Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Laying the Foundations (8)
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After pulling out all the attribute mana stored in the accumulation magic tool in the form of a ring and using it up, I scratched my neck as I looked at the limp evolved species.
"Hmm..."
I knew there was a considerable amount of attribute mana contained in the ring-shaped accumulation magic tool.
I had fully anticipated that unleashing at least 2,000 worth at once would deliver tremendous power.
'But I didn't expect the result to be like this.'
I had merely concentrated the attribute mana at the spear tip and thrust it in once—just once.
That single thrust charred the evolved species' hide to an unrecognizable black.
I quietly watched the smoke rising in wisps from what was now a massive pile of ashes.
Even the oily smell like roasting pork wafted through the air, accompanied by the familiar crackling of embers spreading nearby.
I hadn't cast any spells; I'd simply slammed a massive amount of attribute mana into it in one go.
And yet, the destructive power was on this level.
Standing in a daze before the evolved species' corpse, I soon decided to think of it positively.
'It could work as a finisher.'
Feeling both stunned and relieved, I turned my back on the dead monster.
Now it was time to go find the Meso.
But first, I had to finish off the players who were still unconscious but not yet dead.
'Only eight absorption messages popped up.'
That meant one of them was still alive somewhere.
Probably the one I hit with the spear I threw earlier.
The messages for the others had appeared the moment the evolved species got them.
I was about to search for that one and clean up when—
There was no need for me to step in.
「Mana is absorbed. Some contaminated mana is mixed in.」
It was the message that appeared when killing and absorbing from a player.
Turning my head, I saw Kim Yul's profile as he had come down.
He was trembling while clutching the spear I had lent him.
Lowering my gaze, I saw the spear that should have been embedded in the unnamed player's abdomen now plunged into his chest.
It seemed he had personally finished off the guy who had been gasping for breath, not quite dead.
I watched the scene quietly for a moment before walking over to Kim Yul and roughly ruffling his hair.
"Keep doing just like that from now on."
This wasn't telling him to take the easy path by only hunting players.
It was encouragement not to hesitate when someone else was after his life.
A single moment of hesitation could mean Kim Yul's death.
In a situation where everyone was out for each other's throats, only one life could be saved.
'I can't guarantee that if I stop, the other side will too.'
So, wasn't it obvious who to spare?
'It's arrogance to try blocking someone else's death while having no intention of offering up your own life.'
Fortunately, instead of replying to my blunt encouragement, Kim Yul just nodded slightly.
That made me feel a bit uneasy.
What happened today was an experience he shouldn't have had to go through.
In fact, I was here precisely so that Yeon-woo and Jin-woo wouldn't face something like this.
So why was Kim Yul, the same age as those two, going through this here?
Before I could swallow a sigh, the sound of retching reached my ears.
"Ugh, urk!"
Ahn Ki-jun, who had come down a step behind Kim Yul, was doubled over against a tree, vomiting his guts out.
A moment later, he staggered upright but rolled his eyes, unable to look straight at me.
He must have realized that one wrong move could turn him into another corpse sprawled here like the players.
I let out a satisfied smile without making it obvious.
Luring the PK offenders all the way here had been a hassle, but it was all for this very sight.
Unlike Kim Yul, with whom some mutual interests and trust had formed, Ahn Ki-jun was different.
So, while the servers were linked, I'd tracked his phone number through my information network and done some background checks.
I'd slipped into his house invisible and confirmed every family member.
Of course, I had no intention of harming them.
But if Ahn Ki-jun threatened my family for personal gain, I wouldn't hesitate.
That's why I'd flaunted the weakness-like information I held, repeating it like a show of force.
I'd even shown actions that might seem cruel.
Sure, I might have scared him a bit too much...
'But I need to make sure he doesn't go blabbing carelessly.'
This was the best way to make Ahn Ki-jun fear me.
'In truth, using all the attribute mana, it's not hard to paralyze nine people at once.'
Just spread the mana out wide.
Even so, instead of doing it myself, I'd let the evolved species kill the players.
'If I do it, it's just violence.'
No matter my skill, I'm human, just like Ahn Ki-jun.
'No matter what I do, it's hard to instill more than wariness or caution.'
But what if the evolved species gets involved?
'Humans fear the unknown more than what they know.'
If I kill players, it's just murder.
Everyone in modern society has encountered murder cases indirectly through the news.
Rare as it may be, they think it could happen.
But a monster they've never seen before massacring people?
'It's a completely unfamiliar event they've never witnessed or even heard of in their lives.'
More than enough to turn wariness into outright terror.
In that situation, what if I take down that monster?
Would their view of me still end at some vague "dangerous person"?
'No way.'
The incident just now established a clear benchmark: I'm stronger than a monster that massacred over seven players.
From now on, he'd fear me—and my retaliation.
At least until he thinks he can beat or handle me, he won't dare touch my family.
That would suffice for the time being.
'I can meet up sporadically and keep the pressure on.'
There are plenty of ways to control Ahn Ki-jun. So, this much for today.
"Hyung, let's get going. We need to destroy the Meso."
Draping an arm over Kim Yul's shoulder, I called out to Ahn Ki-jun.
"Y-Yeah..."
Soon, with the two in tow, I started moving.
With the guardian-rank evolved species gone, others would swarm to claim the Meso.
We had to destroy it first.
Fortunately, the map even marked the Meso's distinctive swirling mana vortex.
As I led the two along, fiddling with the spear in my hand.
'Used the sword more than the spear again today.'
It was a perennial issue in my combat patterns.
Even starting with the spear, I'd inevitably switch to the longsword or dagger.
'At this rate, it's embarrassing to call the spear my main weapon.'
Should I just switch my main to the sword?
'Honestly, the sword is easier to handle than the spear.'
Pondering it somewhat seriously, we arrived at the Meso's location.
Pig monsters had already begun gathering stealthily, circling the area.
I left dealing with them to Kim Yul and Ahn Ki-jun, then destroyed the Meso.
Of course, we didn't end the hunt there that day.
I did one more level 3—now marked as 1-star—Purification mission.
By the time we returned to Haven, the sun was setting.
But instead of heading to the Rashar estate, I went to the temple with the two.
Kim Yul and Ahn Ki-jun said they were returning to Earth.
So, killing two birds with one stone, I asked Ahn Ki-jun—who had freer movement—a few favors.
After seeing them off, I used the gate too.
Though my destination wasn't Earth.
[Would you like to move to Robolle? (Y/N)]
Robolle, the central hub. That was where I needed to go.
The meeting spot, decided just yesterday, was there.
'Been a while since I've seen their face.'
Recalling the one person I'd met exactly once, I hit yes.
* * *
Outpost 2, connected to Robolle Fortress.
Ethan arrived at the meeting spot right on time.
Those gathered first were eyeing each other warily while chatting in small groups.
Among them was Lily, whom Ethan knew well.
As if sensing his gaze, Lily turned to look at him.
They exchanged a brief nod, but an awkward air flowed between them.
It was natural, given their dynamic.
They'd hunted together early on through government ties, but the two didn't mesh well.
'Too by-the-book.'
That led to frequent clashes whenever they partied with Lily.
Parting ways with her and forming a new team had been a relief.
Fortunately, the new party was satisfying.
It was made up of like-minded people he'd met at MI5, after all.
Of course, they weren't here with him today.
"I'm Ethan Lembron."
"Ah, Mr. Lembron. Nice to finally meet you. Pleased to meet you."
"Likewise. Everyone arrived early?"
"Nerves, I suppose."
"First time meeting K, after all."
After greeting the players, Ethan naturally blended into their midst.
While doing so, he subtly observed the players present.
He noticed they fell into two categories.
One group hid their faces with masks, balaclavas, or lace.
The other, like Ethan and Lily, showed theirs openly.
'The latter outnumber the former a bit.'
Those were likely people already exposed to their governments.
No need to worry about identity if they're under official protection.
Ethan himself didn't mind them knowing his name and face.
Even if they did, they couldn't touch him in reality, protected by the UK government.
Conversely, the masked ones judged they still needed to hide.
As Ethan scanned the surrounding players observantly—
"Still, everyone's impressive, right? 3-4k is baseline, and some even hit 5k."
Fabian, who had greeted Ethan first, casually struck up conversation.
'He has detection magic.'
Ethan, who had scrimped every bit of mana to buy a rank 3 rock-series spell, had no tech or magic beyond mana operation.
During hunts, Lily had handled scouting and vigilance.
Even in his new party, someone else did recon.
"I don't have detection skills."
"Hmm, tank?"
"Yeah."
Ethan had tanked from the start through every hunt so far.
His gear was focused on shields and protective items, building up one by one.
"I'm a tank too."
"Oh."
"Glad to have another frontliner today. Looking forward to it."
"Yeah, me too."
Shaking hands with Fabian, Ethan thought.
'Already someone at 5k, huh.'
Mana growth was faster than before.
Among the previous leaders, only K had reached level 3.
They'd skipped level 2, unable to surpass the 3k entry threshold.
Yet, just one day after servers linked and hunting changed, averages had grown nearly 1.5 times.
Faster ones nearing 5k—practically double.
'At this rate, entry-level players will pop up soon.'
Ethan himself had hunted nonstop yesterday and today to keep up.
As he pondered the shifting landscape—
"Cello, cut it out already?"
A familiar word caught his ear.
Turning, he saw a veiled white woman and a scowling Latino man glaring at each other.
"How long are you going to keep saying the same thing?"
Their codenames: Samba and Cello.
Ethan's gaze landed on the veiled woman covering her eyes.
Codename Cello—the player who'd reacted most sharply when K proposed today's meetup.
"Aren't you anxious at all?!"
Her voice was sharp enough to involuntarily furrow his brow.
As she finished, the Latino man shook his head exasperatedly.
"Hoo... You're impossible to reason with. If you're that unhappy, just leave. Don't bother the others."
The man dismissed Cello and walked toward other players.
Ethan stifled a hollow laugh watching Cello anxiously bite her nails.
'She came after all.'
After the rumors, she'd suspected and lashed out at K like that.
'Then why make such a fuss if you're showing up anyway?'
Frowning briefly at Cello's baffling behavior, Ethan let out a scoff.
It was because he recalled what K had said to the prying Cello.
Who insisted he was after their lives and mana, or to show proof otherwise.