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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Talon Flame
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The detection ability of [Ultrasound] is as good as seeing with my own eyes.
Even standing behind a rock, I could identify the members of the Hwarang prospect team.
Two close-range fighters.
Two ranged players.
And finally, one support player.
I had no means of long-range attack.
If they created distance, I'd be beaten one-sidedly.
'First, I need to get close.'
The moment negotiations broke down.
I powered up my legs and used [Agile Hind Legs].
The distance to the Hwarang prospect party was about 100 meters.
A single leap closed half that distance.
Without losing momentum, I lowered my waist to the ground, like a sprinter getting ready to run.
"Crazy."
A curse escaped Park Jongwon's lips.
Almost simultaneously, I felt intense heat from the opposite direction.
The magic-type players in their party were rearranging mana.
These kids.
To prepare magic immediately without panicking.
The Hwarang Guild has trained these kids pretty well.
[Using Thorn Carapace.]
A gray carapace enveloped my arms and back.
Right after I covered myself with the Thorn Carapace, two fire arrows struck my back and arm.
*Fwoosh*, the carapace's durability dropped by nearly 30%.
"He's just charging in after taking a Fire Arrow?"
"No way!"
Voices filled with astonishment echoed in my ears.
I take back what I said earlier.
They seem to have received some training, but they're still clearly novices.
If they see an attack isn't working, they should prepare their next move.
"Your opponent is me!"
Park Jongwon raised the shield in his left hand and blocked my path.
[Opponent is using Iron Wall.]
[Defense will decrease by 20% if distance from the target increases.]
Iron Wall is a useful tanking skill on the lower floors of the Tower.
It seems he figured out I was targeting the magic-type players.
Not bad, huh?
I changed direction and charged at Park Jongwon.
The distance closed rapidly.
I took a deep breath and then let out a roar.
"Haaaaaah—!!"
[Using Roar.]
[Beings within a 20-meter radius will have their Strength and Agility decreased by 10%.]
[Duration: 20 seconds.]
Park Jongwon and the spear-wielding player flinched.
They probably never expected a Strength and Agility penalty.
"Even so...!"
Park Jongwon swung his sword, gritting his teeth.
*Swoosh!* The curved blade aimed for my shoulder.
So he doesn't intend to kill me.
If his attack had killing intent, I was going to return the favor.
Jongwon, you should know you're lucky.
I dug my heels in and decelerated rapidly.
*Kagagak!* Sparks flew from the friction, even though I'd covered the soles of my feet with [Carapace].
The blade missed by a hair's breadth.
I clenched my fist.
[Using Monstrous Strength.]
*Booooom—!*
I smashed my clenched right fist into Park Jongwon's shield.
A pure Strength stat in the 60s!
Amplified by 300%, Park Jongwon's level of strength couldn't hold his ground.
"Keoheok!"
Park Jongwon was sent flying dozens of meters, spitting up a mouthful of blood.
Even though the shield protected his body, it seemed it couldn't mitigate all of the impact.
If I'd used [Sharp Claws], I could have killed him in one blow, but since he didn't show any killing intent, I let him off easy.
[The user who deployed Iron Wall has left their position.]
[The binding effect disappears.]
The penalty of Iron Wall.
If the user moves from their spot, the skill is canceled.
That's why I pushed Park Jongwon back with [Monstrous Strength].
The chains that bound me were gone.
"Fire Ankle!"
Ropes of flame seized my arms and legs.
Oh, they used the time Park Jongwon bought them quite effectively.
The areas in contact with the flame ropes were scorched black.
"You'd be wise not to struggle. If you use your strength, it will only..."
*Tuduk-* As I infused mana into my [Sharp Claws], the flame ropes snapped.
"If I use my strength, what?"
The magic-type player's jaw dropped.
"Hyaaaap!"
A sharp spearhead aimed for my blind spot, thrusting toward my side.
Ah, right. You were here too.
Thanks to using [Ultrasound] concurrently, I had no blind spots.
Without even looking in the direction the spearhead was coming from, I snatched it with my left hand.
I didn't stop there; I yanked hard on the spear shaft I'd caught.
"Uh, uuuuh?!"
The player holding the spear was pulled forward.
His stumbling figure reminded me of a fish that had taken the bait.
I wrapped my entire body in [Thorn Carapace].
Sharp thorns protruded from it.
I could neutralize the spear-wielding player without even making a specific attack.
[Divine Shield]
*Jjeong!*
A milky-white barrier enveloped the melee fighter's body.
The Divine Shield, completed just in the nick of time, blocked the thorns that had sprouted from my carapace.
It was the work of the support player.
"It's not over yet."
Park Jongwon, who had been sent flying by [Monstrous Strength], also returned to the battlefield.
The team members quickly reformed their positions.
"Good. It looks like this won't end boringly."
I curled the corner of my lip.
* * *
The Hwarang prospects were not easy opponents.
They were all equipped with [Rare] grade items or higher, and their traits and skills were powerful.
I had raised my stats with Predation, but the difference in items somewhat closed that gap.
However.
"Kngh..."
"*Cough*."
When five minutes had passed, the only Hwarang prospect still on his feet was Park Jongwon.
The magic-type players had been unconscious for a while.
The other two were conscious but completely neutralized.
"H-how can you fight so well?"
The spear user muttered, his voice squeezed out like a scream.
It's understandable.
I'm used to fighting against multiple opponents.
The penalty of [Predation].
It's thanks (?) to the effect that reduces the value of monster corpses to zero, forcing me to go solo.
"It's not over yet."
The only player still standing on two feet, Park Jongwon.
He swung his sword in a desperate struggle.
[Using Sharp Claws.]
The hook-like claws caught the blade.
*Seogeok-* The tips of my claws were slightly chipped off.
Unique items are really something else.
I endured by infusing my claws with mana.
Even reinforcing them with mana, they'd probably only last another two seconds.
That's more than enough.
Simultaneously, I stepped forward, closing the distance and getting inside Park Jongwon's range.
A range where it was difficult for either of us to swing our arms.
In this situation, I, clad in [Thorn Carapace], could inflict damage one-sidedly.
"Ever been to a club?"
Just by swaying my body left and right, Park Jongwon's armor was gradually damaged.
"D-damn it."
Park Jongwon was clearly flustered.
This must be a first for him.
It's all a learning experience that builds character.
"I'm out of mana, I can't help Player Park Jongwon."
The support player said with a tearful face.
After using a few heals and shields, she had run out of mana and had been unable to act for a while.
On the other hand, I was perfectly fine.
Even without [Predation], my health and mana showed no signs of depleting.
It was all thanks to [Blessing of the Earth Mother].
The divine authority that increased my health and stamina recovery speed just by standing on the ground!
The skill I got from the Dragon Tooth Warriors, [Dragon's Heart], also played a part.
No matter how many skills I used, my mana showed no signs of running out.
"Eeeek!"
Park Jongwon gritted his teeth, struggling to push me away.
Just as he was putting too much force into pushing me, I lowered my stance and tripped him.
"Huh?!"
Park Jongwon lost his balance and fell.
A defenseless opening.
I placed my foot on the chest of the now defenseless Park Jongwon.
"If you want to have a physical conversation, you need to get a bit stronger."
"Kngh..."
The corners of Park Jongwon's eyes turned bright red.
The bulging veins showed just how furious he was.
I like his tenacity.
But at this rate, it'll be hard to break his stubbornness.
If I let him go now, he'll just come at me again later, aiming for first place, won't he?
Hmm, I have no choice.
Dying in the tutorial doesn't lead to actual death.
Not in the year 2025, anyway.
So why am I hesitating?
Because if you're judged as 'dead' in the tutorial, you get your Player authority revoked.
It's like winning the lottery but letting the ticket expire.
Well, it's better to be decisive than to leave loose ends.
Don't feel too bad; you're just falling for your own scheme.
Just as I aimed for Park Jongwon's head with [Monstrous Strength].
"Skreeeeee—!!"
A sharp, eardrum-piercing cry echoed across the mountainside.
"Th-that sound?!"
"Why is a monster that should be on the summit of Mount Emirate...!"
The conscious Hwarang prospects pointed at the sky in panic.
Their fingers trembled uncontrollably.
At the end of their fingers, a red eagle was looking down at us.
Talon Flame.
The monster that reigned as the apex predator of Mount Emirate.
* * *
Talon Flame is a rare species, like the Deep Slime or Wolf King Seorin.
In other words, if I defeat that thing, I can obtain a complete essence!
"I was planning on hunting it anyway. How fortunate that it came to me on its own."
I wet my lips with my tongue.
I was starting to get hungry, and the appearance of a rare species made my stomach rumble.
"A-are you serious?"
"Talon Flame's charge attack is powerful. It's nothing compared to a Thorned Boar."
Dark shadows fell over the faces of the Hwarang prospects.
These guys, who were so full of spirit just a moment ago, were now acting as if they were about to die the moment Talon Flame appeared.
"Was that birdbrain really that strong?"
"Birdbrain? Talon Flame is one of the top player killers on Rainbow Island!"
"Its charge is as fast as a bullet, and there's no way to stop it, so you can't even run away."
So that thing was such a highly-rated monster.
Before my regression, fighting mythical enemies was a daily routine.
Perhaps that's why.
A mere red bird didn't feel frightening at all.
I glanced at the Hwarang prospects.
They had already lost half their will to fight.
Now that the birdbrain had appeared, their spirits were completely broken.
I looked down at Park Jongwon.
"You think so too?"
"At our level, we wouldn't even survive a single blow."
Park Jongwon's face hardened.
*Tch-* I clicked my tongue.
"You've ruined the mood."
"What do you mean?"
"It's boring."
I walked past Park Jongwon and headed up the mountain.
*Skreee!*
Talon Flame's eyes gleamed.
It seems to have marked me as its prey.
Park Jongwon got up and followed behind me.
"P-Player Yoo Jinho! It's impossible to face that monster alone."
"Why, you want to join forces?"
"This might sound ridiculous, but... I will help you."
I shot Park Jongwon a cold glare.
"That birdbrain is my prey."
"Y-yes?"
"Stay out of it."
Look at this guy.
Trying to freeload on a boss raid without an ounce of fear?
After glaring at Park Jongwon, I shifted my gaze to Talon Flame.
At that moment, the Talon Flame, which had been circling the sky, began a steep dive.
Searing flames wrapped around its wings.
Talon Flame descended at a speed several times that of a Horned Rabbit.
The claim that it was as fast as a bullet was no exaggeration.
At that speed, even Park Jongwon, the most skilled of the Hwarang prospects, wouldn't even dare to try and block it.
But that won't work on me.
As Talon Flame flew in a straight line, I precisely calculated the angle and powered up my legs.
[Using Agile Hind Legs.]
My body shot up diagonally.
It was a little slower than when I kicked off the ground.
It doesn't matter.
I jumped to disrupt Talon Flame's charging timing.
[Using Thorn Carapace.]
[Using Monstrous Strength.]
The Thorn Carapace wrapped around my right arm.
Its appearance resembled a cast immobilizing a forearm.
Almost simultaneously, I extended my clenched fist straight ahead.
At the end of my fist's trajectory was the head of the rapidly descending Talon Flame.