Chapter 192: Quest 1
Translator: - - Editor: - -
Lugos was extending his arms and running toward them. Junhyuk started heading towards him and said, "Can you use your powers again?"
The cooldown for attack powers was usually twenty seconds, so Gongon nodded his head and replied, "I can use my headbutt and breath."
"Then, use them both now."
Gongon did not reply. Instead, he ran toward Lugos and headbutted him. Lugos raised his arms to block, but he still staggered from the hit. Gongon's headbutt dealt a lot of damage, but it didn't push or stun the opponent.
Lugos had 50 percent of his health left, but after being hit, he was left with 33 percent. One hit had taken away 17 percent of his health. It was strong. Considering Lugos' defense, it's an astonishing blow.
Gongon did not stop, however. He inhaled deeply and breathed out flames. The fan-like flames covered Lugos entirely. When Gyulsean died, she had only had 15 percent of her health, so Junhyuk couldn't measure the extent of the damage, but this time, they would find out how much damage the flames could inflict.
Gongon's flames covered Lugos, and he lost 12 percent of his health. He had 21 percent left, and Junhyuk ran forward and shouted, "I will kill him!"
Gongon nodded and stepped aside. Junhyuk saw Lugos and swung his sword. Lugos tried to escape from the Frozen Rune Sword, but it was too late. His neck had been cut, and it bled like a fountain.
"Tsk!"
Lugos moaned, staggered and soon disappeared.
[You killed Lugos and earned 3,000G.]
Junhyuk's capacity to deal damage had gone up, and using the Spatial Slash, he killed Lugos. Lugos disappeared, and Gongon approached Junhyuk while wagging his tail and asked, "What do we do now?"
"We destroy the enemy tower."
Gongon looked at the tower and asked, "It doesn't hurt if I just get hit?"
"It still hurts, but if the lizardmen fight first, they won't focus on us."
"Hm," Gongon understood the situation. "Then, let's destroy it."
"Attack!" Junhyuk shouted at the lizardmen.
They had been waiting for that order, so they dashed toward the watchtower. When Gongon breathed fire at Gyulsean, the flames had also killed some enemy lizardmen. While the lizardmen attacked the tower, Junhyuk and Gongon supported the attack, and the tower was quickly destroyed.
They decided to push on further. They had been lucky to destroy tower so quickly, so they wanted to push on to the second tower. While they were heading toward the second tower, Junhyuk heard a soft voice.
[The restrained high-ranking sorcerer in the Swamp of Despair has woken up. Help him out, and he will reward you.]
Gongon's eyes opened wide, and he looked at Junhyuk.
"High-ranking sorcerer? Should we be rewarded by sorcerer?"
Junhyuk remembered that the rewards from the high-ranking sorcerer were quite good. He tried to explain, but he was talking to a dragon, and Gongon didn't fully understand.
"Just like your powers are reduced here, the high-ranking sorcerer's powers are also reduced. However, he can still buff you, and the results are impressive."
It wasn't just a powerful buff, it could decided the victor. Among the allies, Junhyuk had highest chance to complete the quest and to fight off enemies who would be trying to take on the quest themselves.
Junhyuk looked at Gongon and said, "Wait a second."
He sent his intentions to Aktur.
"Aktur, I am trying to do the sorcerer's quest with Gongon. Can I take him?"
"If you move together, the enemies will push on that path."
"Even if it means giving up a tower, it will be a good idea to show Gongon what a quest is. And more than one enemy might show up on the quest. I could fight them off with him."
Aktur remained quiet for a while and then asked, "How is Gongon?"
"He has some useful powers and he follows me. If I teach him right, he will become a big help."
"Then, give up a tower. I'll keep an eye on the the situation. I may join you later. Go and do your quest."
"OK."
Junhyuk was done with the communication and looked at the hatchling.
"Gongon, let's go."
Gongon looked at the road and asked, "Both of us are going?"
"Right. Even if we lose a tower, you should learn about quests and the sorcerer."
Gongon thought for a moment and nodded.
"Right! I want to learn more about this place, so I should go with you."
Gongon should learn the layout of the battlefield, and he would learn more. They ran in the direction of the high-ranking sorcerer, and Junhyuk found out that the dragon's movement speed was much lower than his.
If he wanted to get to the sorcerer first, he would have to leave Gongon, but he continued to run with the dragon instead.
They had run for a while when Junhyuk said, "The high-ranking sorcerer is at the Swamp of Despair. All roads lead to the swamp, so don't worry about getting lost."
"You thinks it's possible for a dragon to get lost?"
Junhyuk laughed and answered, "I'm not sure."
Gongon didn't pay attention and kept running. They got to the swamp. It was huge, and there were stepping stones about every three meters leading to an island in the middle of it.
"Can you cross?"
"Are you kidding me?"
Gongon might be slow, but by using his thick legs, his ability to jump was impressive. He jumped over to a stone in one try and looked back as if waiting for a compliment.
Junhyuk gave him a thumbs-up and said, "You look cool!"
Gongon smiled and wagged his tail. He felt good, and Junhyuk made his way through the stepping stones.
Gyulsean appeared on the opposite side. Her movement speed was already well-known. Because he had items that boosted his speed, Junhyuk did not think he would lose in a race, but Gongon was with him at that point. He wouldn't be able to outrun run with the dragon in tow.
Gongon was away of the situation and jumped over the stepping stones, but he was still slow.
Junhyuk jumped to the stone where Gongon was standing. The dragon was surprised and tried to jump, but Junhyuk grabbed him. He saw Gyulsean drawing her bow and smiled.
"Are you alone?"
"What do you think?"
He looked behind them and saw Lugos standing there. He had moved to block their path of retreat.
Gongon, still being held by Junhyuk, looked back and asked, "What are you going to do?"
Junhyuk answered nonchalantly, "They made a mistake."
"What?"
"They are coming at us one at a time."
Gongon looked ahead and smiled, "Right."
Junhyuk ran toward Gyulsean. She drew her bow as he approached. Junhyuk was still holding Gongon while he measure the distance between her and them.
Lugos approached from behind, but Junhyuk and Gongon were heading toward Gyulsean at greater speed.
Just outside of the range of Gyulsean's arrows, Junhyuk used his Spatial Slash. One could not see it in action, but Gyulsean's neck opened, and she started losing health quickly.
She only had 25 percent of her health left, but she loosened the arrow when Junhyuk got within range. It flew fast, and Junhyuk teleported right away. The arrow missed because of the teleportation, and he shouted, "Go! Gon!"
Gongon jumped, heading toward Gyulsean, and he headbutted her. The hit landed.
"Argh!"
[Gongon killed Gyulsean.]
Gyulsean screamed and disappeared. She hadn't thought about her Junhyuk and Gongon's combo could kill her even if her attack was high.
"That was a success."
Gongon wagged his tail, but when he turned around, he shouted, "Behind you!"
Junhyuk turned around to look, and Lugos was already flying toward him. If Junhyuk tried to stop the attack, he might fall into the swamp. However, he wasn't worried and he teleported in Gongon's direction instead. He ran the rest of the way and stood next to the dragon, looking back at Lugos.
Lugos stopped running and stared at the two. He had already fought them two-against-one and knew the situation wasn't good. So, he turned around and retreated.
Junhyuk faced a dilemma as he saw Lugos running away. He could catch up to Lugos, but fighting on the stepping stones meant that he could fall into the swamp. He was worrying about what to do when Gongon said, "I've killed one. That one is yours."
He made up his mind. If he let Lugos go, he would interrupt the quest's progression. So, it would be better to kill him then.
Junhyuk grabbed Gongon with one arm and said, "I have to run so be understanding."
"I am comfortable and nice!"
Junhyuk laughed and runs. Gyulsean was as fast as him, but Lugos was different. Distance between them decreased, and Lugos started worrying.
To fight them both, Lugos had a better chance of winning on the stepping stones. He thought for a moment, and decided to place himself in the safest spot. He remained at the end of the swamp and turned around, brandishing his four weapons. Junhyuk was four stepping stones away from him.
In that situation, Junhyuk could very well fall into the swamp. He could use the Spatial Slash, but he didn't like the location of the battle, so he stopped, and Gongon raised his head.
"Why aren't you attacking?"
"Wait for a moment."
He had run so fast, that his teleportation was still under cooldown. However, Lugos wasn't running away, waiting for him instead.
The cooldown ended, and Junhyuk cracked his neck to the left and to the right and said, "I'll say it again don't fall into the swamp. If you do, you will need help to get out."
"You will help me."
"Lugos will interfere, so don't fall."
"I'm thinking about falling."
Junhyuk lifted Gongon and said, "Don't step in until I tell you to."
"Don't worry."
Junhyuk ran, and Lugos' eyes gleamed. He had fought JUnhyuk before, and he was powerful. He would surely teleport, so Lugos had to be ready.
Junhyuk closed in and teleported behind Lugos. He had meant to push Lugos toward the swamp, but Lugos stomped the ground.
Boom!
"Shit!"
Both Junhyuk and Gongon were launched in the air. Lugos' arms enlarged, and the two had nowhere to find footing and had to block Lugos' attacks.
Clang!
Both of them blocked the attacks, but both fell into the swamp.
[You've fallen into the swamp. Chance of escape decreases by 70 percent. Your movement speed decreases by 95 percent. If you don't get out within ten seconds, you will die.]