Declaration of War?
From floors 41 to 45, the backdrop was a jungle.
The environment was so oppressively humid. And the thick undergrowth blocking our view was a real stressor.
But none of that was a big deal…
What really got to us was the horrific appearance of the monsters that showed up!
A mosquito at least two meters long thrust out its elongated proboscis and charged to suck blood.
Weeeeeeng—! That nerve-grating mosquito whine, amplified hundreds or thousands of times, scraped at our eardrums. It really pissed people off.
“Fuck, kill it!”
Party leader Ra Chae-young bellowed in fury and swung her sword, but it dodged nimbly this way and that, just like the original.
“Bind it! Catch it now!”
In the end, to nab the mosquito, I had to use my trait. Once bound, Chae-young and the Valkyrie stabbed and burst it open.
“One by one, they're such a pain in the ass. Damn it…”
“At least we took it down without any damage. That's a huge relief.”
The new party had five members, including me.
A mage for crowd control, a priest for healing.
And a ranger for ranged attacks.
A textbook party setup. Smaller than before, but qualitatively improved.
“We shouldn't waste mez on trash like that. Gotta save it for the named boss ahead…”
“Agreed.”
The clear condition for floor 41 was to hunt down a named monster somewhere in the jungle.
The problem? No clue where it'd pop up.
“It's a mantis, right? A five-meter one. I hear mantises are distant cockroach cousins that can fly.”
“Yeah, so we need to prepare…”
That's when it happened. Rustling in the grass above the priest player's head.
Before I could even speak, I drew my scythe and swung. Slash—! I felt something get cleaved and topple.
“Kieeeek!”
“W-whoa! What the hell is that?!”
What I'd sliced was a massive centipede over a meter long, camouflaged on a tree trunk.
Probably ambushing us. A split second later, and we'd have been toast.
“Whoa, shit… this thing's huge. Thanks.”
“No problem. These guys are rare, but the EXP is solid.”
Not long after entering floor 41, I'd hit level 38. Around the same time, Chae-young reached 35.
That netted me a new trait…
“I should send my summons ahead to scout first.”
It let me summon multiple sparrows and share their senses. Not great for combat, but perfect for recon.
After releasing a few sparrows, we proceeded cautiously.
“…One sparrow just got got. Probably left side.”
We turned and advanced a bit.
Ah… we'd found the bastard.
A mantis, bobbing its head in that signature way, live-tearing into a sparrow. Hundreds of compound eyes swiveling to scan around. Its arms were over three meters long.
The Valkyrie gripped her spear tight, hurled it with blinding speed and precision—straight through the mantis's torso.
Its slender body skewered clean through. Fatal for most monsters.
But…
The mantis's body was insanely long. The spear was just a minor stab to it.
It dropped the half-eaten sparrow and turned on us, extending its scythe-like arms.
Dizzyingly fast! I reflexively swung my blade to parry the arm.
Crackle—! Lightning burst out, briefly paralyzing the mantis. The mage finished her cast in the gap.
“Bindings of great nature! Shackle its legs!”
“Size is too big—only got the legs? Should've saved your mez, Hyun-woo.”
Too late for regrets. At least the lower body's locked.
The Valkyrie soared overhead, spearing the mantis from multiple angles to harass it.
“Charging complete!”
The ranged player, who'd been quietly building energy, loosed her bowstring.
A level 30 trait: Master Sniper. The more power charged, the deadlier the shot.
Five minutes of charge. The bowstring snapped taut as the arrow rocketed forward, exploding the mantis's left head.
“Fuck, it was shallow!”
The mez broke. The mantis lunged its arm for revenge.
Futile. I'd already dived in the instant the arrow flew. Double-slash passive loaded.
Plus Sun Blade. Perfect strike.
Named Cannibal Mantis defeated.
Floor 41 cleared!
1. Level Up
I didn't even check the other options. Chose level up.
At my current level, one level was huge value.
Now at 39. One more, and another trait.
Meaning I'd get even stronger.
“Let's keep pushing up.”
Stronger still. Just like Master.
The signing event, now a regular thing, wrapped up.
Back in the waiting room, Master placed a hand on my thigh and spoke up.
“You're getting noticeably stronger—it's a real treat to watch. That Chae-young girl? She can fight, huh.”
“She's decent in a scrap.”
“Hm… You like her?”
Master cut straight to it. She'd seemed off the last few days. Over this?
“No.”
Not saying Ra Chae-young wasn't attractive.
Looks like a celeb. Body like an athlete.
But… romantically? Not for me.
Dunno why. Just… no reason to like her.
“She seems crazy about you. Ask her out, she'd say yes.”
“No way. You'd kill me.”
No joke. With Master's temper, she'd off us both.
“Why would I kill you? I love you so damn much.”
“You love me?”
“Of course. As my dildo…”
Called it. Master dragged me onto the sofa.
Hugged me tight in that cramped space, showering me with kisses. Pinned by both arms, I could only take it.
“Who else would do this for me if not you?”
Slipping—pants off. My swollen cock kept brushing her pussy.
A little thrust, and it'd slide right in. Master seemed to love the thrill.
“You can date that girl.”
“…Huh?”
“Date her, fine. But no going beyond holding hands.”
What the hell was she saying?
“You can tell her you love her. Just not in bed.”
“Master, haa…”
“Pecks on the cheek? Okay. Lips? No. Lips are mine.”
Master was totally misunderstanding.
Thought I really liked Chae-young.
I'd said no plain as day. Why this?
Then again, how often did she ever listen?
“Master, I told you—I don't like Chae-young. Don't even see her as a woman.”
“…”
“The only one I see that way… is y-you, Master.”
Hated admitting it, but out it came.
Yeah, lately I'd been thinking… I was starting to see Master as a woman.
Beyond rational like. Just thinking of her heated me up, made me wanna cling.
Worst possible state. I was losing it.
“Really?”
“…No, just kidding.”
“Sounds real. Backpedaling late like that.”
Master's mood was easy to read. See? Grinning ear to ear now.
“Only eyes for me, right? So, who you marrying?”
“Haven't thought about it. Ideally someone kind. Not a violent oppressor who ignores me, like you!”
Even that just made her grin wider.
“That kinda talk? Makes me happy. Means one day you'll surrender body and soul for real.”
“…Delusions are free.”
No way I'd let that happen!
“More kissing. Enough chit-chat.”
“…Yes.”
For now, strategic retreat.
Strategic…