Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Hellhound (1)
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“Everyone marked the Rune Book, right?”
“Yes!”
“Phew, at least the Rune Book saved. Even if it’s the New Continent, what kind of trash mobs are these? Levels like this?”
Hellhound’s leader Goddog gave a wry smile as he stared at the monster’s corpse they’d barely taken down by overwhelming it with numbers.
First foray into the Central Continent!
No First Clear title, but achieving that great feat was good enough.
But the moment they left the docks, the monsters they encountered shattered their hopeful start.
Just your average field trash mobs, wandering around. Their levels were at least 190.
No, even that they could handle somehow. But these 190-level mobs were different. They felt about 20% stronger than the ones near the third-tier cities.
Whether defense or offense, they had clear traits that made them trickier to deal with.
At least no guild members had died yet. That was a relief.
“Everyone, stay sharp. If you die before reaching the next city, it’s over.”
Goddog kept his guild members on edge while quickly checking their consumables.
He considered using the Rune Book to resupply in the third-tier city for safety, but if they got a movement restriction penalty, they’d have to start over from scratch. So he decided to push as far as they could.
Fortunately, they had enough consumables left if used wisely, and with good party comps and formations, they could make it to the next city. They’d stuffed their inventories full in preparation for this.
“Tanks up front. Casters guarded by ranged DPS, main tanks on alert for ambushes.”
Even Hellhounds, who specialized in charging in and ripping enemies apart, had to play it safe this time. They were pioneering a path with zero intel on anything.
If they hadn’t gathered info at the docks, they’d have been lost, flailing around, and wiped.
‘We make this succeed no matter what.’
Goddog’s eyes burned with desire as he commanded his guild.
“Rogues, stealth and scout! If it looks dicey, don’t push—fall back!”
That’s why he was extra cautious.
Even if they died, they could Rune Book back, but reviving separated from the group would make regrouping a nightmare.
Their average level was only mid-180s, after all.
And so, slowly, slowly, with absolute safety first, they carved a path. A new terrain appeared.
“Everyone, hold!”
A canyon.
It gave off an eerie vibe, but they had no choice but to enter.
They’d cleared undead zones in old areas before, so no need to fear this.
They just tightened their formation, made it compact and solid, then pushed in.
“It’s fog!”
“Shit!”
After about five minutes, gray fog filled the air like another world.
But Goddog’s orders were swift: use fire to burn it away.
Whoosh!
“No good!”
It wasn’t that easy.
The fog, infused with some special power, shrugged off the mages’ fire spells and kept blocking vision. Goddog pulled the mages back.
Now they had no choice but to force through.
“Everyone, tense up! It’s not just fog!”
Sure enough, a few steps later, something reacted from within.
Groooaaar……
A groaning voice, and black silhouettes emerged.
“Priests, buffs up!”
“Holy Weapon!”
As expected of seasoned players—before the enemies fully formed, supports poured buffs on frontline tanks and melee DPS.
Enchant spells infusing holy power into weapons for extra holy damage.
Pure attack power? Mages’ elemental enchants hit harder. But with undead confirmed, this was the call.
‘We know this just from the sound.’
The vanguard charged. The rest held position, ready for variables.
Proof of solid basics, game knowledge, and control from everyone.
[Resentful Zombie][Lv 194]
As expected, undead. Zombies, specifically.
Zombies were low-tier undead usually, but level 194? No ignoring that.
“Rush ‘em!”
At Goddog’s command, charging warriors unleashed combo skills.
They could study patterns slowly, but mana was full—better burn some now.
Mana and HP regen passively anyway.
Grooo… Ugh. Splaaat.
The butchered zombie slumped its rotten body to the ground. Goddog issued the next order.
“Rotate!”
Frontline and second line swapped.
One combo skill per enemy to kill, then mana management. That maximized efficiency.
With fifty Hellhound members crossing to the Central Continent, swarm tactics worked.
But they didn’t know one thing.
Groooaaar……
“How many are there?!”
They had numbers, but so did the spawning monsters. And more would keep coming.
“Two, three—no, five! They keep coming!”
Sound-reactive infinite-spawn zombies. Best strat was blitzing through. But first-timers Hellhound didn’t know.
Just smack the rushers and creep forward.
“Damn. Not chargers or power types—clump up!”
No 200-level mobs, thankfully. Better to group and push than retreat or bypass.
It gave zombies more summon time, but hard to blame Goddog.
“Brace for a slog! Mind your mana! Command to team leads!”
Then, clash.
Spotting zombies lunging from all sides, Goddog ditched solo command. Gave team autonomy in tens, focused on wiping what was in front.
A grueling fight began.
* * *
“Huff, huff.”
“When the hell do these bastards stop coming?”
Dozens of zombies swarmed at once, more rising after. Hellhound lost five members but held somehow.
They’d even pushed forward decently.
Forced ahead, no retreat possible, but they’d breached a third of the canyon.
They didn’t know how far or why the zombies aggroed like this.
“Shoulda thinned ‘em with pulling, tried a few times…”
“No one’s been here, so respawns piled up…”
“At least the revived guys are at the docks…”
Hellhound, battered and weary, chopped new zombies. Defeat loomed heavy. They’d figured zombie skills, gotten the hang, but still overwhelming.
Confidence in endless fighting faded.
Thud thud thud thud thud.
Then, a strange sound echoed from afar.
“…”
What the hell? New enemy?
Tense eyes spotted a silhouette rapidly growing.
“Human!”
“NPC?”
“Everyone, careful!”
Black silhouette: definitely humanoid. Not a zombie, for sure.
Weird part: riding something.
Amid tension, some dreamed vainly.
“Rescue event maybe…?”
This didn’t feel clearable.
Silhouette closed in, form clarifying.
“Horse.”
“Rider.”
Most Hellhounds were half-elves. Balanced stats, fast early game.
So they didn’t expect a player human—Rokan. His new gear never publicized.
“Incoming!”
Zombies from afar aggroed him, but his charge didn’t falter.
Dodged zombies, barreled through Hellhound’s center.
“Shit, evade!”
Could clash, but Hellhound dodged. Already struggling, no need for mystery foe.
‘Pussies.’
Rokan smirked, kept riding. Post-breakthrough, one skill.
“Stealth.”
Vanished into fog like smoke. Simple act, huge ripple.
“Kwaaaagh!”
Hundreds of pursuing zombies switched to Hellhound.
Zombies hated all ‘living things that make noise’ anyway. No loyalty to Rokan.
“Fucking kiting…”
Thus, Hellhound’s ‘first’ wipe.
“Time to loot?”
Rokan leisurely watched the zombie horde devour them, then turned back once all dead.
Mechanically shredded the pack, pocketed drops.
Hell for them, but sub-200 zombies? Pure trash mobs to Rokan.
“Tch, lucky bastards. Let’s see how long that lasts.”
Drops sparse, sadly. Some gear, but no weapons or main slots like chest, legs, helm, shoes.
Wasted trip for profit, but money wasn’t the goal anyway.
Weaken their force. Shatter morale with a cock-up. That’s why Rokan came personally.
This time, just XP loss. Next? And the one after? We’ll see.
“Wonder what faces they’re making. Let’s check.”
Cleanup and looting done, Rokan resummoned his black horse. Sliced zombie blockers, galloped to docks.
‘Oh, got grit.’
Rokan admired his past self, but Hellhound’s tenacity stuck out then too.
Maybe why: Hellhound already en route before Rokan hit docks.
Rokan spotted them first, luckily.
Stealthed lightly, watched their furious charge.
“Hurry! Hit the entrance before zombies respawn!”
They’d cleared it with effort—rush back, easier breakthrough.
Sound judgment for normal zones. Not Mourning Canyon.
They’d push fast, feel fewer zombies, but no way he’d let ‘em through easy.
‘Time to prep again.’
Confirmed all entering canyon, Rokan Rune Booked to opposite side.
“Whoo!”
Resummoned black horse, galloped to find them again.