Chapter 255
Chapter 255
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 255
Chapter Title: Naga Hunt (2)
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Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud.
The vibrations continued for quite some time.
It was to fool the sensitive senses of the nagas.
Even so, the risk of detection was high, but Rokan had prepared for that by deploying a small countermeasure.
Kyut!
Kai.
He had Digdog burrow to a certain point, then resummoned Kai and sent him back the way they came.
The role was clear: draw the nagas' attention.
The nagas had briefly perked up at the vibrations from underground, but they quickly forgot about it, distracted by Kai peering down from the distant sky, swooping threateningly before ascending again.
It didn't seem to be the wyvernkin, but as the saying goes, "A startled heart from a turtle makes you jump at a pot lid"—their movements and threats evoked the wyvernkin, keeping the nagas on edge toward the heavens.
"Grraa."
Clang! Clang! Crumble.
In the meantime, Rokan dug the remaining tunnel.
The naga village was practically perched on rock, making Digdog's help essential, but since he wasn't a summoner or tamer, he couldn't summon more than one mount at a time. He had no choice but to dig the rest manually.
Still, he had dug almost to ground level, so with a few more powerful swings of the pickaxe, rocks and dirt crumbled away, and faint light filtered in.
He had successfully infiltrated the naga village.
'Sweep them fast.'
Rokan could use stealth, but it was useless this time. The moment the nagas looked his way, their heat-sensing ability would give him away instantly.
So, the instant he emerged from the tunnel, Rokan charged forward.
His target was, naturally, the naga chieftain. Take that one down, and the rest could be handled somehow.
"Rampaging Chariot."
Boom!
Rokan's body crashed violently into the chieftain's lair.
"Krk!"
But he gained no easy advantage. As if it had known all along, the chieftain whipped its serpentine tail, batting Rokan aside.
Of course, the chieftain wasn't unscathed—its tail swelled red—but that only fueled its rage.
"Storm Incarnation, Perfect Body Invincibility!"
Rokan responded without panic.
Pulling out everything he had, he deepened his bond through their leveled-up connection, issuing commands to Kai from afar and granting him power.
"Legend Rider."
Kiyuuut!
Kai, transformed into a massive peng, began assaulting the nagas.
In this moment, Kai was no different from the nagas' nemesis, the wyvernkin. No—in some ways, superior.
It unleashed gales, firing razor-sharp wind blades, while neutralizing their sprayed venom with its enhanced elemental barrier.
All the while, it swooped and soared repeatedly, its large, sharp beak snapping naga torsos in half.
It chewed them like gum and spat them out.
"Let's throw down!"
In the meantime, Rokan focused on the naga chieftain.
He didn't know when stealthy naga rogues might strike from the shadows, so ending it quickly was key.
Its larger size meant more places to hit, after all.
"Curse of the Naga God!"
[You have been exposed to the Curse of the Naga God.]
[All stats reduced by 30%.]
[During duration, meeting a naga's eyes will cause you to cower in fear.]
[The Storm Incarnation effect ignores the fear effect.]
"As expected, great matchup!"
The chieftain immediately unleashed its master skill.
A nasty ability that reduced all stats and instilled fear in non-nagas. But against Rokan, with his fear-immune Storm Incarnation, the effect was halved.
The stat reduction hurt, but Rokan was so overwhelmingly strong that he still dominated physically.
"Ultimate Assault!"
An enhanced form of Leap Attack. As Rokan leaped, terrifying energy gathered on his battle axe.
With power to cleave the chieftain—1.5 times larger than a normal naga—in one stroke, it thrashed its body. Swaying side to side like a serpent to confuse him.
"Tch."
Boom!
He couldn't tell if a skill was involved, but Rokan's flashy evasion tricked him. He struck empty ground, upheaving the earth.
Whoosh. Thwack!
In that instant, the chieftain's massive tail swept back, shoving Rokan away.
He might have withstood its original power, but with 30% stat loss, he was helplessly pushed back.
"Keeeooh!"
"Ugh!"
At that moment, an eerie power erupted from the chieftain's maw.
Breath!
A venomous force akin to the black dragon's poured from the naga chieftain's mouth.
[You have been exposed to Venom Breath.]
[The title 'Immune to All Poisons' prevents any effect.]
Sizzle!
But he had endured the black dragon's breath. The chieftain's venom only slightly reduced his gear durability—nothing more.
It was no more effective on Rokan than an energy bolt, and instead, he hurled himself toward the breath.
"Steps of Valor! Rapid Acceleration! Time of Madness!"
Unleashing all his remaining acceleration skills, he charged again, swinging his battle axe.
"Strike of Slaughter!"
Spurt!
Not expecting him to press forward, the chieftain's chest split wide open.
Its larger, shinier, tougher scales crumpled pathetically, venomous blood spraying like a fountain.
"Strike of Ruin!"
The follow-up was Strike of Ruin!
The chieftain's serpentine body absorbed 'impact' damage, but what about a strike that pierced defense? The chains around Rokan's left arm prevented it from dissipating or absorbing the shock.
The direct hit rattled its insides.
"Kehuk!"
It spewed toxic blood from its gaping chest and mouth, but so what? Its poison was already proven useless.
Rokan swung his battle axe relentlessly.
A dance-like flurry embedded into its body, peeling away serpentine hide.
"Kraaaah!"
Shudder.
As the naga chieftain met its end, Rokan let out a victory roar.
Now he could draw attention. No—before Storm Incarnation and Perfect Body Invincibility expired, he needed to slaughter even more.
The stealthy naga rogue that had approached was revealed, and those still staring skyward froze stiff, unable to turn properly.
Unmerciful violence was unleashed upon them.
"Bombardment!"
Their bodies could deflect strikes and even blades to some extent, yet each of Rokan's attacks sliced them apart messily.
Even dodging dismemberment with skills left them bent like bows from the intense shock, shaking body and mind—then pathetic deaths for the fallen.
[You have leveled up.]
[Elemental Big Bird, Kai has leveled up.]
[Elemental Big Bird, Kai has leveled up.]
To the nagas, Rokan was their worst matchup—despair incarnate.
Add Kai devouring them like prey, and the situation was hopeless.
But from the slaughterers' view, Rokan and Kai were grinning ear to ear.
High master monsters, no less.
With Pioneer effects boosting EXP by 40%, levels rose like a joke.
Kai, still in the 310s, shot up nonstop.
It felt like 4-5 times Rokan's gains.
[Incredible feat! You have single-handedly destroyed a naga village.]
[Acquired title 'Snake Hunter.']
[First][Snake Hunter][Unique]
You single-handedly destroyed a naga village. You are the natural predator of snakes.
You are the first to acquire this title.
[Effects]
-Attack power +20% against snake-type monsters
-Damage taken from snake-type monsters -10%
The title from wiping out one village. This was the real jackpot.
Snake-types might be rare, but on Sky Island's underside? Top-tier.
Plus, already enemies with nagas, it would serve well even into the heavens.
"Heh heh, power-leveling time."
Noticing the effect, Rokan looted everything and withdrew briefly.
Time Reversal would erase even the EXP, so he'd wait out Storm Incarnation's cooldown before resuming the hunt.
Thus, Rokan turned Sky Island's underside into his hunting ground, rapidly gaining levels.
* * *
The more he hunted, the easier nagas became.
His and Kai's levels rose, and the title activated—good reasons.
But most importantly, he now had 'information' on them.
Patterns, combat styles, key skills mastered—hunting grew efficient.
Nagas were one race, but those on Sky Island's underside oddly favored similar skills. How could he not adapt?
Hunting straight through the three-day first-entry bonus, Rokan gained a whopping 8 levels.
[The resentful spirits of the nagas curse you.]
[The mark 'Naga's Grudge' has been applied to you.]
[Be careful. You will now face pursuit and attacks from the nagas.]
"Hm?"
After torching his last marked village, something new happened.
Naga grudges. And a mark.
Rokan, who had seen similar in his past life on the surface, furrowed his brow slightly.
These usually triggered after 10,000 of the same monster, but as a celestial race, it came early.
"Brats, so impatient."
It could get headache-inducing, but Rokan didn't mind much.
He had sided with the wyvernkin, expecting enmity.
Besides, 8 levels in high master? Profitable even if war broke out.
"Fine by me."
He might even welcome it.
Wasn't he their natural predator? Swarms of EXP blobs rushing him? No reason to refuse.
"This should do it."
After gathering final loot, Rokan dusted his hands and mounted Kai.
With massive peng wingbeats, he crossed to the world's edge in one go, then one more step back to Sky Island.
He returned to wyvernkin territory triumphant, like a conquering general.
Enough nagas hunted—rewards would be plump.
Sell naga teeth, scales, meat, gear—massive coins.
Limited beauty potions sold or auctioned? Huge haul.
That would buy big aids for ascending to the heavens.
"Monopolies gouge, and it's not just me."
Items exclusive here demanded piles of coins. Rokan clicked his tongue recalling them.
Now, time to head to the heavens.