Chapter 51
Several days had passed since Chaeho finished purchasing his new equipment and completed his adjustment training.
Even as he walked across rough gravel, he barely felt any impact through the soles of his feet.
His newly made special-fiber boots were so light they felt like socks wrapped tightly around his feet.
The one-handed sword at his waist also had a completely different balance from his old iron sword.
He had spent hundreds of millions of won from his account to create a mobility-focused equipment setup.
And now he had the perfect place to test it.
Blackstone Gorge.
A B-rank dungeon filled with strange, towering rock formations.
"Looks like you got new equipment. Your steps seem quite a bit lighter."
Park Junhyeok, who was walking at the front while carrying a huge shield, glanced back.
He was the leader of the party the Hunter Association had matched for this raid.
He was an experienced shield warrior who had spent a long time surviving B-rank Gates.
"Yes. It's my first B-rank dungeon, so I prepared a little."
Chaeho glanced down at his boots.
"They definitely earn their price."
Park Junhyeok nodded approvingly.
"Good choice. Unlike C-rank dungeons, you can't just rely on your body here. You'll end up without even enough bones left to collect."
He looked at Chaeho's equipment.
"Even if you sacrifice some defense, avoiding the attack is often the better option."
There had been no reason for Chaeho to immediately begin acting alone after his promotion.
He understood his objective physical ability clearly.
Seeing an attack trajectory was one thing.
Having the body to respond to it was something completely different.
That was why he chose a stable five-person party recommended by the Association.
Park Junhyeok and Lee Chaeho stood at the front.
Mage Lee Soyeon and archer Jo Mingyu were in the rear.
Healer Seo Eunbyeol completed the group.
It was a standard party formation with every role fitting together like gears.
"Hunter Lee Chaeho."
Lee Soyeon, who was walking behind him, lightly tapped her staff.
"Since you're in the close-range position, just cover Junhyeok oppa's openings."
She continued.
"Don't rush too far forward and overextend yourself."
There was a little concern in her voice toward someone who had only recently been promoted.
Chaeho didn't appear offended.
He simply nodded.
"Understood. I'll make sure not to cross the line."
There was no need for arrogance or showing off.
His priority right now was learning how experienced B-rank hunters formed their positions and planned their movement.
Chaeho controlled his breathing and memorized the surrounding terrain.
The deeper they entered the gorge, the colder the air became.
An unpleasant wind echoed between the black rock walls surrounding them.
Then...
"Stop ahead."
Park Junhyeok raised one arm and adjusted his shield.
At the same time, Jo Mingyu pulled his bowstring tight.
Chaeho instinctively placed a hand on his sword and slightly bent his knees.
Rustle.
Something slowly stepped out from behind the shadow of a massive rock.
It looked like a beast.
But the density of mana coming from it was unlike anything Chaeho had encountered during his days as a porter.
Its hide looked as though it was covered in black iron armor.
Its red eyes gave off the smell of blood.
A Black-Armored Wolf.
It was a common scouting-type monster in B-rank dungeons.
Yet cold sweat instantly ran down Chaeho's back.
This is considered a normal monster?
Its killing intent was equal to, or perhaps greater than, the boss monsters he had encountered at the deepest sections of C-rank dungeons.
Its muscles expanded.
Then the distance between them disappeared in the blink of an eye.
BANG!
A dull explosive sound erupted, and dust blasted into the air.
"Urgh!"
Park Junhyeok groaned as he was pushed half a step backward.
He had taken the Black-Armored Wolf's powerful front-paw strike directly against his massive shield.
Two deep trenches appeared in the solid ground beneath his feet.
The simple kinetic force behind the monster's attack was already on a completely different level from C-rank.
"Move into its blind spot!"
The moment Park Junhyeok shouted, three arrows flew from Jo Mingyu's fingers.
Sharp ice spears also launched from the tip of Lee Soyeon's staff toward the wolf's side.
But the Black-Armored Wolf twisted its waist in an unnatural manner while still in the air.
CLANG! CRACK!
The arrows and ice spears struck its tough hide and scattered sparks.
They left shallow wounds.
But nothing close to fatal.
