Chapter 43
Chapter 43
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Clash with the Zhonghua Guild (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A little time passed.
Kang Hyun-soo confirmed the deaths of the Zhonghua Guild players.
‘They left behind quite a haul.’
Kang Hyun-soo first collected the skill books.
He could just learn the skill books or sell them in another region.
Items were the riskiest, though.
Shhhhk!
Kang Hyun-soo solved that by feeding them to the Devouring Sword.
Most of the items used by the Zhonghua Guild players were B-Rank.
C-Rank items were as rare as beans in a drought, and D to F-Rank items didn’t exist at all.
[The Devouring Sword has grown from B-Rank to A-Rank.]
Having devoured a large number of B-Rank items, the Devouring Sword had finally reached A-Rank.
‘It really took a long time.’
B-Rank and A-Rank were just a single step apart.
But the difference in caliber was vast.
Kang Hyun-soo checked the information for the now A-Rank Devouring Sword.
[Devouring Sword - A-Rank]
- Unique item
- Grows by absorbing other items.
- Attack power increased by 25%.
- Attack speed increased by 25%.
- Penetration chance increased by 25%.
- Absorbs enemy blood and flesh to rapidly recover health and wounds.
- Inflicts Anti-Heal effect on struck targets.
All the option increases had gone up from 20% to 25%.
And a new option had been added.
‘It’s finally here.’
One of the reasons the Devouring Sword had gained fame as the Sword God’s beloved blade.
‘Anti-Heal.’
If wounded by the Devouring Sword with its Anti-Heal effect?
Healing skills or self-recovery skills wouldn’t mend the wound.
Of course, it wasn’t permanent.
Once the Anti-Heal wore off, healing skills or self-recovery could treat the wound.
Also, if the player had high skill resistance?
The Anti-Heal duration shortened dramatically.
But that was fine.
‘Anti-Heal is influenced by the Magic stat.’
If someone with a high Magic stat wielded the Devouring Sword?
Naturally, the Anti-Heal duration extended.
The Sword God had been a typical swordsman.
His Magic stat was high for a swordsman.
‘But only compared to other swordsmen.’
Compared to mage-type players, his Magic stat was overwhelmingly lower.
‘Even so, it displayed tremendous power.’
Whenever cooldowns reset, Kang Hyun-soo used Stat Fixation and Skill Enhancement.
As a result, his level kept resetting to 0.
But all his stats steadily rose.
‘Around level 100 player level?’
Excluding title-granted stats from the 0-level baseline, his pure accumulated stats were only about that much.
The issue was that Skill Enhancement’s cooldown was too long and Stat Fixation’s rank too low.
‘Both are only C-Rank.’
At least Stat Fixation, which had been D-Rank, had recently risen to C-Rank, improving efficiency a bit.
‘Stat Fixation has a relatively short cooldown.’
Even at C-Rank, Skill Enhancement’s cooldown was a whopping 21 days.
Meanwhile, the now C-Rank Stat Fixation’s cooldown was just 12 hours.
Both Stat Fixation and Skill Enhancement had their cooldowns halved from before.
But the initial cooldown gap was too wide.
‘The key is that they’re steadily improving.’
Just level 100 stats.
But those were the stats after using Skill Enhancement to reset to 0-level.
‘As Replica Skill, Skill Enhancement, and Stat Fixation ranks rise, accumulated stats will grow further.’
Right now, it was merely level 100 stats.
But with more time?
It was entirely possible to gain level 1000 stats at 0-level.
‘For now, I’ll be satisfied with this.’
Resetting to 0-level momentarily weakened Kang Hyun-soo.
But hunting quickly leveled him up again.
Skill Enhancement’s cooldown currently had two days left.
Kang Hyun-soo had been level 0 thirteen days ago.
Now he was a whopping level 381.
He’d gained levels others took years for in just over ten days.
Combining accumulated stats with his titles?
His current stats matched high-level players called 600-700 range.
If not for using Company Assembly every cooldown reset, dropping his stats?
Without Company Assembly, his stats would rival rankers at 800-900 level.
‘But I can’t avoid using it. Company Assembly.’
Kang Hyun-soo used Company Assembly to turn the dead Zhonghua Guild members into summons.
“All done?”
At Song Ha-na’s question, Kang Hyun-soo nodded and spoke.
“Then let’s get back to hunting.”
“We’re doing night hunting today, right?”
No sooner had Kang Hyun-soo finished than Earth Emperor asked.
“Seems like we have to.”
It wasn’t visible to the eye.
But Kang Hyun-soo’s body still bore the mark left by Vendetta’s Pattern.
Minimum 6 hours, maximum 9 hours.
For safety, they needed to hunt another 9 hours before returning to Luzabenu.
“Didn’t pack dinner.”
Earth Emperor muttered regretfully.
Kang Hyun-soo’s group had packed lunch.
But not dinner.
They usually returned to Luzabenu for dinner.
“Just think of it as eating a bit late.”
“It’s more than a bit.”
“I’ll let you eat whatever you want today. So hang in there a little.”
“You’ll let me eat everything I want? For real?”
“Yeah.”
“Got it! I’ll endure!”
Earth Emperor’s sullen face brightened instantly from moments ago.
Kang Hyun-soo was dumbfounded.
‘Who the hell did it take after to be so gluttonous?’
Kang Hyun-soo even thought, ‘That guy isn’t from the Toin Tribe—is it Lowin Tribe or Ungin Tribe?’
* * *
Inside the Zhonghua Guild’s vice master’s office.
“Party 8 from Team 5 hasn’t returned.”
“Still?”
“Yes.”
“When did they leave?”
“Entry logs show they departed at 9 a.m.”
“And they still haven’t returned?”
“Yes.”
Zhonghua Guild Vice Master Exterminating Demon Spear Jin Gu-pyeong scowled.
The sun had fully set.
Even skilled players found night dangerous.
Normally, leaving at 9 a.m. meant returning by 6-7 p.m.
Carrying loot and magic stones was cumbersome, and rest was needed.
Players were human too.
9-10 hours of battling monsters exhausted body and mind.
“Did they pack dinner?”
If they’d packed dinner?
They might have planned night hunting from the start.
“They only packed lunch.”
“Then an accident happened.”
Exterminating Demon Spear Jin Gu-pyeong’s face twisted fiercely.
‘Of all times, with the guild master away on a large expedition and me as acting head, this happens.’
He already had many rivals eyeing his position.
Team 5 consisted of level 500 players.
Players who’d broken the level 400 wall.
With ample combat experience and skills, Teams 5 and up were treated as elites in Zhonghua Guild.
Unlike Teams 2-4 of 200-400 level players, easily replaced with frequent accidents.
“What’s the report from the entrance guards?”
Asking if anyone bearing Vendetta’s Pattern had entered.
“None.”
“Then monsters got them?”
“That’s the highest possibility now.”
Even experienced, skilled Team 5 parties could fall unpredictably in hunts.
“Dispatch an investigation team from Team 6 immediately.”
Team 6 was level 600 players.
Even if a Team 5 party was wiped by a strong monster.
They couldn’t stand against Team 6’s investigators.
“Yes, understood.”
* * *
Nine hours after clashing with Zhonghua Guild players.
The sun had long set.
“Let’s head back now.”
At Kang Hyun-soo’s words.
Earth Emperor’s limp, drooping ears perked up.
“Really? Let’s go! You have to keep your promise to let me eat whatever I want today!”
“Got it.”
Kang Hyun-soo was dumbfounded.
‘Anyone would think I starve it normally.’
Earth Emperor always ordered whatever it wanted.
“I’ll order beef steak and whole pig barbecue first, then steamed fish and roast duck, and…”
Correction.
‘It couldn’t order everything before.’
Even normally, Earth Emperor devoured two main dishes in a blink.
Kang Hyun-soo had thought it just had a big appetite unlike its size.
But apparently, even that wasn’t enough for Earth Emperor.
‘Well, money’s plenty.’
Kang Hyun-soo had bet on Earth Emperor’s victory twice.
And won big.
Though he’d invested it all in the herb field.
Just selling magic stones and junk from hunts.
Earned enough for luxury inn feasts.
As Kang Hyun-soo’s starving group clutched empty stomachs returning to Luzabenu.
“Hey, hold up.”
A group of players blocked their path.
‘Zhonghua Guild members.’
Their armor bore the Zhonghua Guild mark clearly.
Plus brooches shaped like the guild’s yellow dragon emblem on their clothes.
“Did you happen to see these guys while hunting today?”
Zhonghua Guild players showed portraits of ten players.
‘They’re quick.’
The portraits were of the Zhonghua Guild players who’d clashed with Kang Hyun-soo’s group.
“Nope.”
Kang Hyun-soo answered calmly.
“Is that so? Then where are you lot from?”
The Zhonghua Guild players narrowed their eyes at Kang Hyun-soo’s group.
Language was the issue, as expected.
“From Mulan Kingdom.”
“Why?”
“Hunting.”
At Kang Hyun-soo’s words, the Zhonghua Guild player scowled and spoke.
“To hunt here, you need Zhonghua Guild permission and pay a cut of earnings. Got a hunting permit?”
“Nope.”
“Ha! No permit? You dared hunt in Luzabenu without our say?”
“There’s a hunting permit required? Didn’t know. I’ll get one today.”
Kang Hyun-soo bullshitted to avoid conflict.
‘The Vendetta’s Pattern just vanished—I can’t get another.’
Removing these Zhonghua Guild players was easy.
But then?
The barely gone Vendetta’s Pattern would reappear.
‘As long as I don’t return to lodging, but that’d raise suspicion.’
Kang Hyun-soo’s group weren’t Chinese or Luzabenu natives.
Any incident, they’d top the suspect list.
Suspicious folks not returning?
They’d drag them in for “investigation” for sure.
Arrest warrant? Right to investigate? Presumption of innocence?
Meaningless in Atlantis dimension.
Fair probes and legal judgments? Same.
‘No need to invite suspicion.’
Clashing with Zhonghua Guild was risky for Kang Hyun-soo too.
Avoid conflict if possible.
But.
He couldn’t help cursing inwardly.
‘These crazies really think Luzabenu is their land.’
Even if Luzabenu truly were Zhonghua Guild’s.
They had no right to control surrounding hunting grounds.
Hunting grounds were ownerless.
Monster-infested land couldn’t be occupied.
No one claimed ownership.
Even Mightor Kingdom’s borders only reached Luzabenu metropolis.
Claiming hunting ground ownership? Absurd from Kang Hyun-soo’s view.
“Get one today? Think that erases your crimes so far? Bind them now!”
“Yes, party leader!”
Thud thud.
Zhonghua Guild players approached Kang Hyun-soo with mana-suppressing ropes.
“Haa!”
A long sigh escaped Kang Hyun-soo.
“Really can’t be helped.”
Refusing offered liquor and insisting on penalty drink.
Even if truly, truly reluctant, had to give it.