WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator/Editor: Ryuu

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DAMNED 13TH REGRESSION

Chapter 7: Entering Babel (3)

There were a total of seven dungeons on the first floor of Babel the Final Dungeon.

Among them, three were crucial.

"The Temple of Thoth, Hellgate Labyrinth, and the Sewer Dungeon. First, we need to head to the Sewer Dungeon."

The Sewer Dungeon that Gong-hyeok was heading towards concealed Babel's retail shop, ‘Cradle of Pezalon.’

A place known only to the chosen ones in his past life. In the past, there were dozens who discovered the Cradle of Pezalon hidden on each floor and soared to become among the strongest of humanity.

"Moreover, it's safe, making it suitable as a base rather than the dangerous town. Plus, we can't let others guess where we're heading."

That's why he had left when it was most chaotic, with nobody stepping outside the town.

He dived into the bushes, leaving no footprints on his way to the dungeon.

"Observer, map display. Coordinates (664.489)"

A blue map window appears in front of his eyes.

- With current speed, arrival in 2 hours 28 minutes.

- 8 hostile monsters within 50m.

- A group of Hobgoblins from the Red Star Tribe.

He turned his gaze toward the red dots that appeared on the map. The enemies were not visible.

Quickly climbing a large rock, he spotted seven goblins and a Hobgoblin sitting in a circle in the lowland below the hill.

[Living Hunter's Encyclopedia (SS) activated]

- The owner possesses excellent strategic planning skills.

- You are well acquainted with the enemy's physique and habits. Their weaknesses will appear in your sight.

- For monsters you have encountered before, most of their attacks and movements can be predicted.

They hadn’t noticed him yet.

He was on high ground, and they were on the lowland.

"A quick ambush to split their skulls before they arm themselves, incapacitate five before combat, take out the Hobgoblin leader, goblins and kobolds usually possess neurotoxins, and those with the 'Red' title..."

"Oppa, what's there?"

"Quiet, get down and back. I'll handle this."

He set down his backpack. Clutching a steel bat in both hands, he dashed down the slope.

Gong-hyeok leaped down right above a goblin who was chatting idly below the knoll.

"Today, the meat tastes especially good."

"That's right. Actually, it's your brother's meat we just caught this morning."

"!? That guy was meant for Gosoon's cooking tomorrow!"

"Not my problem if..."

Crack.

The head of a goblin, shamelessly practicing cannibalism, burst under the steel bat.

"Hi, friends. Mind if I check the color of your meat?"

"Enemy! Arms!"

The Red Hobgoblin dropped its meat and grabbed a red greatsword. A crossbow held by a dozing goblin was also aimed.

"Activate Predict Path."

[Predict Path (U.S) activated]

- The crossbow will fire in 1 second. Estimated impact site: right chest. Estimated damage: fatal.

- 5 goblins will complete arming in 2 seconds.

- The Hobgoblin is cautious about the sudden appearance of an enemy.

"Alright, let's finish them off before they regain their senses."

Before the goblins could grab their weapons, he unsheathed a katana with his left hand.

A full circle, the katana drew a smooth arc.

"Squeak!"

"Agh!"

Three goblins, frantically reaching for their weapons, were hit. The katana sliced through necks and eyes, with blood soon gushing out.

Ping!

- Goblin 4 crossbow fired. Trajectory marked.

In the meantime, a crossbow was shot. However, its trajectory was vividly marked in three dimensions by Predict Path.

He placed the bat in his right hand in front of the trajectory, deflecting the arrow.

"Block it!"

"If he's coming from one side, you go the other!"

- Approaching the Hobgoblin from behind.

- Crossbow reloading, firing in 5 seconds.

"Grrr..."

Behind him, the Hobgoblin prepared to strike with its red greatsword, while two goblins in front charged with maces.

A smile unwittingly formed on Gong-hyeok's face.

"As expected, even on the first floor, Babel is still Babel."

Unlike in tutorial dungeons, they don't succumb to fear or panic, even when several fall in vain.

They charge without fear and even sense to attack from behind.

He felt exhilarated.

"I don't like the bat anymore."

He tossed the bat in his right hand and picked up a red mace dropped by a goblin.

[Martial Arts Expert (S++) activated]

- Capable of masterfully handling any weapon that exists in the world, regardless of type.

- If the opponent does not have a skill of A-class or higher, countering the owner’s attacks is hopeless.

With the katana in his left hand, he striked the chain of the incoming maces. The two maces were entangled by the sword, and the mace in Gong-hyeok's right hand exquisitely scraped past the faces of the two goblins.

"Kiiyaah!"

The goblins threw their weapons in a frenzy. The reason their weapons were red was due to the deadly neurotoxin of the Red Star Tribe.

"Gagaga!"

- In 0.7 seconds, a direct hit to the waist by the red greatsword! Expected damage: internal organ rupture! Spinal severance!

Using his subordinates' sacrifice as a stepping stone, the Hobgoblin's decisive slash surged towards the waist.

Despite the urgent message, Gong-hyeok calmly turned with a back kick motion and lifted his leg.

Boldly, he placed his foot against the blade of the greatsword.

Bending his knee precisely, the momentum of the slash died. Gong-hyeok's body slightly lifted from the impact, and only the soles of his hunter boots split.

"Wh-What!?"

The Hobgoblin was dumbstruck by Gong-hyeok's extraordinary footwork. Of course, in that stunning moment.

[Maul (F) activated]

The poisoned mace crashed down on a shoulder.

"Gagagaga!"

The Hobgoblin's eyes rolled back, trembling uncontrollably. Ignoring it,

"Kiiik!"

The last remaining goblin threw its crossbow and flew.

Gong-hyeok watched its back and smirked.

"Getting off midway on the express to hell still leads to hell."

He pulled out the 'Axe of Severing Roots' from the inventory. Holding it with both hands, he spun it around powerfully, like throwing a hammer, to add centrifugal force.

"Predict Path, expected route."

- In 1.3 seconds, take two steps forward, at a 44-degree angle to the left for a 93% hit rate.

He threw the axe precisely as the organized information dictated. The axe, whirring menacingly, embedded itself in the goblin's back.

[Effect of the equipped title ‘Merciless Massacrer’ has been applied.]

[Instant kill probability against terrified enemies has increased by 50%]

The axed goblin crashed to the ground and rolled. It twitched a few times, but as the title effect dictated, it was an instant death.

He looked around.

Two goblins hurriedly drank blood from split neck wounds. They probably thought drinking spilled blood would save them, but the blood from the neck wounds just trickled out meaninglessly.

The Hobgoblin and goblins, lying down and convulsing, were victim to their own toxin. All of them were in states of fear and frenzy.

"Ah, damn, cleanup is as bothersome as doing the dishes."

Gong-hyeok untied the chains entangled in his katana and gripped them lightly.

Soon, the groaning stopped.

[Current accumulated points: 80 points.]

"Take this."

Gong-hyeok handed a crossbow to Yeon-si.

"Ah, I've used this during hunter training, but..."

Ping!

The crossbow bolt grazed Gong-hyeok's nape.

An awkward silence enveloped them.

"Ah. So. Um. Sorry! Oppa!"

'... I almost really died there, and Predict Path didn't even activate.'

Gong-hyeok touched a nick dripping with fresh blood droplets.

"Going forward, we have 92 more to hunt, so practice slowly. You can also just shoot at me. I'll dodge it."

"92 more? For an achievement?"

"Yeah. We have to be the first achievers."

Gong-hyeok replied while gathering the toxin obtained from the goblins.

The toxin of the Red Star Tribe caused extreme pain and itchiness but wasn't fatally toxic and evaporated quickly, reducing its amount.

He put on rubber gloves, broke off a stem nearby, and picked a few white poisonous plants.

Gong-hyeok was a legendary hunter worthy of the SS-rank skill ‘Hunter's Encyclopedia.’

While he couldn't create alchemy-level compound toxins, he had the skill to mix natural toxins possessed by first-floor monsters.

The sap of the Limpert stem stops volatility, and the white venomweed adds a paralyzing effect.

He crushed them on a rock, mixed the juice with the goblin's toxin, and applied it to the katana, the greatsword stolen from the goblin, and other daggers. The steel bat, though useful, was discarded for being difficult to apply poison to.

'As we go, I'll dig up eyeball roots for future tear gas and smoke grenades, and this area should also have black wartweed.'

Lost in thought, Gong-hyeok was approached hesitantly by Yeon-si.

"Oppa, I've been confused since the summoning. How exactly did you..."

"Let's talk while we move. We need to get to the Sewer Dungeon quickly."

"…The Sewer Dungeon is again..."

Gong-hyeok, not listening to Yeon-si, moved on ahead.

They quickly traversed towards the Sewer Dungeon, with Gong-hyeok ambushing monsters with the Observer's radar.

Orcs, Lizardmen, Kobolds, Giant Tigers, Sabre Lions.

In the field, there were no opponents serious enough to make Joo Gong-hyeok truly focused.

They were merely prey marked on the map, and Joo Gong-hyeok was a sharp hunter who strictly took the initiative.

[First to hunt 100 field monsters.]

[As an achievement reward, all abilities increase by 2.]

[First arrival reward: one blue coin.]

Both of them reached the Sewer Dungeon entrance, incongruously built of stone and iron bars amidst the jungle.

"Now it gets dangerous. Distribute the coins into stats and..."

"Oppa. Wait a moment."

Yeon-si's voice was low and firm.

"I knew something was off all along. But I stayed quiet because you never treated me or the orphanage kids badly. But today's events are just too strange."

Turning around, Gong-hyeok saw a resolute expression on Yeon-si's face.

It was a signal that she wouldn't overlook the bizarre actions Gong-hyeok had taken so far.

"Oppa, just because I'm quiet doesn't mean I'm a fool who doesn't think."

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