20 – Operation

Using the surrounding structures, the three began to move.

All three moved stably without falling.

Something only those with insanely heightened senses could do.

They occasionally saw monsters on the ground, but even when they noticed them, they left before the monsters could attack, so there were no problems.

But not being attacked was one thing, and what I was thinking about was the monster’s rank.

“What do you think the monster rank is around here?”

“At least A+, maybe S- at most. But those would be elite monsters, so there wouldn’t be many of them.”

The monsters we were seeing now were, to put it simply, quadrupedal beasts covered in scales.

Judging from the aura they emitted, they were at least A+ grade.

The monsters that appeared very occasionally were ranked from S- to S.

Does that mean there are Kings of Annihilation everywhere?

No, that’s not the case.

The King of Annihilation is a boss monster.

It’s an entity that can strengthen its power by connecting to the ley lines at the center of the Dungeon.

So, its rank is probably between S and S+.

But the monsters here are S+ grade normal monsters.

It might take time to catch them, but it’s not life-threatening.

Even elite monsters are no exception.

“The second team will be dropping in soon.”

Ha-yeon, who had been keeping track of the time, said. Kaede, who was running, seemed to understand the meaning of her words and spoke.

“…Are we going to catch an elite monster?”

“Yeah, about one.”

If we kill even one S+ monster in the outer area, the monsters in that area will lose their commander and become simple-minded.

Then it will be easier for the second team to enter.

I can sense the flow of mana near here, and it seems like there’s an elite monster, so I thought we should catch it before we go.

“How’s your stamina?”

“Not depleted at all.”

“Enough.”

“Then let’s go.”

We need to conserve stamina, but catching one monster shouldn’t be a problem.

And according to the flow, there were no monsters around.

Unless there’s a major variable during the fight, no monsters will intrude.

With that thought in mind, the three of them headed in the direction Ha-yeon was running.

What we saw was none other than.

“A Chimera…?”

[The Constellation, ‘Moon-Cleaving Flash’ says it hasn’t seen a Chimera in a long time.]

A large open space.

No, a monster lying in a pit that was once a building.

Its body and face were in the form of a lion, with two snake heads moving near its tail.

And its body was covered in dragon scales. It was a Chimera.

[You have encountered the elite monster, ‘Abyssal Chimera (S+)’.]

Chimeras, along with the Dragon race, are known as dangerous monsters.

Their minimum rank is B+, and their average rank is A+.

And the high-ranking ones go up to S.

“It looks like a beast type…?”

“Probably.”

There are different types of Chimeras, and the one we’re looking at, with the form of a lion, is a beast type.

With its high bite force and the venomous poison spewed by the snakes on its tail, it can literally turn its enemies into liquid.

But that one is a special individual.

Those scales and the two snake heads that are different from other Chimeras are probably the reason for its high rank.

[The Constellation, ‘Moon-Cleaving Flash’ says that the monster’s individual name is due to the snake heads, not the scales.]

[The Constellation, ‘Moon-Cleaving Flash’ advises you to be careful because the poison from those snake heads is not ordinary venom, but Abyssal poison, which is deadly if you get hit.]

Kaede engraved the Constellation’s advice in her mind and ran forward.

According to the plan we made yesterday in a very, very short meeting.

Kaede rushed out first and attacked its neck once while it was still unaware.

Then a thin wound appeared and blood flowed out.

It was a surprise attack, but it seemed too unscathed.

“Fallen!”

“I know.”

Next, to prevent Kaede from becoming the target of a concentrated attack, Fallen took the lead and used a taunt skill.

One of the skills that any tank would naturally have is taunt.

[The Constellation, ‘Moon-Cleaving Flash’ says that it suddenly thought of a skill and is preparing to send it.]

…Suddenly?

I paused for a moment at the sudden preparation for a skill gift, but it wasn’t the first time the Constellation had done something like this.

But if you’re going to give it to me, give it to me when we’re not in a combat situation. Why do you keep giving me skills only when I’m fighting?

[The Constellation, ‘Moon-Cleaving Flash’ says that it will give it to you after this operation is over, puffing out its cheeks and pouting.]

[The Constellation, ‘Moon-Cleaving Flash’ says that’s a lie and that it’s not pouting, lying.]

“I would appreciate it if you could give it to me now…”

While I was thinking that.

The monster was running towards Fallen.

I was momentarily overwhelmed by its size, which was about the size of a large house, but I quickly regained my senses and moved to the monster’s abdomen.

Its whole body is covered in scales, but that’s probably the softest part.

And I activated the skill.

“Mana Beam.”

The skill name was uncool no matter how many times I heard it, but its effect was certain.

The huge white beam that shot out from both hands hit the Chimera’s abdomen.

-Kieeeeeee!!!

The monster screamed and retreated, as if it had been hit in a weak spot.

The scales on its abdomen fell off, revealing its flesh.

So it was like armor…

Ha-yeon, who had drawn the Immortal Longsword, thought about the plan we had briefly discussed yesterday and took a stance.

‘Fallen will charge first.’

He will use the simple but effective skill ‘Charge’ to hit the monster’s head, creating a brief opening.

Bang!

With the Divine Shield in front of him, he immediately used the skill and charged.

The huge shield collided with the Chimera’s head, the only place without scales, stunning it for a moment.

And.

“That stings a little…”

Ha-yeon slightly bit her thumb, causing a little blood to come out.

The purpose was clear.

[Blood has been detected.]

[The effect of the epithet, ‘Sword Demon’, is activated.]

[The title, ‘Cold Blood (B)’, is activated.]

Emotions surged uncontrollably, like a dam had burst, at the activation of the epithet and title.

Ha-yeon smiled faintly at the feeling she hadn’t felt in a long time, and she didn’t stop there, but poured mana into the Immortal Longsword.

Then, the sword shone brightly with a pure white aura.

‘Control. Let’s control it.’

When I fought the King of Annihilation last time, I just used all the mana I had, but now I need to conserve stamina.

Increase the power, but don’t overdo it.

Ha-yeon, who had strengthened her sword while controlling it, ran out with Kaede, who was next to her.

The target was the abdomen that she had attacked earlier.

“Hup!”

Taking a deep breath, she reached the abdomen faster than before and struck the same spot again.

An attack with a faint silver aura lingering and scattering like an afterimage.

The attack flew accurately towards the exposed flesh on the abdomen.

-Kyaaaaaaaa!!!

The attack hit.

And as a follow-up to that attack, Kaede, who was next to her, slashed horizontally with a dagger imbued with the black energy, ‘Black Stream’, creating a bloodbath.

The problem was.

“Wow… seriously, it’s not dying?….Keuk!”

Despite the attack, the monster didn’t die.

It glared at us with bloodshot eyes and swung its forefoot, and although I managed to defend against it, I was pushed back.

Fallen’s taunt is supposed to change the target of the attack to himself.

But that meant that it would be useless when there were multiple targets.

Area-of-effect damage is an example of that.

Ha-yeon and Kaede regained their stances, and Fallen blocked the Chimera’s fierce attacks with his shield.

He didn’t look tired, but it seemed quite difficult.

Just as I was about to run back in,

[The Constellation, ‘Moon-Cleaving Flash’ bestows upon you the skill ‘Sacred Haze (S)’.]

[Payment is being made.]

[The urgent situation has been confirmed, and the payment will be postponed until the end of this battle.]

“…Skill.”

The skill Sacred Haze (S) that the Constellation suddenly bestowed upon me.

I wondered if it would drop from S to A like last time, but maybe there’s a separate price to pay.

I postponed the payment and asked the Constellation.

‘Constellation. What kind of skill is this?’

[The Constellation, ‘Moon-Cleaving Flash’ advises you to infuse mana into your legs and arms.]

Legs and arms?

At the Constellation’s words, I took out the storm of mana that was raging in my heart and blood vessels due to the effect of the epithet and infused it into my legs and arms.

Then.

[You have activated the skill, ‘Sacred Haze (S)’.]

[Your legs become as fast as a river.]

[Your arms become as flexible as a Divine Beast.]

[You have made contact with divine power.]

Along with the messages that appeared, a pure white energy emanated from my limbs.

It was a different energy than when I infused Mana Beam into the Immortal Longsword earlier.

An energy that looked divine to anyone.

‘Crazy.’

The ground was slippery like a wet floor, but I could move freely on it.

My speed increased significantly.

‘My strength has also increased.’

I could feel great strength in both arms.

They were slender arms, but the aura emanating from them was not a lie.

“Kaede. Support me.”

“…I’ve been doing that since a while ago.”

With those words, Kaede imbued her legs with her signature skill, Black Stream, which she had used earlier.

Black Stream not only increases cutting power, but also increases basic strength and speed.

It was an all-purpose skill that could even exert physical force with just the energy if you poured in a lot of mana.

She put away the dagger and short sword she was holding and fiddled with the red jewel hanging around her neck, creating an interdimensional space and taking out a black katana.

It was a luxurious but dangerous-looking object.

[The Constellation, ‘Moon-Cleaving Flash’ says that it’s probably not as good as the ‘Immortal Longsword (S+)’, but it’s at least an S-grade item.]

“Black Fang.”

As she said that, she drew the blade from its sheath, and at the same time, she imbued the blade with Black Stream.

After looking at it for a moment, she straightened her sword and said.

“Let’s go then.”

“Yeah.”

With those words, Ha-yeon rushed out.

Much faster than before, and with movements that dramatically reduced stamina consumption, the Chimera, which was attacking Fallen, went berserk and spewed venom using the snakes on its tail.

The two blue venoms, reminiscent of the deep sea, that flew towards them were threatening enough, dangerous substances that could take a life just by touching them.

“Too slow.”

Ha-yeon flowed like water.

She naturally slipped to the side while wrapped in a pure white energy, and Kaede left only a black trail as she passed by the venom.

A little faster than Kaede, she passed by the still bleeding abdomen and aimed her blade at the snake heads on its butt.

And swung.

Slash.

-Kueeeeeeee!!!

The snake’s tail was cut off very easily.

One of the snake heads that had been moving actively stopped moving in an instant and fell to the ground, and Kaede, who was following behind, split the remaining snake head, leaving a black afterimage.

It was truly a harmony of black and white.

And Fallen, who was watching the scene, used Charge again from close range, and the Chimera, screaming, was hit on the head.

In response, the two of them swung their swords from the bottom up, splitting the monster in half.

[You have defeated the S+ grade monster ‘Abyssal Chimera’.]

[You have killed an elite monster. You have acquired Abyssal Scales.]

[You have acquired the item, ‘Curse of the Sea King (S)’.]

Two items appeared next to the monster’s corpse.

Several scales that looked much stronger than the scales that covered the monster’s body earlier, and a small bead that emitted a dark light like the deep sea.

“Here.”

“…Me?”

Ha-yeon, who had put the Immortal Longsword back into its sheath, picked up the scales and the bead and handed the S-grade item, Curse of the Sea King, to Kaede.

“It’s a consumable item, so I thought it would be better for you to have it than me.”

After checking it briefly, it was an item that cast a curse on the opponent it hit when thrown.

It was a million times more normal for Kaede, a master of throwing weapons, to have it than me.

“These scales…”

There were about 10 that I could see.

“I already have this, so I won’t take it.”

Kaede backed away.

“I would like 4 of them. I have a place to use them.”

He handed 4 of them to Fallen, and Ha-yeon took the remaining 6.

After a tough battle to warm up, they started moving towards the gate again, and soon the rest of the team arrived.