Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: Racial Grand Alliance (5)
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“Phew…….”
Rokan slowly exhaled a thin, drawn-out breath after pouring every ounce of his power into a single breath.
The previous attack had been so ferocious that he needed to regulate his breathing and supply oxygen and energy to every single cell.
“Without Gale Incarnation, it would’ve been a pipe dream.”
It was truly an immense power and force. Not only had he utterly shattered the shield the enemy barely managed to raise, but he’d pounded and crushed it into gravel. Now, each strike inflicted area damage that affected the surroundings.
He could concentrate and control his power for pinpoint strikes, but the previous assault had been so explosive that even Rokan struggled to control it.
As proof, if he hadn’t been in Gale Incarnation state, his own muscles would’ve torn, leaving his arm dangling uselessly.
“Of course, it’s because I used Gale Incarnation that it had this much power.”
More precisely, it was the aftermath of unleashing Red Meteor, Wheel Wind, Rapid Acceleration, and Gale Slaughter in succession on top of the stats empowered by Gale Incarnation.
[Miraculous Achievement! You have defeated a High Master single-handedly.]
[Acquired the title ‘Out of Spec.’]
[You are the first to acquire this title.]
[First][Out of Spec][Epic]
You have defeated an opponent one rank higher than you in one-on-one combat at every stage so far.
No one will judge you by rank alone anymore.
You are the first to acquire this title.
[Effects]
-All NPCs treat you as one rank higher
-All stats +10% when facing equals
-All skill effects +20% when facing equals
-Full item drops and experience from higher-rank monster hunts
‘Nice.’
It wasn’t just from killing the High Master. It was granted because he’d hunted one rank higher in one-on-one at every stage of his growth so far.
That’s why the rank was a whopping Epic, with incredible effects. Not only did stats and skill effects rise, but the penalty of reduced drop rates and experience from higher-rank monsters vanished.
‘It’s like they paved a highway for me.’
Even with the penalty-diminished experience, Rokan had grown plenty fast, but now even the slightest brake was gone.
Of course, it required hunting a monstrous High Master-level foe, but the mere fact that he’d proven it possible was enough to excite him.
From Master level on, each level was excruciatingly hard to gain, but the next stage, High Master, approached relatively quickly at level 350.
Still, the common theory was that reaching High Master from Master took longer than from character creation to Master.
‘Not bad, everyone.’
Savoring the thrill of the juicy reward, Rokan belatedly scanned his surroundings.
He’d thought his assault was instantaneous, but sure enough, several battles had already ended.
High Master fights were fierce, but depending on matchups or Master skill power, they could end in a flash.
Not everyone customized their Master skills for sustained combat like he had.
‘Time to join in.’
Assessing the situation, Rokan immediately lent his strength.
With about 20 minutes left on Gale Incarnation, he aimed to take down as many High Masters as possible.
He’d already soloed one, so with group efforts, they’d fall easier, and rewards would stack higher—that was the plan.
His next target was the Red Guard the half-elf was handling.
Strictly speaking, aiding the Black Dragon Legion’s High Masters—who were handling two—made more sense, but he saw no need.
‘Why bother?’
Blood is thicker than water, and they’d volunteered for 2v1s. Butting in risked bruising their pride and sending them into a rampage.
“Absolute Bind!”
Spotting Rokan’s arrival, the half-elf activated her combo skill.
Thick, beautiful tree trunks rose from the ground, binding the enemy.
‘Learned pervert, huh.’
The pose was oddly suggestive, but now wasn’t the time to nitpick. Rokan exploded forward in a ferocious charge.
The Red Guard the half-elf faced was a tanker type, nearly identical to the one Rokan had just fought.
That’s why the half-elf High Master—who specialized in binds, spirit magic, and archery—couldn’t press her advantage. It resisted binds decently but boasted top-tier defense against ranged attacks.
Rokan forcibly tipped the balanced scales, beating the foe into submission.
“Strike of Ruin.”
Cooldown refreshed, Strike of Ruin pierced defenses and ravaged durability, slamming down on the enemy.
One hit. Everything changed with that single blow.
The tightly shut guard cracked open, fissures spiderwebbing across the fortress-like shield. Gaps appeared in what felt like impregnable defenses.
“Armor Break, Frenzy!”
Rokan piled on Armor Break too. He’d already tested the sealed Gale Battle Axe’s strength and durability through prior clashes.
‘Tough as hell.’
Metal shards flew and friction sparks erupted where the battle axe struck. The cracks spread like spiderwebs, expanding their domain.
Yet the battle axe’s durability hadn’t dropped even 10 points—not just from this clash, but cumulatively from all prior use.
Despite smashing armor, bones, and flesh, it had barely taken 10 damage.
That was a level recoverable in minutes on a whetstone. He wondered if he could even wear down its 10,000 durability at this rate—the material was downright mysterious.
“Dodge!”
As the beatdown ended, the half-elf High Master’s voice rang from behind.
Something was coming. Rokan instantly halted and retreated.
Pew-pew-pew! Thud-thud-thud!
Six arrows whistled past him, embedding almost simultaneously into the foe, exploiting the cracks he’d made.
“Elemental Explosion!”
KABOOM!
It didn’t end there. The elemental energies in each arrow resonated, detonating in a massive blast.
A combo skill with the strict condition of uniform speed and spacing, but fulfilling it unleashed devastating power.
“You crazy bitch!”
The problem? It exploded right in front of Rokan.
He’d dodged, but still caught in the blast radius.
Had she not welcomed his help after all?
Gritting his teeth, Rokan focused on defense.
He bounced like a rubber ball, battered wildly.
‘Damn it, nearly killed me……’
Regaining his stance, Rokan glared daggers, but he could do nothing. The contract covered direct hits, not collateral.
Still, he’d never expected this from a half-elf—not even an arch-lich—so bewilderment washed over him.
‘Right. They’re all subtly unhinged.’
Rokan realized his complacency. No matter the fantasy tropes or regular games, The Lord’s races were never to be underestimated—not a single one.
Instead of raging at the half-elf High Master, he hurled himself into the lingering explosion’s smoke. One hit wouldn’t finish it.
“Gale Slaughter!”
Bursting through, Rokan unleashed his full-power killing Frenzy without hesitation.
CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!
The already ragged armor shattered into worthless fragments. From midway, the foe took Rokan’s blows bare.
“Head Shot!”
Followed by sniping!
Again, the half-elf’s arrow grazed past, aiming for the foe’s forehead.
“Bounce.”
CLANG!
“……!”
But it missed its mark. Rokan had skill-activated to swat it away.
No way he’d let her season it up and steal the kill.
“Frenzy!”
As the half-elf High Master faltered at the unexpected, Rokan’s combo poured in, shredding the body and severing an arm.
“Arrow Rain!”
‘This bitch for real!’
Rat-a-tat-tat!
Arrows rained from the sky—not plain ones, but mana-infused.
In enlarged Gale Incarnation form, exposure meant frozen skin, burns, piercings, and massive HP loss.
“Cleave!”
But Rokan didn’t dodge. He toppled the foe, mounted it, and pressed his assault.
Splat! Crack! Whoosh! ZZZAP!
As he hammered strikes, his back turned to rags—frozen, burned, seared, pierced—elemental effects tanking his HP.
But so what?
He was in Gale Incarnation. Berserk kept him undead even at 0 HP.
Protecting head and heart, no need to evade. He drove the battle axe harder with the pain.
“Phew!”
Finally slamming the battle axe to finish it, Rokan shot a prickly glare.
Area attack, clear target the Red Guard—no contract breach, but the intent was blatant, souring his mood.
But the half-elf High Master was already elsewhere, supporting another spot so fast it’d seem oversensitive.
“Playing it like that, huh…….”
Twice now—no way he’d chalk it to coincidence.
Yet with the situation as it was, Rokan ground his teeth and scanned the battlefield.
“Something’s off…….”
The situation was suspiciously good. Mechanical Dragon and Shabel Tiger reverse-summoned early; the boastful 2v1 orc High Master was bloodied and pushed, but no ally deaths, only three Red Guards left.
The last was taking group fire, Master skill spent, slowly buckling—victory in hand.
That’s why it unnerved him.
Red Guards aside, with Chrono, defeat seemed impossible.
Allies’ High Masters might exceed expectations, but Rokan knew Chrono’s depths, eyes locked on him.
‘Definitely weird.’
Had the corruption he injected acted like poison?
Chrono’s movements driving High Masters looked off.
Gone was the absolute dominance from his past life; now just noisy, empty racket.
Barely qualifying as proper skills—pure recklessness.
“Damn.”
Something was up. He itched to charge and uncover it.
But time didn’t allow.
[Gale Incarnation duration: 1 minute remaining.]
Anxiously, Rokan fell back a step, prepping HP recovery.
HP at 0 already—needed quick life force boost via Life Charge or other means to see the end.
Ziiiiing.
“……!”
As the final Red Guard fell to allied High Masters’ barrage, Chrono changed.
Eerie light descended from the sky, enveloping him; he absorbed it like photosynthesis.
“My legion falls again……! I’ll kill you all!”
Chrono’s eyes regained verdant vitality, no longer beastly roars.
His savage aura sharpened, refined.
“Gasp!”
“Dodge!”
Swoosh.
Invisible sharp ki swept the area.
Edge cleaving earth straight.
All recoiled in horror at willpower wielding physical might.
This was the true ancient emperor Chrono.
Round 2 began.