Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Theme Stage
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"Grraaaah...!!"
The massive body finally collapsed.
"Well done!"
With Han Ji-hyeok's praise laced with genuine pride, the boss mob hunt came to an end.
"I admit defeat, Hunter...! Eat me!"
"No thanks."
Dismissing the line that hinted at oddly high self-esteem, Do-yoon gazed at Tyrasilys's final moments.
The enormous reptilian body, melting away in places.
Physical attacks had been blocked multiple times, causing trouble, but they'd managed to land effective hits somehow.
Of course, the other hunters' support, the Goblin Warlord's curved sword, and the 'Acidic Digestive Fluid' skill had played a huge role.
"You won't eat me...? Very well. Then take this instead."
"...?"
As Do-yoon looked at Tyrasilys with puzzlement, a spear suddenly materialized in midair.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You have acquired a skill through resonance with the target, 'Tyrasilys'! ▶ Tyrasilys's Skin (C) : When used, generates tough skin that temporarily blocks enemy attacks. "Damn it."
It stayed quiet while they were struggling in the fight, only to hand over a skill after everything was done.
'Typical. Artistic to the bitter end.'
From their first conversation, he'd sensed something off, and now it had pissed him off right at the finish.
"Do-yoon oppa, what's wrong?"
"Nah, it gives me a skill now that it's all over."
"...Ah."
"It's fine. Beggars can't be choosers. I'll make good use of it from the next floor on."
Exhaustion had sparked negative thoughts, but Han Ji-hyeok's words snapped him out of it.
Right. Getting a skill at all was something.
Tyrasilys's Skin.
'Gotta test it in the training grounds.'
Etching the new skill into his eyes, he turned to the status window announcing the layer clear.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Boss monster, 'Tyrasilys', has been defeated. Experience gained! ✨ LEVEL UP! ✨ Lv.5 → Lv.6 + All Stats +1
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Receiving rewards. ▶ Tyrasilys's Leather ▶ Tyrasilys's Meat x3 '...Meat?'
"Rewards dropped?"
"Yeah. Boss leather and meat."
"Meat? I knew about the leather, but that's unusual."
"For use on the 5th floor, maybe?"
"Probably."
Han Ji-hyeok nodded at Jo Ha-rin's guess.
"Use it on the 5th?"
"Yeah. Items stored in inventory carry over to the next floor."
Resource item, huh.
"No spoilage worries in inventory, so it'll come in handy!"
"Can pull it out and eat anytime."
Do-yoon imagined casually chowing down on Tyrasilys's meat.
Meat from a boss that had rampaged so ferociously in life.
It'd probably reek with gamey smells and off-flavors to match its grandeur.
'Still, edible is edible.'
Edible... right?
Stowing the grateful rewards in his inventory, Do-yoon and the team left the tower.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After that, they spent their days focusing on gathering intel and training for the 5th floor, as originally planned.
Theme Stage.
To avoid mishaps there, they had to learn as much as possible before entering.
💬 Boss Mob Gallery — Newbie Progress Now? [Info: Most hunters' death rate spikes after floor 5] — About to Get Tossed into Real Hell, Newbie? Upvotes lol [Current fastest clear candidate tower?] — But What After Graduation? Just Screwed? [Figured Out Hidden Piece Conditions. Everyone Dead lol] — Newbie) Newbie Stats So Far [Post with stats image or something implied] "What the hell is this."
A new category for sorting posts had appeared in his absence.
Blatantly labeled 'Newbie'.
Intrigued, Do-yoon selected it and found a bunch of info posts.
"Oh."
📰 (My Post) Title: Just Saw the 'Newbie' Category, What's This? - Newly created? Info posts all gathered, super convenient. Just check this for strategy tips now? — Yeah, mods agreed to add it just for you Even if other bosses write newbie guides, they get buried in crap posts, so new category lol — First category ever made for one galler? Newbie power level ;; — Paper Enthusiast*) For future tower questions, dig in the Newbie category ↳ My Post) Nice 📰 (My Post) Title: I Am the Strongest - Hey bro Bro created a whole category just by existing Concept ends here Smooth clear of floor 4 done Prepping for floor 5 ㅇ Urgent homework cleared Can someone accurately explain what Theme Stage is? Seniors will tell me similar stuff, but on-site intel feels more reliable — Straight-up asking for spoilers www [Info: Newbie always snatches spoilers openly] Consistent bastard lol — Paper Enthusiast*) Was gonna drop bait when you returned ↳ My Post) Bait? Oh Theme? ↳ Paper Enthusiast*) Yeah, detailed Theme Stage info is taboo, but permitted with your consent ↳ Aged Wine is...*) Hooeeeng, exposing my shame to newbie-kun ㅠㅠㅠ 'Shame?'
Do-yoon wondered, but waited quietly for the wine lord's post.
📰 Title: About the Theme Stage Nickname: Aged Wine is...* (Blushing wine lord character meme) - Newbie-chan shows such passion for me, so embarrassing... ㅠㅠ This might get me 'graduated'...?(>< shy) Anyway... about Theme Stage... About it...! I don't know either! I really have no idea what happens there! "Huh?"
Betraying expectations, the wine lord's response was shamelessly cheeky.
— Sigh, my bad for expecting Knew it lol Fuck wine bro!!!!! Just spill it already?! Paper Enthusiast*) ;;; 📰 Title: But Wine Lord Isn't Totally Wrong Nickname: Paper Enthusiast* - Might seem insincere to human newbie But armband like wine lord, top floor owner, has barely any authority One authority affects Theme Stage directly... Tower unilaterally pulls and uses their memories, owner not involved at all "...Huh."
Maybe because he was in Boss Mob Gallery, but boss mobs seemed like—
Just convenient tools.
'Public black history, something like that.'
Do-yoon imagined based on his own experiences.
Forcing someone's head open, exposing their most embarrassing memory to the world.
What hell could top that.
Body might survive, but mentally? Dead for sure.
— Lol black history reveal show drgwaja~ Why I never took armband lol No x Can't o Hey hey Armband perks? lol Pointlessly strong so no graduation dreams, forced memory exposure show by tower ↳ Paper Enthusiast*) You're blocked. ↳ Eee ↳ Why fading? ↳ lol Didn't go far~ — Short-Eared Goblin*) No need to freak out too much~ Floor 5 danger not because of us~ ↳ My Post) What? ↳ Short-Eared Goblin*) Floor 5+ need real teamwork with other hunters, but from other worlds, not easy~ One tip. Annoying? Just kill. Kill before they become allies. "...Kill?"
Even if from worlds with different ethics and morals.
Going all the way like they said...
— Don't bother understanding communication failures, stab first if suspicious First betrayer wins ㅇ; These guys telling hunters to kill hunters lol Joke right? lol ↳ My Post) What's real ;;; ↳ You'll see when you go ㅇ ↳ Warning so newbie doesn't get got first 📰 Title: What Even Is a Hunter - Bastards blinded by achievements Ready to ditch tower loyalty or relations for homeworld gains Would they baby weak newbie? Lucky if they don't price out meat shields Sound exaggerated? Mid-upper bosses seen hunters stabbed in back plenty ㅇ How know from boss room? (Angry frog meme) Fuck I don't know why they do it either They price it out, bail on allies for finisher even — My Post) ...Boss room can't exit again? Escape items later ↳ OP) Even without, one ditched allies to finish me "What the actual fuck."
What the hell was going on above floor 5?
Truths he never wanted to know were closing in on Do-yoon.
📰 Title: Hooee ㅠㅠ But One Thing I Can Say for Sure...! "Oh." As he tried to grasp the incomprehensible, welcome news arrived.
He replied immediately, and wine lord responded.
— To me on that floor, absolutely don't defy..! Even newbie-kun mustn't do such a thing....! "...?"
What now.
— Don't know others, but seriously don't do that ↳ My Post) What is it. Wine lord on 5? ↳ Wine lord but probably different one ↳ My Post) ???? ↳ Told not to, don't fuck It didn't take long to understand the cryptic warning.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Do-yoon."
Before entering the tower for floor 5 clear, he took one last look at the hunters' faces.
"Want to help as much as we can, but after this, there's nothing more we can do."
A faint guilt tinged their expressions.
Why the guilt.
Pondering it, he truly felt like one of them now.
Feeling warmth in his chest, Do-yoon bid them farewell.
"I'll be back."
Han Ji-hyeok, Jo Ha-rin, Cha Yun-ha, and Jeong A-hyeon too.
Vowing to see their faces again, Do-yoon entered the tower.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Entering floor 5. 5th Floor: Theme Stage Theme: Memories of the Progenitor And what emerged was a tower structure, a world, completely transformed.