Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 168
>Chapter Title: Descent of the Thunder Dragon
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>They say it all depends on one's mindset.
The effect of that resolute determination was tremendous.
[Using Thunder Dragon Descent.]
----!!
Thunder roared as if tearing the sky apart, and a bolt of lightning in the shape of a dragon flashed down.
The Thunder Dragon truly descended, sweeping through the surrounding area.
Pajijik— Pajik—
The Forest Troll King, standing there twitching like an electrified rotisserie chicken, feeling the electricity course through it.
And the residual current flowing through the area was dealing continuous damage to the Troll King.
[Field Boss, 'Forest Troll King' health is below 30%.]
[Field Boss, 'Forest Troll King' takes damage from the electric field.]
But more than anything, it was Do-hyun who felt invigorated.
Pajik—
His hair and body, dyed pure white like a lightning bolt, with sparks crackling around him.
It was a sight that stirred a man's romantic soul, an appearance truly worthy of legendary grade.
"Whoa……!!"
"This is that legendary skill? Amazing."
Having used Thunder Dragon Descent, there was no intention of dragging things out.
Do-hyun gritted his teeth, his body feeling lighter, and ramped up his speed. An onslaught of attacks poured out at a speed incomparable to before.
Kr, Krroooar!
Seogeok, Puk puk! Kwadeuk!
He kicked with his feet, slashed with his sword, then stabbed repeatedly at the heart with his sword transformed into a dagger.
He used Backstab to slip behind and pierce a vital spot, and when the monster turned around, he used Thunder Teleport to return to the front and grab it from behind again.
Peopeopeopeok!
And another barrage of attacks rained down.
"Kya! Look at that clean, refreshing combo."
"Man…… Kaiser live ticket? I was so jealous of those Sargis guys, but not anymore!"
"Using a legendary skill—he's totally toying with it. First time a monster looks pitiful."
Naturally, cheers erupted at the flashy combat.
"Waaaaaah!!!"
"So cool, oppa!"
"Kyaaak!"
"Muksaek-colored Kaiser!"
Among them were Hyun-ah and her friends.
They went absolutely wild at his even more dazzling movements.
"Tsk……."
"He's gonna solo it. Sigh. What do we even report now."
"We have to report something. Of all people, Kaiser…… Guild master’s gonna flip."
The Hero Guild guys watched with dissatisfaction, reporting somewhere, but none of that registered right now.
It hurt more seeing those guys praising Kaiser without knowing it was Do-hyun.
Krroooar! Krroa!
No matter how it rampaged, it couldn't touch him—like an impenetrable wall.
Perhaps enraged by that, the Troll King let out a desperate wail as if in agony. Do-hyun nodded watching it.
'Feels rough, huh? Me too.'
Finally, unable to endure, the Troll King spun like a top.
[Perfectly successful parry!]
[Fully deflected Rage Spin Slash.]
[Inflicted status ailment 'Electrocution.']
[Field Boss, 'Forest Troll King' is stunned for 1 second.]
Do-hyun, as if waiting, parried the pattern and landed a counter. Messages popped up.
'It triggered.'
An extremely low probability—usually in the decimal places.
You had to hit fifty times normally, and if unlucky, even a hundred without it proccing. Lucky this time.
[Reusing Backstab.]
[Mark disappears.]
[Can deliver a powerful blow proportional to the mark.]
[Target is in Electrocution state. Thunder Dragon Descent effect applies extra damage on attack.]
Without hesitation, Do-hyun triggered the mark with Backstab and plunged a strike into its heart.
Krroooooaaar!!
A guaranteed critical hit exploded, electricity spraying everywhere as it screamed.
[Defeated Field Boss, 'Forest Troll King.']
[Harvest Forest Troll King's Essence Orb?]
[Recorded in the Book of Adventures.]
[Level up.]
[Swordsmanship proficiency increased.]
[Swordsmanship proficiency reached Lv18.]
Its death cry.
The battle ended for the two men who had suffered like zoo monkeys amid the spectators.
'Huh? Master, not checking the harvest?'
'I’ll check later. Let’s bounce quick.'
Normally, Do-hyun would fuss over rewards excitedly, but trying to leave immediately puzzled Jihad. No choice.
He just wanted to get out of there ASAP.
But unfortunately, he couldn't.
"Kaiser-nim!"
"Just one handshake? It's my lifelong dream!"
"That fight was incredible. Please, just one autograph…… No, a photo together!"
"Hey, you might get sliced if you rush like that? Heard he's merciless……."
"After that fight, how can a Church of Kaiser member not ask for a signature! I'd die happy for Kaiser-nim! That'd be an honor!"
A massive crowd surrounded Do-hyun.
Worse, amid the cheers, Doo-hyung, Jae-yeol, and the others were there too.
Do-hyun, lacking the confidence to face them, considered using Backstab to escape.
Tadadak.
A very familiar silhouette pushed through the crowd.
The mage's signature pointed hat, ornate robe, cute mid-length hair.
A woman hiding demonic intentions behind a bunny-like appearance.
"Um…… Kaiser-nim."
It was Kang Hyun-ah.
Hyun-ah approached and, with a shy expression Do-hyun had never seen, cautiously held something out.
"Could you…… sign this?"
One word slipped out without passing through his brain.
"What the fXck……."
"……Pardon?"
The sibling DNA was too strong to hold back against his shy little sister's autograph request.
* * *
In front of countless people.
A disaster unfolded where he cursed outright at a girl asking for an autograph, but thankfully, it was smoothed over.
"……Huh? I didn't hear."
"……Nothing. Sorry, but log-out time's approaching, so I have to go."
In the noisy chaos, his muttered curse didn't reach Hyun-ah properly.
No way the other users heard. Thanks to that, he escaped using connect time as an excuse.
'Jong-hyun, Doo-hyung…… didn't know they'd cling so stubbornly…….'
The problem was his friends.
Others gave up quick, but those two begged persistently.
In the end, he had to scribble a quick signature for one.
-Wow!! Thank you so much. I'll treasure it!
-Wow, so jealous……
Thinking of the thrilled recipient and envious onlookers brought a hollow laugh.
'They'd freak if they knew it was me.'
What would their reaction be?
Probably try to fold him in half?
Do-hyun nodded after a moment's thought.
'Hmm.'
Ignorance is bliss.
Might as well keep it a thorough secret now.
Anyway, time to move past this bittersweet fiasco.
[Forest Troll King's Claws x2]
[Forest Troll King's Concentrated Blood x1]
[Forest Troll King's Hide x1]
'As expected, just junk.'
Do-hyun clicked his tongue checking the earlier harvest.
No first-clear bonus, total garbage.
Come to think of it, no proper gear ever dropped without first-clear guarantee.
That realization soured his mood, but whatever.
[Forest Troll King's Fang x1]
Not the first time, and he got what he wanted.
'Leveled up too.'
Unexpected level gain—now at 59.
Remaining materials: 3 Red Maple Rootleaves and 5 Blue Leaves.
[Remaining Play Time: 01:05:17]
1 hour 5 minutes left.
Barely an hour.
Had to hurry gathering. Too tight to search the whole field solo.
But fine—good idea struck.
"Jihad. Summon the undead."
-Yeah. For hunting?
"No, for something else."
-Something else?
Jihad perked his ears curiously, so Do-hyun explained.
Eyes gleaming at the end.
-Oh, that's smart? Come to think of it, I used them like that before too.
-Good idea, my lord. Your insight never fails to impress.
-Rizariza! Riza!
-Right, Eliza. That's how you found it too.
-Riza!
With Charlie and Eliza fully on board, Jihad summoned mana without hesitation.
Twelve undead summoned.
Tak tak…… Tak…….
Pain led the vanguard, greeting after ages.
But chaos erupted immediately.
-Hey, dude. I'm your lord, right? Why keep greeting the master?
Tak…… Ttakak…….
-Oh? Ignoring me? Master, can I discipline it now?
Ttak.
-Kyaak!
Pain and Jihad bickered as always.
Jihad exploded, jumping mad begging, but Pain scoffed dismissively.
As if saying, "Think our lord would grant that?"
Fascinating how a skull showed expression, but anyway.
'Needs some discipline.'
Not Do-hyun's direct concern, but lord-vassal relations mattered.
Amusing now, but in war, lax discipline was fatal.
Disobeying command meant no longer a subordinate.
Do-hyun hadn't fanatically elevated Jihad as first familiar for nothing.
'As long as I'm here, low chance…… But better eliminate it with Jihad as direct superior.'
Decision made, Do-hyun casually said,
"……Do as you like."
-Huh? For real?
……Ttakak?
Surprised?
Even the requester Jihad double-checked. Do-hyun nodded readily, brightening Jihad noticeably.
Pain froze like a glitched robot in shock.
-You're done for. I'll show you discipline.
Tak…… Ttakak…….
Do-hyun smirked at the two's instant mood swing.
"Alright, let's start."
-Rager!
At Jihad's gesture, undead scattered everywhere.
The full-scale search began.
* * *
Do-hyun's idea was simple.
Use Jihad's undead for the search.
Nothing beats manpower for scouting, right?
Not every Necromancer could do it.
Those who could fight and scout would be explorer wannabes.
But Jihad's undead?
[Acquired Red Maple Rootleaf.]
[Acquired Blue Leaf.]
'Figured high AI might work, and it does.'
Inferred from their quirky combat and self-sufficiency.
As expected, they scouted excellently.
[Truth's Eye activates.]
Worse—or better—with Truth's Eye added, scouting power went insane.
Tell positions, they fetched instantly.
Finished in 30 minutes thanks to that.
Meanwhile, by Do-hyun's side……
Tak! Tak! Ttakak! Tak!
-Hey! Louder! Bigger!
Ttakak! Ttadadak!!
-Form's sloppy! Do it right!?
Pain duck-walking while taking heat, and ultra-strict drill sergeant Jihad's booming voice echoed.
A cheerful alert mirrored Jihad's mood.
[Guardian 'Jihad Black' thoroughly enjoys guardian-appropriate actions and feels great.]
[Loyalty greatly increased.]
[Loyalty: 75 / 100]
'Wow…….'
Words failed Do-hyun. He just admired.