Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2)

If there was one thing I realized while fighting three goblins back-to-back on Floor 2,

‘When I ran into the Floor 2 goblin, I drew three Strike cards and thought I was guaranteed to take damage.’

it was that my attacks could alter an enemy’s behavioral patterns.

The goblin intended to attack, and I had zero Defend cards in hand.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

[ Consecutive hits have inflicted the Confused status on the enemy. ]

So I figured I had no choice but to eat the hit—until:

In a situation like that, my only option was to play all three Strike cards.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

[ The enemy’s attack has been canceled. ]

It was something I had never seen in a deck-building roguelike.

‘That’s the kind of mechanic you only see in turn-based RPGs, though.’

Giving it a concussion canceled the goblin’s attack, allowing me to keep my turn going uninterrupted.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

The absurd power of my Unique Ability went beyond simply changing me.

The moment I saw it, I understood.

‘The Deck-Building Roguelike System cares solely about my convenience.’

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

It was like installing a deck-building mod inside a real-time combat game—

This single ability was directly interfering with the laws of the world itself.

and that mod possessed enough power to overwrite the entire genre.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

On top of that, I discovered one more new fact.

[ Please wait to encounter the enemy. ]

[ You have entered Floor 4. ]

[ An Elite Battle is about to begin. ]

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Swish.

[ Entering battle. ]

Even before the enemy had actually appeared,

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Right now, however:

my cards were already being drawn.

It was during that exact experiment that I ran into the goblin and ended up drawing five Strikes.

I tested whether I could even end my turn, and everything actually worked.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

[ Strike x2 ] [ Defend ] [ Armaments ]

[ Armaments : Cost 2 ]

Thanks to drawing the upgraded card, I could start building up in advance.

“Jackpot.”

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Swish.

The instant I played the card, sharp spikes sprouted along my club.

[ Club +1 (Temporary) : Covered in sharp spikes. amateur Increases the chance of inflicting Bleed when dealing damage to an enemy. ]

It was a card that felt vaguely burdensome to use in the middle of a fight, but right now, it was completely fine.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

“Nice.”

And if there was one more fact I learned here,

As soon as I finished upgrading my weapon once, I ended my turn.

Even then, the Elite enemy still hadn’t shown up.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Keep ending my turn until I found the Armaments card again.

‘End Turn.’

it was that whatever happened during this buildup phase had nothing to do with real time.

So the enemy still hadn’t appeared? adjust Then there was only one thing left for me to do.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Once that process finished and the other 4 cards joined that single card in my hand—

‘That means I’ll draw the 1 remaining card first, and since the draw pile will be empty, the discard pile will shuffle back in.’

My deck currently had 11 cards, and I drew 5 cards per turn by default.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

I now had a chance to upgrade my weapon a second time.

[ Strike x 4 ] [ Armaments ]

‘Got it. All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com ’

Of course, I didn’t know whether upgrades stacked or not,

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

making this an invaluable opportunity to find out.

[ Club +2 (Temporary) : The spikes have grown even sharper. adopt Guaranteed to inflict Bleed upon striking an enemy. ]

The moment I spent my energy to cast Armaments once more,

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

“Oh.”

Then what was the stacking limit?

Confirmed—the upgrades stacked.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

“Huh?”

An arrow came hurtling toward me in the blink of an eye.

Right as that thought crossed my mind—

Whoosh!

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

[ Arrow ]

I could clearly see the arrow flying straight at me.

In the past, even seeing the arrow coming would have been impossible.

Now, though, things were different.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

“Aargh!”

The problem was—

Slice!

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

The only saving grace was that I twisted my body desperately at the last second, turning a direct impalement into a graze.

I had already ended my turn, meaning it was currently the enemy’s phase to act.

Even that would have been a guaranteed direct hit if not for my two slight physical enhancements.

—seeing it didn’t mean I could dodge it.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

It was a straight corridor lined with glowing orbs spaced evenly along the ceiling.

The 4th floor of the Tower resembled a brightly lit tunnel.

“…Hah.”

Show your face before you start shooting, damn it.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

they had fired that arrow from a massive distance away.

The moment I followed that train of thought—

Swish.

The fact that I still couldn’t see my enemy meant

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Even so, I couldn’t afford to let my guard down.

As if right on cue, the next set of cards appeared in my hand.

‘So firing a single arrow counted as one full turn for the enemy?’

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Right now, the Elite held the terrain advantage along with a weapon tailored to abuse it.

I played 3 Defend cards and ended my turn.

My hand consisted of 4 Defends and 1 Strike.

First things first, I decided to close the distance.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

another arrow came whistling through the air just like before.

Twang!

Immediately,

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

—was that I cleanly deflected the arrow with my buckler. Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates.

The difference this time, however—

And once again, the action froze.

Clang!

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Not to mention, the odds of consistently drawing 3 Defend cards every turn were slim to none.

Even on the lower floors, there was no way 3 Defend cards could block every single attack indefinitely.

‘The problem is, I have no idea how high this Elite’s attack power actually is.’

‘What I need to do right now is close the distance as much as possible.’

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Once I can actually see it, I’ll figure something out.

Figuring I could rely on the Deck-Building Roguelike System to handle incoming attacks anyway,

With that thought, I broke into a dead sprint.

Let’s get eyes on it first.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

I locked my path into a dead straight line to cover the shortest distance possible.

Besides, there was something I wanted to test out.

A reckless charge with zero regard for cover or concealment.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

‘If this works, it’s huge.’

Swish.

Once again, cards were drawn and my perspective shifted.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

This draw gave me 4 Strikes and 1 Defend.

‘Never gives me an even spread.’

Honestly, it was safe to say my draw luck was pretty terrible.

Thinking that, I calmly chose to play 3 Strike cards and ended my turn.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

As if the enemy’s turn started immediately,

an arrow flew at me without hesitation.

Twang!

And I ‘struck’ that arrow.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Tremble, tremble.

Crack!

The arrowhead slammed squarely into my club and clattered to the floor.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

“…It works.”

That changes everything.

My hands shook from the impact, though it was closer to trembling from pure euphoria.

The enemy’s arrows are registered as hostile entities I can target and attack.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

‘No matter what hand I draw, I can respond.’

At this rate, I should be able to bat away anything it throws at me, right?

With my weapon already upgraded to +2, a surge of confidence washed over me.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Thud!

The very second that thought crossed my mind—

A deep, booming drum sound effect echoed out, and—

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

—my opponent finally revealed itself.

Crimson skin from head to toe, packed with dense muscle.

“Hah.”

Roughly 190 centimeters tall.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

The mythical orc I had only ever heard stories about had finally appeared.

‘An orc.’

It looked like a hulking pig clumsily mimicking a human silhouette.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

‘Is it because it’s classified as an Elite mob?’

That suspicion turned into certainty the instant my third-person view updated.

Wait—aren’t orcs supposed to have green skin? voyage Why is this one red?

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Not just a regular Orc Warrior, a Red Orc Warrior.

[ HP : 83/83 ]

[ Elite : Red Orc Warrior ] Read original high-quality translation at indratranslations.com.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Was that just because I had the Deck-Building Roguelike System?

‘Definitely an Elite.’

Still, for an Elite, its attacks were surprisingly easy to counter.

Its HP was three to four times higher than a goblin’s.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Rooooaaaar!

Right as I waited for my next draw with that thought—

‘At this rate, I might actually breeze right through this.’

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

“….”

[ Red Orc Warrior Passive Activated ]

The Red Orc Warrior suddenly let out a savage roar and drew a massive glaive strapped to its back.

[ Orc Warrior’s Pride : Increases Strength whenever the opponent uses a defense-related card. ]

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

‘Was I treating this too much like a game?’

The moment that realization sank in, the harsh reality that this wasn’t a video game hit me square in the chest.

I have to fight a muscular monster like this while minimizing my Defends?

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

‘My approach to this fight was flawed from the very beginning.’

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

When the arrow grazed me earlier, it hurt, sure, but I had felt the thrill of narrowly dodging it.

Now, the stakes were completely different.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

As the genuine possibility of dying dawned on me, my earlier actions suddenly flashed through my head.

‘Too late for that now.’

Instead of charging in excitedly, I should have stalled for time and stacked Armaments to the absolute limit.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Muttering under my breath, I checked my next draw.

Looks like I have no choice but to brace myself for taking damage.

“….”

[ Armaments ] [ Strike x 1 ] [ Defend x 3 ] This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

‘Just… just…’

My luck was terrible.

[ Armaments – Club +3 (Temporary) : The club itself transforms into a harder material. ]

If this was the hand I was dealt, I had a plan of my own.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

‘Since I can’t check how much its Strength spikes every time I play a Defend card, I have to finish it at its current level.’

With my weapon upgraded all the way to +3, if we just trade blows, shouldn’t I come out on top?

[ Strike ]

Since it’s come to this, it’s a base race.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

My +3 upgraded club slammed straight into the Red Orc Warrior’s head.

In fact, it had already burned a turn just activating its passive.

Whack!

Besides, without any Strength buffs, the Red Orc Warrior looked manageable.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Swish.

It would have been great if it got inflicted with Confused right away, but the Red Orc Warrior merely settled silently into an attack stance.

‘What’s its status?’

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

A pretty balanced draw this time.

[ Strike x 3 ] [ Defend x 2 ]

The turn passed to me once more.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

‘Attack first, ask questions later.’

Even so, using Defend was completely out of the question.

Hold on, isn’t that way too high?

‘The Red Orc Warrior’s… damage is what? 14?’

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

[ Red Orc Warrior 73/83 ]

On top of that, Bleed was now guaranteed to apply.

The single hit from my +3 club had dealt a whopping 10 damage.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

[ Status – Bleed : Takes 1 damage every time it attacks (Stackable) ]

‘I’ll hit it first and pray for Confused.’

Factoring in 3 more stacks of Bleed, I calculated I could definitely kill it in 2 turns.

If I landed 3 attacks in this state, its remaining HP would drop to 43.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

I swung my club rapidly, aiming all three strikes dead at its head.

Crack, crack, crack!

With that thought, I ended my turn and immediately lunged forward.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Squelch!

Unfortunately, the Red Orc Warrior’s attack wasn’t canceled.

Rooooaaaar!

“Gah!”

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

My body is supposed to endure 6 more hits like this?!

This is only 14 damage?!

‘Am I gonna get beaten to death? adjust Assuming my max HP is 100, this is supposedly only around 15%?!’

The glaive swung by the Red Orc Warrior bit deep into my shoulder.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

How is that even possible?!

Only then was I able to check my own status.

Amid that frantic spiral, my turn arrived once again.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

[ Bleeding is in progress. ]

[ Kim Jin-sung 82/100 – Status: Bleed ]

[ A glaive is currently embedded in your shoulder. armor Pulling it out will inflict severe additional damage. ]

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

“….”

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

And then I realized it.

[ If blood loss worsens, there is a high probability of death from shock. ]

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

If I didn’t want to die, my only option was to kill this Elite mob, trigger the floor clear condition, and receive a full recovery.

The Deck-Building Roguelike System wasn’t blindly benevolent toward me after all.

‘I could actually die here.’

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

[ Strike x3 ] [ Defend ] [ Armaments ]

Not bad.

I had to kill it no matter what.

What are my next cards? avalanche How did the draw turn out?

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

[ Strike x3 ]

This was workable.

Kill before being killed.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Crack, crack, crack!

Blocking at this point meant nothing.

The head—I had to smash straight into its face.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

“Die!”

Those three Strikes dropped the Red Orc Warrior’s HP to 13.

Cave its skull in, knock it out cold, and keep pummeling it while it’s down.

With one tick of Bleed damage triggering right after, it fell to 12.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Even after all that, it would still have 6 HP left?

‘Still, I can survive taking at least one more hit.’

‘From 12, with 3 stacks of Bleed, landing three consecutive attacks will shave off another 6 damage.’

That didn’t make it hurt any less, though.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

The blade buried in my flesh—burning hot as if it were branding me—

I was terrified.

The sheer terror of knowing it would be yanked out of my shoulder and swung down to end my life.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Sure, when someone cut in front of me on public transit, I’d wished they’d drop dead,

Had I ever wished for someone’s death this desperately?

but this was a far thicker, darker, more visceral desperation.

‘Please just die!’

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

I genuinely wanted it dead.

[ The spikes on your club have mangled the Red Orc Warrior’s face. ]

And perhaps that desperate wish actually got through.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

‘I’ve got it.’

[ Red Orc Warrior Status : Confused ] Indra Translations protects the hard work of translators and authors.

The message I had been praying for appeared—and naturally, among my next draw of 5 cards,

[ Proceeding with an Extra Turn. ]

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Thwack!

There was at least 1 Strike.

Drenched in terror, my body moved without hesitation against my conscious will to execute the Strike.

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

[ A Rare Card reward is guaranteed to appear! ]

[ You have completely defeated the Elite mob! ]

And as a result—

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

[ Reward – A Relic will be granted. ]

I finally got to read the message I had been waiting for.

Of course,

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

Nanashi: Thank you for reading!

That wasn’t the only sweet reward waiting for me.

×××

Translation of Climbing Is Too Easy for a Card Game Addict - Chapter 5: First Elite Battle (2) by Indra Translations.

bit.ly/Nanashi3 (Discord) (Report errors there) 

Imma broke as hell so *cough* *cough* *wink*, in exchange I keep all the chs free what do ya say? :3

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