Chapter 16
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 016
Chapter Title: Rewards Doubled
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The moment Newbie Shield activated,
a nationwide announcement rang out across all of Korea...
?
???
???????
What the fuck...
Haegyeom's chat window flipped out first.
What's up with everyone?
Something happen? Is what Dragon Emperor did that big a deal???
Oh, non-awakened can't see announcements huh.
Ah... another announcement? Fuck, already pissed I didn't awaken, now I can't even see them.
'19th Floor Parking Villain' has sponsored 50,000 won!
Dragon Emperor? Dragon Emperor? Dragon Emperor? Dragon Emperor? Dragon Emperor? Dragon Emperor? ····Thank you!
So what the hell is it anyway?
'Woosung Leader' has sponsored 300,000 won!
Whoa, this is real; thank you so much! Alright, we'll head off to tackle the gate. Fighting for Floor 6 clear!
???
Whoa fu... Newbie protection period now lasts a week. Insane.
What is it, you weeb?
Hunter stats boosted 20% for a week.
Hmm.
Tower clear rewards boosted 50% too.
Hmm.
All gates nationwide on pause.
?? No gate breaks for a week? That makes shit way safer???
Yeah
Whoa.
And it's Korea only lol
God Dragon Emperor! God Dragon Emperor! God Dragon Emperor! God Dragon Emperor! God Dragon Emperor! God Dragon Emperor!
Real god tier...
Doubters confirmed it was real.
Those in the dark learned the truth.
Awakened or not, everyone cheered.
Didn't know about this. Guess I'll try pushing through that tower park I stalled on?
Fuck yeah, heading out now. 20% stat boost? Easy mode!
Eh, kinda iffy for me... but worth a shot?
Go for it. In 7 days, you can climb at least one more floor, right?
OK, challenge accepted!
Awakened folks brimmed with hope to retry stalled tower climbs.
Damn, gotta take the kid to my parents' now. Too scared of gates to travel till now...
Deliveries safe this week? Time to stock up on essentials!
Finally safe to drink all night outside. Hell yeah, drooling already.
No gates for a full week? Insane... Small businesses saved by God Dragon Emperor.
Non-awakened rejoiced at a week of safety.
Indeed, even just a week of Newbie Protection Period had massive ripple effects.
'And if hunters get stronger during this time, gate clears afterward will be even easier.'
It would create a virtuous cycle.
And above all.
The item's effects are doubled for the user who activated it!
For Haegyeom himself, the effects were even greater.
Stats up a whopping 40%.
Rewards up a whopping 100%!
Right after activating Newbie Shield, power surged through his body.
"Whoa..."
Haegyeom clenched his fist.
The sudden strength boost was pure ecstasy in itself.
Whoa, Dragon Emperor, you had this all planned huh.
Wondered how you'd SSS+ Floor 6 lololol but with this? Possible!
Viewers' hype for an SSS+ clear exploded.
Maybe with Newbie Shield-boosted stats, it was doable!
However.
But Drong's breath at +20%... enough? Unless it splits or something.
Just as someone pointed out.
"Yeah. Speed-clearing Floor 6 with just this? No way."
Salvation Tower Floor 6.
Mission: 'Eliminate Orc Squad'.
Orcs appear here.
Split into main force and detachment.
"Main force up front, detachment in the rear. Even stronger breath won't take both at once."
'Well, truth is Drong's not my summon so his breath didn't boost anyway.'
Anyway.
The issue was this.
Floor 6 monsters: 'two groups'.
Coming from opposite directions.
To handle that with Drong's breath?
'Gotta fire it twice, inevitably.'
Breath twice?
Not impossible.
Drong said he could.
But.
'That takes time.'
No 0.1-second clear like before.
Didn't know the exact SSS+ time limit, but dragging it out probably wouldn't cut it.
So.
"I've got something prepared."
Haegyeom pulled the RHK-741 mana rifle from Inventory Room 104 and propped it on the ground.
Thud!
Huh?
That's a gun?
Guns allowed in the tower?
Nah, not really...
Technically possible. Just for a select few awakened.
Viewers panicked at the sight of the massive gun—145cm long, 12.7kg heavy.
Who could've expected it?
Dragon Emperor was a summoner no?
Gunner class? Then what's Drong?
????????
Then, gun nerds who recognized it got hyped.
Isn't that the RHK-741?
Holy shit, looks like it... That insane gun that spits large-caliber sniper rounds like crazy...
So heavy and powerful only hunters can use it?
Insane. US loans it to gun-awakened for early tower bulldozing. Super expensive one?
How the hell is Dragon Emperor holding that???
"They hooked me up when I asked. Today, we'll clear the tower with Drong's breath plus this."
Anonymous has sponsored 1,000 won!
Dragon Emperor, you didn't sign with the US... right?
Please no.
Nooooo ㅠㅠㅠ
Haegyeom grinned.
"I'm in Korea, folks."
Not contracted with the US.
He just took the best offer.
Which happened to be the Korea Awakening Management Bureau.
No need to spill that detail.
Anyway.
Click—
He loaded the mana rifle.
Then mounted it on the ground.
This beast even had a tripod.
And.
"Drong. Can you handle those guys over there?"
He tasked Drong with the Orc Squad's main force.
Pewk!
······Pewk?
Drong's head whipped around.
As if asking, 'What about the other side?'
"Yeah. I'll take care of that side."
Orc Squad: 10 in main force, 3 in detachment.
Detachment was far, but well within rifle range.
Tilt—nod.
Drong's head went up and down.
"Good."
Plan accepted.
Now, hit them simultaneously and smash the Orc Squad.
"Attack in sync when I fire."
Pewk!
Haegyeom went prone, aimed at the three halted orcs outside the safe zone.
Regulated his breathing.
"Hoo—"
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat—!!!
Pulled the trigger.
The three orcs turned to Swiss cheese instantly.
'Recoil control's way easier?'
Thanks to 40% stat boost, handling it felt smoother than practice.
And.
Kwaaaaaaaa—!!!
Drong nailed the main force too.
You cleared Salvation Tower Floor 6.
Attempts: 1
Clear Time: 0.6 seconds
Overall Clear Grade: SSS+
Dragon Emperor has cleared Salvation Tower Floor 6 with SSS+ grade!
It worked.
Congrats on insane SSS+.
Godlike.
"Thanks. Good job, Drong."
Pewk!
Haegyeom high-fived Drong.
Now, rewards.
First, dazzling light enveloped him, boosting his physical stats.
50% reward boost means bigger level-up stats too?
Yeah, that's why early big bang awakeners are OP. Way stronger than their floor suggests.
Whoa.
The stat jump felt huge compared to usual.
'Reward boost 100%... nice.'
Others got 50%, but Haegyeom's was 100%.
Other nations' hunters level once, Korea's 1.5.
Haegyeom? Full 2 levels.
'Mana stones will be insane too.'
Normally SSS+ would give 66kg, doubled?
132kg of mana stones.
Over 130 million won in cash!
'Drong's kids cafe... fully stocked!'
Time to go wild on cafe recharges.
Acquired base rewards for Salvation Tower Floor 6 clear.
Mana Stone 6kg
Acquired additional SSS+ grade rewards for Salvation Tower Floor 6 clear.
Mana Stone 60kg
Rewards increased by 100%.
Acquired additional Mana Stone 66kg.
Insane haul of mana stones.
"Phew."
Successful Floor 6 clear.
Same method should handle up to Floor 10 SSS+ no problem.
'At least one more Newbie Shield incoming.'
Satisfying outcome.
So.
Haegyeom thought that was it for rewards.
Salvation Tower reward 100% boost is active.
Climber's unique ability is enhanced.
"What?"
Unique ability enhancement?
"Why this..."
Normally only on boss floors every 5 levels.
—That.
Had appeared as a reward for 'regular floor' 6!