Troll Barracks
When Trolls appeared, the area was immediately classified as a high-grade dungeon.
“It’s been a while.”
Ha Dojin had found quite a few interesting dungeons after arriving in Gangwon-do.
Those placed just before the dungeon break.
‘It seems… the government is indeed short-handed in this region.’
The system the nation had set up to support hunter guilds in the provinces.
It prioritized the distribution of dungeon loot to the guild actively operating in the area.
“Huu…”
When a Seoul-based guild cleared a dungeon in Gangwon-do, the local guild responsible for the region had to receive 70% of the loot.
The purpose was to protect hunters operating in the area and offer better benefits to keep them motivated.
However, the system had eliminated any reason for hunter guilds from other regions to travel there.
“It actually became a chance for me.”
Upon arriving in Gangneung, only three dungeons were scheduled for breaking within a week.
The reason none had been cleared yet was simple.
They were conditional dungeons.
Dungeons with extreme conditions like the ones he had solved in Gyeonggi-do.
Even just the Troll Barracks ahead required at least four hunters above level 100 to clear.
But…
[Black-Spotted Troll Barracks]
―60 level / Limit of 6 people.
“You want me dead?”
Considering the average troll level was in the 70s, it was basically a death sentence.
And inside, there were at least fifty trolls.
Parked a short distance from the dungeon entrance, Ha Dojin checked the time before heading toward the entrance.
‘Just today’s three. If possible, four.’
Upon reaching the Troll Barracks dungeon, military personnel blocking the way stepped forward.
“This is a dangerous dungeon area. What brings you here?”
“Kim Cheolsu, who reserved the dungeon.”
“Ah…”
The soldier let out a sigh as if realization had finally dawned.
Every single one of their eyes showed the same expression.
They were practically begging to die.
Of course it was.
Entering a dungeon with a 60-level limit meant they would not survive.
But he was alone?
“Do you know what kind of dungeon this is?”
“Yes, I’ve verified everything.”
“Huu, understood. Then, for a simple check, I’ll just do the mana scan.”
The mana scan to confirm whether he was a hunter.
Once mana was verified as normal, the soldier guarding the Troll Barracks stepped aside.
“Please be careful. Even if it’s tough, it’s better to stay alive.”
“Thank you.”
After Ha Dojin entered the dungeon, a soldier sighed deeply.
“One corpse incoming…”
No weapon or armor was visible except the dagger at his waist.
‘This is a hunter, and an old hunter wouldn’t even consider this.’
After all this time on dungeon duty, he had accumulated quite a bit of experience.
He could immediately tell the capable from the incapable.
His junior asked beside him.
“Captain Jang, is this guy going to be alright?”
“What do you mean? He came here to die. We just followed procedure, so let’s move on.”
“Understood.”
The atmosphere felt like someone had been left to die without care.
But after about twenty minutes…
“Huh?”
“Captain Jang, that… is it…”
“Crazy.”
The dungeon had been cleared.
* * *
[Black-Spotted Troll Barracks]
―60 level / Limit of 6 people.
Clearing conditions.
―Defeat Black-Spotted Trolls (0/80)
“Eighty of them.”
This dungeon was more difficult than expected.
At this level, at least five B-grade hunters would normally be required to clear it.
For Ha Dojin, it was still far from easy.
But…
‘No room for hesitation.’
When it came to trolls, the most challenging aspects were regeneration and tough hide.
Their skin was so hard that even a blade barely pierced it.
Even if a wound was inflicted and it wasn’t fatal, it healed almost instantly.
The best option was to decapitate or bisect them with a warrior-type hunter wielding a greatsword.
“It would be a bit difficult for me.”
His weapon’s option was perfect for trolls, however.
『Blood Covenant』
―Wounds do not heal and continuous bleeding occurs.
This was an option attached to the Blood Bane curse.
It applied to the caster as well, but it also affected the targets he had wounded with the Blood Bane.
The key was that wounds would not heal.
That meant he could suppress the trolls’ insane regeneration.
The real question was…
“Can I pierce their hide and deal a true fatal wound?”
Ha Dojin touched the bracelet on his left wrist.
His current attack power would struggle, but…
‘If I use the bracelet’s option…’
Ha Dojin exhaled softly.
“Activate.”
[I activate the Berserker’s Oath.]
[Attack power increases by 20%.]
[Mana decreases by 30%.]
[Status abnormality: Confusion has occurred.]
Mana rushed out of his body, and his vision blurred.
But at that exact moment.
[Shadow Whisper’s hidden trait activates.]
Ring!
[Those who endured Shadow Whisper’s curse.]
―Resisted mental abnormalities three times.
―Now possesses strong resistance to mental abnormalities.
“…”
A new message appeared before his eyes, leaving Ha Dojin bewildered.
And then…
[Resists Status abnormality: Confusion.]
[Resistance failed.]
[Resists Status abnormality: Confusion.]
[Resistance successful.]
The dizziness vanished instantly.
“Did such a hidden trait even exist?”
He had been momentarily startled by the unusual situation, but…
“To think that saving Chairman Gu Jinmo’s grandson would return in this manner…”
Resisting mental abnormalities was an enormous hidden ability in itself.
Even if he didn’t know how strong it was yet…
‘It would grow stronger with use.’
If he could resist even advanced mental abnormalities, that alone would be incredible.
“I obtained an unexpected ability.”
That was why people should live righteously, he supposed.
Ha Dojin soon turned his head.
In conclusion, he had gained 20% increased attack power with no risk.
His mana had dropped 30%, but…
“It’s not enough to worry about.”
Ha Dojin drew his sword and confronted the Black-Spotted Trolls that had emerged.
They were slightly more troublesome than normal trolls, but he would not drag this out long.
“There are too many things to do.”
Whip!
The moment Ha Dojin moved, the Black-Spotted Trolls roared and charged.
But…
“Time Distortion.”
The skill activated.
The world slowed down around Ha Dojin.
And within that slow world, only he charged forward alone.
“Kuaaaaaar!”
Due to the skill, movement was 1.5 times slower.
But to his perception, it felt like twice as slow.
The roars of the creatures became crystal clear.
The swinging clubs looked like slow-motion.
In that slowed world…
Kwadak!
[Obtained 281,000 experience.]
[Reset condition satisfied. Time Distortion cooldown reset.]
He had been invincible.
Kwadak!
The Black-Spotted Troll that had driven its attack straight into his forehead died instantly.
20% attack power increase.
‘More than I expected…’
He had received a wonderful gift.
He had assumed it would take at least three or four attacks to kill them.
At this speed…
“I’ll have to buy a bottle of soju on the way back.”
Kwajik! Squish!
[Obtained 281,000 experience.]
[Obtained 281,000 experience.]
[Obtained 281,000 experience.]
[Level increased.]
[Reset condition satisfied. Time Distortion cooldown reset.]
[Unique skill: Time Distortion level increased.]
[Unique skill: Time Distortion duration increased to 4 seconds.]
[Unique skill: Time Distortion effect increased from 1.5x to 1.6x.]
[Unique skill: Time Distortion effect range slightly expanded.]
‘Already?’
Unique skills were difficult to level because their effects were so strong.
The fact that he had already leveled it meant…
‘Because I kept using it without cooldown thanks to Reset?’
This guy was incredibly helpful.
Ha Dojin’s eyes sharpened.
Perhaps through this, he would…
‘Be able to get even closer to them.’
Wait for it.
I’m coming soon.
Ha Dojin turned away after viewing the bodies of the wiped-out trolls.
* * *
“Thirty minutes?”
“Yes! I confirmed it with my own eyes.”
Jang Junhwan of Iron Hammer Guild had gone to the site and confirmed the situation with his own eyes.
He had been guarding the Black-Spotted Troll Barracks, a high-grade dungeon, and listened to the details from the soldier on duty.
His expression showed clear shock.
“He really entered alone and cleared the dungeon in just thirty minutes? Look, it’s gone.”
The dungeon was scheduled for break in a few days, so the guild had been troubled because of it.
“Alone…”
“At first I thought he was suicidal. You know how reckless hunters sometimes go and die. I thought that at first.”
“Anyway… I understand. Thank you for telling me.”
After patting Captain Jang’s shoulder, Jang Junhwan turned on his tablet and moved toward another cleared dungeon.
Watching him leave, Captain Jang muttered softly.
“Why do all hunters use casual speech?”
And then…
[Level increased.]
“Huu…”
This was already the fourth dungeon.
Traveling seemed to take longer than clearing dungeons.
Ha Dojin stepped out of the dungeon and exhaled softly before drinking a mana potion.
It didn’t fill his mana like a game; it simply accelerated his recovery rate.
‘I won’t be able to go on like this.’
His mana had been critically low because of the 30% decrease from using Berserker’s Oath.
One or two dungeons would be fine, but clearing the fourth one had drained him nearly dry.
The clearance had even taken almost two hours.
“That’s all for today.”
Still, there had been a harvest.
Name: Ha Dojin
Level: 55
Strength: 104 + 6 Agility: 283 + 29
Health: 100 Mana: 198 + 2
Bonus stats: 0
He had only leveled up two in a single day.
Ha Dojin invested every bonus stat into agility.
He needed the special feature that unlocked when agility exceeded 300 through pure stat growth, not item effects.
‘To deal with them, I need to be much faster than now.’
Although one had been eliminated, the opponents were still easily handling A-grade hunters.
To face them…
‘I need to move in such a way that they can’t even approach.’
Above all, the danger was their coordinated attacks.
If he couldn’t avoid that, he would be in danger himself.
“The dungeon I need to go to tomorrow…”
Ha Dojin checked his tablet for tomorrow’s schedule.
He had been looking for the closest possible route, but traveling by car still required 30 to 40 minutes.
Distance was one thing, but there were quite a few areas where he couldn’t drive.
But at that moment.
“Hah, finally found it.”
Ha Dojin stopped walking and turned at the voice coming from behind.
“Kim Cheolsu?”
‘He came quickly.’
The person he had been waiting for had arrived.