I'm Still Hungry
"I'm still hungry." Who said that?
The target's level is too low. No experience gained!
I don't know whose famous quote that was, but it perfectly captured my current feelings.
"...What a shame."
Thanks to the level-up recovery effect, I felt full of energy even after fighting nonstop for nearly eight hours. The spire was still diligently spitting out prey—no, demon soldiers.
The problem was...
The target's level is too low. No experience gained!
At some point, killing the demon soldiers stopped giving me any experience.
'Looks like you can't gain experience if the level gap is too wide.'
Crack! Tired of stealing weapons one by one, I started smashing their heads with my bare fists and glanced at the system window I'd summoned to the side.
Level: 24
My level was 22 before entering the spirit world, so I'd only leveled up twice since arriving.
"Who knew the dream of infinite leveling would end like this..."
The demon soldiers had become less than dust for my "gather pebbles to make a mountain" strategy.
Well, silver lining. I hadn't even expected to gain experience in the spirit world.
"Guess it's time to stop playing with you guys."
Krrr-?
"It was a displeasure meeting you, and we'll meet again in two years whether you like it or not..."
After twelve hours, these faces had gone from annoying to almost endearing. Instead of carefully killing them one by one within fist range like before,
Boom!
From now on, I'd just blast away the ones blocking the path to the spire in the rear.
Destroy that spire constantly summoning them, and this epic battle would end.
As I bulldozed through like a human wrecking ball,
The system detects your unrelenting struggle!
You have awakened the skill 'Tenacity (A)'!
A skill acquisition message popped up at a totally unexpected time. My eyes widened for a moment, then I whistled and grinned.
'Plus and minus cancel out perfectly.'
Right after regretting no more experience, I got a skill. Similar to when I intuitively learned the Enchant skill fighting the Living Armor.
'Come to think of it, Choi Kwang-hyun and Seo Chae-yeon said they got after fighting over twelve hours without rest.'
If my memory was right, Tenacity boosted all stats by 15% when vitality dropped below a certain point. A top-tier passive.
"Came to cure my pet dog obsession and got an unexpected harvest."
By the time I muttered that, the spire was right in front of me, welcoming me.
Now, how to take this thing down...
'Smashing it recklessly seems too brute force.'
Regardless of possibility, pulverizing a building-sized spire barehanded wasn't easy.
As I pondered efficient methods and scanned the spire, my gaze stopped.
"Come to think of it..."
Way up high. At the very top of the spire.
More precisely, on a black gem near the summit radiating brilliant light.
Demon soldiers spawned every time it emitted light.
So?
'Anyone who sees that wouldn't miss it's the spire's core.'
But it was pretty high up. Even jumping with all my might might not reach...
"Damn item ban."
If I had Ascendant's Soar, no need for this worry.
No choice.
"Gonna have to borrow the demons' help again."
Kek-!
I said something Mom would call worsening middle school syndrome if she heard, and snatched the spear from a demon soldier that conveniently approached.
As thanks, I kicked its gut full force, then lowered my stance and concentrated mana in my legs.
My thighs tensed like they might explode.
Boom!
I kicked off the ground like creating a sinkhole and soared high.
One blink later, I was near the spire's top.
"Feels like yesterday I was perpetual F-rank..."
Savoring the sentiment, I pulled back the arm holding the spear.
Roar! Ether flames like the sun enveloped the shaft and blade.
At this distance,
"200% hit!"
Whoosh!
The thrown spear streaked as a red line toward the gem. It pierced the black gem amid a deafening explosion that ruptured the air.
Rumble.
By the time I landed, the spire was collapsing uncontrollably.
"Guess the gem was the core after all."
Gyaaaak-!
Graaa-!
The demon legion swarming everywhere turned to dust and vanished.
You have passed the 'Upper Section Trial'!
The path to the 'Middle Section' opens!
A gate appeared right beside me as the message floated in the air.
'Time to catch my breath.'
Twelve hours straight fighting. No physical fatigue, but mentally a bit drained.
Some fresh air to refresh... yeah, not happening in this barren wasteland.
"Whew..."
As I plopped down to massage my hardworking legs from the high jump,
"...Huh?"
Suddenly, an unusual energy emanated from the spire's rubble.
Wait. This feels like...
'The energy's nature is similar to a Soul Core?'
My honed senses told me not to ignore it. No rush to head to the middle section anyway.
I'd check it out.
The unidentified energy stabbed my skin stronger as I cleared the mountain-like rubble.
Finally, clearing it all revealed,
"This is..."
Amid fragments of the black gem I'd destroyed, a ping-pong-ball-sized orb radiated intense mana waves.
'The spire's core was the gem, so is this the gem's core?'
Baseless guess, but I was certain: this orb held mana similar to yet different from a Soul Core—and greater.
'The spire's gem was the power source endlessly summoning demon soldiers.'
Like an engine running the summoning circle forever.
What if I absorbed that engine's energy?
It might not be the core, but if my hunch was right... no downside.
Worth the gamble.
"Mom taught me not to pick up and eat random stuff on the road, but..."
I smiled slyly and reached for the orb.
"Wanna see your unfilial son today?"
Like sneaking snacks from Mom, but I didn't swallow it whole.
Instead...
Crack!
Like absorbing the Soul Core, I gripped and shattered it.
I flinched involuntarily. Half-doubting, but the orb's energy seeped into me for real.
'...It actually works?'
Sure enough, mana similar yet alien to the Soul Core rushed to my dantian.
I swallowed hard.
You assimilate with the mysterious energy!
You can raise the grade of a desired passive skill by one level. (EX-grade skills excluded.)
"Skill upgrade...?!"
Oh my god. For real?
Current upgradable passive skills: Tenacity (A)
Messages confirmed it.
Two ways to upgrade skills: meet specific conditions or use the Association's device.
'The former's hard without knowing the conditions.'
Usually use the skill a set number of times or duration. But that "set" is three to five digits.
Even knowing, tough. Especially A-grade—time alone won't cut it.
'The latter... even Uncle Tae-ho calls it junk.'
C-grade success under 3%. A-grade? Lower than lottery jackpot.
Fail? Boom. And it costs.
Who'd do that?
'Yet I can upgrade that abysmal success rate skill so easily? An A-grade I just got?'
'Jackpot' filled my head.
"Never heard of S-grade Tenacity."
Already famous among A-grades. One more step—what would it become?
Curiosity won; I upgraded immediately.
The skill 'Tenacity (A)' has risen to 'Tenacity (S)'.
The skill name has been changed to 'Indomitable (S)'!
1. When vitality is 50% or lower, all stats increase by 50%.
2. When vitality is 50% or lower, damage taken decreases by 50%.
Perfect. Original performance improved, plus a bonus effect.
I'd been furious at that bastard Diorque at first...
"Gonna have to thank him when I meet him later."
He's probably waiting in the 'lower section.'
Can't wait.
Satisfied, I entered the gate to the 'middle section.'
In an instant.
Crossing the gate, I thought my vision was cut off—heart dropped.
The 'middle section' was pitch-black void everywhere.
'I can see my hands and feet, so just dark, not blinding.'
Luckily, my eyes adjusted quickly.
Stepping cautiously, splash. Water puddle sound echoed softly.
But didn't feel like normal water.
With unease, I advanced slowly, slowly.
"Why no messages—"
"You passed the 'Upper Section' trial unscathed, human."
"Ack, sh*t. Scared me."
A voice booming through the space made a curse slip out.
It was Diorque. I scanned around—no sign.
"Where you talking from? Broadcasting studio in the spirit world?"
"This is the 'Lower Section'. I've been watching you from here all along."
"Voyeur pervert."
"...Regardless of your flippant speech, you possess truly astonishing prowess. Quite the spectacle for a mere beast. On that note, I have a proposal—"
"A proposal. How about joining our legion?"
"...Huh?"
"Something like that, right? Predictable script."
I sighed deeply, like the floor might cave.
"Predictable questions get predictable answers. So let's skip the stale mind games and get to the point. Easier for you too, right?"
"...You're throwing away a once-in-a-lifetime chance, fool."
Aside from that, if I joined them, Mom would kill me somehow. Shiver just thinking.
"If you'd accepted, no need for the 'Middle Section' trial. You'll regret today's choice in death."
"Oh, that trial? Ever think of designing it better? First time yawning in a fight today. No joke."
"Yawn... Heh."
This bastard laughing now?
"From now, it'll be screams, not yawns."
"Yeah, sure. Whatever."
Bored of clichés, I openly yawned wide.
'Middle Section Trial' has begun.
📍 To open the path to the 'Lower Section': Kill the enemy before you.
Bubble bubble! The ground nearby frothed and boiled like about to vomit something.
Let's see what punching bag this time?
"For your goal, can you kill a lifeform wearing the face of your most beloved?"
"What?"
"You have sturdy combat power for a human. But mental fortitude...? Let's see."
...Wait. What does that mean?
'The nuance is like...'
The moment I realized the black something rising through the floor had a human silhouette, dread crept in.
"Now, you must kill someone you cherish most in life."
The black water covering the figure drained away.
And finally.
"Ah."
The identity of the black-veiled figure fully revealed.
"Ah... sh*t..."
My most beloved. Someone I cherish.
No need to say who.
"Haha! Quite the face."
It was Mom.
Full gear, too. Exactly as in the Reverse Dungeon when I possessed her. Perfect full set, Sword of Salvation at her waist.
"If you don't kill her, she'll kill you!"
Hey, you.
"Fake or not, I'll watch if you can trample one wearing your loved one's face!"
That's not it, you psycho.
"Prove if you have the courage to kill your cherished one right there!"
No. That's not the problem...