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<SYSTEM: You've succeeded in 30 consecutive one-kill hunts.>

<SYSTEM: You've received the title "One at a Time.">

<SYSTEM: This title increases the probability of a critical hit by 10%.>

"Wow!"

I got an additional ability with the Hidden Piece. It was an unexpected gain.

[Is it a good thing?]

"This means that hunting will become more convenient."

Although I was out of breath, I kept moving because I could level up with just a little more. The system wasn’t designed to tell me the remaining experience I needed to reach the next level, but I could sense that I was getting close.

After leveling up, my fatigue would be reset, and, unless a body part were cut off, my wounds would recover. I didn’t intend to rest for a while.

Meanwhile, the number of goblins wasn’t decreasing. They kept respawning.

[Don't push yourself too hard. Just treat this as training.]

"Got it! Don't worry."

The hunt continued.

<SYSTEM: You have killed a Goblin. You gained 15 experience points.>

<SYSTEM: You have killed a Goblin. You gained 15 experience points.>

<SYSTEM: You have killed a Goblin. Your experience points are full.>

<SYSTEM: You leveled up. Your basic abilities have increased, and the status window has been updated.>

As my fatigue disappeared, I noticed my fundamental ability values had also improved.

Although the updated status window appeared to show me the changes, I paid no attention to it and quickly deleted it. I had no time to read it since the Goblins continued to flock in.

"Come on! I'll kill you all!"

[What's with that Chūnibyō tone? ]

“…”

It puzzled me how he knew about the term Chūnibyō, but I didn't have time to consider it further.

I swung my sword like crazy, cutting the Goblins down.

As I leveled up, I felt that hunting became easier, and along with it, a strange sense of pleasure engulfed my mind.

My sword danced between the Goblins. One strike could kill up to two at a time…

My attacks started to outpace the speed at which the Goblins regenerated, and my level went above six before I knew it.

At some point, I was able to slay all the monsters.

"Pant, pant..."

[Oh wow, that's impressive. It's unbelievable that you've already experienced a trance!]

"Trance?"

[I'll explain it later.]

"Ah... they're spawning again."

The Heavenly Demon Move heightened my senses and alerted me as soon as the Goblins returned.

However, this round of respawning was taking longer than the previous ones.

Curious, I grabbed my sword and stared at the spot it took place until a new system notification window appeared.

<SYSTEM: You've wiped out all Goblins.>

<SYSTEM: The summoning condition of 'Goblin Wizard' has been met.>

<SYSTEM: Summoning in 5 seconds.>

<SYSTEM: 4 seconds left.>

This was a message I'd never seen before regressing.

"Is it a Hidden Piece again?"

[You've mentioned that name before... What is a Hidden Piece?]

"I don't have the time to explain right now. I'll tell you all about it later."

I was nervous because I had no information about Goblin Wizards.

Goblins were monsters that only appeared in the Tutorial Dungeon, so there was no awakened like me who’d summoned a Goblin Wizard before.

I tightened my grip around the hilt of my sword. Although it was a Hidden Piece, staying alive was more important.

<SYSTEM: 2 seconds left.>

<SYSTEM: 1 second left.>

<SYSTEM: Goblin Wizard summoned.>

A monster about a head taller than a regular Goblin then appeared.

[Goblin Wizard Lv.10]

[Category: Humanoid Monster, Attacks First]

[Status: Anger]

[Skills: Lv.2 Fireball, Lv.1 Extrude]

Although detailed information on the skills wasn’t available, I was prepared. I could predict the attacks based on the skill names. For example, Extrude, as its name implied, would be a skill that pushed an attacker away.

The real problem was its level.

"Why is there a Level 10 Monster here?"

I had never heard of a Level 10 monster appearing in the Tutorial Dungeon's first room.

"Though I suppose it makes sense since he's been summoned as a Hidden Piece."

It seemed easy to fight since I knew the Heavenly Demon's martial arts techniques and its skill names. Although I was at Level 6, I wasn't behind in level due to the added knowledge.

We could be considered to be on the same level, actually.

I could be an actual match for him.

[That’s a great attitude.]

As his level was high, I hoped to get some items or even a Skill Book.

As I moved to attack, the Goblin Wizard threw a Fireball.

[It's flame sorcery. I don't think you can withstand it with your strength. Dodge it.]

"Flame sorcery? It's called magic."

I quickly dodged the Fireball with the Demonic Dragon Royal Stride.

Boom! -

With the sound of an explosion, a giant flame shot up where I’d been.

The power was incredible and fierce. However, it didn't throw the Fireball continuously, likely due to a cooldown period.

And because of that, it was easy to approach.

[First of all, you need to get closer.]

"I agree."

Baang!-

Even at that moment, the monster's attacks continued.

[It's a pity that you're not familiar with the Demonic Dragon Replication skill yet.]

"Well, I haven’t learned it."

I used the Fireball’s cooldown time to close the distance between me and my opponent.

"Demonic Dragon Flash!"

Clank-

"Clank?"

The Goblin Wizard blocked my attack with his staff and sneered.

[Use consecutive attacks.]

"Hmph!"

The Goblin Wizard tried to push me away with the Extrude skill, but I dodged again with Demonic Dragon Royal Stride, then pressed on for the assault.

[Use the Demonic Dragon Grief as a feint to confuse him, and then follow it up with Demonic Dragon Flash, Demonic Dragon Gale, and Demonic Dragon Bound as a combo! If it works, finish him with the strongest Demonic Dragon Power you can manage.]

Following Heavenly Demon's instructions, I readied myself.

"First, the feint!"

The Goblin Wizard raised his staff to block my attack, but my sword suddenly changed course. The Goblin was confused.

"Kerak?"

"Got you!"

[Attack the staff with Demonic Dragon Flash first! ]

"Ha!"

I struck the monster's wrist.

"Demonic Dragon Flash!"

Pukaka!-

The Trainer's Sword couldn't wholly sever the wrist of a Lvl. 10 Goblin Wizard, but it successfully knocked away his staff.

I continued with my attack.

"Demonic Dragon Gale!"

Whoosh-

As I spun around to strengthen my next swing, blood surged from the monster's thigh.

His defenses collapsed, and I could see an opening at his waist.

[That's right! Keep it up.]

"Demonic Dragon Bound!"

I spun with my sword and cut through his waist.

Splash!-

Blood gushed out, and he toppled forward.

"Go away! Demonic Dragon Power! "

I jumped up and hit the monster’s head.

"D-Dangling! Kieeek!"

Kuwa-Ka-Ka!-

The Goblin Wizard's screams were interspersed with strange words, but when his head exploded, splattering brain fluid across the floor, he fell silent.

"Hmm... the disparity in level can't be overlooked even if I practice martial arts?"

Although it was simpler to deal with him than I had anticipated, I had still failed to take him out in a single blow.

[You haven't completely assimilated the skills I taught you.]

As he said, applying martial arts directly to actual combat was still a challenge.

[It will get better in the future.]

The system windows began to scroll by quickly when he finished speaking.

<SYSTEM: You leveled up.>

<SYSTEM: You leveled up.>

<SYSTEM: You leveled up.>

<SYSTEM: You leveled up. Your ability points have increased, and the status window has been updated.>

<SYSTEM: You have earned a Skill Book as a reward for eliminating the Goblin Wizard. It can be found in the inventory.>

<SYSTEM: You've reached level 10 by hunting the Goblin Wizard.>

<SYSTEM: You've received the title "Relentless Hunting.">

<SYSTEM: You've acquired a "Goblin's Sword" as a reward for the new title. It can be found in the inventory.>

[User: Lee Byeong-gi Lv.10]

[Title: One at a Time, Relentless Hunting]

-Title effect: (One at a Time) Critical strike rate increased by 10%.

-Title effect: (Relentless Hunting) No effect.

[Vitality: 24, MP: 27]

[Skills: Lv.2 Insight (Passive), Lv.1 Enhancement, Lv.1 Mana Shield]

It was scrolling by so fast that I felt dizzy. Of course, I could recheck it later.

"…I'm level 10."

I had gained four levels by slaying a Goblin Wizard. This was why many hunters took the risk of hunting high-level monsters.

Once their fatigue had reset, all the minor wounds from the hunt would heal, and they would be much stronger than before.

According to my experience before time-traveling, my vitality and magic power values were close to someone of level 25, making it about 15 levels higher than my current level.

The martial arts techniques were good.

At the time of the Second Cataclysm, the average level of hunters was between 30 and 40, so I figured I could catch up with their basic ability stats by the time I finished the tutorial.

"The first goal has been over-fulfilled."

Not only had I accomplished the goal of acquiring the Goblin Sword, but I also got two Hidden Pieces.

I quickly checked the inventory to see which Skill Book I had obtained.

[Skills Book: Mana Drain (Passive) Lv.1]

-10% of the damage is absorbed as mana when a critical strike is successful. The mana absorbed cannot exceed the maximum mana reserve.

It didn’t matter that I had learned martial arts, I was still disappointed. I was expecting an attack skill.

However, this was indeed a helpful skill despite my complaints.

Although it was 10%, the greater the effect of a critical strike, the faster the recovery of my magic power, so it would be pretty valuable in combat.

"It would be even better if it was an attack skill."

[You're obsessing over useless things.]

The Heavenly Demon replied as if I was pathetic.

"It would be convenient to have an attack skill."

Attack skills were really useful. I could get greater results by spending a smaller amount of magic power.

[You didn't have the right attack skills before your regression, but since you learned my martial arts, abandoning this obsession would do you good.]

"You think so?"

[Yes. I've looked at the attack skills in your memory, and while some hunters use strange tricks like Goblin Sorcerers, most use martial art skills.]

Hunters did have martial arts-like moves in their attack skills.

[So, don't try too hard to get an attack skill, and instead, keep honing the techniques you already have.]

"…But I don't see the need to abandon what I can feasibly obtain."

[I'm not saying you should abandon what you can obtain. I'm saying don't get too hung up on it. Let go of your greed first. That way, you'll be able to learn martial arts more quickly.]

"Okay."

Although I answered like that, the truth was that I still couldn't totally give up on the idea. This was an obsession I had carried with me all these years.

However, since his martial arts could replace the need for attack skills, it would be fitting to follow his suggestion.

[You made the right decision. I'm sure you won't even think of those things if you master these techniques.]

"I will keep that in mind."

Unlike before, when I had barely reached level 10 by defeating Goblins, it took me less than a day to wipe them out this time. Since Goblins were no longer spawning, I decided to take a break and regulate my breathing.

"It's too small..."

[You're too big. Oh, no, that's not what I meant!]

Since I was still getting started, I looked for something I could wear from the Goblin's corpses, but nothing was suitable.

They were wearing only pieces of cloth that barely covered the essential parts, and at best, Goblins could reach 150cm max.

I was 185cm tall, so there was no way those scraps could fit me.

"There's nothing I can do. I'll go to the next room first."

[What kind of Monsters are in there?]

"You will see."

After responding, I moved into the next room.

In the past, I could only run away from the monsters in this room, as none of my attacks had worked.

[What's that? Those bones…?]

He asked.

"That's a Skeleton. Their bones are so tough that they can't even be cut with the Goblin's Sword."

That's why I ran away in the past.

[Is there a way to defeat them?]

"Yes, there is."