Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 41
>Chapter Title: The Two Paths of the Necromancer
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There are two paths for a Necromancer.
The commander Necromancer and the burst Necromancer.
Commonly called Zeke and Burstcro—though not their official names—people used those terms because they were easy to say.
The steady, high DPS from safely commanding numerous undead, including high-tier ones, was Zeke's strength, while Burstcro's was their burst damage potential.
And the skill responsible for that burst was Corpse Explosion.
It was a cheat skill that could erase all mistakes with just one well-timed explosion, even after taking hits the whole time.
That was why people called Burstcro a one-trick pony with Corpse Explosion.
‘But that’s all it is.’
On the flip side, it also meant they were nothing without Corpse Explosion.
A character that could become either a total cheat job or utter trash depending on whether the explosion landed—a notoriously finicky class.
That was why Do-hyun never dropped his guard the moment he saw the enemy use Corpse Explosion.
‘With specs like that, one hit would kill me.’
No matter how high his stats, Do-hyun couldn’t survive a hero-grade named boss’s Corpse Explosion.
It was easiest to think of it as an instant-kill pattern.
An instant-kill in Raven, where only level 24 and below existed... It was a boss that desperately needed a difficulty patch, but by Do-hyun’s standards, this was tame.
‘Later on, there are patterns where players have to die for the raid to progress.’
And that wasn’t all. Some forced unavoidable deaths.
Compared to Demolock, it was tame, but bosses like that were common even in God Ossay...
So instead of complaining, Do-hyun devised a strategy.
Since it was going to use Corpse Explosion anyway, he’d force it at a timing of his choosing—putting the enemy in a situation where it had no choice but to use its ultimate.
Sure enough, after a bit of taunting to make it seem dangerous, it used Corpse Explosion like it had been waiting.
[The mark disappears.]
Do-hyun had lured it by timing the Backstab Mark’s duration—something it couldn’t even imagine.
A burst Necromancer without Corpse Explosion?
It was too weak to win even if it wanted to.
It had lost most of its undead assets—the bulk of its power—and now its ultimate was gone too.
And if it gave up close range against a melee fighter?
It just had to take every hit.
[You land a critical strike.]
“Gueeeek! W-Wait a sec... Krhek!”
...Like right now.
Thwack! Slash!
[Krk! Krheuk!]
And that for a full four-minute cooldown.
Four minutes was plenty for Do-hyun. Enough time to use Backstab four more times.
With most of its undead spent, Jihad could only get beaten like a dog on a hot summer day.
This was the fate of a Burstcro who whiffed its explosion.
It was also why, despite having top-tier burst among all classes, most chose the Zeke path.
“C-Corpse Expl... Keuk!”
Smack!
“W-Wait just...”
Thud! Thud-thud!
“A-Ah! Bones! Bones are cheating!”
Slash—stab! Crack!
“Y-You’ll pay for... Kuek! G-Gently, please...”
At first, Jihad desperately hurled and detonated its remaining corpses in a frenzy, but Do-hyun wasn’t one to eat blind attacks.
Beaten as easily as breathing, the once dignified and aloof Jihad had become more servile than anyone.
...Who’d believe the one whining about bones was a hero-grade named boss?
‘First time for a boss like this.’
Even Do-hyun was encountering one now.
This was a survivor of the great Black Tribe?
He didn’t know exactly what they did, but anyone seeing this would be floored.
‘Weird.’
Do-hyun beat it even harder, suddenly hating the sight of it, but deep down, he couldn’t quite accept it.
More precisely, he had questions.
‘Is this really hero-grade?’
Sure, he’d planned and executed his strategy well.
The explosion’s power was no joke—enough to one-shot even a typical level 50 player if it hit.
Maybe even higher.
Its quick cast time was faster than a normal explosion, so without Backstab’s cooldown, he’d have been dead.
And with that curse orb flying around, if cornered in darkness and exploded, escape would be impossible.
‘I get that, but...’
Even accounting for it, it was weak.
Tough for a solo level 24 player, sure, but was this really a hero-grade named boss in Beden?
It felt easier than a field boss if you knew the strategy.
Do-hyun pondered this but didn’t stop swinging his sword.
Thud! Crack!
Slash—stab!
“Kuwek! Kyaak! Krheuk!”
Beat it down, slash and stab.
[The mark disappears.]
[You land a critical strike.]
Chase escapes with Backstab and pour on the burst.
After repeating this several times.
[The secret dungeon boss, ‘Jihad Black’s HP has fallen below 30%.]
[Phase 2 begins.]
[The trait ‘Bloodline Factor’ activates.]
Do-hyun froze for the first time at the messages.
And in that instant.
“Khehe... Kehehhe...”
The groveling Jihad laughed for the first time.
The atmosphere shifted.
Swoooosh—.
Black mist thicker than its skin rose up.
The black smoke spreading from every pore reeked of danger at a glance.
[I’ve been waiting for this moment...]
Its voice cracked like rusted iron scraping.
Its glowing green eyes turned pitch-black, nearly invisible unless you looked closely.
It looked like a single mass of goblin-shaped darkness.
[I haven’t fully refined it yet... but no choice...]
The confident Jihad showed no trace of its prior servility.
It had reason to.
[Jihad Black is awakening the bloodline factor latent in its body.]
[The bloodline factor is incomplete. It cannot exert full effects.]
[Upon completion, Jihad’s tier will rise.]
Tier elevation.
In fantasy terms, an upgrade to the being itself—in this case, its grade.
At least one step up, though how much was unknown.
‘Hero+...’
Minimum hero+ grade.
The gap between hero and hero+ wasn’t just one grade.
Exaggerating, it was like river versus ocean—a vast chasm.
Raids requiring full teams started at hero+.
Even Do-hyun couldn’t guarantee victory if that trait activated.
Given this was a solo dungeon, the system basically forced failure upon activation.
[While awakening the bloodline factor, Jihad Black enters a focused state, boosting its stats.]
[Health regeneration increases.]
[Defense increases.]
[Magic resistance increases.]
Yeah, if it activated.
“Invest 20 in Strength.”
[Strength +20.]
[Strength has exceeded 100.]
Now Do-hyun’s stats broke 100.
Precisely 110 Strength.
Even ignoring other stat rewards, it was insane.
A normal player needed level 40 for that with balanced distribution.
Factoring in his other stats and points, Do-hyun had even more potential.
‘Ended up Strength-heavy somehow, but...’
With Agility at a solid 71, the balance wasn’t bad.
Perfect for pounding a stationary punching bag.
[W-What the...! What is this absurd change?!]
Did it sense the shift in Do-hyun’s aura from the stat boost?
Jihad’s fancy tricks were backfiring now.
Better to take hits unaware than knowing they were coming.
Defense boost?
Health regen up?
[Warrior Set applies.]
[7% additional damage to Goblin-type enemies.]
[Fury effect deals 10% extra damage to bosses.]
[Level 10 Swordsmanship proficiency boosts sword damage by 10%.]
‘Everyone’s equal before DPS.’
He didn’t care about the original strategy anymore.
He was about to execute the best one.
Step-step.
[D-Don’t come closer...!]
Was Jihad’s face paling at the approaching Do-hyun an illusion?
[Ah... Aaaah...]
Feeling its pitch-black skin lighten slightly, Do-hyun reached out.
A graceful sword arc pierced Jihad’s throat, and soon, a goblin’s agonized scream echoed through the hideout.
* * *
[You have defeated the secret dungeon boss ‘Jihad Black.’]
[You have cleared the secret dungeon: Black Goblin Warlock’s Hideout.]
[First clear of a secret dungeon amplifies rewards.]
[Recorded in the Book of Adventures.]
[Hidden achievement unlocked.]
[Swordsmanship proficiency increases.]
[Swordsmanship proficiency has reached LV11.]
[Dagger proficiency increases.]
[Dagger proficiency has reached LV6.]
[Level up.]
Do-hyun sighed amid the flood of messages.
“Wow... That was close.”
30 seconds... no, 10 more and the bloodline factor would’ve activated.
It was that tight.
He’d even debated pumping more into Strength mid-fight due to its massive defense spike.
‘They made this for level 24 and below?’
Even a Strength-Agility sword build needed level 40.
And with Do-hyun’s extra damage effects, maybe even 40 couldn’t brute-force it.
Absurd even after clearing it, but Do-hyun succeeded anyway.
“Krk...”
The rewards were sweetly worth it.
Level up, Swordsmanship that wouldn’t budge finally rose, and even Dagger proficiency increased.
‘Would’ve been nice if Devour triggered too.’
Same goblin type as before, so no Devour—regrettable.
He’d hoped the Black Tribe bit might allow it, but the system was merciless.
Asking for that too would be greedy, so...
‘Rewards! Let’s check the rewards.’
First clear of a newly discovered secret dungeon.
A hero-grade one at that—the quality would be top-notch.
[First clear guarantees a boss-related equipment item drop.]
[Additional 30% drop rate applied.]
And guaranteed first-clear gear!
Plus 30% drop rate.
‘Please be hero-grade!’
He wouldn’t normally hope, but this time he could!
It’d be weirder not to!
[Harvest Jihad Black’s Essence Orb?]
“Yeah.”
Essence Orb.
Like with the Warrior and Chieftain, it appeared post-boss—a random reward box, basically.
He accepted without hesitation, and the orb’s light scattered like fireflies.
Items appeared.
[Obtained Black Goblin Warlock’s Wraith Orb, Trace of the Forgotten Tribe, Black Goblin Warlock’s Robe, and Jihad Black Card as rewards.]
“Wow...”
Do-hyun, expecting no more, checked the rewards with excitement.