Episode 203 Ashutaros – (3)
“For one reason or another, I’m really starting to crave the Berserk Charm. It seems I need to focus on finishing things off rather than just holding out.”
Around that time, Sanghyeon was formulating his thoughts on the realm beyond the Red Line as he continued to fight and advance.
Since existing debuffs were being applied in a form that was doubled in strength, there were more tricky aspects than expected.
With HP dropping by 2 every second, he couldn't avoid losing 1 HP every second even while holding on with the Grasp of Vampirism.
While Mana recovery suppression remained constant, the amount of Mana recovered from monsters was also cut in half.
Consequently, despite having many HP-based skills, he felt like he was being chased during battles with monsters. This
was because he had to use HP-based skills in a situation where he was forced to constantly chip away at his HP.
The Berserk Charm he had asked Han Hyeon-jeong to look into was an amulet that could specialize him in the Berserker field.
It was priced at an insane amount of 650 billion won.
Still, once I could set it up, it was possible to unleash power far greater than it currently possessed.
If I were to liken my current state to burst damage, utilizing the Berserk Charm's ability would make it something like super-super-super burst damage.
It meant I could become a swordsman who stakes everything on a single strike—literally a one-hit kill.
“I wonder if the Labyrinth of Serenity maps are selling well.”
As I thought of Han Hyun-jung, thoughts about the maps naturally crossed my mind as well.
Given the wealth of information regarding the Labyrinth of Serenity, it seemed unlikely I would be disappointed with the price.
I was more excited than worried. As for Han Hyun-jung’s business acumen, it was pointless to even mention it.
Just then.
Kuoooo!
A monster that appeared from somewhere, a Wolf Lord, roared with all its might.
This creature is typically used as a boss in lower-tier dungeons, yet here it is treated as a regular monster.
It is a detail that makes the difference in difficulty easily palpable.
【No Fear!】
■ Title Grade: D-Class
■ Title Introduction: Resists all status ailments caused by the roar of wolf-type monsters. However, boss monsters are excluded.
It had been a long time since I benefited from the No Fear! title.
Originally, this skill could not be applied to the boss monster Wolf Lord, but since the monsters are classified differently now, it is an exception.
Thanks to this, even though the Wolf Lord was barking furiously, nothing happened to Sanghyeon. However
, only the Wolf Lord cleanly lost his life due to the combination of the subsequent Updraft Airborne and a single strike from the Sword of Destruction.
“It reminds me of the old days.”
I recalled when I first met Kim Mi-so and when I faced the Wolf Lord during a quest.
Back then, the power gap between him and me was so vast that I had to grit my teeth and engage in a battle of wits.
Now, he has become such a pathetic fellow that there is no need to go through a full cycle of skill combos.
This similar experience did not end with just the Wolf Lord.
Next to block Sanghyeon’s path was the Mad Kobold King. His name sounds quite threatening.
【Terror of Slaughter – Kobold】
■ Title Grade: S-Class
■ Title Introduction: (……[omitted])
When facing you, all Kobold-type monsters, including boss monsters, cannot escape the state of despair for the first 10 seconds.
However, this fellow's fate was even more cruel.
As soon as the title “Terror of Slaughter – Kobold” activated, the Mad Kobold King’s focus blurred.
The despair effect obliterated the Mad Kobold King’s will to fight, and he knelt down, bowing his head.
It was indeed an S-Class title.
The difference in the title's prestige had caused the effect to be divided into incapacitation and complete disarmament only regarding status ailments.
Cooking up the Mad Kobold King was much easier than dealing with the previous Wolf Lord.
It was no big deal to sever the head of the fellow who had bowed his head without any intention of fighting.
Soon.
*Pew!*
A fountain of blood shot into the sky, and the Mad Kobold King departed this world without ever having fought.
His level shot up instantly to 297. If there is such a thing as the easiest level up in the world, it must be right now.
“Seriously… it’s only possible because it’s me.”
That thought crossed his mind.
That such a creative strategy was only possible because it was him. His skill set was that good.
It was the same reason why the three members of the Nobility Guild marveled at him repeatedly during today’s raid.
His ability to apply status effects while simultaneously recovering HP and MP on his own was certainly not ordinary.
“Still, it’s manageable.”
Sanghyun continued to advance.
The gradual depletion of mana could be overcome by the inexhaustible spring effect equipped on the Nameless Sword.
With 7 out of a total of 10 uses remaining for the day, there was no burden regarding mana.
His HP was still precarious, but he was maintaining a level close to halfway.
And so, time passed.
When Sang-hyun finally reached the edge of the Ashtaros Dungeon, he could see its master.
Ashtaros.
An undead-type boss monster, he was a magic swordsman type who wielded a greatsword and utilized magic skills.
In a way, he was similar in nature to Sang-hyun, who used various skills based on a sword.
【Guide of the Holy Spirit】
■ Title Grade: SS-Class
. Since the enemy is undead-based, this title is very useful. He
could benefit from two of the three passive skills linked to the title.
The first is Holy Crusade. It is highly valuable as it always adds 200% to damage dealt against the undead.
The second is Divine Protection, which grants complete immunity to neurotoxins and paralyzing toxins caused by undead monsters and remains active at all times. This
allows him to inflict more pain on Ashtaros while simultaneously neutralizing some of his counterattacks.
“Execute the intruder filled with greed.”
Upon seeing the Upper Moon, Ashtaros lightly swung his greatsword and issued orders to the ghouls stationed throughout the dungeon.
Just then.
【Ghoul Slayer】
■ Title Grade: S-Class
■ Title Introduction: (……[omitted])
Before you, the Slayer, they fall into a state of permanent despair.
The Ghoul Slayer title began to take effect clearly.
Hundreds of ghouls, drooling and emitting a foul stench as they attempted to approach the Upper Moon, all came to a halt.
Not despair with a time limit, but despair that lasts permanently as long as the title exists!
The horde of ghouls stood frozen in place, embarrassed that they had been given life by Ashtaros.
“……?”
An earthquake struck Ashtaros’s pupils. He couldn’t believe his eyes.
The henchmen he had intended to send to restrain the Upper Moon’s movements and annoy him had all turned into fools.
In the meantime, the Upper Moon immediately engaged Ashtaros without hesitation.
Since both were swordsmen whose weapons were based on the sword, close combat was an inevitable outcome.
“Haaap!”
Clang!
Swords clashed.
Sanghyeon decided to gauge Ashutaros’s strength first using basic attacks rather than skills.
His ability to withstand attacks was certainly considerable.
There was such a weight to it that Sanghyeon felt he might actually be pushed back if he pushed hard.
“Hmph!”
Ashutaros put all his strength into the clashing swords and pushed Sanghyeon far back. It was a strategic move for a counterattack.
Whoosh!
A red dot formed on his sword.
Although he couldn't tell exactly what it was, Sanghyeon could guess it was a sword-based magic skill.
So, he aggressively latched on him again.
This was because he trusted in the Path of Demon Slayer, one of the effects of the Nameless Sword.
Magic skills that consume 100 mana or less are completely evaded. At least this skill wouldn't be that evasive.
Whoosh!
Five red, heat-filled lumps flew toward Sanghyeon.
Judging by their fist-sized size, they appeared to be designed to create an explosion upon impact.
However, just as Sanghyeon had predicted, the magic influenced by the Path of Demon Suppression futilely missed Sanghyeon's side.
Like magnets meeting the same pole, it abruptly changed its course and passed by.
“…….” Before
Ashutaros could even darken his expression, Sanghyeon latched on again and unleashed a barrage of basic attacks.
Basic attacks are clearly a method that can pressure an opponent much more persistently than using skills.
Perhaps for this reason, Ashutaros, who had been defending while looking for a chance to counter with a skill, could no longer hold back and fought back.
It was a true duel. The
clash of swords!
It was the song of the sword that only a swordsman wielding a sword could create. But there was a problem.
Clang! Whoosh… …!
Crack! Whoosh!
With the Nameless Sword’s either-or effect applied, one of Ashutaros’s basic attacks had failed.
The concept of failure did not mean the attack itself missed, but rather that the damage value was calculated to be zero.
Therefore, the basic attack that was ruled a failure had no effect on Sanghyeon, like a light tap.
Having anticipated the effect of the either/or choice, Sanghyeon was able to chain together Sage's Whisper and Sword of Destruction without hesitation.
*Thud!*
“Cough!”
The blow struck Ashutaros’s left shoulder squarely.
It had been aimed at the left chest, but Ashutaros twisted his body sharply, offering his shoulder instead.
Even while caught off guard, he used another body part as a shield to minimize damage.
*Whoosh!
* Ashutaros then swung his greatsword with all his might with the intention of blocking Sanghyeon’s continuous attacks.
『Backstep』
He stepped back slightly.
Even if he could dodge Ashutaros’s magic skills, he could not avoid his physical skills and basic attacks.
He tried unleashing a series of updrafts, but even as he was caught in the wind, Ashtaros's body did not lift off.
Perhaps because he was a boss monster at the very top of a high-level dungeon, his skill resistance seemed high.
'Inflicting status ailments probabilistically, resisting probabilistically, and then breaking through to inflict them again. To win this game of rock-paper-scissors…'
There is no other way but to use a strategy that guarantees victory. That is to use a skill with the title 'Perfect.'
As one ascends to higher and higher-level worlds, the concept of perfection becomes crucial. To the point where combat cannot even be established without it.
Sanghyeon realized once again, through Ashtaros, the terrifying nature of the world they inhabit.
'My mana is ample considering recovery, so let's just draw it all out in one go. There is absolutely no benefit in a long battle.'
Just as Sanghyeon was gathering his thoughts, Ashtaros thrust his sword straight out toward him.
To a player seeing this action for the first time, that movement would have looked like he was aiming the tip of his sword.
However, Sanghyeon could foresee Ashtaros's next move.
"Suppression Chains.
" "Just as I thought."
Immediately, black chains were created around his entire body, rendering him immobile.
It was Ashtaros's skill known as the Suppression Chains. Although the cooldown was quite long, once caught in it
, one was completely paralyzed. It was a combo structure where Ashtaros would unleash a finishing attack the moment the body was wrapped in the chains. It was similar to Sanghyeon.
The Suppression Chains went beyond merely immobilizing the body; they plastered the target with all sorts of debuffs, multiplying like a thick layer.
Therefore, one had to counter it by using a means to remove all debuffs. That was, after all, the only solution.
"Rapid Purification."
A clean counter!
Letting out a devilish laugh, the Chains of Greed, which had been attempting to wrap around Sanghyeon's body, vanished without a trace.
"……."
Ashtaros's expression hardened as he looked at Sanghyeon. The opportunity to use his ultimate had vanished so futilely.
"Hey, it's my turn now."
On the other hand, a smile spread across Sanghyeon's lips. Now it is time to see if he responds as neatly as I do.
