Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Mutated Monster (1)
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The fourth combination skill Rokan chose was none other than Whirlwind. The iconic skill of barbarian warriors from other games.
The Lord didn't have an official skill like that, but Rokan had created it this time around.
A skill that infused a weapon with Force and spun 360 degrees to shred enemies.
He'd ripped the basic motion from an action clip, then combined it with Force, his sturdy body, Charge, and Twist Attack to produce something pretty close.
'It really looks just like it.'
Once he tweaked the skill's trait to "Continuous," it became even more authentic. Just like that famous skill nicknamed "Blender" for grinding up enemies while spinning!
Sure, being a continuous skill meant steady mana drain while active, but if the power was solid, there was no reason to hesitate.
No other skill could mulch mid-tier weaklings and hordes like this one.
"Heh heh heh heh!"
Rokan, body burning with eagerness to test it, dove straight into the Cave of Cursed Life. He unleashed Whirlwind until his mana ran dry, tearing through the insides.
* * *
Rokan emerged from the Cave of Cursed Life, thoroughly cleared out, as dawn was breaking early in the morning.
Thanks to repeating the clear over and over until he got comfortable with the skill, he could now handle Whirlwind quite proficiently.
It boosted both defense and attack power, and the skill correction prevented dizziness even after repeated spins. Still, since it was a technique that could be countered with focused effort, Rokan needed plenty of practice.
"Life Drain and per-second crit chance are game-changers."
Once he got the hang of it, he realized it was a nightmare skill for any monster below a certain level.
A fresh crit chance applied every second, and whether one or ten, his health regenerated proportional to the damage shredded by his axe. That naturally overcame the limitation of being unable to use potions mid-spin.
For foes with attacks below a certain threshold, numbers wouldn't matter as long as mana held out.
"If I can snag some mana regen gear, infinite farming's on the table."
Even without it, grabbing an item that solved mana supply issues would make it a non-issue.
"But first things first."
Satisfied with his new combo skill, Rokan headed straight for the Crossroads guard barracks.
He found Malkin and showed him the head of the goblin shaman Tritica.
"This is..."
As expected of a scout and guard captain, Malkin reacted instantly. After grilling him on the head's owner, he exploded in rage.
"Damn those noble bastards! Alright, we're grabbing him now! All guards except village patrol, assemble!"
Just as Rokan predicted, Malkin sprang into action.
He gathered the entire guard force and bolted out of the city. Truell's villa wasn't far from Crossroads anyway—he planned to smash the coffin lid and stake the heart in one go.
"Guess I'll tag along. Rune Book: Truell's Villa."
The moment he confirmed they'd all left, Rokan activated his Rune Book.
Naturally, he'd arrive way ahead in a game like this. But the second he teleported, he spotted Malkin snarling ferociously.
"Smash it!"
"Yes, sir!"
BOOM!
Truell's villa door shattered instantly.
If Rokan's word was false or a misunderstanding, it could mean big trouble, but Malkin's actions were decisive. He'd take full responsibility and force entry.
Who else could he trust if not Rokan, a guard and scout?
Rokan felt a pang of guilt at that but played it cool and slipped inside. Staking Baron Truell's heart himself would be tough, but there was another juicy opportunity.
'This way?'
Rescuing the high elf!
Even following the scenario to the letter, the high elf's innate divinity was too potent for Truell's plot to succeed.
It would expose Truell's true nature, lead to a fight, and victory meant saving her.
But by then, her power would be severely weakened from all the ordeal.
Purifying her blood and restoring purity took ages, and being partly responsible meant meager rewards or thanks.
'Now should be perfect.'
Saving her now, though...
It'd just be freeing a high elf merely lulled into slumber by Baron Truell's scheme.
Sure, he'd done a few quests, but nothing directly harmful to her, so it should be fine.
With quiet anticipation, Rokan slipped away from the guards heading to the baron's bedroom and flung open other doors.
'Found her!'
There she was—a young high elf sleeping soundly, oblivious.
'How to wake her...'
A gentle shake did nothing; she was dead to the world. Her head lolled, but drugged stupor kept her under.
Slap her cheeks? Or just hoist and carry her out?
Pondering, Rokan came up with a ploy.
He fumbled at his waist with clumsy motions and pulled something out.
"Crude Alarm Clock: Use."
DINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDONG!
"Gyaaah!"
What he'd hastily crafted: a crude alarm clock, a mechanical device for waking sleepers.
The blaring noise jolted even the guards—it overpowered the drugs.
Well, technically the item's activation effect.
"Stop! Please, turn that thing off!"
Elves were more sound-sensitive than humans; high elves even more so.
She wailed in agony, ears practically bleeding, so Rokan smashed it with a fist.
CRUNCH.
The crude alarm clock shattered. Silence fell naturally. Rokan bowed slightly to the high elf for apology, then yelled outside.
"Captain! Found the kidnapped high elf!"
Partly to call Malkin and claim credit, partly to make the groggy high elf grasp her situation.
Malkin rushed in soon after.
"Noble one, forgive our rudeness. I am Crossroads Guard Captain Malkin."
High elves were nobility incarnate—equivalent to human archdukes or royalty. Even Guard Captain Malkin couldn't be casual.
As a half-elf himself, courtesy toward a child high elf was only proper. That's why Rokan used honorifics too.
"It's fine. What happened?"
"Baron Truell—no, the vampire Truell—kidnapped you, noble one. He couldn't profane your innate divinity, so he tried other means to steal your power. But our guard, human True Berserker Rokan, exposed him. We've just captured him. I'd love to stake his heart and dust him in sunlight right now, but there might be backers, so we'll coffin-transport him. Please understand."
"Hmm, I see."
The high elf listened quietly to Malkin's fury-laden explanation, then glanced up at Rokan.
Despite innate status gap, she wasn't shameless enough to ignore her rescuer.
'A human noble would've taken it for granted.'
Probably only humans had that thick a skin.
"You said human True Berserker Rokan? I'm Irahin. Thank you for saving me. I'll repay this debt someday."
"Just doing my job."
As he thought that inwardly, the high elf spoke again, praising him.
Now she'd return, recover body and power, and they'd meet again later.
'This should get her pretty proactive.'
This quest was a watershed for how much high elf aid he'd get down the line. No big immediate reward, but Rokan grinned inwardly.
If she went all-in, her underlings would back him fully too.
"Come with us. We'll escort you."
With Malkin escorting High Elf Irahin away, the mad baron quest ended.
Leaving Rokan with the Blood Mark benefit.
* * *
Unlike the other guards, Rokan didn't head back to the village after shaking up Crossroads.
The high elf rescue reward would come later after reporting to the half-elves, so no point in pointless steps—he aimed to wrap the accepted quests fast.
Next target: 'Mutated Monsters.'
Finding the freakishly mutated ones was easy. He already knew which types and how.
[Blade Claw Dans][Lv 103]
"Whirlwind!"
Malkin tasked confirming three mutated types, but there were five total.
The issue: they lurked deep in habitats or as bosses, but that barely fazed Rokan.
He cherry-picked the lower-level ones for breakthrough runs.
'This is honey.'
Plan was to breakthrough, confirm, and bail to skip hassle. But his level had risen more than expected, plus the surprise fourth combo skill.
A mere Lv103 attack monster? Instead of dodging, he blitzed with Whirlwind.
"Cancel."
Mid-spin trek, Rokan halted upon spotting one with blades not just on claws but whole body bristling sharp.
"There you are."
[Blade Mine Cater][Lv 120]
First mutated monster found: a single mutated Blade Claw Dans turned boss.
Unlike whole tribes of mutated trolls, just this one freakishly evolved.
Lv120 to boot.
Humanoid form, body all blades, radiating menace to slice anything—Rokan charged undaunted, swinging his battle axe first.
"You're maxed out too, huh?!"
CLANG!
Huge resonance as its arm met his battle axe.
It overpowered him in strength, but Cater packed serious attack power.
Whole body a weapon—blocking anywhere, swinging anything became a blade. Tricky foe.
'Every hit like a finisher.'
Rokan poured full power into each strike. Fail to push it back with an attack, and instant counter came.
Without a party and dedicated tank soaking, damage-free kill was tough.
'Let's see who wins.'
Knowing that, Rokan went for frontal clash. The hot-tempered monster's mutation made it even more berserk.
CLANG!
Repeated clashes birthed change. Cracks spiderwebbed Cater's body.
Hit cracks again.
Weapon Break from that.
No special skill—just raw power and destruction.
KROOOOAR!
Cracks weakened Cater sharply.
One more clash would shatter it whole, so it twisted away, dodging Rokan.
"Leaf Attack!"
No letting it. Rokan dogged pursuit; it pulled its final card.
"Blade Storm! Charge of Destruction!"
Self-destruct!
It fragmented into blade shrapnel for suicide blast.
But Rokan leaped right in.
Max defense Charge of Destruction to tank it bodily. Shard blades embedded, ignored as he barreled through.
Smashed its core for regen, cracking it.
"Whew!"
Core-hit Cater collapsed. Rokan scooped a glowing green blade shard it left.
Last dregs of its power harvested.
[Blade Mine Shard][Enchant][Consumable]
Blade shard steeped in Blade Mine Cater's grudge. Grants special power to edged weapons.
-Use on a bladed weapon: Grants [Bleed] effect