Episode 63 No.388 Feather Serpent Altar (2)
The sky was gloomy, as if it might rain at any moment.
A densely covered tropical rainforest.
There is a long, straight road running through the rainforest.
In the distance, a huge stone structure reminiscent of a pyramid is visible.
The core of this dungeon is the Feather Serpent Altar.
The next order is clear to anyone.
If you continue along the path in front of you, you will reach your destination, the altar.
However, it is questionable whether the path will be smooth.
– Wedge!
Several thin things flew towards Koh Hyun-woo and me.
As we step aside, it passes us and lands firmly on the ground and in the trees behind us.
It is a sharp wooden spear.
Then, savages began to appear one after another from the grass.
Instead of wearing much clothing, he had something like red and white paint smeared all over his body.
“That’s why you look a bit strong.”
It looks even more so because the expression is so fierce.
It seems that first impressions are important to people.
“It’s a sacrifice!”
“Catch him alive!”
– Shh!
They have no qualms about using weapons to catch people alive.
Some of the barbarians threw their spears again, while others charged forward with wooden spears.
I waved one hand lightly.
[Windforce]
A gust of wind with physical force tore through their formation.
Savages falling like dominoes.
Those who didn’t fall came stabbing the window,
– Crunch!
Go Hyun-woo cut them all down in an instant.
As I was roughly organizing things, I saw a group of savages running down the road again.
A situation where there is no time to have a conversation.
Go Hyun-woo nodded at me.
“I wish you good luck.”
“you also.”
And he ran out and started slaughtering the savages.
Every time the iron sword flashes, blood splatters.
As I have made you familiar with the dungeon strategy, I have decided in advance,
From now on, each of us will take action.
While Go Hyun-woo continued on his own path to the altar, I deviated from the path and entered a rainforest with no clear direction.
I swing the F-grade jungle sword I bought in advance in an X shape and push through the bushes.
The core rule of the Feather Serpent Altar is [Raid].
The summary of the contents is as follows.
A party of up to four people enters and fights their way through the oncoming barbarians to reach the altar.
The altar is in the midst of preparations for the ceremony, so more savages will be waiting.
After a bloody fight with them, the boss monster, the Feather Snake Priest, will finally appear.
From this point on, we can say that the real raid begins.
While the ritual must be stopped, the onslaught of priests and barbarians must be repelled.
If you somehow succeed in defeating the boss, you clear the dungeon.
‘That’s true, in a literal sense.’
It goes without saying that, in a orthodox way, you can’t even dream of finding hidden pieces if you just follow the visible path.
If you dig hard in places that others don’t pay attention to, nothing will come out.
Just like right now.
– Bam!
As the jungle road was hit hard, the tree branches blocking the path fell to the ground.
And then a fairly open space appeared.
There are faint traces of people passing by here and there.
If we trace these traces back in their entirety… … .
‘This is how a village comes into being.’
A village of roughly built huts crowded together.
If there are barbarians, there must naturally be a barbarian homeland.
[Feather Serpent Altar] is easy to miss because it shows the path and goal so obviously, but recognizing these small blind spots is what determines whether or not you obtain the hidden piece.
There were few barbarians in the village, as most of them were gathered around the altar.
The guys who were lighting the bonfire saw me and jumped up.
I waved my hand gently for a moment.
“Haha, hello everyone. Have you eaten?”
“Sacrifice?”
“The sacrifice has arrived.”
“Catch him alive!”
– Shh!
Then, all of a sudden, he picks up a bamboo spear and throws it.
And it’s aimed right at my chest.
A person dies when his heart is pierced by something sharp, so I don’t understand how they can catch him alive like this.
With no intention of dying or being caught, I focused my windforce on the flying spear.
The window shuddered, then suddenly lost speed and was caught in my hand.
Let’s throw it on the road and send a strong blast of wind at it,
– Bam!
It originally penetrated the owner’s body and then moved on to lodge itself in the savage’s body.
By concentrating physical force at a single point in this way, you can slow down or accelerate the speed of a projectile.
Although it is not as powerful as the melee classes’ superior strength and mana in throwing it, or the unique projectiles of the ranged classes, it is still useful because it has above average destructive power.
When I was fighting Hong Yeon-hwa, I used this method to block the troll’s hatchet.
“Strong sacrifice!”
“I have to catch it no matter what!”
“Catch him alive!”
Two of their comrades fell, but the savages seemed even more excited.
In his eyes, one can see more of a blind desire for sacrifice than revenge.
But if I ask, won’t you at least give me an answer?
So I asked subtly,
“Is the chief inside?”
“Die!!”
Instead of answering, a spear was thrust.
You just told me to catch him alive.
Have you changed your mind?
Anyway, there was no time to waste in a place like this.
He started to move forward, twisting his body this way and that.
Sharp, pointy things pass by with a hair’s breadth.
Anything that blocks his path is knocked far away with Windforce, and anything he can grab, be it an arm or the nape of a neck, he throws upward.
“Eww—”
The screams spread far and wide into the sky.
I think they’ll be able to land just fine. Or not.
It advances like a bulldozer, breaking through human walls.
There was no need to wander around looking for a savage chieftain or priest.
Just go to the biggest hut in the village.
Common sense tells us that it is unlikely that a priest of the noble class would have set up a modest residence in a corner of the village.
– Boom!
Until then, he easily blasted away the barbarians that rushed at him,
I stepped inside, removing the curtain at the entrance.
A fragrant scent greeted me.
It seemed to bloom from the makeshift altar set up in one corner.
In front of him, a middle-aged man, presumed to be a priest, was kneeling.
Perhaps because he is a priest, his entire body is adorned with feather decorations and his facial makeup is also darker.
“… … .”
The priest sensed my presence, raised his head, and found me.
He speaks while looking it over slowly and carefully, as if evaluating it.
“… … This guy has a rare and strong spirit. He will make a good sacrifice.”
“Everyone who sees it only talks about sacrifices. Are there no other topics?”
“What good is talking to the livestock you raise? They are destined to die anyway.”
“That’s right.”
After hearing it, I nodded because it made sense.
The priest made the suggestion in a very merciful tone.
“If you are caught easily, the painful moments will be shortened.”
“I don’t like being caught or getting hurt.”
“That’s not something you can choose.”
“Still, I want to try to do it as much as I can.”
“I guess so.”
The priest smiled kindly.
A few savages followed me in and took up positions behind me,
“Catch it.”
They all reached out to me at once.
I slapped the closest one in the face, then grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and threw him at the priest.
It collides with the translucent membrane surrounding the priest and slams into the wall.
– Thud!
‘D-class barrier.’
I threw four or five more in succession, but it was still meaningless.
Of course, my goal wasn’t to break through the barrier.
I’m just clearing out the guys blocking my way out.
I squeezed my way out through a small gap in the crowd.
And he didn’t forget to throw in a mean word.
“Catch me if you can.”
– Boom!
A golden aura enveloped the place I had just passed through.
As I was waiting outside, calmly as if nothing had happened, the priest walked out of his quarters.
In his hand he held a golden staff.
In addition, all the barbarians within the village are surrounding the area in a circle.
I thought as I dodged the flying golden aura and spears.
‘The minimum conditions have been cleared.’
Minimum prerequisite to obtain the hidden piece of [Feather Serpent Altar].
This is to tie the priest to the village.
This is because the moment the priest reaches the altar, the sleeping hidden piece automatically becomes the priest’s possession.
It needs to be kept separate until Koh Hyun-woo takes full ownership.
That’s why I went all the way through the forest to find the village.
So far, everything is going according to plan.
– Boom!
As I kicked the ground and retreated, another cloud of golden light fell down.
Several of the savages who were chasing me were hit instead and their whole bodies were mangled.
That’s not an elemental attack, so if you get hit even once, you’ll go down in flames.
But I’m not too worried.
‘It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t fit.’
I avoid one thing because I am confident.
[Inferno Fist]
The fist was heated with crimson flames.
I want to scream out loud, but if I miscontrol my strength and the priest dies, the dungeon will close before Go Hyun-woo can obtain the hidden piece.
I have to hold on for the time being, because I have to keep it alive.
I cast Inferno Fist for another reason.
[Overheat]
The immense power contained in the fist spread throughout the body, supplying energy.
I dashed forward, avoiding the flying golden aura.
– Pot! Pot!
Every time I hit the ground, my vision changed and the priest’s figure came closer.
The moment the priest opened his eyes wide and was about to recite a defensive spell.
My hand stretched out in front of me.
The hand broke the transparent membrane in one breath and touched the priest’s chest.
– Boom!
The priest’s new form flew into the dwelling and crashed into it.
There is a loud crashing sound from inside, with furniture breaking.
‘It’s useful.’
I shook my slightly cold hands.
I tried to hit it with Wind Force by putting it into a body that had been strengthened by Overheat, and it was able to easily destroy a D-class barrier.
Still, since it is a boss-level monster, there won’t be much damage to the main body.
I spoke to the inside.
“Hey, you should pay more attention to defense. I think it might be a little too sloppy—”
As soon as I tilted my head to the side, a bright golden rod passed by.
I feel a huge energy rising from inside.
“—Oh. You’re really angry.”
“… … I won’t kill you nicely.”
– Kwakwakwang!
Now the golden nuggets start falling, two or three at a time.
This too was as intended.
The Feather Serpent Priest’s top priority is to perform the ‘ritual’.
If you clumsily draw aggro, it often happens that you leave in the middle of a battle.
How to prevent such mishaps?
Just make them really angry.
– Kwakwakwakwang!
Of course, there is a downside in that it makes it harder to avoid.
I glanced far behind me, kicking my feet hard.
A fierce battle would be raging at the towering Feathered Serpent Altar by now.
‘Good job, Go Hyun-woo.’
The rest is up to you.
