A green-furred monkey screeched as it launched from the roof, claws outstretched and eyes glowing with bloodlust.
[Razor Clawed Briga] hovered above its head in glowing white letters.
It never even touched the ground.
Before it could swipe, Jinwoo slashed with both daggers in a single blur of motion—
Shnk!
The monkey's head flew clean off, spinning mid-air before hitting the flooded tiles below with a wet splat.
[Level up!]
Jinwoo exhaled calmly and muttered, "Status Window."
[Name: Sung Jinwoo
Class: None
Level: 15
Title: Succubus Queen's Man, Beast Slayer
HP: 4450 / 4900
MP: 600
Strength: 55
Dexterity: 41
Health: 40
Intelligence: 41
Sense: 38
Charm: 59]
"I think I'm strong enough now…" he said quietly, eyes turning toward the decrepit stairwell that spiraled even deeper below the ruined station. Faint vibrations pulsed from within—ominous and heavy, like something ancient was stirring in its den.
The boss.
Jinwoo didn't need to be told. His Sense stat screamed it loud and clear.
And yet…
He smirked.
"…Too strong for this thing to pose a threat."
Without hesitation, he descended.
The stairwell was overgrown, crumbling and wet, thick moss climbing along the walls like veins. The air grew humid and foul. The smell of stagnant water hit him, laced with decay and venom. As he reached the bottom floor, the tiles gave way to shallow water—a partial flood had turned the entire level into a dark, stinking swamp.
"Is this still the Hapjeong Station—"
Whip!
A massive tail came out of nowhere, tearing through the misty air like a missile. But Jinwoo moved on instinct, catching it mid-swing. His boots slid slightly from the impact, water splashing outward, but he held firm—his hands digging deep into the blue-scaled flesh.
The tail buckled under his grip.
Cracks spread across the scales like broken porcelain as his fingers dug in, crushing armor and flesh.
"AGHHHHHHHHH!"
A shriek of pain echoed across the underground swamp, the tail writhing violently to escape his grasp.
Tch.
"I almost tore this bastard's tail off."
The water exploded upward as the creature emerged.
A monstrous serpent slithered into view. Its hide shimmered with wet, cobalt scales, and its twin fangs dripped venom that hissed as it hit the flooded ground. Its yellow eyes glared at Jinwoo with primal fury.
Hovering above its horned skull:
[King of the Swamp, Blue Venom Fanged Kasaka]
Jinwoo's grin widened.
"Finally," he said, raising his daggers. "Something interesting."
Kasaka hissed, tail coiled, fangs bared—and then it lunged.
A blur of blue and muscle surged through the swamp with terrifying speed.
But Jinwoo didn't flinch.
With the calm of a man bored of weaklings, he lightly jumped—his body twisting midair with feline grace—as the serpent's massive body rushed under him, slicing through the shallow water like a blade.
He landed squarely on Kasaka's head, one hand on the rough-scaled surface, the other already moving.
Both his daggers came down like guillotines—aimed to cleave through its skull.
Clang!
They shattered.
The worn steel snapped cleanly at the hilt, the blades flying off like useless debris. Jinwoo's eyes narrowed.
"Tch. Already too damaged..."
Kasaka screeched and began to thrash violently, trying to throw him off. But Jinwoo moved just as fast—grabbing what was left of his broken daggers and jamming the snapped blades into the serpent's eyes.
Shunk!
"AGHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Kasaka's body twisted in agony, its scream shaking the walls, its neck whipping side to side, slamming into broken pillars and waterlogged debris. But Jinwoo held tight, his fingers wrapped around the dagger hilts buried deep in the beast's sockets.
The broken weapons began to give out, metal bending and cracking under the stress of the serpent's rage.
So Jinwoo let go of the hilts—and grabbed the beast's neck directly.
His arms wrapped around the wet, scaly body like a vice.
The snake writhed harder, faster, its entire body convulsing to throw him off.
Didn't work.
"You're done," Jinwoo muttered, low and cold.
And then—
With every ounce of his monstrous strength—
He ripped.
Veins snapped. Bone cracked. Flesh tore.
RRRRRIIIIIP!
Kasaka's head was torn clean off in a spray of venom and blood, Jinwoo landing as the massive body slammed down behind him with a thunderous crash.
The swamp grew still.
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[You have defeated the King of the Swamp, the Blue Venom Fanged Kasaka.]
[You have obtained: Kasaka's Venom Gland!]
[You have obtained: Kasaka's Venom Fang!]
Jinwoo straightened up, blood soaking his arms and chest, venom sizzling on his boots.
"…Too easy."
Jinwoo exhaled, stepping away from the giant snake's corpse. Blood dripped from his hands, but his expression stayed cool.
"Inventory," he muttered.
A translucent blue panel appeared in front of him. He tapped one of the new entries.
"Kasaka's Venom Fang."
Another window instantly popped up.
[Kasaka's Venom Fang]
[Rank: C
Type: Dagger
Attack: +25
A dagger made from Kasaka's venom fang. Kasaka's venom still remains within it, thus causing paralyzation and bleeding when used upon an opponent. You may store this item in your inventory, or sell it at the Shop.
Effect "Paralyze": the opponent will be paralyzed at a certain rate.
Effect "Bleed": the opponent will lose 1% health every second.]
A faint shimmer of light traced through the air—and the dagger materialized in his hand.
It was long and cruelly curved, the blade dark and glossy with faint streaks of deep, toxic blue. Serrated along one edge, it looked more like a fang than a forged weapon—wild and lethal. The faint smell of venom still lingered on it, and the air shimmered slightly around the edge, as if the toxin distorted even the space.
Jinwoo gave it a few test swings. The blade cut cleanly through the air, light as a feather and sharp enough to whistle.
"Not bad..." he said with a smirk. "I think I can use this for a little."
The cold gleam of the dagger reflected in his eyes.
Jinwoo spun the venomous dagger once more before calmly storing it away.
"Inventory."
The blade shimmered, dissolving into particles of blue light and vanishing.
"Kasaka's Venom Gland," he said next.
A new panel unfolded.
[Kasaka's Venom Gland]
[Rank: A
Type: Poison
A pouch containing refined venom from Kasaka. Upon defeating Kasaka, you have a slim chance of obtaining this item. Drinking this venom will make your skin tough, but your muscles will be permanently damaged due to the poison.
Effect "Kasaka's Ironclad Scales": 20% less physical damage
Side-effect "Muscle Damage": -35 strength]
"20% less physical damage?" Jinwoo muttered as a translucent pouch filled with a glowing, viscous blue liquid appeared in his hand. The venom swirled unnaturally, giving off a faint hum of danger.
"The side effect is a bit too much," he added with a smirk. "But fortunately..."
He looked down at his status window. "I have the Divine Lust Body."
[Divine Lust Body]
Your body has been blessed by the Goddess of Lust, Rosalia. All Lust-related skills are empowered twofold. In addition, your body has been marked as sacred by the Goddess. Harmful substances, poisons, curses, and even certain debuffs are automatically refined into beneficial effects. Your constitution adapts to what should hurt you, making it a source of growth instead. The more intense the damage, the stronger the refinement.]
"Let's see if it works even with this."
Without hesitation, Jinwoo uncorked the pouch and began to drink the venom drop by drop. The moment the liquid touched his throat, a burning pain surged through him. It was as if acid coursed down his insides, corroding his flesh.
But then—
[Lust Divine Body's Protection Blessing in effect.]
Warmth spread through him. The venom's pain transformed into heat—power—coursing through his veins, refining his body from the inside out.
[The permanent effect "Kasaka's Ironclad Scales" is being turned into a skill by the Divine Lust Body...]
[You have gained the Passive Skill, Ironclad Skin (A).]
[The venom supposed to give the side-effect has been refined instead... +10 Strength.]
[The Divine Lust Body has created the Passive Skill, Poison Resistance (C), in the process.]
"Wow..." Jinwoo whispered, flexing his arms as his body pulsed with new strength. His skin looked slightly glossier, more resilient—like it had been tempered.
"Rosalia must really care for me..."
He reached out, calling the new skill, "Ironclad Skin—"
But then his eyes caught a strange flicker.
A faint hue of violet-pink glowed from deeper within the dungeon, just beyond the twisted remains of Kasaka.
"What's that?" he murmured, narrowing his eyes as he turned toward it.
To be continued...
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How was this chapter? I told you I am gonna make Jinwoo OP as hell (not that he wasn't already in the original, but yeah).