Land of Opportunity
The moment I heard the roar, it hit me.
Why the hell was Orkan there from the start...?
The beastly bellow grew closer in a flash.
"Where are you─! Sacrificial lamb─!"
A moment later, it burst through the trees.
I sucked in a sharp breath in shock.
"Holy shit."
It was a perfect copy.
The thing looked exactly like the real Orkan from life—swollen muscles, vicious glare, the works.
"There you are─! You evil spirit─!"
Even the red tattoos crawling over its skin were identical.
"Odin─! For your glory, I offer another sacrifice─!"
Not just the voice—the behavior was spot-on too. This wasn't mimicry; it was copy-paste.
"Evil spirit! I'll quench my thirst with your blood─!"
It gripped its massive battle axe and kicked off the ground like a spring.
Whoosh─.
The barbarian's hulking frame hurtled toward me, axe ripping through the air.
Stay put here, and it'll cleave me in half.
Recalling the ambush on the 100th floor, I dodged backward.
Swoosh.
The battle axe slammed mercilessly into the spot I'd just vacated.
Crunch.
The ground cratered, shards of rock flying everywhere.
Just the axe swings alone matched Orkan's power. No way its stats were identical too, right?
I kept my distance, thinking fast. The real Orkan's combat power had been around 20,000. Mine now? Roughly 13,000.
If this Recaller mimicked Orkan's full combat power...
...I'd have to risk it all.
This wasn't a cramped dungeon. Scattered trees and grass, sure, but overall an open field. All my old strategies against Orkan? Useless here.
"Valhalla calls for your blood─!"
The barbarian's axe came crashing down again. The blade flashed blindingly in the sunlight.
I ducked behind a nearby tree.
"Where do you think you're running─!"
It charged right up, swinging wildly.
Swoosh. Swoosh. Swoosh.
Each near-miss sent chills down my spine—the weight made the earth tremble.
Crunch. Crunch.
The axe shredded the tree and gouged the dirt relentlessly.
I scanned around. Luckily, a suitable tree stood nearby. I lured it there.
"Cowardly bastard─! Don't run─!"
The mimic Orkan's eyes flashed as it barreled straight at me.
Dumb as a rock, just like the original.
I glanced around, spotted an opening, and showed it.
Thinking it had me, it swung the axe horizontally.
Swoosh─.
I bent backward like a gymnast; the axe whistled over my head.
Thud─.
Its axe lodged deep in the massive trunk like a nail.
No time for it to recover—I gripped my rapier and unleashed Insight Thrust.
Alignment, core...
—Penetration.
Stab.
The blade pierced its side and jutted out its back.
Cough.
Orkan retched blood in agony.
"Guh..."
Way weaker than the real deal, as expected.
Wasted too much caution.
But this one was more savage and tougher. It attacked with my rapier still impaled, no chance to retrieve it.
"Stings a bit─! Like a mosquito bite─!"
Spitting blood while bitching about mosquitoes. Psycho.
Swoosh.
The axe plunged down, slicing the air. I twisted the rapier free while activating Haste to backpedal.
Boom─!
The axe pulverized my former spot.
Tap.
Using the momentum, I fired another Insight Thrust.
Alignment, core...
Haste boosted my whole body's speed in an instant.
—Penetration.
As expected, it couldn't dodge. The rapier neatly speared its heart.
Stab.
I felt its heartbeat through the hilt. Once, twice... then—
Stopped.
"...Whew."
I pulled the blade free, certain now.
"Doesn't copy stats perfectly."
Definitely weaker than the real Orkan. Not a pushover, but no 20k powerhouse either.
Small mercy. I was relaxing when its tattoos suddenly glowed.
A mutter echoed at the same time.
"...My blood belongs to my ancestors."
No way.
"My flesh bears witness to the battlefield... The weapon I wield holds the memories of the dead─."
The red tattoos writhed to life on its skin.
"...And today, your blood completes another final testament."
Words seared into my mind.
Thus, O Odin! Lift this body high!
And cover this battle with your fist!
The blood of ancestors calls.
Stand upon the memories of the dead.
My body is small, unable to contain the rage.
— Mad Proclamation.
"Flesh, ex...p...and—"
Stab.
Its mad proclamation cut short.
"...Pathetic."
My rapier had pierced its skull.
I withdrew the blade, muttering in disbelief.
"Fuck. Using Mad Proclamation too? That's crossing the line."
I clicked my tongue in absurdity as it deflated like a punctured balloon.
Weaknesses copied too, huh. It melted into red liquid—blood-like.
I stared idly as it soaked into the earth and vanished.
"All done?"
I glanced skyward, recalling the 98th floor.
─────
Every time you slay an entity, blood fills the jar at the forest's center.
When the central jar fills completely, night falls.
─────
Nightfall opens the exit to the next floor.
"Hm."
Sky still bright and clear.
* * * * *
I wandered the forest. Its layout was a maze, easy to lose your way. Chaotic overall.
Sun never sets, so time's a blur.
Without the Gallery, I'd have lost all sense of it.
Scavenger living up to her name as always. A few posts searching for me too, but I ignored 'em—too tired, nothing urgent.
"No decent spot to rest."
I scanned around when—
Drop.
The wind stilled for a beat.
Then a presence and a voice.
"Hey─, Kim Hogu. Whatcha doing."
I turned instinctively—and gasped.
"Ha..."
There stood my college classmate Park Ye-ppun.
Mimicry on point.
She was one of the girls I'd drunk with the day before getting kidnapped here.
"What're you doing, Hogu."
"...Whew."
I scratched my head and drew my rapier.
Park Ye-ppun's eyes widened in terror.
"H-Hey, Hogu, what's with the sudden— Sorry. I'm sorry. Don't."
Perfectly identical.
"Sorry about this."
I wasn't sorry at all as I stabbed her head.
Stab.
Blade out, and the Recaller crumpled like a balloon.
I shook my hand, watching her melt into red liquid.
"Easier than expected."
Honestly? Kinda satisfying.
This is doable.
Park Ye-ppun was my ex's friend. Always butting into my love life, pretending to be chummy. Blowing up my phone asking if she looked like some celeb actress, annoying as hell.
"Ye-ppun. You don't look like that actress at all."
I muttered at the soaking red puddle.
—Obvious answer, lesson taught.
I kept walking, eyes on the unchanging bright sky.
"Next up, my ex maybe."
Wonder how many to bag for nightfall.
I chugged water, munched bread, kept moving. Circling the area when another Recaller popped up.
"Jinwoo─."
Fuck.
Here it comes.
I knew instantly from the voice.
"It's me. Park Minji."
Recaller entity mimic. This time, my ex-girlfriend.
"...Whew."
Exact from memory: long straight hair, minimal makeup. Average looks, maybe. But cute dimples when she smiled, and damn, those tits.
"......"
Huge ones. For real.
"Long time, Park Minji."
"Yeah, been a while."
I slowly drew my rapier.
"H-Hey, Jinwoo. What's wrong?"
I checked my internal mana threads. Low proficiency kept me from using it in real fights usually.
But she? More than deserved my mana blade. Overflowing, even.
"Jinwoo! What the hell? You crazy!?"
Ignoring her screams, I focused inward. Unraveled the mana threads, wrapping them around the rapier.
The engraved Volt Howl Fragment reacted—lightning surged.
Crackle. Crackle.
Bolts enveloped the hilt to tip.
Nice. Looks badass.
"J-Jinwoo! Snap out of it! It's me, your girlfriend Park Minji!"
The ex-mimic freaked.
"I know."
"Then why—?!"
Tears welling up, even. Realistic as hell.
I used Insight, then Haste. Aligned my body, found my center.
Whew.
Short breath, then thrust.
Penetration─.
The rapier shot forward.
—Stab.
Lightning-wrapped blade pierced her forehead, through the skull.
"Kim Hogu, you cheating...!"
The Recaller spat its last words, tears streaming, dimples twisting as liquid burst.
Crackle. Crackle.
Bolts from the blade charred her head.
"—Cheating homewrecker, lesson taught."
I muttered softly and resumed walking through the forest.