RTGR 41

Chapter 41 ….

There are two paths for a Necromancer.

The Commander Necromancer and the Explosion Necromancer.

Commonly called Jik and Pok, not their official names, but easy nicknames people used.

If Jik’s strength lay in commanding numerous undead—including high-tier ones—and steadily dealing safe, consistent DPS (damage per second), then Pok’s strength was burst damage.

And the one responsible for that burst?

Corpse Explosion.

A fraudulent-level skill where, even after getting beaten the entire time, landing just one proper explosion could make up for every mistake.

There was a reason people called Explosion Necromancers “one-trick Corpse Explosion builds.”

‘That’s all they’ve got, though.’

But saying that also meant one thing:

Without Corpse Explosion, they were a corpse themselves.

A character so extreme that depending on whether the explosion succeeded, they could become either a ridiculously overpowered class or absolute trash.

That was why, the moment Do-hyun saw the corpse explosion, he didn’t drop his guard.

‘With those specs, I’ll die in one hit.’

No matter how high Do-hyun’s stats were, he couldn’t endure a Hero-grade Named Boss’s Corpse Explosion.

It was easier to think of it as an instant-kill pattern.

An instant-death mechanic in Raven, where only players level 24 and below existed… It was a boss that desperately needed a difficulty patch—but by Do-hyun’s standards, this was still mild.

‘Later on, there are raid patterns where a player has to die for the raid to continue.’

And that wasn’t all.

There were even patterns where death was absolutely unavoidable.

Compared to Demrok, this was still gentle. And there were plenty of bosses like that even in God of Ose, so what could you do?

Instead of complaining, Do-hyun formed a strategy.

If the boss was going to use Corpse Explosion anyway, then he would make it use it at a timing of his choosing.

He created a situation where the boss had no choice but to use its ultimate.

Sure enough, after provoking it a bit and pretending to be in danger, the boss used Corpse Explosion as if it had been waiting for it.

[The mark disappears.]

It had no idea that Do-hyun had been baiting it while carefully timing the duration of his Backstab mark.

An Explosion Necromancer without Corpse Explosion?

It was so weak that you couldn’t lose even if you tried.

It had lost most of its undead assets in one massive blast—and now even its ultimate skill was gone.

And against a melee opponent, after giving up distance?

It simply had to take whatever hits came its way.

[You deal a Critical Hit.]

“Kueeek! W-wait just a—khk!”

…Just like now.

Thud! Slash!

[Khuk! Kheugh!]

For a full four minutes of cooldown.

And for Do-hyun, four minutes was more than enough time. That was enough to use Backstab four more times.

Having consumed most of his undead, Jihad could do nothing but take hits like a dog getting beaten on a sweltering summer day.

This was the fate of an Explosion Necromancer who failed their Corpse Explosion.

Despite possessing one of the highest burst potentials among all classes, most players still chose the Commander path for this very reason.

“C-Corpse expl—khk!”

Bam!

“W-wait…!”

Thud! Thud-thud-thud!

“Ah, ah! Bones! Using bones is cheating!”

Slash—stab! Crack!

“Y-you’ll regret this—kuek! J-just go easy…!”

At first, Jihad desperately threw and detonated the remaining corpses.

But Do-hyun wasn’t about to get hit by blind attacks like that.

As he was beaten breathlessly, Jihad’s once solemn and dignified image transformed into something pitiful beyond measure.

…Who would ever think that thing protesting about being hit with bones was a Hero-grade Named Boss?

‘This kind of boss is a first.’

Even Do-hyun had never seen anything like it.

This was supposed to be a survivor of the great Black Clan?

He didn’t know exactly what kind of clan they were, but if they saw this, they’d be dumbfounded.

‘Something’s off.’

Even as he beat the boss more enthusiastically out of irritation, Do-hyun found it hard to accept.

More precisely, he felt doubt.

‘Is this really worthy of Hero grade?’

Yes, he had built a good strategy and executed it well.

The power of Corpse Explosion was certainly lethal—strong enough to instantly kill even a level 50 player if it had landed.

Maybe even stronger.

Thanks to Jihad’s quick hands, the casting speed had been faster than a normal explosion. If Backstab had been on cooldown, Do-hyun would’ve died without being able to move.

And if it had thrown a Curse Orb to apply Dark Vision, cornered him, and then exploded?

There would have been no way to dodge.

‘I get that, but…’

Even so, it felt weak.

Sure, it would be difficult for a level 24 player solo—but this was supposed to be a Hero-grade Named Boss living in a Secret Dungeon?

If you knew the strategy, it might even be easier than a field boss.

Even with that doubt, Do-hyun didn’t stop swinging his sword.

Thud! Crack!

Slash—stab!

“Kuek! Agh! Kheugh!”

He smashed, knocked down, slashed, and stabbed.

[The mark disappears.]

[You deal a Critical Hit.]

When it tried to flee, he chased with Backstab and poured in burst damage.

After repeating this several times—

[The Secret Dungeon boss ‘Jihad Black’ HP has fallen below 30%.]
[Phase 2 begins.]
[Trait ‘Bloodline Factor’ activates.]

Do-hyun froze for the first time at the messages appearing before him.

And at that moment—

“Kh… khuhuhu…”

The utterly pathetic Jihad burst into laughter for the first time.

The atmosphere changed.

Ssssss—

A black vapor darker than his skin began to rise.

The smoke spreading from every pore radiated obvious danger.

[I have been waiting for this moment…]

A voice splitting like rusted metal scraping.

The green glow in his eyes turned pitch black—so dark that it was hard to distinguish his eyes at all.

He looked like a single mass of darkness shaped like a goblin.

[I have not yet fully mastered it… but I have no choice…]

The confidence in Jihad’s tone bore no trace of the earlier humiliation.

And with good reason.

[Jihad Black is awakening the Bloodline Factor within his body.]
[The Bloodline Factor is incomplete. It cannot exert full effect.]
[Once the manifestation completes, Jihad’s rank will rise.]

Rank increase.

In fantasy terms, an elevation of one’s very existence.

In this case, it meant an increase in grade.

He didn’t know how far it would rise—but at least one tier.

‘Hero+…’

That meant at least Hero+ grade.

The gap between Hero and Hero+ wasn’t just one step.

Exaggerated or not, it was like the difference between a river and the ocean.

Full-scale raid parties started from Hero+.

If that trait fully manifested, even Do-hyun couldn’t guarantee victory.

Considering this was a solo Secret Dungeon, it was practically a system designed to make you fail once it activated.

[Jihad Black enters concentration while awakening the Bloodline Factor. His stats increase.]
[HP recovery increases.]
[Defense increases.]
[Magic resistance increases.]

Yes.

If it manifested.

“Invest 20 into Strength.”

[Strength increases by +20.]
[Strength has exceeded 100.]

Do-hyun’s stats crossed 100.

To be exact, 110 Strength.

Even ignoring all bonus rewards, it was an absurd stat value.

A normally built player would need to be at least level 40 to reach that number.

And considering Do-hyun’s other stats and remaining points, he had even greater potential.

‘Guess I ended up going full Strength…’

Still, with 71 Agility, it wasn’t a bad balance.

And this was the perfect situation to beat on a stationary sandbag.

[W-what is this absurd change…?!]

Perhaps sensing the shift in Do-hyun’s aura as he raised his stats, Jihad cried out.

His perceptiveness now worked against him.

It would’ve been better not to know.

Defense increase?

HP recovery?

[Warrior Set effect applies.]
[Additional 7% damage to Goblin-type enemies.]
[Due to Rage, deal 10% additional damage to boss.]
[Level 10 Sword Mastery increases sword damage by 10%.]

‘Before overwhelming DPS, all are equal.’

He didn’t care what the original intended strategy was.

He planned to use the best strategy of all.

Step. Step.

[D-don’t come closer…!]

Was it his imagination, or was Jihad Black’s face growing paler as Do-hyun approached?

[Ah… ah…]

As the pitch-black skin seemed to lighten slightly, Do-hyun extended his hand.

A graceful sword arc pierced Jihad’s neck.

Soon, the desperate scream of a goblin echoed through the hideout.

[You have defeated the Secret Dungeon boss ‘Jihad Black.’]
[You have cleared the Secret Dungeon: Black Goblin Shaman’s Hideout.]
[First Clear bonus applied. Rewards are amplified.]
[Recorded in the Adventurer’s Journal.]
[Hidden achievement achieved.]
[Sword Mastery increases.]
[Sword Mastery has reached LV11.]
[Dagger Mastery increases.]
[Dagger Mastery has reached LV6.]
[Level Up.]

Watching the flood of messages, Do-hyun let out a long breath.

“Wow… that was close.”

Thirty seconds… no, even ten seconds later, and the Bloodline Factor would have fully activated.

It was that tight.

He had even considered raising Strength further because of how sharply the boss’s defense had increased.

‘And they expect level 24 players to clear this?’

Even a sword user who invested only in Strength and Agility would need to be around level 40.

Considering Do-hyun’s many bonus damage effects, even level 40 might struggle with a pure DPS rush strategy.

It was absurd, even after clearing it himself.

But he had succeeded.

“Kh…”

And the reward for that success was incredibly sweet.