Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: Temporary Trait Shop Unlock
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[From the EX-grade trait's perspective: Excessive gate difficulty adjustment. Report received.
Determining whether to readjust difficulty.
Abnormal difficulty application confirmed.
For fairness, temporarily unlocking the EX-grade trait, "Trait Shop."]
'What the hell?'
The difficulty was abnormal?
And now they're adjusting it again?
It was a long-winded message, but boiled down, it meant this:
They'd adjusted the difficulty because of my EX-grade trait, but went overboard.
So, to make up for it, they'd loosen restrictions on EX-grade traits.
'These damn bastards...'
He still didn't know exactly how they'd loosen things up, but Jeong-hyeon could feel his blood boiling.
No wonder every gate he'd entered lately had been full of bizarre incidents.
Well, the villains were a human affair, so set that aside—but hadn't he gone through multiple once-in-a-lifetime ordeals in a short span, things other hunters might never face?
What pissed him off even more was that he and his party had fought tooth and nail through hell, and only now was the system stepping in with its "report received" bullshit.
System adjustments or whatever—if they'd shown up a little sooner, things might've been different.
'Report? Who the hell reported this?'
Did the system even have anyone who could file reports?
Jeong-hyeon pondered it briefly, but he had no time to dwell.
A new alert window had popped up before his eyes.
["Trait Shop" restrictions temporarily lifted.
In the level 5 mission gate "Lizardman Sanctuary," limits on equippable trait slots are removed.
You may purchase and equip traits using your current coins.
Traits equipped temporarily will have their proficiency fixed at level 3.
Higher-grade appearance probability boosted.
Upon exiting the gate, traits and coin balance will revert to previous state.
*Note: Due to restriction lift, adaptation pain from temporarily used traits will apply at half strength immediately upon gate exit."]
"Holy shit..."
He'd expected some unlocking, but not this generous.
Unlimited equip slots?
That was insane.
It meant he could equip any trait from the shop that caught his eye.
'The adaptation pain's a bitch, though...'
Of course, that final warning grabbed his attention hard.
Pay the adaptation pain in one lump sum after leaving the gate for traits used temporarily?
Half strength or not, it'd still hurt like hell.
Knowing that and still having to equip every useful trait anyway? Infuriating.
But now wasn't the time for nitpicking.
Jeong-hyeon summoned the Trait Shop immediately.
[Current coins: 44]
'Plenty of coins.'
Just the lizardmen he'd killed in this gate probably numbered well over a hundred.
Even counting only those he'd soloed, without party kills.
He'd saved 6 coins last time, so that meant 38 gathered here.
Close to 40 wasn't surprising.
If anything, it felt low.
With ammo confirmed, Jeong-hyeon began hunting for buys in earnest.
[List updated.]
"Kieeeek!"
Ashurek was still reeling from Ji-hee's attacks.
He had to blow those 44 coins wisely before the fire pillar vanished.
***
Ashurek gritted through the fireballs slamming his body, thinking bitter thoughts.
These humans were vicious as hell.
No—three of them were small fry, not worth mentioning.
But the other two kept taking turns pissing him off.
Separate them, and they were nothing. But whenever he tried finishing one, the other interfered. Infuriating.
Same now.
He'd been about to crush the pickaxe-wielding maniac when attacks started from behind.
Completely different—far stronger fire.
His red scales were long since charred.
The muscles beneath seemed ready to turn to ash any second.
But Ashurek stayed calm, biding his time.
The fire pillar was fading.
Once it vanished fully, that tiny female human would revert to her frail state.
Fwoosh—
Proving his thought, each fireball's impact was visibly weakening.
Speed had slowed too—more chances to slice them away with his blade.
Annoying, but he'd endure. Reclaim the sanctuary. Honor the fallen warriors and shamans.
That was a warrior chief's duty, wielder of nature's power.
Fizzle—
Finally, no more fireballs. The pillar gone entirely.
Ashurek tensed his melting muscles.
And then—
Clang—
A cheerful ring echoed from his skull.
"Keeek!"
The lizardman warrior chief let out a pathetic screech unfit for the shock.
The fireballs were gone, weren't they?
No—more than that, this brutal pain felt less like fireballs and more like—
"Here to end this long fight, you lizard fuck."
That voice he never wanted to hear again sounded from behind.
Jeong-hyeon.
He glared at Ashurek, one hand on a mace, the other a dagger, face brimming with confidence.
How?
Ashurek's mind reeled.
Just moments ago, Jeong-hyeon had been a battered mess, barely blocking.
The leisure on his face from their first clash was long gone.
Where was this power coming from? How could he still look so smug?
"Kirr..."
Suspicious.
Ashurek growled threateningly.
Maybe bluffing to protect the woman.
Delay too long, and the now-vulnerable her would die for sure.
If it was a last desperate burst, that earlier pain made sense.
Rustle—
Decision made, Ashurek charged Jeong-hyeon.
Weapon change? Irrelevant.
It even looked weaker than before.
One strike—shatter it and him.
But facing Ashurek's ferocious charge, Jeong-hyeon didn't flinch.
Just casually pulled back the one-handed mace.
Ashurek was certain of victory.
Even when fresh, he'd barely blocked two-handed. One hand now? Suicide.
Finally in range.
Ashurek swung his claymore horizontally with full might.
Jeong-hyeon countered with his mace.
Clang—
Cheerful clash.
Shocking result.
The claymore bounced away.
"Kii?"
Ashurek yelped in confusion.
How?
Two hands vs. one.
Even equal strength, the dark mace should've flown.
Jeong-hyeon smirked, like it was only natural.
"Now taste the power of traits."
Nature's power?
Sorry, but nature got outclassed by systems and traits ages ago.
Not that environment didn't matter.
Anyway, this lizardman warrior chief needed a trait-powered beatdown.
Jeong-hyeon stepped forward toward the still-dazed Ashurek.
Stumble—
Ashurek backpedaled exactly as much.
Beaten in raw power even with nature's boost?
Instinctual terror gripped him.
"Kieek!"
Realizing he'd retreated, Ashurek wildly swung his claymore.
Clang—
No real power behind it.
Jeong-hyeon easily parried.
And marveled inwardly.
'Talk big, but traits are straight-up thugs. Total gangsters.'
He'd spent 38 coins equipping every promising trait.
The result? Terrifying, even to him.
[Equippable Slots (7+4/∞)
"Excellent Combat Sense" (C, Lv.5)
"Outstandingly Nimble Movement" (B, Lv.4)
"Physical Ability Enhancement" (C, Lv.4)
"Stealthy Throwing Technique" (B, Lv.5)
"Clear Magic Imbuement" (C, Lv.3)
"Excellent Movement Speed" (C, Lv.4)
"Essential Mana Sensitivity" (B, Lv.2)]
These were his originals.
["Transcendent Blunt Technique" (A, Lv.3, Temporary)
"Frontliner's Toughness" (C, Lv.3, Temporary)
"Devastating Strength Reinforcement" (A, Lv.3, Temporary)]
New buys, coins hastily spent.
Two A-grades added: "Transcendent Blunt Technique" he'd gotten before but shelved for lack of slots; "Devastating Strength Reinforcement" luckily appeared.
Level 3 A-grades x2. Massive power boost.
Plus, "Frontliner's Toughness" and strength one synergized into "Stamina is Power."
Simple effect: Straightforward traits meant massive individual boosts.
But it didn't end there.
'Ha... Of all times for a temp unlock, this shows up? Fucking trash luck!'
The culprit behind the gate-exit reversion curse.
Even with probability boosts, this felt malicious. The trait that made him wail.
["Battle Maniac" (S, Lv.3, Temporary)]
S-grade "Battle Maniac," popping up mid-refresh.
Name gave no clear hint.
But S-grade? Bought and equipped instantly.
Then certainty hit.
Ashurek? He could skin him alive and ship to Earth's luxury workshops.
Clang—thwack—clang—thwack—
"I'll tan your hide proper for the artisans—no hassle!"
"Kieek, kieeek!"
How to describe "Battle Maniac"?
Combat sense, agility, strength maxed and fused?
Level 3 this strong—level 7 was S-grade exclusive for a reason.
To Jeong-hyeon, Ashurek was now just a big-sword cutie lizard.
True to lore, S-grades had ego. Since equipping, a rough voice echoed in his head nonstop.
- Fight! Fight!
Annoying, yet battle-hyping chant.
That summed up this beatdown.
Rhythmic swings: Parry claymore with mace, then pummel exposed torso.
Neutral magic imbued too—Ashurek screamed, clueless how it went south.
"Whew, this hits the spot—damn right!"
Thwack—thwack—thwack—thwack!
Repaying every hit from Ashurek with precise coverage.
Somehow, S-grade stirred new grudges inside, but it didn't show.
"Kiiiii!"
Meanwhile, Ashurek flailed claymore uselessly amid swamp dust clouds.
Better if a headshot knocked him out.
Nature-boosted body refused to fall, healed wounds instantly.
Perfect for Jeong-hyeon.
'S-grade forever! Hip hip hooray!'
Rental traits to return post-clear, but while equipped? Stress melted away.
Thud—crack—smash—stab!
- Kraahaha, fight!
"Battle Maniac"'s hype was bonus.
*Huff, huff!*
"Kiee..."
The Lizardman Sanctuary swamp, once filled with metal clashes and roaring flames.
Now, only one-sided pounding noises, human grunts, and lizardman whimpers mingled in the air.