NOVEL NEXT Chapter 104
In Hwanseangyongsa, dual-wielding was one of the characteristics that could be used freely without specialization.
Here, “dual-wielding” means using two weapons, one each in the left and right hands, rather than wielding a single weapon with both hands.
If you think about it simply, you might wonder, “Isn’t it crazy that I can use two skills at once or wear two legendary items 1+1 style?”
But in this X-ruined game of skill, there was a penalty for forcibly equipping weapons that weren’t recommended for dual-wielding, significantly reducing the accuracy of attacks.
In short, while equipping is possible for the sake of freedom, actual performance might be unreliable… it was like that.
– What’s that guy doing…?
– I don’t know…! He seems out of his mind and wants to die! Here, focus on stopping it!
That’s right. In the middle of the raid party, my movements were nothing more than the actions of a wannabe seeking attention.
If I were to be a strength-diminished character, it would be nice to act like I’d catch a mouse while backing away like a cow, but…
“I can’t just act like everything is fine now.”
I just couldn’t go that far. It’s better to be seen as a madman instead.
Kugugugugugugu~!
Surrounding the 5th and 6th parties, explosions of flames repeatedly erupted to block the attack of the Pitbit Jae.
It was as if flames were raining down.
If I got too close, I’d probably get crispy-fried.
[Pitbit Jae : HP 20% + 25%]
‘This is the problem.’
My original plan was to sneakily cast Wind Instant Kill and claim the last hit when Pitbit Jae’s health dropped below 21% due to Aveline and Melissa’s attacks.
However, it seems that due to the effects of Chojihok Mode and the characteristic of being a divine beast, there was an additional hidden pattern.
That was the generation of a Flame Shield, granting an additional 25% health.
Perhaps triggered by Melissa’s successive flame attacks, it seemed the shield had been activated through fire resistance.
This was an unexpected variable.
[Wind Instant Kill (Inactive)]
Since the shield also counted as health, I couldn’t meet the usage conditions for Wind Instant Kill.
– It’s impossible any longer!
– Just hold on a little longer!
What’s worse, I didn’t have the time to wait for Aveline and Melissa to whittle down Pitbit Jae’s health.
As seen in the past, it was clear that the two couldn’t take down the enhanced Pitbit Jae by themselves.
This meant I had to find a way to simultaneously reduce Pitbit Jae’s shield and health on my own, which is how I ended up taking on this attention-seeking act.
“Ha.”
After taking a breath, I realized that I needed to understand its gimmick to definitely take down Pitbit Jae.
It had a limit on the damage it could receive.
And it had more health than a regular boss because it was treated like a monster.
Therefore, to deal as much damage as possible to Pitbit Jae without using skills like Demonification, I needed to…
———————————————————
[3rd Type: Wind Blast] (Active) (Ultimate Skill)
: Explosive kill (爆殺) – Fire everything as the wind rages.
When cast, bursts of compressed wind pressure temporarily attack a wide range of enemies.
[Thanks to the contract with Ariel, the consumption of wind energy is reduced, and damage rises significantly.]
(Cooldown: 24 hours)
———————————————————
To use Wind Blast, I needed to be at close range.
Having experienced using Demon Destruction, I knew it was similar to a shotgun.
Since it spreads out widely in a fan shape, if I could hit at the point of origin, I could deal maximum damage.
For that to happen, Pitbit Jae had to remain still and close to me.
Also, to twist the situation, if I wanted to give a penalty to Melissa and Aveline…
I had to ensure that others wouldn’t get caught up in this Wind Blast.
So, I had to fire it in a direction where there were no people—what a ridiculous condition!
‘This takes way too much effort.’
So, I planned to utilize Pitbit Jae’s second gimmick: its tendencies.
Pitbit Jae prioritizes targeting dealers inflicting meaningful damage against it, meaning it targets the rear of the party first.
That was why Teiron divided the party into thirds for the raid.
If the frontline knights protected the dealer being targeted by Pitbit Jae, it would start using its assault on them, causing the aggro to bounce to another party’s rear.
During that time, when Pitbit Jae designated a new target and flew off, there would be a delay.
Utilizing that delay to deal in time was the conventional raid strategy.
Since this wasn’t a game system but reality here, it was a raid strategy utilizing the monster’s tendencies.
This meant that by using my gamer characteristic to exploit the gap between this reality and my abilities, I could create a free dealing time on my own.
Ping!
I first fired off a clean shot to divert Pitbit Jae’s attention.
Kieeeeh?
The bolt from my crossbow struck Pitbit Jae’s wing, and at the same moment, Violet’s sealing shot was freed…
– You, run away! You’ll die if you stay there…!
– What are you doing??!!!! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!
– Sir Lev! What the hell are you doing?!
Shiiiiiing!
With Melissa’s hoarse scream, it seemed the monster had shifted its focus to me and charged in this direction.
Fwooooosh!
“Alright.”
I ignored all the sounds around me.
Aveline’s shout blinded by wanting the last hit, and everything else too.
Like diving beneath the water, only my mind sharpened in focus, and then…
– …!
Everything seemed to slow down.
Shiiiing!!!
And just as Pitbit Jae almost flew at me…
‘Register.’
Ding!
I registered the Stealth skill into the skill window, under Passive.
[Stealth – Gamer characteristic activated]
[Stealth][Aggro: 0]
[Aggro will be recognized by the enemy (Demon Creature) when it reaches 100.]
[Aggro value for Pitbit Jae is applied from before.]
[Aggro: +42]
With a clear sound ringing out,
Fwooosh!
Fwooff!
The monster’s movements stopped right above me.
– …!
The chaos around me quieted, disregarding the laws of physics. Since it was consumed by dark magic, it was classified as a demon creature.
Thus, by receiving the Stealth property, it wouldn’t recognize me until the aggro value reached 100.
Ding!
[Aggro: 53]
[Aggro: 54]
[Aggro: 55]
Of course, ignoring the enemy right in front of me didn’t make sense, and Pitbit Jae’s aggro meter continued to rise.
‘As long as it doesn’t hit 100… it’s fine.’
Fwooff…!
Pitbit Jae began to twist its body like a circus performer, and
[Aggro: 65]
.
.
.
[Aggro: 69]
Fwoosh!
As the aggro approached 70, it began to hide its aggression and flap its wings widely, just like after an attack pattern.
‘Yes.’
The target of its gaze had shifted.
Pitbit Jae’s shadow draped vertically above me.
Now that it was busy recharging, this was the optimal deal time.
If I aimed Wind Blast skyward… there would be no one to get caught in it.
‘Stay right there…’
[Pitbit Jae: HP 20% + 23%]
The health bar, which Aveline had generously seasoned, glimmered in my eyes.
Gugugung… Gugugung…
The Gray Ashen Bolt also seemed eager to taste the divine beast, starting to shake violently in my hand.
Chuk.
Without delay, I lodged the crossbow bolt into Pitbit Jae’s tail area.
Kieee?
‘Right hand is for Wind Blast.’
Fwoosh…up!!!
As I prepared to cast my skill, the rough wind pressure began to swirl around Gray Ashen Bolt.
Less rough and more refined than Demon Destruction.
This one hit needed to break down its shield.
And in the other hand, I loaded Violet’s hand bow, which had fallen due to the explosion.
Of course, I was inexperienced in using this weapon, and it would be less effective compared to Gray Ashen Bolt.
That was fine. Anyway, the only skill I would use with this was one.
———————————————————
[Wind Instant Kill] (Active) (Normal Skill)
: Heart Instant Kill (心卽殺) – Death is akin to the wind.
Consume all remaining wind energy to instantly kill a demon whose HP is below 20%.
(Cooldown: 24 hours)
[A combination skill boosted by Bunea’s power added to Wind Archery]
[Cannot register with other power skills or the skill window at the same time.]
[Thanks to the contract with Ariel, consumption of wind energy is reduced, significantly boosting damage.]
———————————————————
‘Left hand is for Wind Instant Kill.’
Fwooooosh!
With that resolve, I closed my eyes tightly,
Starting to distribute the wind’s energy between both hands.
Fwoooosh!
It took just a few seconds to set everything up.
Being a gamer means proficiency is determined by just one button.
Well, I would get severely penalized for dual-wielding, but that’s not a concern.
At this distance, my hit rate would be 100 even with my eyes closed.
This is it…
What a Dispatching Wind Blast.
What a Wind Instant Kill…
The only thing left is to obliterate the monster.
*
In the intensely chaotic situation, the middle and lower tier knights of Divine Valhalla, as well as apprentices of Eternal Flame, were all watching the actions of the gray-haired man.
At first, they thought he was mad and trying to run away, but that was wrong. He was drawing Pitbit Jae’s attention all on his own.
– What’s he trying to do… alone?
– I-I don’t know. But it just stopped…?
The opponent was the A-rank monster Pitbit Jae, which had even thrown veteran raid leader Teiron into confusion.
But suddenly it charged at the boy and then began to writhe before coming to a halt.
Everyone doubted their eyes at the scene of the divine beast, tamed like a pet, meeting its master.
– What is that…?
– What the hell is that? It can’t be…?
Then, the man casually pointed the firing port of his crossbow at the sky where Pitbit Jae was positioned.
And just as it spread its wings wide to soar up into the sky…
Fwshhhhhhhhhh!!!!
The light of jade (翡光) that burst forth from the gray-haired man began to cover the sky like a blossoming flower.
It couldn’t be simply classified as Wind Archery.
Like the Milky Way adorning the sanctuary at night…
It was a sparkling blue wave.
– ███████████████
The grotesque voice of Pitbit Jae began to sink into the wind, and
Babababam!!!!
Everyone closed their eyes and then had to reopen them due to the fierce wind blowing.
And in the wake of the storm…
The crimson particles of its scarlet flames changed to rose, then red, and finally a bright, pure red before all at once scattering like flower petals.
– Pitbit Jae is… Pitbit Jae is…!
– Ah…
The dazzling red particles rose into the air like pollen.
“This… is…”
It was a sight that even Teiron, who had been charged with hunting down Pitbit Jae every season, could only see for the first time.
*
Ding!
[Achievement Clear]
[Klun’s Legend – Pitbit Jae*]
[Only you have the right to gain the essence of Pitbit Jae*]
[Achievement Clear!]
[Boss: Defeated Pitbit Jae*]
[Number of boss rewards available: 95 entities]
[*You can acquire Demon Hunting Rewards!]
[*The skill of Tarchangel will be enhanced!]
[*You may absorb the soul!]
[*Your status will rise!]
[*You have obtained skill points!]
[*Luck triggered! Status rises additionally!]
[*Luck triggered! Additional skill points obtained!]
The state window rushed by like a storm.
Fatigue hit me all at once.
“What a hassle.”
After playing my part and taking center stage, I was able to subdue the beast.
The reason I went to such lengths wasn’t simply to keep Aveline and Melissa from claiming it.
According to the world settings, even a lower-tier raid could affect lives, so it would be right to strictly adhere to the captain’s orders.
And those two’s reckless actions certainly deserved penalties in both the academy’s rules and raids.
But, the dead don’t talk.
The majority of this raid party, members of Divine Valhalla and Eternal Flame, conspired to bury this incident together.
Ultimately, only Selena remained to remember those lost to Pitbit Jae and mourn them.
Her deep skepticism of human greed and her own fragility led her to accept the demon’s Wind Archery.
But this time, it was different.
Originally, the first-year students who were supposed to be sacrificed had clearly witnessed this situation.
And with Violet from de Crescent, a family that rivaled that of Aveline and Melissa, it wouldn’t simply be overlooked.
‘Of course, doing so would also put the responsibility on me…’
As contexts slowly change, it’s becoming harder to predict how characters will behave, so it is essential to prepare for the future.
Aveline and Melissa.
I had planned to keep them as Edwin’s experience shuttle for awakening if possible…
‘It’s way more complicated than just viewing it as a novel…’
This time… I must detach them from the narrative.