Chapter 278: Lee (1)
Kang-hoo had known about the existence of the set item beforehand, but he hadn’t been aware of the set options.
The set options were more well-structured than he had expected, and he couldn’t help but smile.
His goal was undoubtedly achieved.
Now, before changing into his new cuirass, the only thing left to do was to take down a mid-boss.
What the outcome would be, he wouldn’t know until he fought. But since he had the Guardian option, he figured it was like having an extra life, so he was willing to give it a shot.
“If the set effect is what turned the Corrupted Ghost into a Corrupted Beast… then maybe it could eventually become a Corruptor.”
The upgrade path from Corrupted Beast to Corruptor was nothing more than a pipe dream before, as it required a significant amount of Dark Qi.
However, thanks to the set option solving that issue, the Dark Qi he would have had to save for later had now solidified as well.
While the Corrupted Ghost and Corrupted Beast could only maneuver in the air, the Corruptor could move on the ground as well.
For a moment, he imagined another ‘Child of Darkness’ running alongside him.“That sounds fun.”
He wished that day would come soon.
With a Corruptor, it would be possible to use it as a tank or as bait to draw enemy aggro.
Having wrapped things up, Kang-hoo began moving again, searching for the mid-boss monster.
At that time.
Ayane was wandering around the city, enjoying some delicious street food to lighten her mood.
In Japan, there were often people who recognized her, making it difficult to move around freely.
But here in Germany, a faraway land, no one paid her any attention. It was nice. Whatever she did, no one cared.
However, at some point, Ayane realized she was being tailed.
Given her long years as a mercenary and the many enemies she had made along the way, this wasn’t surprising.
Especially since she had recently taken a high-paying job, siding against the Hayabusa Guild and sniping its members…
The enraged Hayabusa Guild had likely sent people after her. No, it was almost certain.
A mercenary’s life was an unending cycle of kill or be killed.
If there were enemies who wanted her dead, she simply had to eliminate them first. If she failed to do so, she would be the one to die.
‘It’s a relief that Kang-hoo isn’t with me.’
Ayane was genuinely thankful that she was currently separated from Kang-hoo.
Had he been with her, he might have gotten tangled up in her problems.
She didn’t want Kang-hoo to suffer because of the karma she had brought upon herself. That would be too selfish.
‘For now…’
Ayane decided to leave the city.
So far, her pursuers were waiting for the perfect moment to strike, keeping a low profile.
But if—just by chance—a fight broke out in the city, innocent civilians would inevitably get caught in the crossfire.
As a hunter, Ayane had one principle she always upheld.
Never let civilians get involved in her affairs.
She had established this rule after witnessing a child get shot in an act of vengeance by a hunter who held a grudge against her.
Fortunately, the child had survived after receiving proper treatment, but that day’s events had left a lasting trauma in her mind.
Even if it put her at a strategic disadvantage, she had no intention of fighting in a crowded city.
“Phew.”
Taking a deep breath, Ayane changed directions.
She had just eaten a bunch of delicious food, thinking she could finally enjoy a good meal.
But before she could even digest it, a fight was about to break out. It didn’t seem like she’d have much time left.
Meanwhile, as Kang-hoo was on the move, the effect of Mad Solarkium ran out, prompting him to take a short break.
Although his battle with V hadn’t lasted long, the intense use of multiple skills in a short period left some aftereffects.
Previously, he hadn’t had the luxury of accounting for Mad Solarkium’s backlash, which often caught him off guard and led to sudden exhaustion.
But now, since he could predict his condition accurately, he was able to secure a safe zone and rest without worry.
Once his stamina recovered, there would be no additional side effects, so there was nothing to be concerned about.
After finishing his break, he resumed his movement.
Observing the monsters around him, it was clear that this dungeon was on an entirely different level compared to standard lower-tier dungeons.
Monsters wielding dual pistols and dual swords.
Creatures swinging double-edged axes.
Strikers patrolling in pairs, wearing reinforced armor.
They were all one step ahead in evolution.
Even in the original work, as the dungeon level increased, stronger monsters would appear.
This, in turn, increased the difficulty, making it more enjoyable for readers.
Even though they knew that Jang Si-hwan would ultimately win, they still enjoyed watching him struggle.
‘Come to think of it, The Villain’s Survival Manual barely used common monsters like orcs, goblins, and trolls.’
Memories of the original work resurfaced in his mind.
He recalled how he had deliberately devised various unique monsters because he didn’t want to use cliché concepts.
That was one of the reasons why readers had praised the unique world-building he had created.
Whenever a boss monster revealed a special pattern or had an unusual concept,
readers would describe it as feeling like playing a game. Some even said it made the world feel more immersive.
‘This world is one that I meticulously crafted. That’s why I have to stop the bad ending I left behind.’
Kang-hoo strengthened his resolve.
Regretting his past decisions wouldn’t change anything.
It wasn’t as if he had no chance to fix it—he was now in a position where he could directly alter the future.
So far, he had managed to grow rapidly without major trouble.
As long as he continued to act cautiously yet decisively when needed,
he was confident that a better future awaited.
“I found it.”
At that moment, the mid-boss monster of this dungeon finally revealed itself.
Just like V, the mid-boss was located in a secluded area, away from other monsters.
Kang-hoo only had to focus on one thing, so he no longer needed to be wary of his surroundings.
However, monsters that were isolated like this usually possessed formidable power. It was a common pattern.
[Lee]
The name of the mid-boss appeared.
Lee—derived from the common Korean surname “Lee (이).”
The monster was designed to be a master of Taekwondo.
It was heavily inspired by characters from well-known fighting games, making it extremely dangerous due to its exceptional kicking techniques.
Although Kang-hoo had read about it in the dungeon’s information documents, seeing it in person felt entirely different.
A battle between himself, an assassin whose strength lay in hand techniques, and a monster specialized in foot techniques.
It was bound to be an even tougher fight than his battle with V. His entire body tensed in anticipation.
“Guess I should be grateful that Mad Solarkium doesn’t have addictive or dependency-inducing effects.”
With a self-deprecating chuckle, Kang-hoo took out Mad Solarkium and began chewing on it.
He could consume it without worry because it wasn’t an addictive substance. If it had been, he would have been reduced to a wreck long ago.
Regardless of his circumstances, he had no intention of ever touching drugs that turned people into addicts.
“Phew.”
As he took a deep breath, he felt the pleasant sensation of awakening from Mad Solarkium spreading through his entire body.
Kang-hoo reminded himself:
He wasn’t here to kill the mid-boss. He was here to fight it.
If things started to go south, he needed to retreat instead of being stubborn. That was the difficulty level he was dealing with.
With that, Kang-hoo rushed toward Lee.
Since he knew his basic stealth would be detected anyway, he didn’t bother using it. He was going for a frontal assault.
“……”
At that moment, Lee—who had been observing Kang-hoo with narrowed eyes—raised his right knee to waist height.
As Kang-hoo closed the distance, Lee, who had been standing still, began rapidly shifting his foot back and forth.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With each movement, Qi Blasts erupted from Lee’s foot and hurtled toward Kang-hoo at incredible speed.
“Hmm.”
The blasts flew in a pattern that covered any possible blind spots.
At first, Kang-hoo considered dodging by lowering his body.
However, he noticed that the trajectory of the blast at the very back was slightly angled downward.
If his attempt to lower himself was anticipated, he wouldn’t even have the chance to dodge that blast.
Blocking with Impeccable Wall wasn’t an option either, as the frontal Qi Blasts were already on a collision course.
【Leap】
He decided to jump high to evade.
At the same time, he expanded Shadow Step as widely as possible. Lee wouldn’t be caught off guard by a leap.
Sure enough, as soon as Kang-hoo activated his skill and launched himself into the air, Lee moved his foot.
Paaang!
The Qi Blast released this time was much faster and deadlier than the previous ones.
Flash!
Kang-hoo instantly switched positions using one of the scattered shadows he had placed in advance.
Whoosh!
The Qi Blast swept past the exact spot Kang-hoo had just occupied, making a deafening sonic boom.
Successfully countering Lee’s attacks, it was now Kang-hoo’s turn.
Lee’s continuous use of Qi Blasts with one foot seemed to have a limit, as he adjusted his stance.
Taking advantage of the moment, Kang-hoo mixed acceleration with leaps to close in. Holding his dagger in a reverse grip, he prepared to strike.
But at that moment—
“Kuhaah!”
Instead of firing a Qi Blast from his newly positioned left foot, Lee suddenly stomped down onto the ground.
Crack! Crack!
A massive fissure formed beneath his foot.
Then, a crescent-shaped shockwave erupted horizontally at chest height.
“Damn it.”
Kang-hoo’s footwork faltered.
His center of gravity was leaning forward, meaning if he leaped now, he’d be forced into an upward diagonal path—right into the shockwave.
【Wings of Corruption】
He used an emergency measure.
The Corrupted Beast that had been clinging to his back transformed into Wings of Corruption.
Issuing an unrestricted command to ascend, Kang-hoo’s body was forcefully pulled upward.
“Urgh!”
The pain was brutal.
Being yanked several meters into the air in an instant felt worse than deploying a parachute mid-fall.
But it was the right decision.
Looking down, he saw that the ground where he had been standing moments ago had collapsed into a massive, pitch-black chasm.
It was too deep and vast to be an ordinary fissure.
Moreover—
The crescent-shaped shockwave that swept across the ground had sliced through thick trees in its path.
Kang-hoo recalled a skill that would be perfect for this situation. Not using it now would be a waste.
【Master of Manipulation】
【You can immediately replicate the last skill used by the opponent at 25% efficiency, for one-time use. However, this process consumes 34% of your total mana.】
‘I’ll copy that one.’
Lee’s powerful skill—if Kang-hoo used it as a counterattack, he could create a major shift in the battle.
How would Lee feel when his own skill was used against him?
There was only one answer.
Like absolute crap.