Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Lightning Heart
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Before Lee Soo-hyuk collapsed.
[Even though you had the treasure, you didn't know how to use it, like an idiot...]
Even in his hazy mind, the dragon's voice rang out clearly.
[But in the end, you realized it.]
'Like hell I realized anything.'
Everything the bastard said pissed him off, probably because it hurt so much.
Swallowing the Lightning Heart had been an impulsive act, born from the thought that even if it was the wrong answer, it'd just come out as shit anyway.
And since trading was impossible, he wouldn't lose it either way.
[The previous Master of Lightning used this...]
The dragon's voice gradually faded.
Lee Soo-hyuk's mind was clouding over to the point where that booming voice could no longer be heard.
'Is this the limit?'
Pzzt, pzzzt—.
It felt like lightning was coursing through his body instead of blood.
He no longer paid attention to the dragon's voice. He was curious what it was saying, but right now, he had to focus elsewhere.
'Almost there.'
Crackle, crzzt—.
The Lightning Heart nestled in his chest devoured the traces of thunder.
The charged power pulsed violently, like a real heart. The Lightning Heart began pumping strength throughout his entire body.
And at that moment.
Snap—.
Something snapped in Lee Soo-hyuk's mind.
His memory cut off midway. But since he was still inside the cave, it seemed he hadn't died.
'Fainted again, huh.'
That was his first thought upon waking.
It wasn't hard to figure out how much time had passed.
"How long was I out?"
Ittoduk.
It was a word he'd never seen before.
"What's ittoduk?"
"I didn't die though...?"
Lee Soo-hyuk scratched his head sheepishly.
It seemed he'd collapsed a lot. The fact that a ridiculous nickname like this had popped up among viewers was proof.
Still, fortunately, quite a few viewers remained. Over 5,000 had stuck around watching his unconscious body.
"Sorry, everyone. You waited a long time."
He knew it was playful teasing, but it did feel a bit guilty to just brush off.
His pride was kicking in too.
"If it happens again..."
He pondered what would be good.
Lee Soo-hyuk shook his head.
"That's a bit much."
There was a bit of an annoying misunderstanding mixed in, but he couldn't help it.
'It doesn't really matter anyway.'
No one knew this face yet. Still, the reason he hesitated to reveal it was John Tail's advice.
'Lee Soo-hyuk is mysterious because his face isn't known...'
It was a reason he hadn't considered himself. But it made a lot of sense.
Above all, John Tail specialized in analyzing streamers and viewers.
Better to heed the expert on this.
The follow-up sponsor message.
Pak Soo-hyuk was someone Lee Soo-hyuk had seen a few times. Coincidentally, he was a major streamer from the same agency.
"...?"
What was this reaction?
'Isn't collab good?'
Pak Soo-hyuk was a major streamer. Averaging over 50k viewers, sometimes over 100k.
A star among streamers.
Collabing with him was definitely a good thing.
So what was with this reaction?
'No need to overthink.'
It seemed better than face reveal. And viewers wanted it.
Lee Soo-hyuk nodded.
"Got it. I'll do that."
The reaction wasn't bad. Quite a few viewers seemed excited.
Though some incomprehensible chats about "Destruction King" were mixed in.
"That's enough chit-chat."
Lee Soo-hyuk stood up, his eyes gleaming again.
"The clear isn't over yet."
Right.
The clear wasn't finished.
This was Thunderclap Cave. An impregnable dungeon no one had cleared in decades.
He couldn't let his guard down. He'd been in danger this time too.
'How much fatigue recovered?'
Lee Soo-hyuk checked his status.
"...?"
Two things caught his eye.
Fatigue at 71. A pretty high number.
No wonder his body felt tired. Not in perfect condition.
Of course, not to the point he couldn't fight right away.
What surprised him more was elsewhere.
'Magic Power 48?'
The stat that had been 36 jumped a whopping 12 levels.
This was burdensome. Unlike the others stuck in the 30s, this one neared 50 alone, creating imbalance.
On top of that, Lightning skill leveled up.
Too much gained. Stamina unchanged, fatigue high.
'Good, but...'
Balance-wise, headache. Magic ahead without balance could mean high burst but low sustain.
But one thing.
He was looking forward to it.
'Lightning Heart.'
Thump, thump—.
The small stone near his heart.
It felt like a real heart. The tool for humans to wield lightning.
Crackle, crzzt—.
A lingering warmth remained at the tip of Lee Soo-hyuk's fingers after hurling the spear. Far off, Schneider looked flustered.
'He blocked it.'
Having knocked away the knight's sword, Lee Soo-hyuk clicked his tongue in disappointment.
He'd wanted to sever the arm instead of just the sword.
At the last moment, the knight twisted his sword to block.
'Reflexes good enough to react to a surprise spear. Fast too.'
Was that really Pelius?
The image of a flailing Julius popped into his head. Back then, struggling against one giant.
Now, emanating aura that could slice giants and their chief.
Step—.
Lee Soo-hyuk approached Pelius and Schneider glaring at him.
Pelius, who had been fighting Schneider, ignored him since his appearance.
"Why so late?"
Schneider's reaction to his arrival was ambiguous—happy or angry?
"Dozed off for a bit."
"Dozed?"
"Something like that."
He couldn't say he fainted outright, so he phrased it vaguely.
Schneider tilted his head at the answer, picked up the fallen spear, and said,
"Tough opponent."
"Yeah, looks like."
"Keep distance like before, support from rear. I don't have ranged attack skills like you—."
Pzzt—.
Mid-sentence.
Pelius's sword flew toward Schneider's neck.
Clang—!
Barely blocked with spear shaft. A bit slower, and head gone.
But.
Crack—.
Crack appeared on overtaxed shaft.
Crrzzt—!
For some reason, Pelius unleashed unprecedented lightning output, swinging again.
Boom—!
"Ngh...!"
Body shook, whole body tingling. Spear and hand precarious.
Fought Pelius many times, never this output.
'Not the end when fighting me?'
Already low stamina, tough situation.
Shatter—!
Spear finally broke.
Eyes wide, body frozen unresponsive.
"Come on out."
Flash—!
Another lightning shone.
Clang—!
Pelius and Lee Soo-hyuk's lightning collided, scattering everywhere.
Crackle, crzzt—.
Two swords clashed. Heavy feedback in both hands, Lee Soo-hyuk's eyes gleamed.
No half-measures.
Could tell instantly—not an opponent to conserve stamina for.
Then.
'Lightning' activated.
'Lightning Heart' activated.
'Selfish Sacrifice Lv5' resists damage from 'Lightning'.
Time to pour out full power.
Crrzzt—!
Lightning surged from blade tip. Higher magic, higher skill grade—output incomparable to before.
Physical burden would be greater too.
'More bearable than expected.'
For some reason, not as burdensome as feared.
Whoosh—.
Lee Soo-hyuk's sword swung at Pelius's body.
Pelius met it head-on, as if refusing to dodge.
Clang—!
Pzzt—!
Swords collided, lightning scattering everywhere.
Nearby Schneider raised arm to shield, debris alone lethal to average players.
Boom, bang—!
Clang—!
Each clash thundered, slashes shattering cave walls.
Schneider watched wide-eyed.
'What happened in between?'
He'd sparred Lee Soo-hyuk just days ago.
One Lightning Spear downed him, but Schneider thought rematch would be close.
And that assessment held.
But.
'Even if shoes explain speed...'
Boom—!
Player unleashing that lightning, same 3rd floor? Unbelievable.
'What'd he get here?'
Seemed like a different person in that short time.
And Lee Soo-hyuk felt the same.
'New sensation.'
Thanks to Lightning Heart embedded?
Different from using as skill before.
Felt like lightning circulating like blood, drawable freely anytime.
And it wasn't illusion.
[Even with treasure, didn't know use...]
Dragon's words resurfaced.
Too hectic then, just annoying.
'Real treasure.'
Gap between mere possession and proper use this vast.
If in perfect condition, how far could lightning go?
Excitement building.
"It really was you."
Hiss—.
Pelius leaped back roughly, eyes gleaming from helmet, mouth opening.
"Long time no see, benefactor."
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