Chapter 181
[You guys are going to get a bunch of TL notes on the upcoming chapters from 3 months ago. Ignore them! We replaced the translator 3 times since... Anyways, good news. Today we are relaunching premium chapters with the new team. We are now uploading 2-5 chapters per day. (1/20/21)]
[Please support us on NU, this series has been getting 1-star reviews lately :(. I know that this series isn't for everyone, however, it would help out a lot if some of you guys point out some pros ahah. The better a novel performs, the higher the budget, and in turn, I can increase the upload rate and quality of future chapters.]
Evan D. Sherden Turns 14 (6)
The hidden boss on the 20th floor of the Sherden dungeon, the Blood Orc warrior, wasn't huge, had no special attributes, and wasn't the type that drew his subordinates into the fight to make it difficult. In that spacious boss room, only the Blood Orc warrior appeared to face the player's party. To put it plainly, it seemed shabby compared to other hidden bosses that appeared with fancy options or skills.
'But, in other words, it also means that he doesn't need such secondary elements.'
The Blood Orc warrior was strong. Simply, just strong. Attack and defense were perfectly balanced, and its AI was incredibly superior for a low-level boss. Even players who were quite familiar with the series often lost against him.
[Khaahahah! That slow arrow won't work!]
"...Cheh!"
"It's annoying because he moves so fast! Ruby, Lucy! Left! No, right! Right! Left!"
[Pyu!]
[Myu!]
"Hahahah!"
...Of course, when they met before, that reputation was so clean it felt shabby, but that was because the opponent was always weak. When Evan saw Jhin, Serena, and Ena struggling against the Blood Orc warrior, he recalled that he was a strong enemy. Last time it had been so easy that he hadn't realized it.
'Well, if I hadn't put restrictions on her, it wouldn't be that different...'
Serena was far stronger than any newcomer of her age or level, though Evan wasn't sure why. Was the game's tamer practice too effective in this world, was her aptitude that high, or was Tigris Glory a superior artifact than that in the game? Perhaps the potential of the elite slimes summoned by the necklace was also excellent.
'I understand that the demons were aiming for her. Really, she's a scam...if she could've grown up properly in the game, you wouldn't need anything like a protagonist.'
Anyway, Serena was too strong. It was a scam to the point she might be stronger than Shine or Belois. If she used all her power, the battle would end in no time, and Jhin and Ena wouldn't gain experience. Therefore, in this battle, Serena and the slimes were limited to only provocation and defense. As a result, per Evan's intentions, such a fierce battle was taking place. It was the perfect time for Jhin and Ena to grow.
[Annoyingly fluttering around like a mosquito!]
"Oh...!"
The huge ax bombarded the space around the orc. Ena quickly evaded it and used her spear, slicing the orc's forearm. It was a great blow, but it wasn't too deep.
"I will fight all day long! Oppa, can't I attack?"
"No."
[Pyu!]
Slimes blocked the Blood Orc warrior as it tried to chase after Ena. Jhin's arrows flew in, aiming precisely at the short gap made like that. He hurriedly moved his arms to block the arrows. An arrow stuck into his arm, eliciting a groan from him, and Ena's attacks continued a second after.
'Good. Good, but...still weak.'
Jhin and Ena would surely be able to grow strong later. However, their training wasn't that deep, and they weren't able to overwhelm the Blood Orc in terms of attack or speed. As a rookie, they had reached level 20 of the dungeon and became very strong, but it wasn't enough. But, thinking about it calmly, it was natural. The Blood Orc warrior wasn't just a boss; it was a hidden boss and an elite monster that appeared after the 40th floor! Rather, Shine and Belois were strange for dealing with it so easily.
'Jhin's power is good enough if he can hit his weaknesses properly. However, in order to do that, Ena has to draw attention more with a stronger attack, creating a bigger opportunity...'
Ena's attacks were basically being treated as an annoying buzzing by the Blood Orc. That was why he was more alert toward Jhin than Ena. Again, Ena's attack power should be higher. Even now, Evan had no complaints about her light footwork or sharp spear...now; that was by no means the 'right answer.'
'If you hunt the Blood Orc warrior and grow to level 21, but don't get the proper skills...for the time being, it would be best to focus on the spear.'
The devotion that Ena had for her fighting techniques was beyond words. It was a bit cold-hearted, but if she had only focused on the spear, she would be much stronger than she was now. They may have already taken down the boss.
[Ahhh!]
"Kh...oh!"
With that in mind, looking back at Ena, she was so engrossed in the battle that she forgot even the basic movements of the fighting skills she had learned from Evan.
"Ena, it's dangerous!"
"Don't shoot; maybe Ena is right!"
The moment Ena put her spear through the back of the Blood Orc's hand, he swung his arm in the air in pain. However, the spear didn't come out as it was deeply embedded in his flesh, and Ena was also hanging on desperately in order not to miss her chance, swaying pathetically in the air.
[Stay away, troublesome mosquitos!]
"This!"
Then, Ena, holding her spear, wanted to work hard to stop her body from shaking in the air, but instead, she instinctively gathered her feet in the air and kicked the back of the hand.
[Ahhhhh!]
It appeared to be Ena's most effective attack so far. Blood rose in the air as the spear was pulled out, and at the same time, Ena's body bounced back. However, before she hit the wall, she used her spear to relieve the shock, and, spurring off the wall, she rushed the Blood Orc warrior again. Her attacks were somewhat sloppy, but they were also threatening her. The hidden boss confronted her, revealing that he felt it as well.
"That's..."
Reckless and unreasonable movements. Ena was flying around, too immersed in the battle. In short, it was very dangerous.
"Evan, she..."
"Wait, wait a second. Jhin, I'm sorry, Serena too, please step back."
"Yes, yes!"
However, Evan thought she might be showing off new movements that weren't bound by her training because she was in that state. In fact, her attack was ferocious and sharp. There was a high likelihood she would accrue injuries herself, but if she could control that part, there was room for improvement in the future. Rather than elaborately handling her footwork and her spear at the same time, she struggled to use both somehow to inflict fatal injuries. Evan could read the possibilities in those movements.
'But it may be dangerous, so I should be prepared.'
Evan watched quietly, holding a bead in one hand. If the moment came when her life was threatened, he would clean up the Blood Orc warrior himself.
"Haaah!"
But there was no need at all. Ena agilely avoided his attacks and then jumped high, kicking out her legs at the same time she brought her spear forward as hard as she could.
[Kuaaaaaaaaah!]
"...She got faster."
"No, until now, she was too conscious of the distance from the enemy, and she wasn't able to speed up..."
"Hah!"
The Blood Orc warrior screamed in terrible pain. However, Ena held her spear firmly and swung from the top of his head, kicking away his arms. Although her body wasn't strong enough to face his attacks head-on normally, his posture was unstable now, and his fists didn't hold enough strength in them.
"Haaaah!"
But what was really amazing was the next moment. At the moment an attack she couldn't avoid flew it, Ena jumped with all her strength of the orcs head. Just before grazing the ceiling, she flipped her body in the air, slammed into the ceiling with both of her feet, and rushed back down to him and the spear still stuck in his head.
[Ahhhhhhh!]
The spear accepted the momentum of her body as she fell back down, pushing further into the Blood Orc's head.
[KIhaaaaak!]
It was a fatal blow that stunned the Blood Orc warrior. A feeling like a movie screen suddenly stopping overcame the hall. But just before it could fall, Evan shouted out.
"Finish it! Serena, attack too!"
"Kh!"
"Guys, three consecutive body-busting!"
[Pyu!]
[Myu!]
[Moongyu!]
Everyone had been waiting for that moment. One of Jhin's arrows burst the Blood Orc warrior's left eye, and a second later, Serena's three slimes hit him with an intense elemental attack. When Ena recovered her spear, the battle was officially over.
"This...I won."
After seeing that the boss had vanished and left only the loot, Ena sat down, muttering weakly. Serena's slimes moved to support her.
"You shouldn't lose your temper to the point you can't see in front of you."
"S-sorry!"
Ena bowed her head with a sad expression as Evan approached her. However, he put his hand on her head without any further blame.
"Very well done, Ena. I think you've found a direction to grow."
"Yeah? ...Oh, yes!"
A bright smile appeared on her face as she understood his words. She, too, was clearly holding onto the feeling that she had just done something. Evan had affirmed it, so now she was convinced. Although it was wrong to lose control like that, the battle itself wasn't bad. No, it was great.
"A new combat technique that harmonizes the spear and martial arts wasn't created simply by using them at the same time."
"Of course, but it's very difficult to realize it...well done. You will do well in the future."
"Hey...hehe."
An innocent smile caught Ena's lips. She couldn't describe the feeling of hearing compliments from the person she longed for. Of course, the looks she was receiving from Belois and Arisha, who were staring from behind her, were a bit scary, but she decided not to mind. Anyway, Evan was stroking her head right now!
After that, they left the hidden boss battle room and went down the stairs to the 21st floor, safely growing to level 21. And, Ena obtained one more reward.
It was the moment the new unique skill 'Lightning Trident' was born.