Chapter 35
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Predator
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Heartbeats pounded against my eardrums.
It wasn't mine. Nor was it Kurokage's, who held her breath beside me.
Kkiiikik-
The source of the resonant hum was the black cube right in front of us.
The cube that had swallowed the golden key twisted as if screaming in agony.
Like a beast forcing its way out of a shell.
'...Damn, the color really changed.'
The moment I glimpsed the light leaking from the cracks, adrenaline surged wildly.
It wasn't the purple hue unique to Unique grade.
A thick, murky crimson glow, like congealed blood clots.
The ominous shade, stirring primal fear, began to invade the underground chamber.
"Ugh... Uuugh...!"
Kurokage beside me groaned and staggered back.
Her pupils gleamed gold. Proof that her Gift, [Absolute Luck], was desperately interfering with the outcome before us.
'Overload, huh.'
I wasn't fazed.
I'd set this up expecting variables from the start.
If her boasts weren't bluff, she should casually leap over common sense.
[You have acquired a Gift.]
[Gift: <Predator (Legendary)>]
The cube's outer shell shattered into pieces with a boom.
-Kwaaaang!
From within, a formless red energy burst out and burrowed straight into my heart.
A grin tugged at my lips unbidden.
Legendary. A grade straight out of legends.
Even I, who'd repeated stages hundreds or thousands of times through retries, had never seen anything beyond Unique.
'This... is the power of luck manipulation.'
Suppressing my shiver, I checked the details.
A high grade alone meant nothing if it was just flashy. Substance mattered.
[Predator's Authority 1: Gluttony]
- Striking or killing enemies forcibly plunders their vitality and energy.
- Apex Predator's Privilege: Extremely rare chance to permanently steal a portion of a powerful foe's (boss, player, etc.) 'stats' upon hunting them.
[Predator's Authority 2: Bloodthirst]
- Senses sharpen and physical abilities exceed limits as combat prolongs and blood flows on the battlefield.
[Special Trigger: Insatiable Hunger]
- Triggers 'Predator's Malignant Eye' when targeted by multiple enemies or detecting strong killing intent.
- Extreme hunger intensifies; [Gluttony] efficiency +200%.
⚠️ Caution! Failure to sate hunger via slaughter within time limit leads to 'Berserk' state—losing reason and indiscriminate rampage.
I doubted my eyes.
Stat theft.
In this rigid dungeon system, ways to boost specs beyond level-ups were severely limited.
Yet infinite growth through hunting alone?
This shattered growth curve limits—a cheat skill.
Worlds apart from the decent Unique Gift [Assassin's Code] I'd confirmed over repeated plays.
'...Berserk, huh.'
So, if mobs swarm or killers target me, the monster inside awakens.
Then I devour everything in sight to stay sane.
'Risky... but...'
My lips twisted upward.
Not bad.
I never planned to fight fair in this hellhole anyway.
If things devolve to berserk frenzy, I'm already surrounded or cornered—might as well profit.
"Hoo."
I exhaled, stroking my chest.
Deep in my heart, the coiled red energy pulsed.
A pleasant hunger, craving to bite into something, coursed through my body.
"...Hey."
Kurokage, who'd been holding her breath, called cautiously.
She eyed my expression, pupils darting.
Overwhelmed by the erupting red aura, her face was pale.
"Did it... work? The vibe was kinda scary."
I turned and looked down at her.
Her wrinkled, upturned face was amusing.
"Yeah."
I patted her shoulder.
Less praise, more approval of a tool passing inspection.
"I'll acknowledge it. Your luck's the real deal."
"...!"
Her face bloomed with relief at proving useful, joy at recognition.
"Right? Told ya! Lord Kurokage's power is legit!"
She strutted, rubbing her nose.
Unbelievable switch from her teary terror moments ago.
"Why not act like this from the start? Saved us the embarrassment."
I added indifferently.
"You're my exclusive luck totem now. No dying or vanishing without permission. Got it?"
"Hmph. Totem? Cheap label. But... better than before."
She pumped her fist excitedly.
Simple girl.
But that simplicity and talent were my biggest weapon now.
'Legendary Gift.'
Stage 1-3.
No, the surest drill to pierce all future ordeals was in hand.
"By the way, that invitation."
I scanned the spot where the cube vanished, probing casually.
Mood lightened—prime for intel.
"Where'd you get it?"
"No clue. Came to, and it was in my hand. Black envelope."
She shrugged.
"Thought it was a prank at first. But opening it triggered a message: 'Welcome, Player. Two Gifts bestowed upon you.'"
"...Two?"
I furrowed my brow.
I'd suffered for this, burning my sole Unique key for one Gift.
She got two for free?
"Yeah. One's the [Absolute Luck] I showed. The other..."
She paused dramatically, pointing at herself.
"You know my original trait? Zero presence. Merged with the Gift into [Perception Impairment]. Monsters treat me like background or rocks—saw that, right?"
'Hah.'
Ridiculous.
Luck and stealth. Survival build maxed.
"So in tutorial and 1st stage, I hunkered in corners. Monsters ignored me; others cleared for me."
She said casually.
Not bragging, not ashamed. Just optimal survival.
"Level?"
"1."
"What?"
"Never fought. No XP."
Made sense.
Level 1 unscathed to here—parasite play exploiting system gaps.
'Talent, if nothing else.'
But more crucial: invitation. Gifts.
If true, others might be 'invited' too.
'Then... me too?'
My [Dungeon Odyssey] install flashed.
Pre-experienced stages, strategies—absolute cheat.
Perhaps just another form of invitation/Gift?
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"Real name. Not Kurokage."
She froze.
Hesitated, peeked at me, then mumbled.
"...Se-ah."
"Family name."
"Kim."
"Kim Se-ah. No joke?"
"No joke."
Way better than some corny alias.
I nodded.
"Good, Se-ah. You're provisionally approved. That luck's useful for now."
"R-Really? So I can... stick with you?"
Kim Se-ah's eyes sparkled.
I hadn't said party invite—just using her awhile. But she beamed gratefully.
'With her, farming efficiency goes nuts.'
Curiosity sated.
But my mind grew tangled.
Was she the only invitee?
What if a hostile gets OP Gifts?
'But fuck. Hope no Hailon scum got invites. That'd be true hell.'
Prep ahead.
Harness [Predator].
And future powers to devour any variable.
"Let's go. Others waiting."
I turned.
She hummed happily, trailing.
Then—
Wooong-! Koo-goo-goo!
"Huh?!"
Sudden quake.
Fortress shook violently, screaming.
Dust rained from ceiling; cracks spidered floor.
'Tch. Already?'
Game triggered events post-cube.
Fortress collapse, drawing all undead waves via noise.
But too fast.
Normally time for regroup.
'Legendary pull did it?'
No time to think.
Quake intensified alarmingly.
"Eek! I-It’s collapsing!"
Se-ah stumbled.
I clicked tongue, snagged her waist.
"Grip tight!"
"Kyaaak!"
Slinging her like a sack, I sprinted full tilt.
Speed-boosted legs devoured crumbling halls.
"Big Brother!"
Inner courtyard by carriage: chaos.
Wall sections crumbled; horses panicked.
"Everyone okay?!"
I yelled, dropping Se-ah.
"Mr. Han Yujin! Big trouble!"
Kim Jun-ho atop wall, pale, shouted.
"Outside... monsters... Fortress shaking drew them. Thousands—no, tens of thousands!"
"How many?!"
Big-nosed guy collapsed in shock.
Lee Seo-ah and Yuriel gripped weapons, faces ashen.
Fortress crumbling, outside monster sea.
Rats in a trap.
"Big Brother! Orders! What do we do?!"
Desperate cries rained.
All eyes on me.
Blind faith I could salvage this despair.
I pointed at carriage.
"Solution? Break through."
"Wha?! Through that?!"
"Get carriage outside first. Unless you wanna die trapped!"
"B-But outside...!"
"Monsters..."
I cut them, strode to wall.
Through breaches: myriad red eyes glinting in dark.
Grotesque horde.
Normal folk would crumple.
But.
"I'll lure them."
"...Pardon?"
Silence fell.
Lure—dive solo into hell?
"Big Brother! Crazy?! You'll die! No!"
Park Yumin lunged to cling; I shoved firmly.
"No time. I'll draw eyes; break opposite path. Meet there."
"B-But...!"
"Go! That's an order!"
My roar shut Park Yumin.
Kim Jun-ho nodded resolutely.
"Understood... We'll survive to meet!"
He mounted driver's seat, seized reins.
Confirmed party boarding reluctantly, I vaulted wall.
Screams, worries faded behind.
Thud.
Landed on cold earth outside wall.
Putrid legion pressed to my nose.
Endless waves.
But my face held no fear.
"Kukuku..."
Irrepressible laugh escaped.
Heart raced madly.
Not fear.
Deep in chest, [Predator]'s instinct cheered at prey.
[Special condition met: Multiple hostile killing intents detected.]
['Predator's Malignant Eye' opens.]
Vision tinted red.
Vicious hunger wrung my gut.
Demands for food. Blood. Inner monster roared.
"Got a better weapon than expected..."
I drew Wraithblade.
Blade glinted eerily in red moonlight.
"Let's test the edge."
I licked lips, plunged into monster sea.