blueteamnovel Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Swish! Thud!
The wolves, each over two meters tall, tore across the grassy plain, charging toward me.
Their speed was far beyond that of Earth’s wolves. As expected of the boss and its subordinates in a dungeon, their movements were incredibly quick.
But still:
“Too slow.”
I stepped forward, dodging easily.
The pack leader’s initial attack was avoided with a simple duck, and as the two subordinate wolves lunged at me from behind—
Slash!
“Yelp...!”
[You have defeated a Lv 31 Savage Wolf.]
[You have defeated a Lv 31 Savage Wolf.]
[You have gained experience points.]
Before they could even strike, I had cut them down with my sword.
Although these wolves were faster and stronger than Earth’s, they felt no more threatening than puppies to me—a former Sword Emperor in my previous life.
I was also 20 levels above them, and during my previous ten attempts, I hadn’t been hit once. This time was no exception.
But the real challenge was just beginning.
The dungeon’s boss, the pack leader, enters a frenzy state once it loses a significant portion of its health or its two subordinates are killed. In this state, its speed nearly doubles.
And, as expected:
“Grrrr... Awoooo!”
The pack leader’s eyes glowed crimson as it growled, baring its teeth. Its speed surged as it dashed toward me.
“Master, dodge immediately if you don’t want to be grazed!” Swallow called out from above, flapping his wings in alarm.
Swallow wasn’t wrong.
In my previous ten attempts, I had successfully defeated the pack leader but failed the Absolute Beauty Quest.
When in its frenzy state, the pack leader’s erratic movements made it impossible to predict its trajectory. Even a brush against its fur counted as a hit, nullifying the quest.
But this time, I didn’t dodge.
Whoosh!
The pack leader, its fur bristling, charged toward me.
“Grrraaahhh!”
Its razor-sharp teeth glinted as it lunged, mouth wide open. Yet, I stood motionless, gripping my sword firmly.
Just as the beast closed the distance, its breath hot against me, I stepped forward, crouching low.
Boom!
The ground shook with a reverberating wave as my foot struck it.
Then, something incredible happened.
“Huh? Yip...!”
The skill wasn’t just useful in combat but could also be combined with other hidden skills for devastating combos. I lamented not discovering it earlier when it could have been far more effective in lower-level areas.
‘If only I’d found it sooner, I could’ve used it to its fullest potential during those early stages!’
It was a missed opportunity I couldn’t let go of.
In my frustration, I had nicknamed it C-Stomp—a nod to its incredible power despite being a C-grade skill.
Even Swallow had to agree.
“So this is why you called it C-Stomp in your previous life. Its performance is downright unfair for a C-grade skill.”
“Exactly. Though its effectiveness diminishes against higher-level monsters, it’s almost unbeatable in low-level dungeons—unless the enemy can fly.”
“As you’ve said, it seems invaluable at this stage. It’s a hidden skill worth every bit of effort.”
“Phew... If it weren’t this good, I wouldn’t have gone through all that trouble.”
Wiping the sweat from my brow, I reminisced about my time in the Hunter Training Ground.
Thwack! Thwack!
The sound of practice strikes echoed through the training hall.
Once I had taken my place before the wooden dummy, I swung my practice sword without pause.
To unlock Stomp, one had to strike a target continuously for 24 hours. Swinging aimlessly into thin air wouldn’t suffice; the strikes needed to connect with a solid object.
It was a grueling task, requiring nonstop effort for an entire day.
That’s why I had eaten three hearty bowls of sundae gukbap—to fuel my body for the ordeal ahead.
In truth, I had stumbled upon the skill in my previous life while battling hordes of monsters. Had it not been for that, I might never have discovered it.
Still, even with thorough preparation, the challenge was daunting.
By the 23rd hour, my concentration had all but evaporated. My vision blurred, my body wavered, and I teetered on the brink of collapse.
But just as I was about to give in:
“Master, open your mouth! Water incoming!”
Swallow appeared, carrying a cup of water and pouring it into my mouth.
“Gulp...!”
Thanks to him, I regained my focus and finally completed the task.
[Hidden Condition Fulfilled.]
[Strike a target continuously for 24 hours (24/24).]
[You have acquired the Hidden Skill: Stomp (C).]
That’s how I unlocked C-Stomp and cleared the E-grade wolf dungeon.
It was a tale of perseverance, marked by sweat and tears.
And the rewards? Truly satisfying.
As I reminisced about the journey, another notification popped up.
[Absolute Beauty Quest 1 Complete.]
[Final Rewards Calculated.]
[Reward: Trait - Skin Improvement (E).]
A new trait had been unlocked.