Item Power vs. Skill (3)
"It's not going according to plan, just as I expected. This is really fun."
Lee Seo-ah spread her hand and pulled out the item she was holding.
"You didn't set up a trap in reverse, did you? I've already figured out your traits. Your clones have stronger stats than the main body and can use items."
The clones didn't share the main body's traits. They covered that gap with items.
"I could tear you to shreds in one second?"
A level 89 player could wring water from sand with their bare hands or cause an earthquake by stomping hard.
Such monsters—three of them now. Lee Seo-ah instinctively knew that even a moment's carelessness could cost her life.
And they're all armed with epic-grade weapons.
Epic-grade item traits were often too much for most players to handle. If even one landed, her life would be crushed for sure.
"Guess I'll use an item too."
With those words, Lee Seo-ah drew out a mythic-grade weapon she'd bought for billions.
Spear of Reversal. The more disadvantaged the user, the more it multiplied their stats several times over.
"She brought a total cheat item?"
Ryu Bom, wielding the mythic-grade Nightmare's Grasp, muttered.
She then summoned a dark orb that inflicted the most horrific pain imaginable on its victim and hurled it without a change in expression.
"The main body can just watch from back there. We'll handle it ourselves."
Ryu Yeoreum shot forward even faster than the orb.
Thanks to her Electronic Greatsword. It had a trait that electrified the wearer for 5 seconds, plus it dropped weak lightning strikes on all enemies within a 10-meter radius.
Closing in at light speed and activating her trait...
Crackle!
No object with mass could move faster than light, per the laws of physics.
The electrified Ryu Yeoreum instantly closed to lightning range. Lee Seo-ah's body began to paralyze. Then the belated orb slammed into her.
"Haha, is that all you've got?!"
Kwajijik!
The orb shredded Lee Seo-ah's body. Flesh sprayed viciously, delivering excruciating agony. That used up one more revival. And sealed one trait.
"Orb sealed." "It can seal item traits too? Scary stuff."
But the falling lightning's cooldown had already reset. Paralysis kept coming. Ryu Yeoreum swiftly decapitated her.
As a new head sprouted from the severed neck, Lee Seo-ah gritted her teeth and said,
"Lightning, sealed."
Now both clones' item traits were sealed. But even bare-handed, they could kill her.
This situation triggered the Spear of Reversal's trait again, boosting Lee Seo-ah's stats.
"Do you know why I became a doctor?"
Ryu Yeoreum swung her blade to slice off the head anyway. Lee Seo-ah parried with her spear and continued,
"I wanted to be a cop at first. Why? Because it's a job where you can legally beat people. But then I found out they whine about human rights and say you can't hit criminals?"
Ryu Yeoreum froze at the sudden surge in reaction speed. Ryu Bom leaped in to support her.
But Lee Seo-ah reacted even to that, thrusting her spear. The blow was too fast and powerful; Ryu Bom had to guard.
"So I became a doctor instead." "You saying I'm smart but have a foul temper?" "No, just that I love my job. I always tell people what kind of person I am before I kill them."
Her spearwork wasn't masterful, but it wasn't bad either. Solid fundamentals, elevated to expert level by her insane boost. Even Ryu Yeoreum and Ryu Bom, at grandmaster tier, were struggling.
"Doctors get to witness human suffering up close... Disinfecting and stitching a patient whose gut's split wide open? It gives you this mental superiority high."
Kaang!
Spear and blade clashed, sparks flying. Ryu Bom's stance crumbled instantly. The follow-up struck home.
That was enough. Ryu Bom's heart pierced, one clone exploded and vanished.
"The real thrill? Telling a terminal patient their last day. Or watching a 10-year-old boy thrash against death... and his parents' faces. Gives me an orgasm."
The moment one clone fell, the other couldn't last seconds more and took a fatal hit. Having felled even her, Lee Seo-ah wore an ecstatic expression.
"I wonder what face you'll make. Sword Saint?"
The Spear of Reversal's stat boost lasted 5 minutes even after felling foes. Ryu Ga-eul had to face her for the next 5.
"It's been ages since I quit doctoring, so I can't say it now... but Sword Saint? You've got 2 minutes left. Spend it with family memories." "So this is your full hand."
Coming at me with this crap. The Sword Saint shook her head.
No wonder the young pups these days get shit on.
"Why the casual talk? I'm older than you, board-certified and all." "Oh yeah? Then let me break it down. At 80, you pick a trait as broken as the ones at 30 or 50."
So overpowering, level 80+ players were treated like walking nukes.
All players signed government pacts: 80+ traits only inside Babel Tower.
But Ryu Ga-eul ignored that and activated hers.
"I dumped mine all into the clones. Rampage... Revives dead clones, grants invincibility, and..."
Grind!
The clones reemerged with gruesome sounds. The vibe was different now—their attacks were all AoE.
"Huh."
Lee Seo-ah couldn't even react before dying. With her throat torn out, her fading mind thought,
This one's more dangerous than I thought. Next time, I need a plan for her 80+ trait...
No next time. Corpses can't plan.
"Fuck."
A curse slipped from her lips, breaking the pact here. Death itself didn't faze her, but the loss did.
This fucking sucks.
She swept back her hair, thinking things would drag annoyingly.
We rushed to the scene late. Way too fucking late.
Master had already cleaned everything up.
"You're late. Really sorry, Master..." "No biggie. Ryu Ga-eul always wins, like always."
Master brushed it off coolly.
Damn, she's strong. I couldn't beat that woman even revived.
"Hmm, but Hyunwoo. Sis might be in a bit of trouble." "Huh? Isn't it over? And this was self-defense."
Even if she killed the other player. Per Player Special Law, killing a hostile player using traits counted as self-defense—no charges.
"I caused a scene. Don't worry, you won't get dragged in." "Master? What did you do?" "Hmm~ Maybe a few billion in compensation?"
She glanced around the street.
Slightly sunken ground... From the clones' attacks.
With the foundation collapsed, the area needed immediate shutdown. Buildings demolished and rebuilt.
Or chain collapses would wreck everything.
It wouldn't dent her wealth much, but the government might exploit it.
"Master, I don't know what happened, but I'm on your side no matter what." "Hyunwoo...!" "Huh?" "Thanks. So grateful."
She hugged tight, whispering in my ear.
"Strip when we get home. Reward fuck incoming." "...Yes, ma'am."
Cute, but duty calls. Ryu Ga-eul thought so.