Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Knight of the Lake (2)
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‘Not easy.’
Rokan pretended to be at ease, but his situation wasn’t great.
He had charged in relying on Berserk’s effect, which kept him alive for its duration even at zero stamina, but if his control had been even slightly off, his neck could’ve been sliced or his heart burst, forcibly ending Berserk.
‘Gotta end it in one go.’
He could somehow manage Force, but the combo skill was the problem.
Even blocking the Force-wrapped sword had worn down the Orc Tribe Battle Axe’s durability quite a bit, but clashing with the combo skill even briefly would send it plummeting.
That’s why he’d dodged Aqua Slush somehow, but Aqua Guard was the issue. To land a hit, he had to breach that absolute defense no matter what.
‘Ready to die for it… wait.’
Even amid the fierce exchange, Rokan’s mind raced until something clicked.
“Hahaha! Let’s see you die!”
He immediately charged at it.
If death was on the table anyway, no point dragging it out.
“Leap Attack!”
Rokan leaped instantly, trying to smash down on it.
-Aqua Guard!
Naturally, Aqua Guard activated. A sword barrier infused with magical energy flicked out a sharp tongue toward Rokan.
“Cancel! Throwing!”
A situation where he’d take damage himself, but Rokan didn’t panic.
As if he’d expected it, he used Throwing to hurl a hand axe mid-air, then twisted his slowing body as Leap Attack canceled. He landed right in its face, channeling the torque from his hips and torso into an explosive burst.
“Shoulder Charge!”
A devastating body slam that would cave in a chest head-on! It slipped through the slight gap Throwing had pried open in Aqua Guard.
-No way!
But the combo skill’s power was immense. Even as Throwing’s force momentarily broke its stance, it still shredded into Rokan’s charging body.
His health plummeted in an instant, and the explosive momentum faded.
Normally, he’d drop silent here without issue. But Rokan’s eyes burned brighter than ever.
“Lion King’s Sealed Helmet, equip!”
In that moment, Rokan’s appearance changed. The Lion King’s Sealed Helmet, which he’d casually unequipped during the standoff with Artwhite, was back on.
[Health has fallen below 5%.]
[Title Unyielding Will effect: All stats increase by 50%.]
Why unequip such fine gear? To trigger Unyielding Will’s special effect.
The insane ability to boost all stats by 50% when health drops below 5%! As it activated, Rokan swapped his equipment.
“GRRRRAAAAAHHH!!”
He unleashed the pent-up rage he’d held back.
Artwhite had nearly twice his level, but pure stats were even.
Now Berserk doubled them, Unyielding Will added 50% more. And finally, Lion King’s Sealed Helmet boosted shout skills by 50%!
Not even a level 100 grandpa could shrug that off.
-Ugh!
Artwhite’s legs buckled after Aqua Guard, its sword grip weakening.
A perfect opening.
“Dash, Strike!”
Rokan wouldn’t miss. He closed in instantly, unleashing a lethal blow. All his amplified power swung with force even full health couldn’t withstand.
[Critical!]
And a critical hit to boot.
Users’ base crit rate was 0%—impossible normally. But Rokan’s titles gave him a shot.
10% from ‘Killed Orc Champion at Lv1’, another 10% from ‘PKK (Player Killer Killer)’, totaling 20% that proc’d perfectly.
-Kuhuk!
Crit doubled the damage!
Damage equaling max health poured in, dropping Artwhite to near-death instantly.
As a spirit-like being, no shock like regular monsters, but it turned transparent enough to see through, weakness showing.
“Haha! Where you going!”
Artwhite pulled back fast, but Rokan wouldn’t let it.
He pursued, swinging his Battle Axe. Ignoring hits to counterattack, he finished it just before it reached the lake.
[Level up.]
[Level up.]
[Level up…]
[Miraculous achievement! You overcame your limits and defeated a being of higher realm.]
[Acquired title ‘Hero of Reversal’.]
[You are the first to acquire this title.]
[Miraculous achievement! You felled the first world-renowned being.]
[Acquired title ‘First Named Hunter’.]
[You are the first to acquire this title.]
[Special conditions met: Titles ‘Hero of Reversal’ and ‘First Named Hunter’ combine.]
[Impossible achievement! You overcame your limits and defeated another world-renowned being.]
[Acquired title ‘Limit Breakthrough’.]
[You are the first to acquire this title.]
[First][Limit Breakthrough][Legend]
You who felled foes beyond your level possess the makings of an absolute being unbound by limits.
You are the first to acquire this title.
[Effects]
-All stats +10% in battle vs stronger foes
-All stats +20% extra vs Named Monsters
-All skill levels +1 vs stronger foes
-All level gap penalties nullified vs stronger foes
“Whoa.”
Title fusion! Even Rokan hadn’t seen that coming.
From the alerts, both were Epic-grade, fusing into a Legend-grade title.
The Orc Champion he killed at level 1 had a name, but system-recognized ‘world-renowned Named’ started at 100. Getting Named Hunter then would’ve blocked this boon.
And its effects were insane.
Stat boosts synergized with existing titles, but skill level ups and penalty nullification!
This let Rokan fight anyone evenly, smoothing major hurdles ahead.
“This was the right call!”
Berserk’s penalty weighed him down, but his mood soared.
Matherian’s quest outcome didn’t matter now. Even if the lake essence did nothing, he’d be thrilled.
But Rokan stayed grounded. With penalty active, local monsters were threats, so he used Safety Guard for a safe zone till it wore off.
“Install safe zone.”
Dangerous area with aggressive monsters, but he’d cleared them, entering non-combat for safe zone deployment.
Barely a minute later, a fireball dropped on Rokan.
“Fireball!”
He smirked.
Didn’t dodge. Just stood, watching it fall.
BOOM!
Amazingly, the fireball passed through him, exploding on the ground.
Even point-blank, Rokan was unscratched.
Safety zone’s effect—still little-known. Spatial separation during duration guaranteed village-like absolute safety.
“W-what?!”
“Why’s he fine?!”
“That ain’t hacking? Devs took bribes?!”
Ambushers panicked, hiding.
Didn’t want ID exposed, but Rokan knew them.
MP Guild elites hunting nearby.
Without penalty, he’d slaughter them, but now he just watched scornfully. They were marked.
No rush—they wouldn’t be spared anyway.
“Got the video. Bounce!”
“See what GMs say this time!”
They flung pointless attacks, then fled Rokan. He wasn’t countering now, but fear of future payback drove them off.
“Morons.”
As they vanished and respawned monsters ignored him, Rokan recovered from Berserk’s aftereffects and stood.
He easily butchered the next wave, circled the lake. To gather special grasses around it.
No Gather skill, but possible with low success—still, he filled up, then memorized Azure Lake in Rune Book. Matherian’s final quest had too many constraints for now.
“Return.”
All goals met, Rokan headed back to town.
* * *
In town, Rokan sold junk items, repaired gear worn to scraps from Artwhite to max durability.
Finally, visited Mage Guild.
Skipped Matherian. No back-and-forth—aim to complete final quest in one go.
“Purchase items.”
One merchant NPC couldn’t handle all; command opened translucent window listing all Mage Guild items.
Enchanted items pricey, mostly unsold except essentials, but Rokan bought freely.
Consumables at absurd 1 gold each for Magic-grade? No issue. Auction house en route recovered funds.
Blood Chaser’s fat drop let him buy three with spare change.
Town business done, back to Azure Lake.
“Use Rune Book. To Azure Lake.”
Whoosh!
* * *
Respawned monsters charged fearlessly.
But to Rokan, post-100-level-Artwhite level explosion, they were post-meal exercise.
Instinct-driven attacks all read; their higher levels triggered title stat buffs. He crushed all hostiles.
“This should do.”
Cleared threats, secured safety, Rokan settled by the lake.
To catch ‘Azure Lake Fish’ for Matherian’s final quest.
Normally rod or spear, but past-life suffering taught shortcuts.
Rokan pulled a yellow orb from Mage Guild, aimed at a lake spot.
“Lightning Shock!”
Shockingly, magic. Convincing lightning spell! Like Stealth Cloak, item enabled skill sans class.
Unlike Cloak, consumable orb for three casts—but reliable.
“Lightning Shock, Lightning Shock, Lightning Shock!”
Burning mana on repeats, stunned fish floated up on Azure Lake’s surface.