Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 37
>Chapter Title: Taking Down the Goblin Chieftain
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How many more of these sweet tips were hiding ahead?
Just thinking about it brought nothing but laughter.
He wanted to savor the thrill a bit longer, but sadly, that would have to wait.
Keeieeek!
[The dungeon boss 'Goblin Chieftain' is enraged.]
With his elite soldiers dead and the human he'd been about to kill vanishing into thin air, the Goblin Chieftain was livid.
Pounding his chest and letting out a roar, he looked less like a goblin and more like an orangutan.
...Now that he thought about it, swinging his fists without a weapon or fighting in that wild brawl style made him resemble a gorilla, too.
Maybe the boss was modeled after a gorilla.
'Not that it matters.'
Do-hyun set such rational musings aside and gripped his greatsword.
He didn't need the assassin's dagger just yet.
[Warrior Set is applied.]
[Inflicting status ailment 'Intimidation' on the Goblin Chieftain.]
[The enraged Goblin Chieftain resists 'Intimidation'. The effect of 'Intimidation' is nullified.]
[7% additional damage applied to Goblin type.]
What he needed was the greatsword to deliver even stronger burst damage.
'Still, it's a boss for a reason.'
The intimidation vanished pointlessly, but it wasn't completely ineffective.
Enraged by the sheer audacity of someone trying to intimidate him, the Goblin Chieftain's aura grew even more ferocious.
Which was probably why.
Pang!
The Goblin Chieftain charged first.
An explosive dash bursting from that bulky frame—who knew such springiness was possible?
That tank of a charge would slam anyone into the wall nine times out of ten if it connected.
But charges like that traded lateral mobility for speed and power.
The textbook play was to sidestep...
[Using skill 'Backstab'.]
[A mark is generated on the Goblin Chieftain for a set duration.]
...but Do-hyun chose attack over evasion.
The optimal path that combined both.
Kirik!?
Startled as Do-hyun vanished right in front of him, the Goblin Chieftain tried to halt, but his momentum won out, smashing him into the wall.
Kwaaang!
Kiruk....
Dust billowed with the deafening crash as the chieftain rose, clutching his head.
He'd clearly failed to rein in his speed and led with his skull.
[The Goblin Chieftain is afflicted with stun for 3 seconds.]
Three seconds.
Enough time to squeeze in one or two skills at best, but more than enough for Do-hyun.
Whoosh—paak!
He leaped straight into a flying knee kick, launching the chieftain's massive body into the air.
That flying knee, powered by 88 strength, made for a superb blunt weapon.
Kraaa!
Do-hyun steadied his breathing as the chieftain slammed into the wall once more.
Then came the barrage!
Pupupupupung!
'Two punches beat one sword swing in this scenario.'
For these brief preemptive flurries, quantity trumped quality.
A single greatsword strike hit harder, sure, but it couldn't compare to three punches.
[HP: 23,913 / 30,000]
[The Goblin Chieftain recovers from stun.]
Over 4,000 shaved off in a blink—Do-hyun rolled to the side and swung his greatsword without missing a beat.
Fresh from a beating and stun, the chieftain was shocked by the massive blade whistling in from his blind spot and threw up his arms on instinct.
He should've dodged, but no one makes rational calls against a sword materializing out of nowhere.
Paak—.
Kre eeeek!
Clutching his mangled wrist—likely shattered—the chieftain unleashed a guttural screech.
As expected of a boss: no severed limb, just a fracture.
Still, the agony looked brutal, tears and snot streaming in a pitiable mess, but Do-hyun offered no quarter.
Ppak!
Kieeek!
He brought the greatsword down on the wrist again.
An injured spot was always the prime target. Nothing inflicted pain quite like hitting it twice.
[HP: 16,434 / 30,000]
Now under 20,000 HP—did he sense something was off?
Ki...... Kiruk......!
Backing away for the first time, the chieftain shed his berserk orangutan vibe.
Bosses rarely fled like this, but the sheer agony had dredged up his suppressed 'Coward' trait over his thirst for vengeance.
His bulk let him widen the gap quickly, but Do-hyun just watched.
'Backstab.'
He could've closed it in one go anyway.
[Reusing skill 'Backstab'.]
[The next strike is enhanced proportional to the mark.]
Kieek!?
He'd clearly been fleeing, yet Do-hyun appeared behind him—the chieftain startled like he'd seen a ghost and fell flat on his rear.
Do-hyun jabbed his belly.
[Landing a critical strike.]
[Critical hit!]
Kueeeeeek!!
The scream dwarfed all before it.
Even Do-hyun winced at the volume, but the damage readout made it click.
[HP: 7,214 / 30,000]
'Whoa...... that much from one hit?'
Nearly 9,000 damage in a single blow.
Insane output, just as the critical promised.
Do-hyun's face twisted in disbelief.
'What a ridiculous cheat skill...... Doesn't this make assassin the top class?'
The thought flashed through his mind, but truth be told, it wasn't the skill that was broken—it was possible only because of Do-hyun's raw damage piling onto the mark.
He knew that full well.
Still, a gap existed between knowing and living it.
Kieek! Kiek!
Tears and snot flowing freely, the chieftain retreated.
A pathetic crawl, far from dignified, but terror stripped away any care for image.
Do-hyun's brief reverie gave the chieftain room to create distance successfully; he sprang up and slammed his fists together.
[Entering Phase 2.]
[Trait 'Selfish Defense' activates.]
[The boss 'Goblin Chieftain' ignores all physical attacks until sustaining a set amount of magic damage.]
Selfish Defense.
The ultimate counter to physical dealers—a trait so infuriating it drew curses on sight—finally triggered.
To the chieftain, Do-hyun screamed "swordsman," hence physical DPS.
Kirruk! Kiruk!
Did he think he'd won? A broad grin split the Goblin Chieftain's face.
That goblin smile, smeared with tears and snot, was profoundly repulsive and cunning.
"Seven thousand...... More than I figured. Makes this quick work, thanks to you."
Kiruk......?
Up until Do-hyun spoke.
He couldn't parse the words, but a coward's instincts were sharp.
An inexplicable dread bloomed at the sight of Do-hyun approaching with calm composure.
'Four bleeds? Or five?'
Selfish Defense normally kicked in at 50% HP.
Backstab had carved it down to 30%, slashing the work needed.
He'd braced for ten, but five ought to do it.
Sreung—.
[Using skill 'Bleeding'.]
[Next hit on target applies status ailment 'Bleeding'.]
"Let's see how deep it bites."
"Ki...... Kirruk......"
Was it imagination, or did the Goblin Chieftain eye the dagger with utter pathos?
Anyone witnessing the scene would've shaken their head.
* * *
[Defeated dungeon boss 'Goblin Chieftain'.]
[Cleared the dungeon.]
[Harvest the Goblin Chieftain's Essence Orb?]
[Harvest rewards: Goblin Chieftain's Sturdy Leather Belt, Goblin Chieftain's Leather, 2 Gold.]
[Recorded in the Book of Adventures.]
[Level up.]
[Dagger Mastery proficiency has increased.]
[Dagger Mastery has reached LV5.]
Do-hyun flicked the blood from his dagger and stowed it as he scanned the messages.
His expression lit up.
"Wow, bleeding damage exceeded expectations."
He'd banked on five at most, and exactly five bleeds took down the boss.
Pure bleeding damage, no less.
A massive feat.
Even with boss-level defense and self-heal, five stacks drained 7,000 HP.
'The power of bleeding stacks.'
High base stats, vital targeting, and accumulation—all synergized.
The Goblin Chieftain withered away over a full minute, unable to cancel his defense.
A pathetic end fitting a coward who'd abandoned his allies.
[Goblin Chieftain's Sturdy Leather Belt]
[Grade: Rare]
[Description: Leather belt worn by the Goblin Chieftain. Crafted sturdy enough to bear his hefty weight.]
[Level Limit: 20]
[Equip Limit: None]
[Physical Defense: 70]
[Magic Defense: 60]
-Strength +1
-Vitality +2
"Nice, solid reward. Items dropping like they should for once."
A rare belt on his second dungeon clear.
Top-tier luck in his gaming career—and a belt slot he liked, to boot.
'About time for an upgrade.'
His current one was a Goblin Leather Belt from a basic Arde quest.
Pathetic compared to his other rare+ slots.
Now every piece was neatly rare to rare+.
Do-hyun swapped it on without hesitation.
[Unequipping item: Vitality -1.]
[Strength +1.]
[Vitality +2.]
Net gain of +1 Strength and +1 Vitality—Do-hyun flashed a satisfied smile.
No further rewards, just the one drop.
'Too bad there wasn't a time limit.'
Time limits ranked clear speed in raids and dungeons.
Not every dungeon featured them.
Typically elite-grade bosses and up.
'Well, this was on the easy side.'
He'd milked Arde for rewards already, so no real loss—and all things considered, not bad.
PK skirmishes and power conservation had slowed him anyway.
First place was out of reach regardless.
And if he'd somehow snagged it, those backstabbers might've claimed the rewards.
'No way in hell.'
He'd never stomach rewards going to the guys who'd tried to screw him over.
Besides...
'Plenty of rewards left.'
Do-hyun grinned and stepped forward.
After about 30 meters, he stopped.
Three items lay there, glowing faintly.
He reached for the bulkiest one.
[Acquired player-dropped item.]
[Check the dropped item?]
Do-hyun grinned at the message and replied.
"Yeah."
Time to inspect the spoils from schooling those backstabbers.