Chapter 15: The Ruins Where the Brightest Sun Sleeps (2)
〚The first in the entire dimension to discover the ruins!〛
〚Reward: 1 Black Coin granted!〛
〚Reward: 300% experience and 300% bonus for defeating monsters in the ruins!〛
Suddenly, I felt a strange sensation, like my body was being forcibly pulled in, and my vision shifted completely.
The world, once bright and hot under the radiant sun, vanished, revealing only darkness in the ruins that seemed to have lost the sun’s light and fallen into ruin.
Clang!
Then, another person sprang out of the portal. Looking down at herself, Seo Mina quickly turned away from me, hastily shaking the sand that had mixed into her clothes.
It seems that even in the fourth dimension, showing bare skin to a strange man is embarrassing. Well, it’s too dark to see anything anyway.
What a shame!
As I clicked my tongue in disappointment, something briefly caught my senses before it disappeared.
It was as if something had appeared and quickly exited. The presence I felt at the portal vanished in an instant.
‘As expected, I wasn’t mistaken.’
I recalled the presence of someone I had felt once while digging into the desert.
After focusing on my senses for a while, I eventually stopped looking for the presence of someone who was no longer detectable.
‘Anyways, I think I know who it is.’
I was planning to deal with them anyway, so how convenient that they handed me a reason.
I smirked inwardly and pretended to be clueless as I tilted my head.
〚A persistent, meticulous, and thorough malice hints at your end, laughing cruelly!〛
“Just as I thought, it has begun.”
I knew this would happen. I nodded at the ominous message rising in my mind. Honestly, it’s not surprising anymore. I had anticipated this about 90% of the time and prepared as best I could, so let’s see what happens.
Whether you win or I win.
‘And I’ll make good use of that guy to awaken Seo Mina.’
Awakening Seo Mina is a bit risky, so I was hesitant to do it myself, but this worked out well.
‘By the way…’
I looked at the black coin in my hand with a mysterious expression.
“I didn’t expect to get a Black Coin.”
It’s a special coin that can be obtained with a very low probability when leaving a massive footprint in the Abyss.
Black and White Coins. They are indeed amazing and rare coins, but…
“I have plenty in my inventory.”
Unlike other colored coins, they aren’t infinite, but I have quite a few stored away.
After all, I can only start using the coins once I enter the Abyss and meet a merchant. Coins are basically a currency shared within the Abyss.
‘There’s also a hidden piece that uses black and white coins in the initial plan.’
I can use it then!
I organized the information in my mind and tossed the coin into my inventory before drawing my sword.
After a while, my eyes gradually adapted to the darkness, and I took out the headlamp I had prepared beforehand and turned it on to illuminate the path ahead.
“Let’s go. From now on, I’ll take the lead, and you’ll follow behind. You’ll keep an eye on the presence and handle anything we might miss or overlook.”
I handed her a headlamp as well and briefly explained the plan.
The reason I brought her along as insurance, even sharing information about this ruin and dividing experience points, was not only for her awakening.
‘All the monsters here are weak to light and fire attributes.’
Even if the person who previously tackled this place was a promising rookie, would they have been able to navigate a hidden stage with a difficulty greater than the tutorial without any issues?
No matter how much elixirs she consumed, received weapons, and practiced adequately, real battles differ from training. It’s absurd to think that someone, who barely defeated a few tutorial monsters, would dig into the ground and try to kill all the subterranean monsters without taking a single scratch.
This was all because she awakened her unique ability related to the light attribute.
In a future interview, I recall she mentioned that as soon as she unleashed her light attribute mana, all the monsters ran away.
‘They fear not just light attribute abilities, but all abilities that possess light and fire attributes!’
Moreover, the lightning attribute is a higher attribute combining both fire and light!
In other words, she was essentially a great partner who would make this hidden stage a bit easier and safer.
‘Let’s try to gain real experience here!’
I chose safety, knowing that I could monopolize the rewards. No, it’s odd to even think of it as a sacrifice.
Even though it’s a hidden stage, it’s still within the tutorial. Since I can’t level up more than level 10, it will just take a bit of time, but the experience points for both her and me are more than sufficient!
Just as I was about to step into the entrance in front of me, I realized what was wrong when I saw Seo Mina looking flustered.
“Can’t you sense anything yet?”
“Not yet… That’s too advanced of a technique. I need to spread a subtle current around to sense it…”
I understood. I was expecting too much. She couldn’t even properly control the current that was supposed to flow from her own body yet, so I had entrusted her with sensing presence.
I, thanks to my Mugeuk stat, can read presence with an expanded sense, so I thought others could do the same.
“I’ll signal you when an enemy appears since I can do it.”
With that, we loosened up our bodies and stepped into the entrance that loomed before us.
〚Hidden Stage: The Pyramid Where the Sun Sleeps – 1st Floor: The Gatekeeper’s Layer〛
As soon as I entered through the entrance, a message popped up, catching me off guard.
‘Is this a hidden stage in the form of a tower?’
There had been no mention of such a thing. Since this was from a tutorial I practically lived in, I had been curious enough to look into it in detail. There’s no way I could have missed or misinterpreted something so important, like pure gold slipping through my fingers.
The up-and-coming rookie only said they cleared the hidden stage easily and received a holy relic.
In other words, that guy only cleared the first floor!
‘But that changes nothing.’
Given the circumstances, bringing a partner might have been the right call after all.
In hidden stages, once you escape, you can’t return, so clearing as many floors as possible is key. With two people, we could conquer more floors than I could alone.
Then, it happened. The monsters, delighted to see fresh prey after so long, started to reveal themselves. They began to surround us, walking through the darkness.
Sensing their positions, I quietly gave her the situation report.
“We’re surrounded. Eight of them, all dog-like creatures.”
I swung my sword at the first monster that lunged at me.
Shing!
The creature, which had leaped to sink its fangs into my neck, was struck across the face, letting out a howl of agony as it hit the ground.
‘Too bad the sword’s effect didn’t trigger, or it would’ve been one strike.’
As I lowered my head, the fallen creature writhed and thrashed in the headlamp’s light, as though fighting to stay alive.
“Die.”
Thrust!
I calmly pierced its throat, delivering the final blow.
〚Common-Rank [F-] LV 7 Monster – Dark Dog has been slain〛
〚Contribution: 100%〛
〚Reward: 3x Purple Coins, 3x F-Grade Magic Stones〛
〚EXP: 30〛
With the rewards and experience tripled, my experience bar shot up.
-Grrrr! Bark! Bark!
-Woof! Woof! Woof!
Enraged by the death of their comrade, the remaining seven monsters let out vicious howls, lowering themselves into attack stances as if ready to tear us apart.
“Come at me! Seo Mina, get ready! They’re weak to light, so your attacks will be lethal!”
“Got it!”
At her response, the seven monsters charged at us all at once—four towards me, three towards Seo Mina.
Inhale.
I focused on the approaching creatures, feeling their movements with my senses. Gathering the immense strength in my right arm, I swung my sword with all my might.
I timed my strike perfectly, aiming for the moment the foolish beasts leaped off the ground, mouths wide open. Pulling my blade from left to right, I delivered a devastating blow.
Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!
The heads of the four Dark Dogs soared through the air, blood spraying from their bodies as they collapsed to the ground, staining it with black ichor.
〚Common-Rank [F-] LV 9 Monster – Dark Dog has been slain〛
〚Contribution: 100%〛
〚Reward: 3x Purple Coins, 3x F-Grade Magic Stones〛
〚EXP: 30〛
.
.
.
〚Level Up!〛
〚You have gained 1 free point.〛
〚Level Up!〛
〚You have gained 1 free point.〛
With the tripled experience from slaying four monsters, my level rose twice, granting me two more free points.
‘I’ll invest these all into the Mugeuk stat.’
I immediately allocated all three free points into the Mugeuk stat, and instantly, a surge of energy washed over me, erasing the tension from the recent battle.
“Status window.”
『Status Window:
Name: Shin Juha
Title: X
LV 3 (0%)
Stats:
Misfortune (Legendary) F- (42/100)
Heavenly Fortune (Mythical) F- (41/100)
Mugeuk (Mythical) F- (28/100)
Unyielding Spirit (Legendary) F- (1/100)
Available Points: 0
Authority:
[Golden Tower LV1] [Heavenly Fortune LV1]』
[Curse of Misfortune (Legendary) LV1 (MAX)][Equivalent Exchange (Origin) LV1][Mythical Mugeuk LV1][Ultimate Soul LV1]
Skills:
[Heart of the Giant (Legendary) LV0 (Partially Sealed with Level Restriction)][First Wing of Pride (Mythical) LV1]
After returning, in less than a week, I experienced growth that was truly astonishing.
‘All of this is thanks to the Golden Tower.’
The unique ability I was on the brink of losing due to the damn curse of misfortune has evolved into a divine power through the primordial spring, granting me three absurd unique abilities through nectar.
Moreover, my stats have blossomed into four. Of course, one of those being a trap is the issue.
‘Without even raising my stats, my Heavenly Fortune increases alongside it. What the hell?’
It’s absurd. I clicked my tongue and closed the status window, turning around.
Crackle!!!
The battle against Seo Mina and the Black Dog was also one-sided. In the face of her electric current, monsters born in darkness and feeding on it were far too weak.
Kieeek!
As their dying cries echoed, it seemed she leveled up as well, opening her status window to check her stats.
“Easy, right?”
“It feels like my power is contrary to these creatures. I didn’t even need to draw my spear.”
She tapped the folding spear at her waist as she said this, and I nodded in agreement.
“Then let’s take care of all the monsters we see from now on. Let’s maximize our gains here.”
Crackle!
Instead of answering, Seo Mina drew her spear and surrounded herself with electric currents. The two of us began to advance through the ruins’ maze, effortlessly dispatching monsters with overwhelming power.
***
Swoosh!
〚Normal-Rank [F-] LV 9 Monster – Dark Dog Slained〛
〚Contribution: 100%〛
〚Reward: Purple Coin ×3, F- Magic Stone ×3〛
〚Experience: 30〛
〚LEVEL UP!〛
〚You have gained 1 surplus point.〛
Having leveled up for the fourth time since entering the ruins, I invested the surplus points into the mythical stat, raising it to 30, and wiped the black blood off my sword as I caught my breath.
“Should we take a little break?”
“Good idea. I’ve exhausted my magic power, so I’m feeling worn out.”
Since her stats were still low, her magic had just dimmed moments ago. Consequently, her speed in taking down monsters slowed down, forcing me to handle more of them.
Without the overwhelming counter ability of lightning magic against those creatures, she had become too weak to even face two Dark Dogs alone.
That said, it didn’t mean she couldn’t fight. I wasn’t tired of defeating more monsters to gain experience either.
I hadn’t expected more from her in the first place, and considering it was only the second day in the Abyss, her capabilities were still impressive.
“Right, let’s rest here for a bit and then go after the boss.”
I immediately sat down, catching my breath and placing my sword on the ground.
‘Is it because of that curse of misfortune?’
The sword’s effect, which should have activated with a 20% chance, hadn’t triggered even once during the battle.
Thanks to that, hunting the monsters became increasingly tedious, but considering I had leveled up to five, I wasn’t too angry.
‘Before my regression, it took at least a month to reach level five, if I remember correctly.’
I couldn’t even recall how many horned rabbits I had to hunt to gain experience points.
Of course, since the maximum level you could reach during the tutorial was 10, I couldn’t surpass that.
‘So, I’ll reach level 10 in this hidden stage.’
The experience from Dark Dogs was on par with goblins. Naturally, their strength was similar, but that wasn’t a significant issue for me.
‘If there’s a first floor, there must be upper floors as well.’
There didn’t seem to be any reason to stay here. While I didn’t know what monsters might appear on the second or third floors, they would surely provide more experience than the first floor.
Just as I was about to take a break and revise my plan before entering the hidden stage!
Chilling!
Boom!!!
The ground shook, and a loud noise resonated as something collided with the upper part of the wall we were leaning against, causing it to collapse.
“Guh!”
“Ahhh!”
Our reactions were quick. The moment I felt a slight tremor in the wall through my senses, I hurriedly pulled Seo Mina and myself to the side.
Thanks to that, we avoided being crushed by the debris of the collapsing wall. But…
Grrrr!!!
Kaaarng!!!
The moment I saw the creature that appeared with a massive roar, I couldn’t help but tense up.
After all, the opponent was the ruler and overseer of this floor…the boss.
〚Rare-Rank [F] LV 21, Stage-1 Boss: The Two-Headed Hound of Darkness〛
〚The Boss has escaped the Boss Room for unknown reasons!〛
〚Raid has been forcibly initiated!〛
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