Acquired the Scam Rune in the Academy

Generally, the grade of a monster is proportional to the grade of the Holder.

If you are a D-grade Holder, you can easily hunt D-grade monsters, and if you are a C-grade Holder, you can handle C-grade monsters without much difficulty. However, this is only true in ‘ordinary’ situations.

“The scale changes from B-grade monsters onwards,” as <The History and Information of Monsters> professor explained. Just like there is a significant difference between C-grade and B-grade Holders, the strength of monsters also changes from B-grade and onwards. The inherent destructive power and toughness of monsters increase rapidly, and situations arise where it becomes challenging to inflict damage through physical attacks alone, even for B-grade Holders, if they are not experienced dealers.

“So, the concept of Party Play was introduced.”

Two tanks, two dealers, and one support—a group of five individuals commonly known as the orthodox party composition within the Holder grades. If they join forces and fight together, they can hunt monsters stronger than themselves.

For example, a C-grade Holder of the warrior class can tank attacks from a B-grade monster, and similarly, a C-grade Holder of the magic class can break through the toughness of a B-grade monster and deal damage.

This is quite a revolutionary idea, as it changes the previous approach. Since Party Play became the norm for Holder hunting, most Holders focused on honing their individual roles. Tanks improved their tanking abilities, and dealers concentrated on their damage output. As a result, there were cases where C-grade Holders, who were solely focused on tanking, managed to withstand attacks from A-grade monsters.

“Professor, then where does an A-grade Holder fit in a party?”

“A-grade Holders can also join B-grade Holder parties. These parties consist of B-grade Holders hunting A-grade monsters. Since there are many cases where B-grade Holders cannot handle certain special situations or boss-level monsters, A-grade Holders take on a leadership role within the party.”

In other words, when it comes to hunting monsters, there’s no strict need to divide Holders into parties based on their grades. A-grade Holders can freely participate in B-grade Holder parties, and B-grade Holders can also serve as leaders in C-grade Holder parties. It’s all about efficiency.

From the beginning, A-grade Holder parties tend to be small, usually not limited to just five members. Most of them are large-scale parties that exceed eight or ten members, revolving around clans. As monsters from B-grade onwards become stronger and require more Holders in greater numbers for hunting, this trend emerges.

Nevertheless, <The History and Information of Monsters> professor stated that everything changes completely from S-grade and onwards. S-grade monsters are not simple beasts that can be captured by a group of five A-grade Holders.

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ippotranslations

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“Unbelievable! It’s not only in the sea?”

“A single hit from that monster would be instant death….”

Vibrating as if causing a massive earthquake,

The Swirl Leviathan revealed itself from the sea to the land.

The Holders trembled in fear at the overwhelming shock caused by the S-grade monster.

It was undoubtedly an imposing presence.

However, most of the Holders had something in common.

‘I’m not the only rookie here.’

They all felt like newcomers who had just reached C-grade, just like me.

As if confirming their speculation, Holders in heavy gear appeared from behind, bursting into laughter.

“Hahaha! Looks like there’s an abundance of rookies again.”

“Warriors, step forward if you don’t want to lag behind!”

“Ugh. Why are we participating in this makeshift attack squad that pays so little?”

The Holders boasted as if showing off their experience.

Apparently, they were the B-grade Holders of this attack squad, most of them belonging to the warrior class.

-Kaaaah!!

There wasn’t much time for chitchat with an S-grade monster in front of them.

The Swirl Leviathan roared with a scream that could tear the sky apart, shaking its tail.

Its size was so massive that even just swinging its tail created tremendous pressure.

“Warriors, shield up and move forward!”

This time, Holders equipped with high-quality gear that radiated light appeared.

Just five of them.

And they exuded overwhelming magical power.

They were the A-grade Holders in charge of leading the attack squad.

“Ugh, it’s those braggarts again.”

“Don’t they ever get tired of showing up every time a disaster monster appears?”

“Ugh, I envy the mage class. If only I had someone like Jeong Seon-young as our commander.”

The B-grade warrior Holders grumbled.

Since Holder grade did not necessarily represent experience, they didn’t seem too fond of the A-grade Holder commanders.

I wasn’t sure who this person named Seon-young was…

Perhaps an A-grade Holder of the magic class.

But contrary to their talk, their execution in the battle was flawless.

Swift and precise movements.

Kwaaah-!!

The Swirl Leviathan’s tail slammed onto the ground.

About ten B-grade Holders successfully blocked the attack.

They instantly counterattacked, striking the Leviathan’s tail with the swords they held in their hands.

Despite the beast’s tough skin that couldn’t be scratched, the B-grade Holders seems unbothered as they focused on their tasks.

Fierce defense and counterattacks, utilizing their individual runes and skills.

“Don’t hesitate, raise your shields!”

“C-grade Holders, don’t bother with your swords, just hold your shields! Unless you want to end up dead with one hit.”

“All B-grade warriors, gather here!”

The playful atmosphere from earlier was gone.

The B-grade Holders followed the commands of the A-grade Holders and took control of the rookie C-grade Holders who were causing a ruckus.

Now, I understood why the B-grade Holders showed off with confidence. Even though they bragged, they were experienced. They moved faster and more accurately than the C-grade Holders, faithfully fulfilling their roles within the attack squad.

If they hadn’t defended against the previous attack, the Leviathan’s tail would have hit the dealers in the attack squad directly.

‘Role division… is indeed well-defined.’

Given the large scale and number of participants, the role division in the attack squad was as sharp as a knife.

Five A-grade Holders were responsible for leading and conducting large-scale attacks.

Twenty B-grade Holders formed the core force of the attack squad, executing attacks and defense from all directions.

Finally, fifty C-grade Holders played a supporting role.

With significantly lower abilities and runes, there wasn’t much the C-grade Holders could do. At best, they provided assistance to the dealers when they attacked.

Therefore, the majority of the C-grade Holders were of the magic or archer classes.

There were only ten B-grade warrior Holders, including me.

“What are you doing? Raise your shields!”

“Understood!”

As I stood still, a B-grade Holder scolded me.

I quickly took out the [Goblin’s Bronze Shield] from my magic bag.

This was not the time to use [Dagger] or [Sword].

I had to withstand the attack with this low-level [Shield].

-Kaaaah…!!

The Swirl Leviathan attacked again, this time with its hands, not its tail.

Since it didn’t have feet, it moved to the land using its fins and hands.

“Squad 1 and 2 stop everyone!”

“Shit. When is the dealer support?”

Archer-type arrow attacks are flying steadily.

However, the most important deal in such large-scale hunting is, of course, magic attacks of magicians.

They needed powerful magic skills to unfold.

I, too, followed the instructions of the higher level Holders who led me, and blocked Swirl Leviathan’s attack with the [Goblin’s Bronze Shield].

To block an S-grade monster’s physical bullet attack.

This was never an easy task, but blocking it with numerous Holders allowed the power to be dispersed.

[Successful defense beyond the limit! A rock-like hardness begins to be engraved on your shield.]

[The level of the rune has risen.]

[Toughness is acquired by 1 with the inclination of the rune.]

[You gained the derived skill of the shield rune, ‘Iron Wall Defense’.]

In addition, the rune grows rapidly just by blocking it.

Extremely difficult real battles and appropriate use of runes.

It was only a matter of time for the [Shield] to grow.

The rune level is already level 5.

Following +1 in Toughness, I even got a derivative skill called [Ironl Wall Defense].

1 hour cooldown.

It is a skill that can block twice the power that can be blocked with [Shield].

Considering the long cooldown.

It seemed to be used only in very desperate situations in this battle.

“Everyone, take cover! Magic attacks are coming!”

“Fold your shields and crouch!”

The preparation of the magicians was complete after successfully blocking the two previous attacks.

An enormous amount of magical power and intense currents were felt in the surroundings.

Lightning-type magic.

It was the most effective magic against sea monsters like the Swirl Leviathan.

‘Considering all this in advance… You planned this out, didn’t you?’

The holders who were about to cast the magic looked like they were thinking about something.

The majority of them prepared lightning-type magic.

The matchup between monsters and Holders.

It seemed like the association had taken these factors into consideration while forming the attack squad.

Zap-

Kwaaang- Kwaagaa-!!

Intense lightning magic struck the Swirl Leviathan.

Not only lightning-type magicians but also [Freezing] and [Wind]-type magic attacked it simultaneously.

The sheer power of the attack could be felt just by witnessing it.

It was a large-scale magic attack.

-Ka, kaaa…

Not many people can survive such an attack.

Even the guy who was making a fuss seemed to shrink momentarily.

Did they do it?

A blow so strong that it makes you think.

The magical power of the match made even the gigantic S-grade monster falter.

-Kaaaaaaaaaaaaa… !!

However, their triumphant moment was short-lived.

The Leviathan either absorbed all the attacks or managed to withstand them.

In an instant, it rose from its crouched position, bellowing loudly…

Its head echoed with a tremendous roar.

“It’s useless. It truly is an S-grade monster.”

“Unbelievably tough.”

“Wait, what’s that?”

It didn’t end there.

Something resembling a whirlpool emerged from the Swirl Leviathan’s wide-open mouth.

Upon recognizing it immediately, the commanding Holders shouted.

“Everybody, get out of the way! It’s water-type magic!”

“Run for your life! If that hits you, you’re done for!”

The B-grade warrior Holders in the forefront quickly fled.

While I hastily concealed myself using nearby structures, I couldn’t avoid the attack entirely.

Shoooooo-!!

Woong- Woong-!!

An enormous whirlpool.

And water pouring out like a tsunami.

Both the Holders who managed to evade and those who couldn’t were all caught up in the tremendous water magic.

“This can’t be real…”

I could only stare at the scene in disbelief.

Even though I saw it with my own eyes, it was hard to believe.

It wasn’t seawater being manipulated.

The Leviathan was producing such a massive amount of water from its own body.

“To perform water magic of this level with no water around…?”

Doubt crept into my mind.

Damn it….

Is it even possible to defeat that thing?