Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Receive the New Recruits! (3)
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Ziiing.
Rokan and Mitty, who had shoved Hamel ahead, shot straight to the next floor like they’d hopped into an elevator. The ground etched with the magic circle sank deep, shifting them to the next stage.
“This time…… it’s me, right?”
“……”
The moment they reached the next floor, Mitty opened his mouth as if he’d intuited his fate.
Rokan didn’t bother denying it.
Mitty scratched his head and added,
“Heh heh, it’s fine. Really, it’s okay! So…… can I live through it?”
“If you’re lucky.”
Only then did Rokan speak up.
He couldn’t guarantee it for sure. Just like before, this wasn’t a trial meant to be cleared from the start.
The key was how long Hamel could hold out, and how quickly he could take down the boss.
[You have arrived at the Altar of Pain.]
[Will you offer the sacrifice and pass through?]
“Then, I’m off!”
Mitty leaped right into the magic circle on his own. There was no answer even if he endured anyway, so he figured incurring a small debt to Rokan like this would make it a net gain, even if he died.
[The sacrifice has been offered.]
[You face the Trial of Terror. There is one way to overcome the Trial of Terror. Survive.]
And with that, the trial began.
The Trial of Terror, with its ominous name.
Its true nature was an invisible horror.
Shiiiik.
“Gasp!”
With a snake-like hiss, Mitty felt a chilling sensation. Without hesitation, he flung himself aside.
Casting a shield spell was almost instinctual.
Pachit.
The sturdy shield he’d raised tore apart like thin paper. But it bought him the tiniest gap.
It was an attack so fast that anyone normal couldn’t dodge it, but his opponent was Mitty, the one dubbed Click Resistance. If it were just his small frame, he wouldn’t have earned that nickname.
He evaded with his innate reflexes, and something slammed into the tree behind him. No—it pierced right through.
“Damn…….”
Mitty spat out a curse upon confirming it.
Rokan had already vanished somewhere along the magic circle. He’d considered just dying outright, but his pride kicked in. He wanted to survive somehow, to prove himself.
“Hoo, alright, bring it on!”
He gathered his magic, preparing both defense and counterattack.
* * *
‘I wonder how long he’ll last.’
Rokan’s mind grew impatient as he moved to the next floor via the magic circle. That was the rule of this dungeon. The moment the sacrificed one died, the clear failed.
That was why, in his previous life, they’d gathered people nearing level 300 to clear it. Even then, after countless failures.
By comparison, Mitty and Hamel were barely in the 240s.
Judging purely by levels, failure was guaranteed, but Rokan trusted their traits and instincts.
It might fail, but if he pushed his speed, a quick clear was possible.
[You have entered the Corrupted Manufacturing Plant.]
“Charge.”
The instant he entered the final floor, Rokan launched himself forward. Time was the greatest enemy from here on.
[Piercing Glutterney][Lv 271]
[Enchanting Glutterney][Lv 271]
[Devouring Glutterney][Lv 271]
More Glutterneys appeared before the impatient Rokan.
Unlike the second floor’s multi-trait hybrids, these each had just one trait, but Rokan’s eyes were deadly serious.
He knew their single trait was the result of “specialization”—pushed to its absolute limit.
They unleashed that power in full.
“Weapon Break!”
Whiiiing.
The first to charge wielded a needle-like spear that could pierce armor, ignoring defense for true damage—a devastating damage dealer!
But it had the wrong matchup. If it had struck like an assassin, maybe, but charging head-on first turned it into Rokan’s prey.
Craaaack!
He struck its weapon dozens of times in an instant, and the effect showed immediately. The alchemically forged weapon couldn’t withstand the Fury King’s axe.
[The effect of Unyielding Will resists the enchantment.]
The moment the Piercing Glutterney lost its weapon, the Enchanting one’s power took hold.
But it had the wrong opponent. Unyielding Will crushed the enchanting aura effortlessly, and Rokan’s gaze snapped back.
“Wild Slaughter.”
Unprecedented power surged up his arms and exploded in a flash. Toward the Devouring Glutterney.
Better to eliminate the potential wildcard first than deal with the now-weakened Piercing and Enchanting ones.
Krrk! Pop!
The Devouring Glutterney burst like a balloon under Rokan’s overwhelming finisher.
Devouring was potent after sufficient absorption, but since Rokan was the first visitor, it hadn’t built up enough power.
‘Can’t give it time.’
Worse, its prey included allies—no, kin. It could devour the others like Piercing or Enchanting Glutterneys to grow stronger.
And once fully fed, it could surpass even the dungeon’s final boss, its creator.
So Rokan poured everything into killing it, risks be damned.
Kieeeek!
“Urk.”
Stiffness hit after Wild Slaughter. In that gap, the Piercing Glutterney attacked with claws and fangs.
Its main weapon was gone, but it was still plenty deadly.
Rokan took it full-on with his body, then turned and bolted.
‘Discard it.’
He could smash them with a brief investment, but even that time was too precious.
He didn’t know how long Mitty and Hamel could hold out, and more importantly, more time-gainers like the Devouring Glutterney waited ahead.
[Compressing Glutterney][Lv 273]
[Elastic Glutterney][Lv 272]
A Glutterney that compressed power for explosive bursts over time, guarded by a defensive one that blocked its path.
Its springy body absorbed most impacts, making damage tough for most—but not Rokan. His body reacted instinctively to “shock absorption” types.
Keeek! Slash slash.
No full swings—just short chops and combos.
He enchanted with a Sharpness Scroll to boost cutting power, slicing it up like kindling.
The effect was instant. Its elasticity failed, shredding its body to rags.
No springiness left in that mangled form. Before it could regenerate, its head flew off, and the Compressing Glutterney behind it lunged desperately.
“Let’s go!”
Boom!
Raw power against raw power. Fist to fist. Rokan grinned at the charging foe and threw his left hook.
The Glutterney’s arm twisted and rebounded like it’d shatter.
As if he’d foreseen it, Rokan swung his axe, cleaving it from the skull down. He crushed the cranium, churned the brains, and oiled his blade with brain fluid.
“Leap Attack!”
He launched faster toward the next victim.
‘Faster.’
He ignored what he could, but it still wasn’t enough. He felt the time limit closing in.
‘Six left?’
Unsure how much longer Mitty and Hamel could buy, he needed a gamble.
He’d felled four Glutterneys; six more pursued.
Rokan circled tightly, herding them into a cluster. Then he dove in.
“Berserk!”
Frenzy unleashed alongside a storm of sweeping strikes that dominated the space.
Their traits were unique but not overwhelmingly threatening—nothing could withstand that raw violence. Bones separated from flesh in seconds, spewing the core alchemical ingredients that birthed them.
Whish.
“Evade!”
As he butchered nearly all the remaining Glutterneys, he sensed a silent projectile and dodged sharply.
It was a sensation hard to catch if he hadn’t been attuned.
Clang. Ziiiing! Kwarrrk!
What it threw was some unknown poison or acid.
But its power was astonishing. The Glutterney it hit blackened and melted.
The Glutterney writhed in resistance—no use. It had already dissolved skin and burrowed into organs, melting it utterly.
[Corrupted Fabricator Molok][Lv 266]
“Charge!”
Rokan didn’t just watch the gruesome sight. No time for sentiment.
He hurtled toward the revealed Corrupted Fabricator Molok, pressuring it to prevent further tricks.
“Insolent brawler, know your place!”
But it wasn’t pushover. Level 266 seemed low, but its combat power defied simple level or physical stats.
Like how it’d melted a level 270+ Glutterney in one hit, its waist bristled with dangerous potions.
Swish.
One flew at Rokan.
“Counter!”
He didn’t know what it was, but touching it screamed danger. Even in Berserk, debuffs like freeze were possible, so he canceled his motion and triggered a generation skill.
Dodge then counter! One step back, then charge faster—the attack forced Molok’s hands to hurry.
It gripped two potions at once now, hurling them.
“Clone Summon.”
Clang. Whoosh! Chi-chi-chi!
But it was blocked. Precisely, the clone took the hits.
Others might summon tanky minions, but in Rokan’s Berserk state, the clone outclassed in HP, defense, and resistances.
“Argh!”
As Molok faltered at the sudden clone intrusion, Rokan’s eyes flashed.
Now was the chance.
“Disarm!”
Not Wild Slaughter—Disarm.
But the target differed. No breaking spears or swords like with others; he aimed for the alchemy potions dangling all over Molok.
Zzaaang zzaaang zzaaang.
“Gaaaaaaaah!”
Unknown alchemy potions shattered against Molok’s body, drenching him and revealing their worth.
“Those effects are killer.”
Rokan backed off far as Molok self-destructed amid acrid smoke.
He wanted to do more, but the chemical reaction was too violent.
“Bolt!”
Kwaang! Boom! Boom!
All he could do was bombard from afar.
‘Hurry up, hurry.’
It looked finished, but Rokan was urgent. Phase 1 was done, but Phase 2 loomed.
Bubble bubble bubble.
“Kyaaaaaaaah!”
Moments later, the melting Molok mutated.
Forced to douse itself in chemicals meant for later, it emerged hideous, radiating green demonic energy.