Acquired the Scam Rune in the Academy

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‘Two bosses?’

The left wall of the boss room shattered and after Yamata no Orochi, another monster snake appeared.

From its size and hideous appearance…

It’s definitely not an ordinary monster.

In other words, that monster snake is also a boss monster.

That meant the dungeon ‘Smuggling Cave’ had a total of two boss monsters.

‘Is that even possible?’

The existence of two boss monsters in one dungeon.

This was information that was absent from my knowledge so far.

Even after countless dungeon raids, I’ve never seen this before, and I’ve never read about something like this in <Next Rune Holder> back in my old world even after reading through it multiple times.

The only related piece of information was the change of the dragon boss in the underground dungeon from the existing ‘Red Drake’ to ‘Grizzly Drake’.

That was the extent of new boss-related information I’ve learned so far.

‘This is completely new information again.’

Thoughts flashed through my mind.

Back in my old world, I wasn’t able to see the ending of <Next Rune Holder>.

Properly dealing with the ‘Academy Raid Incident’ and the decline of the <Villain> Clan.

And Park Jin-woo stepping into the ‘City of Stray Wolves’ after completing his growth, and encountering the strange existences within dungeons.

That was where the later parts I’ve seen ended.

So while I knew this world better than anyone, I was also aware my knowledge had clear limitations.

And it wasn’t just limited to the double bosses in this dungeon.

Earlier, the A-grade monster Manticore that I hunted with Moon Ga-eun in the ‘Nest Covered by Clouds’.

The [Rapid Recovery] rune I obtained from a special Manticore.

Even the information on that rune had many things I didn’t know about.

Downgrade runes, Barbarian enhancement magic, Rudeanak spells….

Unfamiliar words and information had come to me at that time.

‘I need to start investigating this myself now.’

I could finally accept the reality then.

The information I had taken the lead on had reached its end.

From now on, people would continue to discover countless undiscovered dungeons, and obtain hidden items and runes through their own methods.

Soon, Song Hyun would announce his ‘rune acquisition method through repetition’, and Choi Yoo-min would rise to become the best domestic blacksmith in Korea.

Amidst that change…

I had to adapt to the transformed surroundings in my own way.

The raid of this dungeon and the appearance of the double bosses were the signal flares indicating the start of that.

Ga-, Ooooor-!!

The monster snake let out a chilling screech as it attacked me.

The first strike was a physical attack.

Using its huge head for a frontal bite attack.

“Tch-!!”

Four of the hideously extended nine heads instantly flew towards me.

I quickly switched equipment using ‘Art of Weapon Exchange’ and took out [Goblin Bronze Shield].

Then, I immediately activated the skill [Iron Wall Defense].

Since I couldn’t accurately tell if this guy was A-grade or S-grade, I had to use the maximum defensive techniques I had available to block its attacks.

Clang-!

Clang, clang, kaaang-!!

Gyaooroar-!!

After enduring that vicious attack.

I soon realized.

‘Not as strong as I expected.’

The opponent’s physical attack was weaker than I anticipated.

Having many heads made it a bit tricky to predict the direction of attacks, but still, I could block them anyway.

And if a monster that exerted this much force had weak physical attacks…

There was only one reason for it.

Gyaooroar-!!

Fwaaang-

Whoosh- Whoosh-!!

Intense flames engulfed my entire field of vision.

Flames erupted all around and small embers started burning on the opponent monster’s scales.

Fire-attribute magic.

It was one of the keywords describing this ‘Smuggling Cave’, and the opponent monster utilized it at an extremely high level.

Pssst- Pssst-

Whoosh-!!

“Ugh….”

The direction of the flames instantly turned towards me.

It really was instantaneous.

I was about to retaliate right after blocking its headbutt attack, but I didn’t have the chance to.

The gaudy colored flames stretched out from all directions, stabbing into my body and quickly pushing up against my chest.

But I still had one last line of defense left.

‘Hardening…!’

[Hardening], one of the derived skills of the [Descendant of the Barbarian King] rune.

Aside from [Iron Wall Defense], it was the best defensive skill I could use.

Plus, when blocking attribute magic attacks, [Hardening] was more efficient than [Iron Wall Defense].

<Skill Information>

◎ Name: Hardening

…

…

◎ Effects

: Doubles toughness stats for 5 seconds and becomes much harder. Also gains 10 resistance against all elemental attacks while hardened. Effect ends after 5 seconds and Hardening is released.

Because [Hardening] had the temporary effect of increasing resistance against all elemental attacks, it was better in this case.

My current ‘Resistance Stats’ had 10 in fire resistance.

With [Hardening], it temporarily became 20.

That wasn’t all.

The [Scorched Lizard Leather Armor] made by Choi Yoo-min was specialized in defending against flame attacks.

Unless it was an extremely powerful attack…

The opponent wouldn’t be able to penetrate my defenses with fire-attribute magic attacks right now.

[A special combination of venom and flames! Withstood the ‘Red Venom’ of the Flame Hydra head-on. The intense poison and flames are rampaging, burning your skin.]

[The level of the ‘The Dead Firework’ rune has risen. Obtained 1 more fire resistance.]

[The level of the ‘Venom’ rune has risen. Obtained 1 more poison resistance.]

The busy information windows are spinning around.

And the magic of fire disappeared from my body immediately after.

It indicated that I had blocked that powerful magical attack completely and that the opponent’s name was ‘Flame Hydra’.

“Do Jae-hyun!”

At the same time, I heard a shout calling my name from behind along with approaching footsteps.

It was Park Jin-woo who had hastily switched targets after engaging Yamata no Orochi.

Judging by how the support was split, Kwon Oh-jun who went on the rear attack must have assessed the situation here and sent some help.

‘He grasped the situation accurately in that short time.’

The Flame Hydra was a boss monster with top-level fire-attribute magic runes.

Naturally, it would be difficult for our party’s mage-types.

Somehow, we had to hold out in melee range and wait for Akiba’s ranged support.

On top of that, Park Jin-woo was a Holder with considerable resistance against fire.

Excluding Kwon Oh-jun, he was the most helpful party member in this situation.

His participation was the optimal support personnel for the current circumstances.

The moment I confirmed his presence, I yelled without even looking back.

“Cut off its heads! The fire’s pretty strong so be careful!”

“Ohh!”

Park Jin-woo and I have sparred countless times until now.

We knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses better than anyone, and could position ourselves most efficiently against each other.

With just that brief exchange, we had already calculated the combat formation.

“Chase!”

Park Jin-woo immediately activated his ultimate skill.

[Unstoppable Swift Sword]’s [Otherworld Slash].

17 ultra-fast slashes landed on the Flame Hydra’s first head.

Swish- Clang-

Gya- Gyaooroar-!!

The Flame Hydra thrashed even more violently than before at the sudden attack.

Using an ultimate skill just to cut off one head…

It was understandable for the monster to be flustered.

But that was the foothold for a continuous chain attack.

“Tch-!!”

I leapt into the air and landed on Park Jin-woo’s side.

Then I stepped on his shoulder to jump forward once more.

Utilizing the momentum, I charged at the Flame Hydra’s other heads.

‘Staircase Slash…!!’

I wielded [Claw Short Swords] in both hands.

It was to inflict small damages using [Plum Blossom Sword Technique].

Kwaaang-!! Kwagang-!!

Gyaooroar-!!

I’m not sure if I passed 3 or 4 heads.

Since I brushed by so quickly, I couldn’t keep track.

Instead, I focused [Staircase Slash]’s power into the first and last attacks.

I imbued [Explosive Sword Aura] into them as well.

Even if they weren’t major blows, the consecutive magical attacks seemed to throw the Flame Hydra into disarray.

Whoosh-!!

Whoosh-

As if to prove that, intense flames erupted around me again.

It was the fire-attribute magic attack that was the monster’s specialty.

But that wasn’t the end.

“Ugh, argh…!!”

I heard Park Jin-woo’s agonized screams.

When I hurriedly checked, he was taking a fireball from the Flame Hydra’s mouth head-on.

Despite Park Jin-woo’s considerable fire resistance, he was helpless against attacks surpassing his resistance stats.

Against the explosive, rage-filled blast…

Park Jin-woo had taken major damage.

“F*cking b*stard….”

Profanities left my mouth unconsciously.

But I held in my anger and leapt on top of the Flame Hydra’s body, my original goal.

I had to stay calm at times like these.

There were two boss monsters here right now.

If I lost composure and reason due to this attack, not only would the raid fail, but the party members’ lives would be at risk.

‘Water…!’

Amidst that chaos.

I suddenly took out a bottle of water.

Not an item with any effects or a system item…

Just plain drinking water.

Some might call me crazy if they saw me, but I desperately needed this right now.

Pwaang-!

Swish-

I smashed the water bottle.

The small amount of water started flowing down the Flame Hydra’s body.

Without even time to watch that, I hurriedly used a skill.

‘New Wave.’

[New Wave], the derived skill of [Swirling Tidal Wave].

If there was even a tiny bit of water…

I could summon a gigantic wave rivaling the ocean with this skill.

The water that started from the water bottle seemed to multiply like crazy, swelling at an insane pace.

Gya, Gyaooroar-?

Sensing something strange.

The Flame Hydra started thrashing again, but…

“Too late, you little sh*t.”

Parts, parts-

Before I knew it, I had switched weapons.

In my hands the [Penetrating Brain Strike] with its intense currents is already flowing through.

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