Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Buff (2)

“Gasping, gasping, gasping.”

“Sigh.”

“I really shouldn’t have spoken up; I really messed that up…”

“Dong-jae, you’re too talented to only operate domestically. That was really good. I was very satisfied.”

“I feel like I’m going to pass out.”

“Let’s take a break.”

After nearly an hour of continuous fighting with monsters, Kang-hoo gave Park Dong-jae a thumbs-up.

The buff significantly sped up his movements, bringing Kang-hoo many benefits.

Beyond the buff effects, it was a chance to slightly break free from the effects of mana hypersensitivity.

With his usual combat style, Kang-hoo’s use of acceleration often resulted in overload as time passed.

This was especially true when using high-overload skills like Shadow Step.

However, Park Dong-jae’s buff allowed him to reduce the use of such position-switching skills.

Maintaining an accelerated state through the buff meant there was no need to use his own acceleration skills.

This made positioning easier, reducing the need to use Shadow Step as a spatial movement skill.

The skill became more efficient.

“It feels like I’m on a legal drug without side effects. Strange analogy, but that’s the feeling.”

The reduced overload meant less worry about mana hypersensitivity, adding boldness to his movements.

Kang-hoo had always been interested in Park Dong-jae’s buffs, but experiencing them firsthand made it more tangible.

He resolved that Park Dong-jae must be kept close as a comrade. He was the ultimate buff ‘shuttle.’

They faced no obstacles up to the mid-boss section.

Lying in front of Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae was the freshly slain corpse of the mid-boss.

With the mid-boss’s death, his level matched up perfectly to 105.

Kang-hoo managed to steal a buff-amplifying skill from the mid-boss as he had intended.

【Over-immersion】

【The efficiency of all buff skills increases from 1% to 100% in one-second increments, continuing to rise.

Once it reaches 100%, it enters an 'over-immersion' state, maintaining it for 10 seconds before increasing again from 1%.】

It was a passive skill.

When it reached 100% and entered ‘over-immersion’, it created a devastating combination if timed correctly with other buff skills.

He was quite pleased with it.

Since the skill progressed automatically, he only needed to monitor the situation as it unfolded.

Meanwhile,

During the hour-long break Kang-hoo suggested, Park Dong-jae reflected on the battle.

He enjoyed giving buffs.

Like a blacksmith who feels pleasure watching the masterful use of a weapon he crafted.

As a buffer, Park Dong-jae felt elation seeing a hunter fully utilize his buff beyond 100%.

However, buffs aren’t always visibly apparent.

And depending on how they are treated, they are often pejoratively referred to as a buff ‘shuttle.’

Without appreciation for buffs, commands like “Hey! Why aren’t you buffing? Hurry and apply full buffs!” were common.

Jeon Se-hyuk always expressed gratitude to Park Dong-jae.

But in fact, most of his other connections mechanically received buffs as if they were expected.

And perhaps because of their reliance on buffs, they failed to exhibit proper combat capabilities.

It was as if they weren’t truly engaged in every battle—a bit like a screw was loose.

But not Kang-hoo.

In fact, Park Dong-jae doubted his own buff distribution was sufficient, considering how explosively Kang-hoo moved, never once slackening in battle.

“The expression ‘wringing out every last bit’ seemed to fit perfectly. Kang-hoo was definitely maximizing the buff’s efficiency.”

“Moreover, even though they jumped right into battle without syncing up, there was no sense of discord.”

“It’s embarrassing, but I feel like a healer who’s joined a high-level raid in a game. That’s exactly the position I’m in.”

Park Dong-jae critically assessed his own role.

He wasn’t controlling the situation with his buffs; on the contrary, he was completely led by Kang-hoo.

Instead of checking if the buffs were used well, he had to think about what more he could offer.

The pace was dictated by Kang-hoo. This meant Park Dong-jae could immerse himself in his role.

“It’s fun…”

His heart was pounding.

Up until now, Park Dong-jae had been a mechanical buffer, quite set in his ways.

But syncing with Kang-hoo, he found himself thinking a lot at every moment.

He had to decide where to position himself and which buffs to apply to maximize effectiveness.

Being able to ponder these intensely! Park Dong-jae really liked that.

Kang-hoo seemed different than before.

The hunter who could use buffers better than anyone wasn’t far off. He was very close.

“Did I overdo it?”

While resting, Kang-hoo pressed his throbbing forehead.

It was a familiar headache, nothing new, but it reminded him of his congenital mana hypersensitivity.

Now, the effects of mana hypersensitivity in combat could be controlled with Mad Solarkium.

At least, it wasn’t likely that normal combat would be disrupted due to mana hypersensitivity.

As long as the supply of Mad Solarkium is maintained, there would be no such variable.

However,

One thing still concerned him.

The freedom from all pain and suppression for 30 minutes after taking Mad Solarkium meant…

It was ‘postponing’ the pain, not ‘eliminating’ it. That is, he would have to face the backlash after 30 minutes.

Until now, he hadn’t fought to the extreme, so he could somewhat withstand the aftermath.

But what if he used up the full 30 minutes in a long, intense battle?

“I haven’t found the answer to this yet.”

For Kang-hoo, the answer to this question was still unclear, as he hadn’t experienced it yet.

Now, an answer was needed.

Due to Kang Dong-hyun’s misplaced curiosity and the resulting tension, the likelihood of them getting on each other’s nerves was increasing.

For now, it might be the hunters under Kang Dong-hyun who are actively moving around.

But someday, a confrontation with Kang Dong-hyun seemed inevitable.

And even if Cha So-hee and Jin Hyo-young were gone, Eclipse still had many capable officers.

There were still many battles ahead.

After taking enough rest and replenishing their energy, Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae resumed their frenetic pace.

In their initial rush, even Park Dong-jae was caught off guard, losing control of his breathing halfway through.

But this time, both were so intensely engaged in the battle that they swept through the dungeon as if in a trance.

Park Dong-jae had to yell about mana depletion, so intense was their focus on combat and buff application.

Normally, just applying key buffs and keeping track of time would be enough to conserve his mana.

But with Kang-hoo’s greed and curiosity, even seemingly minor buffs were fully utilized.

Thus, trying to maintain a full buff state completely depleted his mana.

It was fortunate that Kang-hoo heard Park Dong-jae’s shout and stopped; otherwise, Park Dong-jae might have collapsed.

When they reached the boss area, Kang-hoo’s level had risen to an impressive 108, an increase of 3 levels.

Considering it’s difficult to gain even 1 level when in a group of four…

They could truly appreciate the advantage of only two people sharing the experience.

“Bro, you knew from the start this was recommended for four people, right?”

“The optimal recommended number of people is written right under the dungeon code. It’s impossible not to notice.”

“This seems like a two-person raid is only possible because of you. It’s actually a dungeon specialized for mob hunting…”

“We lured them one by one and captured them in a speed contest. There’s no need to catch them all at once, right?”

“One-on-one combat suits an assassin better anyway.”

“That’s right.”

Kang-hoo nodded.

Just because there’s a standard doesn’t mean it applies to all battles.

Kang-hoo focuses on concentrated firepower, which is why one-on-one combat is much more efficient for him.

Thus, he lured and dispatched the grouped monsters one by one.

This ironically made the strategy faster.

If it had been one against many, it would have taken much longer. The efficiency would naturally have been worse.

“Since we cleanly executed the two-person strategy with you, three or four-person raids suddenly seem trivial. It feels bothersome, right?”

“Is that good news?”

“Honestly, I thought to myself before coming that a two-person team of an assassin and a buffer was too risky and dangerous.”

“If we base it on defense, the risk is high. But if we base it on a sure first strike, it changes the story.”

“Yes. I felt it. The saying ‘the best defense is a good offense’ fits you perfectly.”

“For an assassin like me, that’s high praise.”

“My level keeps rising too. Now I understand why Se-yeong wanted to raid dungeons with you.”

Ban Se-yeong also has her uses.

As Kang-hoo lacks long-range attack capabilities, she is essential for dungeons that require long-range options.

Neither Park Dong-jae nor Ban Se-yeong is everything.

Depending on the situation, there are partners whose efficiency can be maximized.

If not for these special cases, playing solo would actually suit Kang-hoo best.

He had teamed up a few times recently, but he was planning to return to his original solo direction.

There are plenty of dungeons suitable for solo play, especially towards Japan.

“I think of a buffer as the flower of the battlefield. I’ve never thought of it as insignificant. You are amazing.”

“I really respect an assassin like you. There are so many assassins who just pose. It made me think I could develop a phobia of nonexistent assassins.”

Thump!

Kang-hoo and Park Dong-jae exchanged a fist bump, a simple yet profound gesture of mutual respect.

Five minutes later.

“Here comes the main dish.”

“Sigh. I’m a bit nervous since it’s just the two of us instead of four. But I trust you, so let’s do this.”

“Keep your distance. I’ll handle him, so don’t try to intervene.”

“Understood.”

With those words, Park Dong-jae retreated about ten paces.

It was a prudent move.

As a buffer, Park Dong-jae was particularly susceptible to attacks.

During their previous strategy discussions, there had been moments of danger for him, and Kang-hoo had come to his rescue using a kidnap skill.

Without the ability to immediately rescue him from a distance, the kidnapping skill proved crucial for extracting him from perilous situations.

The boss monster they faced was named Roshe.

He was humanoid and a brawler.

In some ways, he resembled Kang Dong-hyun, though Kang Dong-hyun also wielded a sword.

【Selfish Indulgence】

The moment Kang-hoo confronted Roshe, his gaze locked onto the skill he could steal from him.

Selfish Indulgence.

It was the ideal buff support skill, precisely what he had hoped to find in this dungeon.