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Chapter 79: Naga Slayer (3)
Chapter 79: Naga Slayer (3)
Chapter 79: Naga Slayer (3)
The average level of monsters that appeared at the Naga Spawning Grounds was 155.
Given that it was underwater, navigating the dungeon wasn’t easy, and there were many enemies. Therefore, the developers had set the appropriate level for tackling this dungeon at 180 or above.
"Hmm."
Of course, the developers' expectations were not always accurate. If that were possible, the world would have long been free of game bugs and hacking programs.
However, even miscalculations had a certain margin of error. The developers thought that a player who was exceptionally skilled, well-equipped, and lucky could attempt this dungeon at level 160.
"Hup."
Level 71 was jokingly referred to as a boring level that didn't have the excitement of a novice or an expert, it was in between.
A typical level 71 player couldn’t even approach this dungeon and naturally, hunting inside the dungeon would be unthinkable.
Slash!
But there was only one person among over 600 million players worldwide who could do it—Kai.
[Level increased.]
[+5 Stat points.]
I’m leveling up insanely fast.
In MID Online, a player who killed monsters much higher in level faced a XP penalty. However, the vast level difference of 80 levels was enough to offset that penalty.
Kai had entered the dungeon at level 71 but had gained a whopping 14 levels in just three days!
He had done in three days what would have taken others more than a month. However, that did mean he was extremely tired.
Phew, I think I'm gonna die.
The week-long duration of the Invulnerable buff was an opportunity for him; a precious opportunity that wouldn’t come again, so Kai couldn’t afford to waste time.
If I sleep for eight hours outside... a day will have passed here.
Thinking he could raise his level by 2-3 levels in that time made it hard for him to fall asleep. Because of this, Kai reduced his sleep to four hours a day until the buff ended.
It's fine. Four hours is enough for a good sleep.
He could go without sleep altogether if he set his mind to it, but that wouldn’t be efficient as it was obvious that his gameplay would be hindered if his brain wasn’t functioning smoothly.
First, let's distribute the stat points...
After clearing the twelfth tunnel and filling his satisfaction with fresh fruit juice, Kai distributed his stats.
[Kai]
Class: Solaris Cleric
Level: 85
Title: Envoy of God
HP: 26,000
Holy Power: 33,000
Stats
Strength: 298 Stamina: 260
Intelligence: 168 Agility: 166
Holiness: 330 Dignity: 130
Benevolence: 93
Poison Resistance +33
Magic Defense +44%
Underwater Movement 116%
Underwater Attack Power +17%
Invulnerable State
It was an incredibly impressive stats window! The 10% bonus to all stats in the Invulnerable state wasn't just about the stats themselves. It literally meant a significant enhancement of all the beneficial abilities Kai possessed!
Even though they're my stats, I'm speechless looking at them.
Kai let out a laugh at the absurdity of the situation.
Putting Dignity aside, just the sum of all other stats would be what a player of at least level 200 would have!
There's still a long way to go.
Kai set down his can of fresh fruit juice and glanced at the remaining time.
All the nagas in the dungeon have been cleared.
There were a total of twelve tunnels in the Naga Spawning Grounds. Of course, a player didn't need to engage in battle in all the tunnels if they weren’t detected. But Kai roamed around the dungeon on purpose, and it was obviously for the sake of XP.
There are only four days left of the Invulnerable buff.
Kai quickly started calculating.
There's still time left after clearing the dungeon.
He didn't know how strong the boss of this place was, but it wouldn't take long to defeat it. That meant about four days would remain of the Invulnerable buff duration.
Four days. What would be the most effective thing to do in that time...
The first thing that came to mind was the other dungeons nearby. But all Kai could gain there was merely more XP. In the long term, that was definitely not a benefit.
Levels can be raised quickly any time.
The Invulnerable state would soon disappear, but his high stats wouldn’t.
In that case, what Kai needed now was something that could only be done while he was Invulnerable.
With his eyes closed, Kai deeply pondered what that might be, then slowly opened his eyes again.
In the end, that’s the only thing.
No matter how much he thought, there was one clear answer!
Having reached a conclusion, Kai drew his weapon.
Let's clear the boss of this place first.
***
[Warning: Entering the boss room will disable logout and return until the battle is over. Would you still like to proceed?]
"Enter."
A massive stone door opened, and icy cold water flowed out from between them.
Entering inside, Kai immediately sensed a presence without needing to look around.
It’s big.
It was at least three times the size of the young nagas he had been facing.
The imposing aura emanating from its massive form was indeed befitting of a boss.
[Hakhas, Second Prince of the Naga Lv.165]
A prince?
The spawning ground, the future of the tribe, could rightly be called a precious place.
Well, I guess not just anyone would be in charge of such a place, after all.
Having come to terms with this, Kai drew his weapon and Hakhas’ eyes glowed yellow as he roared.
"Kraaaagh!"
Hakhas was enraged at the loss of the offsprings of his tribe and the soldiers he had led.
The once calm flow of water turned rough, forming swirling waves that struck Kai.
[You’ve taken 10,272 damage from getting caught up in the wave’s current.]
[The effects of Undying Will have prevented your death.]
[Struck by a rock swept by the waves. You’ve taken 5,018 damage from being struck by a rock swept up by the waves.]
[The effects of Undying Will have prevented your death.]
However, this fight was predetermined from the start!
"The promised victory of the Invulnerable skill!"
Kai shot forward like a bullet.
However, Hakhas was not just a high-level monster, but was also the prince of the naga tribe! In the water, a slight statistical advantage was of little use against him.
"Kraaaagh!"
When Hakhas swung his trident, the direction of the water flow reversed once again.
“Kugh!”
Even though Kai’s movements in the water were corrected, that didn't mean he could move freely in the tsunami-like swirling waters.
He was barely managing not to be swept backward by stepping on the water flow!
For Kai, launching an attack against Hakhas was unimaginable at the moment.
Damn it...
He wouldn't die, but he couldn't kill his opponent either!
Frustrated to his bones, Kai pounded his chest and shouted, "Fight fair and square without using strange skills!"
It was a rather unconscientious statement for someone who was using the Invulnerable skill!
Hakhas casually ignored this and drove his thick fingers into the ceiling.
Crack!
As he clenched his fist, the ceiling crumbled, and rocks started falling. Hakhas grabbing the rocks wasn't simply because he wanted to play with them! The next moment, he hurled the rocks he was holding at Kai.
Truly cowardly to the very end!
Thud, thud, thud!
Kai narrowly dodged the rocks by the narrowest of margins!
But even though Hakhas realized that this attack wasn't effective, he didn't stop throwing them.
This bastard...!
Kai bit his lower lip in frustration. Dodging the attacks wasn’t difficult, but the situation of being unable to do anything himself was maddening.
I need to change the flow of the battle.
Even a brief moment, a mere instant would suffice. One moment of freedom for his body would be enough!
As Kai racked his brain, rocks continuously flew at him.
"Give me a break, let me think for a second!"
Using moving casting, Kai fired Holy Explosion!
Boom!
The rocks shattered instantly upon contact with the beam. Moreover, the seawater where the beam passed evaporated, and as the surrounding water filled the void, the flow of the water briefly changed.
Kai's eyes widened as he observed this.
Right, the flow of the water!
The reason Kai was suffering such humiliation was all due to the flow of the water. The tsunami-like water flow relentlessly thrashed him! He couldn't approach Hakhas because he couldn't fight against that water flow.
All of this is because Hakhas controls the water.
Hakhas was the prince of the naga tribe that could freely manipulate seawater. Kai couldn't even manage half his usual speek in the turbulent water that Hakhas controlled.
But what if I can escape this damned water flow and his sight?
He would have a chance to approach Hakhas. And if he could just get close, he was certain he could win.
Alright. Then... I'll start by creating a distance he can't react to.
The next moment, Kai's feet, which had been busily moving, suddenly stopped.
Whoosh!
Then a fierce stream of water seized the opportunity and blasted him backward.
Thud!
"Ugh..." Kai let out a short groan after hitting his back against a rock.
The pain wasn’t completely relieved even with the effect of painkillers!
However, Kai was already initiating moving casting as he was swept away by the water. Despite his vision spinning, he showed terrifying concentration in completing the spell!
"Holy Explosion!"
Boom!
As the beam burst forth, Hakhas raised his trident as if to brace for the attack. But the beam wasn’t aimed at him, but the ceiling!
While Hakhas squinted, wondering what Kai was plotting, Kai kicked through the water and slipped into the path opened by Holy Explosion in the ceiling.
Here, he won't be able to see me.
The space he entered was blocked on three sides, except for the entrance he came through! There, Kai leisurely caught his breath, and his left hand shone once again.
Hakhas's position was... about there, was it?
Without hesitation, Kai pulled the trigger with his finger.
Boom!
Holy Explosion blasted forth with overwhelming destructive power.
As a white beam suddenly shot from the ceiling, Hakhas swung his trident to deflect the attack. Then as he scoffed and turned his head, a human form filled his vision. Before he could wonder why a human was there, a sword flew toward his forehead.
"Flood of Blades!"
“Kraaaaaagh!”
The thick and tough scales of the naga tribe that the merfolk had always wanted to penetrate!
Please pierce through!
Crack!
The spinning blade created a crack in Hakhas's tough scales. But that was it as Flood of Blades, having lost its rotational force, couldn’t pierce further.
"Kekekek."
As Hakhas breathed a sigh of relief and sneered belatedly, Kai spread out his left hand and firmly pushed the sword’s handle.
"There's one shot left."
With a loud noise, a white beam shot out.
The power of Holy Explosion pressed on the sword, and the crack in the scales began to widen uncontrollably.
Hakhas looked to the left and right, unsure what to do. But all he could do was pray that his scales would hold up as always!
Sorry, but you're done.
Those who relied on their talents alone could never surpass those who made effort, researched, and thought. That was the conclusion Kai had reached after living twenty-two years!
The merfolk had always desired to pierce the scales of the naga tribe, but it was Kai wielding the merfolk's weapons that was able to do so.
"Kyaaak, kyaaaaak!" Hakhas screamed in overwhelming pain, the first he had felt in decades.
He thrashed in an attempt to escape the pain.
"But I can't just let you go."
Kai, tightly gripping the sword handle with both hands, strangled Hakhas's thick neck with his legs.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The flow of water under Hakhas's control furiously swirled in an attempt to shake off Kai.
But it's already too late.
Kai's sword was embedded in his forehead!
"Flood of Blades, Flood of Blades, Flood of Blades!"
"Kryaaaak!"
It took just over fifteen minutes for Hakhas, one of the rulers of the sea, to become a polygons.