Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Slaying the Snow Demon Taikan
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Boom! Boom!
Boooom―――!!
The essence stones infused with Luen's blood began exploding one after another.
"Everyone, get back!!!"
As people retreated at her shout, the swollen essence stones burst like balloons, enveloping the massive prey right in front of them in a cloud of poison.
[Kraaaaaah―――!!!]
Taikan, trapped in the poison cloud, let out an agonized scream.
'It's working.'
The beast stuck out its long tongue, breathing raggedly. But the more it did, the deeper the essence stone's poison seeped into its body.
[Kruk... Kruk...]
Its skin turned blue, and veins across its body began pulsing purple.
'Just like what I saw in that other world.'
Woojin's eyes sharpened at the sight.
As he'd predicted, they must have used essence stones to kill Taikan in that other world.
"I've never seen anything like this, though. From what I know, Taikan's hide is supposed to be tougher than steel... but it's so thin now."
Woojin recalled Iru-rin's words as she examined the preserved Taikan corpse in that other world.
'The essence stone's poison weakened it.'
He instinctively knew he couldn't let this moment slip.
Flash―――!!!
He charged straight into the poison cloud shrouding Taikan.
"W-Wait a second!!"
"That's dangerous!!"
People shouted in shock, but he only accelerated.
He held his breath, but the acrid poison invaded through every pore, spreading through his body.
"Damn it!!"
Pain like his heart was being crushed hit him, unmitigated even by pain control.
He felt like collapsing any second, but Woojin stomped the ground with all his strength and leaped.
'Not yet.'
His vision blurred, his skin burned.
[Kruk...?]
Woojin burst from the fog, landing at Taikan's feet.
Grip――.
In that instant, he clutched the pendant in his pocket.
A faint light enveloped his body with the notification.
His blurred vision cleared, his ragged breathing steadied.
But the relief was fleeting; the lingering poison cloud began invading again.
"Hup――."
A split-second reprieve, but enough.
He inhaled and corrected his sword grip.
As the ancient orc's spirit faded, his muscles swelled across his body.
Boooom―――!!!
Woojin swung his sword horizontally with full force, embedding it deep into Taikan's leg amid a deafening roar.
Spurt―――!!!
As he yanked the blade free, red blood fountained from the gaping wound.
Unlike the initial unscratched hide, the poisoned skin sliced away effortlessly.
[Kraaaaaah―――!!]
Taikan clenched its fist in rage.
"Fire!!!"
At Woojin's shout, Gares instinctively hurled his crossbow.
Thuk――! Thuk――!!! Thunk――!!
Arrows slammed into Taikan's arms and legs in rapid succession.
Thud―――!!!
Pushed back by the force, Taikan crashed into the wall.
Dragon Heaven (龍天) Gate 1 - Sever
Cracklecracklecrackle―――!!!
Fierce lightning erupted from Woojin's blade.
"Hraaaah!!!"
He raised his sword overhead and slammed it into the wound from Heavy Strike.
Crunch―――!!!
Like felling a massive tree, Taikan's leg severed clean.
[Kraaaaaah―――!!]
In agony, the beast thrashed wildly.
Slash―――!!!
In that moment, chunks of the severed leg sliced apart like diced meat.
Woojin whipped his head around to see Kim Chan.
"Don't worry. This much won't drain my mana."
Before Woojin could ask, Kim Chan answered as if reading his mind, twisting his staff hand.
Slaaash――!!
Wind swirled around him again, sucking in the surrounding poison cloud.
"Wind Cutter."
With the incantation, poison-laced wind blades targeted the stump once more.
'I wondered how magic could work... so that's his approach.'
Woojin couldn't help but admire Kim Chan's ingenuity.
Mages were rare not just because casting was hard, but controlling spells was even tougher.
Hitting a target with a simple orb was challenging enough; magic demanded more.
While auto-targeting spells existed, higher-tier ones required precise control.
Thus, most mages stuck to pre-formed spells.
But Kim Chan had generated a poison-infused Wind Cutter from afar, without touching the toxin.
'No wonder Nyan Clan wants to scout him.'
Not just some ambitious climber—he had talent to match.
"Hmm."
Woojin eyed Kim Chan.
[Kuuuooooh―――!!]
Then it happened.
Taikan, leg stump regenerating, leaped up with both arms like a final spasm.
"Watch out!!!"
Taikan's body soared, plummeting toward Kim Chan's head.
"Kuh!!"
Kim Chan bolted at full speed, but the shadow overhead grew massively.
"Duck!!!"
Bang―――!!!!
Sizzle...
Smoke rose from the crossbow's tip.
Crack―――!!!
The aimed crossbow shattered to pieces.
[Kruk...!]
Taikan's head snapped back, its massive body rebounding midair.
"Yeah, let's go all the way."
Gares tossed the handle remnant and drew the two axes at his waist.
[Kruk... Kruk...]
Woojin eyed the fallen Taikan.
'Even weakened by the poison, piercing its skull in one shot...'
Incredible power.
Whether from his hidden Hunter class or that special crossbow, it was astonishing.
"H-Hiiiik!!!"
Then, Chason, cowering in a corner, bolted for the exit the moment Taikan fell.
"Stop!!!"
People yelled urgently, but he ran blindly.
"That monster's down!! We gotta run now!!!"
The gnome's cry twisted everyone's faces.
[Kraaaaaah!!!]
Yet Taikan rose with a ferocious roar, skull pierced.
"...!!!"
Chason froze at the sight.
"That idiot...!!"
Gares launched himself at the boy halted right before Taikan.
"...Guh!!"
Just before the monster's hand crushed him, Gares shoved him aside.
"Kaaak!!"
Caught in the grip, Gares screamed in pain.
[Kruk...]
Taikan's lips curled, revealing fangs of fury.
Splat―――!!!
Its grip tightened, bursting Gares' body.
"H-Hik...!!"
Chason collapsed, legs trembling.
'If he dies, the quest fails.'
"Tch...!!"
With no choice, Woojin charged Taikan.
"Bro! Duck!!"
Then, Peron's voice from outside made Woojin instinctively turn.
Rattle...
Boom――! Boooom――!!
Something Peron threw sailed over his head, rolling to Taikan's feet.
Crunch―――!!!
Enormous iron spikes erupted from the floor.
[Kraaaaaah!!]
The spikes crossed into its remaining ankle; Taikan screamed and rolled.
"Move!!"
Woojin leaped over Chason, diving into the beast's chest.
"Hraaaaaah!!!"
He thrust his sword into its chest.
Crack... Craaack...!!!
The blade slid downward slowly; as tough skin split, the heart revealed itself.
[Kurk... Kurk...]
Fallen, Taikan heaved ragged breaths, too weak to resist.
"When'd you prep that?"
"Just had some left over."
"Oh, from back then?"
"Haha..."
Woojin chuckled at Peron's sheepish grin. Traps meant to kill him, now repurposed.
"Good work, Peron."
Central Continent traps had no level limit but were calibrated for level 50+ players.
They couldn't be used in dungeons because killing monsters with traps yielded no rewards.
But Taikan was different.
Its heart had to be magically destroyed for true death.
"If we can use Central Continent traps... wouldn't raid dungeons be too easy?"
"Nah. We weakened it with essence stones first, that's why it worked. This strat isn't standard play. Hidden spots vanish after discovery anyway."
"Ah, makes sense."
Peron nodded at Woojin's explanation.
"What's an essence stone, anyway?"
"Oh, that."
Luen jumped in eagerly, pointing at the magic circle.
"Let's finish it."
Brushing them aside, Woojin told Kim Chan, who nodded tensely.
Slice――.
Woojin severed the remaining limbs.
The heart still beat; it could rampage anytime.
"Hup..."
Kim Chan reached toward the massive heart amid pooling blood.
Hummm...
His mana drained into it.
[Kurk... Kurk...!!]
As Woojin predicted, Taikan thrashed madly, but limbless, it was pitiful.
Splat――!!!!
The glowing red heart swelled like a balloon and burst.
"I-It worked...!"
Kim Chan thrust both hands up at the ringing alert.
White light particles danced around Kim Chan.
[Congratulations.] [You have met the minimum requirements to go to the Central Continent.] [Begin a new adventure.]
"Congrats. You're graduating Dark Forest now."
"Th-Thank... you..."
Boom――!!
Sudden explosion; both grabbed weapons.
"H-Ha. Sorry. This just blew up."
Peron scratched his head sheepishly, pointing at remaining essence stones by the magic circle.
"Ugh?!"
"Careful."
Woojin yanked his nape.
"Burst essence stones release poison. Even a whiff is instant death."
"Gasp..."
Peron recoiled.
-Check rewards already? I'm dying of curiosity here.
Gares messaged in the party window.
Revived at Baekhwagok temple, but iced out by Ice Trolls at the entrance.
Dark Forest's first raid dungeon—what treasures lay within? Everyone wondered.
Step... Step...
Woojin approached the reward chest before Taikan's corpse.
Unlike previous ones, this iron box gleamed with ornate patterns.
Woojin slowly lifted the lid.