Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: The First MuMuMu
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Entering the Subspace House, Su-ho writhed in agony from the overlapping status effects.
Dragon Fear lived up to its name.
Its damage was incomparable to any ordinary fear effect.
But Su-ho gritted his teeth, biting his lip, and pulled out a Purification Potion he had bought in advance from Dongdaemun Market. He downed it.
[You have consumed a Purification Potion.]
[The purification effect activates.]
[Fear status removed.]
[Hallucination status removed.]
Only after drinking the Purification Potion did all the debuffs finally vanish.
Freed from Dragon Fear, Su-ho collapsed onto the floor and caught his breath.
'I really thought I was done for.'
Dragon Fear was one of the reasons Jang Pyeong-ho had failed to defeat the Tower Dragon.
He had only ever seen one—and barely survived that encounter.
But Su-ho had data on the Tower Dragon from Jang Pyeong-ho's experiences.
That's why he had come prepared with Purification Potions.
His own Cure skill hadn't helped much.
A high-level debuff like Dragon Fear required at least an A-rank skill to counter effectively.
'It cost a fortune, though.'
He was glad he had gotten his scholarship money early.
Without it, he wouldn't have been able to afford even a glimpse of these expensive potions.
'Dragon Fear doesn't build tolerance after one exposure... Tsk, no helping it.'
Ordinary fear effects don't recur after the first time.
But Dragon Fear was different.
As one of the pinnacle fear skills, building resistance required specific defensive items or skills.
In other words, every time the dragon unleashed its fear, he'd have to retreat to the Subspace House and chug a Purification Potion.
That's why he had stocked up plenty.
Enough to burst his stomach if he kept drinking them.
'No wonder Jang Pyeong-ho couldn't beat this pattern.'
Jang Pyeong-ho had prepared poison skills for the Tower of Challenge.
Infect the enemy, then wait in the Subspace House while the monsters weakened.
But the Tower Dragon was immune.
And with Dragon Fear and Ground Claw attacks, getting close was nearly impossible.
That's why he never defeated it.
'But today, I'm taking down the Tower Dragon and soloing the Tower of Challenge.'
His preparations were perfect.
After some recovery, Su-ho checked his status window again.
[An Su-ho]
- Lv: 39
- Class: Healer
- Strength: 95
- Vitality: 95
- Mana: 96
- Sensory: 39
- Bonus Stats: 0
Mana stat at 96.
A bit short of his goal, but he had come prepared just in case.
Su-ho pulled out his Dongdaemun purchases one by one.
A skillbook and some junk items. He used the skillbook first.
[You have learned Basic Synthesis Formula.]
Players could acquire skills in various ways, but the most common was through skillbooks.
Usually in book form, like the one he just used, but rarer skills took stranger shapes.
The Basic Synthesis Formula was the lowest of the low—available anywhere.
But that didn't matter.
A formula's rank didn't boost success rates directly; it depended on uncovering hidden synergies in the materials.
'Absolute formulas guarantee success, no matter how basic.'
Su-ho activated the skill immediately.
A synthesis jar appeared before him, the hallmark of the formula. He tossed in the skillbook and junk items.
[Added Nameless Thief's Socks to the synthesis jar.]
[Added Nameless Musician's Instrument to the synthesis jar.]
[Added Nameless Janitor's Broom to the synthesis jar.]
Three materials total.
Dropped in gates or as rewards, but seemingly useless.
The world was full of such items—classified as junk.
Easily found on the market with a little effort, but their true value was unknown.
Until the mad grinders—nicknamed "Micropulverizers"—ground them to dust for research.
'Thanks to them, I get the bargain.'
Su-ho spun the jar with the materials inside.
[Synthesis begins.]
[Synthesizing...]
[Whoa? The jar's state?!]
Then it happened.
The system threw out a cryptic message, and the jar erupted in golden light.
[Congratulations! A rare treasure has been born from a Basic Synthesis Formula!]
[You have acquired the First MuMuMu (S+).]
[For this great achievement, the system gifts you 10 bonus stats.]
'As expected.'
Su-ho grinned at the notifications.
Then he checked the item info.
[First MuMuMu]
- Rank: S+
# No presence, no interest, no traces.
# Items from those who lived quiet, unintended lives have merged into a new treasure.
# As the first discovered via synthesis, its rank has been upgraded.
# Grants 'Colorless Solitude (S)' permanently when equipped.
Items were divided in many ways, but some split them into two: "Firsts" and "not Firsts."
Those prefixed with "First" were debuts—mostly S-rank.
Being first made them special.
And the plus next to the rank? Growth items affected by the wearer, or set bonuses. This was the former.
Meaning, as Su-ho grew, the item's skill effect would strengthen.
In his past life, his MuMuMu had been A-rank—not S or S+.
Because a micropulverizer had ground the original First MuMuMu to discover the formula.
'Which spread the mass-produced version.'
That's how Su-ho claimed the First this time.
It wouldn't drop in a gate for years.
Right now, though, Su-ho didn't need the MuMuMu's stealth effect.
Its popularity came from "Solitude"—hiding from prying eyes.
But he synthesized it for one thing: the bonus stats from a First synthesis.
Su-ho slipped the First MuMuMu onto his finger and smiled.
'Synthesizing an S+ item just for bonus stats...'
He truly felt the regressor's privileges were absurd.
The ring on his left middle finger shrank to fit perfectly upon equipping, then vanished entirely.
Su-ho opened his status window again.
[An Su-ho]
- Lv: 39
- Class: Healer
- Strength: 95
- Vitality: 95
- Mana: 96
- Sensory: 39
- Bonus Stats: 10
Ten bonus stats secured.
He invested 4 into mana.
[Mana stat has reached 100.]
[Mana stat grows further.]
[Congratulations! Your mana stat has leveled up to Red rank!]
The moment mana hit 100 with those 4 points.
The number dropped to 1, the text turned red, a red bar appeared, and an 'R' symbol.
Su-ho chuckled in disbelief.
This growth was ridiculous.
'I first got a Red stat just shy of level 50—definitely faster now.'
Stats leveled up every 100 points, gaining new colors.
Players called it the color system. Humanity's peak was Purple in the 700s.
And Su-ho had been the first to reach Purple.
Not all stats, though—his Strength, grinded to death.
This life felt full of promise.
Red at level 39? He might surpass Purple.
Su-ho put 5 more into Strength, making it Red too, then the rest into Vitality.
He refreshed his status.
[An Su-ho]
- Lv: 39
- Class: Healer
- Strength (R): 1
- Vitality: 96
- Mana (R): 1
- Sensory: 39
- Bonus Stats: 0
All preparations complete.
Su-ho finally pulled the key item for the Tower Dragon from his inventory.
The Worn Spear from Do Young's Hardware.
'It needs at least 100 mana to awaken.'
Condition met. Time to wake it.
Su-ho infused mana into the spear.
[Mana is being supplied to ????.]
[????'s consciousness begins to revive.]
The spear vibrated.
And started sucking in his mana voraciously.
Immense absorption.
But he could handle it now.
Unlike his first attempt—his mana was Red-rank.
Su-ho focused and poured mana in. Finally, absorption slowed to a crawl.
Flash!
Light burst from the black, worn spear, revealing a sleek obsidian new one.
[Mana supply sufficient.]
[Ghost Shadow Spear's consciousness awakens.]
[Congratulations! You have partially awakened Ghost Shadow Spear's consciousness.]
[Item info updated.]
[You have acquired Ghost Shadow Spear (A+).]
Su-ho smiled at the alerts.
Ghost Shadow Spear (歸影槍).
"Returning Shadow Spear"—one of the treasures once held by the Shadow Lord, the "Shadow King." Finally his.