Rewards That Set the Heart Racing
Staring at the people touring the museum, I clutched my chest.
"My heart's still pounding..."
Sung Hyun-sook is worried it might be arrhythmia!
"...I don't have arrhythmia, Mom."
Of course it was pounding. I'd just come from a hellscape where flames shot up everywhere and demons swarmed like maggots.
But that wasn't the only reason my heart was racing right now.
"Are these all the rewards...?"
The spoils from clearing the Reverse Dungeon! Just thinking about them had my excitement refusing to die down. Let me sum them up simply:
1) Igor's Necklace
2) Throw Eye.
3) Hero-grade title
And...
The final reward from the Reverse Dungeon has been granted!
You have acquired Soul Core!
One skill from your sponsoring constellation will be linked!
"Hallelujah!"
Joy burst from my lips unbidden. Passersby shot me looks like I was some lunatic, but I ignored them.
Igor's Necklace, Throw Eye, hero-grade title... Every single one was priceless, beyond what money could buy, but...
Sung Hyun-sook is shocked that the skill link was the final reward!
The absolute best was this: Skill Link.
Players who clear the Reverse Dungeon can inherit some of their sponsoring constellation's powers. In my case, since my sponsor—my mom—was a player in life, it manifested as inheriting a skill instead of divine authority.
'Even better that way.'
It wasn't easy for a frail human body to handle a constellation's supreme power. Most players who cleared the dungeon couldn't fully utilize their sponsor's authority. It was like wearing clothes that didn't fit.
But...
'A fellow player's skill changes everything.'
No need to absorb massive divine power and force your body to endure the overload.
A system window crammed with countless options floated before my satisfied grin.
Select the skill to link.
<Warrior's Awakening (EX-grade)>, <Extreme Concentration (S-grade)>, <Storm Slash (S-grade)>, Shrinking Earth (S-grade)
… …
"Whoa..."
I was speechless all over again. Staring at that system window—like it needed a "S-rank buffet ahead" warning—I lost myself in awe.
Like hitting a god-tier buffet. Of course, my top pick was already decided.
"I'll choose Warrior's Awakening."
I didn't entirely dismiss Extreme Concentration or Storm Slash. They played a huge role in clearing the Reverse Dungeon so smoothly, after all.
But...
'The system doesn't lie.'
This thing was more accurate than AlphaGo. There had to be solid reasons it rated Storm Slash and Extreme Concentration as S-grade but Warrior's Awakening as EX-grade.
And I'd already tested it out fighting Myeoljae earlier, right?
To put it simply... like, uh, Super Saiyan? Superman? That feeling where your body doesn't even feel like your own anymore.
Skill Warrior's Awakening (EX) has been linked!
Warrior's Awakening (EX) has been added to your skill list!
Type: Active
Grade: EX
Description: A power created by War Incarnate, who adores his agent, for the battlefield.
Effect: Enter awakened state for 3 minutes; all stats double!
* Cooldown: 72 hours
* Uses 70% mana per activation.
I held back the "hallelujah" this time to avoid the crazy guy label. Instead, my heart felt ready to explode. Should've popped a calming pill on the way.
All stats doubled for 3 minutes? Totally insane.
Sung Hyun-sook says it's an overkill skill for someone as lacking as you—barely hiding her glee!
Are you dissing me or happy, Mom? Pick one...
Time to move on to the next reward. My gaze drifted to the cross necklace around my neck.
Type: Artifact
Description: A lifelong artifact invented by the demon of desire, Igor, infused with his wishes.
Effect: Activates trait Otherdimensional space; store up to 2 tons of items.
An artifact with near-infinite sub-dimensional storage. I've raved about how it outclasses any inventory item on the market, so next.
Hero-grade Title: Justice Enforcer effect applied!
All stats +20!
Overwhelming power surged through my body.
'Just from equipping one title...'
The stat boost was astonishing. I wanted to check my status window to admire my growth, but too much hassle. Skip.
Two rewards left: Throw Eye sponsored by War Incarnate, and the Soul Core as one of the final Reverse Dungeon rewards.
Type: Passive
Grade: EX
Description: The "eye that shakes the battlefield" mastered by a man called War Incarnate in life and death.
With Throw Eye open, you'll hold absolute advantage in all future battles.
Effect: Pierces the essence of perceived targets (intelligent beings only). Can toggle on/off freely.
"Hmm..."
I felt it when I first got it, but what the hell is this vague nonsense? I get that EX-grade means it's good, but the description's too abstract to grasp exactly what it does.
Pierce the essence of perceived targets...? What does that even mean?
"Guess I'll know once I try it."
No point pondering alone. Set it aside.
I checked the final reward: Soul Core.
"......"
The hexagonal crystal glowed like obsidian in my palm.
The Soul Core's effect was simple. Crush it to absorb its essence, expanding your body's mana circuits threefold.
It drastically cut mana depletion—its value was undeniable fact.
But...
Soul Core stored in Igor's Necklace!
I wouldn't use this Soul Core on myself. It had a different, true purpose.
Constellation Sung Hyun-sook respects your judgment.
Mom knew my intentions and just gave a calm nod. No—if I'd used it on myself, she'd have chewed me out.
It'd be that foolish a choice.
"Let's go."
With a light heart, I took a deep breath and left the museum.
"To claim the true reward."
"Here you go, bro!"
"You have no idea how hard it was gathering these!"
I thought to myself: If I were a girl, I'd be totally smitten with the Black-White Brothers.
In front of Black Lion Guild HQ. They looked wrecked from just clearing a dungeon, but they handed me neatly vacuum-sealed bundles of grassroots.
And what were these roots?
◈ Scroll to craft All Things Divine Water.
◈ Frost Flower 50/50, Desert Seedling Roots 15/15, Rock Wall Vines 70/70, Soul Core *
◈ Craftable Now
Misc items needed to craft All Things Divine Water.
'They actually gathered everything.' And way faster than my deadline.
Are these guys monsters?
Sung Hyun-sook is pleased; not bad kids at all!
Not bad? This is straight-up S-grade, Mom.
"Really, just the two of you?"
I said, genuinely moved.
"What kind of bond do we have with you, bro?!"
"Buy us a drink later if you're grateful!"
Drinks? Sure. After they went all out for me, what couldn't I do?
I thanked them again and headed straight to my next stop.
The next place was...
⦁ ⦁ ⦁
"Huh? Bro, what brings you here...?"
A convenience store near Guro Station. Where Yoo Seong-su was pulling night shift.
"You live around here too...?"
"Nah, not exactly..."
"Was getting bored with no customers, but seeing your face perks me right up, hehe..."
Yeah, I figured. He'd looked soulless through the window earlier, but lit up the second he saw me.
"Looking for something?"
"Yeah."
I stroked Igor's Necklace as I spoke.
"But it's not for me."
"Pardon...?"
As Seong-su tilted his head, a brilliant glow poured from Igor's Necklace, and something materialized in my hand.
A glass vial filled with transparent liquid.
More precisely: All Things Divine Water.
I'd finally crafted it. Even grinding up a Soul Core that any other player would hoard jealously.
Seong-su's eyes widened at the vial. Did he recognize it as a miracle cure?
Sharper instincts than I thought...
"Whoa... That necklace is one hell of an artifact, bro... How much'd it cost...?"
"......"
...He was surprised about something else entirely.
Well, Igor's Necklaceis pretty shocking. Anyway, no beating around the bush.
"First off, don't ask where it came from. No 'how'd you know' questions either. Too annoying to explain, and no time. We'll talk after everything's done."
"Pardon...?"
"This is medicine to cure your sick mom."
That moment.
"What did you just...?"
The bright smile vanished from Seong-su's face. His lips began to tremble.
"Bro, how do you know about my mom's illness...?"
"I said no questions like that."
"......"
"Dungeon item. Potion that fully cures mana poisoning. No side effects. Already verified."
"B-Bro... I-I don't even know what you're saying..."
Makes sense he'd be confused. I'd be too if someone shoved a vial at me claiming it cured modern incurables.
But...
"Believe me or not, up to you. But Seong-su, I'd love if you trusted me."
"......"
"No forcing it."
Yeah, no forcing. No need to.
I knew the pain of losing parents. How desperate a lone orphan gets.
So I was certain Seong-su would trust me...
"Um, bro... Sorry, but..."
...Huh?
"I do trust you, and I'm super grateful for the dungeon tour last time, but..."
"But?"
"I can't just use some mystery drug on my mom..."
"......"
Wait. Hold up. Dude. What happens to my badass inner monologue from 10 seconds ago if you pull this?
I get it, but! Seong-su, you stubborn kid...!
Constellation Sung Hyun-sook thumps her chest in frustration.
Sung Hyun-sook is jumping mad: Shut up and shove the potion at him—make him run to the hospital!
If I did that, it'd really be game over, Mom. His resolute expression said he wasn't buying it.
'Damn. Can't sneak it to him either...'
He had to confirm the effects himself for it to mean anything. This was all to boost his affinity, after all.
'Any good way to convince him?'
As I fretted inwardly—
[♬♩♪]
Sudden ballad vibes...? Oh, Seong-su's phone ringtone.
"One sec, bro..."
He pulled out his phone, checked the caller, and—
His face darkened ominously.
"Hospital...?"
It was from Guro Seongsim Hospital, where his mom was admitted.
A call past 10 PM. Even as an outsider, it felt ominous.
Seong-su glanced at me anxiously, then slowly raised the phone to his ear.
"Hello...? Yes... I'm the guardian..."
My boosted stats sharpened my hearing; the voice from the receiver came through crystal clear.
"Wh-what's going on...?"
The doctor's next words hit.
"Yes...?"
Seong-su's face drained of color.