Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 29
>Chapter Title: Raven's Western Forest
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Chapter 29
>29.
>Raven's Western Forest.
>A hunting ground even NPCs avoided and warned against.
>Unlike the wide-open eastern plains, it was made up of dense woods that restricted visibility, crawling with not just goblins but hordes of massive insects.
>The monsters themselves were higher level, but that alone wasn't the issue.
>They weren't a different species or anything, and the giant insects were just tougher or trickier to catch—still manageable.
>The real problem was the forest terrain.
>Rustle-.
>"Th-there, it jumped that way! Catch it quick!"
>"Damn it, what kind of monster hides in rocks!"
>True to its title of another world, the AI was incredibly advanced, and instinct-driven monsters knew how to use the terrain.
>"Ugh! Above! Ambush from above!"
>"Arrows from the bushes! Form up quick!"
>"Underfoot! Centipedes underfoot!"
>Goblins, being ambush types, hid in bushes to fire poison needles and strike first, while giant insects used their traits to drop from trees or target backs from rock crevices.
>That alone made the difficulty bizarrely high.
>Already numerous monsters exploiting terrain for ambushes meant a single slip could send you straight to the afterlife.
>Thus, an unspoken rule emerged in the Western Forest.
>"Solo play in the Western Forest? Guy's gotta be nuts."
>"Listen up. You always run parties there. Doesn't matter if you're a hero god or geared to the teeth."
>"Four-man parties. Fill the slots completely, that's the word."
>Form parties of at least three.
>Ideally, run full four-man parties for safe hunting—that was common knowledge for any user stepping into the Western Forest.
>Of course, it didn't apply to everyone.
>"Well, if you don't feel pain even when hit and can one- or two-shot them with your DPS, then no need for backup."
>Defense to weather all that hassle, and DPS to match.
>With those two, terrain ceased to matter.
>The monster-infested Western Forest would turn into a true honey pot.
>"But is that even possible?"
>"No way in hell. Not unless you're a myth god with top-tier DPS traits, hero-grade skills, and rare+ items across the board."
>Of course, it was near impossible, so users compromised with reality and formed parties.
>No one wanted to die showing off and eat a death penalty.
>"Party up! Tank and two DPS waiting, healer come and we go!"
>"Need one melee DPS! Oh... a thief? Thieves are kinda..."
>"Will carry you to graduation~! Healer waiting!"
>That was why party recruiters overflowed at the west gate.
>In Arden, it was for benefits; here, for stable hunting.
>Whether you'd fast-leveled on east gate gear or barely scraped level 17, everyone here recruited parties.
>"Sigh, just need one healer... Damn, none around."
>"Healers aren't popular. Only good for party quests, tough to level, and honestly no fun."
>"Ha... Guess we'll add another sub-tank and go without."
>"Huh? Hey, check that guy."
>Users who wouldn't grasp it until it happened to them were everywhere.
>One recruiting party member nudged his buddy.
>"What?"
>"Poor moth count went up by one."
>"Oh, that again?"
>The annoyed buddy turned, saw a man striding confidently into the forest alone, and nodded in understanding.
>A sleazy smile crept onto his lips—not pity or greed for the moth, but something else.
>"There's always those types everywhere."
>It was blatant mockery, or scorn.
>A quick search showed soloing the Western Forest was suicide.
>Before that, NPCs warned you, and everyone formed parties right at the entrance.
>Yet this guy insisted on solo—his brain was obvious.
>"Even rankers partied here mostly, but he thinks he's special."
>"Well, maybe he's debuting as a BJ. 'Soloed Western Forest'—looks good, right?"
>I'm different from others.
>Hasn't shown anything special yet, but it's just lack of chance; I can do it.
>Either that baseless idiocy, or using this hunt to BJ debut and catch a guild's eye.
>"Well, everyone's got some grand plan."
>"Till they get smacked?"
>"Yep."
>One of the chuckling pair muttered offhand.
>"Well, who knows. Maybe he's a total cheat char with myth god and legend skills."
>Rebuttal came faster than ever.
>"Yeah, and I'm the apocalypse. No way."
>"Why not? Six months ago, one monster showed up."
>"Oh... But that guy's a total freak. Another like him? Nah."
>"True..."
>It was that absurd.
>Better odds it's just another clueless fool than a once-in-a-blue-moon genius.
>"Let's recruit faster."
>"Yeah, or we won't hit 20 today."
>So they ignored the man heading into the forest, forgetting him quickly.
>Thus, they couldn't imagine.
>That the man was still safely roaming inside.
>* * *
>Dense forest.
>Deep where no one ventured, a bloody battle raged.
>Goblins surrounded one man. Seemed hopelessly encircled, but he was relaxed.
>Kieek!
>Goblins lunged first after gauging him.
>But that instant.
>Stab-.
>Kieeek!
>He dodged lightly, thrust his massive greatsword, and the goblin shrieked in agony.
>Kirik! Kiririk!
>Fired up by the scream, goblins charged en masse.
>A dogpile erupted in seconds.
>And dominating it was the greatsword-wielding man.
>Swing- crack!
>Stab! Slash-.
>No big movements.
>Just minimal dodges or parries with the flat of the blade for incoming attacks.
>Then stab or slash.
>Any that closed in got their head yanked back, philtrum punched with middle finger cocked, then neck snapped.
>The motions flowed mechanically natural, and when exchange ended, three goblins lay dead.
>One-shot each.
>Ki, kirik!
>Goblins' faces filled with bewilderment.
>They'd faced plenty of humans here, but never one this brutally strong.
>Kirik!?
>How is this possible!
>They didn't speak human, but it sure looked like they were yelling it—not imagination.
>But it wasn't just startled cries.
>Shockingly, new goblins poked heads from bushes at the shrieks.
>Ambushers for potential situations.
>"Of course."
>Goblins puffed chests proudly seeing the head-shaking man.
>Kick. Kirikik!
>Grinning like they'd won.
>Fair, with four melee left and five ranged joining—tricky spot.
>For normal users, anyway.
>Pew- pew pew!
>Seeing arrows fly, Do-hyun twisted his greatsword.
>Ting- ting-.
>Arrows bounced off the flat, goblins prepped more.
>Melee goblins didn't idle, closing to disrupt arrow blocks.
>But Do-hyun was faster.
>"Hup!"
>He spun wide, hurling the greatsword at ranged goblins.
>Whoom-.
>Kieek!?
>Unexpecting weapon toss, they scattered in panic.
>But too late for one mid-shot.
>No dodge time—eyes wide, greatsword impaled its head, dropped dead.
>Kirik! Kaek!
>Ranged raged, but melee grinned sleazily.
>Weaponless now—good for them.
>Not just that.
>[Warrior Set effect released.]
>[Goblin freed from abnormal status 'Intimidation.']
>Kiririk!
>Oppressive pressure gone, confidence surged.
>Do-hyun smirked at their transparent faces, pulled something from inventory.
>Shing-.
>"Who said no weapon?"
>An axe.
>The 'Honest Axe God's Iron Axe' dropped from Kkouwemneodohe.
>'No need for Warrior Set anyway—one-shot kills.'
>Levels up or not, they were Red Goblin stock.
>Tougher than Raven Plains Blues? No.
>This axe sufficed.
>Rare-grade axe stunned melee goblins into frantic yells.
>Kick! Kirik!!
>Signal given, ranged reformed and loosed arrows.
>Poison needles maybe trouble, but arrows? Do-hyun blocked blindfolded, movements unhindered.
>Whoom-.
>Puk! Puk!
>Bursted into melee, grabbed one by throat as arrow shield, then
>[Weapon Master effect unlocks weapon restriction.]
>[Adventurer effect enables basic weapon skill.]
>[Used Axe basic skill 'Downward Strike.']
>[Forest Red Goblin defeated.]
>Slammed shield-goblin down, smashed another's pot-face—dropped in one.
>"Feels good."
>First time with axe, but impact satisfying.
>Hooked, Do-hyun rampaged, carving goblins.
>Arrows bounced off axe or meat-shielded allies; they couldn't stop, pure terror.
>Kirik......!
>Melee wiped in seconds, four ranged left.
>Panic, they fled.
>Why forest goblins sucked.
>Smart, used terrain well, knew when to bail.
>But.
>[Using Backstab.]
>With Assassin's top mobility, pathetic to Do-hyun.
>Kirik......?
>Ghosted behind, axe swing—head lopped clean.
>Probably died clueless.
>Do-hyun's eyes flicked fast.
>Two scattering different ways; greatsword by one.
>Whoom-.
>No hesitation, axe at opposite, dashed to grab greatsword, used Charge Slash.
>Crack!
>Slash-.
>[Forest Red Goblin defeated.]
>[Forest Red Goblin defeated.]
>[Axe proficiency risen to LV2.]
>Timing perfect—Charge Slash waist-cut as thrown axe dropped the other.
>All goblins cleared.
>But no relaxing yet.
>Shieeek-!
>Something huge targeted his back.