Chapter 108

Chapter 108 – Catacombs (3)

When he was filming the Waltz video, a thought had gone through Hyrkan’s mind .

‘This won’t make any money…… . ’

However, his prediction had been very off, and he had been very happy at being proven wrong . The Waltz video allowed Hyrkan to make a leap into becoming a star .

With this as context, today’s footage might be a big failure .

‘This will make me some money . ’

At that moment, Hyrkan felt something entirely different from when he had filmed the Waltz video . His hunch, intuition and instinct was the polar opposite of what he had felt that time .

‘I really feel like this will be a jackpot . ’

Hyrkan had finally exited the tortuous maze, and he had arrived at a new entrance .

It was the entrance to an Instant Dungeon, where he wouldn’t be able to come out once he entered . It was clearly evident that this place was where the Catacomb’s Stage Boss was located at .

Hyrkan didn’t show any hesitation as he jumped into the stage . He didn’t have any worries . He had plenty of consumable Items . Moreover, his body was itching at the thought of getting out of this boring Catacombs .

In the end, he reached a massive graveyard . The graveyard was large enough to be reminiscent of a small domed stadium . It was a cemetery filled with skeletons of Chimeras . It was also filled with the ownerless armors and weapons .

It was a Dungeon befitting the name of Catacombs . It was mass graveyard for the Chimeras .

[Who dares to wake me from my rest!]

There was an ogre here .

No, it wasn’t an ordinary ogre . It was a skeleton made out of ogre bones, and it had a clear and distinct emblem… It was the trigon emblem . The ogre had a big emblem belonging to Prince Dean engraved on the chest armor it was wearing .

[What are the Guards doing?]

Its voice was very menacing, and it let out a roar . The ogre skeleton’s right hand held a fearsome and large iron mace . Its left held a weird looking lantern . It was a gem hanging on a chain, and it was giving out a purple light .

Even at this point, Hyrkan’s intuition still hadn’t thought this would be a jackpot . Hyrkan was trying hard to come up with a method that’ll allow him to dispose the Catacomb’s Boss Monster and the Guards .

It happened at that moment .

[You disgraceful bastards! Get up! Get up and get rid of this being, who interferes with my rest!]

The Gem Lantern held by the Catacomb Guardian let out a powerful purple light . Something akin to ghosts started to exit out of the purple light, and it was being absorbed into skeletons scattered in the surrounding .

At that moment, Hyrkan had a hunch .

‘Maybe?’

This Boss Monster’s special ability was quite clear .

It was a type that can summon Skeleton underlings . Basically, this type of monsters were labeled Lich style monster . They were pretty rare to come across, but they weren’t an anomaly . They weren’t that special .

This would be true if the opponent hadn’t been Hyrkan .

‘Finally, I’ve finally achieved a great Matchup . ’

He was Warlord’s best Necromancer, and he was a new breed of Necromancer… . He was the Hahoe Mask Hyrkan, who had founded the Hahoe Mask style .

‘This is a really big Match up . ’

If these confluence of factors weren’t present, this battle wouldn’t have been given any special meaning by Hyrkan .

‘I can get 10 million at the very least . ’

Since he was the Hahoe Mask, this Boss Raid was special . It’ll be memorable one .

It was a battle between the Lich Style Boss Monster and the Hahoe Mask Necromancer . If one was fan of the Hahoe Mask and a fan who enjoyed watching Warlord, this was a matchup impossible to ignore .

[You bastard . You will pay the price of waking me from my rest!]

Hyrkan let out a roar, then he let shouted towards the Catacomb Guardian .

“You’ll make me pay the price? How dare you! I am the Hahoe Mask, yet you want to make me pay?”

Hyrkan spoke his line as he acted out the scene .

This battle would be worth a lot . This was why he had to act cool and act the part!

Of course, he regretted saying it the moment the words left his mouth .

‘Those lines didn’t sound too great . It’s embarrassing . ’

Of course, an NG was always possible in acting . With the Catacomb Guardian letting out its angry words in front of him, Hyrkan earnestly thought about his new lines .

‘Yes . This is it . ’

He finally came up with a new line . Hyrkan made a pose, and he once again yelled out his words .

“A price…… You will feel it in your bones as to who I am . ”

The line he gave was still very corny .

However, there was a smile on Hyrkan’s lips as if he liked the line he gave .

‘Feel it in your bones! That’ll be a famous line . ’

If a screenwriter could look into Hyrkan’s heart, he would have a dumbfounded expression on his face .

Hyrkan was oblivious to this fact . He was drunk on his own words . Of course, he did what he had to do even if we was drunk .

[Kill the one, who interferes with my rest!]

It had already prepared itself for battle . Ten Chimera Skeleton was staring at him . In a flash, Hyrkan held a gem in his hand . He closed his fist as if he was trying to squeeze the gem .

Drip drip!

Bright light came out of the gem as it dripped to the floor .

Koo koo koo!

The gem was absorbed into the floor, and the ground started to shake . Dirt shot up, and a golem that was as big as the Catacomb Guardian appeared .

The Golem looked like an ogre . On top of that fact, the ogre possessed two heads .

It was the Twin Head Ogre .

It was a level 110 Boss Monster, and amongst the Users, it was known to be the most difficult Ogre to deal with . It was considered to be one of the strongest Ogres in this this game .

This was obvious, but the ingredient gem of this monster was incredibly expensive . The price of a gem differed by 500 gold depending on its scarcity .

‘My one month food money was blown in one shot . ’

Hyrkan had saved this one for emergency . He really didn’t want to use this one . He prayed that he’ll never encounter a situation where he would have to use it . He kept it close to his bosom as if it was a golden ingot .

‘All right . Let’s just do this . ’

However, at that moment, Hyrkan erased all thoughts about money from his mind .

He painted a picture in his mind .

After he summoned the Twin Head Ogre, he immediately scattered 10 Skeleton Fragments on the floor . He summoned 10 Skeleton with a picture in mind .

The Catacomb Guardian had also summoned 10 Chimera Skeletons .

With each ogre as the commanders, the Undead units faced each other .

This was like the scene where actors were getting ready for a full scale battle .

Then Hyrkan flicked his finger twice to give the cue .

This was the sequel hit after the Waltz video . It was the start of the ‘Battle of the Bones . ’

The first clash was a landslide victory for Hyrkan . The Skeleton Warriors received the Skeleton Knight’s buff and the Skeleton Science’s effect . Moreover, the Skeleton Warriors were fully equipped, so they were like nightmares for the Chimera Skeletons .

Moreover, the Catacomb Guardian merely stood in the back as it directed the battle . On the other hand, the Twin Head Ogre golem used both of its hands to swing its enormous club . It ruthlessly pummeled the Chimera Skeletons . The Chimera Skeleton’s heads flew into the distance like a baseball .

[How laughable!]

When the first charge ended, the Catacomb Guardian swung his Gem Lantern once again . Another twenty Chimera Skeletons appeared .

Hyrkan once again matched their numbers . He summoned additional Skeleton underlings . There were three Skeleton Magicians mixed in with the group .

They wore luxurious robes, which was embroidered with numerous symbols . They held an expensive staff with a gem embedded on the top . The addition of the Skeleton Magicians allowed Hyrkan to win in a bigger landslide .

Three Skeleton Magician threw massive fireballs, and it ruthlessly crushed the Chimera Skeletons, who were lined up for battle . Their battle line was broken, and the Skeleton Warriors waded in as they went berserk . If this game was an AOS game instead of a RPG, a firework would have exploded atop the Skeleton Knight with the word pentakill .

[Stupid bastards!]

The Catacomb Guardian swung its Gem Lantern once again . Its third unit was summoned . It summoned 30 Chimera Skeletons this time .

Now the Catacomb Guardian held the numerical advantage .

[I’ll do this myself!]

The Catacomb Guardian had been hanging back until now, but the Catacomb Guardian moved forward as it easily shook its enormous mace .

When he saw this, Hyrkan raised the Ivan’s Sword .

The third clash would be different from the other two . It was the beginning where the ogres would clash .

The Catacomb Guardian and the Ogre Golem unhesitatingly swung their fearsome weapons at each other .

Kwahng!

The mace swung by the Catacomb Guardian crushed a head of the Ogre Golem with a single swing .

Ggah-ahng!

The weapon swung by the Ogre Golem impacted on the side of the Catacomb Guardian’s armor . It made an ugly dent .

Kahng, kahng!

The Skeletons started to fight when the clash between the ogres started . Their weapons were impacting on each other’s armors, so the surrounding was filled with the sound of steel impacting on steel . The sound itself increased the confusion one felt .

However, Hyrkan was moving covertly and swiftly through this racket . He approached the rear of the Catacomb Guardian . Within the melee, Hyrkan accurately found the right path . He moved through the melee almost like he was threading a needle . He was able to reach the rear of the Catacomb Guardian too easily .

However…

[How laughable!]

The Ogre Golem was exchanging blows with the Catacomb Guardian, and neither combatants were retreating . However, the Catacomb Guardian must have felt Hyrkan’s approach, and its voice stabbed into Hyrkan’s ears like a knife .

[The Catacomb Gem Lantern is letting out a bleak Energy . ]

[The Catacomb Gem Lantern’s curse has seized you . ]

The Announcement was heard immediately .

It was an automatic curse that activated based on proximity of the User . Moreover, it wasn’t a curse targeted at a specific user . The Catacomb Guardian activated its special ability, which was an AOE .

‘How laughable . ’

However, Hyrkan wasn’t surprised or taken aback . Instead, he put on a bloody smile .

As he put on the bloody smile, he chewed on one of the three candies in his mouth .

[‘White Imoogi’s Eye Candy’ has blocked the curses effect . ]

He had put a consumable Item in his mouth, and it would help him block any debuff skills like the curse . This was the most basic strategy used by a Striker .

Of course, Hyrkan knew about the basics . The Catacomb Guardian’s curse didn’t take hold on Hyrkan . Hyrkan used his quick movements to attach himself on the back of the Catacomb Guardian .

Thanks to Twin Head Ogre Golem’s strike denting the armor, Hyrkan was able to climb it easily . As the unofficial V Gear climbing world record holder, this was like traveling in a subway . There were numerous places to grip .

After grabbing a hand hold, Hyrkan immediately stabbed the Ivan’s Sword into one of the dents .

Kah-ahng!

The armor was unexpectedly sturdy . He needed to break through this armor for his Curses to take hold . It was an annoying development .

However, Hyrkan immediately stabbed the Ivan’s Sword to the same location he had stabbed before .

Chee-jeek!

No, he didn’t stab it . He had scratched out an X on the surface of the Catacomb Guardian’s armor .

[Catacomb Guardian was afflicted with the Demon Curse . ]

[Catacomb Guardian was afflicted with Slow Curse . ]

[Catacomb Guardian was afflicted with Corrosive Ghost . ]

[Catacomb Guardian was afflicted with Darkness . ]

[Catacomb Guardian was afflicted with Lethargy . ]

The Curses swirled around the Catacomb Guardian’s entire body .

‘Voodoo Pictograph is great . It’s a great skill . ’

He didn’t have to wound his opponent’s body . He just had to draw a predetermined shape, and it would grant Curses to the opponent . It was thanks to the effect of a Skill called ‘Voodoo Pictograph’ .

It was a Skill he earned as a Quest Reward, and it was a Rare Rank Skill .

[I don’t believe it!]

After being Cursed, the Catacomb Guardian’s body rapidly weakened . Its decline was inevitable .

Hyrkan’s Demon Curse and Slow Curse was Rank A . The Corrosive Ghost was Rank B, and Lethargy was Rank C .

Moreover, his Curse Science skill had reached Rank C, so the effect and duration of the Curses increased by 12 percent .

Lastly, Hyrkan held the Ivan’s Sword, which ignored the opponent’s defense by 15% .

Kwah-jeek!

The third strike finally opened a hole on the Catacomb Guardian’s armor .

[How dare you!]

The Catacomb Guardian raged . It roughly shook its body as it tried to dislodge Hyrkan .

However, Hyrkan wasn’t some trash, who would be thrown off with such a weak shake . Moreover, its opponent wasn’t Hyrkan . It was the Twin Head Ogre Golem . One of the golem’s head had been crushed, but it still had one head left . The loss of one head had revealed the Twin Head Ogre’s increasingly tyrannical nature . It pushed hard against the Catacomb Guardian .

Kah-ahng, kah-ahng!

It swung the club with both hands . It pounded away at the Catacomb Guardian’s body like a drum . This actually caused more turbulence for Hyrkan .

Ggah-ahng, ggah-ahng!

In the midst of the turbulence, Hyrkan enlarged the hole . His vision was shaking so much that it wouldn’t have surprised anyone if Hyrkan fell sick from the motion sickness . However, Hyrkan was like a master craftsman . His hand movements were precise .

He finally made a hole of his liking . It was big enough to put in as many Bone Explosives as Hyrkan wanted .

‘This is a battle tactic I saved for a day like this . ’

Hyrkan put the Bone Explosives into the hole .

– Kwah-ahng!

The Tablet PC was connected to bluetooth speakers, and the sound rang out in all direction . At the center of the sound of the explosion, Che-sulyun was watching raptly . She had a strange expression on her face as if she was a action movie fan watching Die Hard’s explosion scene .

‘The Bone Explosives can be used that way?’

It was a scene where the Hahoe Mask had put a hole in the Catacomb Guardian’s armor . The hole was filled with Bone Explosives, and they were detonated .

In all of Warlord, the Hahoe Mask was the only one capable of showing this scene . Che-sulyun couldn’t pull her eyes away from the scene .

Of course, a single blow couldn’t kill the Catacomb Guardian . Its armor was ruined from the Bone Explosives, but the Catacomb Guardian continued to hang on to its life .

When its HP was suddenly reduced, the Catacomb Guardian went into its next phase .

– I will not let you leave alive! Wake up! Everyone get up!

When the Catacomb Guardian went into the new Phase, it summoned 50 Chimera Skeletons . Moreover, it started letting out a purple energy, which shaved away HP went it touched the enemy .

“You are watching that scene again, master?”

“This is the best part . ”

“I know it’s a great scene, but how many times do you have to watch it??”

“It is called a great scene, because it stays cool even after you watch it again and again . Moreover, the real stuff starts after the explosion . ”

Matador Chev .

He couldn’t tear his eyes away from the battle footage between the Hahoe Mask and the Catacomb Guardian . He was one of countless people, who couldn’t tear their eyes away from the footage .

‘If we immediately sell Raid Live tickets with the Hahoe Mask as the main draw, we could probably sell million tickets depending on the match up . In a year, it wouldn’t be farfetched for the Hahoe Mask will allow us to sell 10 million tickets . ’

At that moment, someone who considered himself to be the cream of the crop was also watching the same vid .

“What are you looking at, Mr . Sinclair?”

“It’s nothing”

Sinclair .

Currently, he had on a V&V emblem on his chest . When the V&V guild officer asked him a question, he gave a vague answer . The V&V guild officer didn’t want to get on Sinclair’s nerves, so he didn’t repeat his question . He carefully passed on the information .

“We’ll start the raid in 30 minutes . We look forward to working with you again . ”

“Yes, understood . Also, you don’t have to come look for me every time . You can just send me a message . Currently, I’m a normal member of the V&V guild . ”

“Ha ha . I’m just treating you like a future guild officer . ”

“Thank you . ”

After exchanging a slight nod with the him, the V&V guild officer left . When he saw the back of the V&V guild officer, Sinclair turned his head to focus on the footage once again .

While he watched the footage, he admitted something .

‘That damn Hahoe Mask . I’ll admit it . He is a remarkable bastard . ’

He admitted the Hahoe Mask wasn’t a normal guy . Furthermore, he admitted the Hahoe Mask wasn’t a normal User .

‘He has the ability to command others . Now he has that special quality that makes people pay attention to him . ’

He accepted it, but he also became worried and guarded .

‘Maybe this guy might be a bigger threat than the 30 great guilds . If it is as expected, he possesses a massive amount of funds . The only thing he is lacking is level . If he reaches the level of the Rankers, less than 10 people in the entire Warlord could face him 1on1 . ’

At that moment, there was a fourth person watching the video .

“Ooh-ha-ha! It’s a jackpot! Jackpot! I knew my intuition wasn’t dead yet . Look at the view counts rise! Kyahh! I need to treat myself to some luxury on a day like this . I’ll eat until my stomach bursts!”

He put canned tuna and tofu into the Kimchi Jjigae . He brought out the tender white rice, and toasted seaweed that was glistening with oil . He sat in front of a 50 inch monitor, which didn’t suit the one room . As he enjoyed the feast, he watched a video . The main character of the footage was Ahn-jaehyun .