#13 Item Boost (3)
When I stood up, my entire body was covered in wounds. The scraped skin stung fiercely. Still, nothing felt broken—no fractured bones anywhere. I'd have some bruises, sure, but considering how I'd rolled across the ground, my condition was pretty decent. The real problem was the burns around the bracelet, where the flesh had festered like rot.
"This is just great."
Using iron must've been the issue. My body couldn't handle the intense heat that burst from the bracelet in that instant. Blisters had formed and burst, leaving both arms a mess.
"Wh-what the hell is all this?!"
Han Seohyun freaked out, but I brushed it off.
It hurt like hell, but skin-deep damage like this was nothing I couldn't heal in no time. I channeled mana there, accelerating my body's recovery, and watched the wounds knit shut before my eyes.
"Hiiik!"
Han Seohyun stared at me like I was some monster as the injuries closed up. But while the other wounds healed quickly, the burns showed no sign of mending.
Maybe the surrounding tissue had died off completely. Was plain recovery not enough?
Yeah! You idiot. Burns don't heal with basic recovery. Regeneration might work, but every cell that could help is dead—how's new flesh supposed to grow?
'Then just regenerate it.'
You've burned through every drop of mana in your body. If you tap the bracelet's power again...
'I'll get burned again.'
Exactly. So wait for your body to recover. Once your mana refills, heal the arm first.
But I wanted to test the bracelet more right away.
'What if I buff flame resistance first and then draw the mana?'
You reckless fool!
I was about to boost my flame resistance and pull mana from the bracelet again when—
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Han Seohyun glared at me with murderous eyes.
"Testing it out, obviously."
"Look at your arm, Boss! The wounds haven't even healed yet, and you're gonna do it again?!"
"If I boost flame resistance first, it should be fine th—ow! What was that for?!"
Before I could finish, Han Seohyun pinched my forearm hard enough to make me jump in my seat.
"Just checking if you'd lost sensation from the pain."
"I'm human too—it hurts like hell."
Han Seohyun stared at me wordlessly.
My boss dignity...
Tch. She was just worried, so I couldn't snap at her too harshly.
"I won't go full idiot mode like before. Don't worry."
"I'll go make dinner."
Han Seohyun shot me a final warning glare with her eyes before heading to the tent.
She's got spirit. Still, she said what I was thinking. You've only got one body! Cherish it, especially. It's got a ton of mana circuits, sure, but your durability is just average awakener level. You keep forgetting that.
Every word rang true.
Plus, with flame resistance up, you won't be able to use other abilities.
"Huh?"
Didn't you say your mana circuits cap at two strokes? One stroke for the circuit drawing mana from the artifact. One for another ability. That's your limit—exactly two.
"Ah, got it."
So the total strokes I could use at once topped out at two.
"You can split those two strokes, though."
Yeah. Dump 'em all into one talent, or split like this. The more you split, the harder control gets.
I still didn't fully grasp all the mana circuits in my body. One stroke, two strokes—I was just getting a feel for it so far.
If I observed or familiarized myself more, maybe I could even visualize them.
Either way, if I could increase my stroke limit and activate all these talents embedded in my circuits at once...
Maybe I'd become a total cheater character?
Ray was right, though—splitting made control way tougher.
Unlike the mana bracelet, which got backup calculations from the artifact and Ray, juggling other talents split my focus and made my head throb like it was splitting open.
Two talents simultaneously was my max right now.
Like writing an English diary with my right hand while solving complex math with my left.
But I had no intention of ditching this ability. I didn't need to think hard to know how broken dual-talent use was.
Practice more, and it'll get easier.
I had to trust Ray on that.
Anyway, I spent the entire evening testing the bracelet.
'Max safe output without overloading my body is about 30%.'
Assuming the mana stone powder packed into the bracelet was 100% power, 30% was my safe single-use limit.
Of course, I could push higher if I didn't mind the damage.
But that'd blow me up from the inside.
Either way, this bracelet massively boosted our team's firepower. Or more precisely, mine—Kang Ishin's.
As long as we kept supplying mana stone powder, I could fight indefinitely without mana shortages.
With enough mental stamina and endurance, I could spam firepower for hours.
You'll just last longer than others—fatigue will build up the more you use it. It won't go as smoothly as your optimistic ass thinks. Like I said, one body only! You could collapse from the inside.
Ray warned me, but I let it slide off like water. I was humming without realizing it—mood was sky-high.
Ah, so this is what item carry feels like!
The high didn't last. I picked up a stick and sat on the ground, pondering.
Power up means time to think of jobs for it.
I wrote our team's three names in the dirt.
Han Seohyun, Kim Jaeho, and me.
Han Seohyun was still too green for frontline combat. But she had uses elsewhere.
Insane info absorption for one. Plus summons and sub-space as hidden cards. Her role was clear.
Han Seohyun = Supporter.
Put Kim Jaeho on combat duty, me as brain/leader, and we'd have a perfect trio.
But I glanced at Kim Jaeho's cage. Hugging the bear doll I'd bought him while sleeping—he wasn't combat-ready yet. Needed more time.
I erased Kim Jaeho's name and wrote mine next to it.
Kim Jaeho, Kang Ishin = Combat, Leader, Brain.
I'm doing everything? Lame.
'My original plan was to snag talented folks and chill in the back, sucking honey.'
Nothing for it till the team's solid.
Hunter-rank wise, my power translated to about 5-star now. With tricks, I could handle 6-star. Assuming no head-on fights.
'Push output risking body damage...'
Two 6-stars in a burst.
Followed by major downtime, but still—huge leap.
Snagging Ray was pure luck.
Alright, I can accelerate plans big time.
Got some scheme brewing?
'Was gonna hole up here till winter, but I can head out sooner.'
Perfect timing—an auction this month.
I beckoned Han Seohyun.
"What now."
She'd soured a bit from all the chores lately.
"Gonna give you a big job you might actually like."
"Last time you said that, you honored me with building the toilet myself."
"Nah, this one's real."
Han Seohyun rolled her eyes but sat.
"Auction's coming up."
"Auction?"
Three high-rank gates cleared recently.
First: Wyrm's Nest, tackled by Korea's top guild, Sirius.
Second: Labyrinth of Ophre, by Red Dog Guild.
Too bad—their loot won't hit auction. Elites keep the best in-house.
But the third: AA-rank Vampire Village. Three major guilds, over ten mid/small ones joined. Minor stuff split by contribution, but big prizes go to auction for profit shares.
"Yeah, auction. Hunters, rich folks—all flocking there. Perfect debut spot for us."
"Debut."
"Told you. We're gonna be major villains."
Han Seohyun swallowed hard.
"Nail this, and all Korea knows us."
Auctions have wild stuff. No memory of attending this one, so unsure on specifics. But AAA-gate? Bound to be gems.
Memory fuzzy? No issue.
We've got a top info gatherer.
"You said you're confident in intel collection?"
Han Seohyun's eyes sparkled.
"Yes!"
"Dig it up then. Everything on that auction."
* * *
"What about Jaeho-hyung during the op?"
Ah, right—that snag. Artifact crafting let me leave him with Han Seohyun, but she was needed here.
Days alone? He'd starve.
"Hire a pet sitter?"
"You're kidding."
"Obviously."
Geum Doctor? Nah, not his vibe. Kim Jaeho hated strangers anyway.
Hm. No choice.
I stood before the cage, hand on the lock.
"Wh-what are you doing?! Opening that?!"
Even Han Seohyun, who'd spent time with him, thought it was insane.
"You said it yourself—we can't keep Jaeho locked forever. And saying we wanna get close while caging him? Kinda ridiculous."
Impossible to bond with bars in the way.
Time to let him out.
If he bolts? Activate his collar or tranq him.
Worst case, but pray it doesn't come to that.
I spoke to Kim Jaeho glaring from the corner.
"I know you don't wanna stay cooped up forever."
"......"
No reply.
But it'll reach him. His eyes shook looking at me.
"Wanna live like a person? Gotta come out. You know that."
So far, Kim Jaeho was just our "dog." More livestock than pet.
To be comrades, reclaim freedom? He had to step out himself.
"Stay if you wanna be a dog. But to live as Kim Jaeho? Walk out on your own feet."
I flung the cage door open and backed away slowly.
At first, Kim Jaeho just eyed us suspiciously, not moving.
Then, slowly.
He started crawling out on all fours. He lifted his gaze, face full of disbelief at being outside.
Wanna stand him up, but too soon.
Staggering briefly, he kicked off and bolted. Slipping between me and Han Seohyun like a beast, arrowing forward.
"Gasp!"
Han Seohyun looked at me in shock. I reached for the collar control.
But...
My hand hesitated on the button.
"What are you doing?! Hit it—now!"
"Force him back? Repeat this crap? Lock him up again and wait?"
"Uh..."
"How long we gotta do this?"
Han Seohyun gaped blankly at my question.
"But letting him go like that..."
I smirked at her pained grimace.
"Better than being forced to stay with us."
This mountain was off-limits to all. Kim Jaeho could survive. Best physical specs around.
His combat power? Others could fill in.
But his life?
"Can't force him if he hates it."
Was teaming with him just my greed?
I watched Kim Jaeho's back as he fled toward freedom.
The first true "freedom" he'd taste in this world—I had no plans to interfere.