Chapter 145

“Hoo.”

After letting out a deep breath, I surveyed my surroundings.

Brightness like a full moon, a floor encroached by sticky darkness. Black smoke rose endlessly.

‘This place is…’

A space absolutely advantageous for ambushes.

A place where the Shepherds could draw out their innate power without limit.

Like a desert to Sun Spear.

And to Eldrin, it was a space like a forest.

However.

I didn’t blame the environment.

Without making excuses, I tried to adapt quickly.

“Heup!”

Instinctively, I spun the spear in my right hand once.

Hwoong!

At the same time, my shoulder stiffened.

Puuuuk!

A heavy impact ran through my entire body.

– Grrrrrr…!

The one I’d sent flying after taking a hit glared at me again, its eyes flashing.

Thick drool dripped from its mouth.

‘It doesn’t even whimper anymore.’

About two hours had already passed since I entered this place.

Maybe because their level was clearly higher than the ones at the beginning, the Shepherds’ fighting spirit had grown fiercer.

– Krrreuk! Woof! Woof!

As if I were their mortal enemy.

They didn’t back down even when hit, and the more I adapted, the harder they pressed.

But what still brought me comfort was—

– “You fool, behind you!”

The fact that the Elder was beside me, giving advice.

Upgrading the [Legacy of the Ten Thousand Arts] was definitely a god-tier move.

Rather than getting stronger immediately with another skill.

It was a choice for the future, one that amplified my growth rate.

Ssk!

I tilted my head, dodging the Shepherd’s strike aimed at the back of my head.

– “These mutts are faster than the ones before, but their claws are blunt.”

The Elder said.

– “That means you can parry some attacks instead of only deflecting them. Simply dodging isn’t always the answer.”

“I understand, Elder.”

Honestly.

I thought there would be about 10 types of Shepherds at most.

‘But.’

There were more types than I could have ever imagined.

From the basic jet-black Shepherd.

To spotted Shepherds, triangle-eared Shepherds, shaggy Shepherds, large Shepherds, and so on.

There was even a Welsh Corgi-type Shepherd.

Just counting the ones I’d met so far, there were already over 20 types.

Furthermore, each of their characteristics was different.

Some used the [Invisibility] skill, some were fast, some had high damage, and so on.

‘That’s why it’s perfect for training.’

If Theme 3 was about honing skills through repetitive training, Theme 4 was about real combat experience.

The advantage of real combat experience, after all, is gaining experience against a variety of opponents.

Of course, that’s if you think about it positively.

“Damn it.”

Right now, I felt like I was dying.

Pow!

A Shepherd’s blunt claw dug into my ribs.

“Keuk!”

Sharp pain shot through me, and my center of balance collapsed.

Since I’d already been hit, it was better to roll once than to try and endure it.

To bleed off the impact while rolling.

“Heut! That hurts like hell.”

For a dog, its entire body was a mass of muscle, so the pain was enough to bring tears to my eyes.

Of course, my Pain Resistance skill was S-rank.

I could endure this much with a clear mind.

“Come here, you son of a bitch.”

How could I just let it go after taking a hit?

As soon as I regained my balance and stood up, I smashed the charging creature’s face with my spear.

Pow!

As it was sent flying, I charged forward and thrust my spear toward its neck.

Puk!

Whether it was a clean hit, the Shepherd collapsed limply.

I stabbed it a couple more times.

Puk! Puk!

Blood gushed out.

With the scent of blood hitting the tip of my nose, srrreut! the creature vanished into the shadows.

“Haa, haa.”

It was starting to get overwhelming.

New Shepherds kept joining the fray, and it had reached a level I could no longer handle.

‘I wonder if the others are doing okay?’

Perhaps because I had moved a great distance while fighting.

I couldn’t hear the sounds of my party members.

The moment I was about to turn my head just in case—

– “You brat, just focus on your own situation. Your friends are holding up quite well over there with your boneheads.”

“……Is that so?”

– “More importantly! Left!”

Shweek!

My left vision flashed in an instant.

‘What?’

My heart sank.

A claw, moving at a speed that couldn’t even be caught by the Supreme Azure Mind Method, grazed past my waist.

Puhwak!

Blood spurted out.

– “If you don’t get your head in the game, you’ll be eliminated before you even meet that final boss you wanted to catch, you brat.”

Blood rushed to my head.

My face flushed hot.

– Krrrrr.

Lowering my stance, I looked ahead.

Three newly appeared Shepherds were howling.

‘They’re strong.’

Strong enough to make the hair on my body stand on end.

No, since they’re dogs, should I call them strong hounds?

Good grief.

Was this really designed for us to catch something like this?

Just as I clicked my tongue and tightened my grip—

“My liege.”

A familiar voice came from my right.

“Sunny? When did you get here?”

“I will be joining you from now on, my liege.”

Sunny’s spear flashed brightly.

“Indeed, there’s no one better than Sun Spear for dealing with those buried in shadows, Master.”

A voice came from my left as well.

It seemed they had joined me after helping my companions fight.

Just the two of them.

That must have been Sunny’s judgment.

“I have ordered the other units to continue assisting my liege’s companions.”

“Well done.”

I nodded.

It was truly timely reinforcement.

Those three were too much for me to handle alone right now.

Of course, if I used the Essence of Fire or the Essence of Water, I could deal with them easily, but—

“……”

They gave no response.

Even when I actually called for them, they remained silent.

What I could surmise was—

‘They probably don’t even care unless it’s a dragon-class monster.’

They might not even feel a shred of interest in mere Shepherds.

They were beings who could afford to be that way, who deserved to be.

“Now then.”

In any case.

Since my forces have been replenished, shall we start again?

“Come at me, you mutts.”

– Krrr, woof!

The fight began again.

A literal dogfight.

I charged, holding my spear.

I swung and stabbed.

In sync with me, Sunny and Eldrin swung their respective weapons.

‘Solar Chain Strike’.

‘Moonlight Fall’.

The tip of the spear flashed, scattering sunlight in succession.

The arrow shot into the air fell as moonlight.

The techniques of absolute beings who had regained more than half of their innate power.

Moreover, their bodies were made of dragon bone, so they wouldn’t break from most attacks.

– Krrr?

The charging Shepherds were flustered.

Astonishment colored their eyes as they widened the distance and became wary.

‘Huh.’

When I was alone, they came at me like they wanted to die.

Are they just ordinary beasts after all?

Taat!

Launching my body into the air, I thrust my spear with all my might.

One of the Shepherds pulled its body back.

But into that space—

Puk!

Eldrin’s arrow flew and struck it.

“Nice!”

With the addition of my subordinates, the tide of the battle turned.

Of course, it wasn’t like they were only dodging.

Ssk! Toong!

Dodging and blocking.

Hwoong! Pow!

I swung and struck.

Only after we had exchanged dozens of blows did the first engagement end.

– Krrr…….

“Huk, huk!”

The creature and we both retreated to rest.

Since both the Shepherds and I were living beings with stamina.

We had to fight while controlling our breathing.

Of course, the boneheads were an exception.

“My liege, are you alright?”

“I thought they were just ordinary monsters, but they’re quite something, Master. They seem to be on par with the drakes from our world, don’t you think?”

Still, they retreated to regroup for my sake.

“……”

I kept my words to myself and stared at the creatures.

The moment I was searching for an opening without relaxing the tension in my body—

– Hoon, can you hear me?

Someone’s voice echoed in my eardrum.

“Capu?”

– It connected. It’s a communication skill, Hoon.

Whoa.

He could use a skill like this too?

Capu, you’re the ultimate utility king.

– I thought you were going too far, so I attached a device to your sleeve. We’re all huddled together, so we’re managing somehow, but are you okay, Hoon?

Capu asked.

“……It’s a bit much to say I’m okay, isn’t it?”

– True. We’re more of a problem than you are, Hoon. You’ve always managed well on your own.

I glanced back slightly.

I couldn’t see my party members.

While fighting, I had moved so far that they were out of sight.

– It’s getting more and more intense over here. Still, we’re racking up points by taking them down one by one. Don’t worry too much. We’ll catch as many as we can to build up our contribution this time too. And… hoo…….

From the sound of Capu’s strained breathing.

It seemed a fierce battle was unfolding on their end.

– I’ll just quickly tell you what I need to. According to my search information, these things pursue with silence. Literally, moving without a sound. That is what this species considers the highest state. So always be careful, Hoon. The stronger the Shepherd, the less sound you’ll hear.

“Sound. Okay. I got it.”

Chzzt.

The communication was abruptly cut off.

It seemed he had struggled to connect due to the distance.

– “Capu… that guy is quite something.”

(T/N: I’m glad the author is not leaving Capu useless in their team.)

The Elder, who had been watching, muttered.

– “To be thinking about communication in that chaotic situation. And to go out of his way to relay information for your sake. He’s meticulous.”

“I agree.”

He was certainly remarkable.

“I guess I’m lucky with people. They were just people I randomly picked during Theme 2, but they’re all doing well in their own positions.”

– “Keke. Since you’re a good fellow, they’re probably trying to be good people too.”

Huh.

This Elder.

Why has he been praising me so much lately?

Ever since his summon time changed to 12 hours, he’s been feeling very favorable toward me.

“……It’s a little cringey hearing you say that, Elder.”

– “Quiet, you brat.”

The Elder crossed his arms and continued.

– “And do you know this?”

“What?”

– “That final boss of the Shepherds is near here right now.”

“……?!”

– “It must be getting interested. It’s watching from quite a close distance, too.”

His words sent a chill down my spine.

Not only was it close, but it was watching me?

And I couldn’t feel any presence at all?

‘Where is it?’

I muttered inwardly without realizing it.

– “Why, are you going to go find it and fight it right away? Don’t. Just catch the Shepherds in front of you. Now that I see it up close, I know for sure. You wouldn’t catch that thing even if you died and came back to life. Absolutely not.”

“……”

Is it that powerful?

– “You know it too, don’t you? I don’t discourage a challenge if I see even the slightest possibility.”

“You have.”

– “But that thing is still too much. Above all, this place is the perfect space for it. It has made an already stealthy creature even more hidden.”

“……”

This is making me stubborn.

– Krrrreung!

In front of me, the three Shepherds were preparing for battle again.

I don’t know what other kinds of Shepherds might be ahead.

There are probably even stronger ones.

‘Normally.’

The right thing to do would be to catch them one by one and move on.

That way, I could accumulate more contribution points, and it would be more helpful to the team.

But why?

I didn’t want to waste time.

A feeling that if I kept climbing the ranks one by one like this, I’d be eliminated before I even met the so-called final boss?

‘I don’t want that.’

Since I’ve already started.

Even if it’s an opponent I can’t beat.

I wanted to at least see what it looked like.

‘So where is it?’

– “……You brat. What have you been listening to all this time?”

‘Elder, it’s not like my life is on the line this time, is it? The worst-case scenario is just elimination. I have to see what that thing looks like.’

– “Hoo.”

The Elder let out a sigh.

– “Who calls you the Skeleton King? You’re the Stubborn King. The Stubborn King.”

‘Thank you.’

– “You persistent brat. Fine, as you said, it’s not a matter of life and death.”

The Elder raised his hand and pointed in one direction.

– “It is exactly 500m away, at a 30-degree angle to the left from your direct front.”

Okay.

I nodded.