Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: God's Atlantis
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I knew about First Kills.
In the original story, Kim Myung-jin killed someone nearby and achieved a First Kill, earning a title and bonus stat points.
'I wasn't really planning on going for a First Kill.'
I never imagined it would be this easy to achieve.
'And the Clock Tower Murder Ghost. Jack the Ripper appears in the original too. The Throne trait granted upon contracting is Night Fog (B), right?'
Night Fog (B) is a trait that summons night fog around oneself. It also allows seeing through the fog.
The Clock Tower Murder Ghost is a low-rank Throne.
Thrones are a form of backing, patrons, and sponsors. It's generally best to contract with Thrones who were born as gods.
'Anyway, this woman has terrible luck.'
I glanced at the dead woman's body and then looked away.
'No. Given how much she'll suffer in the future... from her perspective, dying now might be better.'
Atlantis is no paradise. Survival of the fittest, the weak devoured by the strong. That's the perfect description. There is some social order, but it's ultimately a world for the powerful.
'Where's the Heder?'
Heder.
The monsters currently in the Tutorial Zone. Killing one gives 50 AP. They gather where food is, so to get food, you have to kill Heders.
My goal is the High Heder.
D-rank strength, but my aim is to take it down using mana. Hunt High Heders to gain practical experience handling mana.
'I can die here. I have no attachments to this world anyway.'
I used mana to step in the Yeongcheon Style footwork. My steps became faster and stealthier. But I soon stopped using mana.
'...Why is the mana amount so low?'
Worldview penalty.
Currently, only a portion of my stats are applied.
'Status window.'
'Should I use the bonus stat point on mana?'
After a moment of thought, I allocated the bonus stat point to Luck.
Bonus stat points, which can be freely assigned to stats, are extremely rare.
Mana increases through training and can be raised relatively easily with items and elixirs. Luck, however, is a rare stat that can't be increased through conventional methods like training. Even if it doesn't help immediately, considering its rarity, Luck is the way to go.
'Luck influences various elements in this world.'
It's an incredibly powerful ability, whether you realize it or not.
The woman being right nearby earlier might be due to this Luck stat.
'I can raise mana with elixirs. Let's go hunt for mana elixirs while I'm at it.'
???
I wandered the forest a bit and found a stream.
'The Tutorial structure is all the same. The number of trees and amount of food are identical to other Tutorial Zones.'
I followed the stream downstream and discovered a lake. I checked around the lake for people.
Confirming no one was there, I stripped off my clothes, stored them in my inventory, gripped only the Hwaryeonbi Sword, and dove into the lake.
'Activating Gill Breathing.'
Gill Breathing
Maintained for 1 hour.
I could breathe comfortably underwater in the lake. With clumsy swimming, I explored the lake.
'It's somewhere on the lake bottom.'
The Tutorial has quite a few hidden things. There are even hidden classes available only here. Well, not jaw-droppingly amazing ones.
A massive shark swam toward me.
'A shark in the lake...? Nah, don't overthink it.'
This is a novel world anyway. Nitpicking details would just hurt me.
I began circulating mana in my body using the Yeongcheon Qigong method.
The key to handling mana is using neither too much nor too little. Too much causes backlash that endangers your body. Too little might yield no reaction. Jin Se-young said insufficient is better than excess.
I activated mana throughout my body. All senses sharpened, and my body felt lighter.
The shark opened its jaws wide in front of me. Ferocious teeth and an abyssal throat were visible.
Yeongcheon Ryu Practical Technique: Dawn.
My sword moved like a beam of light. Even underwater, I was using mana.
The blade cleaved the shark's mouth from top to bottom. Without stopping, I swung and sliced its body.
After dismantling one shark, exhilaration made my body tremble.
'Kya! This is it!'
The feel with mana versus without was worlds apart. Using mana was overwhelmingly superior. Like upgrading from a 10-year-old PC to one with the latest parts.
'Now I don't even want to swing my sword without mana.'
Another shark appeared.
The shark seemed full and paid me no mind. But I was interested. I approached and sliced it up.
'Kuhuhu.'
The mana high is irresistible.
I circled a few times to check for more sharks, then spotted a hole at the lake bottom and headed there.
Entering the hole led to a cave miraculously free of water, filled with air. I pulled a lantern from my inventory to light it up.
"Found it. Mana Tree."
A dark blue tree grew on one wall. No leaves, just bare branches bearing faintly glowing blue fruits that looked like plums.
"Five in total. Just like the original."
Mana Fruits. That's what they were called in the original. Eating them increases mana.
'Do they have a mana awakening effect too?'
Probably not. The original never mentioned it. I wanted to believe that.
'This Playful Life world opened when I hit level 35. If it was faster than Baekhwan, I could've tested...'
I already awakened mana. No need to regret. Satisfied with the mana increase.
I pondered. Mana Fruits aren't exclusive to the Tutorial. Rare in Atlantis, but obtainable. Can also buy with AP.
'Considering items available in this world... if I think post-Tutorial...'
Weighing the benefits, I decided to invest in 'God's Atlantis' world.
'Consume two Mana Fruits here.'
I popped one Mana Fruit into my mouth.
One more. Sweet and tangy.
I checked the status window and nodded. Mana had nearly doubled.
'The next one will probably give +1. Effects diminish with each one.'
In the original, Kang Myung-jin ate three and saved two.
'Eat two back in reality... and give one to Yuria.'
In reality, I ate two Mana Fruits and mana rose by 2. Not 1 per fruit. First gave +2, second gave nothing.
I didn't expect the effect to drop off so sharply.
'It still increased. Be satisfied. Satisfied.'
I decided to think positively.
Before leaving, I looked at the Mana Tree. It was crumbling slowly. No chance of more fruits.
'No regrets.'
I returned to the lake, surfacing just my head to scout outside.
"Kyaaah!"
"Don't run! We have to fight! Those bastards have fruit! It's food!"
"Throw rocks at least!"
A group of six faced three Tutorial monsters, Heders. I quietly held my breath and watched.
'Those guys are screwed. More pathetic than pre-awakening me.'
Heders are red humanoid monsters. Disproportionately long arms and legs, sharp claws as main weapons. Superhuman physical abilities.
For fresh exiles to kill Heders, they need tactics or aggressive use of combat traits.
'They'll all die to the Heders. Obvious. Rest in peace!'
Save them? No way. Their deaths don't bother me, nor does saving them please me.
I watched like it was a fire across the river.
"Aaaah!"
"Jun oppa!"
"Fuck."
It was brutal. Two men with sticks did nothing and died. Another man activated a trait and fled fast.
But Heders are agile. One latched onto his back, shredding him with claws.
'One badly injured, one too scared to fight, the only woman clinging to the man doing what...? Hm?'
Looking closely, the woman was quite pretty. Office attire, face to my taste.
'Nice rack too.'
I swam quickly to shore.
The Heder moved to finish the rest. I shouted loudly.
"Wait! Hold on!! Stop!"
Aggro pulled successfully. The three Heders charged me. On shore, I activated mana.
'I could kill them without mana... but I came to this world for the mana high.'
Their movements looked sluggish. Not them slowing, me speeding up.
I swung smoothly. The blade effortlessly bisected their bodies. Three Heders down in under three seconds.
I flicked blood off the sword in the air and approached the three survivors.
"Th-thank you!"
The man with a deep gash on his right thigh thanked me. Blood pooling everywhere. He didn't even know proper bandaging.
"With a wound like that on day one, you're dead soon anyway."
"Huh?"
"Just die."
I slashed his throat. His head rolled across the ground.
I prefer slashing over stabbing. Simple reason: pulling the sword out after thrusting is annoying.
'Se-young noona said in combat, stabbing a monster and not being able to swing immediately can happen.'
If not guaranteed kill, slash is better.
I turned to the remaining man and woman. Up close, the woman was stunning. The man handsome too.
'They look similar. Siblings?'
The man seemed the younger brother. Fresh-faced adult, still boyish. Trembling, sweating coldly at me.
I took one step toward them.
"P-please spare us! In-ha, you too quick...!"
The long-haired woman knelt immediately, begging. The man followed belatedly.
"Spare us! I'll do anything!"
"Spare us! Please!"
The woman was smart. Best choice right now.
I grinned.
"Anything? Perfect. I need some errand boys."
Who the hell is this kid now?