Episode 26: The Mythical MonsterI checked the Traits I had equipped.
[Name: Lee Chan-hwi]
[LV32]
[Class: Predator]
[Strength:496.0101]
[Stamina:456.0101]
[Agility:376.0101]
[Mana:251.0101]
[Vitality:MAX]
[Equipped Traits]:[Superior Body++++++][Superior Body+++++][Superior Body++++][Superior Body++++][Superior Body++++][Superior Body++++][Superior Body+++][Superior Body+++][Superior Body+++][Superior Body+++][Superior Body+++][Mana Domination][Mana Affinity][Mana Affinity][Mana Affinity][Mana Affinity][Mana Affinity][Mana Affinity][Mana Affinity][Mana Affinity][Two Hearts][Sturdy Insect Shell][Exceptional Mutation][Swordsmanship Factor+++][Photosynthesis]
[Overwhelming Stamina][Superior Muscle Strength][Tough Skin][Tough Skin][Tough Skin][Elastic Muscles]
[Characteristics]:[Prey's Intuition][Hardness][Two Cores][Heals when exposed to sunlight.][Sturdiness][Berserk]
[Item: Trait Enhancement Voucher×3]
After three hours of experimentation,
I found that Seol-hwa's body couldn't handle stats exceeding 500.
Reluctantly, I adjusted my stats to hover around 500 using my equipped Traits.
Though uneasy about my relatively lower agility, I had no choice.
"I'll just have to trust my swordsmanship and new characteristics."
I swung a tree branch.
Swish.
The sound of cutting air was extraordinary.
It was the swordsmanship of a goblin who wielded a greatsword in the hidden dungeon.
I'd acquired through a single Trait what would normally require years of training.
The Swordsmanship Factor didn't represent talent engraved in DNA.
It contained a lifetime of a goblin's dedication and effort condensed into a single Trait.
By equipping this Trait, I reaped the fruits of that labor, and
"Would this work on humans too?"
A chilling thought occurred to me.
Cannibalism.
I wondered if eating humans could grant me Traits like the goblin's.
Among Hunters existed monsters incomparable to mere goblins.
If I could get lucky enough to eat even a part of their corpses, I'd gain overwhelming power.
The price wasn't steep. Just one thing to discard - my conscience.
"No. Let's not resort to cannibalism."
I shook my head. Even as a monster, I didn't want to eat humans.
Spending my remaining monstrous life bedding beauties would be enough.
"Haah. Enough nonsense - I need to discipline Seol-hwa."
This wasn't my fault.
Seol-hwa's weak body couldn't handle higher stats because she neglected training.
Training Seol-hwa would solve everything.
I'd discipline her thoroughly when we returned.
Properly nurturing her would prevent situations like today.
I reaffirmed this resolution repeatedly in my mind.
Scrape.
I picked up the greatsword that had fallen before the cave entrance.
It was in the best condition among our options.
"Goblin Rider - go inside and lure out the Minotaur."
Leaning the greatsword on my shoulder, I issued the command.
I sent in the Goblin Rider - the most mobile unit we could afford to lose.
ROOOOOOAR!
A monstrous roar echoed through the cave. I hid in the bushes.
'She's alive, right?'
She had to be. Otherwise, my hour of effort would be wasted.
One hour was the absolute minimum - I'd done my best.
If the Magician died, that was just how it had to be.
THUD. THUD. THUD. THUD.
The ground shook as the Minotaur emerged from the cave.
CRASH.
It was furious.
It threw the Goblin Rider it had been holding.
The airborne Goblin Rider smashed into a tree.
It was pulverized beyond recognition.
"Get... lost... I don't want... to fight you."
The Minotaur spoke. Not through vocal cords vibrating air,
but by projecting thoughts directly - just like me.
Angry intent swept through the area. Fear crept up from the depths of my heart.
"I'll return... the human female... Show yourself... if you want her."
It attempted negotiation. Strangely submissive.
All monsters were hostile to humans -
they only negotiated when cornered.
'Ah, it's injured.'
Now I understood why it descended from the upper layers.
It lost a power struggle. Though outwardly intact, wounds from faction battles hadn't healed.
This was my chance.
An opportunity to devour the Minotaur and gain a high-level monster's Traits.
I created a Flame Sphere.
Poured all my mana into it.
Mana surged violently.
Compressed the Flame Sphere. A fist-sized sphere materialized before me.
"You... refuse... my offer?"
Noticing the mana movement, the Minotaur went berserk.
Orc Warriors blocked its advance.
But mere orcs couldn't stop a Minotaur.
The Minotaur swung its arm.
An orc raised its sword to defend. The blade shattered on impact.
It died pointlessly without mounting proper resistance.
"You'll regret... refusing."
It threw the headless orc warrior. The corpse landed nearby.
My position was compromised - not surprising since I'd openly manipulated mana. A high-level monster like the Minotaur would obviously notice.
"You stupid bitch! Too focused on magic to move!"
It thought it had easy prey.
Smiling broadly, it reached out.
Too bad it guessed wrong. What I prepared wasn't magic, but Authority.
The completed Flame Sphere detonated before the Minotaur's eyes.
"Huh?"
BOOM.
An explosion rocked the earth. Vision flooded with intense light.
"This is...!"
The Minotaur screamed something, drowned out by the blast.
KOOOOOOM.
The explosion gradually subsided.
I looked up.
Smoke filled the air. Zero visibility.
I shared senses with the airborne Scavenger.
Though not vision, I could sense positions of objects.
A massive figure loomed through the smoke.
'Here.'
Following the Scavenger's intel, I swung my sword.
Felt the sensation of cutting something.
"GRRRAAAAH!"
The Minotaur released a pained groan.
A hit. I'd definitely cut the Minotaur, though unsure which part.
"Human! Human! Where are you?!"
The enraged Minotaur swept its arms wildly.
Smoke swirled. Partially clearing.
Its powerful force moved the atmosphere.
Through the clearing smoke, a massive hand appeared.
Completely exposed and defenseless.
A golden opportunity.
I brought down the greatsword. Severed fingers.
"KREEEEEEEE!"
It roared with murderous intent.
I felt its determination to kill me.
I hid back in the smoke.
"Huff... Huff..."
I gave Seol-hwa a rest.
Though stats were shared, Seol-hwa's body moved.
Accumulated fatigue pushed her to the limit.
I angled the greatsword.
This strike would end it.
After catching my breath, I searched for the Minotaur.
'Where'd this bastard go?'
The massive twin horns had vanished.
Smoke gradually cleared.
Despite better visibility now,
its disappearance made no sense.
I summoned clones to search the area.
Nothing.
The colossal body had completely vanished.
"Where..."
Instinct screamed a warning.
Behind me. I turned.
The vanished Minotaur stood there.
Its massive horns were broken.
Face smeared crimson with blood.
It had snapped its own horns and crawled like a worm to reach me.
Purely to kill me -
Its demonic appearance, like something crawled from hell, chilled me.
"DIE."
The Minotaur thrust its horns downward. Too late to dodge.
Forming a Blood Shield wouldn't help.
The sharp horns would easily pierce through such defenses.
As I desperately stared at my fist,
[Great Achievement: You've trained nonstop all day. We applaud your iron willpower.]
[Transcending human limits. Maximum stats for Strength, Stamina, and Agility increased.]
[Strength, Stamina, Agility +10]
This message wasn't for me - it appeared for Seol-hwa.
[The host body reacts to Traits.]
[Superior Body characteristic manifests.]
[All physique-related skill ranks increase by three levels.]
[The host's maximum stats increase.]
Then this message appeared for me.
The previously dormant Superior Body characteristic had awakened.
'Now!'
I activated Berserk.
A characteristic from the orc's Tough Skin Trait.
Eliminated fear of death and boosted stats.
Thud.
Dodged the horn.
The massive horn embedded into the ground.
I stabbed the Minotaur's arm.
Leapt. Sliced its neck.
Schlick.
Hot blood drenched my body.
The mythical monster clutched at its gushing blood before collapsing.
Thump.
The massive half-human, half-beast body fell. Crimson blood soaked the earth.
"Thought I was done for."
High-level monsters were different.
Never let your guard down until the end.
I approached the Minotaur's corpse.
"What Traits will this guy give?"
Time to feast. First, I severed the Minotaur's arm.
* * * *
Time passed.
"The trail leads this way!"
The Rescue Team arrived.
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