The More the Healer Gets Hit the Stronger He Become

11 – Mad Cattle

Madness. There was no other word to describe it.

“aaah-!!”

Kangwoo, running at full speed, glanced back for a moment, then gasped, stumbling in fear.

Dudududududududududududududududududu-!!

The monsters, which seemed like tiny dots, had approached to a distance where their appearance could be vaguely discerned.

The identity of these monsters was the so-called ‘Giant Horned Cattle,’ commonly known as ‘Mad Cattle.’

To be precise, it was closer to a sheep than a cow, but due to its gigantic size, it was referred to as a ‘cattle.’

As the name suggested, the distinctive feature was the massive horn that drew a circle from the forehead to the back of the head, possessing a chilling sharpness that sent shivers down the spine of anyone who saw it.

The Giant Horned Cattle’s specialty was a ‘charge’ that rushed at a high speed and precisely struck the target.

A simple yet powerful strike that even B-rank tanks would shy away from in a head-on confrontation.

But the real reason the Giant Horned Cattle was called ‘Mad Cattle’ went beyond that.

Always moving in herds, they had an exceptional obsession with their territory…

They absolutely did not forgive any other life form entering their territory.

Dudududududududududududududududududu-!!

No matter what. No. Forgiveness.

“aaah-!!”

Kangwoo ran with all his might, his feet barely visible.

The relentless pursuit had his breath catching at the edge, and the weight of the shield slowed his steps, yet he pressed on with all his might.

“Huff. Heuk. Damn, my feet. Heuk-.”

Stop and you die.

With the stark realization, he ran with all the strength to spare, and the shining tree, now quite close, caught his eye.

At this pace, maybe 10 minutes until arrival.

Despite the significant improvement from the initial distance, there was no solace.

Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud-!

The ground’s reverberation grew nearer.

It reminded him that he could be trampled to death by the insane cows even before reaching his destination.

“Huff. Heuk. Dammit.”

When the first trial began.

If only he hadn’t wasted time with traps and nonsense, he would have arrived sooner…!

Regretting the past, Kang-woo suddenly snapped back to reality.

“Why is that my fault? It’s because of this damn system.”

Considering that the goblin on the second floor liked crude traps, his cautious and calm advance in this trial was a natural and wise choice.

Who would have expected monsters like that to pop out?

The more he thought, the more convinced he became that this was the Tower’s cunning scheme.

After carefully awakening individuals through the second-floor trial, they strategically placed these monsters to strike the backs of the slowly advancing awakened ones.

“That bastard’s actions are just like a sucker punch.”

Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud-!

“Uaaah-!”

Whether it was due to a moment of distraction or the crazy cattle slowing down, Kangwoo wasn’t sure. But the distance between him and those insane cows had dangerously diminished, to the point where he felt that falling would be the end.

“Jenzaaah-!!”

Kangwoo quickly made a decision.

If he continued like this, he was certain to be trampled and crushed into oblivion by those cow skulls.

‘Rather than that…!’

Kangwoo swung his backpack to the front and pulled out an item he had grabbed from looting on the second floor.

In his hand were crudely crafted daggers collected thriftily, thinking they might come in handy someday. However, if he died, they would be useless.

“aaah-!!”

With a feeling akin to shedding tears of blood, Kangwoo threw the dagger as soon as it was seized.

‘Ugh…! Not as decent as the sturdy daggers sold in the shop, but these are quite usable.’

He threw them quickly, and it didn’t take long for him to get the hang of it.

However, due to his exhausted stamina, the speed didn’t increase much with this sacrifice.

In his contemplation, Kangwoo also tossed three bottles of water, 500ml each, purchased from the shop.

Throwing away the water bottles that shook noisily every time he ran made the panting much more comfortable.

Thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump-!

Glancing back, he noticed that the distance had halved. Now, it was just 500 meters.

For those crazy cow skulls, this distance was one they could cover in the blink of an eye.

If he made a misstep and fell, he would lose his life in an instant.

Tragic as it was, Kang Woo did not lose hope.

As the colossal horned cattle drew nearer, so did the luminous tree, the proximity closing in.

“Siiiiiiibaaall-!!”

Kang Woo shouted the cheer, giving it his all as he sprinted.

“aaah-!!”

It was all he could do.

Now, it was truly time to entrust himself to fate.

***

“Huuk! Heuk! Euhheo-eok-!”

The safe zone on the third floor, reached through twists and turns.

Collapsed flat on the floor, Kang Woo hastily gasped for breath.

“Hu-eo-eo-oh. Huuk!”

His heart pounded wildly. He felt a lump in his throat.

Had he ever run so desperately? Not even during the first-floor ordeal when he was chased by those bastards was it this intense.

“Heuk. Seriously, damn… tower…!”

After discarding all the burdens worth abandoning.

From then on, it truly became a crossroads between life and death.

With the ground shaking like an earthquake due to the enormous number of colossal horned cattle, it was challenging even to run. Losing balance meant falling into the river at that very moment.

Every step felt like precarious tightrope walking, and his tense heart felt like it might pop out of his mouth.

“Hu-eo-eo-.”

In the shimmering forest, with only a few steps left to go, the crazed snorts of cows were audible right behind, making the atmosphere incredibly tense.

Having a strength stat surpassing 10, he was quite proud of himself, but he never imagined that the trial on the third floor would be something like that.

Still, there was an increase in agility, if that counted as income.

[Name: Choigangwoo

Strength: 10.2

Health: 7+(1)

Agility: 7

Intelligence: 7

Magic Power: 6+(1)]

The feeling when he heard about the agility boost while running like a dog.

It felt like this trial was just to achieve an increase in agility, and he wanted to tear apart the mouthpiece that suggested that.

[Trial completion reward 500 points]

[Monsters defeated 0]

“Is this for real?”

Gangwoo, sprawled on the ground, eyes flickering.

Monsters defeated 0

That notification really stirred his emotions.

“Gathering to run at me with flipped eyes, how am I supposed to deal with those crazy cows!!”

Gangwoo, who stood up abruptly, shouted towards the ceiling.

“As if suffering like a dog isn’t enough, and no points are coming out, and now monsters defeated 0??? Seriously???”

[Successfully cleared the trial in a brief moment.]

[Great achievement. All rewards are doubled.]

[Total reward points: 1,000.]

The determined Kang Woo slumped in his place. He was so exhausted that he didn’t even have the strength to get angry.

With this, the points he had accumulated amounted to a total of 2,334 points.

The forgotten witch’s failed bracelet, worth 4,800 points, marked in the safe zone on the second floor, was an unimaginable number to buy.

“Damn it.”

Perhaps it was because he earned 3,000 points on the second floor. For Kang Woo, the 1,000 points that others would cheer for, lifting both hands in triumph, seemed insufficient.

What was regrettable was not only the points.

He couldn’t increase his strength because he wasn’t in an environment to fight monsters, he couldn’t increase his magic power because he didn’t use healing, and the dagger he had carefully collected was scattered on the ground.

A single dog-like trial was more than just a loss.

“Damn it!”

The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became. Rising from his seat like a burst of anger, Kang Woo rushed towards the exit leading to the modern area on the third floor, located in a corner of the safe zone on the third floor.

“Yaaah!”

Thud!

As expected, the Tower did not allow his escape.

“A damn fire fist.”

Kang Woo, rebounded from the exit, cursed while opening the store.

Next trial.

Preparation was needed for the upcoming trial.

***

Kangwoo’s purchase on the third floor after having a big realization was astonishing.

[Purchased 3 bottles of water (500ml each).]

It was a lavish act for him, buying only the regrettable water he had tossed aside earlier for the sake of mobility while being chased by crazy cattle.

[Purchased Pork Kimchi Stew.]

When he first opened the store.

It was the first item that caught his eye, yet he deliberately avoided looking at it.

[25 points will be deducted.]

[Current Points: 2,301]

He had to spend a whopping 25 points.

Though one might consider it trivial, a single pack of jerky, enough for a day, costs 15 points. But to spend 25 points on just one meal…

Once tasted, it would linger on the mind, but he couldn’t keep pouring expenses into the disproportionately expensive meal compared to other items. However…

“Wow… this is insane.”

Kangwoo swallowed hard, looking at the steaming Pork Kimchi Stew.

When was the last time he had a proper meal like this?

After pouring a sip of the accompanying plain rice into the stew, he gingerly scooped up the stew’s broth.

“Mmm. This is it!”

No more words were needed after that.

*Slurp.*

Before long, Kangwoo, having consumed every last drop, contentedly patted his pleasantly filled belly.

In the trial on the third floor, as I leaped like a dog until sweat dripped from my feet, I came to a realization.

Saving points is important, but so is boosting my condition for the next trial.

Eating only jerky may not be a big problem, but the fact remains that I lack nutrition.

From Noble mtl dot com

Unless I live only for tomorrow. Kang Woo, who made a resolution to take care of himself at least in the safe zone, not just looking ahead to tomorrow.

After eating so satisfyingly and sleeping soundly, Kang Woo, the next day, after eating a 30-point meal, took on the next trial after a short rest.

[You are challenging the fourth trial.]

Moving to the trial, the first thing I saw was a passage made of solid stone walls.

[Mission: Traverse the giant maze.]

[If you complete the mission, the trial will end.]

A maze.

The theme of the fourth-floor trial was an endless giant maze.

[The trial begins.]

After the trial began, Kang Woo immediately boosted his mobility.

How much he regretted not moving quickly from the beginning while being chased by crazy cows in the third-floor trial.

He didn’t know what kind of trap might be lurking in this trial.

Kang Woo, preparing for the worst with a shield and staff in hand, didn’t stop busily maneuvering his feet.

About 10 minutes passed as he navigated through the tangled maze.

Once again, the tower presented him with a challenge.

Thud.

Kang Woo, who was moving briskly, stopped at the sound emanating from beneath his feet.

“… No way?”

A palpable sense of unease swept through him. What Kangwoo’s vigilant eyes caught in the surroundings was a colossal rock.

Even a cursory glance revealed its immense size, easily around 4 meters.

Krrrunch.

The rock that perfectly blocked the maze’s passage began to slowly roll along the sloping floor.

“Damn.”

Kangwoo, now visibly distressed, hastily took backward steps.

It marked the continuation of the third-floor agility training.