The Seventh Floor Test (8)

The monsters of the seventh floor, the Phantom Shadows.

In other words, doppelgangers.

As past experience had shown, defeating them yielded neither experience points nor regular points.

That was why most players simply retreated instead of fighting them.

Why?

Was it because their attacks didn't work well?

While that was partly true, the main reason was that obtaining their fragments was utterly useless.

"To consume the fragments, you have to find a hidden piece, right?"

"Tha-a-at's... correct?"

The fragments acquired during the seventh-floor test could only be consumed through the Phantom Shadows—specifically, those modeled after the Haomun faction.

Indeed.

That was the problem.

One had to capture a Haomun-type Phantom Shadow alive and either persuade or threaten them to consume the fragments.

Considering the target was a Phantom Shadow that would try to kill you at any given moment, and one that could perfectly disguise its appearance at that, it was a brutally difficult condition.

To make matters worse, players who had just arrived on the seventh floor couldn't even tell them apart.

"So..."

The Faceless Ghost shifted slightly.

"You want to use my Haomun-type doppelgangers to trade all the fragments the players have accumulated so far?"

"Yes."

"Hmm... But to say, 'they are still the ones who killed my kin' would be..."

She shrugged lazily.

"...Well, they probably had no choice but to do so to survive."

As cynical as the Faceless Ghost was, she was equally quick to accept reality.

She didn't dwell much on the past.

She only thought about how she could gain the most in the current situation, and how she could help save and propagate as many of her kin as possible.

"It is a hassle... but it is certainly a good method. We can also work on changing their perception of us."

"Right. Let's go with that."

"Um, I have a question."

Kaelion suddenly raised her hand, drawing both of their gazes to her.

Her face flushed red at the sudden attention, but Kaelion pressed on resolutely.

"Um... if you could have chosen not to attack players all this time, why did you do it?"

"...Because tha-a-at was the only way we could survive..."

"The only way you could survive?"

"Ye-e-es... The players attacked us first. At first, we just hid and lived quietly, but they attacked us to get fragments, or to completely wipe out the doppelgangers..."

"..."

"Even the people in the marketplace over there came to kill us doppelgangers. Until time passed and we devoured a few of them to forcibly establish ourselves..."

A cycle of hatred stained with blood.

Since it was a rather common historical tragedy, Kaelion could only swallow hard in silence.

"Anyway, let's make some profit together with this."

"Is this for real?"

"They're just revealing a hidden piece like this?"

"...Even among the rankers, no one has ever been able to trade fragments like this before."

The next day.

Lee Jin-hyuk openly deployed the Phantom Shadows, allowing the players to utilize them.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Though it was framed as a favor, it was practically handing out a hidden piece on a silver platter.

"The Phantom Shadows aren't attacking, but are exchanging fragments instead?"

"Am I dreaming?"

They had no idea that Lee Jin-hyuk had subjugated the Doppelganger Lord, and that the doppelgangers were merely following their lord's orders.

They only recognized that this miracle was possible thanks to 'Lee Jin-hyuk.'

Of course, a small amount of points was charged as a transaction fee, but being able to use the fragments they had hoarded so far was an incredible stroke of fortune in itself.

After all, the fragments obtained from the seventh-floor test allowed one to learn sword techniques or martial arts at an extremely rapid pace once consumed.

"Still..."

"...Thinking about all the trouble we went through because of them..."

"I'm not trading."

Some players felt repulsed by the fact that their trading partners were the very Phantom Shadows that had tried to kill them until now.

But those were the amateurs.

"Shut up and take my points!"

"Me first!"

"Move out of the way if you're so squeamish!"

The true experts moved with entirely different footwork.

They shoved aside the hesitating or idling players, rushing to make their trades.

Fragments?

If you hoarded them, they would only go to waste.

The moment it was confirmed that the doppelgangers obeyed Jin-hyuk's control, the top priority was to consume the fragments and grow even a little bit stronger.

In the Tower, you had to be strong to survive.

In the Tower, you had to be strong to even be treated like a human being.

"Move!"

"Please wait in line!"

"Aigoo, gentlemen. Slowly, slowly."

It was a relief that Seol Yeon, who had successfully exchanged his fragments beforehand, and his detachment were controlling the crowd.

Otherwise, it would have turned into utter chaos.

"You're from the Haomun faction ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠too, right?"

"...Tha-a-at's right. Though I suppose I'm an exception, since all doppelgangers can transform into the players they copy..."

"Well then, it's our turn to trade. Kaelion."

"Yes. I look forward to working with you, Miss Doppelganger."

"...I-I-I look forward to it as well. By the way, you are very beautiful..."

"Huh? Ahaha... You flatter me..."

"I am the Doppelganger Lord... I have seen the faces of countless players. Even among them, you are easily in the top tier..."

Whispering so that Lee Jin-hyuk couldn't hear, the Faceless Ghost added:

"I think if you push a little more aggressively, you could seduce the King."

As Kaelion's face turned as red as a carrot, Surtr also chimed in.

Completely oblivious to what the two were discussing, Jin-hyuk simply scanned the fragments in his possession.

First, I have 100 silver fragments, so I can develop quite a bit.

He swiped his hand through the air.

It's best to invest all the remaining fragments into the egg.

Among the sword techniques obtained from the Green Forest faction's Phantom Shadows, he invested all the physical technique and external martial arts fragments that hardened the body into the egg.

Furthermore, it was only right to infuse it with their strength and movements as well.

Although he still didn't know what would hatch from the egg, doing this would ensure it was much healthier when it finally did.

I should feed it not just my fragments, but also the leftover fragments that Kaelion and the others aren't using.

Of course, it was their voluntary choice.

Even so, the energy would still be quite insufficient.

In the end, I need one big score.

"Ki-i-ing..."

While he was lost in thought, the Faceless Ghost called out to him.

"Let's do it... the trade..."

Normally, this wasn't a martial art that would manifest as a skill like this.

However, because fragments were consumed, it seemed to display a grade based on proficiency.

It works out well for me.

Since he had a place to use it immediately anyway, it was actually better for Jin-hyuk.

"Erandir. Are you ready?"

"...I am always ready-y-y..."

"Here I go, then."

A holographic window appeared once again.

Without hesitation, Jin-hyuk applied the skill he had just acquired.

▶ [Underwater Breathing]

▶ [Replication]

Squish... Squish...!

Unlike the other Lords, the Faceless Ghost's body began to move like slime as she absorbed Jin-hyuk's skill.

Influenced by the energy composing her body, even her physical form was changing.

The survival-type skill Jin-hyuk possessed, Underwater Breathing.

And the core skill of a doppelganger, Mimicry.

Furthermore, because the Faceless Ghost was the Doppelganger Lord, she possessed Replication, a skill upgraded one step further from Mimicry.

If these two skills combine...

Jin-hyuk watched closely.

What kind of effect will it produce?

This is...?

"Ooooh...? Oh?"

As if highly shocked by the newly acquired skill, the Faceless Ghost began to make a fuss.

"To think such a skill exists!"

She was so genuinely surprised that she didn't even draw out her words. Kaelion walked over to her side and asked,

"What kind of skill is it to make you react like that?"

"...It has upgraded even further from my Lord-exclusive skill. My goodness. To think such a thing was possible."

It was no wonder she was shocked.

Even Jin-hyuk was astonished.

This is a far more powerful skill than I expected.

It was a skill that perfectly aided adaptation to the environment, a basic instinct of any living creature.

Whether going to hot places like lava or deserts, traveling to the freezing north, or even entering the void or underwater...

It meant he could adapt anytime, anywhere.

Given the notoriously harsh environments of the Tower, and places like the Constellations' domains, being able to adapt was already a highly satisfying effect.

But the skill went one step further.

All restrictions on skill acquisition and item equipment were removed.

It literally meant all restrictions.

It meant he was no longer bound by level requirements, specific stat thresholds, or even 'racial values.'

For instance, it meant Jin-hyuk could now learn dwarf-exclusive techniques or elf-exclusive magic in the future.

Whether I'll actually learn those is a secondary matter, though.

It was a bit of a shame that he couldn't use the final effect, but it couldn't be helped.

Jin-hyuk had absolutely no desire to become a doppelganger anyway.

It makes no sense to transform into another body when I already possess a Constellation's vessel.

Since both the Faceless Ghost and Jin-hyuk had serious expressions, numerous Constellations grew curious and questioned them.

But there was no way Jin-hyuk would satisfy their curiosity.

"Erandir. Do not share the skill information."

"Yes, my King."

He ordered the Faceless Ghost to keep her mouth shut as well, maintaining the air of mystery.

Watching the various reactions of the Constellations, Jin-hyuk chuckled.

Well, it's not bad.

"By the way,"

Jin-hyuk said, looking at the Faceless Ghost.

"We can't keep calling you 'Faceless Ghost' forever, right? You should have a name."

"That's right!"

Perhaps thinking they had grown close in the meantime, Kaelion smiled as she grabbed the Faceless Ghost's hand.

"Shall I name you?"

"Hmm... sure... what does a name matter anyway... just give me whatever..."

Now that her interest in the new skill had waned, the Faceless Ghost began to draw out ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her words lazily again.

Looking at the cynical creature, Kaelion smiled and said,

"Erandir. I think the name Erandir would be nice."

"Does it have a meaning?"

"Yes. It means 'one who holds the secrets of the stars.'"

"Alright. Let's go with that."

"...Well, a secret of the stars sounds a bit grand... but if you wish..."

Jin-hyuk and Kaelion laughed as they watched Erandir slump back into her chair, looking as if everything had become a chore again.

"By the way, what does Kaelion mean?"

"Hmm... Kaelion means 'one chosen by the heavens.'"

"Chosen by the heavens."

"Yes. Well... I was told my father, whose name I don't even remember, gave it to me before he left. Hehe... Though it feels like instead of being chosen by the heavens, I was abandoned by Mother World Tree."

Kaelion gave a bitter smile.

"..."

After a brief silence.

Jin-hyuk wrapped things up during the remaining time.

Before he knew it, the time to take the eighth-floor test had arrived.

I'll break through the eighth floor quickly.

Bzzzzzt—!

Looking at the egg that was still vibrating despite having consumed the fragments, Jin-hyuk clenched his fist.

And on the ninth floor... I will hatch this egg.