The More the Healer Gets Hit the Stronger He Become

33 – That’s Right

The power of the Ring of Calamity, Fernices, was remarkable.

Even if they were D-grade sub-monsters like skeletons, just one explosion rendered around seventy of them combat incapable.

Skeletons near the explosion site vanished without a trace of their bones.

Kangwoo, who deeply understood why Fernices, the Ring of Calamity, was called the ‘Ring of Calamity,’ swapped his weapon for a sacred morningstar.

“I can’t use it often.”

About one-third of the overflowing magic power evaporated due to the dreadful and eerily consuming Ring of Calamity.

When considering the explosive power, it was a flaw that one could understand yet proved detrimental when overused recklessly in the thrill of the explosion.

“All right—”

Confirmation of the new item’s performance was more than sufficient at this point.

Gangwoo charged towards the crumbling skeletons in formation.

***

Kwaang-!

With each swing of Gangwoo’s Morning Star, skeletons within the path fell with a thunderous roar.

Though the momentum was fierce, there were still plenty of skeletons remaining.

Thud! Thud!

As two skeleton warriors were sent flying, another fearless skeleton, undaunted by death, filled the gap.

“Oh! Are you showing off a shield to me now?”

The shield made of steel looked quite impressive. Gangwoo shouted towards the skeleton blocking his way.

“I’ve got a shield too, you bastard!!”

Kwaaang-!

With the shield held up, the aggressive charge forced the skeleton shield bearer to bounce back weakly.

In the aftermath, as the skeletons behind the shield bearer collapsed like dominos, Gangwoo pounded the ground.

“Nice to meet you, my friends—!”

Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!

There was no need to wield the Morning Star. As Gangwoo repeatedly leaped and descended almost playfully, the skulls of skeletons unable to withstand that force shattered helplessly.

Thus, he penetrated the ranks, repeating the process of destruction.

The potbellied Kangwoo skillfully divided the skeletons, and at one point, he looked around and whistled.

As the attack intensified, there were barely a dozen skeletons wandering unharmed.

“Let’s go again-!!”

It was only today that Kangwoo personally realized why people say creating a hobby to relieve stress is a good thing, with a whistle practically attached to his ears.

Kwaah-!!

A single blow, and the skeleton flew, scattering white bone powder.

The satisfaction of this thrilling sensation was unparalleled.

“This is it. Yeah, this is it.”

The stress accumulated while climbing the tower disappeared in an instant.

So this is why everyone keeps talking about “chickens.”

Encountering a spider or a ground spider tossing cobwebs in a vulgar manner, meeting these dignified and polite skeletons made everything feel refreshing.

“Dual-!”

Kangwoo, despite his many kin dying and disappearing, delivered the true taste of Morning Star to a skeleton swinging a sword without a moment’s hesitation.

Kwaah-!

Look at this. Honesty that doesn’t know evasion. How can you not praise such courtesy?

In an instant, Kangwoo, who sent one skeleton warrior to the afterlife, leaped towards the approaching skeleton from the side.

“The last one-!”

In the slow-motion scene as Kangwoo’s airborne body gracefully wielded the Morning Star, his hand holding the weapon reached its limit.

In the slowed landscape, as the skeleton noticed the enemy, it menacingly raised its sword.

The once slow-paced scenery rapidly transformed as Kangwoo’s Morning Star clashed with the Skeleton Warrior’s sword.

Kwaaang-!!

In a collision incomparable to any before, a thick cloud of dust rose into the air.

A space filled with lumpy dust.

After defeating all the skeletons and the settling stillness, Kangwoo’s cough echoed.

“Cough- No, cough-!”

Kangwoo, covered in overturned dust, raised both hands.

“Cough- Was the last bit a bit too much?”

Due to the excitement, he failed to control his strength.

Staring at the deeply cracked ground, Kangwoo squinted his eyes, avoiding the dust, and waved his shield.

“The trial… isn’t over yet….”

The blood-red sky marked this impressive trial.

Although Kangwoo had split all the skulls existing in his sight in half, the trial completion alert did not appear.

“…Is there more beneath the ground?”

Kangwoo eyed the ground suspiciously.

Dlekgudlekgu.

It moved.

“What, what is it-!”

It wasn’t the ground; it was the bone fragments of the skeletons he had joyfully defeated so far.

Dlekgudlekgu dlekgudlekgu dlekgudlekgu dlekgudlekgu.

“… No way?”

The shattered fragments of the beaten skeleton started to twitch and move with a creak.

After a couple of spasms, Kangwoo’s complexion turned pale as he observed the bone fragments rapidly coming to life.

He had never heard of a rumor where a skeleton, with a broken skull and exposed scalp, could self-heal.

No matter how many times you kill it, if it keeps coming back to life, why is it still considered a D-rank monster? It should at least be a B or A-rank.

As the bone fragments gathered, exchanging their well-being, a spine-chilling sensation crept in, and an eerie atmosphere engulfed the surroundings.

At first, it seemed like some bizarre occurrence, but as time passed, it became clearer.

The bone fragments, moving as if propelled by invisible feet, were all converging towards one point.

– [Mission: Defeat the Boss Monster.]

The system’s voice echoed in his ears.

“… Damn?”

Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud.

The current situation was vividly depicted.

Kangwoo inserted the mace and drew his bow, facing the real-time manifestation of the final boss.

“Wow, it’s really eerie.”

The bone fragments were already forming the shape of arms, surpassing legs and torsos at an incomparable speed.

As Kangwoo drew his bow, the movement, incomparable to the previous encounters, was truly a spectacle.

Watching the colossal form taking shape, Kangwoo, who had faced protests, couldn’t help but smirk.

“But isn’t it a bit small?”

The title of the final boss should boast a size exceeding at least 3 meters, yet the Skeleton King emerging there displayed a transformation with a size resembling something smaller.

“Even if it grows a head, it seems 2.5 meters is the best it can do.”

Was it the system that lowered the difficulty of the trial, calling it a party of ten?

“No, that can’t be.”

What is it? Why is this happening?

As Kang-woo pondered, he saw white bone dust fluttering on the ground in his eyes.

“Oh…?”

Due to the explosion magic of the Ring of Calamity, Ferniceus, and the aftermath of Kang-woo’s crazy leap, the shattered bones of skeletons, turned to dust, were quite noticeable.

“Ahahahaha? Was it just a small thing from getting hit really hard?”

Well, who would have thought that going crazy from sheer physical strength would have such a beneficial effect?

The Skeleton King, now transformed even to the head, glared at Kang-woo as if to tear him apart with its red eyes.

“Yeah, even if you transform your head, it’s still not 2.5 meters.”

The red eyes flashed with anger as Kang-woo mocked and inhaled deeply.

“Wow. He even understands human language for a boss who looks like that.”

Kang-woo, who had openly ridiculed, took a deep breath.

“Oh, that was fun. If the 23rd floor is only this difficult, I won’t give up on my wish.”

But now, even the charming crimson sky and the cute Skeleton King, shaking in provocation, were time to bid farewell.

In the past, he might have pretended to be nervous at the sight of the bulky Skeleton King, but now it was different.

To be nervous about this level of difficulty…

[Ring of Calamity, Ferniceus]

It was a 20,000-point item, so powerful.

Kangwoo infused magic into the Ring of Calamity.

The sensation of greedily devouring the fragrance of magic felt delightfully charming.

Wooooooong—

Though he had a bit of an appetite, it was worth it to witness the magic he consumed turning into a replenishing effect for his magical belly.

Kraaa—

And so, towards the now roaring Skeleton King, whose size had increased.

Whheee—

An arrow enchanted with explosive magic soared in an arc, piercing through the air.

Kwaaang—

Amidst the beautiful fireworks, Kangwoo’s heart swelled with grandeur.

“The next time we meet, you should recommend an interesting drama list.”

What if he arbitrarily abused his power in the VIP shop, kicked someone out, and even gave away a random box without consent, taking away 20,000 points?

“It was all according to the grand plan of the administrator. Yep.”

Nodding his head, Kangwoo turned his gaze forward when there was no notification from the system.

Then, amidst the swirling bone dust like snowflakes, the Skeleton King staggered, broke apart, and repeatedly reassembled.

“Oh, strong.”

Even if it was a half-broken Skeleton King barely reaching 2.5 meters due to missing bone pieces, a boss monster was a boss monster. Kangwoo marveled.

His expression hardened as he observed the now towering Skeleton King, which had somehow grown to his own height.

On the bow he had casually drawn, a new arrow was now equipped.

Kang Woo, leading the protest, infused magic into the Ring of Calamity and spoke with a solemn voice.

“There’s still one step left.”

Whoosh!

Arrows, having left the protest, flew fiercely, terrifyingly.

Kwaaang!

The final flame wove through the empty air.

[The trial will now conclude.]

[Measurement of contribution for rewards will commence.]

“Ah, I should’ve increased my strength.”

It was the end of the fireworks.

***

[You have embarked on the twenty-fourth trial.]

[Mission: Defeat the boss monster.]

[Upon completing the mission, the trial will conclude.]

The background is a forest. There is still no mention of the boss monster. No peculiarities are visible in the surroundings.

As Kang Woo entered the trial, he swiftly assessed the situation and turned his head left and right.

The 24th-floor trial.

After encountering skeletons on the 22nd floor and giant scorpions on the 23rd floor, Kang Woo’s attire had changed considerably.

[Master Craftsman’s Open-Face Plate Helmet no.17 / +1 Stamina]

[Master Craftsman’s Plate Armor no.1 / +1 Stamina]

[Master Craftsman’s Orc Lord Leather Shoes / Stamina +1]

Thus named, the unidentified master craftsman’s armor set.

Until now, Kangwoo had been casually wandering around, wearing only a single cloth armor and healing whenever he took a hit, thinking it was a great deal to increase strength that way. However, ever since encountering a sick orc on the 10th floor and having his cloth armor turned into a rag, he had been walking around bare-chested.

The colossal scorpion on the 23rd floor was enough to correct Kangwoo’s complacent mindset.

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“Sigh… I wonder what’s going to come out this time.”

The steel-like shell, the menacing power of its forelegs, and the scorpion’s relentless attacks with its tail stinger, seizing every opportunity…

Truly, it was a confrontation between a tank and the tank’s head-on battle.

No single hit would do, and battling the 89 giant scorpions, each collapsing powerless after three or four hits, was enough to straighten out Kangwoo’s lax demeanor.

Thus, immediately after clearing the trial of the 23rd floor, Kangwoo, who temporarily postponed his plan to gather 50,000 points to enter the VIP store, promptly purchased the Master Craftsman series armor.

The prices were as follows: Helmet 5,100 points, Breastplate 6,300 points, Leather Shoes 7,100 points.

Taking this opportunity, Kangwoo also purchased 4 Broadhead Arrows and potions.

[Available Points: 15]

Once again, he became a beggar.

“….”

Feeling the disparity between his impoverished wallet and the abundance of wealth.

[Trial Begins.]

The trial had begun.

.

.

.

[Name: Choi Kangwoo

Strength: 42.4 → 44.1 +(4)

Endurance: 22 → 23 +(1 → 4)

Agility: 18 → 19 +(2)

Intellect: 11

Mana: 21 → 22 +(2)]