Chapter 11: Let’s See Who will Triumph

[Compatibility has increased.] 

[Compatibility has increased.]

.

.

.

[As the monster is weaker than the user, experience (EXP) does not rise.]  

[Yggdrasil System]

Compatibility: 19%  

“Phew…”

Do-joon took a deep breath and slumped down onto a large boulder, catching his breath.  

For the past three days, he had been circling around the island, hunting monsters – making him reach the max compatibility rate of 19% available here.  

This natural island consisted of five major areas.  

[Elemental Snake (Earth) Leather]

[Additional Option]  

\- Earth Resistance 9.4%

The sandy zone Do-joon had first set foot in was home to rock snakes.  

Those guys could move underground by burrowing through soil and their ambushes bursting out from below were reasonably threatening.  

The resistance stat that had increased close to 7% on the first day was now at 9% after three days.

[Elemental Snake (Water) Leather]   

[Additional Option]

\- Water Resistance 8.6%

The second area, the lake region, consisted of collapsed structures deeply submerged in water.  

Do-joon had to leap across the building debris like stepping stones to catch the water snakes that leapt out from within the lake.  

It was tricky terrain with unsure footing, but hunting wasn’t too difficult since their movements were visible unlike the rock snakes that swam underground.

[Elemental Snake (Fire) Leather]  

[Additional Option] 

\- Flame Resistance 5.2%

The third area was a hill that seemed to have been swept with wildfire, covered in ash.  

Coiled up here and there amidst that ashes were red earthworms with fire flickering from their tails. Specifically, fire earthworms that attacked by lashing out with their burning tails.

Their sluggishness compared to the other snakes made hunting easy.  

However, since they didn’t aggressively charge at Do-joon as much, the leather yield was low. Their numbers were low as well.

[Elemental Snake (Wind) Leather]   

[Additional Option]  

\- Wind Resistance 6.6% 

The fourth area he had stayed at last was a place where fierce winds gusted through steep cliffsides. There were holes dotted throughout those cliffs where the snakes had settled in.  

Among the island’s snakes, these wind snakes were the weakest.  

Their scales were so fragile they could be pierced by a finger, and their movements weren’t even swift. No – they didn’t even emerge from the cliff holes at all.  

But the cliff terrain was troublesome.  

Using awls and ropes to scale the cliffs, Do-joon had to stab down through each hole with his pitchfork.  

Of the four areas, this place had given him the most hardship.  

‘Not too shabby overall.’

From hunting over three days, he had raised the resistance for four major attributes by at least 5% each. Considering the dungeon admission cooldown was 7 days, that was 5% every 10 days.

‘It’s a shame the cooldown doesn’t reduce while inside the dungeon.’  

While hunting, he had checked the Dungeon Entry skill but the cooldown hadn’t decreased at all. It seemed the 7-day cooldown only started upon returning to reality.

‘But still, 5% every 10 days is awesome.’  

Do-joon smiled contentedly.  

Compared to other hunters who spent billions of dollars to get 50% resistance for a single attribute, these were tremendous results. Moreover, Do-joon could easily raise them all the way to the max of 75% resistance.  

At 5% every 10 days, reaching 75% probably wouldn’t even take half a year.

‘Complaining when I have this would just be shameless.’ 

Do-joon chuckled and stored the four types of leather into his inventory.  

Having combed through all four areas over three days, this spot seemed like a good point to wrap up. It was about time to head back home.  

Rising from the boulder he had been sitting on, Do-joon gazed at the tall snowy mountain peak standing in the center of the island.  

The fifth area of the island he hadn’t explored yet.  

That was probably where the boss monster resided.  

‘Hmm…’

Skill Rune  

\- Return (Only usable inside dungeons) Cooldown: 168h

In the corner of his vision was the Return skill he had copied from a return stone as material.  

If Do-joon wanted, he could return home immediately right this moment.  

‘Stopping here is still a sufficient harvest.’

An odd atmosphere lingered around that snowy mountain.  

It wasn’t that Do-joon hadn’t scouted the snowy mountain at all over the past three days. He had set foot on it before hastily retreating due to a vague sense of unease.  

That was probably the oppressive air given off by the boss monster’s presence.  

After briefly hesitating, Do-joon shook his head to dispel the unnecessary thoughts.  

‘How can I find the Golden Elixir if I flee from a place like this.’

Such nervousness and fear would doubtless emerge again in the future. If he ran away making excuses like this was enough every time that happened…

That wouldn’t do.  

The Golden Elixir, the mythical-grade item – it wasn’t something he could obtain with such a complacent mindset.  

He then drank some cold water and shook his mind awake.  

Soon, Do-joon set off towards the snowy mountain with silent steps.  

*  

Drip drip… Drip drip…

The sound of water droplets falling reverberated within the enclosed cave.  

That sound was extremely cold. And deep.  

‘There’s nothing else here…’

He had turned the snowy mountain inside out but couldn’t find the boss or even a single ant for that matter. The only questionable place he managed to locate was this cave.

Two hours after entering, Do-joon was able to reach the deepest part of the cave.  

There was a small lake there. The watery sounds that could be heard this whole time originated from droplets falling from the stony ceiling into this pool.  

Approaching the lakeshore and peering inside, Do-joon flinched.

“Another snake?”

It was another snake. However, its appearance was quite different from the ones he had seen so far.  

With a slender body of a thickness not fully graspable even with both hands. Yet, the scales covering it resembled glass, completely transparent.  

Thanks to that, its innards were fully revealed.  

Stark white, sturdy bones, tangled blood vessels, densely packed muscles, and a heart pulsating quietly.  

[Ruvla’s Glass Snake]  

\- Compability Rate: 30%

Is it because it’s a boss monster? Its fit rate was on a whole different level compared to the snakes from before.  

Do-joon gulped down his saliva nervously and carefully observed the snake’s condition.  

‘Is it… asleep?’

A somewhat hopeful conjecture.  

It wasn’t groundless. Didn’t snakes usually hibernate in the cold seasons to maintain body temperature?

Well, strictly speaking, it wasn’t a very credible basis. Monster ecology was completely different from that of ordinary animals.

‘No way it’d be hibernating while in cold water.’  

Do-joon immediately dismissed the thought.  

He bent down to pick up a pebble rolling on the floor. After tossing it up and down in his palm a few times, he threw it forcefully.  

The rock sailed and struck the water surface on the completely opposite side of where he was standing. If only to shift the snake’s gaze over there even for a split second.  

And as expected, the moment he did that, the glass snake’s eyes shot open as it hurtled towards him.  

“Kyaaaah!”

But what it pounced on wasn’t where the rock landed. It was Do-joon who had thrown that rock.  

“Tsk…!”  

Do-joon reflexively raised his left arm to guard himself. As if to say, I knew it, the glass snake opened its maw wide and chomped down on Do-joon’s left arm.  

Luckily, his gauntlet blocked it.  

However, the situation was still not in his favor. Do-joon was forced back by the alarming vigor and weight behind the strike.  

“Kuhk!”

Do-joon brought his ax that was in his other hand slamming down on the creature’s body.  

Clang!  

But instead of biting in, the ax merely glanced off, producing an ear-grating noise as it bounced back.

With no choice but to retreat, Do-joon’s back collided into the wall of the cave. At that moment, the creature’s tail furiously whipped towards Do-joon’s face. He flinched in surprise and twisted his torso to evade it.  

Crack!

The snake’s tail gouged deeply into the sturdy cave wall like tofu. Simply lashing out with that heavily-scaled tail used like a whip rendered it a deadly weapon in its own right.  

‘What should I do?’

Do-joon was alarmed.  

As the strongest weapon he had on him, even his ax couldn’t bite into the beast… Did that mean he had to use it as a blunt striking weapon?  

“Ke-heok…!” 

The glass snake swung its tail again, delivering a heavy blow to Do-joon’s knee.  

Thud!  

He heard a snapping sound before his body staggered and swayed. However, through sheer grit, he desperately propped himself up on his quivering legs. With his Mid Regeneration state effect, he could mostly ignore non-fatal wounds. Although it still hurt…

“You…!”  

Do-joon gritted his teeth and grabbed at the snake’s neck with his free hand. As if believing itself to be some kind of hunting dog, the stubborn creature refused to let go of Do-joon’s arm even as its neck got grasped. In fact, its bite only grew fiercer.  

Crunch!  

The gauntlet caved in with a punch. Blood seeped between the cracks. Drop after drop of crimson splattered down. Seeing the blood, Do-joon’s vision reddened as well.

Fine, let’s see who will triumph!  

Do-joon’s full attention concentrated into the one hand clutching the snake’s neck. His bulging arm muscles tensed up empowering his grip with might exceeding his original strength. He wrung and throttled the neck with the aim of crushing it within his fist.  

The glass snake thrashed around with abandon. It lashed out its tail indiscriminately, assailing Do-joon.  

Thwack! Thwack!

While most blows hit the cave walls and ground, several struck Do-joon directly. Each heavy collision reminiscent of being struck by a large boulder drew groans from Do-joon, but his hand absolutely refused to let go; if anything, his grip only grew tighter due to the pain.  

5 minutes… then 10 minutes…

As time continued to flow…

“Kik, kiiik…”  

The python’s jaw that had been clamping down on his arm gradually weakened before going slack. Seizing this chance, Do-joon swiftly rescued his left arm.  

With his freed left hand, Do-joon took out and grasped a knife by the handle instead of the blade.  

Thwack! Thwack!

Like a hammer, he bashed the snake’s head down repeatedly. Again and again. While ensuring his right hand’s strength didn’t falter.

A while later, the glass snake coughed up some white liquid before collapsing limply. Just to make sure, Do-joon landed several more blows before finally confirming that the beast had perished.

[The monster has been defeated. Acquired EXP.]  

[Compatibility has increased.]

[Compatibility has increased.]  

[Compatibility has increased.]

[Compatibility has increased.]

[Yggdrasil System]  

Compatibility: 23%  

“Haah…”

Do-joon heaved a relieved sigh as the Yggdrasil System messages flooded his vision. He slumped down onto the cave floor.  

He first removed the fragments of the half-embedded gauntlet. As they clattered to the floor, he inspected his arm. Though the python’s fangs that pierced through the gauntlet had left their marks, the wounds were much less serious than expected.  

The ever-active Regeneration (Medium) effect during combat had played a major role it seemed.  

‘…Good thing it didn’t have poison.’ 

Had it possessed any instant lethality poisons, he might have met certain doom. But the glass snake had no venom.  

Poison was something monsters evolved to protect themselves from natural enemies. For the glass snake that lacked mortal threats, poison served little purpose.

[Ruvla’s Glass Snake has been slain.]  

[Dungeon cleared. Rewards conferred.]

[Reward list]  

1\. Return Stone  

2\. Tier 3 Dungeon Key (random) 

3\. Item box (random, high-grade)

The same message he had seen at the Catacomb appeared. Do-joon stored the snake corpse into his inventory.  

And shortly after…

Do-joon returned to his shop-residence, the general store.  

The first thing he did was sprawl out right there to rest. Not just his arm injury, but his entire body ached. Especially his knee that took that first blow – it throbbed as if the bone had fractured.  

After resting for a bit however, he felt much better. Just in case, he even went to the hospital for a checkup. With his age and So-eun’s condition, he was quite sensitive regarding health matters.  

Thanks to his Regeneration (Medium) effect or maybe crossing the vitality rune’s Lv 20 limit, his wounds fortunately weren’t major. By the time he had gotten examined and came back home, only some residual soreness remained.  

He then entered the underground workshop he had prepared for potion crafting. Afterward, Do-joon spread out a blue tarp on the floor and took out the snake carcass.  

The first thing to check was whether material items existed or not.  

And soon, Do-joon’s eyes flashed.  

 

This was because an astonishing two item existences were glowing from within the glass snake corpse.