Chapter 06 - Solo Awakening as an Ex-Rank-Munchkin
Back home, Na Dan-sik ate a sandwich and logged into Hunter Net.
He checked to see if there was any new information and found news about the Slime Gate he had cleared.
[The Grade 1 Slime Certified Gate has been upgraded to Grade 2. Kang Hyeon-ah reportedly cleared it. The boss is said to be a Corrupted Slime King.]
He also checked the comments.
ㄴ Seriously?
ㄴ It's true, an acquaintance of mine just cleared it too.
ㄴ A gate upgrade? Is that even possible?
ㄴ Probably the first in Korea.
ㄴ I'm heading there now.
ㄴ Me too.
ㄴ I'm going too.
“The first gate upgrade in Korea?”
Na Dan-sik searched to see if it was true.
And it was. There was no news of any other gate being upgraded anywhere.
“Ha······.”
What was even more absurd was that the Power Inflation effect had turned the gate into a hidden stage.
“The hidden stage I cleared became a Grade 2 Gate…”
If that was the case, there was a high probability the Goblin Gate he went to recently had also changed.
Na Dan-sik immediately searched for the Suwon Goblin Gate.
There was no news about the Goblin Gate yet.
“It’ll probably be up soon.”
After all, the Goblin Gate had also been upgraded by the Power Inflation effect.
***
Kang Hyeon-ah stood before the Goblin Gate in Suwon with Hunters from the Association.
Following the Slime Gate, the Goblin Gate had also been upgraded. It was the first time a gate had ever been upgraded.
Nowhere else in the world was there any information about a gate being upgraded.
“If you’re ready, let’s enter.”
“Hyun-ah, you know you need to refrain from reckless behavior, right?”
“I know, don't worry. I'll be careful not to rush ahead without permission or draw aggro. Team Leader.”
“As long as you know. Let’s go.”
Kang Hyeon-ah followed the team leader, who took the lead with his shield, and entered the gate.
Looking around, she saw the gate had truly changed.
Instead of an abandoned mine, a goblin army was stationed in a massive cavern.
The goblins, equipped with armor and weapons, moved under the command of a goblin captain.
It was a completely different scene from the Grade 1 version.
“Team Leader, can I step up here?”
“Wait. It won't be too late after we take care of the captains first.”
The team leader advanced with his shield, picking off only the captains. Then, Kang Hyeon-ah took care of the soldiers with her flames.
With the veteran team leader at the forefront, Kang Hyeon-ah advanced swiftly to the boss room and fought the Goblin King alongside him.
The Goblin King, swinging its enormous greatsword, was extremely threatening, but it was no match for the team leader, an A-rank Hunter.
“Hyun-ah, I’ve worn him down a bit, so you finish him off.”
“I was waiting for you to say that.”
Flames flickered in Kang Hyeon-ah's hands.
Her class was Flame Emperor, a caster who wielded fire.
“I'm gonna hit it with a big one, so step back, Team Leader.”
“Got it.”
Gathering the flames from both hands into one, Kang Hyeon-ah expanded the fire. The growing flame swelled until it was large enough to fill the entire ceiling.
“Eat this.”
FWOOOSH!
A massive ball of fire engulfed the Goblin King.
The Goblin King, greatsword in hand, was swallowed by the flames.
After clearing the gate, Kang Hyeon-ah checked the clear records and let out a sigh.
“What a shame.”
“What is?”
“I want to set a record with a solo play, too.”
“No way. You're still a rookie.”
“But I have an S-rank skill!”
“Even with an S-rank skill, you need experience.”
“Tch.”
Kang Hyeon-ah’s gaze remained fixed on the number one spot in the clear records.
The current record holder for the Grade 1 Goblin Gate was someone named Na Dan-sik.
“Dad is keeping an eye on this person, too…”
“You just forget about it and focus on your training.”
Kang Hyeon-ah was in the middle of her practical training.
The person in charge of her training was Ma Dong-cheol, a Hunter from the Association. Ma Dong-cheol was a veteran who led a tank team.
Kang Cheol-man had entrusted Kang Hyeon-ah's training to Ma Dong-cheol because he had known her since she was a child.
As such, no one knew Kang Hyeon-ah better.
And Kang Hyeon-ah followed Ma Dong-cheol well.
“Team Leader, how did I do?”
“You’ve still got a long way to go.”
“Hmph.”
“Let’s go, time for mock training.”
“Is everything always about training?”
“Obviously.”
“I’m hungry. Let’s get lunch first.”
Ma Dong-cheol did not refuse the offer to eat.
***
Na Dan-sik had lunch and left his house.
He was planning to go to a gate.
Even though Power Inflation was in effect, he couldn't stop clearing gates. It was just too much fun.
The gate Na Dan-sik chose today was located in Cheoin-gu.
When he showed his license, the administrator looked at him with surprised eyes.
“Welcome, Mr. Na Dan-sik.”
He even greeted him warmly.
“Mr. Na Dan-sik, will you be doing a solo play?”
“Yes.”
“Are you planning to challenge the boss?”
“I’d like to.”
“Understood.”
This time, he didn't tell him not to.
“I can just go in?”
“Of course. You’ve cleared the boss in record time twice now, so you're cleared for solo play. You're currently number one in the rankings with your score.”
The score was a record that could raise a Hunter's rank.
Na Dan-sik's current clear score was 200 points.
That was because he had received a perfect score from both gates.
“Did you know?”
“What?”
“I mean that your record is currently on par with that of the strongest Hunter.”
“...Is that so?”
“The Association has high hopes for you.”
“That’s a lot of pressure.”
“There's no need to feel pressured. It just shows how incredible your record is.”
“Thank you. May I enter now?”
“Of course. Good luck with your clear.”
“Okay.”
As soon as he received permission, Na Dan-sik entered the gate.
Passing through the gate, he found himself in a grassland.
Grade 1: Defeat the Blood Rabbits
Blood Rabbits were roaming the wide grassland.
The Blood Rabbit was a monster in the form of a rabbit.
Its main weapons were its blood-red fur, sharp fangs, and claws. It was also a meter tall, so it wasn't cute at all.
As Na Dan-sik took a step, a Blood Rabbit noticed him.
The Blood Rabbit charged, hopping and bounding.
Na Dan-sik gripped the greatsword with both hands.
It was heavy, but manageable.
Kieeeeeek-
Screeching, the Blood Rabbit swiped its claws at Na Dan-sik.
SWOOOSH!
He swung the greatsword at the charging Blood Rabbit.
The greatsword struck the Blood Rabbit's midsection.
With a *thwack*, the Blood Rabbit's upper and lower body were separated.
[You have defeated 1 Blood Rabbit.]
[You have acquired Greatsword Arts.]
Na Dan-sik continued to clear out the Blood Rabbits, swinging his greatsword.
[You have defeated 1 Blood Rabbit.]
[You have acquired Beginner Whirlwind.]
[Reward: 1 Magic Stone.]
[You have defeated 1 Blood Rabbit.]
[You have acquired Beginner Downward Strike.]
[You have defeated 1 Blood Rabbit.]
[You have acquired Beginner Horizontal Slash.]
[You have defeated 1 Blood Rabbit.]
[You have acquired Beginner Vertical Slash.]
[Reward: 1 Magic Stone.]
As he hunted the Blood Rabbits, Na Dan-sik acquired skills he could use with the greatsword.
Once all the Blood Rabbits in the grassland were defeated,
the boss, the Blood Rabbit King, appeared.
It was twice the size of a normal Blood Rabbit.
Its hands were fitted with saws, and its teeth were as sharp as saw blades.
WHIRRR, WHIRRR!
The saws on its hands began to spin furiously. It swung its arms a few times, viciously tearing through the air.
THUD, THUD!
It stomped its feet and charged at Na Dan-sik.
With a single leap, it was right in front of him.
Na Dan-sik instinctively leaned his upper body back.
SHWIIING!
The saw missed his chest by a paper-thin margin.
The creature retreated for a moment, then used its powerful hind legs to leap again, swinging its saws.
The saws came down in a diagonal slash.
CRASH!
SCREEECH!
Sparks flew as steel clashed against steel.
A vibration traveled up the greatsword.
The creature's strength was on another level.
Na Dan-sik gritted his teeth and pushed the greatsword upward.
[You have acquired Push.]
The creature's massive body was pushed back.
Na Dan-sik did not miss the opening.
Using the greatsword's weight and centrifugal force, he swung it in a wide circle.
[Casting Beginner Whirlwind.]
SHWIIIIING!
The greatsword let out a heavy whoosh as it sliced horizontally. The creature hastily crossed the saws on its hands to defend itself.
However, the powerful greatsword simply crushed its saws.
CRUNCH!
The immense force tore the creature's shoulder muscles.
It shrieked and staggered back.
Na Dan-sik didn't back down and launched his next attack.
[Casting Beginner Downward Strike.]
Leaping high into the air, Na Dan-sik brought the greatsword down.
CRASH!
With a deafening crash, the greatsword shattered the creature's saws and crushed its head.
Tiring!
[You have defeated the boss, Blood Rabbit King.]
[Reward: 3 Low-grade Magic Stones.]
[You have obtained the Blood Rabbit King's Fang.]
[Congratulations! You have completed the clear in record time with a phenomenal performance.]
[Additional Reward: 10 Low-grade Magic Stones.]
Na Dan-sik caught his breath and sheathed his sword.
Of all the Grade 1 Gates he had cleared so far, this had been the toughest.
But the messages weren't over.
Tiring!
[Hidden condition has been met.]
[The hidden stage will now open due to the effects of Power Inflation.]
As expected, a hidden stage opened this time as well.
“Of course. No way they'd just let me go.”
[Entering the Bloody Grassland.]
A red portal appeared and swallowed Na Dan-sik.
When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was a red moon hanging in the sky.
[A red moon has risen. The Blood Rabbits of the plains have entered a berserk state.]
The plains were packed with Blood Rabbits, an overwhelming number. It felt like a tidal wave was crashing down.
“Whoa, this seems a bit much…”
He thought it was too harsh for a beginner.
There were red furballs everywhere.
He swung the greatsword at the charging creatures, but for every one he cut down, more swarmed in from behind it.
CRACK!
With a loud crack, the greatsword in his hand caught on their claws, fractured, and then shattered.
He decisively tossed the greatsword aside and began grabbing them by the neck, twisting with his bare hands.
He swung his fists indiscriminately, beating them down.
He even pulled out his dagger and swung it.
The beginner's dagger also broke before long.
“Fine, let’s all just die!”
He threw himself into the fight, using every hand-to-hand combat skill he had acquired. He didn't think he had ever moved his body this hard in his entire life.
Their heads exploded under Na Dan-sik's fists.
One, two, three.
There was no end to them.
They surrounded Na Dan-sik, swarming him from all sides.
It was at that very moment.
Tiring!
[Conditions have been met.]
[You have acquired the Munchkin-exclusive Aoe (an area-of-effect) skill , Munchkin's Domain.]
He had acquired a new skill.
A thrill ran through his entire body.
A battle cry erupted from him instinctively.
The mana latent within him swirled like a vortex and exploded.
The Blood Rabbits surrounding Na Dan-sik were caught in the explosion of mana, staining the plains red.
Na Dan-sik took a deep, ragged breath.
A message rang out.
End
0 Comments