Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Not only items from the Tower.
Shati can transform into anything made by human intelligence on this planet.
Even if I don’t understand how it was created.
She is the unquestionable king of tools, standing far above something like “King of All Weapons.”
Rattle.
A reel winding sound echoed.
The form I asked Shati to take wasn’t a staff, but a fishing rod.
A massive 18-meter fishing rod with dozens of hooks attached to a single fishing line.
This was what I threw at Kwon Ki-jeong before pulling back.
It was so detailed that it could be displayed in a fishing shop without anyone noticing it was abnormal.
Reel, line, hooks, everything perfectly replicated.
Because Shati and I only need to stay within five meters for the execution condition to remain valid, even if the target is far away, this kind of weapon still works perfectly.
[System]
Target “Kwon Ki-jeong” execution condition satisfied 7/10
“Shati, keep it tight.”
(Yes… hold… tight…)
As Kwon Ki-jeong advanced, I kept stepping back, tightening the fishing line.
8/10
Rattle.
“Ugh?”
The hooks were designed like twisted steel tridents, meant to tear into flesh no matter what.
9/10
He tried desperately to shake off the entangling line, but it was already too late.
“Aaaagh!”
10/10
Shati floated back beside me.
(Fishing rod… first time… in real fight…)
“You didn’t hesitate. That’s why it worked.”
(Hihi… praise… thank you…)
Shati turned her face away, but I could see the corners of her mouth twitching in satisfaction.
[System]
Do you wish to execute target “Kwon Ki-jeong”?
“I execute Kwon Ki-jeong.”
[System]
Executing target “Kwon Ki-jeong”
“I sever the tendons of his limbs and remove his right earlobe.”
“…Grrrgh.”
Kwon Ki-jeong collapsed to his knees and lost consciousness.
Shati’s execution grants me authority over the target’s life and death upon meeting the condition.
I can kill instantly by destroying the heart or brain, or I can cripple them permanently by removing limbs.
My goal is cursed item farming, so there’s no need to kill him.
[System]
Boss monster eliminated.
The Gate will disappear in 5 minutes.
(Imja… that…)
“Yeah.”
Beside the fallen Kwon Ki-jeong, I picked up a blood-stained golden earring.
Its design was strange and unsettling, as if it didn’t belong to this world.
It felt light in weight, but strangely heavy in my palm.
A cursed item that grants overwhelming power and wipes out everything nearby.
“Let’s check it. How good is it?”
I unclipped it and placed it on my ear.
[System]
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
This item is contaminated with <Curse> status effect.
We strongly recommend immediate removal.
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
Recommended removal time has been exceeded.
<Temptor, Molech>
Item Rank: A
Item Status: <Curse>
Current curse effects: memory distortion, body heat overload, obsession, moral inversion
Foolish Moth: All target’s stats increase tenfold in strength, durability, and endurance, but mental power is reduced to zero and <Curse> is applied.
Feast Day: “Molech’s Game” activates high-pressure compression and high-frequency vibration within a 20-meter radius.
(Cooldown: 15 seconds)
Suddenly, I was among a crowd.
Under a scorching sun, a boy walked into a red-hot bronze bull.
It was an illusion created by the cursed item.
A hallucination. A distortion.
Rattle.
Drums echoed through the sky.
Faster and faster.
Smoke poured out of the bull as screams erupted, and the crowd cheered.
“Another brave one joins us.”
A woman stood atop the bull.
Her face was obscured by sunlight, but her smiling mouth was clearly visible.
Instinctively, I knew it like I did with Shati.
That woman was the true body of the cursed item.
“Why did Kwon Ki-jeong have you?”
“Is that truly important? Why not join as well? Come, partake in my game.”
Her voice echoed directly inside my head.
“There is no greater pleasure than surrendering to me. Come.”
“I refuse your command.”
“Fufu, how stubborn. Without kneeling, you cannot join my game.”
A massive shadow descended from the sky.
“Choose. Be crushed to death, or obey.”
[System]
This Awakener is immune to <Curse> status effects.
(Imja…)
Shati’s voice snapped me back.
The burning sun was gone. I was still inside the Gate.
Only a few seconds had passed.
But it felt like minutes had gone by inside the illusion.
(Spacing out…)
“It’s nothing.”
A burning pain spread through my ear.
“You still refuse to obey.”
(If you want me… give me your body. Otherwise, I will burn you.)
What kind of rebellious item is this?
I placed the earring into my inventory.
Ding.
[Achievement: Cursed One]
[Hidden Skill: Materialization acquired]
Triggered when an Awakener possesses multiple A-grade cursed items contaminated with <Curse>.
Wait.
A skill?
Skills normally require reaching at least Rank 4.
And I got one just for collecting cursed items?
Well, someone has to study these things.
Hidden Skill: Materialization
Rank: A
Maximum items that can be materialized: 1
Materializes the soul of a cursed item for 30 minutes.
Cooldown: 24 hours
Materialization effect—
Wait.
Does this mean I can materialize Shati?
“Shati.”
(What…?)
“You once said you wanted to breathe and be touched for real, right?”
(You remember… old words?)
We had only talked about it once before, a long time ago.
“Of course I remember.”
That wish.
Maybe I can give you a taste of it.
The next morning.
I had collapsed into bed without even showering, completely exhausted.
The first thing I did after waking up was open the community forum.
Title: Lighter located
Author: Eternal Rank 3
Kwon Ki-jeong was found in District A.
Apparently discovered at a construction site.
Currently under investigation?
└ Was the cursed item thing fake? They said no strange items were found.
└ I got hit by plaster during this mess, pay me back lol
The Awakener community was still full of cursed item discussions.
└ Gate break caused monster outbreak, CCTV was down
The small Gate break from yesterday had caused chaos.
└ News says Kwon Ki-jeong has partial memory loss
└ “I don’t remember anything”
└ Dude killed people and forgot lol
└ Says he was subdued by an unknown man and voluntarily discarded the earring
└ No high-rank Awakeners were deployed in A district, so who took him down?
└ Must be some hidden monster lol
Good.
If I had been exposed, things would’ve gotten complicated.
But most people don’t even consider cursed item collectors a possibility.
So I should be fine… as long as I stay careful.
More importantly, my new skill, Materialization.
I needed to test it immediately.
Knock knock.
My phone vibrated.
A delivery notification appeared.
Your package has arrived.
Three boxes were placed at my door.
Perfect timing.
I opened them.
“Shati. This is your gift.”
(Gift…?)
“You said you wanted to try clothes, and I’ve never shopped for a girl before. I just ordered what I saw online.”
It was a trending winter casual outfit set.
Something I saw from a fashion influencer.
(Imja… best…)
[System]
Select a cursed item to apply Materialization.
“Shati. Materialize.”
<King of All Weapons, Shati>, Materialization activated.
Shati slowly rose from the bed.
“Hi… hello…”
“Uh… yeah…”
Even though I see her every day, seeing her fully physical form is on a completely different level.
It’s the first time I’ve seen her properly standing there after ten years.
My heart skipped for a moment, but I kept my expression calm.
“Pick whatever outfit you like. And we’re doing an experiment.”
“Experiment…?”
We have a five-meter restriction.
Even in spirit form, it never changes.
But what about now that she has a body?
Step one.
“Go over there.”
From my room to the end of the living room, that’s at least 12 meters.
It worked.
She crossed the 5-meter limit.
Step two.
“Can you go outside?”
(Imja… watching… learning…)
I swallowed.
“Good. Go to the recycling area.”
The door clicked open.
Shati walked out slowly.
Within three minutes, she was outside, standing by the recycling area, waving shyly.
I waved back while reading the skill description.
Materialized items are no longer affected by distance penalties.
They can enter Towers and Gates with the user, and retain their abilities.
However, performance is reduced by 50 percent.
And they can still equip cursed items.
So that’s it.
This skill turns cursed items into combat companions.
What about Shati’s stats?
Rank: S-class item
HP: 280
Strength: 80
Endurance: 90
Mental Power: - <Curse>
Agility: 450
Perfectly understood.
From now on, it’s Tower time attack mode.