The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 70

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Maxed-Out Player’s 100th Return – Episode 70
70. Orc Shaman
The Five Male Adventurers were simply waiting for Black Scythe to leave.
“Huh? Look over there. Black Scythe is entering the Thatched House?”
“Until now, only the woman ever went inside the Thatched House.”
“Is Black Scythe planning to lure the Orcs directly this time?”
“But why is that woman leaving?”
They stared with expressions of complete bewilderment.
Crash—
Along with the sound of the door shattering, they saw Black Scythe burst out.
“What? Black Scythe is being chased by Orcs!”
“That can’t be right? The legendary Black Scythe?”
They had witnessed him severing Orc limbs dozens of times.
He was absolutely not the kind of human to be intimidated by merely ten Orcs.
“Wait. What’s that thing chasing behind him?”
“The one with the staff and mask?”
“It looks over two meters tall?”
“Given that it’s larger than the other Orcs, could it be a boss?”
“A boss?”
Its appearance and physique were in a different class from ordinary Orcs.
Moreover, that staff and the shamanic mask were telltale signs that any experienced player could recognize.
What kind of skills it wielded.
“Could it be that this isn’t an Orc spawn location but a summoning ground?”
Indeed, that was exactly it.
The boss, having summoned ten additional Orcs, surrounded Black Scythe.
Clang—crash—!
A total of twenty Orcs swung their axes relentlessly while Black Scythe, trapped within, danced back and forth.
“Insane, he’s dodging all of that?”
“Damn… he’s a monster.”
While some marveled at Black Scythe’s prowess, another saw an opportunity.
“Listen up. This isn’t the time to stand around gawking.”
“Why?”
“That creature we suspect is the boss. It’s completely defenseless right now.”
“Oh, you’re right?”
The Orc Shaman’s attention was entirely focused on Black Scythe.
If they crossed the Wooden Palisade and struck from behind, they might be able to steal the boss kill.
“What do you think? Should we steal it?”
“I’m not sure….”
“The opportunity is now. Make a choice quickly.”
“But what if Black Scythe finds out?”
“They won’t notice. The Orcs are keeping them too occupied.”
That much was certain.
There was no way they could break through the Orc lines right now.
If it were possible, they would have done it already.
“Later, if they ask why I stole the kill, I’ll just say I was trying to save them because they looked like they were in danger.”
“Oh, that would actually work?”
“What do you say? Want to join in on the steal?”
“I’m in.”
“Me too.”
With their agreement reached, the party members vaulted over the Wooden Palisade one by one.
Like prowling cats, they crept toward the Orc Shaman’s back.
The creature had no idea enemies were behind him, still fixated entirely on Black Scythe.
‘Perfect. On three, we strike.’
‘Got it.’
They exchanged glances and adjusted their grips on their weapons.
‘One, two….’
The moment they were about to attack the Orc Shaman simultaneously.
‘Three….’
Darkness swallowed their vision.
“Huh?!”
“What the—!”
Startled, I cried out without thinking.
“Ugh!”
The party members quickly covered their mouths, but it was too late—the Orc Shaman had already sensed the enemies at his back and widened the distance.
“Screeeee! Screeeeeeeee—!”
Was he enraged at nearly being ambushed?
The Orc Shaman shrieked with particular ferocity, raising his staff high.
A sound like tearing fabric echoed out—
As the darkness cleared from their eyes, the party saw it.
The Orcs that had been surrounding Black Scythe were now summoned directly in front of them.
“Gasp…!”
“Damn it, we’re screwed….”
Twenty Orcs encircled them completely, trapping them with nowhere to run.
“Screee! Screeeee!”
At their master’s command, the Orcs began swinging their axes in unison.
Thud! Thud! Crack! Bang—!
Dull, heavy sounds filled the air.
“P-please, help, gack!”
“Ugh!”
Brief screams tore through the chaos.
Something crunched and shattered under the assault.
Unlike Black Scythe, the men lacked the skill to deflect simultaneous axe strikes.
A group that faltered against mere five Orcs—nothing more needed to be said.
* * *
The Orcs vanished abruptly, yet Ryu Min remained unflustered.
Rather, as if he’d anticipated it, he gazed toward the direction they’d moved.
The summoned creatures that had been attacking him now surrounded someone else entirely.
Who was encircled was painfully obvious.
The Five Male Adventurers who’d been eyeing him and Min Ju-ri.
‘So they got caught trying to steal the Orc Shaman.’
I had deliberately lured the Orc Shaman outside.
I could have killed it indoors, but I feigned fleeing from the Orcs for the sake of this test.
And while blocking twenty attacks, I drew the Five Male Adventurers in.
‘Would they really target the Orc Shaman? Or would they refrain?’
It was a kind of character assessment.
A test to see whether they’d attempt to steal the Orc Shaman while I was in danger.
The result?
As expected, exactly as predicted.
‘Just as I thought—those bastards would definitely go for the Shaman.’
Their character fell precisely within my expectations.
‘The price of failing this test is death.’
I cast Night of Death the moment they moved to ambush the Orc Shaman.
Darkness descended, and the Orc Shaman’s aggression turned toward the Five Male Adventurers.
As a result, they were reduced to minced meat without exception.
I felt no sympathy.
They were the sort who’d exploit another’s peril for their own gain.
‘Had they simply restrained their greed, they could have lived.’
I had clearly given them a chance.
A chance to survive.
It was entirely their choice to embrace death.
Ryu Min walked forward, scythe in hand.
“Shriek? Shrieeek!”
The Orc Shaman spotted me and thrust its staff forward.
The Orcs rushed in with axes raised.
But.
Skreeeesh—!
The moment they entered my range, a geyser of verdant blood erupted.
The Orcs fell without even managing a single swing of their weapons.
Even when several clung to me, the result remained unchanged.
Like meat ground in a blender, anything entering my range was mercilessly severed.
An attack speed so swift it was invisible to the naked eye.
The semi-transparent effect made it appear even faster.
‘Still, the attack speed has definitely increased.’
The difference from before was unmistakably palpable.
‘With Bless and Swift, plus the additional 50% attack speed boost that activates at night.’
It was fast enough to be invisible.
“Screech?”
As his summoned creatures were ground to dust without exception, the Orc Shaman’s eyes widened in shock.
“Screech! Screeeech!”
Just as the frenzied Shaman attempted to summon again with his staff.
Whoosh—
Ryu Min closed the distance in an instant with his blinding movement speed, hooking his scythe around the Shaman’s neck.
“Farewell.”
The moment the words left his lips, the Orc Shaman’s head soared into the air.
[Orc Shaman defeated!]
[Experience +37.73%]
[Gold +4,000]
[Level increased!]
[Orb of Eternal Rest obtained.]
[Mystical Wooden Totem obtained.]
[Low-Grade Blue Mana Stone obtained.]
[Stone of Balance obtained.]
[Sub Quest Progress: Stone of Balance 2/4]
Upon slaying the Shaman, my level rose to 33.
Four thousand gold, the Stone of Balance, mana stones, and more.
I had claimed considerable rewards.
The wooden totem, a unique material item, was a welcome acquisition as well.
Yet there was one item that captured my attention above all others.
[Orb of Eternal Rest]
-Classification: Necklace
-Grade: Epic
-Effect: Stacks increase by 1 whenever a monster is defeated; Durability decreases by 1. Every 100 stacks convert to 1 Stat Point.
-Durability: 1,000/1,000
-Usage Restriction: Regular Grade or higher
-Description: A necklace adorned with a murky grayish-white orb. It is said that when you slay an opponent, their soul becomes trapped within the orb.
The Orb of Eternal Rest was a broken item that granted stat points for every 100 stacks accumulated.
It bore a similar effect to the Rune of Absorption that the Black Flame Dragon in Right Hand possessed.
The difference was that stacks only accumulated when defeating monsters.
‘There’s nothing better than permanently increasing stats.’
The only drawback was that it was a consumable item whose durability decreased with each stack accumulated.
‘In other words, with durability at 1,000, I can gain 10 stat points.’
After that, the necklace is destroyed, but what of it?
My stats increase by 10 permanently.
‘There’s no loss even if it breaks.’
But Ryu Min wasn’t satisfied with just this.
‘What if I could restore durability indefinitely?’
Then I could raise my stats infinitely, not stopping at just 10.
If there were a way to restore durability, that is.
‘Of course, I know that method.’
Among the runes, there exists a special rune that restores durability.
I can only obtain it from Round 8 onwards, so there’s nothing I can do about it right now.
But.
‘With the help of a Blacksmith class, I can continue reaping benefits until then.’
Blacksmiths possess a skill called [Repair] that restores durability.
Most Blacksmiths earn pocket money early on through Repair.
If I provide them with appropriate items and receive Repair each round, I can continuously accumulate stats.
“Black Scythe! Where are you!”
Min Ju-ri was looking around, searching for me.
The rune effect of the Reaper, which drastically reduces the probability of detection when I remain still, made it difficult for her to find me.
I immediately deactivated the Night of Death skill.
“Huh? Why does it keep getting dark and then bright?”
Min Ju-ri, who had been confused, finally spotted Ryu Min.
“Oh, there you are! I’ve been looking for you for a while.”
“As you can see, I’ve been busy.”
Before Ryu Min lay the corpse of an Orc Shaman.
But Min Ju-ri’s reaction was calm, as if it weren’t particularly surprising.
“Finally got him, didn’t you? But did you happen to see anyone else? There were people trying to steal the Orc Shaman…”
“I don’t know. Didn’t see anyone.”
“That’s strange. I thought I heard screams…”
Min Ju-ri expressed her doubt, but Ryu Min kept his silence to the end.
There was no benefit in showing her the corpses.
“Let’s hurry and hunt the next boss.”
“Yes!”
* * *
[You have defeated the Orc Archer!]
[Experience +37.73%]
[Gold +4,000]
[Obtained ‘Nimble Archer’s Boots’.]
[Obtained ‘Corroded Arrowhead’.]
[Obtained ‘Low-Grade Emerald Mana Stone’.]
[You have obtained the ‘Stone of Balance’.]
[Sub Quest Progress: Stone of Balance 3/4]
The moment I laid eyes on the third boss, I defeated it in a single strike.
Unlike the Orc Shaman, there was no reason to drag things out.
‘Let me check what items dropped.’
[Nimble Archer’s Boots]
-Classification: Footwear
-Grade: Epic
-Defense: 60
-Effect: Agility +10
-Durability: 1,000/1,000
-Usage Restriction: Regular Grade or higher
-Description: Boots worn by a nimble archer. They boost agility so much, your agility itself grows nimbler.
Epic boots that increased agility by 10 had dropped.
Since I was currently wearing Normal-grade footwear, there was no reason not to switch.
‘First, I’ll remove the lowest-tier green mana stone I had embedded…’
I combined the newly obtained low-tier green mana stone into it.
[Combination successful!]
[The ‘Agility +4’ option has been added to Nimble Archer’s Boots.]
‘With this, I’ve defeated all the mid-tier bosses.’
Now only the final boss remained—the High Orc.
Unlike the other bosses, this one had a time-attack rule applied to it.
‘I need to defeat this one as quickly as possible. The faster I am, the greater the rewards I’ll earn.’
My personal best from the previous round was 43 seconds.
Even after 99 rounds, I’d never beaten that time.
Yet I was confident I could set a new record.
‘Because I have Min Ju-ri’s buffs now.’
With Min Ju-ri’s buffs—something I hadn’t received before—a new record was practically guaranteed.
‘But it would be even better to shorten the time further.’
To extract the maximum performance, I decided to postpone hunting the High Orc.
‘I have plenty of time, so I should raise my level as much as possible before facing it. I’ll use the Orb of Eternal Sleep carefully so it doesn’t break.’
My plan was to boost my stats as much as I could before the fight.
To break the personal record I’d never managed to surpass until now.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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