The sky was overcast as if rain might start at any mont.
Dense foliage thickly populated the tropical rainforest.
A visible path boldly cut through the rainforest.
In the distance, a huge stone structure that looked like a pyramid stood out.
This was the heart of the dungeon, the Altar of the Feathered Serpent.
What ca next was clear to anyone who looked.
Following the path ahead would surely lead to the destination, the altar.
However, whether the path would be smooth was doubtful.
Sssssh!
Several thin objects flew directly toward Go Hyeon-woo and .
With a quick sidestep, the objects flew past us and deeply embedded themselves into the ground and trees behind us.
They were sharply carved wooden spears.
Then, barbarians began to erge from the underbrush, one after another.
They didnt have much clothing on their bodies but their bodies were sared with copious amounts of red and white paint.
They do look sowhat strong like that.
Their fierce expressions made them appear even more so.
It seems that first impressions really do count.
Sacrifices!
Capture them alive!
Sssssh!
Despite their calls to capture us alive, they showed no hesitation in using their weapons.
So of the barbarians launched another volley of javelins while others charged forward, brandishing their wooden spears.
I waved my hand lightly.
[Wind Force]
A gust of wind imbued with physical force tore through their formation and scattered them like leaves.
The barbarians fell like dominoes, tumbling one after another.
Those who remained standing lunged with their spears, but
Swish!
Go Hyeon-woo swiftly cut them all down in a flash.
After a brief skirmish, we could see another group of barbarians rushing towards us along the path.
A situation where there was no ti to even have a conversation.
Go Hyeon-woo glanced at and nodded his head.
I wish you good luck.
And you as well.
With that, he charged forward and started to slaughter the oncoming barbarians.
With every flash of his iron sword, blood was splattered.
As per our pre-determined strategy for navigating the dungeon,
From this point on, we would act independently.
Go Hyeon-woo continued along the path toward the altar while I veered off the path and entered the rainforest with no clear direction.
I was swinging an F-rank jungle machete in an X pattern as I cut through the underbrush to advance deeper.
The core rule of the Feathered Serpent Altar was the [Raid].
In summary, the rule was as follows:
A party of up to four mbers would enter and fight their way through the onslaught of barbarians to reach the altar.
At the altar, a ritual would be underway with even more barbarians awaiting.
After getting involved in a bloody battle with them, eventually, the boss monster, the Feathered Serpent Priest, would appear.
This mont marked the true beginning of the raid.
The challenge was to disrupt the ritual while fending off the relentless attacks of the priest and his barbarian followers.
Defeating the boss ant clearing the dungeon.
Thats the standard approach, anyway.
And it goes without saying that sticking to the beaten path and following the standard approach ant that hidden pieces would remain just a dream.
So what can you find if you delve into areas that others overlooked?
Just like now.
Swish
With a forceful swing, I cleared the obstructive branches on the jungle path and they fell to the ground.
And a relatively open space revealed itself.
Faint signs of human passage remained here and there.
Following these traces would lead to
A village with crudely built huts huddled together.
Where there were barbarians, there was bound to be their stronghold.
The [Feathered Serpent Altar] tended to overtly guide ones path and objectives, making it easy to overlook such subtle blind spots but recognizing them was important for obtaining hidden pieces.
The number of barbarians in the village was small, as most of them were concentrated near the altar.
The ones tending to the fire noticed and abruptly stood up.
I first greeted them with a friendly wave.
Haha, hello there. Have you had your al?
A sacrifice?
The sacrifice has co.
Capture it alive!
Sssssh!
With that, one of them abruptly picked up the wooden spear and threw it.
It was aid precisely at my chest.
Considering that a person dies when their heart is pierced by sothing sharp, I couldnt fathom how they intended to capture alive.
With no desire to die or be captured, I focused Wind Force on the incoming spear.
The spear vibrated intensely and then drastically slowed down before it was caught in my hand.
As I threw it back while simultaneously blasting a strong gust of wind,
Boom!
The spear pierced through its original owner and continued on to embed itself in another barbarian behind him.
By concentrating wind force on one point in this way, the speed of the projectile can be slowed down or accelerated.
While my throwing abilities couldnt match those of the lee class with their strength and mana or those of the skilled ranged class, they still produced above-average destructive power which I found quite useful.
During the strategy battle I had with Hong Yeon-hwa, I even managed to deflect a trolls hand axe using this technique.
A strong sacrifice!
We must capture it at all costs!
Take it alive!
Even though two of their comrades fell, the barbarians seed only more excited.
In their eyes, a blind craving for the sacrifice overshadowed any desire for revenge.
I wondered if they might answer a question despite their excited state.
So, I tentatively asked,
Is your chieftain inside?
Die!!
Instead of an answer, a spear was thrust at .
They had just been insisting on taking alive.
It seems like they have changed their minds.
Anyway, I had no ti to waste in such a place.
I began to twist and turn my way forward.
Sharp and pointed objects narrowly missed as they whizzed by.
Those who stood in my way were thrown away with wind force, and anything I could grab, whether it be an arm or the nape of a neck, was promptly hurled upwards.
Uwaa
Screams faded into the high sky.
I assud they would land just fine. If not, so be it.
Like a bulldozer, I plowed through this wall made of humans.
There was no need to rummage around looking for the barbarian chieftain or priest.
Heading straight for the largest hut in the settlent would suffice.
Logically, a person of the priests standing wouldnt settle for a modest dwelling in a corner of the village.
Bang!
I continued to dispatch the charging barbarians with ease,
After sweeping aside the curtain at the entrance, I stepped inside.
The fragrant scent of incense welcod .
It seed to emanate from a makeshift altar set up in one corner.
In front of it knelt a middle-aged man who was presumably the priest.
Perhaps because he was a priest, he was adorned with feathers all over his body and the paint on his face was even more pronounced.
The priest, sensing soones presence, raised his head and saw .
He examined from head to toe with a deliberate gaze and spoke.
. A man with a rare and strong energy. He will make an excellent sacrifice.
It seems everyone I et talks only of sacrifices. Have you no other topics of conversation?
What use is there in speaking at length to livestock destined only for slaughter?
You have a point.
His argunt seed reasonable so I nodded in agreent.
The priest suggested in a tone that was almost rciful.
If you surrender quietly, your mont of pain will be brief.
Im not fond of being captured or suffering pain.
That is not for you to decide.
Still, Id like to give it a try as far as I can.
I see.
The priest smiled kindly.
A few barbarians followed inside and positioned themselves behind .
Capture him.
They all reached out to at the sa ti.
I struck the nearest one in the philtrum, then grabbed him by the nape and hurled him towards the priest.
He collided with the priests invisible barrier and was smashed against the wall.
Thud!
A D-rank barrier.
I threw four or five more of them in quick succession but it was just as aningless.
Of course, my aim wasnt to penetrate the barrier.
It was to clear out those blocking my exit.
I squeezed through a slight gap that had ford in the crowd and made my way outside.
As I did, I didnt forget to throw a taunting remark.
Try and catch .
Boom!
Golden light surged and demolished the spot I had just vacated.
While I waited outside nonchalantly as if nothing had happened, the priest erged from his hut.
He held a staff in his hand that glead with a golden light.
Additionally, all the barbarians in the tribe surrounded us in a circle.
I thought to myself as I dodged the flying golden energy and spears.
Ive at least cleared the minimum conditions.
The minimum prerequisite to obtain the hidden piece of the [Feathered Serpent Altar].
That is to keep the priest confined within the tribe.
The mont the priest reaches the altar, the dormant hidden piece would automatically bind itself to him.
It was necessary to keep them separated until Go Hyeon-woo could fully claim ownership.
Thats why I had gone through the trouble of searching the forest and coming to the tribe.
So far, everything was going according to plan.
Bang!
As I kicked the ground and stepped back, another clump of golden light fell down.
Several barbarians chasing took the hit instead and were crushed.
These were not elental attacks; getting hit by just one could be fatal.
But I wasnt overly worried.
It doesnt matter if I dont get hit.
Dodging was sothing I was confident in.
[Inferno Fist]
My fist beca engulfed in dark red flas.
I wanted to unleash it fully, but if I misjudged my strength and killed the priest, the dungeon would close before Go Hyeon-woo could acquire the hidden piece.
So, I had to restrain myself for the ti being.
The reason I cast Inferno Fist was for a different reason though.
[Overheat]
The imnse power harbored in my fist spread throughout my body and started supplying with energy.
I dodged the incoming golden energy and surged forward.
Pop! Pop!
With each step, my surroundings blurred and the priests figure drew closer.
Just as the priests eyes widened and he began to chant a defensive spell.
My hand shot forward.
It effortlessly shattered the invisible barrier protecting him and made contact with the priests chest.
Boom!
The priests body was sent flying back into his hut.
There was a loud crashing sound of items being smashed from inside.
Thats pretty effective.
I shook my slightly numb hand.
By using Overheat to strengthen my body and adding Wind Force to my attack, I managed to easily shatter a barrier of around D-rank strength.
Still, given that he was a boss-level entity, there probably wasnt much damage to the priests actual body.
I called out towards the inside.
You might want to pay a bit more attention to your defense. It seems a bit too lax
I imdiately tilted my head to the side and a sharp golden rod whizzed past my head.
I could feel a massive amount of energy swelling from inside the hut.
there. You seem quite upset.
I will not make your end a quick one.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Now, clumps of golden light were falling in twos and threes.
This too was part of the plan.
The Feathered Serpent Priests top priority was to conduct the ritual.
Drawing his aggro in a clumsy way would often lead to the priest abandoning the fight midway.
So how can we prevent such an unfortunate event?
Simply provoke him enough until you enrage him.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Of course, this approach ca with the downside of making dodging significantly more difficult.
While diligently moving my feet, I briefly glanced toward the distant back.
A fierce battle must be unfolding at the towering Feathered Serpent Altar by now.
Good luck, Go Hyeon-woo.
The rest is up to you.
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