Huh? Why Is That Here?

'Oh! Write it down, write!'

In that instant, his form blurred until it was nearly invisible to the eye. The moment he activated his stealth skill, even though I was focusing intently on him, his presence slipped completely from my mind.

I nearly missed it entirely. If I hadn't repeatedly reminded myself in my head, I would've overlooked him just like that.

'He disperses his mana evenly throughout his body, matching the surrounding mana density perfectly. That's how he erases his presence entirely!'

I got it. Stealth skills were rated far higher than their rank suggested because even high-rankers struggled to detect that presence.

'So that's the principle behind it.'

The moment I thought I'd grasped it perfectly, a familiar chime rang in my head.

'Yes!'

I'd gotten the skill I wanted. I cheered inwardly.

'Jackpot again!'

Not just any stealth, but Advanced Stealth (A). It was the must-have skill for world-class assassins and hunter-class pros.

'Feels like I'm pulling higher ranks each time?'

I felt a bit dazed, but also this weird thrill. Like raiding someone else's fridge for free snacks.

A twinge of guilt? Or maybe just a smidge of sorry for taking the easy road? Something like that.

I shook it off after a moment's thought. Hell, I wasn't stealing skills or hurting anyone.

Should all natural geniuses live wracked with guilt? No need to feel bad just for having better talent.

That was my conclusion.

'Alright, let's give it a shot.'

Eyes locked on the golden goblin in the distance, I activated stealth right away.

'Stealth!'

'Perfect!'

Intermediate stealth cut presence by 50%; advanced did 80%. Massive upgrade.

Confirmed, I slowly headed toward the entrance where the fight raged.

"Kieeeek!"

"Where you think you're sticking your ugly mug, you goblin shit?"

Splat!

"Kikekek! Kekek!"

Goblin heads exploding everywhere. Their comrades trampling ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the corpses to charge. And the hunters obliterating those heads with brutal strikes.

The battlefield was a total meat grinder—no gaps anywhere.

'Tch, can't squeeze through there.'

Scoping for an opening nearby, I smacked my lips and glanced sideways.

'Damn, this stealth is insane.'

Not a single hunter fighting beside me, nor the goblins swarming wildly, noticed me at all.

Stealth confirmed solid. No time to waste—I hustled toward the golden goblin before it wore off.

'Leaping Strike!'

Boom!

A massive thud echoed from the heart of the chaos as I kicked off the ground. No one batted an eye.

Except Kim Cheon-wook, who'd been watching from afar since the start.

Splat!

"Kek!"

A small gap opened amid the goblin horde surging like a tide. Weirdly, they flowed around it like it was empty space.

"Keruk! Kekek!"

Stab.

"Ke... keruk."

I jammed my dagger into the neck of the goblin writhing under my foot. Then looked up, marveling at the goblins swerving around me.

'Stealth is no joke.'

Reducing presence made monsters perceive you as just a rock or tree.

'No wonder top rankers solo raids sometimes.'

Of course, dodging like this wasn't ideal. Boss kills meant they had the firepower too.

At my level, if stealth dropped mid-fight, I'd be goblin chow.

'Gotta move.'

Using Leaping Strike for mobility, I zipped behind the opposite ridgeline.

"Kerak?"

The goblin chieftain Chauca tilted his head at the odd gaps forming now and then. Something nagged at him, but he couldn't pinpoint it.

Even as a mutant chieftain, no way he detected Advanced Stealth (A).

'18 minutes left.'

Hugging the ridgeline back, I checked the timer. 10 minutes to get here—factoring return, 8 minutes to take him down.

'Crazy. Why fight him?'

Other hunters needed the kill for loot or skills. Me? Just a touch.

'First, let's see what he's got.'

I belly-crawled up the ridge fast.

"Kieeeek!"

"Kugh!"

One tanker holding the front got slashed on the left arm and fell back.

"Hey! Left's breached! Newbie, cover it!"

"Y-Yes, got it!"

Leaders were already recovering in the rear. Rookies rotated in.

Lee Jae-wook's turn.

"Wooooah!"

He roared into the gap, remembering my words: don't skimp on skills. His instincts screamed now.

Sudden chime, surge of vigor. Teammates nearby shot him grateful looks.

"Hup!"

He swung his mace wide, launching a goblin's torso flying, and held the line.

'This is a monster ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wave.'

Endless goblins crashing like waves. Even the boldest would shrink from it.

Fear hit Jae-wook instinctively.

His hands shook like a palsy victim, despite charging in bravado.

"Hey, kid! Snap out of it! Don't look far—eyes front!"

"R-Right, yes!"

Not all leaders left newbies hanging. Park Chan-gyu, with power to spare, barked encouragement from the center.

Jae-wook slapped his cheeks loud, locked eyes forward.

"Kieek!"

Goblin charging, eyes bloodshot.

"Not today!"

Splat!

Head gone. Jae-wook glanced at his steady hands. No more shakes.

Rustle.

"Keruk?"

The golden goblin on his high perch, surveying and howling, whipped around.

Heard something, saw nothing.

"Grrr."

Back to the stubborn enemy lines, growling low.

"Keeeaak!"

Raised his hand—skill cast. A massive green cloud bloomed 10 meters ahead.

"Keruk!"

With his cry, the nauseating cloud drifted forward slow.

'Whoa, Poison Cloud? How many skills does this bastard have?'

Over 10 skills fired just while I snuck up.

'This ain't right.'

No mutant goblin chieftain packs that many.

'How?'

I crept closer, puzzled, then scaled behind his platform.

Answers soon.

The golden goblin atop froze, arm outstretched mid-cast.

"Keruk?"

"You know this? Yell and your throat's slit. Got it?"

"Keruk, keruk."

He nodded frantically as I spoke.

"Back up slow. Nice and easy."

"Keruk. Keruk."

Before his elite guards noticed, time for intel.

'Information Viewing.'

'Huh? What's that?'

Never-seen skill name threw me. He twisted to escape my grasp.

Slice.

"Kek!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

'Oops?'

My warning swipe cut his soft neck clean.

"Keruk! Kerrruk!"

His elites spun toward me.

'Shit, fucked!'

I bolted, elites hot on my tail.

'Damn! What goblin chieftain dies that easy?'

Once multiple foes locked on, stealth shattered.

That's why the caution. But he dropped pathetically quick.

Hence this mess.

"Keruk!"

Whoosh!

Spears rained. I sprinted, dodging as they thunked beside me.

'Fuck, gonna die again?'

All for one skill peek—not worth it.

'Capricious God's Roulette—what the hell? And it's Legendary!'

First L-rank skill besides my Talent.

Problem: how to learn it?

A spear grazed my ear, embedding in the ground.

"Uwaaaaaah!"

I screamed, bolting faster.

Whoosh!

More power in every step. Buff confirmed, I chained another.

'High-Speed Movement.'

The howling elites started lagging behind.

"Kieek!"

"Kiek! Kieeeek!"

Enraged, they hurled weapons down, screeching.

"Phew~"

Distance growing—I sighed relief.

Then.

Rooooar!

Werewolf howl echoed long. I glanced back, grinding my teeth.

'Damn.'

Elites mounting werewolves.

Berserker's Roar plus High-Speed Movement had me at horse speed—maybe 80 km/h?

But werewolf riders were faster. Gap closing fast.

Brainstorming escape, I summoned my status mid-sprint.

'Huh? Why is that skill here?'