Chapter 152
Chapter 152
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: Dungeon Survival
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Ugh.”
Gravity crushed down on my body.
It felt like invisible hands sprouting from the ground were grabbing my entire body and dragging me downward.
I gritted my teeth and took a step forward. My foot extended slower than I'd expected.
Definitely... enduring Han Ha-rin's gravity field without using mana is pretty tough.
Han Ha-rin, about 7 meters away, pointed her index finger at me. A small black sphere appeared in front of her fingertip.
Gravity Ball.
They called it Gravity Ball in English.
A famous technique commonly used by hunters with Gravity Manipulation abilities. That tiny gravity ball carried at least 30kg of mass. Fired at high speed, getting hit squarely by it wouldn't end well.
My current physical abilities are around upper E-rank. Taking it head-on would be game over.
I summoned mana to dodge the gravity ball and charged toward Han Ha-rin.
Using mana grants resistance to abilities, allowing movement with minimal interference from the gravity field.
Whoosh.
Han Ha-rin's body began floating upward. She was flying through the sky using gravity. It was remarkably stable.
I'd heard that flying with Gravity Manipulation requires incredibly precise control... I can see how much she's practiced.
Having risen nearly 10 meters, Han Ha-rin started firing gravity balls at me.
I dodged them all effortlessly with footwork. Gravity balls weren't particularly fast, so avoiding them was simple as long as my body moved properly.
That's why Han Ha-rin uses the gravity field first to restrict the opponent's movements before firing gravity balls.
Under the gravity field, dodging them becomes several times harder. Without it, they're nothing.
Crackle.
I gripped blue lightning in my hand and hurled it at Han Ha-rin. It was weaker and slower than shooting lightning with Myriad Thunder, but that was exactly what I was aiming for.
Han Ha-rin could die from a direct Myriad Thunder hit. Too dangerous.
Han Ha-rin created a gravity shield to block my lightning. I kept throwing more at her. She was struggling just to defend, her body shaking in midair.
Flying requires fine control. Disrupt her focus, and she'll fall.
After about ten lightning bolts, Han Ha-rin finally plummeted to the ground. I rushed toward her.
A gravity ball formed in Han Ha-rin's palm, elongating into the shape of a sword. She swung it at me.
My blade clashed with the gravity sword. It was like swinging a mere stick—no finesse whatsoever.
Heavy, but... with mana, it's nothing special.
I deflected the gravity sword aside and pointed my blade at Han Ha-rin's throat.
Han Ha-rin clenched her fist, glaring at me, then relaxed and spoke.
“...I lost.”
“Don't be too disappointed. Honestly, without mana, I couldn't have won this easily.”
“...”
I kept bringing up mana whenever I got the chance.
That was the whole reason I'd suggested sparring in the first place—to stoke her desire for mana awakening even more.
Push her desperation further, and she'll commit fully to the massages.
Han Ha-rin needed to grow more desperate. Once she was clutching at straws, she'd cling to the massages.
“Shall we call it here? Or tomorrow?”
“Spar again tomorrow.”
I nodded. As expected, Han Ha-rin burned with the desire to grow stronger.
“You look exhausted. Skip today's massage and rest?”
“I'm fine. Massages need to be consistent for results, right?”
“True enough.”
???
Today was the assembly for Dungeon Survival: Reloaded. Han Ha-rin, Eun Sang-min, and I headed to a restaurant. The broadcaster had rented out a decent place for the day.
The schedule was lunch at the restaurant followed by a briefing on Dungeon Survival.
“Hm...”
The moment we entered, we felt overwhelming pressure from all sides. It was aura infused with mana.
Eun Sang-min and I handled it fine, but Han Ha-rin couldn't. Her face paled instantly.
The vibe is wrecked. Did something happen before we arrived?
I deliberately stepped in front of Han Ha-rin to block the pressure. Her expression eased a bit, but she soon gritted her teeth. She was frustrated at her own helplessness.
“...What're you lookin' at?”
Eun Sang-min scowled, using wide-area taunt. Some snickered; others glared murderously.
I understood Eun Sang-min's feelings. Walking in and getting hit with mana-laced aura pissed me off too. It was blatant hostility.
Looks like they were probing the participants' strengths and it backfired.
No helping it. We couldn't afford to make enemies of these hunters here.
Good intel, though. Roughly 50+ can use mana.
Being able to use mana didn't mean C-rank. There could be E-ranks like me who'd awakened it.
Ones to watch... about eight.
Stronger than Eun Sang-min, by the looks of it.
I headed to the table labeled 'Gukcheon University Hunter Team.' That was our team name—not our choice, but at the school's request.
“Ha-rin sunbae, Sang-min sunbae. Our table's here. Come on over. Especially Sang-min sunbae—don't waste energy.”
Ha-rin walked straight to the table. Eun Sang-min glared around once more before sitting.
Good that Eun Sang-min's listening.
He seemed to acknowledge me as leader.
We ate a course meal, then listened to a briefing from the assistant director and writer from the broadcaster. A Hunter Association staffer stood nearby, arms crossed, watching us.
“The dungeon for Dungeon Survival starts in a facility provided by the Association, located near Gangneung...”
They didn't specify the environment or monsters.
All we learned was dozens of cameras installed, Association staff with cameras patrolling, and intervention if needed.
“For your safety, Dungeon Survival: Reloaded provides Energy Protect. It absorbs damage by consuming energy. Once depleted, you're out and must leave under Association escort. If you continue moving or attacking after depletion, expect severe penalties. Keep that in mind...”
They emphasized safety heavily.
Makes sense for a broadcast.
I soon grew bored. Most of it was just reading from documents.
When's Baek Ji-eun showing? Other celebs are here—why not her? She wouldn't skip assembly day, right?
Baek Ji-eun arrived two hours in, near the briefing's end.
“Sorry I'm late. Busy schedule. Don't be mad—I brought rice cakes as a gift.”
With wavy brown hair and a form-fitting suit, Baek Ji-eun exuded sophisticated city girl vibes. Her F-cup bust strained against her blouse.
Finally.
Baek Ji-eun smiled, greeting familiar celebrities. Even the Association staff bowed deeply.
Baek Ji-eun was an A-rank hunter—and Association-affiliated. Rumored as a future S-rank, she was tipped for top Association brass.
Even if not S-rank, her influence makes exec inevitable.
Source: the internet.
Internet rumors were often BS, but cross-referencing sites filtered them out decently.
She's exec material. Association bends over backward for her.
And she was my target.
Need at least one Association exec in my pocket.
Her influence would be huge.
I fiddled with the 'Absolute Hypnosis Sticker' in my pocket.
Stick it on her skin... How to approach? Best when alone.
Couldn't just slap it on suddenly. An attitude shift would draw suspicion.
Pretend to be a fan for natural contact. But it might fail.
Success depended on mental strength. Higher meant less likely.
Problem is, no benchmarks.
Hunters had stronger wills than civilians. Higher ranks, stronger still.
Research backed it—high-rankers resisted mental magic better.
S-rank? No chance.
Even torture might not crack one, and approaching was suicide.
Baek Ji-eun's fresh A-rank—bottom tier. Viable.
I chewed the rice cakes she'd distributed, biding time.
If no opening, fake a trip passing her and stick it on.
“Ten-minute break. Almost done—hang in there.”
Hunters sighed, filing out. Briefings were just warnings—boring inevitably.
Baek Ji-eun?
She'd left too. Not toward the bathroom.
Chance!
I stood.
“Huh. Bathroom?”
Eun Sang-min, fiddling with his phone, asked. I shook my head.
“Got an important call. Be right back.”
I headed her way.
No stealth bullshit—she's A-rank. She'd spot it instantly, arouse suspicion.
Saw her board a black van. Probably resting or grabbing something forgotten.
Approach the car? Nah—wait and 'bump' into her.
I pulled out the Absolute Hypnosis Sticker. Slightly bigger than my thumb, surface crammed with tiny text.
Practiced micro-writing for this.
The text read:
-Thinks of me as childhood friend and fuck buddy since young.
-Obeys my commands unconditionally.
-Supreme joy sucking my dick.
-10x pleasure when I put it in her pussy.
-Our relationship is secret.
Thought about my name, but 'me' works—I'm sticking it.
Flexible enough.
Wondered what it'd do to myself... Too valuable for experiments.
Slide.
Van door opened; Baek Ji-eun emerged with a tumbler. She'd come for that.
She headed my way. I took a deep breath, stepped out casually, then feigned surprise at seeing her.
“B-Baek Ji-eun?!”
“Oh, hi.”
“I'm a fan! Baek Ji-eun! Can I get an autograph? No—a handshake! Please!”
“Handshake's no big deal.”
She extended her right hand. I did too. Mine had the peeled sticker on the back. Shaking would transfer it naturally to her palm.
Bail and peel if it fails.
Grip.
Hands met. Sticker stuck to her palm. I watched anxiously.
Baek Ji-eun frowned at me.
“What the hell are you?”