Chapter 73
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Silvanos's Breath
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Wind surged in Yuhyeon's palm.
It was small, yet it spun powerfully, as if highly condensed.
It was Silvanos's Breath.
Are you really saying you'll join the fight?
Kain asked, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Yuhyeon.
Yes.
Yuhyeon nodded calmly, his eyes more serious than ever.
As if to prove his words weren't spoken lightly.
Truthfully, we're in a situation where we desperately need someone's help.
A bard was, after all, a buffer, far from a combat class meant for the vanguard.
But now that the number of mantises had swelled from 17 to 67, the situation was a bit different.
What kind of gear are you wearing?
Besides armor, I have a decent set of accessories.
Hmm, in that case
Kain's eyes narrowed for a moment.
He needs to meet the minimum defense threshold for this to be meaningful.
A feathered leather hat, expensive-looking earrings, and a sword belt.
The accessories looked quite valuable, but the most concerning part was the tunic he wore.
No matter how you looked at it, it was just the basic tunic one gets as a beginner.
Can he even serve as a meat shield with that gear?
It didn't look like a setup with high defense.
No matter how urgent the situation, I can't recommend you join the fight.
Wonderland was, at the end of the day, just a game.
Dying didn't mean you died in real life; all that happened was you randomly lost a piece of equipment or dropped some experience points.
I know the side quest is tempting, but I don't think it's worth risking the death penalty.
However, it was only natural to feel upset if a character you'd painstakingly raised suffered even a small loss.
Most users tended to get overly invested in their characters and grow attached to them.
This was a response that only Kain, a true lover of Wonderland, could give.
I understand your concerns completely.
Yuhyeon felt the same way.
This is quite touching.
Kain possessed the excellent virtues of a party leader.
Otherwise, there would be no reason to go out of his way to refuse help, even in a situation like this.
However, that was a response based on the assumption of failure.
What if I can pull my own weight on the front line?
Yuhyeon had fought through countless battlefields and faced opponents stronger than himself.
Among them, he had even faced black-grade elite monsters twice.
This meant that, at the very least, he wouldn't have trouble against monsters of a similar level.
I know its hard to believe, but I don't think this is a bad time to take a chance.
Yuhyeon remarked, looking at the state of the battle.
Aren't we in a situation so dire we'd take any help we can get?
For a moment, Kain felt as if he'd been struck by a hammer.
For Yuhyeon to refer to himself like that was a little funny, but he wasn't wrong.
Honestly, he's right.
It was difficult to refuse when he was being this insistent, even after a polite rejection.
And it was also true that the battle would become easier if Yuhyeon could even act as a meat shield by his side.
It'd be a shame to turn back now after coming this far.
Above all, having come nearly halfway, it would be a pity for the quest to fail and have to start all over again.
I'm also curious what the reward for a quest of this scale will be.
Of course, that was all contingent on successfully fending off the mantises.
I'm making it clear that I advised against it. I said we could give up on the side quest.
You don't need to take responsibility, Kain. I'll handle my part.
Kain asked, his gaze becoming intensely serious.
In that case, may I ask you to join me in the vanguard?
Yuhyeon answered with a smile instead of words.
Then, let's go!
Yes!
Fwoosh!
The two men shot forward at the same time.
Yuhyeon! I'll take the front, so please cover my back!
Kain shouted.
Yunaring, please keep sniping so the mantises can't rush us! I can't protect you, so maintain a safe distance!
Okay! You can count on me!
Tap!
Yunaring replied as she took cover in a nearby forest thick with rocks and grass.
If the frontline collapses, it's basically over.
Wonderland was a game that fundamentally recommended a four-person party.
A tank for the vanguard, a melee dealer to support them, a mage or archer for the rear, and finally, a healer.
The two of us have to hold out, no matter what.
The concept was that when the tank failed to draw aggro, the melee dealer would provide support, and the rear would finish the job.
In other words, a four-person party had the capacity to maintain its formation even when monsters charged indiscriminately like this.
On the other hand, it was a different story for a three-person party whose vanguard consisted of an adventurer and a bard.
If either of them fell, not only the rear but the entire caravan would be finished.
At the very least, I'll protect your back, Kain.
Despite it all, Yuhyeon stood reliably back-to-back with Kain.
So what if the party composition wasn't stable, and so what if they couldn't maintain the front line?
In the end, all that matters is defeating them.
Fundamentally, the most important thing came down to the user's skill.
There was no need to overthink it; he just had to kill the monsters.
Here they come!
Right!
Yuhyeon calmly watched the mantis charging toward him.
It scuttled quickly on four legs, its two arms, tipped with sharp blades, raised high.
Its large size made it quite an intimidating presence.
A good chance to test out this legendary skill.
Even in such a situation, Yuhyeon's eyes remained composed.
He was just a little excited at the thought of testing out his new skill.
I still don't have a good feel for what kind of skill it is
Silvanos's Breath was a rather peculiar skill.
The description only stated that it summoned wind the caster could use freely; there were no specific instructions on how to use it.
To put it negatively, it was a very unhelpful skill description.
However
Conversely, it means it's that much more flexible.
Thinking positively, it meant the skill could be used with that much more freedom.
It was the same with the myth-grade skills I've used so far.
Both Heavenly Performance and Magical Score Creation were similar skills.
Though they were myth-grade, the results varied each time depending on the user's ability.
I just have to try things out.
That meant Silvanos's Breath was likely the same.
Depending on how it was used, it had the potential to be more effective than a legendary skill.
Hoo.
Having found a suitable position, Yuhyeon gripped his bastard sword tightly.
I've already observed the patterns enough.
Fortunately, he had already learned the mantis's patterns while watching Kain fight them.
Its main attacks were a downward strike and a horizontal slash, with no other special techniques.
It meant that while their numbers were a problem, they weren't particularly difficult opponents.
Thud!
The swarm of monsters had already closed the distance.
A mantis's large blade came crashing down toward Yuhyeon's head.
Let's start with a light push.
Normally, he would have defended with an upward slash.
But instead of raising his sword, Yuhyeon extended his palm toward the mantis.
You have used Silvanos's Breath.
Whoosh!
The condensed wind shot from Yuhyeon's palm toward the mantis.
Clang!
The invisible wind then blocked the mantis's blade.
Now!
In the instant the mantis tilted its head in confusion, Yuhyeon's sword sliced through its vulnerable abdomen.
With a crisp slice!, the mantis's form faded into thin air.
Ting!
A perfect stance has resulted in a 'Powerful Slash'.
Inflicting 150 additional damage!
Critical Hit!
Inflicting 200 additional damage!
You have defeated the Mantis!
Remaining Mantises: 66 (1)
One shot?
Yuhyeon's eyes widened, having defeated the mantis in a single blow.
Is it because of this skill?
Could there be a massive amount of hidden damage in Silvanos's Breath that he didn't know about?
Focus.
Even so, he couldn't let his guard down.
With so many monsters, a moment of carelessness could leave him helpless.
He had to maintain the front line, just as Kain had said
This time, with a pulling motion.
Ting!
You have used Silvanos's Breath.
He forcibly pulled one of the mantises that was charging furiously toward him.
Its charge was halted by an invisible barrier, and not missing the opening, Yuhyeon's sword cut through its belly.
Slice!
You have defeated the Mantis!
Remaining Mantises: 65 (2)
Sliiice!
You have defeated the Mantis!
Remaining Mantises: 64 (3)
Another one-shot.
Yuhyeon had bisected two mantises in an instant.
Just like before, each with a single strike.
They're weak.
This confirmed it.
The mantises were no match for him.
The moment he realized that, he thought it would be fine to change the plan.
Kain, let's change the plan. I'll break through the front!
Fwoosh!
Instantly changing positions, Yuhyeon charged forward to break through.
He had decided to wipe them out before time ran out and an additional wave spawned!
Wh-what? Y-Yuhyeon!
Kain's eyes widened at the sudden change in position.
What in the world was happening?
Cover the rear, please!
Swish!
This time, five mantises rushed forward.
Yuhyeon quickly ran a combat simulation in his head.
Calmly
First, he would blast the mantis at the front with wind to push it back.
Slice!
Then, as its posture broke, he would lightly slash its belly with his sword.
Clang!
He parried the blades of its comrades that followed with an upward slash.
Stagger! Fwoosh!
As a mantis lost its balance and its posture crumbled, he pulled it back toward him with the wind.
Thwack!
He used the Bash skill, which inflicted a strong stagger, to tear through its abdomen.
Better than I expected.
Silvanos's Breath was a better skill than he had anticipated.
It was freely usable and, at the same time, held boundless potential.
It was a skill that could do anything, depending on the caster's ability.
I wonder if this is possible.
At that moment, a glint appeared in Yuhyeon's eyes.
The description had clearly stated that it could also be used on oneself.
I won't know until I try.
Tap!
Yuhyeon kicked off the ground and leaped into the air.
He flew toward the two remaining mantises like a moth to a flame.
Y-Yuhyeon!
Grrr? Grrrr?
Confusion colored the gazes of both Kain and the mantises.
To leap right into the enemy lines!
Like stepping on a solid surface.
But there was no hesitation in Yuhyeon's eyes.
He had no intention of dying; quite the opposite.
In that brief moment while he was airborne from his leap.
Now!
Yuhyeon's palm opened.
His target wasn't a mantis, but his own feet.
You have used Silvanos's Breath.
Whoosh!
The wind released from his palm shot toward his feet.
Simultaneously, a familiar notification rang in his ears.
Ting!
You have obtained a hint for Wind Step!
Increasing your proficiency will allow you to learn the skill 'Wind Step'!
It actually works.
Yuhyeon murmured with a slight smile.
As if he were treading on solid ground, he stepped on thin air.
Bash!
Yuhyeon's sword came crashing down hard on the mantis's head.