Another Jackpot (1)
Time flew by swiftly. After Yeong-sik's party took down the lizardmen and hit level 15, they immediately moved on to the next hunting ground.
The next monsters they hunted were called Rakkan.
Rakkan resembled werewolves in appearance. However, while werewolves sat on the blurred line between human and monster, Rakkan were monsters through and through. With their long claws, incredible agility, and pack-hunting intelligence, they were far trickier opponents than the lizardmen.
But Yeong-sik's party, having synced their teamwork perfectly while fighting the lizardmen, steadily took down the Rakkan and leveled up.
The Rakkan's habitat lay deep in the forest, so just like before, the party couldn't do day trips. They camped for two or three days at a time to keep hunting.
Camping in the woods was never easy, but the hardship paid off—their levels rose at an astonishing pace.
Krrrarrr!
A gray-furred wolf-like monster, a Rakkan, growled ferociously. Yeong-sik's party eyed the seven Rakkan surrounding them, their gazes sharp.
At first, even three Rakkan had been a challenge, but now past level 25, they could handle this many with ease.
"Ice Cloud."
As always, the battle kicked off with A-ra's magic. To slow the fleet-footed Rakkan, she opened with a debuff spell instead of raw damage.
A pure white cloud laced with chill spread from her, engulfing the area.
The Rakkan encircling Yeong-sik's party shivered as the biting cold prickled their skin.
Krrrarrr!
A ferocious roar erupted from what seemed to be the pack leader. The Rakkan charged at Yeong-sik's party.
Gil-su stepped forward, hefting his massive kite shield that covered his entire upper body.
"Taunt!"
Gil-su stomped the ground hard, bellowing in a menacing voice. A blue light burst from his body, spreading everywhere. The Rakkan's eyes locked onto him.
"Defense Aura!"
Confirming their aggro on him, Gil-su gripped his shield tighter and activated his defense-boosting skill. A translucent aura flared around him, radiating unyielding strength.
Kraaang!
The quadrupedal Rakkan reared up on two legs and lunged at Gil-su. They normally moved on all fours but switched to bipedal in combat, shredding foes with their long claws.
Kaang! Kang!
"Hup!"
Gil-su blocked the onslaught from all sides with his shield, swallowing a grunt.
While Gil-su held their attention, A-ra finished her spell.
"Ice Boom!"
A larger ice sphere than the ones she'd used on lizardmen plummeted into the Rakkan pack. Needle-like ice shards swept over them.
Krrrarrr!
A few Rakkan's aggro shifted to A-ra. Two spun toward her.
Yeong-sik blocked their path.
"Blade."
Click!
A razor-sharp blade shot from the back of his left hand. The Rakkan ignored him, lunging for A-ra.
Yeong-sik crouched low and stomped. 'Boost.'
A faint glow enveloped his feet as he kicked off. His body accelerated like an arrow.
He twisted mid-flight, swinging the blade at the first Rakkan's throat. The boosted edge sliced through its tough hide and pierced its neck.
The Rakkan screeched in agony, grabbing for the blade with both hands. Yeong-sik twisted away before it could grip and slashed at the second.
Kang!
Krrrk!
The second Rakkan blocked with its claws upon seeing its ally's throat impaled. Yeong-sik immediately raised his right foot.
His mountaineering boot slammed precisely between the Rakkan's legs.
Thwack!
Kiiing!
With a human-like build, the Rakkan crumpled in unimaginable pain, wailing pathetically. Yeong-sik drove the blade into its forehead.
Squish!
"Miss A-ra! A little help!"
As Yeong-sik felled the two, Gil-su—holding off the remaining five—called out desperately. The leader was stronger than expected; he was staggering, on the verge of collapse.
"Just a sec!"
A-ra shouted back, closing her eyes to focus on casting. Blue mana poured from her, coalescing in the air.
"Triple Ice Arrow!"
With her cry, twelve ice arrows materialized at once—her Ice Arrow spell, which made four at a time, cast three times over.
The twelve arrows shot toward the Rakkan.
Squish! Squish!
Kraaaah!
Krrrk!
Her arrows pierced their tough skin. Two Rakkan dropped, vital spots hit.
With two down, the pressure eased. Gil-su thrust his shield forward.
"Counter!"
Kwaang!
Krrrk!
Blue light gleamed on his shield as the counter skill triggered. The leader staggered back, growling frantically.
Gil-su swung his axe upward in a smash skill.
Kaang!
The leader blocked with its claws, but its body rocked violently.
Yeong-sik charged the opening.
Shooo!
Heat haze rose from his back. Full sprint plus boost sent him rocketing forward explosively.
He pulled his left arm back, twisted his whole body, and thrust.
Squish!
Kraaaaaah!
The boosted blade tore into the Rakkan's chest. A roar of agony burst from the leader.
Yeong-sik tried to slash sideways, but the stone-hard skin locked the blade.
"Boost."
A quiet mutter escaped him.
Faint flames flickered at his elbow. Boost-powered, his arm whipped sideways.
Slash!
Kraaaaaah!
The blade ripped through. Crimson blood sprayed like a fountain.
The surviving Rakkan, seeing their leader fall, turned tail and fled without a backward glance.
Yeong-sik's party didn't pursue. Rakkan were so leader-dependent they rarely attacked again.
You have defeated 4 Rakkan.
1274 EXP and 60 silver distributed by contribution.
"You're getting the hang of hunting Rakkan now."
Bae Han-seong, who had watched from hiding, clapped as he emerged.
Yeong-sik nodded. "Levels make a huge difference from the start."
"Haha, your growth is so fast, it makes me proud."
Bae Han-seong grinned warmly. Yeong-sik, struck by a thought, asked,
"How high can we level here hunting Rakkan?"
"To the cap, 35. But it slows down too much. Better to hit 30 and move on."
"Hm... three levels left then."
Yeong-sik nodded. Rakkan EXP, once shocking, now felt meager. He was getting bored of the same foes.
'Worried about the next monsters.'
He frowned slightly. Even against the leader, without special combat skills, his damage was too low. Boost helped cover, but it wasn't a fix.
'Need a higher-damage weapon.'
He eyed the blade protruding from his left hand wistfully.
To get new weapons, he needed to level Structure Analysis, but that was tough. The skill only worked on machines he made.
Over three weeks of hunting, he'd bought iron ore with earnings and used Manufacture, but it only rose one level. Trying Structure Analysis on level 2 products did nothing.
He wanted to mass-buy ore and grind both skills, but ore was pricey.
'If only I could get a Black Cube.'
He recalled one wistfully. He'd leveled Structure Analysis with the one from Lutherak's corpse. Useless junk to others, so cheap—but no sellers. Bosses weren't common, and he couldn't farm them himself.
'...Gotta grind money first.'
Steadily buying ore was his only path now.
Then—
Rustle.
"Hm?"
Yeong-sik heard bushes moving. The others froze mid-rest and stood.
"That's...?"
"Red-maned Rakkan. An elite monster."
A red-maned Rakkan emerged from the brush—solo, unlike the packs.
Bae Han-seong's eyes lit up. "Its mane sells for 5 gold each. High value. Let's take it."
As guild treasurer, he stated it plainly. Five gold lit Yeong-sik's eyes too. Money was what he needed most.
Krrrk... Kyang!
Spotting them, the red-maned Rakkan glared warily, then bolted.
Yeong-sik's party blinked in surprise.
"Chase it!"
Yeong-sik yelled, sprinting. He couldn't let 5 gold escape.
A chaotic pursuit ensued. Yeong-sik burned Boost to keep up.
Slash!
He slashed through brush the Rakkan had passed, closing in—close enough to touch.
The red-maned Rakkan roared desperately and dove into a cave beyond the brush.
Yeong-sik plunged in after without hesitation.
"Huh...?"
Yeong-sik stared at the sudden window, bewildered.