Slow Time and the Master's Boiling Patience
"Keep acting all cocky like that, you little shit. [LV.53 Pharaoh's Guard]"
"That guy's trait is Strike of Destruction, right? One hit shatters anything 100%."
"I heard players only get it at LV.80."
A LV.53 monster—dozens of them—packing such a powerful trait left the party stunned.
"Let's prep for battle."
Parries and shields were useless against the mummies.
Luckily, their speed was sluggish, so the moment they raised their morningstars, we could slip inside their guard and stab them dead.
They're way slower than the last floor.
It kinda pissed him off. Faster fights meant faster level-ups.
"You're already crazy fast now? Clearing the 53rd floor like this is unprecedented."
"Still feels like we could go even quicker."
Soon enough, our party ran into the 53rd floor's named boss.
"Bursting it down. Focus buffs on me and throw on the mez!"
"Already up!"
"Confirmed."
The moment the guard captain froze, I swung my scythe and severed its arm clean off.
Its damage output halved. Perfect—time to get serious.
"Valhalla, on!"
Valhalla
Valhalla really was broken. It sealed enemy traits—and you could unseal them at will.
Sure, it sealed yours too, but against mindless monsters, the random seals favored you.
If a LV.40 item trait is this strong, what the hell do you get at LV.80?
Not that he wasn't satisfied already. Plus, in Valhalla, each summoned valkyrie boosted stats massively. The spear-wielding ones poked the captain relentlessly, stacking damage.
You have leveled up.
Current Level: LV.50
And finally! Downed the guard captain and unlocked a new trait.
Master said LV.50 was like LV.30—a super powerful one.
What would it be?
Double Slash Enhancement: Double Slash becomes a permanent passive. Effects apply even more powerfully on the second strike.
Sun Flame Emission: Releases flames identical to those of the Sun Blade.
Slow Time: Slows all time except yours for 3 seconds.
The first two were decent. But the last one? Eyes bulging.
Slow Time: Slows everything but you for 3 seconds? Insane—no reason not to pick it.
"Congrats on LV.50. What's next?"
"I'll carry you guys. Back to 53."
"Huh? But I'm beat..."
"Nah, just stay close. I'll take the loot though."
Hitting LV.50 boosted his stats massively. But Slow Time was the real game-changer.
He picked it without hesitation—for the valkyries.
"You bandage-wrapped idiots! Die already!"
Slow Time's cooldown felt like 2 minutes. Rest a bit between pulls to reset it.
In slowed time, valkyries unleashed dozens of moves. Already superhuman, now it was a massacre.
"That trait was already busted, now it's even more ridiculous."
"Fuck, I can't even see 'em..."
First clear of 53 took 20 minutes. Now? Half that. Revolutionary! LV.50 made him 2-3x stronger, easy.
"Whoa, Hyunwoo, unique item drop."
"Named boss-exclusive weapon... Fucking jealous. That's expensive as hell."
The named went down in seconds, revealing the drop.
◈ Slightly increases Strength and Agility.
◈ Axe of the Pharaoh's Guard Captain. Crafted from magical obsidian—durable with superior cutting power.
◈ Creatures hit are marked with Sacrifice Brand.
◈ Branded sacrifices receive a random curse.
◈ Throwable; returns to owner.
◈ Equipable by summons.
"Sell that for like 3 billion? Super famous. Top rankers are hunting for it."
"Not selling."
He wasn't hurting for cash right now. Anyway...
100 billion? Sorry, Master, but no plans to pay it back.
Just pay with his body instead.
Ryu Ga-eul's wealth wasn't just cash—her real value was stocks in every major Korean company and guild.
She'd bought up stakes in every Nasdaq-listed US firm too, becoming a major shareholder young.
Taxes alone ran billions monthly. Plus, she'd snapped up prime Gangnam and Seocho land—her real estate unimaginable.
100 billion? I could liquidate that in cash easy.
But she never kept much liquid—too risky. Stocks could cover it quick, though.
That wasn't the point.
This little punk's getting too cocky. How'd he turn out like this?
Fucking her cute disciple senseless was great. But this endless climbing? Kinda much.
She pondered long. How to reset her adorable disciple.
"Master, I'm here."
"Come in? Heard you scored big loot today."
"Yeah! Got the obsidian axe."
Unique-grade, better than some legendaries. She'd farmed the captain a week straight without eating or sleeping for one—never dropped, and she outleveled it anyway.
"Selling it? I know a buyer who'd pay top dollar."
Market: 3 billion. Her connections? More.
Maybe 4 billion.
That much, she'd forgive. Fixing his attitude first.
"Fine. Special deal—4 billion. No need for the full 100..."
"Huh? Not selling."
"...What?"
Hyunwoo shot back incredulously.
"My Valhalla trait—you know? Giving it to them. Amodius's Scythe doesn't suit me anyway."
"You can't sell that...?"
"Nope!"
The Sword Saint barely held back from flicking his forehead.
"Master, you just dropped it from 100 to 40 billion, right? Thanks."
"You little...!"
"Cool, 40 billion it is then."
Of course, even that—he had no intention of paying.
Body payment worked fine.
This tiny-dicked brat... Gonna punch his gut black and blue.
Ryu Ga-eul's patience boiled over, surging hot. Vision went red for a sec.
If not Hyunwoo, she might've lost it and charged.
This fucking dog.
But a Sword Saint's patience was transcendent. She gnawed her lower lip, stroked his soft hair.
Satisfied, she gripped his ass tight. Pulled him close.
"Hyunwoo? One week left."
"Mm."
"In one week, I'm gonna fuck you senseless. You know I've been celibate for days? You're in deep shit."
Hyunwoo smirked.
"I'll pay up."
Like hell that'd happen. Never.