Survive the labyrinth with EX-grade traits

A system message appeared in front of me.

‘What’s all this?’

[Demern casts ‘Rapid Shot’.]

[Mustang uses ‘Special Smoke Bomb’.]

[Monera uses ‘Flag of Vitality’.]

[⋯⋯]

[⋯⋯]

Damn it.

At the point where we had killed four more in addition to the four caught by Mick’s ambush and Martin’s shots, the entire Oxynos Clan joined the battle.

As I had feared, all the clan members gathered and used their items, tore open scrolls containing buffs and magic, and rushed towards us from the back.

Fortunately, that was the end of it.

Psssh…

A thick smoke screen filled the area, and in the meantime, various attacks, including Demern’s rapid shots, covered us.

The attacks, which were like a tidal wave covering the front, were quite impressive.

Kwaaang!!!

However, our party was also experienced mid-level adventurers, led by a archer who was a follower of the hunting goddess.

Dietrich shouted and then sheathed his sword, grabbing his shield with both hands to block the front.

The black armor turned red again due to the mana manipulation, and steam escaped from the visor and joints.

[Dietrich casts ‘Iron Wall Defense’.]

“Please protect us from evil.”

[Holy Protect]

Several arrows infused with mana.

Throwing weapons like hand axes and chain sickles.

High-level magic and offensive consumables.

Fortunately, the defense technique and the holy protection shield were able to deflect and absorb the attacks, allowing us to withstand them safely.

On the other hand, Martin’s appropriate and swift response was also notable.

[Martin casts ‘High Wind’.]

Tuwung─

Martin’s arrow rose so high that it seemed to become a point, and then it fell, wrapped in a storm-like wind, and pierced the ground.

Puhwaak!!!

The strong wind instantly dispersed the smoke screen.

“Good. We blocked the attack without any damage… but it’s too early to get excited.”

The problem was that Demern, who had been watching us get attacked, was not going to just stand by.

[Demern casts ‘Rapid Reload’.]

Demern’s unique skill, which allows him to reload and prepare for a technique in an instant, twice a day, thanks to his passive skill ‘Steel Mountain Ranger’.

From a distance, Demern aimed his bow and shouted in a loud voice.

“How dare you repay our kindness with ingratitude?!”

[Demern casts ‘Rapid Shot’.]

Ping ping ping, peeing─!

“Damn!”

Martin, who was in the tree, reacted a little late, as the rapid shots were twice as fast as before.

On top of that, Dietrich was still recovering from the aftermath of Iron Wall Defense, and…

“Holy—”

Marianne also started chanting a healing spell when she saw the arrows, but it was too late.

I rolled my eyes in the slowed-down world.

The arrows were not aimed at the disabled Dietrich or the archer Martin, but at Marianne, the most annoying healer.

‘It’s common sense to target the healer first when there’s an opportunity in any battle.’

The swirling mana gathered and formed a tail, like a falling comet.

In the blink of an eye, four arrows were aimed at different parts of Marianne’s body.

‘I have to block them as her guard. It’s up to me.’

Barak seemed like it would break if it blocked even one or two of Demern’s deliberately shot arrows.

On the other hand, Rehagen could withstand the attack, but the arrows were too heavy to deflect them all.

So, the only option left was…

The decision was quick, and the action was even faster.

I summoned Solace, the longsword, and slowly gripped it with both hands.

I widened my eyes until the blood vessels burst.

Remember.

The teachings of my master.

“Hoo…”

And then recall.

The battle in the mud, where my feet were stuck and shrapnel flew.

‘I see it.’

I slashed diagonally, gathering mana in my arms.

For a moment, the sword shone.

Evelyn’s explosive sword technique accelerated and unfolded like a beam of light.

Pababak, pwang─!

The sword slashed diagonally.

The explosion sounded, and.

One swing turned into four sword strikes.

“⋯Haa.”

Hot breath rose from my lungs.

Hooddeuk.

The arrows, filled with fierce mana, fell weakly, split in half.

My arms and body ached from the excessive force and twisting, but I could endure it for now.

“Ahren!”

As the slowed-down world returned to normal, Marianne’s voice could be heard.

“Nu, blood in your eyes! Heal with light!”

[The effect of the heal heals the wounded part.]

‘As expected of a mid-level priest. She’s quick to act.’

My eyes and muscle pain were healed by Marianne’s quick healing spell, instead of the protection shield.

Martin laughed heartily.

“Haha! I knew you could do it, Ahren! I could tell you were skilled just by looking at you!”

On the other hand, Demern, who was furious, shouted.

“Damn it! How dare a half-assed black mage interfere! You bastards, don’t be surprised, go and fight!”

What a ridiculous mistake to think I’m a black mage.

Anyway, Demern, who was full of rage, pushed the clan members’ backs, and the all-out battle began.

I guarded in front of Marianne, in case something like this happened again.

“How dare you encroach on our territory, you cheeky bastards!”

“Please just die!”

Demern and the other officers, as well as the average D-rated clan members and the stragglers who were forced to charge, all joined the battle.

I shook off the lightning several times and swung my sword without rest.

I blocked the enemies that were approaching, just like I had cut down the two who were coming earlier, while Dietrich was busy.

‘Why is there no interception or support fire? What’s Martin doing?’

Squeak!

After dealing with one more enemy, I looked up at the tree.

Jing─

Martin, who had lost his smile, was preparing a big technique.

“You’ve done well as a temporary ally, so I have to show something too!”

[Martin casts ‘Path-Reading Eyes’.]

[Martin casts ‘Sun and Moon Seven Kills’.]

Dietrich distracted the enemies with his charge and tanking, while Marianne’s protection shield blocked the attacks from behind.

Demern, who had been waiting for an opportunity while his clan members died, narrowed his eyes.

“See if you can block this too!”

Demern caught the moment when Martin gathered his mana and fired a decisive shot.

[Demern casts ‘Weakness Detection’.]

[Demern casts ‘Pierce’.]

Ping─

The attack was a combination of Weakness Detection, which increases damage when targeting the red area that appears on the opponent’s body, and Pierce, a derivative technique of Intermediate Archery that inflicts additional damage by ignoring defense.

‘Do I have to block it with my sword?’

No. There was no need for that.

Despite seeing the technique coming straight at him, there was no sign of disturbance on Martin’s face.

“One shot!”

Tuwang!!

As Martin released the bowstring with a short declaration, a blue laser-like beam of light mercilessly countered Demern’s combo.

“What?!”

“Two shots!”

Martin, who had released the bowstring, frowned slightly at the rising pain.

Tuwang!!!

Regardless, the beam, which was stronger than the first shot, fell on the enemy and turned two adventurers into dust.

Martin, who had already taken a mid-level potion, took a short break and pulled the bowstring again.

“Not yet. Three shots!”

Martin’s count, which he shouted with each shot, instilled fear in the enemies.

The mana arrows that followed were like a disaster.

However, there were also adventurers who became more fired up when facing a strong opponent.

“Do you think I’m just going to stand here and take the hits like an idiot?!”

[Mustang casts ‘Burning Fist’.]

One of the four officers, who had clenched his fists in anger, unleashed a fierce flame from his fist.

However, he had overlooked one thing: extreme level differences cannot be overcome by anger alone.

-Whooosh!!!

The power of the water-colored mana and the crimson flame clashed.

“Ah, ah. Kkeuk!”

The winner was Martin.

The flame subsided, and the Sun and Moon Seven Kills directly hit the martial artist officer, severely damaging his body.

I looked at his body to see the extent of the damage, and the right half of his body, including his arm, was gone, leaving a wound that could not be healed by potions or healing spells.

So, he was dead.

“Kulk!”

From the third shot onwards, the burden on Martin’s body became too much, and he coughed up blood.

“Kheuk. One more shot—”

After drinking another potion to heal his internal injuries, Martin was about to cast another mana arrow when a system message appeared.

[Special Species ‘Golden Goblin Gornot’ has appeared.]

‘What?’

Wuwung!

A golden portal opened exactly in the center of the area, between our party and the clan.

Golden skin and a black bag.

Thud.

The Golden Goblin, Gornot, which had been talked about so much, finally appeared from the portal and stepped onto the ground.

“Keruk?”

The goblin had a question mark on its face and let out a small cry.

The cold silence of the battle swallowed the heat of the fight.

“J, it’s really the Golden Goblin?”

Someone couldn’t hold back and blurted out, and everyone’s attention was drawn to the Golden Goblin.

Pick.

The portal flickered and disappeared without a trace, as it had no reason to stay open after dropping the special species in the designated location.

“⋯.”

“If we catch that…”

The golden crown on the head of the Golden Goblin, Gornot, shone brightly, capturing everyone’s attention.

[Chaos is embarrassed because this happened at an inconvenient time.]

‘What do I do? I just need to get rid of the Oxynos clan, but the others are here for the Golden Goblin. Let’s see… what will Martin do?’

Everyone was looking at each other, trying to gauge the situation, when I felt something suspicious from Demern.

“Krrr.”

[Demern casts ‘Wolf’s Time’.]

[The existing traits are converted, and the stats are adjusted.]

“Awooo!”

A fierce howl struck everyone’s ears.

───

[Demern Kalhof]

[Strength: C+] [Agility: C+] [Endurance: C] [Health: C+] [Mana: C] [Luck: E]

[Possessed Traits] (Collapse)

Intermediate Wolf Magic
Steel Mountain Beast Beast’s Eye
Weakness Detection
Rapid Scratch
Hunter’s Time

───

Demern threw away his bow, and his teeth became sharper and his nails grew longer, transforming into the hands of a beast rather than a human.

“All officers! If you take the incomplete blood pill when you return I’ll compensate for your losses! Let’s catch that thing and quickly return to enjoy three months of luxury!”

So, they still had hidden doping items?

I watched as the officers hesitated and took out the red pill from far away.

───

[Incomplete Blood Pill] (C)

8th District’s Hyeolhwa-Hoi’s Incomplete Blood Pill.

When consumed, it forces the user’s latent potential to explode.

The manufacturing process was not perfect, resulting in an incomplete product.

It is not recommended to consume it due to the massive cost that must be paid when the effect ends.

• All stats increase by two levels for one day.
•
• All attacks have additional dark attribute damage.
•
• Negative emotions are converted into fighting spirit and anger, and regeneration and bleeding resistance slightly increase.
•
• When the duration ends, the health stat decreases by six levels for three months.
•
• If the health stat reaches F-grade due to this effect, the user will die immediately.
•
───

Crazy. The C-grade officers, who were already strong, had their stats increased by two levels, and their attacks had additional dark attribute damage, regeneration, and bleeding resistance?

“As the clan leader, I can’t just tell others to do it. So, I’ll take it first.”

Demern’s fierce energy captivated the entire clan.

“Everyone, look at the special species in front of you. This is your future!”

In his hand was a red pill that looked qualitatively different from the incomplete blood pill held by the officers.

As expected of the clan leader, he had a better pill for himself.

Gulping, Demern made eye contact with each officer and swallowed the pill without hesitation.

[Demern consumes ‘Blood Pill’.]

[All stats increase by two levels for one day.]

[All attacks have additional dark attribute damage.]

[Fighting spirit, anger, regeneration, and bleeding resistance increase.]

His blue eyes were dyed red by the power of the blood pill.

“Kha ha ha! I should have taken it sooner. This power, boiling up from the depths of my body, is very satisfying!”

At this moment, Demern, who was laughing madly, was no longer a hunter with a bow.

He was just a beast consumed by bloodlust.

‘Wait. If it’s a dark attribute…’

-When fighting against a dark attribute enemy, the sword glows and inflicts strong light attribute damage on attacks.

The pure white blade trembled.

[‘Solace, the Sword of Radiance’, shows hostility.]

Radiance.

A brilliant light enveloped me.