Since it was a well-known fact that bosses would freeze for a grace period of three seconds upon a player’s entrance to the room, players often used that slight advantage to execute aim for the first attack, quickly gaining the advantage. However, this entire room seemed to consist of uneven, hilly terrain, making it impossible for the boss to be reached within the timeframe. Jung Si-woo immediately realized that his skill was too weak to land a blow from such a distance effectively, and he decided not to risk it. Exactly three seconds after Jung Si-woo’s arrival, the orc’s head snapped up, its eyes staring directly at him.
[The thing that locked me in this prison…is it you?]
The orc’s size was gigantic enough almost to steal the breath from Si-woo. He stood thirty centimeters taller than the elite centurions, the bulk of his body blocking Si-woo’s sight. This was Chief Chun, the commander of the orcs.
“Well, I didn’t…”
Jung Si-woo paused and reconsidered what the perfect response would be. Then, he spoke again.
“Yes, I did lock you up in here.”
His reply was an obvious bluff to taunt the Orc Commander, but he still managed to fool it.
[Kek…you dare say that after having witnessed my anger and my strength?]
Chief Chun was fired up — a reaction Si-woo had been expecting.
“At least I made sure this place has a nice atmosphere, you know, for when we fight.”
Si-woo teased, his voice slightly cracking amidst his grin.
[Huh? Haha…hahahahahahaha!]
[Being cocky when you aren’t sure you can beat me?]
Jung Si-woo was shivering, yet he was unsure whether it was out of fear, anticipation, or both. But, he thought, as he figured he would discover how it felt to run into a brick wall. He clutched his hammer and strode towards the Orc Commander.
“I never run away, Orc. I’ve never quit in my life.”
It was true. No matter how strong the wall may be, Jung Si-woo would crash against it like an angry wave until it collapsed and disappeared beneath him.
“Let’s fight.”
[Ha! Human, I’ll tear off your little head!]
Chief Chun lifted his massive war ax on its shoulder, ready to swing it any moment. He radiated immense power as his armor absorbed mana from the surrounding area, converting it into a physical force that cast waves around him. In a one-on-one match, Jung Si-woo’s odds didn’t look good. The quest seemed impossible to clear. But there was still hope, for the armored orcs shared one weakness.
“A gap must exist. This race has a defect.”
Jung Si-woo mumbled to himself. The orc’s dependence on their weapons ultimately weakened them, for even if their armor granted great powers, these could always be separated from the flesh. Jung Si-woo had gone through this dungeon and demolished orc after orc because of this flaw. Perhaps even this enormous brute force in front of him could be bested by such tactics.
[Have you annihilated my men?]
“Not all of them.”
[That’s just one more reason to hate you, human.]
Jung Si-woo chose not to focus on Chief Chun’s words but instead observed the movement of its shoulder muscles and the angle of its ax blades. The two warriors had now come almost face to face. Without warning, Chief Chun swung his ax down in a great arc. Jung Si-woo barely dodged it as it dug into the ground. Steam spewed from the great piston structure within Chief Chun’s arm, and this added power drove the ax two meters into the ground. The gap finally revealed itself, but Jung Si-woo lacked the chance to take advantage of it. Any tackles that he might attempt at this moment would swiftly result in his demise.
[You will never win by just dodging, human!]
Chief Chun continued to jeer at him.
“When will you be able to use your weapon more effectively, Orc?”
[Ha!]
Chief Chun grunted, clasping his ax once more. Jung Si-woo now knew that the Orc Commander had the greater stamina and that he would wear out before it did. He needed to find or create a gap that would result in a critical blow as soon as possible.
“Don’t overdo it! We can flee at any time!”
Soo Ah-rin exclaimed, scared for what might happen next.
“Ah-rin, don’t worry about me!”
Once more, the ax swung down, but this time it was blocked by Si-woo’s hammer. He didn’t deplete mana, but rather, he focused on controlling his entire body. Jung Si-woo had decided to rely on his passive skills for now, for he had to fight strength with strength. If mana wasn’t needed, why waste it?
[Are you going to step back like a coward, human? Like your fairy told you to do?]
Jung Si-woo laughed as he pushed the ax back by spinning his hammer before him. Had Chief Chun not made a last-minute dodge, the sledgehammer would’ve scored a hit. This Orc Commander was overconfident, Si-woo realized. While it knew that the player had beaten the other orcs, it still underestimated the threat he posed.
[Die!]
Chief Chun roared as he plunged the ax once more in a downward strike. Jung Si-woo neatly evaded the attack, noticing that the orc was employing passive skills as well.
“Your aim should be better, Orc! If this is your best, well, I’m disappointed.”
[You talk a lot for someone who likes jumping away like a dog with its tail between its legs! Your time has almost come, human!]
Steam erupted from the piston-like arm, and lightning sparked through the damp cloud, leaving bright patterns flashing in the air. Chief Chun roared like the enraged beast that he was, his ax coming in a sideways arc in a swing that aimed to behead the player. Jung Si-woo saw the attack coming and intuitively knew that it would be a fatal hit. His armor was too weak to block it, and even at a higher level, he would probably still lose his neck. In the end, he barely escaped the blow, fascinated by the fact that his enemy seemed to amalgamate his mental, physical, and magical powers into one attack. It seemed that the commander had created a martial art that relied on passive skills. Jung Si-woo doubted whether humans would be able to mimic that style of fighting.
[You are good at avoiding me, human!]
“I can be even better.”
He activated his Battle Sprint, accelerating his body with short bursts of speed as he dodged the ax blows to preserve his life. Within that brief timespan, his skill level increased by two.
[Look at you, spending what little mana you have to run away like a rat!]
Chief Chun roared in laughter, but Jung Si-woo smirked back. They were ten minutes into the fight, and he had now gained a sense of the orc’s attack patterns. The other armored orcs had been mighty, yet Si-woo had learned how to deal with their might. These creatures didn’t know how to change their attack in the middle, yet somehow this Orc Commander seemed to have mastered such a feat. Chief Chun had perfect control over his breath and his muscles when swinging his ax. His footwork was good, and he constantly matched Si-woo’s position. His technique was harmonious for an orc, though that was understandable. After all, he wasn’t the commander for nothing.
Jung Si-woo had been gaining a deeper understanding of passive skills throughout the battle, constantly facing death. The skill existed unremarkably, its power being a symbol of the harmony between mana and one’s body. The power slowly built up and would finally be released at the decisive moment. This was what passive skills were all about.
“There is a star that syncs with your body, a mana crystal which predicts the trajectory of your ax!”
[Huh!?]
Chief Chun muttered, taken off guard by Si-woo’s words. His attack weakened, and at the next moment, the sledgehammer dislodged a fragment of his shoulder guard. Jung Si-woo smirked as he swung his hammer repeatedly. Finally, he was the aggressor in the battle. Chief Chun gritted his teeth, absorbing hammer blow after hammer blow.
[You have learned from me, in this short time?]
Chief Chun asked with disbelief.
“Remember your words Orc. A battle is not just about dodging.”
Si-woo replied as he rushed at the orc, reading the incoming ax strike correctly and neatly parrying it. He was getting good at predicting the effects of this orc’s passive skills. Chief Chun realized that the sledgehammer was coming at him with greater speeds and lethality, but the mighty orc still managed to dodge it.
[You are starting to upset me, human!]
Si-woo sketched a few large circles in the air with his weapon, finally seeing a gap and slamming it into the orc’s wrist. As a result, the beast almost lost his grip on his ax. Jung Si-woo smiled, having learned even more. The creation of passive skills needed a deep understanding of a specific type of action and the balance of magic that such an action required. While this fight, and all fights he had experienced far in this dungeon, had not taught him that much about mana, he had gained a better understanding of weaponry and how martial arts could make them deadlier.
Jung Si-woo now decided upon a plan. He chose to use his active skills now. Activating his battle sprint once more, he let the magic flow through his arms and into his hammer. The combination of these powers flowed through him, and he was impressed by the power. There was little hesitation in him now; the harmony between magic and muscle was now complete. His body had been fortified and prepared for a series of movements that were more than capable of ending the battle. His newfound prowess made his heart leap with joy.
“Let’s finish this.”
[I have many years of battle experience, human!]
Chief Chun bellowed in anger. Si-woo ignored such raw emotions and focused on the tactics that he would employ to win this fight. He smiled as he saw doubt flashed in the orc’s eyes.
