'Wow...!'
Sung Jin-Woo's heart thumped wildly. To think that his job-exclusive skills, the ones that hadn't budged despite all the skill usage, had all leveled up at once? Bang, bang, bang. He felt like a kid again. Right now, the only others in the boss room were Yoo Jin-Ho and Department Head Woo Jin-Cheol. Neither of them was the type to nitpick, so Jin-Woo didn't feel the need to be discreet as he summoned his Status Window.
'Status Window.'
Ding. Along with the mechanical chime, all his current information, from his level to his equipped items, appeared before him. Jin-Woo's gaze stopped on the 'Job-Exclusive Skills' list.
[Job-Exclusive Skills] Active Skills: Shadow Extraction Lv.2, Shadow Storage Lv.2, Ruler's Domain Lv.2, Shadow Exchange Lv.2
'It's true.'
Knowing a fact and seeing the fact were two different things. More than anything else, Jin-Woo clenched his fist in triumph upon confirming the level increase for 'Shadow Exchange'.
'Awesome!'
Shadow Exchange—a skill whose potential was limitless, yet had always been frustrating due to its long cooldown.
'I remember the cooldown changes based on skill level.'
That frustration would now be reduced. This was the biggest gain of the day. He was happier about the improved Shadow Exchange skill than about his long-stagnant level finally moving.
'Well, let's see how much it's changed.'
With the excitement of opening a present, Jin-Woo opened the information for the Shadow Exchange skill. Ding.
[Skill: Shadow Exchange Lv.2] Job-Exclusive... ...After casting, you must wait for a 2-hour cooldown before you can use it again. The cooldown varies based on the skill level.
'...!'
A whole hour! By raising the level by just one, a full third of the cooldown had vanished. Jin-Woo couldn't contain his excitement.
'One hour reduced for one level up.'
Simple math suggested there was a high chance the cooldown would drop to one hour at the next level. And if he raised it once more after that?
'That would mean Mother or Jin-Ah would never have to worry about being in danger again...'
A thrilling shiver ran through him. That was the most important thing in the world to Sung Jin-Woo. His flushed expression must have been obvious, because Yoo Jin-Ho approached with a smile and asked.
"Hyung-nim, did something good happen?" "Huh?"
Only then did Jin-Woo realize Yoo Jin-Ho had come so close.
'How long was I staring at the Status Window...'
He could also see Department Head Woo Jin-Cheol walking over from behind Yoo Jin-Ho. Jin-Woo let out a short laugh and closed his Status Window. Even if these two were the last people to nitpick, there was no reason to deliberately look like a madman.
"Something like that." "Yes, hyung-nim."
Yoo Jin-Ho, who had become much more perceptive since he started traveling with Jin-Woo, didn't press further. Instead, his attention shifted to the side.
"Whoa—"
For the first time in his life, Yoo Jin-Ho saw an A-rank Dungeon boss in the flesh. A monster with the upper body of a man and the lower body of a sea serpent. It looked enormous even from a distance, but up close, it was even bigger and more grotesque. It was no wonder his jaw had gone slack.
'Hyung-nim has been to high-rank Dungeons several times before, I think...'
And each time, did he beat monsters like this? Gulp. Yoo Jin-Ho swallowed hard. Today, more than ever, his hyung-nim seemed incredible. And the fact that he, Yoo Jin-Ho, was standing right beside such a person filled him with a sense of pride.
"Hyung-nim!" "Huh?" "I respect you." "What?" "Never mind."
What a goofball. When Jin-Woo stared at him, Yoo Jin-Ho looked away, embarrassed even by his own words. Woo Jin-Cheol, standing nearby, was also visibly stunned.
'I already knew Hunter Sung Jin-Woo's abilities were...'
But to think he could take down a boss-level naga so effortlessly. Other raids would have a tank, a damage dealer, and a healer all piling on just to barely finish it off. If they saw this, they'd probably clutch their heads in despair.
'...'
Woo Jin-Cheol approached the corpse of the boss-level naga and tapped its scales. He could feel a steel-like hardness beneath his fingertips. Naga scales were renowned for their durability, used to craft all sorts of defensive gear like armor and shields.
'To do this to scales like these...'
Part of the lower body's scales had been crumpled and torn as if they were paper. It was the trace left by Jin-Woo's use of the skill 'Rend'.
'To wield such destructive power with just two daggers...'
Cold sweat beaded on Woo Jin-Cheol's forehead as he examined the corpse. He was immensely relieved that this man was on their side. Just then, Jin-Woo's voice came from behind him.
"...Could you step back a little?"
Lost in thought, Woo Jin-Cheol hadn't heard properly and turned around in confusion.
"Yes?" "I'm about to make a summon, and you're a bit too close, Department Head Woo." "Ah."
Yoo Jin-Ho, who had already retreated a safe distance away, waved at Woo Jin-Cheol.
"S-sorry."
Woo Jin-Cheol apologized with a quick wit and hurriedly moved back. Then, with eyes full of anticipation, he watched. He had seen the summoning process all the way here, but this was his first time seeing a boss-level one.
'Could it be that huge thing will become a summon just like that?'
Yoo Jin-Ho's eyes also glittered as he awaited the result. Under the intense focus of both men, Jin-Woo slowly began the Shadow Extraction process.
'Arise.'
The shadow of the boss-level magical beast answered its master's call. Kiyaaa— A hand shot up from the shadow, planted itself on the ground, and then heaved its body up. However... the summon was disappointingly small. It was on par with, or only slightly larger than, the summons made from ordinary nagas.
'Haha...'
Woo Jin-Cheol, who had been so tense his palms were sweating, let out a small laugh. In a way, the result was obvious. How could a summon created using the power of a dead magical beast be similar to the original? Whether in power or size, this was the appropriate outcome. Seeing the mini-sized summon, Woo Jin-Cheol felt inexplicably relieved.
'Perhaps Hunter Sung Jin-Woo's abilities have a clear limit after all?'
Even so, Hunter Sung's personal combat power was beyond imagination, so he could never be underestimated. But contrary to Woo Jin-Cheol's thoughts, Jin-Woo was secretly celebrating his unexpected windfall.
[The voice of the Monarch draws forth the combat will of the departed.] [Shadow Enhancement Successful!] [The shadow's starting level is 13.]
'Great!'
Perhaps because the level of Shadow Extraction had increased? For the first time in a long while since Igrit, an enhancement success message had appeared during the Shadow Extraction process. Jin-Woo hurriedly checked the soldier's information.
[?? Lv.13] Elite Knight Grade
As the boss of an A-rank Dungeon, it was no surprise that the 'Elite Knight' grade appeared, just like with Fang. But level 13! Jin-Woo couldn't help but smile when he saw the level.
'Is it because the level is high? It seems similar in power to the original.'
Unlike the previous soldiers, he barely felt any difference in stats from the original. He could sense a powerful mana concealed within its diminished form. He was a bit puzzled by the size difference from its living state, but he had a guess.
'Is this its true form?'
After all, they were all nagas—could their sizes really differ that much? But if Fang had been using magic to inflate its size, then it made perfect sense. The fact that this one, like Fang, could control its mana, and that its mana was strong (though not as strong as Fang's), supported his guess. Just then.
[Please name the soldier.]
As always, the message to name the soldier appeared. Without a second thought, Jin-Woo named it 'Gima'.
['Gima' it is?]
'Yes.'
With that, a powerful mage and his army of nagas were added to the Shadow Army. Once the extraction was complete, Jin-Woo absorbed Gima into his own shadow. Right on cue, the now masterless Dungeon began issuing warnings. Drrrrr— A faint vibration rose from the floor. It was the signal that the Gate would close within an hour. Yoo Jin-Ho, who had been standing apart, rushed over.
"We have to leave now, hyung-nim." "I know."
Yoo Jin-Ho took one last look around, smacking his lips with a hint of regret.
"But this is a bit of a shame, hyung-nim."
Yoo Jin-Ho's gaze was fixed on the boss-level magical beast's corpse.
"If we took this outside, it'd be worth a fortune."
Once the Dungeon's boss was eliminated, the Gate would close soon. That meant carrying the boss's corpse out of the Dungeon would involve considerable risk. If you got trapped inside, you'd become a permanent missing person in the Dungeon. That's why boss-level magical beast corpses were rarely seen. Mostly, it was because their size made transport difficult. Naturally, their rarity made them incredibly valuable. But Jin-Woo spoke to the regretful Yoo Jin-Ho with easy nonchalance.
"Just take it. What's the problem?" "Huh?"
Yoo Jin-Ho's eyes went wide.
"That thing is way too big to carry, hyung-nim!"
Jin-Woo just chuckled.
"It'll be fine."
He didn't know how strong its power might be, but he had something over here that was, at least, much larger.
'Come out.'
As Jin-Woo's command was issued, a soldier clad in black robes appeared silently—the former High Orc Chief Shaman. To Fang, who bowed its head in greeting, Jin-Woo pointed his chin at the corpse.
'Do it.'
In an instant, Fang enlarged its own body to a colossal size and began dragging the boss-level naga—only about half its new size—out of the boss room.
"Huh?!"
At that shocking sight, Woo Jin-Cheol's pupils trembled violently.
'That just now...?'
It was definitely the same High Orc shaman that Jin-Woo had defeated during the Hunters' raid, which he had witnessed. But it looked twice as big as before. And it wasn't just its size. The mana that had burst forth as it enlarged was far more formidable than the last time he'd seen it. Woo Jin-Cheol was horrified.
'What? Aren't magical beasts supposed to weaken when turned into summons?'
Then how could he explain the High Orc shaman summon? To be able to turn an A-rank Dungeon boss into a summon, and then to further enhance it?
'Is this even...'
As Woo Jin-Cheol stood there with his mouth agape, Jin-Woo asked.
"Department Head Woo, aren't you coming with us?" "Ah..."
If simply being surprised could shorten a lifespan, he felt as though half of his was gone in just one day. He had a mountain of questions he wanted to ask. But he was also scared to ask, fearing what kind of answer he might get back. After a moment of hesitation, Woo Jin-Cheol finally replied with a weary look.
"...I have to."
* * *
As Sung Jin-Woo emerged from the Gate, the eyes of reporters who had been thinking of heading out for lunch went wide.
"Wait, it's over already?" "No way?"
An A-rank Dungeon cleared in under three hours? A light went off in the reporters' heads.
'This is a massive scoop!'
Reporters clutching their cameras rushed toward the Gate, one after another, fearing they might miss Jin-Woo. But the Surveillance Division Hunters on standby quickly blocked them.
"Hey, come on out! We said no interviews!" "Just one photo! Hey, if I lose my job because I didn't get a shot, are you guys going to be responsible?" "Why are you all making such a fuss over one picture?!"
Just as a heated scuffle broke out between the reporters and the Surveillance Division, Thump. A heavy, solid sound of something stepping onto the ground echoed through the area.
"Huh..."
A camera slipped from one reporter's hand. Crunch. He was so stunned he didn't even notice his camera being stepped on by other reporters' feet as he pointed at the Gate.
"T-there..."
Specifically, at the enormous monster that had just burst out of the Gate.
"R-run! No, shoot! Hurry!" "Are you getting that?" "Yes, yes!"
The reporters stopped fighting and raised their cameras, frantically clicking their shutters. While they were afraid the monster might attack, they were also moving as if possessed. Swish, swish, swish—! Fang, who had been diligently dragging the boss-level naga's corpse out of the Gate, felt the stares boring into its back and slowly turned around.
'...?'
Not just the reporters—police officers, Association staff, and even passersby had all stopped in their tracks to stare at him. Feeling inexplicably embarrassed, Fang awkwardly scratched the back of its head.
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