Chapter 8
Han Ji-an handed the melon-flavored ice cream to his sister and headed to the bathroom, saying he’d take a shower.
Turning on the water, he pulled out the Magic Stone obtained after defeating the Variant Monster.
Compared to all the other Magic Stones he had acquired, this one contained an embarrassingly high concentration of pure magic.
Moreover, Magic Stones from Variant Monsters were known to hold special powers, fetching higher prices in the market. But selling it would leave a trail.
After all, the number of people who entered that Gate was fixed.
Still, if he sold just this one, he could afford his sister’s rehabilitation treatment.
The decision didn’t take long.
There was no need to take unnecessary risks. It would take more time, but he could gather the money gradually.
“Nika, can you eat a Magic Stone?”
【Can I really eat it?】
“Of course, you hunted it, after all.”
【I love you!】
As Nika lovingly rubbed her face against him, Han Ji-an urged her to go ahead and eat it. She swallowed it in one gulp.
Not just Growth Stones—she could eat Magic Stones too.
“How is it? Do you feel any changes in your body?”
【It’s delicious!】
Wait, what? Was that it?
Opening Nika’s status window, Han Ji-an noticed a new line had appeared.
The problem was that the text was corrupted.
【■■■■■ Veronica】
An ancient lifeform recorded in old texts.
Possesses immense power and can be an ally or an enemy depending on the user.
Danger Level: Unmeasurable.
Special Skill: Clone.
Special Mode: Nika ver. 0.1.
Special ■■: ■■■■.
What is “Special ■■” supposed to mean!? Is it Special Mode version 0.2? Is that it? Please, just tell me already!
After repeatedly opening and closing the status window, he gave up.
Maybe it would reveal itself with time.
…Yeah, right. Even now, three years later, two of his skills were still locked.
“Oppa, are you done yet?”
“Almost finished!”
He hadn’t even started, but he quickly rushed through the shower and came out to find his sister holding a hairdryer.
“Come here.”
“Sis, men don’t usually dry their hair.”
“Not drying your hair increases the chances of baldness.”
“I’ll leave it to you, then.”
When it comes to hair, everyone is equal.
Of course, there are exceptions, but those are the fortunate few.
Naturally, Han Ji-an didn’t fall into that category.
***
“Phew, are you ready, Nika?”
【Of course!】
Ah, he wished she’d said, “Of course, Master!” like before.
But already, he was about to challenge the fifth floor.
In the Tower, every fifth floor had a mini-boss, and every tenth floor had a boss monster.
Even mini-bosses were significantly stronger than the monsters from the previous four floors combined, causing a sharp spike in difficulty. However, the rewards were equally lucrative.
In short, it was all or nothing!
“Enter!”
【Entering the Tower.】
Arriving at the massive entrance, he opened the door, and a message appeared.
【Do you wish to enter the fifth floor?】
Accept / Decline
“Accept!”
【Entering the fifth floor.】
───────────────
【Fifth Floor Mission: Defeat 30 Flame Rabbits!】
【Time Limit: Within 12 hours.】
【Restriction: No elemental weapons or elemental magic.】
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The Flame Rabbits were enormous, their entire bodies engulfed in flames.
If you had water-based magic or weapons enchanted with water attributes, it would be an easy task. However, the restriction made that impossible.
Because of this, the fifth floor was known as the “Wailing Floor,” with significantly more monsters appearing compared to previous floors.
The terrain of the fifth floor was a volcanic zone, and the intense heat radiating from the surroundings caused sweat to pour down instantly.
Expecting someone to hunt Flame Rabbits in these conditions—what kind of madness was this difficulty level?
How had other Awakened cleared up to the 50th floor in this insane Tower?
If the fifth floor was like this, then the 50th floor must be…
【Master!】
Nika called out urgently, stepping in front of him just as a massive fireball flew toward them.
She shattered the fireball with her large claws, but had it hit Han Ji-an, he might have said farewell to the world today.
“Th-thanks, Nika.”
Her trembling body reflected her anger as her eyes glowed intensely.
【How dare they! How dare they!】
With a massive roar, Nika began transforming into the fearsome form she had taken in the Gate.
Just looking at her, she seemed terrifyingly formidable.
And there wasn’t just one of her—there were two.
【I’ll hunt. You protect.】
【You hunt. I’ll protect.】
With those words, one Nika darted forward while the other stayed by Han Ji-an’s side, shielding him from incoming attacks.
It was reassuring, but also unnerving. Could she move just a little farther away?
【Three Flame Rabbits defeated.】
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【Five Flame Rabbits defeated.】
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【Eight Flame Rabbits defeated.】
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Watching Nika hunt the Flame Rabbits, Han Ji-an couldn’t tell who the predator was anymore.
So who was the aggressor here? Wasn’t it Nika, invading the Flame Rabbits’ burrow and slaughtering them?
【Twelve Flame Rabbits defeated.】
When I first arrived here, those guys attacked me first, didn’t they?
I almost left this world without even leaving a will, so this is self-defense.
【15 Flame Rabbits defeated.】
After defeating 15 of them, a black window appeared before me.
At the same time, I understood why the fifth floor was called a cursed section.
【The Flame Rabbits, sensing danger, are merging.】
The remaining Flame Rabbits gathered in one spot and began fusing.
Thus, the true boss revealed itself.
【The Giant Flame Rabbit has appeared.】
“Rabbiiiit!”
The enormous rabbit appeared, holding two massive fireballs, and hurled them at us.
Nika stepped forward to block them with her body.
“Nika!”
【I’m fine!】
Reassuring me, Nika’s two bodies merged into one.
Using her Special Mode, Nika ver. 0.1, she transformed into a grotesque figure, and in the blink of an eye, she tore off the Flame Rabbit’s arm.
The Giant Flame Rabbit writhed in pain and tried to resist, but it couldn’t stop Nika.
【16 Flame Rabbits defeated.】
“Did we win!?”
…Wait, hold on. I defeated a monster made of the remaining fifteen, so why does it count as one?
Then, what about the other fourteen?
Unfortunately, my ominous premonition came true.
With a burst of light, fourteen Giant Flame Rabbits appeared.
Each one held a fireball in both hands, but instead of aiming at Nika, they threw them at me.
In response, Nika shielded me from dozens of fireballs, taking the full brunt of the attack.
“N-Nika!”
【I’m okay!】
Although she responded brightly, she had taken immense damage, incomparable to before.
Her trembling body shielded me from incoming fireballs, and she smiled so I wouldn’t worry.
…A being that protects and defends me without asking for anything in return.
And yet, why can’t I do anything for Nika?
Why am I so powerless, unable to even protect my own summoned creature?
Seeing Nika smile despite her pain to reassure me, tears streamed down my face.
I want to help too.
At that moment, a message appeared.
【Prerequisite met!】
Love is not one-sided; it’s mutual.
【Unique Ability: Unlocking a portion of Infinite Love’s power!】
───────────────
Name: Han Ji-an
Age: 23
Gender: Male
【Unique Abilities】
Random Summon (Grade: E·)
Infinite Love (Grade: EX)
■■■■ – Locked (Grade: ■■)
■■■■ – Locked (Grade: ■■)
Prerequisites must be met to unlock abilities.
【Infinite Love】
- The summoner’s creature will eternally love the summoner.
- The summoner’s creature will release its full power depending on how much the summoner loves it.
- Locked.
- Locked.
───────────────
A pitch-black aura rose from the ground and began flowing into Nika.
At the same time, her form started to change.
She became increasingly grotesque, like a demon rising from hell.
Even the monsters screamed in terror, sensing the overwhelming aura.
“Rabbiiiit!”
Already terrifying before, Nika now transformed into something incomparable. As she opened her mouth, a writhing mass of energy began gathering.
The small black orb radiated an ominous light, pulling the monsters toward it like a black hole.
Was it just my imagination, or did I hear the screams of monsters begging for their lives?
【19 Flame Rabbits defeated.】
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【25 Flame Rabbits defeated.】
───────────────
【30 Flame Rabbits defeated.】
【Mission Cleared!】
Rewards are being distributed.
【New fifth-floor record achieved!】
Registered in the Hall of Fame.
【Do you wish to proceed to the next floor?】
Accept / Decline
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