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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Moonlight Knight Karuna
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Shing—
The Moon Knight raised his sword.
Guardian of the Forgotten Moon Temple.
'Moonlight Knight Karuna.'
The Forgotten Moon Ruins had a notorious difficulty, and part of that was due to this Moon Square where he now stood.
'It was tricky when I first figured out the strategy.'
It was so far beyond imagination that you'd question if this game was really just about rolling dice and having fun. The Moonlit Dance was on another level.
Dodging Karuna's attacks to reach the safe zone visible in the distance.
The problem was, getting hit even once by Karuna meant burning to death in moonlight.
A horrific section where the boss monster had an instant-kill pattern.
- Oh… a promising-looking guy showed up….
- Breaking news) This is the first player to reach the final gate ㄷㄷ
- We're on the front lines of humanity right now!
- All we have is the setting guide. Wow ㄷㄷ What are his stats!
- This is the tutorial adventure?
A structure as simple as tag.
But upon closer inspection, that simplicity layered on more simplicity, resulting in something that transcended simple and delved into complex.
'Platforms….'
The unforgiving lion, jealous wolf, embracing moon, docile sheep he'd seen before.
Every platform bore one of those symbols.
'And colors too.'
Red, blue, black.
Every type of platform from previous gates was here.
Step on these while dodging Karuna's attacks to reach the other end. In the early days, those who said 'easy?' all burned to death in Karuna's moonlight.
'Been a while.'
A choice appeared before his eyes.
[Platforms are visible.]
1. Step on the black sheep platform.
2. Step on the black wolf platform.
3. Step on the black moon platform.
4. ...
He stepped on the first platform in the square.
A red lion platform.
Tap.
"Such arrogance!"
The order to step on platforms naturally followed the previous gates: lion, wolf, moon, sheep.
This remained valid until crossing the Moon Square.
One mistake in the sequence, and Karuna charged his moonlight to slice the player's horse.
'And the colors each have different effects.'
Red platforms slowed Karuna's movements and stripped away one layer of moonlight from his armor.
Ziiing—
As Kang Seol stepped on the red lion platform, the moonlight shining on Karuna's armor dimmed slightly.
'Need at least three reds.'
That's how to fully strip Karuna's barrier and slow him to a crawl.
Without this penalty, Karuna would strut over confidently and lop off the horse's head.
Kang Seol continued stepping on platforms.
Tap.
Red wolf.
Tap.
Red moon.
Ziiing—
"Ziiiing… I'll sliiiiice your throoooat…."
As red platforms sapped Karuna's strength, his speech slowed too.
Not enough to ignore completely—it matched Kang Seol's brisk walking pace.
If only the reds could drain him fully to stop him cold, but they wouldn't stack beyond three, no matter how many in a row.
'Next….'
Tap.
Black sheep.
Clank.
Boom!
Splat!
Stepping on black summoned an iron ball from somewhere that smashed into Karuna's armor.
"Hmph!"
Whoosh—!
The armor dented slightly, but moonlight soon refilled it.
Until that light was stripped again, the iron balls wouldn't penetrate.
"Stay right there!"
Whoooosh.
As distance grew, Karuna's body suddenly glowed with moonlight.
He assumed a sword-drawing stance.
'Instant-kill pattern!'
Just when you relax with distance, Karuna's instant-kill activates.
That draw affected the entire square, bisecting unarmed adventurers like firewood.
Only one counter.
Tap.
Kang Seol stopped on the blue lion platform.
Moonlight enveloped his body.
Whoosh—
Soon, Karuna's instant-kill Moonlight Slash swept the square.
Kwaaaang!
Moonlight swept over Kang Seol's spot too, but he neither burned nor split.
"Farewell."
Blue platforms blocked Karuna's Moonlight Slash.
Kang Seol stepped back onto red platforms, widening the gap again.
"Arrogant fool! You shall be judged…."
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
"Ziiiiiiiii yoooooooouuuu…."
Black platforms this time.
Tap.
Boom!
Crack!
Karuna's armor visibly cracked.
But refilled with moonlight, he closed in instantly.
'New Moon Step….'
If it were just the Moonlight Slash pattern, Karuna wouldn't be so infamous.
No matter the distance, players were always at risk.
Moonlight-refilled Karuna recovered his momentum in a flash and charged.
'This is the most dangerous part.'
Right after the black platform's iron ball hit, as he lunged with restored moonlight—that was peak peril for the player.
Here, Karuna got dice bonuses in the Eternal World.
It didn't matter much since one hit killed anyway, but in reality, it weighed heavy.
'Insanely fast!'
Tap.
Tap.
"Throoooat…."
But red platforms left him stuck again.
Kang Seol neared the vast square's end.
"I won't looooose…."
Kang Seol stomped a black platform hard.
Tap.
Boom!
Crack!
Clank!
The iron ball shattered his left pauldron.
"Nooooo!"
Kang Seol now faced only the final platform.
He'd successfully shaken Karuna; one more step for the reward.
Tedious Karuna wouldn't pursue further.
His foot moved to the last platform.
* * *
Originally, the Forgotten Moon Ruins had a perfect strategy designed by the gods who cleared it before.
Built on piles of new horse corpses.
Follow it faithfully, and unless dice rolls were absolute worst, you could pass without Karuna damage.
Many did just that.
Without a doubt.
Snowman's horse mostly used that strategy for the final reward.
But is there anything more hollow than "perfect"?
The gods might've believed it once their identities were revealed, but human Kang Seol doubted pre-made strategies.
'Is this really best?'
Dodging Karuna like this—truly the answer?
Kang Seol questioned it, asked other gods.
Disappointing replies.
- That's risky. What's the point if the horse dies?
- Adds patterns. Why bother?
- No need to go that far, right?
He felt a slight disconnect from the gods but hid it.
Gods feared failure.
Fearing failure meant fearing challenge.
Kang Seol tested his own strategy alone, unannounced.
"See? It works."
The method was right.
* * *
He stopped short of the last platform and returned to the square.
"Almost forgot."
Clearing the square gave great rewards, key for future adventures.
Hard adventures completed well eased the next.
But something more important than rewards here for Kang Seol.
"Do not disturb the moonlight!"
Tap. Tap. Tap.
"Youuuu darrrrked…."
Tap.
Boom!
Scraaaape!
"Krgh!"
Now, every hit on Karuna was lethal.
His armor was broken in places; even moonlight-refilled, he moved sluggishly.
'Time for Karuna's final pattern.'
Executing his own strategy himself—what difficulty?
Snowman was Kang Seol, Kang Seol Snowman—no fear.
Whoooosh—
Moonlight Slash returned.
Karuna gathered moonlight on his sword with grim resolve.
"Must you go this far!"
Fwoosh—!
[Moonlight Knight Karuna is consumed by moonlight.]
[Karuna takes ongoing damage.]
[Karuna's agility rises 10%.]
[Agility increase stacks every 5 seconds.]
[Continues until enemy falls.]
Don't scoff at 10%.
Stacks every 5 seconds—delay, and a whirlwind of attacks severs your neck.
Precision now key.
"Die!"
Karuna's shout meaningless; Kang Seol was long on a blue platform.
Kwaaaaa!
Moonlight shook the square.
Kang Seol just sneered.
'That's why it's Moonlit Dance.'
Seemed metaphorical rolling dice on the board; in reality, nothing more direct.
They danced.
Kang Seol never hostile; they never clashed.
One pursued, the other mocked via platforms.
That was the moonlit square's scene.
The platform dance continued awhile.
But end neared.
Karuna panted, hazy eyes on Kang Seol.
"Time to finish."
"Be humble… invader!"
Death's countdown.
Reds ticked numbers down.
Tap.
4.
Tap.
3.
"My loooord will…."
Tap.
2.
Last black platform punctuated.
Tap.
1.
Boom!
This iron ball targeted his thick helm.
And hit.
Splat!
"Guh…."
Clang….
Karuna's head snapped back, knees buckled.
Helm flew; armor no longer held moonlight.
"My lord… I failed… my duty…."
Helm-less Karuna's face was fairy-like, snow-white skin.
Caved head, blood trickled everywhere.
"Sorry…."
Tap.
Kang Seol stepped on a distant black moon platform.
Boom!
Scriiiich!
Iron ball to chest; Karuna collapsed.
"...."
Messages flooded.
[Last gate of Forgotten Moon Ruins cleared.]
[Choose reward.]
[Jewel chest generated.]
[Karuna defeated.]
[Reward enhanced.]
[Jewel chest upgraded to Moon chest.]
[Choose reward to end adventure.]
[Achievement 'Moon Hunt' unlocked.]
[Title 「The One Who Dropped the Moon」 acquired.]
"Whew…."
Kang Seol, bathed in moonlight, stood alone in the square.
Before checking top-grade Moon chest, he approached Karuna.
"Lord, huh…."
Kang Seol grinned, white teeth flashing.
"Now I'm your lord."
- No need to go that far, right?
Method right; reason? Make one.
Kang Seol now had reason to fell Karuna.
He activated Shadow Summoner power.
"Serve."
[Shadow Summon used.]
Zzzzt—
Karuna's shadow writhed.