Chapter 40 Part7 (1/2)
<chapter 40.=”” fake=”” hero=”” saga=”” -=”” 7=””>
[Level 7 elite dungeon - You have acquired the permit to the Cradle of Fire. All stats are increased by 50 within the dungeon. The dungeon's information is added to your minimap. All actions are buffed within the dungeon.]
It was strange; the Pope's information on the dungeon was all wrong. He didn't care about the dungeon's true name, but he didn't expect it to be an elite dungeon!
Even so, he couldn't just pack up and leave. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo didn't tell anyone about this and just hurried forward. He was prepared to hit level 8 before he left this dungeon.
[A strong, hot wind is blowing. High Rank Fire Resistance completely nullifies its effects.]
[The ground is agonizingly hot. High Rank Fire Resistance completely nullifies its effects.]
”You guys all good?”
”I feel like I'm dying.”
”But you're still not dying.”
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo felt like the entrance's heat was akin to a tepid summer breeze, but the paladins and the priests looked like they were heroes facing off against certain death. Each and every step was difficult for them. Despite them equipping gear that increased their Fire Resistance, it seemed like the heat was too much for them.
”I feel like it's gotten a lot hotter all of a sudden. If His Holiness's a.n.a.lysis is correct, then it's a sign that...”
”The monsters inside are further strengthened. Because mankind has only killed the monsters that come outside the dungeon and haven't tackled the dungeon itself, the trapped mana fundamentally strengthens the monsters...”
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had experienced this phenomenon before, where monsters that have been trapped in a dungeon for several years are many levels stronger than their normal counterparts. This dungeon may be the same. In fact, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was shocked that the Magic Empire was so willing to leave a bomb at their very doorstep for so long.
'It's the same in both the Magic and the Underground Empire. These Emperors sure love sitting in their rooms doing nothing.'
'Maybe they're protecting the palace?'
No matter how threatening an elite level 7 dungeon was, the Emperor should be able to deal with it without much difficulty.
But the fact that he left the dungeon alone for so many years meant that he had some sort of reason that he couldn't leave the palace. Or that he's afraid of something outside... Probably not. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo couldn't think of anything that the Emperor would have to be afraid of. If there was, then it'd be the Undead Emperor, or... death itself.
[I-I'm getting stronger. My power is growing.]
'Yeah, yeah. Get big and strong.'
[...Ah, an enemy approaches. From below!]
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo didn't need Zenon's warning, as he sensed the enemy's presence already. He silently thrust his greatsword into the very heart of the desert. A chilling sound was accompanied by black blood surging up to the surface.
He raised his sword, revealing a red scorpion in the place he'd stabbed. The end of its tail was bent like a hook and emitted a red flame, rather than poison. Jin was a bit surprised and took a step back.
[Lv7 Sun Scorpion]
”Everyone, prepare for battle. Be careful, it might be able to shoot its fire over long distances.”
”Understood!”
With Lee s.h.i.+n Woo at its center, the priests and paladins got into formation, leaving a certain amount of distance between them and Lee s.h.i.+n Woo. While they were doing that, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo roughly a.s.sessed the Sun Scorpion's strength and abilities. He ripped off its outer sh.e.l.l and beat on it, and also figured out its methods of attacking.
”It's weak.”
'It is?'
A Sun Scorpion's greatest strength wasn't its toughness. It was its heat! It wasn't very large, but the scorpion's heat felt as though it had concentrated the surrounding desert's heat. Moreover, the flame at the end of its tail would bypa.s.s Intermediate Fire Resistance entirely and burn the body! Of course, it didn't have any effect whatsoever on Lee s.h.i.+n Woo.
After he'd tested this, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo stamped on it and killed it. When he picked up the 'Fire Tail' it dropped, it transformed into a 'Fire Tailbone' like any other non-skeletal drop. He acted like he was pocketing it in his bag, but was actually activating Bone Reinforcement. Activating Bone Reinforcement had become completely natural for him now.
[Absorbing the Lv7 Fire Tailbone. Health has increased by 1. Skill proficiency in High Rank Fire and High Rank Fire Resistance has increased.]
'Perfect.'
He'd been fighting against either way weaker or way stronger opponents for the longest time, so he was needlessly happy from picking up a same level bone. He was slightly moved by the experience, but there were people who needed him.
”Sir Kay, please help!”
”We need help too! These guys are a lot stronger than... Oh, flames incoming!”
”Flame s.h.i.+eld!”
In the short period of time that Lee s.h.i.+n Woo spent studying the monster, the paladins were forced onto the defensive against three Sun Scorpions. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo sighed and straightened his greatsword. Then, the Sun Scorpions' flames disappeared, as if they were all a dream.
Their tail flames disappeared too. The scorpions panicked and shook their tails, but it didn't change anything.
”What...!?”
”That's Elemental Domination! I didn't think anyone could actually use that ability...”
”Even the Heavenly Light General, the leader of the 12 generals, shouldn't be at that level...!”
Elemental Domination. It wasn't a skill. When one's element dominates the other, the dominator can seize his opponent's element and use it as he pleases. It was recorded as a legend, but the paladins and priests were seeing the rebirth of that ability right before their very eyes!
...Is what they thought, but it wasn't. Although it was true that Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was far stronger than the Sun Scorpions and that he could indeed absorb their flames, it wasn't his own ability, but the Fire Dragon's Scale Greatsword's.
[Special pa.s.sive skill: Fire Eater - Absorbs the fire element and all fire-related energy.]
[Special pa.s.sive skill: Countercurrent - Once it reaches the maximum capacity, the fire energy is concentrated in a single point, amplified, and discharged.]
He hadn't fought against any fire enemies thus far strong enough to warrant the skill's use, but after thinking about it, he realized he could make good use of the Fire Dragon's Scale Greatsword here.
Of course, there might be a limit to how much it could absorb. But at the very least, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo hadn't met any enemies as powerful as he was.