Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 135
>Chapter Title: Divine Beast
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 135
>135.
>Divine Beast.
>A spirit being possessing advanced intelligence and mystical power, not some mere monster.
>The pinnacle of the Guardian category and the ultimate goal for all Tamers, divine beasts were all noble existences without exception.
‘They classify Jihard as a divine beast, but... it’s kinda iffy to call it a real one.’
Jihard was just a unique irregular existence.
>True divine beasts were supposed to boast powers beyond human comprehension.
>After all, they were beings that had lived for at least hundreds of years, and sometimes thousands.
‘Like the Azure Dragon or White Tiger.’
Even they were only upper-tier among divine beasts, not the absolute top, so one could only imagine.
>Even the Empire's NPCs showed them respect.
‘Now I’m fighting a divine beast, of all things.’
That was why he’d never imagined a day would come when he’d have to battle one.
>And this wasn’t just any divine beast. It was the ancient king’s divine beast. No detailed info since it was his first encounter, but as the ancient king’s companion, there was no way it was weak.
Somehow, it had felt too easy compared to the secret dungeon’s notorious reputation.
[Arlagini]
>-Title: Ancient Divine Beast
>-Type: Serpent
>-Characteristics: Currently sealed.
>-Description: The shed skin of a divine beast that has lived for an incredibly long time since ancient days.
>It was the guardian spirit at the king’s side, possessing mystical power, a sturdy body, and venom.
>However, as it is shed skin and not the true body, it cannot use its mystical powers and cannot exert its full strength.
At least the game wasn’t completely heartless.
>That massive entity wasn’t a complete divine beast—it was just the shed skin of one.
Even so, facing the ancient king’s guardian divine beast one-on-one at this stage would basically be telling him to die.
Of course, that didn’t mean the situation was fair now, either.
Thud.
Even as mere shed skin, the pressure it exuded was overwhelming.
>The Destroyer Gaimon had at least been a matchable size, but this thing turned it into a kaiju showdown.
>It reminded him of the Bound Iron Blood Wyrmspawn in terms of sheer scale.
Hiss—
The creature flashed its golden reptilian eyes.
>Its gaze seemed somewhat cloudy, almost corpse-like, which only made it creepier.
>Its tongue flicked out, and it felt like one mistake would send him straight into that massive maw.
And that was just the start. Each of those black scales was larger than Do-hyun’s face.
>At that point, sealed or not, its physical prowess alone could probably crush anything in its path.
‘This insane game... why’s the scale always like this?’
Whenever it tied into the main quest, the difficulty went berserk.
>He’d forcibly pulled forward a main quest that wasn’t supposed to happen for another three years, so maybe it was inevitable—but even accounting for that, this was insane difficulty.
‘The devs who made this main quest need their brains dissected.’
It was enough to make curses spill out naturally, but Do-hyun forced himself to think positively.
‘Stay calm. It’s not all bad.’
Demlock, God Ose, LuckXTrashGame—whatever you called it, one thing was certain.
>High risk, high return.
>The bigger the risk, the bigger the reward, so taking down a monster like that was bound to yield insane loot.
[Thousand Changes transforms into ‘Brilliant Taksinel’s Blue Sword.’]
‘Yeah, let’s do this.’
He’d already gotten plenty out of this.
>Even if he failed to clear it, there’d be no loss—but who knew?
>Slaying this thing might net him legendary rewards!
He wasn’t about to pass up this one-of-a-kind chance for some slim “maybe.”
Thud!
First strike wins!
Sticking to that ironclad rule, he charged. Arlagini whipped its body around.
Krrrrch—
A simple tail swipe.
>But that alone tore up the ground.
[Using Backstab on Arlagini.]
>[Mark created.]
Clang!
He’d targeted its rear for a sneak attack, but piercing those tough scales proved impossible.
Still, it wasn’t zero damage, apparently.
Whoosh—!
Arlagini twisted its body violently.
>Despite its massive bulk, it contorted at impossible angles like a true serpent, and by the time Do-hyun recovered, it had coiled its body entirely around him.
Squeeze—
It tightened its coils.
>The sheer speed generated enough force to crumple steel.
But Arlagini’s expression wasn’t satisfied.
[Reusing Backstab.]
>[Mark removed.]
Do-hyun had barely escaped using Backstab.
>And right after, he’d stabbed it several more times, slightly damaging the scales.
Hiss—
Maybe Do-hyun’s dodging and harassing strikes were annoying it.
>Arlagini stopped moving and fixed its reptilian eyes on him.
Do-hyun was doing the same.
‘A little later on the timing, and I’d have been in danger.’
They said a graze could be fatal—this must be what they meant.
>He hadn’t taken a direct hit, but he was certain.
>If he’d been even a fraction slower and couldn’t use Backstab’s invincibility frame, it would’ve been a critical wound at best, death at worst.
This wasn’t empty fear-mongering.
[HP below 80%.]
Just the glancing shockwave had already shaved off 20%.
‘Gotta be careful.’
He couldn’t use Backstab again for 50 seconds.
>He’d have to dodge with Rush Slash or pure movement until then. The silver lining was that it didn’t move carelessly, either.
“...Jihard, Charlie.”
-Yes, my lord.
>-Got it! Come out, everyone!
At Do-hyun’s serious tone, Charlie stepped forward.
>Jihard immediately summoned black mana, calling forth eight undead from the ground.
[Guardian ‘Jihard Black’ summons undead.]
>[Summoning ‘Forest Red Goblin Undead x2, Forest Blue Goblin Undead x1, Orc Undead x3, Lycanthrope x2.’]
>[Legion Control treats them as a single entity.]
>[Over 50% of the legion’s undead are classified as lower city monsters. Mana consumption reduced.]
>[Using Dark Mantle on ‘Undead Legion.’]
Groooar— Groooar—
The odds flipped to 10-to-1 in an instant.
[Intruders... dangerous... eliminate...]
Arlagini, scanning them, grew excited and flicked its tongue, lunging forward.
But the undead were faster.
>They scattered, grabbing its tail and nape.
Hiss...!
Its strength lay in its flexibility generating explosive power.
>This was to prevent that.
Groooar—
The Lycanthropes excelled, especially.
>Clad in darkness, they gripped the nape with their thick arms.
-Master, got it!
>-Well done! Truly fine undead! Perfect material for a lord’s army!
>-Kehm!
Even in the chaos, Charlie didn’t miss a chance to praise as he charged and swung his sword.
Do-hyun did the same.
It was restrained, but its size meant imperfect holds, so he had to hit-and-run.
But that was enough.
[Using Sword Aura.]
>[Using Dark Mantle on Thousand Changes.]
>[Using Striking.]
Stab, clang—!
Do-hyun, never missing his damage angles, layered triple buffs. The sensation was definitely different from before.
‘It’s chipping away bit by bit.’
Not criticals, but damage was landing solidly.
It was prime free damage time—like sweet honey—but sadly, the sweetness didn’t last.
Shrieeeek—!
Groooar!
As he and Charlie alternated strikes and retreats, the thrashing Arlagini grew furious and spun its body wildly.
The undead couldn’t withstand the force and scattered like leaves.
Thud—!
[Forest Red Goblin Undead unsummoned.]
>....
>[Forest Blue Goblin Undead unsummoned.]
The weaker goblin undead couldn’t handle it and were unsummoned.
>Even the bulkier orcs and Lycanthropes were slammed into walls, groaning, but as higher-tier units, they recovered quickly.
Groooar!
They rejoined the fight.
Thus, as the undead drew aggro as much as possible, Charlie and Do-hyun took turns landing hits repeatedly.
Shrieeek—!!
Finally, the beast’s movements grew larger.
>Ripping through the dungeon with its massive body was a weapon in itself, but conversely, Do-hyun’s expression grew calmer.
The bigger the opponent’s movements, the easier they were to predict.
‘It’s getting familiar now.’
He’d been fighting small enemies lately, so adapting to this colossal monster took a moment at first.
But now, it was crystal clear.
>When attacks came, how far to retreat for a hair’s-breadth dodge.
>Where to stab for maximum effect.
Shwick! Swish!
With all traits sealed, relying solely on physical prowess—this giant serpent was no longer a threat to Do-hyun.
Especially with the legion and Charlie pulling aggro.
-Splendid, my lord!
Groooar!
It no longer let the undead grab it, but they still held its attention plenty.
-Liza! Liza liza!
>“Yeah, you did great too, Ellyza.”
Ellyza, riding on Do-hyun’s shoulder, was firing webs, which must’ve been a nightmare for the beast.
Flick— Stab!
[Arlagini’s health below 70%.]
>[Mana below 50%.]
‘Tough bastard.’
The problem was its durability exceeded expectations.
>Even spamming Sword Aura like mad, he’d only whittled 30%.
>In terms of health alone, it topped every boss he’d faced.
‘Mana’s gonna run out first at this rate.’
[Grace of Holy Light increases mana recovery by 200%.]
The Holy King’s Crest kept him afloat with regen, but continuing like this would bottom him out eventually.
‘No good.’
From here, pacing was key.
>He could dodge easily, but a drawn-out fight with low mana would make capturing it impossible.
>One solid hit from a mistake, and the tables would turn.
He needed to land a big one first.
“Charlie.”
-Yes, my lord! Ne-noom! Gap on this side!
Do-hyun signaled his decision, and Charlie seamlessly understood, charging in.
Charlie’s sword was markedly different from before.
Flash—
A blade radiating brilliant light, brimming with power.
[Guardian ‘Charlie’ uses Sword of Light.]
It was the same sword from their first reunion.
Hiss—!
Sensing the threat instinctively?
>Arlagini’s cloudy eyes fixed on Charlie as it swiftly coiled defensively.
That posture protected all vitals—except one spot.
‘Now.’
When it coiled, its lowered head inevitably exposed the rear.
[Reusing Backstab.]
>[Mark removed.]
>[Can deliver a powerful blow.]
Using Backstab then?
Sw...ish?
The most vulnerable spot for any living thing.
Do-hyun appeared before Arlagini’s eyes, grinning as he swung. Sword Aura flared from his blade, blue energy surging forth.
Fwoosh—!
The energy took form.
>An elegant creature.
>A peacock.
[Using ‘Blue Peacock’ of Brilliant Taksinel’s Blue Sword.]
>[Delivering powerful blow proportional to stacked mark damage.]
The second option of Brilliant Taksinel’s Blue Sword.
>The moment it activated.
Shwaaa—!
A massive blue peacock over 3 meters unfurled its wings and flew at the beast.
-Wow...
>-Ooh...
Even Jihard and Charlie were momentarily entranced by its grace.
In his days as vice-commander of the great Lyre Holy Knight Order, the blue peacock—symbol of Taksinel—had descended here.
-Hup!
But only for a moment.
Charlie snapped back and swung his Sword of Light.
Sword of Light from behind, enhanced Blue Peacock from the front. Caught between, Arlagini froze in a pincer.
Boom—!
A massive explosion erupted.
Shrieeek—!!
A pained screech rang out with the message.
[Arlagini’s health below 50%.]
It pierced the sturdy defense, shaving off 20% in one go.
>The sheer power made it forget to coil, toppling over.
Impressive on its own, but sadly for the beast, one more shot remained.
[Using Sword Aura - Severing Strike.]
The pinnacle of Sword Aura: Severing Strike!
>Do-hyun’s highest burst skill.
Dark Mantle-clad Severing Strike aimed at its eye—as he brought it down.
Ding—
‘...Huh? Ding?’
Do-hyun froze at the sudden cheerful alert.
A message appeared.