Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Thunderclap Floa
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Thunderclap, Floa—Agasa-chang (My Song Sung by Another).
It means the person you're connected to by marriage sings the song you were about to sing.
Or, in other words, the other party says what you were going to say first.
That was exactly the situation right now.
“Haa, ha. Damn it. Shit.”
Right in front of me was a young girl who had fallen flat on her butt, letting out heavy sighs one after another.
Why the hell.
She had committed the rudeness of secretly watching me, and now she was fuming all by herself?
“This can’t be. Impossible. Me... the great Thunderclap, seen through by some mere participant? Does that even make sense?”
Well, I get it.
She must have strutted around with that ranker title, shoulders puffed up.
The shock of being spotted by someone she saw as inferior must be huge.
Of course, if she knew I had the downright cheat skill ‘Myriad Arts Elder’ right beside me, it might’ve been different.
‘Not that one, though?’
Who knows.
Sometimes when I look at the elder, I think about it.
If we unleashed the elder in his prime into this world, what rank would he hit?
‘At least top 20, no doubt.’
As a hunter with instincts of my own.
Comparing him to Jang Dae-woong.
I’d give the edge to the elder.
‘But.’
Anything beyond that, even I can’t guarantee.
According to Jang Dae-woong, the gaps between top rankers are insane...
Until we meet them, who knows?
“Haa, fuck... I was definitely scattered in elemental form. Hey! You!”
“...?”
The girl shot to her feet and pointed at me.
“I told you to spill it quick? How the hell did you spot me? Even other rankers can barely detect this technique.”
“Beats me.”
I smirked and shot back in casual speech.
No matter if she was a ranker.
No reason to be polite to someone who treated courtesy like shit.
‘Of course.’
She’s a foreigner, so it probably doesn’t faze her.
“Like I said earlier, I need to hear why you were watching me first, and who the hell you are.”
“This jerk...”
Grit!
The pale-skinned girl ground her teeth in frustration.
“Fine. Rules are rules, so I’ll explain.”
Zzzzt!
That’s when currents sparked around the girl’s figure.
Like X-Katsu’s Million Volts, the vicious electricity crackled wildly before exploding with a sharp zap!
Zzt!
Her vanished form reappeared in midair.
An impressive teleportation technique.
“I’m Floa, rank 84, Thunderclap. One of the examiners. Heard of me?”
“...?”
I was a bit surprised.
Thunderclap Floa.
No way I wouldn’t know a heavyweight ranker like that.
My head’s practically an encyclopedia on rankers.
Info on her flashed through my mind.
[Rank 84, Thunderclap (雷鳴) Floa]
- 23 years old, female.
- From Germany.
- Ranker who wields lightning as her unique ability.
- Raw destructive power surpasses those above her, but lacks sustainability.
- Elemental manipulation unique ability means she’s vulnerable to counters.
“Phew, anyway. I’ve shown my cards, so spill how you spotted me!”
“Just saw you, that’s all.”
“What?”
“Saw a glimpse. Got startled and attacked. That’s it.”
No way I could say the elder tipped me off, so I played it cool.
“...What the hell. You just got lucky?”
The girl slumped in disbelief.
“And now I have to take a penalty for sheer luck...”
Ah.
In that moment, I pieced together another clue.
These ranker examiners take some kind of penalty the instant a participant spots them.
That explains it.
Why she’d been sighing like death warmed over.
“Anyway.”
She soon shook her head.
“Gotta do what’s gotta be done. Per Lady Delaila’s rules, anyone who spots an examiner gets a perk.”
“Perk?”
“What, in my opinion it’s just a basic handout. Normally, the Trial Points shop opens in a month?”
“...?”
Trial Points shop?
Ah.
So that’s where the Trial Points get used.
“You can just preview the shop contents early and use it once. Be grateful.”
“Grateful? Why?”
“You’re the first. To spot an examiner in a week.”
“...”
Not grateful.
Shouldn’t you be the one embarrassed?
The retort nearly slipped out, but I swallowed it.
She’s a double-digit ranker.
No point poking the bear—it wouldn’t do me any favors.
“Alright.”
Floa clapped her hands in midair.
“Anyway, we’re not exactly thrilled to see each other face-to-face, so let’s get this over with quick.”
Shrrk!
A message soon floated in the air.
[Ding!]
[Examiner ‘Floa’ opens the ‘Shop.’]
[Currency: ‘Trial Points.’]
[All items limited to 1 per person.]
[List - 10/10]
[1. A-rank Antidote - 1,000 points]
[2. S-rank Antidote - 3,000 points]
[3. Theme 1 Pass - 5,000 points]
[4. Theme 1 Info Scroll - 10,000 points]
[5. Theme 2 Info Scroll - 10,000 points]
[6. Elixir - 10,000 points]
[7. A-rank Random Box - 10,000 points]
[8. S-rank Random Box - 30,000 points]
[9. World Tree’s Root - 50,000 points]
[10. Wish-Granting Scroll - 100,000 points]
“...?”
I rolled my eyes.
What’s all this?
And why so damn expensive?
“Go on, take a look.”
Floa shrugged.
She eyed me with an annoyed expression.
“Dunno how many you’ve got with a week left, but grab some antidotes if you want. Saw you chowing down those poison shrooms like candy.”
“...”
I didn’t bother replying.
Just stared at the shop window, deep in thought.
My total Trial Points: 24,630.
Enough to snag a few.
“Theme 1 Pass...? What’s that?”
As I muttered at item 3, Floa nodded.
“What else? Exactly what it says. 5,000 points and you pass Theme 1, straight to Theme 2. Not a bad play. Better than sticking around here and getting skewered by some blind swing.”
“...Hmm, not really tempted.”
There’s a reason for that.
This place is a poison paradise.
I plan to gorge on every toxin I can here.
‘Plus.’
Now that I’ve seen these shop items.
Obviously gotta buy them all, right?
‘World Tree’s Root and the Wish-Granting Scroll.’
Two insane items totaling 150,000 points.
I was curious about them.
Expensive stuff always has a reason.
“I’ll take the info first.”
“Info? What?”
Floa’s eyes widened slightly.
“Info’s 10,000 points. You already saved that much?”
Looks like this examiner.
Has no clue how many points I have.
“Gulping poison shrooms all day really paid off, huh... Wow, still surprising? 10,000 in a week? That’s record-breaking!”
She kept muttering to herself.
“So. Theme 1 info? Theme 2? Theme 1’s a waste, no? 5,000 passes you right through—why buy info? I’d snag the pass!”
“No need. I’ll buy both.”
“Huh?”
No need to explain info’s value.
To me, who’s set on buying everything in this shop.
Theme 1 or 2.
Makes zero difference.
“Did I hear wrong? What’d you say?”
“Both.”
I pointed at 4 and 5.
[4. Theme 1 Info Scroll - 10,000 points]
[5. Theme 2 Info Scroll – 10,000 points]
Both items shimmered.
“Wha... it actually works? F-for real?”
Floa’s jaw dropped.
“Over 20,000 points? Seriously? In one week?”
“...”
I didn’t bother speaking.
Just waited for her to hurry up.
And soon.
[Purchase ‘Theme 1 Info Scroll’ (S-grade).]
[Purchase ‘Theme 2 Info Scroll’ (S-grade).]
[20,000 Trial Points used.]
[Remaining Trial Points: 4,630.]
Two letter envelopes materialized in my palm.
Elegant black paper sealed with red wax, vintage style.
“Wow, shit. This is huge. Record-breaking. How the hell did a non-ranker...?”
Floa chattered on, looking insanely curious.
Zzzt!
But soon vanished.
Guess.
There’s another rule I don’t know about.
* * *
“Hmm, ever since tagging along with you, it’s been non-stop fun. Life’s anything but boring. So, shall we open them right now?”
“Of course we open them now.”
I grinned and headed to a tree corner.
Wooong!
At the same time, I drew up ‘qi’ from the Azure Sky Heart Method in my palm.
Condense the ‘qi’ and burn the energy to produce a tiny bit of ‘light.’
I used it to scorch the envelope.
“Info I got thanks to you, Elder. Gotta check it together, right?”
“Yeah, hurry and open them. Only 10 minutes till summon release, you rascal.”
The elder seemed pretty curious too, prodding me nonstop.
Cute.
Rip!
I tore open the Theme 1 Info Scroll first.
[Opening ‘Theme 1 Info Scroll’ (S-grade).]
One sheet inside.
Packed with info.
#1. 30 days after the trial begins, ‘Poison Fog’ appears in the central area.
Poison Fog is a toxic mist, a horrific monster containing the essence of every poison in this place.
Participants must survive for a week, evading that monster.
>
#2. Three ways for participants to pass.
One: Buy a ‘Theme 1 Pass’ from shops scattered around the area.
Two: Survive one week after ‘Poison Fog’ appears.
Three: Kill all other participants and be the last one standing.
>
#3. Shops appear 30 days after the trial starts.
Currency is ‘Trial Points.’ Participants gather them by foraging and eating various foods.
PS. ‘Poisons’ grant ‘poison bonuses.’
>
#4. There’s a perk.
Participants can find the examiners secretly watching them from afar.
If found, they can use the ‘shop’ early.
>
#5. Two ways to get this info scroll.
One: Buy it with ‘Trial Points’ from a discovered examiner.
Two: Find info scrolls hidden by examiners throughout the area.
I clicked my tongue.
“Could’ve skipped buying this. Looks like examiners scattered them everywhere.”
“Think positive. Info’s value depends on when you get it.”
“True enough.”
I nodded.
Now I had Theme 1 figured out.
“Gotta dodge that Poison Fog, looks like...”
“Heh heh, Poison Fog, eh...”
The elder met my eyes.
I read an emotion in his gaze.
[Jackpot.]
“No matter how I think about it, your talent isn’t skill or effort.”
“Pardon...?”
“Your real power is luck, pure luck. Look—all the poisons in this place chasing you like they’re begging to be caught. How fortunate! If Latte had that kinda luck, he’d have reached higher realms faster.”
“...”
“Quick, bow to that Delaila or whatever. Deep respect.”
“...You want me to go into that poison fog?”
“Of course. Didn’t I say? Spot poison, you grin.”
Somehow.
I had a bad feeling that Poison Fog wasn’t that kind of poison.
‘Anyway.’
Think on that later.
I eyed the second envelope beside me.
Theme 2 Info Scroll.
Obviously gotta check that early too?