—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Congratulations! You have cleared the Field Dungeon [Jungle Fortress Tustosta]!
Due to completing a solo run, additional rewards will be granted.
Existing skill proficiencies will increase.
Mind and Body Training has reached [Advanced Level].
Overall physical abilities have significantly increased.
You can now act according to your will and slightly defy the laws of physics.
Power transmission is now fully optimized. You can control your body’s flow at will.
Skin has thickened, granting resistance to bladed weapons.
Magic damage can now be slightly mitigated.
Less likely to flinch when encountering powerful enemies.
Clearer judgment and reduced panic in critical situations.
Less likely to lose control of your senses.
Natural Mana [Intermediate] proficiency has increased, allowing for faster environmental adaptation.
Passive circulation of natural mana is now possible.
You have acquired the sub-skill [General’s Shout].
General’s Shout: Draws attention with a loud shout, granting a sense of belonging to nearby allied lifeforms.
Also increases stats beneficial for combat, such as attack power, health, and defense.
This skill can be toggled on/off. Be cautious when using it, as it draws aggro.
Analyzing your play style for solo clear rewards…
Excellent performance in reconnaissance and strategy, but lacking proper offensive skills.
Granting the sub-skill [Flash of Insight].
Additionally, due to skillful exploitation of environmental weaknesses, granting [Weakness Designation].
Flash of Insight (Beginner): Focuses power for a single, powerful strike. Can knock back opponents in the direction of the attack. Knockback distance increases with damage dealt.
Weakness Designation (Beginner): Designates a weak point on a target before attacking. Striking the designated weak point deals additional damage.
Currently, only one weak point can be designated per target.
You have acquired one Return Stone for clearing the dungeon.
Overwhelmed by the flood of rewards, I couldn’t contain my excitement.
‘This is insane.’
Flash of Insight and Weakness Designation, in particular, were exactly what I needed.
Combining them could potentially quadruple damage output, making them incredibly synergistic.
My struggles with mid-boss monsters due to lacking a finishing move were finally over.
General’s Shout also made activating United Will easier thanks to its ability to instill a sense of belonging.
To exaggerate slightly, it meant I could instantly activate United Will with any nearby allies just by using General’s Shout.
‘Mind and Body Training reaching advanced level synergizes with Natural Mana… and I even gained environmental adaptability.’
While its effects were minor now, it would eventually become like a walking solar power generator.
That would be when Lee Seok-hyun’s true potential finally began to shine.
A trash character capable of single-handedly decimating everything thanks to the synergy of numerous hidden skills.
The peak of romanticism.
‘Am I… actually incredibly strong now?’
I entertained the pleasant thought that I might even be able to challenge first place, and activated the Return Stone.
[Due to an unknown cause, Mirinae Academy cannot be set as a return location.]
[Return location fixed to Mirinae Academy’s first-year training grounds.]
‘What?’
What was going on?
Confused, I was enveloped by the return light. And the moment I arrived at the training grounds…
“GYAAAAAHHHHH!!!”
I witnessed a scene of carnage.
High-rank demons leisurely slaughtering students one by one, survivors scattering in panic, unable to find an escape route.
A Death Meteor lay in the center of the training grounds, and Gainard was locked in combat with Roomlau.
Grasping the situation in seconds, I immediately activated the skill I’d just acquired.
[Activating General’s Shout.]
I hadn’t expected to use it so soon.
“Attention all Mirinae Academy students on the training grounds! Gather at my location immediately!”
My shout, like a lion’s roar, echoed through the training grounds, drowning out the screams.
It was so attention-grabbing that even Roomlau stopped toying with Gainard and turned to look at me.
Undeterred, I continued.
“Those unable to reach me immediately should form groups of at least five and prepare for defense! Focus solely on defense! Do not engage!”
I couldn’t gather everyone at once, so I instructed them to form smaller groups for faster assembly.
Simultaneously, by assigning them a defensive position, I created a strategy for survival.
Of course, if the high-rank demons started rampaging in earnest, they’d be extinguished like candles in the wind. But for now, the demons weren’t going all out.
‘This is our only chance to escape.’
With the high-rank demons distracted and focused on me, this was the perfect opportunity.
“Do not run blindly! Move slowly towards the exit! Stay together! Move as a single unit! And those who are injured but can still move, help those who are incapacitated! Prioritize the tanks!”
Originally, there shouldn’t have been a professor present in this situation, but Gainard’s presence was actually beneficial.
“Who are you?”
“…”
Garan and Chaitus reacted sharply to my commands.
Garan questioned my identity in a condescending tone, while Chaitus, as always, remained silent, observing me from beneath his hood.
The aggro-drawing penalty of General’s Shout was working perfectly.
‘Now the challenge is surviving this.’
I’d managed to take control of the situation by shouting commands, but if I died, everything would likely revert to chaos.
[Activating United Will.]
As soon as the notification appeared, confirming the conditions were met, I activated United Will to boost my stats.
If Garan decided to kill me seriously, I’d likely be dead before I could react.
“You’re not answering my question. Thanks to you, the screams have stopped. And you’ve even set up spider webs, how annoying.”
He seemed to know everything, casually gesturing with his hand to sever the spider silk I’d placed.
The spider webs, strengthened by the second leg of the Spider title, were effortlessly cut with a few hand gestures. High-rank demons truly were monsters.
While there were clear differences in power even among high-rank demons, the three present were considered mid-tier.
Even so, they were far from weak. Gainard’s struggles against Roomlau, despite not being at full strength, proved that.
Therefore, all I could do was buy time and wait for the students to escape.
My experience leading the orphans out of the ant hill helped me stay calm.
“Chaitus, pursue the students. I’ll play with this one for a while.”
“…”
Chaitus, without a word, moved towards the students at Garan’s command.
“Run! Don’t look back! Just run! Get as far away as possible!”
“WAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!”
I shouted again, urging the students to evacuate.
As soon as they saw Chaitus move, they scattered, screaming in terror.
Earlier, I’d told them to move cautiously because Garan hadn’t made his decision yet. Now that his target was clear, speed was of the essence.
‘Roomlau will be handled by Professor Gainard, and I’ll face Garan.’
Now that he didn’t have to worry about the students, Gainard would quickly overwhelm Roomlau. It was only a matter of time.
The question was whether I could survive against Garan until then.
“You’re quite impressive. To maintain such composure in this situation, and at such a young age… to take command like that. You have real talent.”
Garan approached slowly, genuinely impressed.
Each step he took brought a wave of pressure, making my limbs tremble.
If it weren’t for Mind and Body Training reaching the advanced level, I might have collapsed like the other students.
“Even now, as I approach, you remain calm. I like that. Perhaps recruiting you instead of killing you would be more beneficial.”
Would you consider becoming a demon?
Garan stopped before me, waiting for my answer.
I looked up at his face, craning my neck, and nodded.
“Yes, I will.”
“Really…?”
Garan’s arrogance was his weakness. He tended to lower his guard when things went his way.
And now, in this moment…
Believing he’d successfully recruited a talented individual, he’d become complacent. I seized the opportunity.
[Activating Weakness Designation! Designating the abdomen as the weak point.]
[Activating Flash of Insight! Focusing power into my left fist.]
I wrapped spider silk around my left fist, spinning it like a drill, and aimed for Garan’s abdomen.
He’d underestimated me, thinking a student, no matter how capable, couldn’t possibly pose a threat. He’d assumed I was bluffing, trying to draw his attention.
That moment of carelessness…
BANG!
…sent him crashing into the wall.
“Of course I was lying, you idiot. Do you think that would work?”
If you’re going to draw aggro, do it properly.
The battle had just begun.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇