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What is the most efficient way to utilize the [Rune Hunter]?
Various rune acquisitions, proper combinations, high-level rune syntheses, etc.
It may vary depending on the approach, but if you had to choose the most effective method, it would be obtaining ‘high-level good runes’.
While the grade is an important factor in evaluating runes, the level is an equally important core element.
“The higher the level, the different the proficiency.”
And [Rune Hunter] typically registers acquired runes at about half the level.
Therefore, the higher the level of the opponent’s runes, that is, the more excellent the opponent’s level, the higher the value of the runes obtained.
Ironically, in order to obtain high-level runes, you have to become a high-level Holder worthy of seizing them.“…That’s why the rune levels have been low so far.”
In general, the rune level is higher for Holders than for monsters.
While Holders consistently refine and grow their own runes over a long period of time, monsters live their lives with growth halted in a specific space.
And most of the runes I’ve hunted so far are monsters’ runes.
I did get some runes through a few duels with Holders, but I never fought an overwhelmingly strong opponent.
That’s why there was a limit to the level of the runes I acquired.
I’ve hunted monsters up to A-grade, even S-grade monsters, but…
Unfortunately, there were no runes exceeding level 10 when acquired.
“….This time it’s different.”
However, <Villen>’s recent attack.
Battling quite powerful opponents, high-ranking Holders, the situation has changed.
The fruit of victory seized while fending off the sudden attack… Was definitely different from before.
[You have won the duel! Your high contribution in the duel is recognized as a victory. With the wondrous power of the Rune Hunter, you can replicate one of your opponent’s runes. Please select the rune to replicate.]
[You have selected ‘Art of Hidden Throwing Knives’. As it is a 20-level epic rune, the level will drop to 10 when registered.]
[You have gained 5 speed from the rune’s nature.]
The rune proficiency changes from A-grade Holders.
Spy Ha Do-kwon and Kim Do-yoon temporarily showed a form comparable to A-grade with [Berserk Potion], but… This was just a ‘comparable form’ at best.
There was a clear limit to how much ability scores could be pumped up.
“Even so… 20 levels…”
On the other hand, Ji Yoon-jae was a senior clan member of <Villen>.
Unlike those I faced before, he demonstrated the full capabilities of an A-grade Holder.
Of course, he was incomparable to lower-level Holders in terms of rune level and utilization, and the results of victory were also astonishing.
The proficiency of a main rune at level 20 was beyond imagination.
With this, I was able to obtain an epic rune at level 10.
[You have selected ‘Intolerable Gravity’. As it is a 20-level epic rune, the level will drop to 10 when registered.]
[You have gained 5 magic from the rune’s nature.]
“Wow….”
And it was the same with Cha Soo-yeon.
She took a big hit from my [Distortion of Shadow] and fled, so [Rune Hunter] recognized my victory.
That’s why I was able to acquire her main rune [Intolerable Gravity].
It was the moment when two level 10 epic runes were added to the <Holder Information> at once.
I slowly looked through the information on the newly acquired runes.
<Rune Information>
◎ Name: Art of Hidden Throwing Knives
◎ Grade: Epic (E)
◎ Level: 10
◎ Engraved Location: Finger Joints
◎ Special Effects
: You can expertly wield daggers, daggers and other non-metallic weapons. You can freely utilize various techniques handed down from the Darkmoon clan, a shadow clan.
: When used with concealment runes, the power increases by 20%.
: If you infuse magic and throw knives, you can momentarily bend their direction. There is no limit to when you can bend, and the attack is made with 70% of the original power.
◎ Derived Skills:-
–
◎ Ultimate Skill :-
◎ [Knife Rain]
◎ Detailed Information:-
: A specialized knife technique from the Darkmoon clan, the arch-enemy of the barbarian tribe Barbarians. Although it is said to be very difficult to acquire and the techniques are abstruse making it hard to hand down, there are still those who continue the tradition.
Ji Yoon-jae’s main rune [Art of Hidden Throwing Knives] was a kind of ‘mighty rune’.
Since the rune itself contained technical methodologies, the effects were simple and there were no derived skills.
Among my runes, it was similar to [Wave Sword Technique], [Water Sword Technique], or [Plum Blossom Sword Technique].
Instead, once the rune level reached the benchmark, the ultimate skill could be utilized.
“Knife rain…”
A skill that shoots out 21 daggers in random directions at a target.
It was Ji Yoon-jae’s trademark ultimate skill and also the supreme physical attack I had just experienced in the previous battle.
It was one of his powers that I coveted the most, and now it became my power.
Since I was relatively lacking skills for physical attacks, this seemed like an attractive skill.
<Rune Information>
◎ Name: Intolerable Gravity
◎ Grade: Epic (E)
◎ Level: 10
◎ Engraved Location: Collarbone
◎ Special Effects:-
: You can freely manipulate gravity and your understanding of gravitational forces increases.
: The status condition ‘slow’ is applied to all magic manifested through this rune.
: As this manipulates the gravity of a specific area rather than a specific target, all magic manifested through this rune takes the form of ‘area of effect magic’. Depending on rune level and magic level, the area that can be expanded varies.
◎ Derived Skills:-
◎ [Press Down]
◎ Ultimate Skill:-
◎ [Reverse Gravity] (Restricted)
◎ Detailed Information:-
: A rune specialized in manipulating gravity within the elemental power system. The gradually increasing pressure of gravity makes anyone collapse unbearably.
“Hmm….”
After reading each piece of information on the runes, I felt that Cha Soo-yeon’s [Intolerable Gravity] had unexpectedly low applicability.
The overall performance is good.
The fact that status conditions are inherently included in all magic, the fact that all magic has an area of effect…
These are effects that have nothing to fault.
“It’s a shame it’s not an attribute rune.”
However, the flaw was that this rune was not an attribute magic rune, but a special magic rune.
Special magic runes basically require arrangement and manifestation of magic as an essential element, and are heavily influenced by supporting runes.
Just looking at the ‘area of effect magic’ trait of [Intolerable Gravity], you can see the premise that you must be able to expand magic in that area.
Therefore, unlike attribute magic runes that can easily conjure fire, lightning, etc. with just light magic…
These specialized special magic runes were not easy to utilize.
The fact that the ultimate skill [Reverse Gravity] was in a ‘restricted’ state was also a phenomenon that occurred because the level requirement was met but such necessary conditions were not satisfied.
“It would be inefficient to start learning spells now.”
My main focus is and will always be physical attacks.
I do utilize magic, but I don’t arrange and manifest magic using incantations like other magic Holders.
Even if I were to learn this and become able to use it, such tendencies would not match well with my combat style.
“But Press Down looks usable.”
Fortunately, the derived skill of applying intense gravitational increase on an individual target, [Press Down], seemed to have high applicability.
Unlike other magics, this could be used simply by lightly eliciting magic.
It felt like I had gained a solidifying status condition skill.
“As for the rest… Nothing more.”
Unfortunately, there were no runes acquired from Koo Myeong-hoon.
Among the academy students, he was a Multi-Holder who handled elemental fire magic runes and swordplay in a textbook manner.
Perhaps because of that, the runes he possessed were all ones I already had.
I thought some new rune might appear since he was using something like a demon sword, but it was simply the performance and effects of the item.
It seemed there were no dramatically appearing new runes.
“Then….”
After trying out the newly acquired [Art of Hidden Throwing Knives ] and [Intolerable Gravity] a few times, I tidied up my weapons and left the training grounds.
There were no runes that needed further inspection.
I did read over the new Legendary Rune [Promise Bound by Dragon] as well, but this one is not yet a rune that can be directly utilized in combat.
Now I had to mentally picture tomorrow’s operation and focus on the progress of the plan.
***
Ippotranslation
***
The day dawned.
Early morning.
In front of the academy main gate, there were a total of 8 Holders.
The four that Professor Tak Won-ho had gathered yesterday.
Professor Kim Myeong-hyun, Professor Kang Dong-wook, Yoo Eun-seol, and me.
In addition, personnel dispatched from the top 3 clans in the country, and personnel dispatched from the Korean Hunter Association came.
“This operation will consist of an advance party and follow-up forces. As the advance party, we will first locate the position of the Villain clan following Professor Kang’s search, then raid their base at the same time as the follow-up forces.”
Professor Kim Myeong-hyun, who was the team leader, briefly explained.
That is, the current 8 people are the advance party members.
Since personnel representing each clan and the association came, the members were quite prominent.
“Nice to meet you all. I hope we can definitely eradicate Villain this time.”
Kim Dae-won, an A-grade Holder, came from the Korean Holder Association.
Kim Dae-won is considered one of the top rankers among the domestic new generation series, and is also known for his generous support for lower-ranking Holders such as free healing or rotating treatment. He can be seen as someone who has greatly contributed to publicizing the positive influence in the Holder Association.
“I’m Park Chang-hyun.”
“I’m Kwon Oh-jun.”
Park Chang-hyun, an A-rank Hunter, came from <Sunset Flower>, and Kwon Oh-jun, a rising executive of <Judgement of Fire>, attended.
It would be difficult for the head-rankers to come, but they were Holderers that carried a plank in their respective clans.
However, <Royal> went a step further.
A key executive named Moon Jung-hyuk, one of the founding contributors, came as the advance party member.
Despite magic-types not being necessary for the advance party, he insisted on having at least one archer-type, using somewhat logical reasoning.
Thanks to him, I was able to see his face again after a very long time.
“It’s been a while, Holder Moon Jung-hyuk.”
“Oh my, I almost forgot what my future son-in-law looks like since I haven’t seen you in so long.”
“…Huh?”
What was this guy talking about?
I doubted my ears for a moment and asked back, then scanned my surroundings faster than anyone else.
… Fortunately.
Fortunately, it seemed no one had heard that.
“Um… Mr. Moon Jung-hyuk. Please keep that talk a secret externally…”
“Hmm? Ah, right. Haha. Sorry about that. I blanked out for a moment. I was just happy to see you again, that’s all.”
“Yes, yes….”
This was like a time bomb that could go off at any moment.
Fortunately, Moon Ga-eun was not here.
If she saw us together, who knows what nonsense Moon Jung-hyuk would have spurted out.
“Then, shall we get going now? Professor Kang.”
“Yes.”
The chaotic atmosphere quickly settled down at Professor Kim Myeong-hyun’s words.
Professor Kang Dong-wook lowered his head.
Then he stared intently at the small monster lying on the back of his hand.
He seemed to be confirming the ‘Bug’s Signal’, the key to this operation, as the tamer.
And not long after…
Professor Kang raised his head.
“It’s west.”
And so.
The counterattack against the <Villain> clan began.
Tl/n: Sorry about the late posting, was kinda busy and when I was free, there was network downtime. Ill still be translating this novel and would love to finish it. Happy Reading.,
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