Chapter 177 (1/2)

Act 1

Strength of 97.

Although there was only a seven-point difference, Su-hyeun could feel his actual strength was several times greater.

The real-world changes felt from each one-point stat increase became more pronounced as the score got higher. Also, this was his first time experiencing a strength stat of 97.

<< My previous record for strength was 96, wasn’t it? >>

Back then, he didn’t place too much of an importance on stats besides his magical powers. He invested all the achievement points he could in increasing his reserve of magical energy, as well as in purchasing items and information on every tenth floor.

So then, he only ever got a strength stat of 96. He used to think that that stat value was perfectly serviceable. Rather, he believed that it was more than enough.

Unfortunately…

<< My magic level and count are rising up quickly enough even now. >>

Maybe, a bit too quickly, even. He easily figured out the reason why that was the case, too.

<< It’s the difference in proficiency. >>

Individuals had different levels of talents in regards to magic.

Someone blessed with high sensitivity toward magical energy could raise their magic level and count really quickly, while others could only develop at a snail’s pace. Su-hyeun was the former. As a matter of fact, his talent in it was more than enough to say it was overflowing.

On top of that, he even personally experienced what the ninth level of magical power was like, too. It was obvious that his magic sensitivity was far higher than in his previous life.

But, what about his stats?

<< My strength won’t improve by itself. I won’t get faster automatically, and my stamina won’t increase without me doing anything. >>

In the end, he had no choice but to put his effort into enhancing his stats. It was a different strategy than in his past life, and his current stats were the result of this line of thinking.

And so…

The moment he stepped inside the dungeon, an ape monster pounced on him from above with its deadly fangs fully bared—only for Su-hyeun’s fist to fly in and strike it clean across the jaw.

SMACK-!

A nice, refreshing sound exploded out.

The ape’s head caved in. Its skull was smashed in while its body flew away. A monster more than four meters tall and probably weighing a ton was actually defying gravity to fly several meters through the air. From a punch without a single drop of magical energy in it, no less.

BOOM-!

The carnivorous ape crashed back to earth along with its shattered head.

The spectacle that transpired in the blink of an eye brought about a stunned silence from the raiding party following behind Su-hyeun, all of their jaws hitting the floor as they stared at the South Korean.

Some among them weren’t simply shocked, though, as they were blessed with very quick, discerning senses, too.

<< I didn’t sense any magical power from him. >>

<< Did I make a mistake? >>

<< He didn’t even use his sword… >>

Among them all, though, Chernov’s shock was incomparable to everyone else’s.

<< Just a single punch?! >>

That fist didn’t contain any magical energy whatsoever. It was a simple punch, nothing more. He didn’t know if Su-hyeun was a renowned martial artist or what, but regardless, the man had killed a monster from a blue-colored dungeon without resorting to any magical power.

<< N-no, I must’ve made a mistake. >>

Indeed, he had probably failed to sense the magical energy because it all happened too quickly.

Besides, Su-hyeun had entered the dungeon before everyone else, so he could’ve used his magical energy in that brief window of time.

Things made more sense when he thought of it that way. Even then, what happened was still incredible to behold.

<< What a stunning magical energy control that is. >>

Chernov assumed Su-hyeun’s punch was just an example of unbelievably efficient magical energy consumption. It made more sense than the alternative.

“Looks like there are quite a few monsters even around this entrance area,” said Su-hyeun while raising his head.

Their surroundings were filled with massive trees easily more than a hundred meters tall. They were the kinds of trees you couldn’t see in the real world.

Screech, howl-

Ape creatures could be spied darting between the gigantic trees. Their figures were obscured by the huge, expansive trunks, but the carnivorous apes were still as big as an average-sized elephant.

“Even the beginning isn’t easy, it seems,” said Chernov as he pulled out his bow.

Belatedly, the other awakeners in the raiding party yanked their weapons out one by one and readied their skills.

Su-hyeun watched them get ready and opened his mouth. “Don’t spread out. Only advance while maintaining a defensive formation, please. Mister Chernov, stay in the rear-most position and snipe the apes up in the trees, please.”

The English-speaking interpreter quickly translated what Su-hyeun said to the rest.

He ordered them to maintain a defensive formation. Since Su-hyeun was the leader of the raiding party, there was no problem with him issuing commands, but his plan puzzled them somewhat.

<< Does he want us to respond in a passive manner? >>

<< How come? >>

<< He wants Mister Chernov’s arrows to be the main method of attack? From this distance?? >>

No matter how hard they thought about it, he was asking for an impossibility. Even then, they couldn’t start the raid by going against their leader’s orders. The raiding party consisted of pretty skilled awakeners, so they followed his commands and quickly formed a defensive formation.

And then…

“Perfect.” Su-hyeun confirmed that they had followed his orders, and made his move. “Well, then. Everyone, do your best to survive, okay?”

“Eh? Uh, uh??”

“H-hey??”

[Leap.]

Su-hyeun leaped upwards.

All by himself.

After giving them the order to survive by themselves, he must’ve thought that it would be sufficient enough because he then immediately charged away.

At the same time….

“Come out.”

Gya-ooong-!

Miru emerged into the open air after ripping space apart. The red dragon let out a loud howl as it let Su-hyeun climb on its back.

Swoooosh-

Miru moved at lightning speed. The dungeon zoomed past as they charged at a carnivorous ape right in front of them, the monster using its tail wrapped around a tree branch to secure its footing.

And then-

Squeeze-

Su-hyeun swung his fist powerfully.

Ka-boom-!

Miru’s movement speed was added on top of the punch’s already tremendous power. The carnivorous ape’s head was instantly smashed into bloody bits and pieces.

The untouched body, which sharply contrasted the head crushed like a block of tofu, fell to the ground, lifeless.

It was exactly the same as before.

<< …I couldn’t sense his magical energy. >>

Chernov, notching an arrow in order to provide assistance to Su-hyeun, became certain of it.

<< That… was just a punch. >>

Swiiiish-

While riding on Miru, Su-hyeun continued to punch the carnivorous apes.

The battle was pretty one-sided.

He found no need to allocate his magical energy or stamina—movement was taken care of by riding on Miru’s back, and he hadn’t used one iota of magical energy so far to attack.

Screech, screeeech-!