First Discoverer's Privilege
• +15% Stat Acquisition for 1 Week upon Dungeon Entry
• +15% EXP Gain for 1 Week upon Dungeon Entry
• +20% Monster Drop Rate for 1 Week upon Dungeon Entry
• +25 to All Stats for 1 Week upon Dungeon Entry
As expected...
When the Curtain God first opened the dungeon, the entry alert and First Discoverer Privilege triggered simultaneously. That's when I pieced it together.
Why would a god, in a moment meant to threaten me, create a dungeon? It meant even he—divine as he was—chose the rules of dungeon combat: boss versus player, not the penalties of field PK.
PK anywhere incurs penalties.
If the Curtain God is ultimately bound by the system as an NPC, then penalties apply to him too.
And just as I'd predicted, when we returned to Curtain Forest, the dungeon opened again.
Challenger of the Extremes
Level Difference Met: +10% Attack Success Rate
Heroic Monster Met: +10% Attack Power
Heroic Large Monster Met: +10% Crit Rate, +10% Crit Damage
Krrrraaahhh...!!
The one-eyed giant let out a piercing roar.
Giant's Battle Armor - Fear Immunity
Fear from large monsters reduced.
Fear effects and duration -30%.
Thud—!
Thud—!
Thud—!!
I gripped my sword tighter as the pounding footsteps rushed toward me.
Clank—!
Shhhrk...!!
The Torong gauntlets on my wrists activated with a sharp mechanical hum: whiiirrr!
"You've fully adapted to this world."
I smirked at Black Eye's low voice.
Torong Twin Rings
Unique Effect: Twin Dragons in the Sky
• Special move usable when both Torong pairs activate.
• Norpa brothers' secret engineering technique engages.
• Condenses special energy into Torong, doubling all skill attack power for an instant.
Caution: Increases resource cost for skill activation.
Vrrrrmmm...!!
The Torong on my wrists vibrated, sharp sword aura erupting over my blood oath dagger. Unlike my other gear, the shortsword absorbed my divine power, gleaming fiercely.
True Chilya 4th Sword
I slashed with all my might, divine power surging toward the one-eyed giant.
Shwick—!
Splaaash—!!
Kraaaahh!!
The sharp aura sliced its left thigh and waist. Chunks of flesh rained down, staggering the giant.
Thread Scale - Sympathy of Mahal
Mugeuk Lv3
Unique Effect: Mind - Fire Eye
• Pierces foe's actions for 1 second, sharply detecting hostiles.
Vwoooom—!!
I dodged the giant's massive club by a hair's breadth.
Insight Lv4 proficiency increased.
Insight influences Fire Eye.
Acquired Insight EXP absorbed into Fire Eye.
Alerts rang as the giant's analyzed data flooded my mind like a scan.
Skills: Ground Roll Lv3 | Bounce Lv5 | Natural Damage MAX
Huh, 400 vitality? Tanky as hell, just like it looks.
The Fire Eye data was visible to my familiars too—Black Eye and Yeomhwa-ryeong eyed the giant as they commented.
"It's exactly as it appears."
Massive bulk meant raw power and slow moves. Nothing more, nothing less. Predictable patterns for bruisers like this.
Yeomhwa-ryeong cried out, seven flame soldiers materializing behind her wings. The lead halberdier raised its massive weapon, and the rest charged the giant in unison.
Fwoooosh—!!
The halberd carved a fiery arc into the giant's thigh.
Kraaack! Searing flesh echoed with its scream as it swung its club.
Splaaat—!
Boom!!
Two encircling soldiers burst like fireworks under the blow.
Five flame soldiers circled, halberds whirling.
Vwoom—!
The giant thrashed wildly to shake them off.
Guardian of Curtain Forest uses Ground Roll!
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!!
Furious, it pounded the earth, triggering quakes.
Black Eye dashed across the trembling ground, aiming for the giant's rear.
Flash—!
He leaped, slamming his greatsword into its shoulder blade.
The blade ground through bone—scraaaape!—from shoulder to ribs.
Giant's Ground Roll awakens Curtain Forest spirits!
Spirits attack you!
Dwarf-like squat spirits burst from shaking trees.
Splat—!
A flash—my blood oath shortsword pierced one's head. It crumbled to dry leaves.
Forest Spirit defeated.
Shieeek—!!
Yeomhwa-ryeong skewered a spirit like a flying dagger. The halberdier smashed the rest from a step back.
Kaa! Kaaa!!!
Meanwhile, Black Eye yanked his greatsword free and cleaved the giant's wounded left thigh.
Shwick—!!!
The thick leg severed; the giant toppled forward.
But just before crashing, it hurled its club at Black Eye with all its might.
Kuuuaang—!!
The air exploded as the club—1.5 times Black Eye's size—barreled down.
Missing his dodge window, he gritted his teeth, raising his greatsword to block.
"To the side."
My shortsword struck the club's side, nudging its path just enough. Black Eye dropped his blade and rolled aside.
Kwaaaang—!!
The greatsword shattered. But divine beast power reformed it amid smoke and blasts.
Dodging the flying club, I extended my hand. Myocheon Mahwi's tough spider threads snared the giant's neck and legs.
Creeeak...!!
I yanked down hard, slamming its massive body flat.
Torong Iron Fist!!
I smashed my fist into its face-planted cheek.
Splat—!!
Steam hissed from the Torong tip as its head snapped back.
Guhk...! Gack!!
Myocheon Mahwi's threads pinned its limbs; it absorbed the shock fully, helpless.
"Useful."
I eyed the dazed giant. Completing the Torong set doubled Torong Iron Fist's power.
Splat—!
Thud! Thud! Thud!!
Kraaack!!!
Each head blow thudded dully; threads strained taut.
Shwick...
Sliiiice...
The body rocked with impacts.
Kwajik—!!
My fist hit its temple.
Vital spot struck!
Precise blow applied as critical.
2x damage.
Unique Effect: Twin Dragons in the Sky - 2x damage.
Quadruple damage crushed its skull—crunch!
"Hup—!!"
The one-eyed giant rolled its whites and collapsed sideways.
I mounted its cheekbone, steadying myself.
Clank—!
Shhhrk—!
Torong gauntlets released; remaining divine power condensed into my sword.
True Chilya 2nd Sword
The blade trembled.
Vrrrrm...!
Divine Power consumed, condensing into sword.
The ultimate strike, draining every drop of divine power, severed its head.
Shwick—!!
Kwagagagagak—!!!
A deafening roar; its head flew off in a gust, body crumbling to ash without a scream.
The summoned forest spirits were already mopped up by the Huasin Army.
"Hoo..."
I exhaled steadily. No fatigue despite the output—thanks to Yeomhwa-ryeong's divine essence reducing costs, letting me fuel Chilya Sword Style with divine power over stamina.
Power's up too.
Guardian of Curtain Forest defeated.
Heroic God's Shadow hunt success.
Feat Points +1500
Alerts poured as the giant vanished.
Nine levels? Insane.
The guardian's EXP was beyond expectations.
Hunted Lanselro the Spirit Devourer Dragon with a raid, so EXP split among many... but jumping like this from level 50? God's creations are different.
I grinned at the reward chest it left.
"Finally found a good grinding spot after ages?"
"...You."
Thud— I stepped on the chest lid, looking up slowly.
"Think carefully. If you won't follow me, grinding EXP is all you're good for."
The guardian kill alert sounded, but no conquest alert for Curtain Forest.
"Curtain God."
Obviously, the true boss was clear.
"One chance."