# Maxed-Out Talent Player Episode 45

23. Crossing the Valley of Fire

The world I had studied closely resembled a ‘typical world’ consisting of general world history and the broad sweep of Korean history. Identifying the key elements of several significant events—universal elements most players should be aware of.

‘Rankers must have their world,’ I thought.

Even now, in the beginner-rank sections, it seems to apply.

The creature had the massive form of a horse, its mane and tail made of fire—the Flame Horse, a monster that would ignite flames wherever it tread, inflicting fire damage.

‘Level approximately 32. Its name is Flame Horse.’

Flame Horse (火炎馬).

An animal-type monster with a basic level of around 32. Like the Yookmiho, it also belongs to the category of mystic creatures.

‘Kang Sang-goo never mentioned the presence of a Flame Horse here before.’

The world of top-rankers unbeknownst to me.

‘Why then did Kang Sang-goo hide the fact that he encountered a Flame Horse here?’

It was unclear. Was it simply unnecessary to mention? Or was there a reason that he couldn’t say anything about it?

Kang Sang-goo shook his head ruefully.

“Phew. It’s a good thing it’s weaker than me; otherwise, I’d be ashes by now.”

So if I were to summarize Kang Sang-goo’s strategy:

“Someone else take its hits, and I’ll strike it from behind when the time comes. Hehehe.”

Although the Flame Horse has strong offensive capabilities, it’s weak in defense. Being an animal-type, it also has a weak point: its head. You take the hits. I’ll strike. That’s the gist of it.

“So you’ve estimated your chances of winning,” I said.

“Yes. I can reduce it to half its HP on my own.”

So that’s why he managed to survive. If its HP fell below 20 percent, he wouldn’t even be able to run away.

‘I’d never expected a Flame Horse would appear in a beginner-level dungeon.’

Now I understood why.

‘So it’s a dungeon with free access.’

Since the difficulty is so high, they allow you to escape. The Flame Horse doesn’t typically chase after weak opponents who show their backs. This monster displayed the leisure of a strong creature.

“I take it you didn’t make it to the next gate then?”

“Right. Could there possibly be someone tougher than that at the next gate?”

Oh. There probably is. Some preparations are in order.

“Excuse me for a moment. I need to take care of something.”

“Eh? All of a sudden?”

We hadn’t exactly settled on a raid time. It was only a preliminary meeting with Kang Sang-goo. He seemed to think we were about to start the clear.

“What’s so urgent?”

“I gotta take a dump.”

Kang Sang-goo nodded in understanding.

“Fair enough.”

He sent me a supportive look mixed with a tinge of envy. I couldn’t read the accurate information due to the intervention of the ‘Titan of the Setting Sun’, but I could feel a strong emotion.

‘Are you truly envious?’

He addressed me:

“Keep it up. Fighting. I’m rooting for you. I’m envious.”

I recalled a single line from an article that said Kang Sang-goo suffered from severe constipation.

* * *

I met Kang Sang-goo again.

“Schwam. That burning donkey-like thing. It’s too strong.”

Yeah. The Flame Horse is too powerful to capture now. Its level is over 30, after all. The dungeon was, as usual, shaped like an underground cave.

“Pass through here and you’ll find the first gate. We’ve killed goblin soldiers and a few others like black yaks.”

‘Black yaks’ must refer to a type of monster.

‘As expected, monster regeneration doesn’t happen in a one-time dungeon.’

The monsters we had already killed didn’t seem to regenerate. Or perhaps the regeneration time is just incredibly long.

We came upon a fork in the road.

“This path is dead-end, and this way leads to that creature.”

“The terrain changes, right?”

“Yes. It turns into something like a grassland.”

The terrain changes to suit the Flame Horse’s frenzied behavior. A vast grassland. The ‘Fire Wall’ the creature creates would be most effective in this terrain.

“Watch out for the fire it spits from its mouth. No coming back from that hit.”

I glanced at Seonhwa.

“Ah, having such a young friend take on the role of a tanker is a bit…”

He murmured to himself, then added,

“Well, it’s not me taking the hits, so it should be fine…”

Indicating that while it wasn’t his problem, he did look a bit worried.

Kang Sang-goo repeated his caution.

“If you’re in danger, say you’re bailing and do so. I’ll follow. Got it?”

“Got it.”

Seonhwa now seemed somewhat annoyed with Kang Sang-goo. Just then, the field changed.

[You have entered the ‘Flame Horse’s Grassland’ within the Short Table Dungeon.]

A blue grassland unfolded before us. The sky was high. A blue and lofty sky. A hot sun hung in the sky, much like in the Mongolian grasslands.

“Damn it. What a surprise.”

And about 3 meters ahead, the Flame Horse appeared. I observed the Flame Horse. Though I already knew of the monster, this was my first time seeing it with my own eyes.

──────────

Flame Horse LV 35

──────────

‘Higher level than the average Flame Horse?’

It’s usually around level 32, but this one is three levels higher. And while it’s at a much higher level than me, I can still see its level.

‘This is not typical.’

There’s surely something hidden in this dungeon, from the freedom to enter and exit to the ‘Titan of the Setting Sun’s strange behavior.

Kang Sang-goo seemed a bit tense.

“When do we attack?”

The Flame Horse looked our way as if he were an emperor. Looking down from on high, as a strong being would look down upon a weaker one.

[The proficiency of the Sensing Eye (感覺眼) is too low to activate detailed descriptions.]

If my Sensing Eye skill was higher, I could learn more details about the Flame Horse. But what I had studied matched what I was seeing.

‘It’s a non-aggressive monster.’

I took a step forward. The Flame Horse fixed its gaze on me.

“I’ll be tanking along with Seonhwa.”

Kang Sang-goo should handle it until its HP is halved. With his experience, it’s entirely feasible. Seonhwa followed my lead with one step.

“Seonhwa, you must block the fireballs the creature spits with your shield. Avoid direct contact. Got it?”

“Got it.”

The rest of the attacks should be blocked by Seonhwa’s physical defenses.

“Kang Sang-goo, you prepar too.”

Kang Sang-goo clenched his fist, the fire flaring in preparation for combat. He seemed to have awakened ‘attribute powers’ already.

‘Sure enough. Fire capabilities.’

It appeared he had already mastered powers of the fire element. Maybe he had even job-changed.

‘If he halved the beast’s HP with the same attribute,’ I thought, ‘he fought well.’

I spoke up.

“For now, the monster’s main focus is on me. I’ll approach it head-on.”

I had bought a shield from the item store. It was my first-time tanking. I couldn’t deny the nervousness as I saw the creature’s eyes.

“Seonhwa, move behind. Watch out for its back kick.”

“Alright.”

Seonhwa moved as I had instructed. The Flame Horse remained in its proud stance, observing us closely.

“Sang-goo will tackle its flank. Aim for 40 percent H/P,” I continued, then said,

“And if you have any buffs that increase critical shot chances, be sure to use them.”

“Hmm? A buff for critical shots?”

Kang Sang-goo scratched his neck a bit.

“How did you know? I have such a skill.”

“Animal-type monsters are particularly vulnerable to critical shots.”

I did not give a precise answer. I approached the Flame Horse. Now facing the beast, I could tell it was a level 35. A direct hit from it, especially the fireballs it spewed from its mouth, could render me incapacitated.

Shield in one hand, I drew a dagger with the other.

‘Aim for the mid-brow.’

Not targeting a fatal blow with the throw, but hoping for the best either way.

Swoosh!

I threw the dagger. I didn’t know any dagger techniques, but I relied on my previous experience with throwing a dagger.

The Flame Horse screamed as its forehoof shot up nearly 4 meters high.

The blade hit the mid-brow precisely, but luck was not entirely on my side as it wasn’t a critical shot. It managed just to reduce its H/P a bit—as expected.

‘The real battle starts now.’

Something is hidden here. The first battle in this place has begun.

* * *

Kang Sang-goo grew more confident.

‘Wow. They’re both doing pretty well.’

Aggro hadn’t shifted to him even once. The Flame Horse struggled and resisted, but directed its attacks only at Kim Hyuk-jin and Kim Seonhwa.

‘Fireball!’

Suddenly, the Flame Horse turned its head quickly and fired a fireball. Kim Seonhwa, as if predicting the move, deftly shifted aside and used the shield to deflect the flames.

‘Deflected the path of the flames.’

He deflected it efficiently to reduce strain on his body.

‘Those siblings are pure gems.’

[Skill. ‘Lethal Flame’ is activated.]

Flames flickered around Kang Sang-goo’s fist. During the brief moment when the Flame Horse was distracted by Kim Hyuk-jin and Kim Seonhwa, Kang Sang-goo landed a solid punch on the creature’s flank.

[‘Lethal Flame’ is taking effect.]

[Critical shot chance +3%]

The cumulative critical shot chance had reached an impressive +33%. They had already shaved off more than 30 percent of the H/P.

‘Much smoother than expected.’

Despite the Flame Horse’s nimble and threatening movements, they were contained by the appropriate switching and defense by Kim Hyuk-jin and Kim Seonhwa.

[‘Lethal Flame’ is taking effect.]

[Critical shot chance +3%]

[Cumulative critical shot chance +36%]

Personal notifications audible only to Kang Sang-goo. Kim Hyuk-jin didn’t hear the notification, but he had a rough idea.

‘He has surrounded it with “Lethal Flames”.’

Considering Kang Sang-goo’s current level and skills,

‘He’s likely benefitting from a cumulative critical shot chance of around 35% at the moment.’

Although not informed by notifications, the estimate was nearly accurate. He deduced as much without being taught.

‘An additional 35% critical shot chance.’

And against an animal-type monster—a fatal weakness.

‘The mid-brow, heart, throat, spine…prominent weak points.’

A dagger was already lodged in its mid-brow. At this state, the likelihood of landing a critical shot on the Flame Horse increases even further.

‘Now’s the time.’

Kim Hyuk-jin shouted.

“Seonhwa! Close in on it! Aim for the flank.”

She understood immediately. Approaching in a straight line risked taking a kick in return.

“Got it!”

Swiftly, Seonhwa moved to the side. The Flame Horse responded to her motion. Quick as Seonhwa was, the Flame Horse was equally swift to pivot and defend against her attack, widening their distance a bit.

Kim Hyuk-jin eagerly anticipated this, having learned the Flame Horse’s habits from earlier combat. He calculated the distance and was ready.

‘Now.’

Putting away the shield, he drew his sword. In that brief moment when the Flame Horse’s attention wavered.

[Special skill. Shifting Position (移形換位) is activated.]

His position was atop the creature’s body. Climbing atop the Flame Horse, its mane of flames caused intense heat.

[Mandra’s Iron Will resists against the fire attribute.]

The Mandra’s Iron Will, which possessed fire resistance of +3, gave me the strength to endure.

‘If the master of the Flame Horse appears, it will be an overwhelmingly tiresome battle.’

Tiresome was an understatement; likely, we would be at the disadvantageous end. The Flame Horse’s nape came into view.

[Special skill. ‘Precise Strike’ is activated.]

With a thrust!

I employed a special skill, not a regular attack, a perk of my title, and drove my sword into the back of the Flame Horse’s neck. The sword point pierced through its neck.

‘It’s not over yet.’

No critical shot emerged. Had luck been with me, a critical shot might have ended it, but I hadn’t banked on it anyway.

The Flame Horse’s H/P started to plummet rapidly.

A mystic creature. The Flame Horse began to burn even wilder, signaling that it was performing a ritual to summon its master.

‘Now.’

Kim Hyuk-jin reached into his inventory for something else. Kang Sang-goo’s eyes widened at the sight.

‘What? Is that for real?’