Eye Key Escape and Hard Bargains
The transport sled came together in no time.
Thanks to my Dexterity Skill, it turned out solid.
I lined the base with snowfield troll hide to block the cold and impacts... and tied it down tight with sturdy straps so nothing would shake loose or fall off.
This should hold up even in the underground mine sections.
Time to settle up, then.
I consulted with the goblin inter-floor merchant.
"How much for a mana heart treatment potion?"
"You probably won't even find any stock in the regular shops."
"...Yeah, figured as much."
I'd never even heard of one myself.
Treatment potions only drop on 8F... and no hunter's properly cleared it yet, so of course there's no supply.
Which means I'll have to head up to 8F myself.
But the Tower has re-entry cooldowns.
That means Go Ji-ho's team has to hold out for at least a month without dying after we escape.
This isn't looking good...
Even in the mana-rich Tower, he's struggling that hard.
No way he survives solo.
"Any other options?"
"...You're a valued customer, human, so I'll let you in on a secret. The regular shops should have mana potions. Plenty in stock, I'd bet."
"Mana potions... how much?"
"About 1,000 gold each."
Insane.
Two vials could buy an artifact.
A pretty damn useful one, too.
"Your comrade's got the mana heart curse... it's like pouring water into a leaky jar. You'll need at least one a day to keep him alive."
1,000 gold a day.
30 days plus a week buffer? That's 37,000 gold.
Factor in extras, and we're talking around 40,000.
Korea's monster barrier maintenance runs 120,000 gold a month—that's a fortune by comparison.
Maybe sell an artifact...
But that wasn't the end of it.
"Even if you snag a treatment potion and he pulls through by some miracle, he won't be hunter-ready again."
"...Don't care. As long as he can live a normal life."
Words I never thought I'd say.
I bought a few recovery potions from the inter-floor merchant.
I'd burned through most of mine earlier—needed spares.
I also offloaded some spoils from the other hunters.
"Backpack, rations... oh, and armor too."
The bastards who ambushed us had top-tier gear.
And a bit of loot they'd collected themselves.
"Oho, that's a sub-space backpack! Selling it?"
"Nah. I'll sell the one I was using."
"Stingy human! Showing it off and not selling—illegal!"
"Keep babbling, and it won't magically become true."
Sub-space backpack? That's mine now.
Checked it out—60L capacity.
My old one was Tower-made, tough and light... but no match for this.
"5,000 gold for the lot!"
"Thanks."
One unidentified item among the spoils.
Some weird pill... appraisal wouldn't stick.
"Tower-made for sure?"
"Mana's there. Get it appraised at a regular shop."
"Got it."
Kept the LMG, pricey night-vision scopes, and guns—sell outside, that's at least 10,000 gold.
Burden lightened a ton.
"Everyone, swap night-vision batteries. We've been running 'em hard."
"Hyun, grab some food already."
"Oh, right."
Forgot to eat while building the sled.
I ripped into an energy bar quick.
Brought sausage this time too... but no point eating now; I wouldn't taste it anyway.
"Ha-jun, you good?"
"No issues."
Tower antibiotics and anti-inflammatories are great, but...
Having your eyeball ripped out? Can't be fine.
Gotta get him out ASAP.
Kim Yu-na asked, worried.
"Hyun, you held Transcendence way too long."
"Used to it now."
Since it came up, I popped it once more.
Mana was decently recovered—time to patch myself up.
Regeneration Skill Transcended, Immortal's Blood Skill Activated
One of the few Transcendence skills I could spam without backlash.
EX-rank's gotta have perks like that.
Go Ji-ho's Regeneration Skill is high-level too... but he's barely speaking.
We filled the full two hours, then dropped to 6F.
Flash!
I triggered Transcendence the instant we landed—just a burst.
Perfect Sense Skill Transcended, Four Seasons Skill Activated
The nearby terrain etched into my mind.
"North. Head southwest into the underground section."
Blizzard raging, Han Ju-won and I pulled the sled.
Sang Ha-jun could barely handle his own weight right now.
Swapped with Kim Yu-na after a bit.
"Rest up, Hyun."
"Got it."
We pushed silently through the storming snowfield.
Sled worked fine, thankfully.
But 6F's brutal cold piled on soul freeze stacks anyway.
"Ugh, need a break soon..."
"Hang on a sec."
Dexterity Skill Transcended, God's Hand Skill Activated
I dug a snow trench in seconds with the entrenching tool.
Team warmed up inside, still fretting.
"Overusing Transcendence much?"
"Not the time to skimp."
"..."
Ate, drank, thawed with the Eternally Burning Heart.
Plotted the route in my head.
"Can't straight-shot the exit underground—farming spot midway. Hit it on the way."
"If it's en route..."
"No complaints."
"Team leader okay?"
"...Manageable."
Potions healed the wounds, but he still looked rough.
Warmed up, hit the road again—soon reached the underground mine entrance.
Thick darkness waited.
"Night-vision on. I'll lead."
Mines or not, main loot wasn't ore.
Ore's low value-to-weight—only rare stuff pays big.
Trudged to the abandoned outpost.
Felt heavy chill before we arrived.
"Whoa, that's..."
"Monsters ahead!"
6F underground ghosts: Wraiths.
Like the Overseer, but way weaker.
I aimed happily.
Monsters usually drain hunters' stamina and supplies...
These felt different.
6F wraiths have huge detection ranges.
To farm or ambush, you gotta clear 'em first.
Yet they're holding the outpost fine.
Means no other hunters nearby.
"Kyaah!"
They slithered at me.
Tat-tat-ting!
6.8mm burst scattered 'em.
Physical resistance, but weak vs. Overseer.
Bullets handle 'em easy.
"Clear!"
Kim Yu-na and I swept the outpost, looted fast.
6F luck—serious search turned up valuables.
"Night-vision and high-end cold gear here."
"Nice. Grab 'em."
High-end cold gear blocks soul freeze great... but bulky for 6F only.
Sell for good gold, though.
"Freeze mana crystals... deep black iron ore. Oh, mineral scanner parts too."
Tower electronics fetch premium.
Research demand's insane.
Scraped every profitable bit, moved out.
Good we got the Eye Key.
Straight to 6F direct exit soon.
Done.
No need to drop to 3F or 4F.
But... things never that easy?
Heading to the direct exit tunnel, something felt off.
Due for monsters—none.
Other hunters nearby?
"Hardly anyone ambushes high-floor exits..."
6F/7F teams gear heavy—ambush risk low.
Start shit, you lose more.
"...Halt."
Sensed presences in the direct exit tunnel.
4-man hunter team.
One already down?
Breathing shallow... no hostility.
More like please just pass by.
Idiots. Battery-pinching, can't even use night-vision right.
I stepped up for the team.
"Your team leader—disarm and come out. Before I frag you."
"!"
Startled vibes, then one emerged, hands up.
Young guy.
Cornered—no point resisting; it'd be a wipe.
"Complied. Affiliation and name?"
"...Korean Alpha Team leader, Kang Hyun."
Wanted sub-leader, but nah—don't look weak.
"Alpha Team? We're Australian Commando hunting squadron. I'm leader Alex."
No clue...
Memorizing global teams is a job.
All multicam—can't tell shit.
Here, masks and NVGs hide race anyway.
"...Not ambushing, right?"
"Not dumb enough to ambush a dead-end like this."
True.
Direct exit behind—keyless, it's a trap.
Don't look keyed up.
I took point.
"We've got the Eye Key."
"R-really?"
"Pay the toll, we'll open it."
Door stays open awhile once popped...
No usage limit.
Why grind for it otherwise?
"Our team's in bad shape..."
"Exactly why escape now?"
"...Fair. How much?"
"10,000 gold. Goods too."
We were rushed—fair price.
No need to fight at the finish line.
Alex huddled with his team, handed a pack.
"Check it. 3,000 gold coins, rest goods."
Mostly 6F/7F loot.
From 7F, huh.
Quick tally.
Total around 10,500 gold... generous.
"Good. Disarm, hug the wall."
"Hey, we paid—disarm?"
"Woulda fragged already if killing. Why bother?"
"...All disarm!"
Honestly?
Not sure this was smart.
Gold crunch—better wipe 'em?
That desperate.
Damn, I'm not right either.
Stick to principles now.
Alpha Team rule: No first strikes unless unavoidable.
No needless risks.
Everyone but Go Ji-ho covered them.
"Opening the door."
Pulled the Eye Key, pressed to the sealed iron gate.
It groaned open on its own.
Kreeeeak...!
"Clear—out first! Safety postures!"
"...Thanks, Alpha. Luck on future hunts."
"You too."
They vanished through—I pulled the sled.
"Almost there, team leader."
"...Handling it? You're sub-leader for real."
Flash!
Escape Complete
"Alpha Team return!"
"Whoa, Go Ji-ho team leader!"
"Ambulance—engines!"
Go Ji-ho and Sang Ha-jun hit the hospital straight.
I bulk-bought mana potions from the shop in a panic.
"One a day for team leader."
Obviously, no association gold now.
Worried about deficits.
Team savings existed... but Go Ji-ho reinvests heavy; not much stash.
My Gale Boots were his buy.
Back to the shop for final tally.
Mana heart treatment? No dice, as expected.
Mana potions stocked well, though.
Too pricey for most?
Dumped hunter gear first.
"Selling all this. Price?"
"Guns solid—top condition. NVGs too... 15,000 gold total."
Plus in-Tower sales: 20,000.
Aussies: 10,000.
Still short 10,000.
Other loot better pull weight...
"ID this pill."
Unidentified from 7F hunters.
No appraisal = rare.
Goblin whipped out a loupe.
"This... Basic Skill Enhancement Pill."
"What?"
"Grows a basic skill to max A-rank."
"H-how much?"
"20,000 gold from us."
Cheap for the effect... A-rank cap?
Almost sold, then paused.
My basics: EX-rank.
Yu-na, Ju-won: A-rank.
No effect.
But Ha-jun, Ji-ho could use it.
Pity to sell—especially Ji-ho; even cured, no hunter return.
This might change that.
Hold it.
"...Freeze mana crystals?"
"Mana potion reagent. 700 gold—sell?"
"Nah. Keeping."
We could brew our own?
Stash it.
Cheap too.
"Deep black iron ore."
"Rare gear upgrade material. 1,500 gold buy-in."
Ore's ore—even rare, meh price.
Scarce, but low sell.
Better use ourselves?
Sold just high-end cold gear and scanner parts.
35,000 gold total.
Still 5,000 short.
Plus team gear maintenance—pricier.
6.8mm high-pressure; swap core parts every run.
Barrel life ~1,800 rounds.
Wait... why we paying full?
Math hit—felt robbed.
We snagged Eye Key from 7F.
No market—priceless.
Forced value? 100k+ gold easy.
Every 6/7F team dreams of it.
We brought it—we deserve funding.
Dumped junk, left shop—association rep approached.
Our dedicated guy.
"Hunter Kang Hyun! Injuries?"
"Pristine. Oh, perfect timing—gold us up."
"...Pardon?"
"Team leader's 1k gold daily. I'll hit 8F in a month for the cure—association kick in."
Rep near-fainted.
"Uh, higher-ups say low return odds for team leader, so Alpha reorg discussions..."
"What?"
Reorg? He's barely down!
Don't they know we got guns?
Yu-na, Ju-won dumbfounded.
"What kinda bullshit?"
"Group shootout request?"
Tame vs. their stunt.
Rep paled, explained.
"N-not my call! You're registered sub-leader, but no military... just helping recruit! Ha-jun needs 2 months rest too..."
Got it.
Alpha's monthly 20k gold hole—panic.
Beta Team near-wiped recently...
Top tiers gutted!
Pay hunters better, then.
They don't know I'm EX-rank...
Association secrecy tight.
To hold Ji-ho's seat: decision time.
"Report that EX-rank hunter thing to higher-ups. Now."
"...Huh?"
Rep and team stared.
"Tell congress I'm EX-rank."
"...Understood. That settles it. Processing now!"
Dice rolled.
Heading to baths, thought:
8F solo.