Chapter 19: Dungeon Exploration (4)
TL: Hanguk
Currently, my level is 27.
With the effect of items added, my strength and agility are both 16, and my magic power is 14.
For battle skills, I have Magic Bullet, and for auxiliary skills, I have Leap, Intermediate Shield, and Intermediate Recovery.
The Intermediate Shield and Intermediate Recovery are built-in skills in my equipment, so I can only use them twice a day. I've already used them once each while breaking through the second floor of the dungeon.
There's no need to worry about a shortage of skills, though.
I have quite a few potions to cover that.
4 intermediate healing potions and 13 basic healing potions.
Intermediate Healing potions can instantly heal even if a bone is broken or an organ is cut, while the basic healing potions can instantly heal external injuries like cuts or punctures.
“Woof-woof is also a key force and is a companion who can fight with me.”
Woof-woof, who seems to have grown bigger since I first tamed it.
[Woof-woof (Grand Dire Wolf) / Level 15]
In Mongma’s Dungeon, Woof-woof leveled up five times.
Thanks to its help in hunting the Level 15 low-rank succubus and the Level 25 named succubus, Woof-woof was able to grow quickly.
Although it was difficult to face the Named Succubus, the presence of an ally that can attack the rear at any time puts pressure on the enemy, so it's a considerable force that can't be ignored.
"The sword feels a bit light though..."
I think I've prepared enough.
It'll be good if I succeed in one go, and even if I fail, as long as I don't die, it'll be helpful for the next attempt.
I swung my newly acquired Tieri Sword around to get used to the changed weight and put my hand on the boss room door.
[Time remaining for Clearing: 17 minutes 32 seconds]
[You will be forced to exit when the Clearing time ends during the boss challenge.]
[Would you like to enter the boss room?]
The system message popped up in front of me.
It seems like a warning message, concerned about the limited remaining attack time.
I feel like it's better since there's not much time left.
If things get tough, I just have to run around until the time expires.
“Let's go.”
-Grrr!
I walked straight into the boss room.
So far, the spaces inside the dungeon had a strong cave-like feel, but the boss room was a neat space that seemed to be created following Islamic architectural style.
The floor was covered with geometric patterns and tiles of strange colors.
The walls and ceiling were carved with patterns in stone.
In various places, there were incense burners that spouted white smoke, making the space seem like it was prepared for prayer.
[An intruder, huh?]
And then.
A clear Korean voice echoed in my head.
‘Ugh.’
It wasn't speaking through the mouth, but directly communicating thoughts into the head.
That feeling was so unpleasant that I frowned at the one who had spoken to me.
"Yes, I'm an intruder."
A woman was sitting in a chair in a corner of the room.
She slowly rose to her feet.
[Boss Succubus Kallia / Level: 30]
She was dressed in a way that reminded me of a priestess and wore a veil over her face.
Regular succubi were almost completely naked, and named succubi wore somewhat revealing but knight-like outfits.
But this ‘Kallia’ succubus in front of me was completely different.
There was no exposure at all, she was completely covered, and her clothes were quite voluminous.
[An aggressive man, huh.]
There's no need for pleasantries.
After all, she is a monster that needs to be killed, and there's no need to interact.
It was slightly uncomfortable dealing with a monster that I could talk to unlike before, but I didn't care.
I readied my sword for battle, and Woof-woof started moving to flank her.
[Well, fine. I'll take you on.]
And then, Kallia pulled out a long spear as if by magic from inside her voluminous robe.
The spear, which looked about 2 meters long, was much taller than she was.
'The succubi around here are all physical fighters except for their charm skills.'
I expressed my doubt as I looked at Kallia.
Her outfit looked like it would hinder her in combat, no matter how you looked at it.
'Well, it's better for me if the enemy is uncomfortable.'
I slowly approached her.
As it was my first time dealing with a spear, I was wary of its long reach.
But at that moment.
Kallia made a surprise move.
-Whoosh!
At first, it seemed like the spearhead was heading backward, Then, she swung it sideways like a whip.
It created an illusion as if the spear was coiled around her body and then unleashed.
-Clang!
I immediately reacted, charging into Kallia's personal space as a countermeasure.
'There's no need to confront the spearhead that's full of centrifugal force.'
The power at the inside of the spear would be weaker than at the end with its wide rotation radius.
So, I quickly closed in on Kallia and struck the middle of the spear with my sword, converting the recoil from the collision into my own strength.
The swinging spear's momentum significantly decreased, and my blade quickly slashed at Kallia's neck.
- Shing!
"Ugh!"
However, I didn't achieve my goal.
At some point, a dagger had flown directly towards my forehead.
'She even throws daggers?'
Startled, I quickly tilted my head, causing the path of my blade to deviate.
Thanks to this, Kallia also easily dodged my attack.
-Thunk!
And when I regained my senses, Kallia's elbow filled my vision.
Before I could react, her elbow struck my face.
“Ugh!”
I almost lost consciousness for a moment.
How strong was she? It felt like my face had been struck hard by a metal hammer.
-Smack!
-Thunk!
-Clink!
I managed to straighten my staggering body.
Fortunately, Woof-woof intervened and bought me some time. If her follow-up attack had continued, it would have been difficult to avoid.
"You, you hit hard."
Kallia smiled at my comment.
[You're pretty good too. To keep attacking in such a situation.]
My gaze fell upon her robe, which had a long tear on the shoulder.
At the same time as I was hit by Kallia, I had fired two magic bullets, and one had grazed her shoulder.
"Don't worry. I'll cut your throat next time."
The first clash could be considered my loss, but it didn't feel like I was being pushed back one-sidedly.
-Glance.
I slightly turned my head to check on Woof-woof's condition.
Perhaps startled by my magic bullet, Kallia hadn't dealt with Woof-woof properly.
Thanks to that, although Woof-woof had taken a hit, it didn't seem to have any problems continuing to fight.
-Swish!
Did she recognize my strength from our first clash?
Kallia changed her outfit, taking off her robe.
"Damn..."
Under the voluminous robe, she had been hiding a swimsuit-like battle suit that revealed her figure.
A suit that left you unsure of where to look.
'Somehow, I had a feeling it would be like this.'
If this were a game, it would have been an event scene where men would be cheering. However, I am too scared of her charm skill to take off my silhouette goggles.
I regret not being able to enjoy the best visual effects, but if I look at her with my naked eyes, I will die instantly, so I shook off any unnecessary imaginations.
-Woosh! Woosh!
She, now much lighter, changed her battle stance.
She didn't hold the end of the spear, but instead grabbed the middle and started twirling it.
Though the spear was much taller than her, it was amazing that it didn't touch the ground.
-Pit! Hook! Hook!
However, I couldn't be mesmerized by her flashy moves.
The spinning spearhead came at an unexpected angle as if it had suddenly extended.
-Chang! Chang! Kwaang!
I did not miss her spear, deflecting it with my sword or dodging it, trying to close the distance.
In addition to stabbing with her spear, Kallia actively used slashing and striking, making it even harder to approach her.
'First, let's get used to the attack pattern.'
As always, I tried to read her combat patterns, but...
She was very tricky, changing her combat style just as I was getting used to it and sending daggers when I was about to get used to it again.
Not to mention, she still had her highlight.
-Chaak!
"Ugh!"
[Too bad.]
Just like my magic bullet, she also had an attack skill.
A blue aura shot up along her spearhead.
Like the sword qi of martial arts.
'Damn, that was close.'
I, who was calculating the distance and avoiding her attacks, almost went straight to heaven.
All of a sudden, a blue qi shot up about 50cm from the spearhead.
Thanks to that, I had to use my cherished 'Intermediate Shield', and as a result of the consecutive blue qi attacks, I had to use the 'Intermediate Healing' skill after being deeply cut on my side.
Both were built-in skills of an item that I only had one chance to use.
"Huff."
I quickly put some distance between us and tried to calm my surprised heart while looking at Kallia.
Seeing her disappointment, it seemed like that attack was her trump card.
"Got anything else up your sleeve?"
[Well...?]
I glanced sideways.
Then I saw that there were less than 3 minutes left for the dungeon's attack time.
'Has it already been this long?'
Although I felt a bit overwhelmed, it meant that I had been fighting fiercely.
That too against a boss monster I was fighting for the first time.
However, if her irregular attacks continue, it will be more difficult.
Woof-woof also accumulated injuries and was in a state where it could collapse from injuries at any time, and I have long since run out of magical power.
'If a new attack pattern comes out, I'll give up and hope for next time.'
But what if.
If she has no new moves...
If the same combat patterns I've seen so far continue...
I am thinking of throwing a gamble when the time attack is about to end.
-Clang!
A brief standoff.
And Kallia's aggressive approach that followed.
I narrowed my eyes as she launched an offensive I've seen before.
However, unlike before, when I was looking for a gap and attack, I've changed to actively advancing from now on.
'Now she's just going for it.'
Even she manifested attack skills such as sword qi (spear qi) frequently.
-Zing!
"Kkuk!"
Every time I blocked that attack, I was pushed back by the enormous rebound, and my weapon changed like a saw with its teeth going out.
".........."
But I wasn't flustered.
If Kallia could use this attack all the time, she would have used it earlier.
Skills consume a lot of magic power.
If this law applies to monsters like humans, there will definitely be a limit.
[You have 30 seconds left until the Clearing time ends.]
And like a signal, the moment the dungeon clearing attack end message came up.
Kallia stopped advancing and retreated.
After that, no attack skills were manifested from Kallia's spear, and it returned to its previous form.
Feeling that the time had come, I shouted.
"Woof-woof!"
-Roar!
As the sound of Woof-woof, who seemed about to die, came from behind, Kallia was surprised and glanced back.
But Woof-woof just cried out to my rhythm, he was in the same place with his wounded condition.
Kallia, who seemed to have made a mistake, turned her gaze to me, but the brief gap allowed me to take one step closer to her.
"I have a trump card too! You bitch!"
At my shout, Kallia was caught off guard.
I opened my inventory at that moment and took out an item that was inside.
The Styrofoam I used to cross the sea yesterday.
Pink insulation styrofoam shot into the air like a shotgun blast.
It's kind of a sight blocker, but the boss monster wasn't stupid enough to be fooled by such a trivial trick.
She swung her spear to hit the styrofoam.
As a result, my figure was clearly exposed.
[What?]
But she was taken aback to see me.
The reason was that I had a long sword in each hand, holding a pair of swords.
I had taken out the wolf sword that had been pushed to the second place when I got the Tieri Sword from the inventory and held it in my left hand.
She didn't expect me to use dual swords, and was greatly surprised; she threw a dagger at me from nowhere.
At the same time, she swung the spear, but I blocked each of the two attacks with the dual swords as if performing a trick.
It seemed like I should shout a fitting skill name at a time like this, but...
"Stardust."
I just blurted out a random word.
"Scream! You bitch!"
-Zing!
For the first time, I dealt an effective blow to the boss monster Kallia.
But since I've never used dual swords, Kallia will soon realize that I'm clumsy if we exchange a few hits.
However, because she doesn't know the level of my dual swordsmanship now, she chose to back off rather than fight against me.
[You have 5 seconds left until the clearing attack ends.]
This turned out to be a bad move.
-Roar!
[Darn...]
-Crack!
Suddenly, the healed Woof-woof appeared from behind Kallia and bit her neck.
While she was distracted by the styrofoam, I took out a large amount of potion from the inventory and threw it at Woof-woof.
Hoping that it would heal him even a little.
As a result, the strategy succeeded and dealt a fatal blow to Kallia at the decisive moment.
Soon after, my dual swords were stuck in her chest and abdomen...
[Congratulations. You have defeated Mongma's dungeon boss Kallia.]
[Mongma's dungeon cleared, additional rewards will be given.]
[First dungeon clear, your great achievement will be recorded in the Hall of Fame.]
Just before the clearing attack ended, the dungeon clear message appeared.
***
Not long after communication was cut off, even the electricity was cut off.
Naturally, the whole country was in chaos, and government departments were thrown into confusion.
And it wasn't any different for the Gyeryong base...
In the midst of everyone moving busily, Colonel Seo In-ho, Seo Baek-ho's father, anxiously waited for his subordinates' reports.
"Has it still not been confirmed whether there is a satellite phone deployed on Gauido Island ?"
"I, I'm sorry."
A few years ago, he had heard somewhere that a satellite phone had been installed in a western sea island village for disaster preparedness, and asked his subordinates to confirm it.
But since communication was cut off, even things that could be resolved with a simple phone call were inevitably delayed.
"Sigh..."
Colonel Seo In-ho had to keep sighing, feeling a tight sensation in his chest.
But then it happened.
[A Korean, Mr. Seo******, has cleared Mongma’s Dungeon.]
[The achievement of clearing the dungeon for the first time in the world will be recorded in the Hall of Fame.]
[Everyone, please congratulate Mr. Seo****** of Korea.]
Colonel Seo In-ho, who had been frowning deeply, was surprised by the unexpected message and stood up abruptly from his seat.
There are countless people with the surname Seo.
"What, what is this?"
But he was sure that the protagonist of the message was his son.
Because the clue 'Mongma's Dungeon' as attached to it.
"This kid. What is he doing?"
His voice, filled with bewilderment, contained a father's relief at having confirmed his son's safety.
*****
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