Chapter 137
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Growth (3)
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Aiden and Maya had both sustained minor injuries.
They'd successfully blocked or dodged all the major attacks, but the cunning Giant Hyenas had kicked up dirt with their massive paws once they realized their strikes weren't landing properly.
Most of it had been shrugged off by their armor, but some had hit weaker spots like the joints.
"Every time that happened, our stances crumbled, and the follow-up attacks they slipped in were downright chilling."
"Yup. And those bastards were scary fast. Smart ones too."
In Maya's case, she'd been able to deflect the smaller hits using [Spectral Gallop].
Blending into her surroundings, she'd launched off-tempo strikes that threw the Giant Hyenas into confusion, landing clean hits.
But...
"Once they tagged me once, they didn't give me any breathing room after that."
The Giant Hyenas fought with a cleverness that belied their enormous bulk.
And that size made even a split-second lapse potentially fatal—you could get crushed underfoot if you weren't careful.
"At least this time around, they were on the easier side. Giant Hyenas aren't exactly powerhouses."
Of course, their sheer mass gave them devastating physical force, but it wasn't beyond what the two, reinforced by mana, could handle.
"What if they'd been tougher than this, with insane regenerative abilities too?"
"Like a troll, you mean?"
"Exactly."
Trolls were rare visitors to the 4th floor but more common on the 5th—monsters whose greatest terror lay in their staggering regeneration, paired with those hulking frames and elongated limbs.
"If it turned into a war of attrition like just now, we'd be at a disadvantage. And unlike those Giant Hyenas, it wouldn't back off."
The Giant Hyena had lunged at Jun and Eleanor the moment Aiden was healed by holy magic, but it had failed thanks to their marks.
A troll, though? It would've ignored Aiden and Maya's attacks nine times out of ten to go straight for Jun and Eleanor.
"That said... there's not much we can do about it. It's a limitation of our group comp. This battle just highlighted the gaps in our style. Keep it in mind, that's all."
"Mm..."
"Got it."
After wrapping up his feedback for Aiden and Maya, Jun turned to Eleanor.
"So, Eleanor. What'd you think of channeling mana into my spells directly?"
"Felt like my head was gonna split open."
"Right?"
Eleanor had converted Jun's mana into holy power a few times by now, so he'd figured she could mimic it enough to interfere properly with his spells.
But magic was far more delicate than she'd imagined. Fail to grasp each pattern properly, and you'd overload the circuits, damaging the whole structure.
"Don't tell me I gotta learn magic too."
"Not all of it, but the patterns themselves? Worth studying. Lots of overlap with holy magic."
"Ugh... Thought stuff like this was for bishops."
Surprisingly, Eleanor didn't balk at the idea.
In fact, some holy spells drew heavy inspiration from modern magic traditions.
"Starting today, then—magic lessons."
"Already feels like puking..."
After that, Eleanor got a lecture on the patterns of Jun's most-used spells, while Aiden and Maya reviewed their Giant Hyena fight, hashing out weak points.
"White Whale Mercenary Corps, huh..."
Hertix, leader of the Hertix Adventure Group, mulled over the name of the mercenaries who'd entered the contaminated zone of Ervantos—his territory.
They'd shot to fame lately for various reasons, but even without that, he'd heard their name from others before.
"The group Ron was talking about."
Ron Kyler.
Owner of the Altas Adventure Group, run by a Level 7 user. She'd teamed up with Jun for the Bavern tournament not long ago.
Her discovery of Deidas's grand temple had made her a household name, and she'd crossed paths with Hertix in the past.
"They say they're pretty skilled. Wonder why they're taking our commission. Some other motive?"
"Why not sell the info to the intel guilds?"
His adjutant chimed in from the side, and Hertix pondered it briefly.
The Fairy Queen push in the Black Forest on Layer 1 had everyone hunting for guides anyway.
Selling that alone would net a tidy sum.
Info brokering like this was steady cash.
"Nah. No need to piss off folks connected to Altas."
"But shouldn't we tip off the nobles sponsoring us?"
"No need. Lord Molten's not even noble faction."
"Fair point."
The noble faction was pouring resources into carving out zones in Blackout right now.
They were hot on the White Whale Mercs after their Fairy Queen exploits, but had no real ties to Hertix's group.
"No point getting greedy and stirring trouble. Adjutant—life's about playing the long game, like I always say."
"Noted."
"Alright, next order of business..."
"C-Captain!"
A commotion in the hall cut him off as an adventurer burst through the door.
"What is it?"
"H-He showed up!"
Not a proper noun, but Hertix got it instantly—his face hardened.
"Earlier than usual... Where?"
"Near the mountain range entrance!"
"Tell everyone in the territory right now. He's coming!"
"Got it!"
"Adjutant! Rally the field teams. We're hunting it down."
"On it!"
"Whew... Persistent bastards."
Another Giant Hyena dissolved into particles, and Aiden shook his head wearily at the retreating foes.
"Still, we're clearing commissions no problem. Just watch them, and the other mobs aren't an issue."
Two days into training.
Jun's party had spent them shrouded in fog, picking off prowling Giant Hyenas.
The packs swarmed whenever they moved, pulling in neighbors—forcing constant vigilance, even at rest.
Mentally draining stuff.
"Guess we got cocky surviving the 5th floor."
Jun nodded at Aiden's gripe.
"Half a month more here, then tower."
"Roger. What's for dinner?"
"Deer stew from that hunt."
"Nice."
Just as they finished eating...
"They moving again?"
"Post-meal workout crew."
Maya spat her toothpick on the ground, belly full.
"How many?"
"Uh..."
Jun's reply was vague.
"What?"
Aiden looked up from cleanup, Eleanor scanned around suspiciously.
"Lot of 'em..."
Red eyes glowed through the white mist from all sides.
"Run."
Jun called retreat on instinct—field anomaly.
"Why—the hell—are they—chasing like this?!"
Aiden, Eleanor on his back, gasped it out mid-sprint.
"No clue! But sticking around ain't smart!"
Jun's [Scan] had clocked over a dozen—big game, lone hunters by nature, now pack-hunting them.
Monsters detected: 13+
A Giant War Boar closed in—Jun hit the ground with [Grease], friction gone, tumbling it instantly.
Its bulk bowled over trailing monsters like boulders.
But the four-legged freaks leaped it nimbly, hot on their heels.
[Grease]
Only after shaking them fully with an emergency 'Phantom'-boosted [Iron Rampart] did Jun halt.
[Iron Rampart]
The [Burning Step] trails faded—no pursuit. Jun sighed in relief.
"Hurry. Mask our scent."
"On it."
Like in the Black Forest before, they rubbed down with grass and dirt, ears pricked to the chaos around.
"What the hell's going on?"
"Field boss must've spawned."
"Field boss?"
"Yeah. In Ervantos's contaminated zone, that means..."
Kuugaaruaaaah—!!
A distant roar hit; Jun clicked his tongue.
"Damn. Troll."
"T-Troll?!"
"Solo monster, mostly 5th floor. The one I mentioned."
"It's here?!"
Even Aiden knew the troll's rep.
Rare 4th-floor sightings were weaker than the 5th-floor variants.
Eleanor, face grim, replied.
"Uncle said it pops up rarely here. But why didn't Hertix warn us?"
"Probably didn't see it coming."
"They run the territory and missed it?"
Shocked as she was, these incidents weren't that rare.
Blackout had limits, no matter the prep.
Couldn't babysit a troll spawn year-round.
Tying up troll-hunters cost money.
"Ugh... They'd at least track the timing."
"Something must've thrown it off. Spawns shift early sometimes."
"True. Black Forest last year too."
But Jun saw it differently.
"Issue is, Hertix should've mobilized fast. Why are those things still swarming unchecked?"
Deep in as they were, news might not reach—but nearby users? They'd evac first.
Yet combat echoed...
"Damn, Hertix group's down!"
"Fall back! Monsters incoming!"
"Gaaah, help!"
Screams everywhere. Jun glanced at his team guiltily.
No one scolded him this time...
"..."
"..."
He met Maya's eyes, looked away awkwardly.
"Head to the noise first."