Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Undersea Tunnel (2)
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It might look like a reckless challenge, but Rokan wasn't acting without a plan. First, he used the Murloc's Gills to enable underwater breathing, and he activated various consumables that temporarily boosted his defense.
Then, he stripped off all his armor. The weight of the gear could make his movements sluggish.
If he couldn't land a hit, he judged it would be better to fight bare-handed.
So, clad only in his underwear, he stood before the exit.
Pwooooooo.
He blew a long note on the trumpet toward the magically treated door that allowed passage in and out. Far in the distance, a Merman appeared.
Matching its approach, Rokan dove in like a diver!
The sight of him in just underwear gripping a battle axe was comical, but his momentum was the real deal.
‘Come on, then.’
But taking the first strike was impossible.
Charging in headlong was Rokan's specialty, but even with breathing solved, his movement speed underwater was agonizingly slow, so he simply waited for the enemy to attack first.
Swoooooosh.
Fortunately, the summoned Merman always entered combat mode without fail. That was necessary for the quest to progress.
Like watching a thief-class dodge and weave, Rokan focused on the Merman slicing through the currents toward him.
Puk!
But he couldn't take any action.
No, more precisely, he chose not to.
He let the minor stabs that peppered him hit his body while memorizing the enemy's speed.
Without armor, his health bar plummeted, but he had enough HP to endure it, so he bided his time for that one chance, his eyes gleaming sharply.
Puk!
‘Now!’
Whoooosh.
The moment the Merman's spear plunged into his abdomen, Rokan swung down the battle axe he'd raised overhead with all his might.
To counter the slowed attack speed from water resistance, he focused purely on instantaneous swing speed.
‘Damn.’
But the timing was a fraction too early. The Merman flinched and twisted away, leaving Rokan to cleave nothing but water.
Thanks to that, the spear didn't bury deep into his gut either, but the failed attack stung far worse.
Stab. Stab.
Sensing the threat from Rokan's assault, the creature switched tactics.
Instead of diving in deep for a powerful single blow like before, it exploited the spear's reach advantage with repeated thrusts.
‘Argh, you sneaky bastard.’
Rokan gritted his teeth at the creature's cheap, barley-sowing jabs, but there was no counter.
This left him with one shot. Otherwise, he'd die whittled down by those toothpick damages.
“Krraaaaaargh!”
A mad roar that could shake mountains and rivers echoed through the water. The Merman's body stiffened as expected.
Rokan swiftly snatched the half-extended spear and yanked the creature toward him.
‘Finishing it.’
He activated Fatal Blow to end it in one strike.
“Wave Storm!”
‘Son of a...’
Boom!
But at that moment, the Merman's combo skill detonated.
Rokan's body, battle axe raised high, slammed into the ground from the water shockwave, and the snatched trident slipped back to the enemy.
“Water Bind. Trident of the Sea God!”
“Hngh.”
The combo skill chain continued!
The Merman bound Rokan's limbs with swirling water, then thrust the spear infused with one-shot-kill energy.
“Berserk!”
No choice now. To break Water Bind, he needed overwhelming power.
Berserk made it possible!
As Rokan's eyes burned red with madness and his surging energy shredded the binding water, the Trident of the Sea God pierced deep into his body.
“Gah!”
Right for the heart!
The spear impaled the heart—Berserk's sole weakness despite its immortality boon.
A thick hole gaped open, purple blood staining the surroundings. Rokan's strength faded, the crimson aura flickering weakly.
“...Got you, you bastard.”
Crunch!
It was Rokan's burly arm that seized the Merman, still reeling from the combo skill's aftereffects.
Even with his left chest pierced, he gripped its collar and smashed its skull.
Using the Fatal Blow he hadn't activated in time!
Now inflicting over 20 times damage in a single blow, the skill pulverized the Merman's fragile cranium effortlessly.
One strike burst its head and split its torso.
“Whew, doesn't feel great.”
Was it the missed attack? No. Rokan's chest still gaped empty, heart chunks spilling out with the blood.
But Berserk hadn't ended, and he hadn't died instantly. Simple reason: he had a second heart.
His magic heart from the Two Hearts skill took over, but the passive stat boosts vanished, though his life hung on.
“Cancel!”
Rushing back into the Undersea Tunnel, Rokan staunched the bleeding roughly, canceled Berserk, chugged potions, and restored his HP to a safe level.
“Gonna cost some coin.”
What to do about the exploded heart?
Rokan already knew.
Head to the central continent, donate at a temple, get healed—arms reattached, organs mended, no problem.
Until then, no using Two Hearts' stat boosts or Blood Flow Acceleration, but he was lucky to survive.
“You've proven your strength to guard the tunnel. Good, now you may use the Undersea Tunnel.”
[You have acquired Undersea Tunnel usage rights.]
[From now on, you may use the Undersea Tunnel by paying the fee whenever you wish.]
“So, how do I...”
“Hmm, you can take the train, but there's one issue.”
“...”
The final trial was done, but Aide's last words felt ominous.
“We haven't maintained the Undersea Tunnel properly lately, and the path's blocked up. If you could clear it...”
“...Understood.”
In the end, another quest was added.
[Undersea Tunnel Cleanup][Quest]
The entrance to the Undersea Tunnel is blocked from lack of cleaning. Clear it out and secure the path.
-Completion Condition: Clean up Undersea Tunnel
-Completion Reward: Undersea Tunnel Express Train Access
“...This feels off.”
Cleaning the Undersea Tunnel was fine, whether literal or monster-hunting.
But the reward worried him.
“...Nah, probably not.”
Shivering at bad memories, Rokan waited out Berserk's aftereffects and headed to the spot the sea folk indicated.
“Hah... look at these guys.”
As expected, a horde of monsters blocked the Undersea Tunnel.
Giant fish, massive starfish, Mermen—a diverse bunch flooding the tunnel.
“This is honey!”
Rokan's eyes gleamed at the sight.
The giant fish were nearly dead without water; just finish them off. The starfish and Mermen were alive but greatly weakened.
Beyond that, the moment they hit dry land, Rokan's true power kicked in—their fate was sealed.
“Payback time, you bastards!”
Channeling his rage from the Merman humiliation, Rokan unleashed a bombardment.
* * *
Clunk clunk clunk. Screeeeech.
“Gyyyaaaaah!”
Rokan's screams echoed through the fathomless Undersea Tunnel.
As suspected, the ‘train’ for tunnel travel was Gnome-made.
His quest reward: access to the express train!
Anxious, he'd suggested the regular train, but the decision was final.
Express or walk.
Out here, some sections couldn't be traversed on foot or horse—no choice.
Personal wishes irrelevant; express train it was.
“Just in case, save Berserk and don't use it. You never know.”
Aide's parting words amplified the dread.
Death in-game didn't scare Rokan, but boarding a runaway train with a flimsy seatbelt felt worse than dying repeatedly.
“Argh! Gyaaaaah!”
The central continent-bound Undersea Tunnel Express ran nonstop for a full 5 hours before arriving.
* * *
Stagger.
“Ughhhh...”
Rokan stumbled off the train, soul drained, no energy left for screams.
No crashes or explosions mercifully, but midway he'd wished for them—the mental trauma and panic were immense.
[Unbelievable Feat! You are the first to pass through the Undersea Tunnel.]
[Acquired title ‘Sea Partitioner’.]
[You are the first to acquire this title.]
[Sea Partitioner][Unique]
You crossed the sea to reach the central continent.
You are the first to acquire this title.
[Effects]
-Movement speed underwater +50%.
-Attack power and defense vs. aquatic monsters +30%.
But stepping from the Undersea Tunnel onto the central continent snapped Rokan alert with a flood of messages.
The Sea Partitioner was useful as a first, but the real prize was elsewhere.
[Unbelievable Feat! You are the first to discover the central continent.]
[Acquired title ‘Pioneer’.]
[This title can be acquired by only one person.]
[Pioneer][Unique][First]
You are the first among all races' visitors to discover the central continent. We salute your astonishing courage and spirit of exploration.
You are the first to acquire this title.
This title is granted to only the very first.
[Effects]
-All first-acquisition title effects amplified.
-All dungeon first discoveries grant bonus EXP and drop rates.
-All stats +30.
-Reputation with central continent alliance and neutral faction NPCs +1 level.
The Pioneer title, exclusive to the absolute first!
No weak options here.
Amplifying future first titles was huge, secret dungeon bonuses pure nectar, and the forced +1 reputation—massive.
‘Insane, this is nuts.’
Rokan started with Friendly reputation across alliance and neutral NPCs anyway.
If stacked, that's Very Friendly from the get-go.
Central continent NPCs weren't prickly like in 3rd cities, but this was a huge edge.
But rewards didn't end there.
Existing titles and quests evolved too.
[First][Nothing is Impossible!][Legend]
You are the miraculous incarnation who felled monsters deemed impossible. None hate the one who turns impossible to possible—only envy them.
You are the first to acquire this title.
This title is granted to only the very first.
[Effects]
-Reputation with alliance and neutral faction NPCs starts at [Friendly].
-Job skill level-up proficiency reduced by 30%.
-HP and toughness +30%.
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‘This...’
Proof of riding that mad express for 5 hours.
Still nauseous and dizzy, Rokan wore a grimacing smile checking his final gain.
[Tracing the Gale's Trail][Quest]
You found a trace of the gale that once scourged the world long ago. Seek the remaining traces to inherit the gale's legacy.
-Advanced Training Grounds cleared (Complete)
-Undersea Tunnel first passage (Complete)
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The quest Tracing the Gale's Trail, stagnant since Advanced Training Grounds with no leads, suddenly filled another completion condition.