Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant-Chapter 295
There was no Iron Horse Gate in the Geumgangsan region.
That meant Su-ho only needed to clear the Gates unique to this area.
He took out a specialized map and marked the target points.
“Currently, there are around seven Gates in Geumgangsan.”
He didn’t need to clear them all.
The minor ones could be taken care of by other guilds once the Unification Purification Operation began.
“Out of those, I’ve marked two targets.”
Su-ho headed to the first of the two.
*
Roaaaar...
After some time riding, he arrived at a waterfall.
A single massive waterfall cascading between towering cliffs.
At the very top of the falls, Su-ho saw the flickering Gate portal.
“Finally, I get to see the Guryong Falls Gate.”
This place was called Guryong Falls.
One of the most famous spots in the Geumgangsan region.
It was also one of the two Gates Su-ho had marked as a priority.
The portal was massive.
Being located deep within Geumgangsan, it had long been left unattended, causing its mana to amplify.
Naturally, the resulting mana overflow had scattered monsters nearby.
“Kirrk?”
Speak of the devil—the monsters spawned from the Guryong Falls Gate began to appear one by one.
They were lizards.
Lizards hidden near the waterfall slowly revealed themselves.
“Kirrk.”
“Kirrk, kirrk.”
“Kirrkk?”
Their yellow reptilian eyes stared directly at Su-ho.
Clicking his tongue, Su-ho muttered, “You think I’ve got time to play with you?”
Without hesitation, he summoned a Shadow Spear and threw it up the cliff.
Shadow Movement is activated.
He could’ve used Wall Tiger Technique to scale the cliff, but why bother when there was an easier way?
Su-ho used Shadow Movement to instantly arrive at the top.
Before more pests could show up, he quickly stepped into the Gate.
You are entering the Gate.
Retrieving Gate information...
Waterfall of the Lizards
Entry Requirement: Level 170+
Max Participants: 9
Nine participants.
Just as expected.
“Better than that Snake Lake.”
That one had a level 150 requirement.
So this should give more EXP.
Entering Waterfall of the Lizards...
Sssshhp!
His vision shifted with the system message.
Once the scenery reappeared, Su-ho found himself standing on top of a cliff.
Crassssh...
The sound of a waterfall crashing down.
But it wasn’t just one.
Crassssh...
Crassssh...
Crassssh...
Crassssh...
A deafening roar, multiplied by nine.
Literally.
Su-ho stood on a cliff with nine waterfalls pouring down in every direction.
At that moment...
A quest has been generated.
Waterfall of Lamentation
Grade: S
This place once belonged to the Imoogis.
But one day, lizards appeared and drove them out.
Now only lizards remain.
Kill the lizards and soothe the souls of the fallen Imoogis.
“There it is.”
The quest appeared.
Its name: Waterfall of Lamentation.
The goal: slay the unwelcome lizards and comfort the souls of the Imoogis who used to dwell here.
This would be easy.
Actually, more than ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ easy—this was a cakewalk.
There was nothing simpler than a full massacre.
Su-ho closed the quest window and glanced down below the falls.
Nine waterfalls.
Not just one or two—but nine.
Sweeping beneath the waterfalls wasn’t hard.
The problem was—they were all waterfalls, which meant water.
He could swim, but fighting monsters while swimming would be a stretch.
After a moment’s thought, Su-ho pulled out an item.
Gi Seung-hwan.
You have consumed Gi Seung-hwan.
You fully absorb the skill experience contained in Gi Seung-hwan.
Please select the skill you wish to enhance.
A skill list appeared before his eyes.
Su-ho selected Movement Energy Technique from the list.
And then he kept eating.
Gi Seung-hwan’s skill experience is being absorbed into Movement Energy Technique.
Absorption complete.
Gi Seung-hwan’s skill experience is being absorbed into Movement Energy Technique.
Absorption complete.
Gi Seung-hwan’s skill experience is being absorbed into Movement Energy Technique.
Absorption complete.
...
Currently, Movement Energy Technique was B-rank.
Su-ho recalled the skill details.
Movement Energy Technique
Grade: B
A martial art focused on body movement.
Increases movement speed by 20%.
Leaves no traces on grass or snow.
The 20% movement speed boost was the core of the skill.
Even if it upgraded to A-rank, that only bumped the boost to 30%.
But S-rank was different.
As he devoured more of the item...
Your understanding of Movement Energy Technique is extremely high.
The system is reevaluating your potential.
Congratulations! Movement Energy Technique has been upgraded to S-rank.
Gi Seung-hwan has evolved and now provides an additional effect.
At last, the skill reached S-rank.
Su-ho opened the new skill window.
Movement Energy Technique
Grade: S
A martial art focused on body movement.
Increases movement speed by 50%.
Mastery has reached its peak, allowing the user to walk on water.
This level of mastery is called Clear Stream Step.
Upon reading the new description, Su-ho grinned.
Clear Stream Step.
A technique that let him walk on water, the ultimate form of Movement Energy Technique.
He couldn’t stand still on water, but as long as he kept moving, he could remain above it.
He cast a few self-buffs.
Blessing is activated.
First, Blessing.
Then—
Army Tactics is activated.
Poof!
Su-ho summoned eight clone soldiers.
The Gate’s 9-person limit existed because of the nine waterfalls.
In other words, each had to be cleared.
Su-ho positioned a clone in front of each waterfall.
Then they all leapt forward at once.
Whoosh—
A rush of wind.
The falls were so tall it took several seconds before the ground appeared.
Just before hitting the surface, Su-ho turned midair and extended his foot toward the waterfall.
Movement Energy Technique is activated.
The moment his foot skimmed the current, the skill activated and lifted him.
He felt like a water strider.
Using the falling current, he jumped.
The clones did the same.
As they reached the frothy area at the base of the waterfall, dozens of lizards revealed themselves, mouths wide.
“Karak!”
“Karak!”
“Karakak!”
Piranha-like bastards.
But too bad—he could already see them clearly thanks to Mana Perception.
As Su-ho stepped slowly across the water, the lizards surfaced one after another, having lost their chance to strike.
Four-Legged Waterfall Lizard Lv.178
Four-Legged Waterfall Lizard Lv.180
Four-Legged Waterfall Lizard Lv.179
Four-Legged Waterfall Lizard Lv.171
...
They weren’t Lizardmen, but actual four-legged beasts.
The difference was clear—these creatures hadn’t evolved to walk upright.
Maybe that’s why.
Their levels were lower.
With a 170-level gate requirement, it wasn’t exactly low—but to Su-ho, they were.
Clicking his tongue, he muttered, “Tch, won’t get much out of this.”
No need to even draw a sword.
Just then, the lizards all rushed him in unison.
Same thing happened at all the other falls.
They charged Su-ho and the clones.
At that moment, Su-ho activated a synchronized skill across all nine bodies.
Heat Storm is activated.
Fwoooooosh!!
The skill: Heat Storm.
And then—
You have defeated a Four-Legged Waterfall Lizard.
You have defeated a Four-Legged Waterfall Lizard.
You have defeated a Four-Legged Waterfall Lizard.
You have defeated a Four-Legged Waterfall Lizard.
You have defeated a Four-Legged Waterfall Lizard.
You have defeated a Four-Legged Waterfall Lizard.
You have defeated a Four-Legged Waterfall Lizard.
You have defeated a Four-Legged Waterfall Lizard.
...
A flood of kill messages.
Of course.
A massacre was unfolding across nine different battlefronts.
The effect was overwhelming.
Just like back in Snake Lake, Heat Storm unleashed incredible power, burning the four-legged lizards to death.
So intense, it evaporated the waterfall spray and reduced corpses to ash.
Like an overlord, Su-ho and his clones walked forward as if on a stroll.
Then—
Shuaaak!
A tearing sound.
Su-ho twisted his head to dodge.
An arrow had flown straight at him.
“They’re finally here.”
He looked toward the source.
Lizardmen hidden with camouflage near cliffs and water edges were now aiming at him.
Same situation across the other battlefields.
Waterfall Lizardman Lv.184
Waterfall Lizardman Lv.188
Waterfall Lizardman Lv.186
Waterfall Lizardman Lv.183
...
Waterfall Lizardmen.
Their levels were slightly higher than the four-legged types.
Some were even riding those beasts.
Unlike the animals, these ones were armed.
But would it matter?
Su-ho still didn’t draw his sword.
“You’re still just lizards.”
Instead, he began a deadly game of tag.
He poured mana into Heat Storm, raising the output.
Then charged straight at the Lizardmen aiming for him.
The clones did the same.
“Kieeaaaah!!”
The Lizardmen shrieked at Su-ho’s approach.
It was both a scream and a signal to warn their comrades.
But neither lasted long.
The moment Su-ho and the clones reached them, their once-moist skin dried like desert clay and crumbled into dust.
You have defeated a Waterfall Lizardman.
You have defeated a Waterfall Lizardman.
You have defeated a Waterfall Lizardman.
You have defeated a Waterfall Lizardman.
...
The level gap was only about ten, but the stat gap made all the difference.
The Lizardmen didn’t just die.
They screamed.
Normally, those screams would be drowned out by the roar of the falls—but nine simultaneous death cries nearly overpowered even that.
On and on the screams continued.
There was no lizard capable of stopping Su-ho and his clones.
The disparity in level, stats, and skills was overwhelming.
And then—
A boss monster is appearing.
Kugugugugu...
Faster than ever before, the boss monster arrived.
And it appeared simultaneously beneath all nine waterfalls.
