Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Back to the Tower
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I immediately checked my profile.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ [Ability Slots (3/3)]
• 【Warp SSS】 (Unique Ability / Cannot Unequip)
• 【Third Eye C-】
• 【Authority, Reversal】
[Skill Slots (1/4)]
• 【Partial Gigantification】
• (Empty)
• (Empty)
• (Empty)
[Passives]
• 【Inventory】
• 【Trace of the Emperor Lv 1】
• 【Strength F】
• 【Threat Detection】
• 【Tactical Marksmanship】
[Ability / Skill Storage]
• 【Gene Mutation S】
"Whoa, check out this option overload."
I recalled that I'd upgraded my inventory before and clicked on Threat Detection and Tactical Marksmanship.
⚙ Threat Detection Upgrades ⚙ [Detection Range Expansion Lv 1] - Current Range: 10m - Next Level: 25m - Cost: 5,000 DC [Threat Analysis Lv 2] - Current: Color intensity varies by threat level. Projectile trajectories visible. - Next: Filter threat types. - Cost: 30,000 DC [Safe Zone Lv 0] - Not Acquired - Next: Marks relatively safest point in threats with blue. - Cost: 25,000 DC ⚙ Tactical Marksmanship Upgrades ⚙ [Aiming Reticle Lv 1] - Current: Aiming reticle appears when aiming. - Next: Aiming correction. - Cost: 5,000 DC [Ballistics Calculation Lv 0] - Not Acquired - Next: Increases firearm max effective range. - Cost: 8,000 DC [Firearm Enhancement Lv 1] - Current: Slight increase in accuracy and reload speed. - Next: Increases penetration. - Cost: 10,000 DC "Holy shit... Is this what they mean by the cost outweighing the benefit?"
The one silver lining was that some items were already upgraded. If everything had started from Lv 0, I might've been pissed.
I currently had 142,263 DC.
Time to spend like a lord after earning like a dog. I boldly dumped most of my fortune.
The results were as follows.
⚙ Threat Detection (Updated) ⚙ [Detection Range Expansion Lv 5] - Current Range: 100m - Next: 1km - Cost: 100,000 DC [Threat Analysis Lv 3] - Current: Color intensity varies by threat level. Projectile trajectories visible. Filter threat types. - Next: Predicts damage on hit. - Cost: 40,000 DC [Safe Zone Lv 1] - Current: Marks relatively safest point in threats with blue. - Next: Shows shortest path to safe zone. - Cost: 50,000 DC ⚙ Tactical Marksmanship (Updated) ⚙ [Aiming Reticle Lv 3] - Current: Aiming reticle appears. Aiming corrected. - Next: Bonus on perfect aim. - Cost: 20,000 DC [Ballistics Calculation Lv 1] - Current: Increases firearm max effective range. - Next: Shows ricochet trajectories. - Cost: 8,000 DC [Firearm Enhancement Lv 2] - Current: Slight increase in accuracy and reload speed. Increased penetration. - Next: Increased durability. - Cost: 20,000 DC I spent 105,000 DC on Threat Detection upgrades and 33,000 DC on Tactical Marksmanship upgrades.
In total, 138,000 DC used, leaving me with 4,203 DC.
"Damn, spent it wisely."
Finally, to test my luck, I decided to try a pull from the shop's miscellaneous tab.
🎰 Random Gacha 10+1! (First Return Only) 🎰 【Soggy Slice of Bread】: Edible, but with a gross texture and taste. 【Hole-y Sock (Right)】: Toes get cold when worn. Pairs with Hole-y Sock (Left). 【Sensory-Linked Dildo】: Must-have for long-distance lovers. Links genital sensations on use. Destruction-proof spell. Pairs with Sensory-Linked Onahole. 【Cup of Warm Coffee】: Slightly recovers fatigue for 1 hour and keeps you warm. 【Sturdy Climbing Rope (20m)】: Versatile for climbing or binding. Extremely tough. 【Portable Emergency Kit】: Performs perfect surgery from scratches to amputations (1 use). Requires intact hands. Use on others only. 【High-Calorie Combat Ration】: Tasteless from graft, but covers a full day's calories for an adult male. 【Eye-Blinder】: Blinds vision/hearing of all targets within 100m (except user) for 5 seconds. 【Low-grade Strength Elixir】: Permanently +1 Strength on consumption. 【Hourglass of Time Acceleration】: Instantly resets cooldown of one ability/skill. Destroys on use. 【Elixir】: Fully recovers from near-death wounds if alive. Regenerates limbs, purges all status ailments. "Now that's what I call a pull!"
I chugged the Low-grade Strength Elixir right there and shouted with grim resolve.
"Warp! To the Tower!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Warping to Planet#010009.] The familiar warp sensation enveloped my body and vanished. A thick stench of blood assaulted my nose.
The surroundings and my physical condition were exactly as before my return.
My head throbbed like it might split open. It was the backlash from all the warp uses after failing the no-hit challenge.
"Ngh..."
The situation around me hadn't changed a bit.
Outnumbered. The summoners, buffed to absurd levels, were still hell-bent on killing me right that instant.
But one thing—one glaring change. My new passive, 【Threat Detection】, was blaring alarms like mad.
Hairs stood on end, a chill raced down my spine. My vision drowned in red. Everything on the ground was hostile toward me.
Dozens, hundreds of red aiming lines spiderwebbed toward me. No safe spot on the ground.
No point in upgrading Safe Zone at this rate.
"Heh, you crazy bastards."
I let out a disbelieving chuckle. Only now did I truly grasp how disadvantaged and fucked I was.
The ground's a no-go. Sky's my only shot.
I recalled the one way to turn this around. And conveniently, I had the perfect skill and items for it.
"Why'd that guy stop suddenly? Should we attack now?"
"Don't get close. He's smiling—feels off. Might use that weird magic again."
"Whatever. Thanks to you, I've got the lay of the land."
I activated the Eye-Blinder from the gacha.
An explosion of light burst out around me.
"Gaaah! My eyeees!!!"
"My ears! I can't hear!!"
"Kyaa! Who's touching my boobs?!"
In that instant, every summoner within 100m—whether prepping attacks up close or watching from afar—was neutralized.
'Partial Gigantification!'
I applied the new ability to my lower body.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ [DNA 『Partial Gigantification』 side effect activated.] [Difference from existing body parts: 5x or more.] [Base metabolism increases 10x while maintaining ability.] [Enforced rule: 5-minute cooldown on 『Partial Gigantification』.] My feet and legs ballooned explosively in an instant, shredding my pants, underwear, and shoes.
I slammed my massive lower body down with all my strength.
Booom!!
💥 CRITICAL HIT! 💥 - Eliminated Summoner 'Ji-eun'
- Eliminated Summoner 'Kim Hyuk'
- Eliminated Summoner 'Nam-su'
A massive crater formed as my body rocketed skyward like a missile. I reached hundreds of meters up in a flash.
Before momentum faded and I fell, I accessed my inventory mid-air.
'Inventory open.'
[Enforced rule: 5-minute cooldown on Inventory.] Balancing in the air, I summoned all my prepped gear from inventory.
Tactical vest loaded with grenades over my chest, .50 cal M2 machine gun tucked under my arm, and a backpack with thousands of rounds of ammo belts on my back.
About five seconds left until ground impact. My mind raced.
"Huh, y'know, this is actually a prime spot."
The sky. Unobstructed view. Everything on the battlefield in plain sight. The one place free of interference.
As I descended, I yanked the pins from every grenade on my vest and scattered dozens in a 360-degree barrage—like a professor handing out C's.
"Happy Death Day, everyone!"
Infused with love and justice, I hurled them with all my might. The grenades hit the ground well before I did.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Roll roll—
As the Eye-Blinder wore off and summoners regained sight and hearing, their eyes bulged at the green rain from the sky.
"Ow! What the hell's falling...? Huh? What's this? Never seen one before. Anyone know what it is~?"
The women tilted their heads and picked up the objects.
"...Why is this here?"
Vets instinctively flinched back.
Grenades from the sky, pins removed. Too late to react. Too close.
"No way, this is bullshit. Why's crap like this in the Tower?!"
"Haa... Life really... fucking..."
"Should've just stayed quiet in the village safe zone."
BOOM BOOM BOOM! KABOOOOM!!
Chain explosions rocked the battlefield, blanketing everywhere in acrid smoke clouds.