TTAS 16

Chapter : 16. I Became Strong-Hearted (1)

The first thing I did after returning home was, of course, purchasing a raid permit for an E-rank dungeon.

It was a permit costing five million won, but it wasn’t a burden at all since I had received 200 million won in cash support from the Dungeon Management Agency.

“First, I need to gather six White Aether.”

Since I already had two White Aether, I needed four more.

“Two dungeons a day… I can finish in two days.”

The Heart of Magic is the biggest difference between humans and demons, and the element that maximizes the efficiency of magic.

It is a demonic authority that enhances speed and power by using magic circles and the power of spoken commands to replace the long incantations and mental strain required to shape mana.

A secret art that forcibly implants such demonic power into a human body.

Most of the materials needed to reconstruct a human heart into a mana heart—a core—had already been gathered.

“The ‘Flame of the Goddess,’ Hetiosyns, and the core of the King Slime… I already have those. I just need four White Aethers to begin the ritual.”

“Two dungeons a day is enough.”

The next day, Olympic Park North Gate 2 parking lot.

The vast parking lot of a heavily used public park had been closed due to an E-rank dungeon that had manifested there.

“Please present your Hunter license. Are your other party members not here yet?”

I handed over my renewed D-rank Hunter license and answered the manager’s question.

“I’m alone.”

“Pardon? Alone?”

At his shocked reaction, I answered again.

“Yes. A D-rank Hunter can enter an E-rank dungeon solo, correct?”

“Of course. There is no issue in terms of regulations. However… the problem is that no one actually does it.”

In reality, soloing an E-rank dungeon as a D-rank Hunter was not a common case.

It was because taking all the profits from E-rank dungeon materials alone was less profitable than clearing D-rank or C-rank dungeons and sharing the rewards.

And even a D-rank Hunter was not guaranteed to survive an E-rank dungeon—so few were willing to take the risk.

“If there are no issues, I will proceed.”

“I hope you’re not overestimating your abilities. I don’t want to witness something like a dungeon break here at Olympic Park.”

Ignoring the manager’s suspicious gaze, I walked toward the gate.

Swoosh.

A flash of light and a dizzying reversal of up, down, left, and right passed through me—and I successfully entered the dungeon.

“A cave-type dungeon.”

“What will come out, I wonder?”

Thud thud thud thud.

After walking for a long time inside the linear cave-type dungeon, I heard the sound of monsters approaching from the other side.

“Sounds like hooves…”

The sound of multiple horses galloping.

“Guess I should give them a welcome gift.”

I didn’t know what they were yet, but starting with a spell was always effective.

The two rings orbiting my heart began spinning faster.

Mana gathered in my palm, carried by the rotational force of the rings.

“Light-filled bead carrying the power of lightning. Bead of judgment that will shatter flesh and bone. Reveal your brilliance before me—Thunder Orb!”

Mana imbued with lightning condensed into a spherical form.

Tzztzzzt.

A crackling, fist-sized orb of electricity was completed.

Thud thud thud thud—

The monsters finally revealed themselves.

A giant deer-like monster—Ar.

“This is the same one I saw when I first returned to Earth. Nice to see you again. Release!”

Three beast-like Ar charged toward me as the yellow orb flew at them.

Whoosh.

Just as doubt flickered in the leading Ar’s eyes—

Boom. Crackle!

The orb exploded on impact.

The lightning contained within it swallowed not only the leading Ar, but the two behind it as well.

Tzztzzzt!

The raging mana burned through their flesh, filling the cave with the smell of burning meat.

When I approached, the leading Ar was already dead, while the two behind it were paralyzed and scorched by lightning.

“This is too easy.”

Slash. Slash.

I cut down the necks of the Ar that were still struggling to stand.

The 2nd Circle lightning magic was this lethal.

“Can’t forget to collect the materials.”

I pulled out a dagger and carved off the massive horns of the Ar.

I also carefully collected their blood in a leather pouch I had brought just in case.

“I wonder what kind of people drink monster blood…”

There was a rumor that Ar blood was effective for vitality and male stamina, so there was demand among elderly men.

After gathering the materials, it was time for something even more important.

“Spirit Conversion!”

Ding.

[Absorbed monster soul: Ar (E).]
[Absorbed monster soul: Ar (E).]
[Absorbed monster soul: Ar (E).]
[Mana increased slightly.]
[Assimilation rate slightly increased.]
[Current assimilation rate: 20.003%]
[Body slightly strengthened due to increased assimilation.]

After collecting and converting the Ar’s souls into mana, I stood up and brushed myself off.

The hunt began again.

No—it was too generous to even call it a hunt. It was a one-sided massacre.

“Thunder Orb! Release!”

Tzztzzzt.

Slash. Slash.

Groups of three Ar charging at me were no different from moths flying into fire.

Throwing themselves into a pit of death.

This continued until I reached the boss chamber.

“By the way… isn’t the assimilation rate too stingy?”

0.001%.

Once assimilation exceeded 20% in the Habi dungeon, it no longer increased.

A message appeared after using Spirit Conversion on the remaining Habi.

[The target’s soul rank is too low. Assimilation increase and mana conversion failed.]

It was shocking news: F-rank monsters like Habi could no longer increase assimilation or mana.

Probably because the rank gap was more than two tiers.

For E-rank monsters like Ar, assimilation only increased by 0.001%.

Once I reached 3rd Circle and became a C-rank Hunter, even E-rank monsters would no longer provide meaningful gains.

“Well… it’ll probably take half a year to reach 30%. I’ll think about it then.”

Even if I didn’t know how much assimilation the boss would give, an E-rank dungeon had about 50 monsters on average.

So to gain 10% assimilation, I’d need about 100 days of clearing two dungeons per day.

“Once I complete the Heart of Magic, I’ll clear much faster.”

With the Heart of Magic that removes the need for chanting, reaching 3rd Circle and becoming a C-rank Hunter would not be far off.

“Thunder Orb! Release!”

Tzztzzzt.

Slash. Slash.

The Ar massacre continued, and before long I reached the boss room.

“The leader commanding ten normal Ar…”

Facing them all at once would be slightly burdensome.

“First, I need to reduce their numbers with magic.”

The two circles spun vigorously, releasing lightning mana.

“Light-filled bead carrying the power of lightning… Thunder Orb!”

After confirming the yellow orb formed before my hands, I quickly fired it.

“Release!”

Whoosh.

At the same time, I leapt into the boss room.

Boom. Crackle!

While the orb struck the Ar and nearby monsters, I rushed toward another Ar that turned its head in confusion.

“Half Moon Slash!”

The jungle blade traced a lethal arc toward its neck.

Slash.

“Full Moon Thrust!”

A faster-than-sight stab pierced the forehead of another Ar.

Thud. Thud.

As one body fell, I rolled forward and closed in on the Ar affected by lightning.

Slash. Slash. Slash. Stab. Stab.

Except for those instantly killed by lightning, I quickly finished off the five wounded Ar.

Bodies fell one after another.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

By the time I finished casting magic and killing seven Ar, it had all happened in less than a breath.

The boss could only watch helplessly as its subordinates died.

Huff—!

Finally realizing what was happening, the boss Ar roared in rage.

Its eyes turned blood-red as it snorted and charged.

Thud thud thud thud—

Lowering its head, it rushed at me with its long, sharp horns.

“That’s going to hurt.”

My body had become tougher through assimilation, but this was still an E-rank boss.

It was clearly not something suitable for testing durability.

I gripped my jungle blade tightly.

“Deflecting Moon!”

I twisted my body slightly and redirected its horns with my blade.

Clang—thud thud thud—boom.

The blade bent as if it would break, but I succeeded in deflecting its charge.

Unable to control its momentum, the boss Ar crashed into the cave wall.

While it struggled, I quickly moved toward the remaining three Ar.

“No time to chant. Blade is faster right now.”

They tried to attack in panic, but I rolled and dodged the leading strike.

“Full Moon Slash. Half Moon Slash.”

Thud. Slash.

I leapt from the ground and sliced and pierced their vital points.

Thud. Thud.

Even the surviving Ar counterattacked, but a normal Ar’s attack was manageable.

“Deflecting Moon.”

Clang.

I blocked its horn with my blade.

Grabbing its horn with my left hand, I twisted it.

Its neck was fully exposed.

“Full Moon Slash.”

No time to waste.

As the boss Ar was rising, I drove my blade into its neck.

Thud.

Ten normal Ar were all down.

Only the boss remained, kicking its legs and pointing its massive horns at me.

“You think it’ll go your way?”

All its subordinates were now corpses, so I immediately spun my mana circle.

Lightning mana surged through my arm.

“A shaft of light like an arrow… lightning that severs breath itself. Pierce my enemy—Lightning Pierce!”

Thud thud thud thud—

At the same moment the boss began its charge, a yellow arrow formed.

“Release!”

The distance rapidly closed.

The arrow flew toward the boss.

Whoosh—thud.

It pierced through the horn and struck its head.

Tzztzzzt!

Huff—!

Lightning and heat erupted through its body.

The boss Ar twisted in agony, screaming.

Its intent to fight was already gone.

“Time to finish it.”

I extended both hands again.

The arrow would remain until its mana was exhausted.

As the boss writhed in pain, I prepared the final spell.

“Light-filled bead carrying the power of lightning—Thunder Orb!”

A yellow sphere formed again.

“Let’s end this. Release!”

Whoosh—boom—crackle!

The Thunder Orb struck the boss Ar, who had already lost its will to fight.

Its legs twisted grotesquely, showing just how much pain it was in.

Thud.

The massive body collapsed.

“Huff… still alive?”

I approached cautiously.

The boss was still breathing.

“So an E-rank boss can survive two 2nd Circle spells.”

A new discovery.

The strength of an E-rank dungeon boss.

“But I still won.”

Thud.

I drove my jungle blade into its neck.