Chapter 190
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: Stone of Vital Energy
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Unlike the current gods, who refuse to let mere humans rise to their level of greatness,
the ancient gods delighted in mingling with humanity, rejoicing in their growth and constantly communicating with them.
Thus, if humans sought wisdom, the gods granted it; if they yearned for strength, the gods arranged for them to attain it.
"W-What's this?"
"It looks kinda dangerous."
The massive stone before them now, along with the red aura rising around it like heat haze, was one such gift.
[Stone of Vital Energy]
'A growth system crafted by the ancient gods, allowing humans to become as strong as they desire, should they set their minds to it.'
The enormous stele measured 25 meters across and soared 40 meters high, glowing with a reddish hue. And it didn't stop there—it exuded crimson haze within a 10-meter radius.
"Dickhead, hanging around here too long won't cause some kinda bad shit, right?"
"Gulp."
The two brats rubbed their bodies nervously, tense as could be. In contrast, Han So-hee calmly scanned the surroundings before murmuring softly.
"Stone of Vital Energy...?"
Oh ho.
"So-hee, you know what it is?"
At my show of interest, the rest of the party turned to her in unison.
"Ah, yeah. I vaguely remember seeing it mentioned in passing at the library. There wasn't much explanation—just a record that these things existed in the distant past."
"For real?"
"Rich sis is awesome!"
I smiled faintly. She'd been hitting the books in the library on her own time, just as I'd hoped.
This way, even if I acted like I knew all about it, the party wouldn't suspect a thing.
'Well, my crew would stick by me even if they did suspect something.'
In any case, I'd given Jua-hyun, Kim Yu-rim, and Lee Eun-jeong plenty of reason to trust and follow along.
"Min-jun oppa's amazing! So that's why you go to the library with So-hee unnie sometimes!"
Ah, actually, those were the times I wanted to bang So-hee.
The others never wandered near the library, so it had become our spot for secret trysts and baby-making.
-Ack! Ack! W-Wait a sec! Even so, stripping naked on the library table is...!
I knew no one would come, so I'd strip her bare on purpose and fuck her from one end of the library to the other...
Guess for a while, we'll have to do it behind the bookshelves on the sly.
"I'll start reading hard from the next rest area too!"
"Yeah, me too!"
The Saintess clenched her fist with burning resolve, while Isera nodded eagerly beside her.
"Ahem, good attitude, everyone. Anyway, find a comfy spot and sit down."
"What're we doing?"
The party eyed me with curiosity.
"Sit near this stele and do some deep abdominal breathing. Your stats will go up."
"?!"
"For real?"
"No way."
They all stared at me like I was scamming them—and honestly, I couldn't blame them. In the selection process so far, nothing this easy had ever come our way.
And sure enough, with a rustle, a predator that smelled prey pushed through the underbrush.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
A colossal monster about 15 meters tall. Spotting us, it let out a joyous GRRROOOAR! and charged.
"Danger...!"
But in that instant, some interlopers appeared.
Kyaaat!
Kyat!
Eight dracos bared their fangs, startling the charging predator into stumbling back. It didn't stop there—it turned tail and fled without hesitation.
"Eh...?"
'Scarbas, averaging just 7 meters tall, are among the top predators of the [Ancient Forest].'
A pack of scarbas was like a pride of lions—even seasoned predators gave them a wide berth.
A hungry scarba pack was akin to a school of starving piranhas.
They'd charge headlong at prey larger than themselves, tearing it apart in seconds with their ferocious tempers. Most monsters bolted at the sight of them.
'Of course, if something tough enough to shrug off their teeth showed up, it'd be trouble.'
Even then, few predators in this forest could take on our party, with six S-Ranks as mainstays.
"What're those things?"
"Heh, I thought they were just mounts, but they fight pretty damn well."
"Yeah, feisty ones. Good workers too. Gotta feed 'em lots."
With that, they tossed raw meat bought from the peddler tied behind like luggage.
I fed my draco too, then settled back into place.
"Alright, you guys sit down quick."
"Ah, got it!"
The party plopped down one by one. Smartly, they positioned Shin Seo-yeon, the Saintess, and Lee Eun-jeong in the center, with the rest forming a protective ring.
In a spot safe yet perfect for monitoring all directions.
'Finally acting like they're in the selection process.'
I smiled warmly at the sight and steadied my breathing. As I began deep abdominal breathing, the others followed suit.
"Dickhead, this really raises stats?"
"I trust oppa. Anyway, I trust him."
Both brimmed with doubt.
I got it.
This was a system handing out free stats. It couldn't be that simple.
They fidgeted restlessly, butts twitching.
"Hmm, it'd be nice if there were cushions."
It was right then.
[Mysterious energy permeates your body.]
[Strength increases by 1.]
Not long after the alert, the party members' eyes widened one by one as they checked theirs.
"What? It actually works?"
"No, whoa."
"How long we been sitting?"
"...An hour."
"!!"
Yeah. It took a full hour of deep breathing to gain one point. All while exposed, never knowing when a predator might strike.
'Normally, people wouldn't believe it and quit. Unless they knew everything like me.'
"Insane, this is OP as hell."
"Stats every hour?"
Ambition lit their eyes.
"Whoa, so how high can we max our stats?"
"No real limit. Theoretically, infinite."
"!!"
Every growth system from the ancient gods was outrageously generous. Massive scale too.
"Dickhead, let's just camp here forever."
I grinned.
That was the plan anyway.
That's why I left the mountain giant dragon alone.
Why I chose this trial out of so many.
'Honestly, got lucky.'
The [Island of Oracle], gauging participants to set trial difficulties.
Only those rated highest difficulty could reach [Ancient Forest].
'And among countless timelines, landing in the farthest past.'
Of course, every trial zone had Stones of Vital Energy.
But the Ancient Forest brimmed with spiritual energy, hosting the most.
In short, we could power-level here as long as we invested time.
'Usually farmed mid-to-late trials. Lucky us.'
Incidentally, red stones boost Strength, yellow Agility, green Stamina, blue Intelligence. Train accordingly.
"You guys keep grinding stats."
"What about you, Min-jun?"
"I got my own thing to do."
"You're passing on this? Gonna regret it."
"I'm good. You do it. And don't freak if the stele breaks midway."
"Huh? Breaks?"
"Loses effect and crumbles."
Once fully absorbed, it fades colorless and shatters to dust.
"Ah? Then what?"
"What do you mean? We move. Ping me when it breaks."
I tapped the wind spirit. It nibbled my finger playfully.
"OK!"
Phew, stat issue solved.
One worry down. Success farming stats in the fourth trial too.
'Stat shards get brutal to farm from here on.'
75% of the population gone after three trials. Time to shift from corpses to guild rewards and such.
This was part of that strategy.
'Oh, almost forgot.'
"Eun-jeong, come with me."
Flinch.
"W-Why? Where to?"
"Gotta scout somewhere. Or don't come if you don't wanna."
"Min-jun! Then let me— Mmph!"
I clamped the Saintess's mouth from both sides.
"Sis, stay put?"
"Yeah. No butting in."
Oh, the brats doing good for once.
Kim Yu-rim and Jua-hyun, who'd shot up their hands, quickly lowered them too.
"I'll be back."
I nodded to So-hee to lead well and stepped off.
"Huh?"
Lee Eun-jeong glanced around anxiously as I moved alone and the party stayed put.
"W-Wait, Seo-yeon comrade. You really sending her solo?"
"Right? She always does stuff alone. Ain't dying out there. Right, kiddo?"
"Yeah, auntie's right."
"B-But..."
Lee Eun-jeong looked to the party.
They didn't budge.
They knew I could handle myself fine, faces free of worry.
"This time Strength, next Intelligence maybe."
"Yeah, good idea."
"Not bad."
Instead, they chatted calmly before resuming breathing. Lee Eun-jeong was going nuts.
"Up you go."
When I finally mounted my draco alone, she bolted up yelling.
"W-Wait!"
"?"
"I-I'm coming too."
Lee Eun-jeong squeezed her thighs tight, declaring it like a vow.
"I can go alone, seriously. Don't push yourself."
"No. I'm coming."
She hopped onto her draco behind me. I smiled brightly.
"Fine, whatever. This way."
Clop clop.
I rode on with Lee Eun-jeong.
Bushes flashed by front to back.
"......"
Lee Eun-jeong trailed silently behind me, huddled like a scared kitten. When I just tugged the reins wordlessly, her curiosity won; she sidled up and asked.
"What's that?"
Her gaze fixed on the object in my palm.
"...A compass?"
"Yeah, a very special one."
'One of five compasses made by the ancient god Aspellos. This is the third: [Stargazer's Guide].'
Aspellos's compasses all reflected their owner's desires in the needle's movement.
This third one guided to the fastest path to the goal.
"But the fastest path isn't always the safest, so I brought you."
Lee Eun-jeong's [Spatial Dominion], awakened via the Star of Fate, detects all beings within {Strength x 3} meters in real-time.
Perfect for dodging mobs and sniping.
"Ah... So that's it?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"N-No, nothing. Guess I misunderstood you on my own. Didn't know there was such deep meaning."
I chuckled and refocused on the compass.
"So what're we hunting?"
"A stone."
"A stone?"
"Yeah. Super rare one, harder to get than a star from the sky. We'll roam the forest looking for it."
Barkus's revival was first.
Dracalon's scales second.
Stone of Vital Energy third for coming here.
This stone we'd farm now? The final purpose.
"I'll show you when we find it."
I tugged the reins this way and that while riding, then halted abruptly.
The compass spun wildly with each movement.
'Nice, gotta be around here.'