Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Pyramid (2)
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Rokan had gotten a taste for the fun strategy he'd stumbled upon by chance.
The mid-tier noble mummies were just a bit stronger in their soldiers and personal abilities, but their patterns were similar, so from the start, he'd used one as both a hostage and a weapon, swinging it around.
[You have acquired a Mid-grade Bloodstone.]
And every time a noble mummy died, it dropped an item called a bloodstone.
It was also the completion condition for the human race quest, but it had several functions in its own right.
[Mid-grade Bloodstone][Rare]
A crystal formed by forcibly condensing life force. Created using the Reverse Heaven secret art, using it may incur the wrath of the gods.
-Use Effect: Massive life force recovery, Blood Poison debuff
Its basic function was as a potion substitute.
It instantly restored a large amount of life force upon consumption, but at the same time inflicted Blood Poison, causing life force to drain—an odd item.
Especially since accumulating too much Blood Poison could reduce maximum life force, it had to be consumed carefully.
‘If only the Blood Poison could be removed, it’d be an excellent recovery item.’
The Blood Poison could be removed or used for other purposes, though.
Since he only needed one bloodstone minimum to complete the human race quest, Rokan had no intention of handing them all over. For now, he stashed them neatly in his inventory.
“From here on, the difficulty spikes, huh…”
He fitted together the key fragments collected from the mid-tier noble mummies and inserted them into the designated entrance. A staircase leading to the next floor appeared.
What appeared on the next floor were none other than high-tier noble mummies.
Their classification was the same, but from their appearance to their strength, they couldn’t be compared to the low- or mid-tier noble mummies.
For starters, their looks preserved their living forms so well that they barely resembled mummies.
“It might turn into a prolonged battle.”
Moreover, the terrain wasn’t just ‘inside the pyramid.’ Some magical force intervened, transforming it into an entirely different space in terms of layout and scale.
Into the spaces they had originally ruled.
The high-tier noble mummies nested in the territories they’d governed in life, indulging in eternal pleasure, while Rokan was in the position of causing chaos to advance to the next stage.
“First up, a stealth assault.”
Having quickly devised a plan in his head, Rokan soon moved to the next floor.
Flash.
He’d only descended the stairs, but the moment he stepped off the last one, the stone chamber-filled pyramid was gone, replaced by a desert sand terrain.
Even the ceiling had turned into a clear sky, making it feel like he’d been possessed by a ghost, but his Unyielding Will title didn’t activate. This change wasn’t recognized as a negative mental attack.
He’d half-hoped for it, but as expected, a free pass was impossible. Confirming that, Rokan immediately oriented himself and began moving.
Toward one of the cities housing the nine high-tier noble lords.
“Stealth.”
When he could finally see the city walls with the naked eye from afar, Rokan immediately activated Stealth to hide himself.
Stealth slowed his movement speed, so it would take a while to arrive, but there was no choice. The first target he’d selected was cowardly and reclusive; approaching openly would likely make it hide immediately.
So, slowly and cautiously, he attempted to approach the walls.
‘The gate’s a no-go.’
After trudging toward the gate, Rokan glanced at it briefly before looking away.
He hadn’t even considered entering through the gate. He knew better than anyone that with the level gap, his rudimentary Stealth skill would get him spotted instantly.
So he waited for night.
It was absurd that a magically created space had day and night, but given their obsession with life, it might matter even more to them.
“Hup.”
Thud, thud.
As night deepened, Rokan began climbing the walls barehanded.
The walls, built from rough, jagged rocks, weren’t smooth, so with enough strength, stamina, and focus, scaling them was entirely feasible.
Add some gear, and he could climb cliffs dozens of times taller, but he had no intention of going that far. Instead, he exerted his strength and swiftly scaled the walls.
“Stealth.”
The moment he reached the top, he activated Stealth.
The walls were brightly lit, but this place hadn’t seen intruders for hundreds, thousands, or perhaps tens of thousands of years, so there were plenty of shadowed spots, and the soldiers’ discipline was lax.
The soldiers’ high levels meant wide Stealth detection ranges, but adjusting for those gaps was child’s play for Rokan.
‘There it is.’
Unlike other high-tier nobles who patrolled outside or drank in plain sight, this one rarely showed itself.
That’s why Rokan had targeted it first, before going into full hiding.
After sneaking in with great difficulty, he finally reached its chambers.
“Bombardment.”
Boom!
The instant he entered, Rokan hurled a hand axe at the bed and charged alongside it.
“Flurry!”
As the corpse exploded and bed fragments scattered, his eyes gleamed as he slashed again.
He knew this cautious one didn’t sleep on the bed.
Its sleeping spot was right under it.
It didn’t truly sleep, having defied death, but a metallic clang and heavy feedback immediately transmitted through his hands.
“How dare a rat like you sneak into my domain!”
Unlike its bellowing roar, its feet quickly backpedaled. Just one exchange, but it had realized Rokan surpassed it in strength and toughness.
But Rokan, who knew its personality, wasn’t about to let it get away.
“Where do you get off yapping, you coward?”
Charge, Dash, Unyielding Advance.
Using every charge skill he had, he closed in and grabbed its wrist with his left hand.
“Let go!”
Clang!
It swung its iron-like arm to strike Rokan’s hand, but it fell short. Rokan had activated Guard in response.
With a cold metallic ring, the attack was nullified, and a massive battle axe descended on its head.
Clang!
“Grahhh!”
Normally, the head would burst and blood would spray like a fountain, but the sound of the battle axe embedding in its head was different.
This mummy was essentially an iron golem.
Its body, reinforced and preserved by special drugs and magic, granted steel-like defense even to its head, so Rokan’s attack merely dented it.
“Lowly wretch! You cannot kill me!”
“We’ll see about that!”
Realizing it wasn’t lethal, it thrashed desperately, cursing Rokan, but that was mere child’s play to him.
He smirked and kept swinging the battle axe.
Hit it where it’s dented, hit it again.
For opponents his attacks didn’t pierce, Rokan’s method was simple: strike until it breaks.
And it worked quickly.
“Guh, grahh! Stop! Stop!”
Realizing its head would crumple into its neck, it screamed and begged for mercy.
Sand soldiers or retainers wouldn’t care if arms flew or necks were severed, but as a high-tier noble mummy closer to human, it felt even phantom pain.
Absurd, but that was the weakness of high-tier noble mummies, whose physical prowess outstripped their levels. At this point, they were more NPC than monster.
“Stop?”
“Eek! P-Please!”
Rokan halted the battle axe mid-air and glared, and it instantly switched tactics, clasping its hands upward and groveling.
Pride as a high-tier noble meant nothing compared to its immense attachment to life.
[Cowardly High-tier Noble Mummy Rolpi][Lv 250]
‘This guy never changes.’
In truth, despite its begging and life obsession, killing it would just make noble mummies respawn when the floor reset, memories wiped.
Of course, that was as good as death, but Rolpi’s case was extreme.
Rokan already knew this, which was why he hadn’t used Massacre to finish it instantly.
“Wanna live?”
“Y-Yes! Of course! Absolutely!”
Rokan growled as if he’d tear it apart right then based on the answer, and Rolpi cowered immediately.
It acknowledged the vast combat power gap and abandoned any thoughts of fleeing or tricks.
Noble mummies had impressive specs, but calling their combat prowess exceptional was a stretch.
They could summon powerful knights with high-tier noble authority, but facing Rokan made it feel pointless.
“Sign this.”
Rokan handed the trembling, puppy-like Rolpi a magically treated paper.
What users called a ‘contract’!
“Y-Yes…”
Rolpi took it dazedly, confused, but blanched at the sight of the raised battle axe and slammed its face onto the contract.
The terms were simple: Rolpi could never harm Rokan and would unconditionally cooperate with whatever he did.
If it broke the contract, it had to pay Rokan a ‘High-grade Bloodstone.’ Since bloodstones sustained mummy life, it was essentially a death sentence.
Rokan, conversely, only had a clause about efforts to ensure Rolpi’s survival—no other responsibilities or penalties.
‘It should be grateful just to be spared.’
A one-sided contract heavily favoring Rokan.
But there was no choice: die now or somehow live.
Normal monsters couldn’t even use contracts, but as a mummy with extreme life attachment, Rolpi could.
“I-I’ll do it.”
Finally, Rolpi glanced nervously at Rokan and signed.
A soft glow signaled the contract’s completion, sealing their unequal pact.
The penalty was auto-enforced, so any mischief would instantly deliver a High-grade Bloodstone to Rokan’s inventory.
[Unbelievable Feat! You have made a contract with a monster.]
[You have acquired the title ‘Dark Trader.’]
[You are the first to acquire this title.]
[Dark Trader][Unique]
With the discerning eye of a master merchant, you saw through what your target desired and successfully contracted with a monster.
You are the first to acquire this title.
[Effects]
-[Merchant’s Eye] allows [Insight] without hostility indicator
-Special command [Trade] available
-Special skill [Blind] available
Plus a unique title bonus!
He’d gained in many ways, but the real prize remained.
“Now, shall we get to the main point?”
Rolpi’s face fell into resignation at Rokan’s chilling smile.