Chapter 36: How a Veteran Grows (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 36: How a Veteran Grows (3)
The 'Lake of the Moon' on the first floor of the Tower of Trials.
It was a place that boasted scenery so beautiful, people said the moon in the night sky looked as if it were resting beneath the water's surface.
However, despite its poetic name, no one ever visited this place.
It was only natural.
With the very survival of humanity on the line, no one had the luxury to leisurely enjoy the sights.
A scenic spot more beautiful than any other, yet lonelier than any other.
That was the Lake of the Moon.
Right at that moment, someone approached the lakeshore.
It was Jinhyuk.
"It's been... a really long time since I've been here."
He used to visit often when his level was low.
But after passing the middle floors of the Tower, he had rarely come back.
Seeing it again brought back a flood of memories.
[It certainly looks scenic, but how on earth are you going to hunt here?]
Alice's voice drifted out from the ring.
"Just wait and see."
Smirking, Jinhyuk began to walk along the edge of the lake.
He wasn't intending to take a midnight stroll.
He had something to find.
His pace quickened.
His eyes scanned the area rapidly.
It should be right around here...
As expected...!
Spotting a statue shaped like a carp, Jinhyuk came to a sudden halt.
It was just one of twelve statues lining the lakeshore, but in truth, this statue held another purpose beyond mere decoration.
Jinhyuk reached out and felt around the sculpture.
He felt it.
A concave groove carved into the edge!
[Oh? Is there some kind of secret button on that statue?]
"If it were that easy, everyone would have figured it out by now."
Did she really think the world's veterans were that incompetent?
Did she think they wouldn't have found a simple button on a statue?
In fact, the number of players who had discovered this groove easily exceeded three digits.
It was even mentioned on the community forums from time to time.
However, despite the rumors, not a single person had succeeded in finding a key that fit the groove.
And for good reason.
Because this isn't opened with a key.
The Lake of the Moon.
True to its name, the key to unlocking this statue's secret was a bit special.
Jinhyuk covered the keyhole with his palm.
The moonlight was blocked.
He slid his hand away.
As he removed his palm, the moonlight illuminated the groove once more.
Good.
Using his palm in the same manner, Jinhyuk adjusted the amount and angle of the incoming light.
Calmly...
If even one of those factors was off, he wouldn't be able to satisfy this finicky mechanism.
Once, twice, and once more.
The moonlight tapped against the groove in a unique rhythm.
At that exact moment—
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
The entire lake began to vibrate violently.
Like Moses parting the Red Sea, the water filling the lake split to the left and right, creating a truly spectacular sight.
* * *
The terrain had completely changed.
Now, shall we go?
Jinhyuk headed down the long staircase leading to the lakebed.
Step.
A secret floor that had never once permitted human entry.
Thus, a place that preserved an indescribable, mystical aura.
Finally.
[You have entered the 1st Subterranean Floor of the Tower of Trials.]
The 'Subterranean Spawning Ground', one of the hidden places in the Tower of Trials.
He had finally reached the perfect, custom-tailored hunting ground where he could grow at an insane pace.
"You can come out now."
Reaching the bottom, Jinhyuk channeled mana into Braham's Ring.
Then—
Hummmmm!
A vampire with long silver hair materialized.
To be precise, a version shrunk down to thirty centimeters.
Alice looked around with a look of utter disbelief.
"My goodness. To think such a space existed beneath the Tower."
She seemed genuinely shocked.
It was almost comical how her crimson pupils dilated and contracted repeatedly.
"How is it?"
"What?"
"Aren't you glad you decided to form a contract with me?"
"Well, I suppose what you said back then wasn't entirely a bluff. You're a tiny bit... a very tiny bit trustworthy."
Alice replied, avoiding Jinhyuk's gaze.
Talk about pride.
Jinhyuk, clicking his tongue inwardly, suddenly paused.
Come to think of it, there was one thing he was curious about.
What do the beings in the Tower actually think of players?
We know that the game has become reality, but...
Do they also think of themselves as mere data in a game?
Or does this massive world called the Tower of Trials actually exist somewhere out there, separate from Earth?
There were many plausible possibilities, but no way to know the correct answer.
It wasn't like he could search for it on Naver or Google.
But if it's Alice, a True Ancestor who has lived for thousands of years...
Maybe she can give me the answer.
"Alice, there's something I want to ask you."
Jinhyuk's lips parted.
But then—
"…… ……!"
The words coming out of his mouth were not Korean.
In fact, they weren't any known language at all.
It was merely a combination of ear-grating dissonance and unpleasant tones.
"W-what are you saying? You're creeping me out."
Alice recoiled in horror.
I see.
So that's how it is.
He had wondered how the system would resolve the cognitive dissonance between players and the Tower's denizens.
It had simply blocked the exchange of such information at its source.
A simple yet foolproof method.
"No, it's nothing. Just some nonsense."
At the very least, discovering that he couldn't discuss this topic with the Tower's inhabitants was a major harvest.
They've probably blocked writing and other methods of communication too.
Jinhyuk pulled out the 'Frozen Tear' and 'Twilight Dew' from his breast pocket.
Before starting the hunt in earnest, he needed to increase his absolute pool of mana.
['Twilight Dew' comes into contact with 'Frozen Tear'.]
[The second thawing begins.]
Along with a warm light—
Sssssss...
New mana began to seep into Jinhyuk's body.
[Mana increases by +18.]
...Good.
With this, the second thawing was a success.
The difference was immediate.
"Phew!"
His breathing stabilized, and his mana flowed smoothly.
Maintaining Alice's manifestation had definitely become much easier.
Well, it had to be.
In terms of stats, it was equivalent to gaining six levels.
I can't wait to test this out.
He was dying to know just how many of his unique abilities and skills he could unleash with this expanded mana pool.
* * *
There was only one reason the 1st Subterranean Floor of the Tower of Trials was called the 'Spawning Ground'.
It was because monsters crawled out of the abyss endlessly.
"Kieeeek!"
"Kraaaah!"
Insects clad in black carapaces shrieked.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
A swarm of beetles, each the size of a tiger.
Dozens of legs scurried, rapidly closing the distance.
Not only were they numerous, but each was also over level 20.
Meaning none of them were pushovers.
Crash!
Boom!
As they drew near, the insects leaped in unison.
However, just before their sharp claws and fangs could reach Jinhyuk—
[Unique Ability 'Blessing of the Stars' has been activated!]
A beam of light descended from above the lake.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
The power to summon the protection of the constellations.
It was Teresa's unique ability.
[The monsters' magic defense is reduced by 30%.]
[The monsters' physical defense is reduced by 30%.]
"Kieeeek!"
"Kegh! Keeek!"
The insects writhed in agony.
Having lived in the dark for so long, they couldn't bear such a brilliant light.
To them, it must have felt like their eyes were being seared with fire.
And Jinhyuk was not one to just stand by and watch such defenseless enemies.
"As expected, bugs are best served roasted."
Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside.
It was only fitting to turn every single one of them into charcoal.
Whoosh!
The 'Fire Element' manifesting in his left hand grew larger and larger.
From the size of a baseball to a basketball...
And from a basketball, it finally became a massive sphere spanning one meter in diameter.
Jinhyuk pulled his shoulder far back.
The Calamity Fire blazed even more furiously.
"Kiiii..."
"Kiiing!"
The insects cowered flat against the ground.
Gaps appeared in their frontal carapaces.
...Now!
Jinhyuk unleashed the mana he had gathered to its absolute limit.
Roaaaaar!
A torrent of fire swallowed the insects.
Without even time to shriek, the blinded monsters turned into handfuls of ash.
"Looks like that's mostly cleared up."
The moment he said that—
"No, more are coming."
Alice pointed toward the back with a glance.
Dozens of new bugs were already crawling out.
"Don't just stand there talking. Show me what you've got. You have to earn your keep, right?"
"What? You expect my noble self to exert power against such lowly creatures...?"
"Since your noble self shouldn't be exposed to sunlight, how about I lock you in the ring forever?"
Still haven't kicked that habit of looking down from your throne, have you?
Do you want me to write you into some romance fantasy novel like 'I Was the Queen of an Empire, but I Woke Up as a Shudra in India'?
Alice flinched at Jinhyuk's chilling threat.
She knew instinctively.
That if she kept whining, things could get truly miserable for her.
"F-fine! I'll do it, okay?!"
[Alice activates Lv?? 'Blood Bind'!]
Hummmmm!
It was then that droplets of blood materialized in midair.
A massive circle formed of crimson liquid.
"Kie?"
"Kegh?"
In the blink of an eye, the insects' bodies froze solid.
It was a skill boasting a level in the double digits.
No matter how strong these insectoid monsters were—capable of lifting dozens of times their own body weight—they had no choice but to remain completely paralyzed.
Now, all that was left was to finish them off.
Jinhyuk approached them, gripping his dagger.
She's definitely useful.
She didn't kill them, stopping at providing support.
The experience points would be monopolized by the one who dealt the final blow.
This was exactly why he kept Alice around, even if it meant sharing his mana.
Slash!
The dagger drew an arc.
An insect's head was cleanly severed.
Next, and the next.
With their movements sealed, dealing with them was as easy as pie.
[You have leveled up!]
[You have leveled up!]
[You have leveled up!]
His level was rising at an insane speed.
The status window flashed incessantly.
Haha.
A chuckle escaped Jinhyuk's lips.
He hadn't realized that running wild to his heart's content could be this thrilling.
No, seriously.
He had nearly died from holding back all this time.
I guess the restriction of having to stay at level 1 piled up way too much stress.
But from now on, there was no need for that.
He could finally quench his thirst to grow stronger until he was fully satisfied.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
He saw another wave of insects crawling up.
"Don't step in this time."
"You're doing it yourself?"
"Yeah. I want to test how much I can use this ability with my current mana pool."
Jinhyuk channeled mana into his dagger.
[Unique Ability 'Grave of Swords' has been activated!]
The talent of the Sword Demon seeped into every single cell of his body.
It felt as though his entire body's senses had become extremely sharp.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
His heart began to beat rapidly.
His first proper stage was finally set.
"Please. Don't stop, just keep coming endlessly."
Kicking off the ground, Jinhyuk lunged forward.