novelraw Chapter 158 : Werther - (1)
Chapter 158 : Werther - (1)
Chapter 158: Werther - (1)
The final section.
As if wanting to signal that it was a special space, a barrier had been erected.
It was surrounded by an opaque outer membrane, so the inside couldn’t be clearly seen.
A silhouette of someone could be seen.
It was probably the boss monster.
Since Hyunjung Corporation had never attempted a boss raid before, they had no information about the interior.
But Sanghyun knew.
Who was inside, and what kind of traits that thing had.
‘Werther.’
A boss monster that established even more destructive power through three-stage transformation, it was an extremely tricky entity.
Since its basic premise of attack always involved an ‘element,’ without Han Hyunjung, even Sanghyun wouldn’t be able to attempt it.
“Looks like all the buffs are in place.”
“Yeah. I feel like my stomach’s going to burst.”
Sanghyun and Han Hyunjung checked the buff window, now filled to the brim with effects.
Each time they cleared a section of the labyrinth, buffs like increased attack power, skill damage amplification, and mana recovery had accumulated.
It seemed to be a system designed to prevent players entering the labyrinth from falling into pure despair.
Or perhaps it was a gesture to ensure that, since the final opponent was so difficult, players had enough power and qualifications.
At any rate, reviewing the list of buffs, Sanghyun’s destructive power was now roughly twice what his level would normally allow.
Considering the past-life data that evaluated Werther to be around level 450—
It was a fairly doable number.
Of course, “doable” didn’t mean it would be an easy or safe victory.
It simply meant he had the right to face it. The difficulty remained unchanged.
“Why are you only showing up now?”
Just then, Han Hyunjung suddenly brought up a new topic out of the blue.
At first, Sanghyun didn’t understand what she meant, but soon grasped her intention and let out a chuckle.
“Yeah. It would’ve been great if I’d awakened my player talents earlier.”
He often thought about how great it would’ve been if he had returned to an earlier point in time.
The very day the era of players began! If he had gone back to that day, things would’ve been different.
But just like how there are no ‘ifs’—
Dreaming about things that can’t happen and regretting them is the most foolish thing one can do. That’s how Sanghyun saw it.
“While raiding this labyrinth together, I’ve realized something. You deserve to be a named player, Sanghyun.”
“Thank you.”
“I should’ve made a chance to fight with you much earlier. To be honest, it’s too easy.”
“It was easy for me, too. The buffs made a huge difference. The damage amplification is insane.”
“That’s my livelihood. Even now, I spend at least five hours a day crafting buff skills.”
“Every single day?”
“Yes. Even if I’m on an overseas business trip, I train on a private jet. I haven’t missed a single day.”
‘Respect!’—this was the right time to say that.
Sanghyun too, except on rest days, was always immersed in training. That was his normal.
She really was a named player, after all.
They knew.
The more time you waste and throw away, the more you fall behind in the competition.
“During the final phase, make sure to maintain a safe distance no matter what. Even if the buffs run out, don’t push yourself.”
“Will you be okay?”
“Whether I’ll be okay or not, we’ll find out once we’re in there. But I’ll make sure it won’t be easy for them to touch you. In return...”
“Yes.”
“Please keep a sharp eye out for invisible attacks or traps that I might miss.”
“That won’t be a problem.”
“Then let’s go.”
Sanghyun stepped through the barrier and entered the boss area first.
At that moment, an unexpected title was activated. The description was simple but meaningful.
【One Who Challenges Mysteries】
■ Title Rank: A-Rank
■ Title Description: When defeating a boss monster in a labyrinth-type dungeon, you can roll a die and multiply the obtained experience by the number you roll to determine your final EXP.
“Keh.”
Sanghyun chuckled.
Experience based on luck, huh?
Of course, it wasn’t a loss.
At minimum, he would roll a one, which meant he’d break even.
Still, it amused him to think that some gambling-obsessed Constellation must’ve created such a title.
“According to Werther’s external information window, he has resistance to non-elemental attacks.”
“Yes. That’s why you must have an elemental buff of some kind applied. Or I’ll have to use elemental skills.”
“I’ll try my best to make sure the buffs don’t lapse. I’ll also support you directly to sync with your skills.”
“The fight won’t end easily.”
“I’m not planning to coast through this. I come into every dungeon ready to die, so don’t worry.”
“Here I go!”
Sanghyun charged forward.
The boss monster ‘Werther’ had the appearance of a young boy. He looked like a 10-year-old child.
With neatly cut black hair and red eyes, he wore overalls and a shirt.
“I’m sad. I don’t want to lose the labyrinth! That’s why I’ll kill you to ease this sorrow!”
Werther’s furious cry reminded Sanghyun of Ivan, whom he had faced before.
A type who arrogantly spewed whatever he wanted from his own perspective, as if nothing in the world scared him.
◎ Werther’s Sorrow
◎ Instant death in 30 minutes.
‘Damn it.’
He had expected the boss monster to apply some kind of debuff.
There had been such cases during the large-scale raid with Do Kyungsoo.
But a 30-minute time attack?
And not a mere failure or expulsion—if you’re affected, you just die.
There was only one way to lift this debuff. Werther, the caster, had to die.
“Die!”
Without time to think deeply, Werther began shifting his position and throwing something at Sanghyun.
They were short spears constructed from blazing fire. In magical terms: Fire Spears.
‘Fast.’
Werther’s attack pattern of continuously repositioning and hurling fire spears was quite threatening.
‘But since he’s not throwing them all at once, I can still respond.’
Sanghyun assessed the situation calmly.
It was visually chaotic, sure, but the core threat was still just the incoming fire spears.
Since they weren’t launched simultaneously, there was plenty of room for counterattack.
『Counter Curtain』
Whirrr! Tang!
Sanghyun, reading the timing precisely, used Counter Curtain to deflect the first incoming projectile.
Since it was a perfect counter, the damage delivered to Sanghyun was nearly zero.
Tang! Tang! Tang!
Each time he deployed Counter Curtain, the flaming spears Werther had carefully thrown were returned just as they were.
Werther's expression twisted as he suddenly found himself having to dodge or block his own attacks.
Just moments ago, he had worn a dignified and composed look.
“You’re really annoying!”
Now, his face was full of deep wrinkles, twisted to an unsightly degree.
Several more fire spears came flying in afterward, but Sanghyun blocked them with Counter Curtain.
It was a skill that consumed 100 stamina per use, so it couldn’t be used endlessly.
‘It’s part of a player’s skill to plan a repertoire that maximizes the system’s optimization.’
But Sanghyun had a countermeasure.
『Over Psychedelic』
It was an awakening skill he had been saving.
It instantly restored all stamina upon use, and would restore it again when the duration ended.
“Ugh!”
Perhaps because Sanghyun had successfully used Counter Curtain eight times in a row, Werther gave up first.
In truth, just a few more tries would’ve put Sanghyun in trouble due to lack of stamina.
But Werther lacked persistence, and lost the first battle of wits against Sanghyun.
“I’ll rip you apart myself!”
Werther kicked off the ground and charged forward.
Seeing his entire body flush red, it was clear he had equipped fire resistance.
In this case, fire-based skills like Flame Strike wouldn’t work at all.
What he needed was the opposing force known as freezing-type buffs or skills.
As one approached the realm of top-tier and high-tier players, the combat scenarios requiring consideration multiplied.
Elemental properties were the prime example.
‘I’m lacking in elemental skills.’
Naturally, Sanghyun began to think about what he needed to improve.
He had many status ailment skills, but it was undeniable that he lacked those specialized in elements.
『Freezing Conversion』
Sanghyun immediately cast Freezing Conversion.
Elemental response was essential.
◎ Breath of the Glacier
◎ Increases freezing-element skill damage by 50%.
Han Hyunjung applied the buff almost simultaneously with the skill cast.
At this point, they were practically functioning as one unit.
“Die!”
Finally, Sanghyun and Werther clashed.
『Knockback Burst』
His first response was Knockback Burst.
For repelling a close enemy, there was no better skill.
Clang!
“Tch!”
Sanghyun’s precision strike with the Cham-Ma Sword couldn’t be blocked by Werther, who ended up using both arms to shield himself.
Just as Sanghyun had a defensive setup, Werther seemed to form a guard by pressing his arms together.
‘So even boss monsters don’t always make the most careful decisions.’
At that moment, a smile appeared on Sanghyun’s lips. The situation he had been hoping for had come to pass.
Seeing Werther being pushed back from blocking Knockback Burst—
『Full Bash』
He immediately made his move.
There’s no moment more vulnerable than when someone is pushed back while defending.
Flash!
With a burst of sound, Sanghyun instantly closed the distance to stand right in front of Werther.
Then—
Shwaaaak!
He felt the satisfying feedback of a clean hit. It was a decisive strike, one that clearly cut through flesh.
“Grahh!”
Werther was struck with Stiffness.
The one who had been darting around moments ago was now completely frozen.
A golden opportunity opened for Sanghyun to attack freely.
Boss monsters rarely succumb to status effects, but in the end, it was still a game of probability.
Even if the chance was low, once it triggered, the target would feel it as 100%.
‘Buffs are great.’
Additional elemental buffs continued chaining in.
That alone showed how vast Han Hyunjung’s mana reserves must be.
At least 4,000, surely.
Elemental buffs consumed a great amount of mana not just to cast, but also to maintain.
Shwik! Shwik! Shwik!
Mixing in acceleration skills, Sanghyun slashed at Werther even faster.
Yet, he hadn’t used his fatal combo or any of his major skills.
After all, the current boy form of Werther was just Phase One.
Sure enough—
Puk! Puk! Puk!
Werther, who had been pitifully sliced up like tofu, scattering blood in all directions,
“GRAAAH!”
Suddenly soared into the air, surrounded by an invincible barrier, and began to evolve.
Second Evolution.
It was the moment Werther transformed into his youth form.
Then—
◎ Resistance to Non-Elemental Attacks
◎ Ignores all attacks without an elemental attribute.
◎ Resistance to Ranged Attacks
◎ Ignores all attacks made from beyond a 10-meter radius.
“Son of a bitch.”
Sanghyun couldn’t help cursing at the new resistance options that had just appeared.
He was now being forced into close-quarters combat.