Ch.64Dungeon Conquest – 4

Alpha, or the Lizard Man King. Honestly, the former seems more accurate than the latter.

What kind of king is that? What royalty? It’s just a lizard that became a bigger lizard, nothing more.

Kaak—!

Still, pretending to be a king, it carries a stone-carved knife instead of a crude wooden spear.

Getting cut or stabbed by that looks like it would hurt terribly.

As I step back slightly, the pitch-black stone knife grazes past me.

Fast. Even for an Alpha, this is excessively fast.

‘Originally a creature that would be C-grade at best, no matter how generously rated.’

As the substitute professor in charge, I made sure to study up on dungeons thoroughly.

Lizard Men never exceed C-grade, no matter how generously you rate them.

The same applies to their leader, the Alpha, who could be considered the dungeon’s boss.

At best, it’s just slightly bigger in size but otherwise no different.

It’s not even B-grade, just stuck with a C-grade rating, that’s all.

In other words, all monsters in this dungeon should be easily handled by Gold-ranked individuals.

From that Lizard Man earlier to this Alpha howling in front of me.

But this one’s level now exceeds that Gold rank standard.

Though its stone knife is incredibly crude, the speed with which it wields it is on par with Yuhyun Jung.

No, let me correct myself. It’s even faster than Yuhyun Jung. Yuhyun Jung, that bastard is worse than this lizard.

Kwak—!

As I dodge the lightning-fast knife strike, its tail immediately comes swinging at me.

This one I can’t avoid. If I try to dodge this too, I might end up in a worse situation.

Thud—!

A heavy impact travels through my entire body. With slight exaggeration, it feels like being hit by a car.

But it’s not unbearable. It’s much better than being hit by The Elder’s spear.

‘Still… this is definitely not power that a C-grade should be able to produce.’

This dungeon didn’t just appear a day or two ago.

Nor is this monster a newly discovered species.

It’s a dungeon that’s always been here, monsters we’ve always faced.

Nothing has changed. Except, perhaps, their overall level.

Thinking about it, I couldn’t help but feel a chill run down my spine.

If students made up of only Gold ranks had entered here, what would have happened?

‘What would happen? It would immediately make breaking news: “Tragedy during Academy Student Training,” that’s what.’

I’m grateful. Grateful that I came along. Truly grateful that I accepted Hakjun Ma’s proposal.

How fortunate that I don’t have to send them in helplessly.

Kirik—!

The Alpha looks at me briefly, then turns its head and starts walking away.

Does it find the students fighting over there more appetizing prey than just me?

My pride is severely wounded. It’s not like I’m incapacitated.

I was just gauging how strong it had become, and this is what I get? Dismissal?

Seeing that attitude suddenly reminds me of Yuhyun Jung, and my irritation flares up.

“Hey, lizard!”

The Alpha makes a “kirik” sound and turns its head.

Could it possibly understand human speech? No, that can’t be. It must have just looked over.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

– The Third Eye is currently active.

◎ The Silver Gatekeeper

: Characteristic activation conditions have been met.

: Characteristic is currently active.

: Recalibrating opponent’s grade.

: Grade adjustment – Gold ~ Platinum level detected

‘By Academy standards, between Gold and Platinum means… even if it measures as C-grade, its actual level is equivalent to B-grade.’

If this thing had attacked the students from behind, it would have been disastrous.

In the midst of other battles where they’re already preoccupied, a B-grade level Alpha suddenly joining in?

I guarantee there would have been serious injuries, or even fatalities.

That can’t happen. Yes, that absolutely cannot happen. Casualties under my supervision?

Wouldn’t that be betraying Hakjun Ma who trusted me with this substitute professor role?

And I don’t like it either. At least not in a situation where I’m responsible.

Someone losing their life is not particularly welcome. I don’t want to see it.

Additionally, this would hurt the Gatekeeper’s pride too.

Where do you think you’re going? Without even taking the placement test, where do you think you’re headed?

‘Damn, forget being a Gatekeeper or whatever, let’s start with your placement exam.’

◎ Sole Arbiter

: Characteristic is currently active.

: This is an opponent who has not received promotion from Seojin Baek.

: Recognizing as examination subject.

Kyaa—!

That damn kirik, kyaa, kwak. Don’t you have anything else?

I threw my fist with all my might toward the approaching creature’s mouth.

I felt soft flesh and hard muscle at my fingertips.

Red blood and sticky saliva followed, coating my hand.

Kirik, kruuk—

It seems taking a direct hit was quite shocking to it.

The Alpha staggers and gives me a bewildered look.

Yes, you’d be surprised too. That landed too perfectly.

But to be honest, I’m a bit bewildered myself.

I didn’t expect it to land so strongly.

It connected so perfectly that I was the one surprised.

– Gatekeeper characteristic is manifesting at maximum capacity.

– All abilities have been amplified.

‘This is the first time I’ve seen this message.’

Well, whatever it is, it’s not important right now.

The urgent matter is eliminating the Alpha, which poses the greatest threat to the students.

It seems that landing a solid hit has provoked its anger.

Howling, it swings its stone knife and tail with twice the ferocity as before.

A chilling sensation slowly runs down my spine.

While not comparable to The Elder, it’s certainly not an opponent to be taken lightly.

One hit could potentially knock me unconscious.

If that happens, not only would I be in danger, but the students still in battle would be at risk too.

Dodge, dodge, and finally dive inward.

I can’t make large movements, but cutting is still possible.

Slash—!

A significant cut appears across the creature’s chest.

Immediately after, its brutish hand comes crashing down, but I quickly retreat.

The larger its body, the more blind spots it inevitably has.

I need to target those areas. Thoroughly exploit its weaknesses.

Of course, it seems determined not to allow me to approach again, gritting its teeth.

Clang—!

I slightly underestimated it because of the stone knife, but surprisingly, it’s very sturdy.

I thought it would break after a few hits with my sword, but it seems I need to change my strategy.

‘Swing, swing, tail once, and now.’

I waited for the timing when it swung its hand not holding the stone knife.

A perfect counter. A long cut appears on the Alpha’s forearm.

Kraeek—!

Blood pours from the creature’s forearm, which split open with a crack.

It landed well. Yes, it landed well, but…

‘It should have gone deeper, higher than this.’

It’s not just its strength and speed that have improved.

The toughness of its hide has also increased compared to other Lizard Men.

My palm is stinging, yet I only managed to cut that much.

It’s not an opponent I can’t defeat, but it’s quite troublesome.

The best option in the current situation would be to hold out until the students arrive.

That way, I could receive Hana Kang’s overwhelming firepower support.

‘But that would look bad.’

As the substitute professor in charge, waiting for students doesn’t seem right.

And with my characteristic being the Gatekeeper. Against a monster that hasn’t even taken the placement test.

Waiting for students to launch a joint attack would be disrespectful to my characteristic as well.

What should I do? Think. A way to definitively retire this creature.

Its durability, strength, and speed are on a completely different level from ordinary Lizard Men.

A moment’s carelessness could result in broken bones or being sliced by that stone knife.

Of course, its large size creates more blind spots, which is a weakness.

It covers that with speed. And I’ve already targeted that once.

It’s not a complete fool, so it will be anticipating that possibility.

‘Strength, speed. Strengths. Blind spots, weaknesses…. Wait.’

Suddenly, a thought occurred to me.

Do I really need to focus only on its weaknesses?

What if I could use its strengths against it for a counter?

Moreover, I already knew how to do that.

‘Minseong Kang.’

Not long ago, when I went for dinner at Soohyun Kim’s invitation.

I unintentionally ended up sparring with Minseong Kang.

Though he’s an A-grade ability user, his skills are on a completely different level from other A-grades.

Defeat was inevitable, and I received a penalty for using my characteristic.

Along with a terrifying warning that the characteristic itself could disappear if penalties accumulated.

But it wasn’t all loss. I’m quite clear about profit and loss calculations.

I believe in getting something in return for hardship or damage suffered.

Kieek—!

The Alpha swings its stone knife violently once more.

Still fast, still strong. Monstrous destructive power.

Until just now, I would have been disgusted by that strength.

But at this moment, the creature’s brute force was actually welcome.

Minseong Kang’s stance that day, how he held his sword, even his breathing.

I recall it clearly. And I recreate it. The same, yet different.

The creature’s movements gradually slow down. And within that, I faintly see a path.

The hero of the past, Sword Wraith, the path of the sword he wanted to show me.

I draw out that subtle technique he built over decades in my own way.

‘Just a little more.’

The creature’s stone knife flies in, coming dangerously close.

My heart pounds madly, and my head screams at me to do something, anything.

But I held back. I endured. I waited.

Just as Minseong Kang did, I too was watching for that perfect moment.

‘…Now.’

I don’t use excessive force. I don’t act hastily either.

Quietly, smoothly, as he showed me, like a gentle breeze.

Swoosh—

Something heavy catches on the tip of my sword, then suddenly feels lighter.

And immediately after, I saw the Alpha’s body that had been charging at me float into the air.

‘It worked.’

I couldn’t help but laugh. I can’t believe this actually worked.

But joy or excitement can wait. It’s not over yet.

Both my current battle and what Minseong Kang did back then have more to come.

Another subtle technique Minseong Kang displayed in the final moment.

It was hazier than what I just did, but I thought it was worth trying.

The parts I lack, I can fill with other memories I possess.

Those of The Elder, Hyunwoo Lee, and even Soohyun Kim.

I fill the gaps with what is theirs yet simultaneously mine.

“Hup!”

I swung with all my might, letting my body and sword flow naturally.

Though my muscles felt like they were tearing, I gritted my teeth and endured.

Thud—

I heard something fall to the ground.

The head of the Alpha that had been flicking its tongue just moments ago.

And following it, its massive body falls backward.

Thud—!

“…Insane.”

This old man really used something this terrifying against me?