Chapter 43
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Parched Land of Flames
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Park Chan-ki, using the nickname Akira, emerged from the capsule.
Forcibly, at that.
Fuck What the hell is this?
He thought things would go smoothly, but what was this?
Park Chan-ki had come out of the dungeon conquest five hours ago.
After waiting over a week for his turn, he finally got in, only to fail to gather the quest materials.
So, he came up with the idea of taking over the dungeon.
But the moment he checked that the transfer rights were going for 50 gold, he cleanly scrapped the plan.
He only had 19 gold.
Cant even splash some cash
The surest way to get gold was to pay real money.
About 10,000 won per gold, so 50 gold would cost around 500,000 won.
The problem was that Park Chan-ki had no money.
Hed blown all his part-time job earnings on weapons and armor from the cash shop lately.
His friends who hung around together were in the same boat.
So, he thought of forcibly seizing the transfer rights.
He called his friends to execute the plan, and they loitered near the dungeon, waiting for an opportunity.
It didnt take long before a user walked up to the dungeon and started waiting.
A low-level Martial Artist, level 51 at that.
He looked like a total newbie oblivious to the ways of the worldperfect for scamming.
Just in case there was no reservation, Park Chan-ki approached and subtly probed if the dungeon was booked.
As expected, it was reserved.
Not trading.
He offered 10 gold, but the cold response was the best he got.
Hed tried to play nice, but that pissed off Park Chan-ki.
So, he tried to intimidate him into handing over the rights.
But
Unbelievable
Park Chan-ki recalled the fight from moments ago.
The level 51 guys footwork was so flashy it was hard to follow with the eyes, and when the fist came flying, it felt like his breath caught in his throat.
Luckily, his Thief-class evasion skill let him dodge just barely, but after that, he didnt get a single chance to counter before getting beaten senseless and blacking out.
When he came to amid the intense pain, he was hit with a death penalty, and the capsule door opened.
No way he lost to that Martial Artist?
Vrrr
Stunned, he sat frozen in the capsule when his smartphone on the desk soon vibrated.
He dragged himself up and checked it.
The caller was Yoo Tae-yang, the friend whod helped with the intimidation.
Hello? Hey, what happened to me?
Holy shit That Martial Artist wiped the floor with us.
Ha Fuck, I got wrecked by a level 51 low-rank Martial Artist?
Park Chan-ki was a level 73 Assassin.
How the hell did he get completely owned by a Martial Artist 22 levels lower without landing a single proper counter?
Man, it couldnt be helped. That bastard wasnt normal
Not normal?
Yoo Tae-yangs words that followed made Park Chan-kis eyes widen more and more.
The others died too?
Not long after Park Chan-ki boarded the forced-logout train, the other three hopped on the same ride.
They couldnt land a proper counter either.
The problem was that the Martial Artist had appeared on WorldCom before.
Im checking WorldCom right now, and its definitely him!
A post with a video of an unjobchanged Martial Artist beating an instructor 1v1.
He booted up his computer and watched the video.
It was unmistakably that Martial Artist.
Wow Its really him.
The flashy footwork, the familiar fist techniques.
The video was auto-mosaicked, so no face was visible, but having taken the hits himself, Park Chan-ki was certain it was the same guy.
Fuck, we stepped in deep shit because of you.
Its over. Drop it.
Never mind.
After hanging up, Park Chan-ki replayed the posts video.
Hes seriously badass
How could a low-level Martial Artist pull off fist techniques like that?
This was the level of a martial arts grandmaster before even logging into the game.
He scrolled the mouse wheel to check the comments.
Pilgrimage to the holy site.
Whoa This is what it takes to win 1st in the capsule event lololol
Beat an Epic Saber for 1st place wtf;;
No way, same guy as the unjobchanged Martial Artist who took 1st in the capsule event?!
Plus love calls from countless guilds.
Several named guilds hed heard of were among them.
The thought of messing with that kind of Martial Artist gave him chills all over.
On impulse, Park Chan-ki posted on WorldCom.
Saw the Martial Artist who beat that instructor.
- Dude was insanely good. Fuck.
Phew, now I can breathe.
Ha-jin logged in after sweeping away the gang.
Damn, that took forever?
Hey, it was a big one. Big. Finishing in 15 minutes was hella fast.
Anyway, accept the party invite.
Roger.
With that, Jeong Hoon and Ha-jins two-man party was formed.
After about 30 minutes, the first two-man party returned.
Ha, that was fucking exhausting
Tell me about it.
Running a 3-4 man dungeon with just two was naturally draining.
Once they left the field, Jeong Hoon entered the portal.
Would you like to enter Lv.59 Parched Land of Flames?
He accepted, and Jeong Hoon and Ha-jins bodies entered the dungeon.
Party member level gap is significant.
Penalty applied.
Lv.59 Parched Land of Flames difficulty adjusted.
Entering Lv.105 Parched Land of Flames.
Parched Land of Flames.
Drought had hardened and cracked the ground, and the intense sunlight was scorching hot.
Gotta be at least 60 degrees.
Jeong Hoon roughly wiped the streaming sweat with his sleeve.
Ha-jin at Lv.159 had high enough stats to shrug off the heat, but Jeong Hoon was level 51.
Regardless of skill, adapting to this heat wasnt easy.
Hey, you good?
Ha-jin asked with a worried look.
Yeah.
Anyway, just hold out here. Ill take down all the monsters, so just land one solid hit on the boss. Got it?
With that, Ha-jin drew his sword and slashed hard at the Lv.105 Baby Uradon.
The level 159 sword strike felled the Baby Uradon sideways.
Ha-jin raised his sword and brought it down on the neck to finish it.
Whew, piece of cake.
No matter how legendary Jeong Hoons class and weapon were, hunting monsters 54 levels higher would be
Pewww!
In that instant, an arrow shot out and pierced the Baby Uradons neck.
Hit in the vitals, the Baby Uradon shuddered and dropped dead.
Huh?
Ha-jin blankly looked toward where the arrow came from.
Jeong Hoon was there, drawing his bowstring.
He released again, and the arrow pierced another ambushing Baby Uradons neck.
Whatre you doing? Hunt faster.
Uh Yeah. Got it.
Ha-jin nodded in a daze at the so-natural order.
What the hell is this guy? How is he
It wasnt just the class or weaponhis archery itself was insane.
Hed never seen Jeong Hoon touch a bow since elementary school.
No idea he was that good with it.
Gotta scratch that one solid hit thing.
Grrr! Humans, Ill kill you!
Two Baby Uradons charged at Ha-jin.
Not the time for daydreaming.
Snapping to, Ha-jin swung his sword wide.
The conquest went smoothly.
Having a level 159 Swordsman tanking up front sure makes it easy.
Hunting monsters over 50 levels higher wasnt simple.
Without the legendary weapon, it wouldve taken forever.
Got a questionwhered you learn archery?
Anima, whod been watching quietly, spoke up.
Dunno.
He couldnt say he learned from named Archers in his previous life.
Though he did remember peeking over their shoulders and mimicking their moves one by one.
That painstaking process built the All Master.
Hmm, dont wanna say, dont.
Anima shut up, apparently not one to pry.
Hoon. You okay?
Ha-jin shook the blood off his sword after cutting off the last Baby Uradons breath.
Yeah. Fine.
Man, you really are something else.
Lets head in.
They hadnt gained any EXP or items getting here, but the important part started now.
Uradon lurking in the boss zone.
Two horns from that guy would complete the quest.
Grr, humans. Youve got some guts.
Lv.110 Uradon.
Only 5 levels above Baby Uradon, but no room for carelessness.
Its original level was 64.
Its unique ability: Intimidation.
Intimidation lowered all stats of weaker foes.
Hey, Ill draw aggro.
Before it could use its ability, Ha-jin lunged first.
Its attention locked onto Ha-jin.
Ha-jin poured skills to pressure Uradon.
Kraaa!
Uradon uses Intimidation.
Uradon uses Stun.
Stun, huh.
Level adjustment pushed Uradon over 100, adding a new ability.
Ha, fuck.
Ha-jin froze, stunned.
Seeing it, Uradon charged with its head horns.
Ha-jin took the direct hit from the massive body and flew over 5 meters away.
That guy okay?
Anima asked Jeong Hoon, face more serious.
Hes fine.
Ha-jin was level 159.
No matter how high Uradons level got, that attack couldnt be fatal.
Ha, that hurt like a bitch. Youre dead.
As Jeong Hoon said, Ha-jin got up the moment stun wore off.
Hoo.
Anima nodded, convinced by the unscathed sight.
Ha-jin lunged again, pressuring Uradon.
With Intimidation and Stun on cooldown, Uradon panicked, barely defending.
Good.
Seizing the opening, Jeong Hoon drew his bowstring.
Martial Artist exclusive skill, Unyielding Will activates.
Acquired skill, Arrow Shot (Rare).
Unyielding Will fuses Arrow and Arrow Shot.
Acquired Critical Arrow.
A skill acquired after stacking vitals hits to a threshold.
Fused by Unyielding Will into Critical Arrow.
Perfect timing.
Jeong Hoons lips curved up.
Critical Arrow boosted arrow attack power and crit chance.
Even without perfect vitals, it dealt comparable damage with some probability.
Of course, he still aimed for vitals.
He released the string.
Pewww!
The arrow pierced Uradons neck as it blocked Ha-jins sword strike.
Kweeeek!
But Uradon grabbed the arrow in its neck and yanked it out.
Not going down easy, huh?
Anima furrowed his brow.
Its the boss.
Even aiming for vitals, nearly 60 level gap meant one shot wouldnt end it.
Jeong Hoon drew again.
Die! Die!
Enraged, Uradon charged Jeong Hoon.
Damn!
Ha-jin rushed to block, but Uradon was slightly faster.
Thatll kill me.
Unlike level 159 Ha-jin, Jeong Hoons defense was level 51.
One body slam from Uradon meant death.
So, end it before contact.
Calm Breath.
In the tense moment, Jeong Hoons breathing stayed even, no tremor in his drawing hand.
He released.
The arrow pierced Uradons neck again.
But this time, the reaction differed.
Black flames rose from the neck wound.
Kweeeek!
Uradon clutched its neck, screaming.
Soon, it toppled sideways, body convulsing.
You finish it.
Got it.
Plenty qualified for reward now.
At Jeong Hoons signal, Ha-jin raised his sword, slit Uradons throat, and wrapped up the conquest.