Power Leveling (6)
A low hum filled the air.
In the Ernoir continent, where mechanical devices were nowhere to be found even if you scoured the land with a fine-tooth comb, a drone sliced through the empty sky. It was a creation of Yeong-sik's, born from a whopping investment of 1,000 gold.
Hovering at an altitude of 20 meters, a chunk of deer meat dripping blood was tied beneath the drone's undercarriage.
-RAAARRGH!
-BOOM!
-CRASH!
With a roar like a raging storm, a tree exploded into splinters. Charging after the drone like a runaway locomotive smashing everything in its path was a colossal monster five meters tall.
An ogre. The forest's overlord, its body covered in rock-hard muscles as dense as steel. Among monsters, it ranked at the pinnacle of ferocity, slaughtering any prey that crossed its field of vision without mercy. Especially sensitive to the scent of blood, an ogre would pursue wounded quarry relentlessly until it was dead.
-RAAARRGH!
-THUD! THUD!
The ogre bellowed savagely, glaring at the drone floating tauntingly in the air. No matter its immense strength, an ogre couldn't fly, making it impossible to snag the drone 20 meters overhead with a mere leap.
-GRRRRLL!
The ogre snatched up a man-sized boulder in one hand and hurled it at the drone. The rock hurtled forward at terrifying speed, but the distance between them allowed the drone to sidestep effortlessly, dodging the attack.
-RAAARRGH!
The ogre roared in frustration. Yet it never abandoned the chase. That was instinct etched into its blood.
-RAAARRGH!
-CRUNCH!
-BOOM!
Irritably smashing nearby trees, the ogre pursued the drone, which dangled the bait at a tantalizing distance. And so, three hours passed.
Grgh... grrr... rr.
The ogre staggered, exhaustion plain on its face. Lacking any magical attacks, it dominated same-level monsters with overwhelming speed, stamina, and power. But even its specs had limits—racing at full tilt for three hours while demolishing the forest would wear anyone down. The mere fact that it had chased the drone this long proved the ogre's monstrous prowess.
?Grr...?
Even stumbling, its eyes burned with unyielding madness, locked on the drone. Had the drone vanished beyond the unreachable sky, even an ogre might have given up. But it kept hovering in view, like a deliberate taunt.
?Grr.
Matching its slowing pace, the drone flew lazily overhead, drawing a feral growl. Finally, the ogre collapsed in place, spent.
The drone hummed as it descended to assess the ogre's state.
That was when it happened.
-RAAARRGH!
The "exhausted" ogre sprang up, flinging a mound of dirt at the drone. No mere dirt clod—with gravel mixed in and propelled by ogre strength, it packed the punch of artillery.
-VRMMM!
The drone's propellers spun furiously, darting aside to evade. But it couldn't fully escape.
-CRUNCH!
One propeller seized up, sending the drone wobbling.
-RAAARRGH!
The ogre charged after the plummeting drone, squeezing out its last reserves. Trees shattered against its armored muscles.
Grgh... hrrgh... grrr...
Panting raggedly, it barreled toward the crash site—a narrow ravine.
-RAAARRGH!
Spotting the fallen drone, the ogre bellowed in triumph.
-Clank.
A strange metallic screech echoed from the ground—unlike anything the ogre had ever heard. It whipped its head toward the sound.
-KABOOOM!
A massive explosion engulfed the ogre. It hunkered down, enduring the blast. But its exhausted body couldn't fully shield itself.
-RAAARRGH!
It howled in agony as flames seared its flesh.
Thud.
"Phew. That was close."
A young man's cool voice drifted into the ogre's ears. A human descended into the ravine.
Yeong-sik.
'Almost lost 1,000 gold there.'
He grimaced, picking up the damaged drone—one propeller wrecked. He'd never imagined the ogre faking collapse for a feint.
'No major damage, at least.'
The dirt had jammed one propeller, but it was well within his repair capabilities.
Yeong-sik stowed the drone in his inventory and muttered softly.
"Wanted to run it another hour, but oh well."
His gaze turned icy on the battered ogre.
"Get ready for battle."
"Hah... Never thought this'd actually work."
A-ra stared incredulously at the exhausted beast, beginning her casting.
Yeong-sik turned to Gil-su.
"Gil-su hyung. Don't block the ogre head-on. Radiant Shield might hold, but your body won't."
"Got it."
Gil-su nodded, extending his Radiant Shield.
-Grr...!
The ogre growled, eyes blazing hatred at the group. Instinct screamed trap.
-RAAARRGH!
It roared, summoning every ounce of strength. Traps meant nothing—to an ogre, they were just more prey to crush.
"Radiance!"
Radiance
Spotting the ogre charge, Gil-su triggered the skill in his shield. Low level meant only one light shield materialized—unlike Han Cheol-ho's multiple.
-RAAARRGH!
The ogre lunged impossibly fast for its fatigue. Its muscle-armored fist hammered the light shield.
-BAM! BAM! BOOM!
"Nngh!"
Even with the skill, the shock rattled Gil-su's body. Without it, he'd have been flung away.
"Yeong-sik...!"
Gil-su called urgently. Yeong-sik nodded, circling behind the ogre.
"Shotgun."
Shotgun
-Click.
Twin barrels emerged from Yeong-sik's right wrist. Boosting skyward, he reached ogre-head height.
-BOOM!
-RAAARRGH!
The shotgun blast hammered the ogre's nape. It clutched its head, thrashing wildly.
Yeong-sik boosted downward, slamming his blade into the ogre's thigh.
-Stab.
The sharp edge pierced deep. But against the beast's bulk, it was like a toothpick.
"Extend."
-SHINK!
With his murmur, the embedded blade stretched to a meter. Flesh tore as it burrowed deeper.
Yet even that couldn't fell the ogre. Yeong-sik, anticipating this, stayed calm.
"Electromagnetic Field."
Electromagnetic Field
Blue sparks gathered on the blade. Yeong-sik channeled microwaves into the wound.
-SIZZLE!
300GHz waves microwaved the leg from within—like a weaponized oven.
-RAAAAARGH!
The ogre stomped in horrific pain. The shock hurled Yeong-sik tumbling.
It whirled toward him—the source of real damage.
"Ice Spear!"
A-ra's support struck. A long ice lance impaled the ogre.
"Ice Arrow! Ice Arrow!"
She peppered it with minor spells to draw its gaze. The ogre shrugged them off but glared ferociously.
Seizing the opening:
"Energy Blast."
Energy Blast
Yeong-sik pointed downward, energy ball swelling in his left hand. Charging amplified power.
While distracted:
-VRMMM!
?Grr...?
The intense heat yanked the ogre's attention back. Yeong-sik thrust forward.
-WHOOSH!
The energy orb rocketed forth.
-CRUNCH!
?GRRRRLLL!
It blew a chunk from the ogre's left shoulder, severing the arm. The beast roared in madness.
?RAAAAAARGH!
Shock would kill a human, but the ogre charged Yeong-sik, body hurtling like wind.
-WHOOSH!
Its right arm cocked back, then swung. Blindingly fast.
Yeong-sik twisted to dodge—but too slow.
"Slow Motion."
Slow Motion
The world froze—or seemed to, for Yeong-sik. He analyzed the ogre's trajectory, mapping the perfect evade.
'Can't dodge clean.'
Too fast for raw movement.
'Then.'
-WHOOSH!
Three seconds ended; time resumed. Yeong-sik twisted left, right foot rising. Boost flared, launching him airborne.
The fist grazed his toe. Circling behind, he aimed at the shotgun-weakened nape.
"Rocket Punch."
Rocket Punch
Flames erupted from his elbow.
-SCREEE!
No instant launch this time—the arm spun viciously, enhanced by 'Screw' from upgrades. Sensing doom, the ogre turned.
-BANG!
Yeong-sik's right arm rocketed forward explosively.