was absurd—especially since he'd only picked up the shield today.
“Uncle Gil-su!”
Yeong-sik shouted at Gil-su, who was distracted by the message. Gil-su spun around in a panic, barely blocking a charging Lizardman's strike.
Clang!
“Urgh!”
This time, no counter activated, and Gil-su staggered from the blocked scimitar.
Without hesitation, Yeong-sik rushed the Lizardman that had attacked Gil-su. Sliding forward like a baseball player stealing a base, he slashed his Blade at its ankle.
Slash!
“Kiiiiieeeek!”
The Lizardman twisted in pain. Seizing the opening, Gil-su swung his axe again.
“Smash!”
His axe, glowing faintly blue, struck the Lizardman's neck.
Yeong-sik sprang up and intercepted another Lizardman heading for A-ra. It swung its scimitar down at him.
Shing!
Yeong-sik kicked off his left foot and sidestepped. Mud splattered, soaking his pants as the blade grazed past.
His eyes sharpened.
Stab!
“Kieeeek!”
Yeong-sik bent backward then lunged, thrusting his Blade into the Lizardman's armpit. The blade pierced its vital spot, its scream echoing across the swamp.
“Ice Arrow!”
A-ra, who had been briefly unable to cast after her Ice Boom, fired again. An ice arrow sped forward, embedding in the Lizardman's chest.
Yeong-sik sliced upward from the armpit.
Slash!
Dark red blood sprayed toward him. Without pause, Yeong-sik charged the next target.
“Bulk Up!”
Gil-su was holding off the remaining two Lizardmen with a buff skill. The tide, slowly tilting in their favor, flipped instantly with Yeong-sik and A-ra's arrival.
Yeong-sik grabbed Gil-su's shoulder and stomped hard, launching himself nearly two meters into the air. Twisting mid-flight, he drove his Blade down at a Lizardman's head.
Thud!
“Kiiii….”
Perfectly pierced in its vital, the Lizardman gurgled and collapsed.
You have defeated 4 Lizardmen.
487 EXP and 29 silver distributed according to contribution.
“Whew.”
With the fight over, Yeong-sik retracted his Blade and caught his breath. He turned to Gil-su.
“The shield definitely allows for more stable play.”
“Seems you're right. Easier to handle than I thought. And I even got a skill out of it.”
“A skill?”
Yeong-sik looked at him in surprise. He knew skills came from weapon proficiency, but this fast?
“Probably because you have a talent for shields, Mr. Gil-su.”
Bae Han-seong, who had been watching, stepped forward to explain.
“Everyone has a weapon they're naturally gifted with. Yours is the shield.”
“Hmm. A shield, huh…” Gil-su gazed at his round shield, a proud smile creeping onto his face.
“Maybe it reflects your personality, Uncle Gil-su. You've always protected others, even back in the tutorial.”
A-ra approached, smiling softly. Gil-su scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.
“Anyway…” Bae Han-seong turned to Yeong-sik, his gaze deepening. “Impressive.”
He meant it sincerely after observing the fight. Yeong-sik, the summoner who outshone everyone without a single combat skill. In a world where skills dominated, that was no small feat.
“Did you train in martial arts before?”
Bae Han-seong asked, though he looked skeptical. Yeong-sik's weapons were straight out of games or movies—rare in reality.
Yet Yeong-sik wielded them unnaturally well. Impossible without prior familiarity.
“Yes, to some extent.”
“Hmm. What did you even do before this, Mr. Yeong-sik?”
“Haha, I'll tell you all about it later.”
Yeong-sik laughed lightly, deftly dodging. Bae Han-seong wasn't one to pry, so he nodded and extended a hand to Gil-su.
“Exhaust Recovery.”
A pure white light flowed from his hand into Gil-su, who looked amazed.
“This is…?”
“Fatigue recovery magic. Battles build up exhaustion fast.”
He cast it on A-ra and Yeong-sik too. Yeong-sik, drained from the muddy fight, felt vitality return.
Guilds really are essential.
Just the three of them, he'd often collapsed after a few fights, skipping hours of hunting. With support, it felt solid.
“Let's head out then. With your skills, the Lizardman habitat should be no issue.”
Bae Han-seong stepped back, yielding the lead. Gil-su nodded and took point.
Then—
“Kieeeek!”
“Kiiiiiik!”
Lizardmen cries echoed from afar. Thinking it their next prey, the group moved toward the sound.
“This is…?”
“Why are there so many Lizardmen…”
Ahead lay over ten Lizardmen. Unusual—they typically grouped in 3-4.
“…Let's fall back.”
Yeong-sik whispered. Ten-plus was too risky for their party.
“Yeah, this is tough.”
Bae Han-seong agreed, turning away.
Suddenly, Lizardmen shrieks filled the swamp.
Slash! Slash!
“Kieeeek!”
“Kiik!”
Yeong-sik peered past the pack. A familiar-faced young man was massacring over ten Lizardmen effortlessly.
Cheon Tae-hwang. The kendo prodigy who swept global tournaments youngest ever, with a staggering level cap of 103.
Why is Cheon Tae-hwang here?
Yeong-sik watched, puzzled. Even as he blinked, Tae-hwang carved through them at blinding speed.
His style was unique. Wielding an overly long longsword, two more swords floated behind him, darting like living things to strike Lizardmen.
Like fighting three at once.
Tae-hwang's swings synced perfectly with the floating blades, cornering the foes flawlessly.
“…Isn't that Cheongwol Sword?”
Bae Han-seong gaped.
“What's Cheongwol Sword?”
“A high-grade rare item. Thought Leviathan Guild had it. Why does he…”
“He's in Leviathan?”
“Yeah, the new holy member, I bet.”
Bae Han-seong admired him, recalling rumors.
He stared, dumbfounded. Really low-level?
Yeong-sik's moves were unbelievable, but this was beyond. Perfect, monstrous precision—plus controlling two swords like limbs. No wonder his hidden class: Sword Lord.
If he joined us…
Bae Han-seong eyed him regretfully. Ranker-potential summoners were gold dust, hunted by the Big Three. Salvatore couldn't compete now.
“Good. Your movements are getting sharp.”
A woman emerged from behind a tree. Beautiful, with shoulder-length black bob.
“White Sword Kang Ha-rin herself…”
Bae Han-seong was speechless. They lived in another world.
Yeong-sik clenched his jaw, watching Tae-hwang. Complex emotions churned—indescribable, but closest to defeat.
If he's Force Liberated…
He shook off the thought. No hostility here. Tae-hwang was just overwhelmingly, crushingly superior.
Why am I thinking this?
Yeong-sik's goals were simple: power to protect himself, recover memories. Nothing more.
Yet seeing this summoner from the same batch dominate sparked an odd displeasure.
“…Let's go back.”
Staying would tangle his thoughts more. He turned.
“Huh? Who are you guys?”
Kang Ha-rin spotted them and approached.