Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Fenrir's Lair
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As soon as the wolves appeared, the two quickly cast their buffs.
'As expected of high-level NPCs.'
Even among mages, this Haste was clearly different from the one Kim Chan had used in the Ice Cavern.
"Hup—!!"
Aswell raised his sword toward the charging wolves and swung.
Boom—!!
With a thunderous roar, five wolves were flung in all directions.
"Lightning—!!!"
Bang—! Bang—!! Rumble—!!
A barrage of lightning bolts rained down from above their heads.
"Hmm."
Before Woojin could even draw his sword, over a dozen wolves turned into corpses in an instant.
"Looks like... I won't even get a chance to step in."
"...W-What?"
Woojin couldn't help but be startled by the sudden flood of notifications.
"What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing... Do you happen to know the level of these wolves?"
"Level? Oh... Around level 70, I'd say."
"...".
Woojin was left speechless by Aswell's casual response.
'Level 70?'
This was a hunting ground even top rankers like Keruga could barely handle.
'No wonder I'm power-leveling so fast.'
His status window showed he'd jumped straight to level 56.
'I've ended up in an insane place...'
But he wasn't particularly tense.
A level 93 swordsman, a level 77 court mage, and a level 73 priest.
This might just be a real chance to bus in style.
"Let's go."
Aswell headed deeper into the forest after clearing the area.
"This is the place."
Upon reaching deeper into the mountains, Ether chanted a spell.
"Based on the traces from where the soldiers spotted it, I found this spot."
A hidden cave appeared.
"It was this close all along... How had it gone undiscovered until now?"
Aswell peered into the dark cave entrance.
"If it wanted to hide, we'd never have found it."
"You mean... Fenrir revealed the entrance to us itself?"
"That's my take. Fenrir's a spirit beast that hasn't shown itself for centuries. No way it'd get spotted by mere soldiers."
Ether placed his hand on the cave entrance.
Sizzle...!!
Sparks flashed, and the barrier enveloping the cave vanished.
"It probably knows we're coming."
The barrier had been a sort of surveillance ward.
"Alright. Let's see how a spirit beast welcomes its guests."
Woojin followed behind them.
Ding—!!
The notification window suddenly turned red.
'...What the?'
[This is the domain of the Primordial Spirit.]
[The gods refuse their blessings.]
[The gods strongly advise you to leave the lair.]
"Urk...?!"
"W-What's this...?!"
Even without seeing the window, the others had heard the gods' warning too.
[The gods' wrath descends upon those with hostility.]
[God of Light Rasin's wrath descends.]
▶ HP -10% in combat with Fenrir.
[God of Darkness Harden's wrath descends.]
▶ Attack Power -10% in combat with Fenrir.
[God of Nothingness Muha's wrath descends.]
▶ Speed -10% in combat with Fenrir.
[The gods' wrath effects increase over time.]
[Dungeon Board activated.]
[Special rewards for first clear.]
"The gods are seriously pissed..."
Aswell rubbed his temples, wincing at the voices ringing in his head.
"As long as we don't fight Fenrir, it shouldn't matter. No need to worry too much."
"Hmph..."
Aswell nodded at Bellan's words, but...
"Yes. That ring. Grandpa said he got it from hunting Fenrir in its lair."
If Irurin's words were true, Aswell would end up fighting Fenrir after all.
[Kuaaaaa—!!!]
That was when it happened.
"...!!!"
Fenrir's roar echoed from deep inside the cave.
"...Cough!!"
The court mage Ether spat up blood right there.
"You okay! Ether!!"
Bellan hurriedly cast a recovery spell on the fallen Ether.
"S-Sorry."
Ether wiped the blood from his mouth with his sleeve and nodded.
'One roar and it does that to a level 77 mage...'
The power was insane.
How strong was the thing waiting inside?
Woojin stared ahead with a tense expression.
'Dungeon Board activated, so Fenrir must be the boss...'
The thought of fighting that monster made Woojin shudder.
Plus, combat would trigger debuffs—and they grew stronger over time.
'Of course. What was I thinking? No easy bus ride for me.'
Woojin steadied his breathing.
"Hoo..."
The level-up notification rang out, but Woojin couldn't just rejoice.
"Ether...! Focus!!"
"S-Sorry!"
Crackle... Crackle...!!
He thrust his staff at the charging black wolves, but only futile black smoke rose—nothing happened.
"Watch out!!"
Woojin dashed forward at the sight.
Woojin instantly teleported and shot forward, blocking in front of Ether.
Crunch—!!!
He parried the black wolf's fangs with his sword.
"Hraaaah!!!"
[Uses Chain Strike.]
Dragon Heaven Gate 1 - Sever
Woojin's sword sliced through the wolf's maw.
Scraaaape...!!
Sparks flew from the blade like metal on metal.
[Kyaaak—!!!]
-Master!!
The sword had clearly cut the wolf, but it didn't even have a scratch.
'...Damn it!!'
Woojin hurriedly threw himself aside.
Stab—!!
In that instant, Aswell's sword sliced open the black wolf's belly.
[Keng...!]
The black wolf with the sword in its gut shuddered violently before slumping lifelessly.
"...Thank you."
Woojin panted heavily as he thanked him.
"When fighting black wolves, watch their pupils closely. They're golden normally, but when they turn black, their fur gets as tough as dragon scales."
Shing—.
Aswell pulled his sword from the wolf's belly.
"...Sorry. My fault."
Was it Fenrir's roar?
Ether, who'd kept failing his spells, looked grim.
"Failing's fine. But we haven't even met Fenrir yet. Don't give up prematurely. Got it?"
"...Yes. I'll keep that in mind."
But Ether was too shaken to perform at his best.
'Not that I'm any better.'
Woojin wasn't in a position to judge.
Since entering Fenrir's lair, he'd been painfully aware of his own weakness.
'My stats are solid enough...'
The issue was experience.
The monsters here were all abnormal.
Not just high physical prowess—their skills were tricky too. Everything was new to Woojin.
"Having fun?"
"...Pardon?"
"Your face is smiling."
Catching his breath, Woojin jolted at Aswell's words and shook his head.
"No, I'm not."
"Wasn't criticizing. Quite the opposite—a compliment."
Aswell eyed him.
"Not cowering against strong foes is a true swordsman's virtue."
'...Huh?'
A favor notification popped up out of nowhere—something that hadn't appeared even during days of sword training.
'So it was hunting, not training, that triggered it.'
Woojin smirked.
An unexpected bonus, but gaining his favor was no bad thing.
"However, Sir Aswell, Sir Ether's condition isn't great. Why not fall back and bring the knights?"
Bellan said worriedly.
"No. Our goal isn't extermination. Bringing an army would just provoke Fenrir."
Aswell was firm.
"Besides, you know the tales? Fenrir only appears on nights of the full moon."
Today was that night.
"Turn back now, and we'd miss it."
"But..."
"Tekan Kingdom needs Fenrir's power."
Bellan couldn't argue further.
"We're allied as the Federation now, but it's a fragile stalemate."
The Antarian Federation: Tekan, Esten, and Dalus—three small kingdoms united.
They banded against the five great kingdoms, but each eyed absorbing the other two.
"War's coming soon. Fenrir would boost soldier morale and give Tekan legitimacy as a true kingdom."
Now Woojin understood why Aswell sought Fenrir's power.
All three kingdoms revered Fenrir as sacred.
If it sided with one, the war could end swiftly.
'But why did he kill it in the other world?'
Did his presence change things?
Woojin shook his head.
Unlikely—like the Black Dragon, Aswell's visit timing wouldn't shift because of him.
'Meaning he came here at this time there too...'
Why kill Fenrir if he needed its power? Woojin wondered.
Something else must've happened.
"Looks like we've arrived."
After some walking and a few battles, a massive entrance loomed ahead.
No inscriptions, but it screamed boss room.
Whoosh...!!
Setsuna's body emitted light.
"...!!!"
[Grrrrr...]
In that moment, massive eyes blinked down at them from the darkness.