Chapter 5 – Lion’s Roar

[Skill – Lion’s Roar]

-Grade: F

-Effect: Provokes nearby enemies.

-Usage Restriction: Level 20 or higher

-Description: Good skill for drawing aggro. Also good for stress relief.

‘I had this!’

Min Do-jun picked up the skill book without hesitation.

He had to buy this one, if nothing else.

‘It may not seem like much, but there’s no skill as efficient as this.’

In a year, the price of the Lion’s Roar skill will skyrocket.

Because it will be discovered that certain monsters are weak to sound.

After that, it becomes so scarce you can’t buy it even if you want to.

‘With just this skill, I can run E-rank dungeons.’

After choosing Lion’s Roar, Min Do-jun looked at other skills.

He didn’t even glance at the high-grade skills.

They were all unattainable due to level restrictions.

‘This looks good.’

[Skill – Shield Charge]

-Grade: F

-Effect: Pushes back enemies.

-Damage: 25% of shield defense

-Usage Restriction: Level 20 or higher, shield required

-Description: A useful skill for tanks. Don’t expect much damage.

‘I don’t plan on becoming a tank, but it would work well in combination with Lion’s Roar.’

There was the drawback of having to buy a shield, but it was worth it for the synergy with Lion’s Roar.

“I’ll take these.”

The merchant looked puzzled at the skill books Min Do-jun brought.

‘Lion’s Roar and Shield Charge?’

A skill that just makes noise and a low-damage skill that pushes with a shield.

Both were tank-exclusive skills.

‘I heard tanks aren’t that good in the early game?’

As a merchant selling hunter items, he had his own knowledge.

That tanks weren’t needed in the early game.

That it was better to focus on dealing damage rather than tanking.

The merchant discreetly examined Min Do-jun’s appearance.

He didn’t look like a high-level hunter.

High-level hunters wore expensive clothes due to their good income.

“Are you sure you want these? There are many other skills with good damage…”

“I’ll take these.”

When Min Do-jun refused, the merchant didn’t argue further.

He seemed like an inexperienced rookie, but there was no reason to dissuade him if he wanted to buy.

“Lion’s Roar is 200,000 won, Shield Charge is 400,000 won.”

Min Do-jun immediately handed over his check card.

Other skills cost over 600,000 won at minimum.

Comparatively, this was a cheap purchase.

It meant they were unpopular, but that didn’t matter.

Lion’s Roar would become an efficient skill selling for 200 million won in the future.

“Thank you. Please come again!”

Min Do-jun left the store after receiving the merchant’s greeting and unwrapped the skill books.

‘Acquire.’

As he opened the book and spoke the command, the skill book disappeared.

[You have learned the Lion’s Roar skill.]

[You have learned the Shield Charge skill.]

An F-rank could learn 2 skill slots.

He filled those slots with seemingly insignificant skills, but it didn’t matter.

He could change them to other skills later anyway.

‘Now, shall we go buy weapons and a shield?’

He wanted to buy up all the Lion’s Roar skills, but he didn’t have enough money yet.

Weapons and a shield were more urgent now.

‘There’s a cheap and good store.’

It was also a place he frequently used before his regression.

* * *

“Phew…”

Park Dong-yoon, assistant manager of the Hunter Management Department, exhaled cigarette smoke.

A moment of rest was like honey to him, who was busy without a break.

“Hey, Assistant Manager Park.”

Choi Tae-sik, a colleague who joined the company at the same time, approached while lighting a cigarette.

“Busy today too?”

“Of course. You?”

“Whew, don’t even mention it. It’s my wife’s birthday today, but I’ll have to work overtime taking care of hunters.”

“Tough work.”

“It’s been 5 years since I joined, but I’m still just catering to hunters’ whims…”

“Tell me about it.”

“I don’t know why hunters are so ill-mannered.”

“Well, they’re showing off because they trust their abilities.”

“Phew…”

Cigarette smoke and a sigh came out simultaneously.

While smoking side by side, Choi Tae-sik asked.

“I heard you got a new hunter recently? How is it? Anormal?”

“Ah, that… Not normal. In a different sense.”

“In a different sense?”

“Seems like their skills are not ordinary. He reached level 20 in three days.”

Choi Tae-sik laughed in disbelief.

“Is that even theoretically possible? It usually takes at least a month…”

“It’s possible. If he defeated a boss alone and received experience as an achievement reward.”

“Hey, how could he defeat a boss alone…”

“He did it alone. As proof, he was wearing the Great Horned Rabbit’s headband.”

“Come on, he must have defeated it with party members.”

“He entered the dungeon alone?”

“…”

“That’s not all. He has been clearing dungeons alone ever since. In less than two hours each time.”

“Did you eat something wrong? Where did you hear such nonsense…”

“It’s true! Do you know how much trouble I’m having because of that hunter? He visits six places a day, really…”

That’s when it happened.

A call came from Min Do-jun.

“Ah! It’s that hunter.”

Park Dong-yoon answered the phone.

“Yes, Hunter! Did you sleep well? Yes. What? Won’t it be difficult? Ah, I understand. I’ll look into it and contact you.”

After hanging up, Choi Tae-sik asked curiously.

“What did he say?”

“Sigh… This time he wants me to introduce him to an E-rank dungeon?”

“What? Isn’t he still F-rank?”

“He asked me to introduce one that F-ranks can enter too.”

“If it’s like that, there’s only the Big-Eared Monkey dungeon, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Wow, his confidence is amazing. Well, if he can run dungeons alone, he might be able to do something with a party…”

“He said he’ll enter solo.”

“What?”

Choi Tae-sik was so surprised he forgot he was smoking.

That’s how much the managers knew E-rank dungeons were not to be taken lightly.

“Is he crazy?”

“I think so too.”

Park Dong-yoon stubbed out his cigarette and left his seat.

It was time to go meet the crazy hunter.

* * *

Dungeons have difficulty levels.

They range from F-rank to S-rank.

And there are entry restrictions, mostly set according to level.

F-rank for F-rank, S-rank for S-rank, and so on.

Of course, there were exceptions.

[Hwangryong Mountain Big-Eared Monkey Dungeon]

-Difficulty: E

-Person Limit: 5 people

-Entry Restriction: Level 20 or higher

-Conquest Goal: Exterminate 80 Big-Eared Monkeys

-Failure Penalty: 2,500 experience reduction

-Time Limit: 3 hours

-Time remaining until dungeon break: 65 hours 21 minutes 52 seconds

As long as the entry level matched, even F-ranks could enter E-rank dungeons.

Like Min Do-jun now.

“Will you be alright?”

Park Dong-yoon asked worriedly.

This time it really looked difficult.

“Even if you reached level 20 in three days, this is an E-rank dungeon. It’s not a place to take lightly.”

In fact, quite a few hunters had accidents after entering because the entry restriction was low.

That’s how tricky the Big-Eared Monkeys were.

“Don’t worry. If I get hurt, it’s on me.”

“Sigh… Alright. I don’t know anymore.”

Park Dong-yoon shook his head and guided him to the dungeon entrance.

As they stood in front of the entrance, Min Do-jun spoke the command.

‘Equip.’

Tsuuuuu-

The hologram flickered and equipment was equipped.

Like a Power Ranger transforming.

Seeing him suddenly armed, Park Dong-yoon asked.

“I haven’t seen that equipment before?”

“Yes. I bought it with the money I earned this time.”

[Sharp Longsword]

-Category: Weapon

-Grade: F

-Attack Power: 30~35

-Durability: 300/300

-Usage Restriction: Level 20 or higher

-Description: A weapon worthy of being called a weapon beyond beginner level. The blade is quite sharp.

[Decent Iron Shield]

-Category: Shield

-Grade: F

-Defense: 120

-Durability: 300/300

-Usage Restriction: Level 20 or higher, 15 Strength or higher

-Description: An essential shield for novice tanks. The weight is a drawback.

Park Dong-yoon held his forehead.

Even without looking at the information, he knew that high strength was needed to hold a shield.

And he also knew why hunters use shields.

“Are you trying to be a tank?”

“No.”

“Then why the shield…”

Most hunters don’t invest in strength from the beginning.

So they don’t meet the conditions to hold a shield.

Even if they meet the conditions, they prefer to be dealers rather than tanks.

Because one dealer does more damage than two tanks.

“Instead of a shield, why not use dual swords…”

“I told you I’m not a tank.”

Park Dong-yoon still looked at him with an expression of incomprehension, but Min Do-jun turned away.

There was no reason to make him understand.

“I’m going in. I’ll see you in an hour.”

As he disappeared into the dark cave, Park Dong-yoon shook his head.

“What kind of confidence…”

Park Dong-yoon was certain that Min Do-jun would fail the conquest, let alone an hour.

* * *

As he walked through the darkness, a bright light burst forth.

After closing his eyes for a moment and opening them, he saw a forest.

Min Do-jun was suddenly in a forest.

It was the stage of the Big-Eared Monkeys.

Step- Step-

Min Do-jun walked while being wary of his surroundings.

That’s how formidable the Big-Eared Monkeys were.

They were monsters that could only be hunted at level 50 or higher.

It wasn’t unreasonable for Park Dong-yoon to worry.

Screech-!

A Big-Eared Monkey appeared from behind a tree.

The appearance of a monkey with fan-like huge ears.

It’s the same size as a human and holds a spear like a primitive man.

Screeech-!

The creature bares its teeth with a frown.

A warning against an intruder in its territory.

But despite the warning, Min Do-jun rushed in with his sword drawn.

Whoosh-

Surprised by the simple downward slash, the monkey leaped back.

It was quite an agile movement.

Screech- Scree!

It seemed angry at the sudden attack.

The Big-Eared Monkey attacked by thrusting its spear.

Clang!

Min Do-jun easily blocked it with his shield and immediately swung his sword.

Swish-!

A wound appeared on the monkey’s body.

Scree!!

The angry monkey thrust its spear again, but Min Do-jun was already protecting himself with his shield.

He blocks when the enemy attacks, then lowers the shield and swings his sword when he sees an opening.

A somewhat textbook attack.

The monkey was gradually wounded by those attacks.

Screech!

Feeling this wouldn’t work, the monkey ran away with a frustrated expression.

He couldn’t catch it, but Min Do-jun wasn’t disappointed.

Because he knew what would appear soon.

Screeee! Screeee!

Soon after, as expected, the wounded monkey appeared leading two companions.

A three against one situation.

One might have been flustered by the increased number of enemies, but Min Do-jun calmly raised his shield.

And he blocked the incoming attacks.

Clang! Clang! Clang-!

After blocking, he swings.

It’s the standard attack of a shield-wielding hunter.

Swish-

Screech!

Swish-!

Screech!

Due to the long-term defense, the monkeys failed to land successful attacks and instead suffered minor damages.

Screech! Screech!

The monkeys decided to retreat and fled while bleeding.

They were so fast that Min Do-jun, holding his shield, couldn’t even think of chasing them.

After a while.

Screeech! Screeech! Screech!

With a noisy sound, the fleeing monkey group appeared leading new companions.

The number of opponents increased to six.

‘This will be hard to block?’

This was why Big-Eared Monkeys were frightening.

If you injure them carelessly, the fleeing monkey brings back companions.

Therefore, when dealing with Big-Eared Monkeys, you need to block their retreat and kill them for sure.

Or aim for their ankles so they can’t run away.

If you carelessly provoke them and let them escape, you might be surrounded by opponents that have grown like a snowball.

Min Do-jun was in such a situation now.

Completely surrounded.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

Nevertheless, Min Do-jun wasn’t scared at all.

This is why he learned the trump card skill called Lion’s Roar.

“Grr-roar-roar-roar-!!!”

An incredible roar hit the eardrums of the Big-Eared Monkeys.

Screeeeech!

Screeeech!

The Big-Eared Monkeys, already sensitive to sound, folded their ears and writhed in pain.

Then their bodies stiffened.

Not figuratively, but their skin actually turned to stone and they became statues.

‘Shield Charge.’

As he spoke the activation word, his body automatically raised the shield and charged towards the monkeys.

Boom!

As he pushed one statue with his shield, the other statues collided and collapsed like bowling pins.

Thud! Thump!

Crash-!

[Experience increased by 1.5 times due to the effect of the Solo Conqueror’s Necklace.]

[Experience +90]

[Experience +90]

[Experience +90]

The monkeys that were statues all turned into smoke and disappeared.

It was the moment when he instantly killed E-rank monkeys that were said to be difficult to catch.

‘This is just the beginning.’

The monkey massacre was about to start now.