Chapter 180
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 180
Chapter Title: Skill-Engraved Magic Stone
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With Precision Scan available, it was far more efficient for Kim Gap-su to head out and fight rather than holding position here.
Plus, in a battle where victory wasn't guaranteed, every extra pair of hands helped.
From the outpost, about 200 meters away, the fight unfolded—and thanks to Precision Scan, I could watch it live.
'Information Sharing' was a passive effect of the first awakening for skills used through the mana stones' mana, but it wasn't free; it guzzled an insane amount of mana.
Even with Information Sharing active, Kang Hana still had plenty to do.
Not everyone's scouting skills were equal, and especially against powerful hunters, it was better for one person to take command and direct rather than letting individual judgments create chaos in the group's movements.
So, without getting in her way, I took her hand and slipped the Fountain of Abundance onto her finger.
"...!"
With her magic power rating boosted to S-rank thanks to the Panacea effect, the additional 50% mana cost reduction eased the strain on her face somewhat.
Of course, she'd already burned through her personal mana and was drawing from the stones.
The results were stellar.
Truth be told, in this matchup, there was no way Sky Guild could lose—it didn't make sense.
No matter how much experience Chinese hunters had pulling dirty tricks in PvP, giving them the skill to overcome numerical inferiority.
Even if they'd recruited multiple A-rank monsters through their tamers' taming skills.
Our side had hunters starting from SS-rank down to S-rank—a force that could clear S-rank dungeons without breaking a sweat.
And now, they had enemy weak points fed to them.
No big briefing needed; their skills alone could overwhelm.
Especially Kim Gap-su, holding the line against the frontrunner—an SS-rank suspect wielding a gun and rampaging like a beast. His performance was incredible.
An A-rank tank blocking SS-rank attacks, pulling just enough aggro to keep them from shifting targets.
"Unreal."
He looked like a walking mountain who'd just tank everything head-on, but he'd parry what he could dodge, eat what he had to, and when a big attack wound up, he'd charge in boldly to interrupt the skill or solo-tank it.
How the hell is that guy just A-rank?
His skill was so nuts, even I—a NewTube edition hunter—wanted to slap a "pro gamer certified" badge on him.
"He's famous. Used to be an A-rank tank from a top-10 guild, solo-subtanking SS-rank dungeon bosses. That's why they scouted him."
"I'd turn him into a girl and knock her up. Perfect tank for our guild."
"...You can do that?"
"As if."
Tempting skills, but sadly, anyone with a dick was off-limits for Kang Guild.
The battle pushed toward its end.
But the Chinese holdouts lasted thanks to the magic stones they pulled out.
The SS-rank gunner chucked a C-rank stone and fired, unleashing a massive explosion that swept through our hunters.
The S-rank with the scythe tossed a B-rank stone and slashed, summoning a giant reaper that carved up a 10-meter radius.
One-on-one, our guys should've won, held back only by mana limits—but these wild cards kept popping up, making Sky Guild hesitant to trade blows aggressively for the finish.
This wasn't a final boss fight to save the world. We had to win, but zero casualties.
In the end, the slog dragged on for over four hours, chasing down the scattering survivors in a messy cleanup.
"Hoo... Not easy. Sucked up a ton of B-rank stone mana..."
Kang Hana's mana pouch held a huge reserve of stone mana.
Lately, I'd infused B-rank mana into her every time we did it, and during her pregnancy, she'd even absorbed SS-rank stones. Draining it all was practically impossible.
Still, she said today's fight burned through a bunch of B-rank mana.
That's how long and messy it got.
"Great work. Thanks to you, Kang Hana Hunter, we captured two alive and ended with no deaths."
Sweat-drenched Kim Gap-su returned and debriefed.
Injuries were plentiful.
Skills from their stones—unpredictable crap—caused unexpected damage, forcing a defensive shift that turned the fight into a grind.
If we'd fought like a few deaths were fine, it might've ended faster with fewer injuries—but no deaths beat a pile of wounded any day.
Recovery was no issue for hunters.
"Thank you, Hunter."
"You saved our asses."
Sky Guild hunters returning gave Kang Hana their thanks.
Todays fight was basically Sky Guild vs. the Chinese, but no one doubted how huge her support—and intel—had been.
That's why their vice-master approached, handed me his card, and left.
"Next chance, let's raid a dungeon together. Call anytime if you need something—we'll match your rates on commissions. Looking forward to it."
"Ah, yeah. After today, Sky Guild seems solid for gigs. Your team's insane."
Victory's glow warms everyone up.
But my mood soured.
"Fuckers. If you're gonna die, die clean. Used up all their stones first?"
"...Gear artifacts probably unrecoverable?"
"Two captured alive, the rest had junk—not worth the risk."
Aside from the initial S-rank gear and a few stones, the rest's equipment and stones were spent.
Stealing from secured enemies? Suicide.
At best, snagging one A-rank stone from the dead A-rank monsters.
I wondered.
How'd they work?
Amplify skill effects or cast when mana ran dry?
Back at the tent, I pulled the B-rank stone from the first kill—the explosive chick's pouch.
"Any special trick... or usage method...?"
【B-rank Magic Stone】
＊ A magic stone containing a considerable amount of mana.
＊ Skill 'Dust Explosion (S)' is engraved.
"...Huh?"
I'd pulled it out on a whim to check, but that extra line set me back.
"What."
"Hm?"
"You see this?"
"...? What? It's a B-rank stone."
"No, doesn't it say skill-engraved? Dust Explosion. S-rank."
"...Nope."
Handed it to Kang Hana—she couldn't see it.
Just me? Why?
【Detected female mana mixed in the magic stone. Analyzing female traces. Absorbing the stone's mana will partially analyze impregnable female info.】
【Injecting mana into the stone without absorbing may trigger the engraved skill—proceed with caution.】
"What the...?"
The random message left me dumbfounded.
A bit ridiculous, but the meaning was clear enough.
"What? Spill."
"Says the stone has an engraved skill. Probably... that woman's, since she was female. Yeah?"
Helpfully explained how to use the engraved skill, so I checked the lower-grade stones from her pouch too.
【C-rank Magic Stone】
＊ A magic stone containing a large amount of mana.
＊ Skill 'Extra Explosion (A)' is engraved.
"Whoa... for real."
Chills ran down my spine.
Like cracking a mystery no one else could in a detective game—that rush hit hard.
Strictly speaking, my thick skull didn't solve it; the Pregnancy Support Program did.
But my next deduction? All mine.
"Hold up."
What set skill-engraved stones apart?
Even the neighbor's mutt knew: the Chinese had them.
My subspace had more from them.
Li Heiyan's ten stones.
Coincidentally buried in the back since newer ones filled the front—unexamined corner dwellers.
I dug them out—the ones I'd set aside for easy checking.
【S-rank Magic Stone】
＊ A magic stone containing highly concentrated, potent mana.
＊ Skill 'Sacrificial Magic Circle (SS)' is engraved.
Four S-rank, six A-rank.
All engraved with skills.
I stashed them back in subspace and headed straight for Team Leader Kim Gap-su.
"Team Leader, mind showing me the recovered stones?"
Channeling full detective mode, I demanded.