Godly Hogu (Chain Post 2/2)
I desperately scoured the Gallery for information. Still, a few things weren't censored, so I could piece together some guesses.
Basically, Gate Bounds were entities that crossed between layers—dimensions. Things like heart whales, deep sea fish, and ■■■, ■■■, ■■■, ■■■■…
The ancient grand mage had captured them, sealed them in specific layers, and turned them into gatekeepers that opened and closed exits in no-exit layers like the 98th floor.
The floaters started popping up late to the post.
While they freaked out, I was thinking.
My guess had been right after all. All the mysteries were solved.
But I couldn't solve a single damn thing.
The second I posted the question, replies exploded.
50k combat power? I could handle that.
A rough breath escaped me in that instant.
Not a joke?
"Ha. Ridiculous."
I froze mid-purchase of an Entity Reader from the auction house to check the thing's combat power.
I ignored the floaters' comments and sorted out the situation in my head.
For starters, the Gate Bound I'd summoned had no intention of going back. Meaning no interest in opening the exit.
So my only option left was AlchemyRiceSoupEater's Lift Cut.
But to use Lift Cut, it had to rain in this layer.
Problem was, no rain fell on the 98th floor at night.
Which meant I had to kill the 98th floor's Gate Bound to make it rain and use Lift Cut.
The issue is…
I had no clue about that massive snake's exact combat power. Min 50k, max 500k.
…Could I even kill that thing?
Judging by its greedy maw, once it devoured all the Recallers, I'd be next.
Hell, maybe tomorrow when it woke up.
…I needed to get stronger, fast. Find a way to power up.
For now, maybe eat those two black orbs from killing the Wood Sentinel on 99th?
…Check first.
With a flicker of hope, I bought a Rune Identifier.
The moment I checked the two black orbs' options, my face hardened.
"Now I get why they call 'em gacha orbs."
Both duds. One grew a ton of beard. The other grew a ton of hair.
"What the hell kind of abilities are these…."
Well, useful to someone, I guess.
I stored the identified black orbs back in my subspace pouch.
And racked my brain.
The Gallery was still buzzing with floaters hunting for me. These guys were hilarious. No thought of actually donating rice, just chugging kimchi soup.
"Wait."
A good idea hit me.
…Could this work?
Honestly, no clue. But the Gallery had every type: rich, poor, scholars, curious folks, leeches, veterans, backseat gamers, newbies, trolls, politickers, watchers, gamblers, traders, drippers, experimenters…
Even different races.
…Might just work.
No, this would work.
I finished calculating in my head and posted again.
I wrote whatever. Still, floaters flooded in.
I didn't beat around the bush.
Floaters were clueless.
They weren't getting it, just skirting around.
Frustrated, I went full shameless.
Mid-grade orb costs 500 gold. White mid-grade gives +44 combat power, others +22. But whites are rare, so assume other mids.
At that rate…
About 9,000 mid-grade orbs to hit 200k combat power.
Of course, with diminishing returns, won't quite reach 200k.
But I needed at least that to tangle with the thing.
Please. Ask.
I spam-posted pics of the barbarian hordes blanketing 98th floor surface and the Gate Bound.
I posted blurry, angled shots nonstop on purpose.
I kept provoking them.
Surely among the floaters were overwhelmingly strong ones. Richer than JointsSong. Hiding their power and wealth.
…Am I wrong?
But no reaction.
"Sigh. Fucked."
Floater#32 has sent you a gift.
Accept the gift?
My guess wasn't wrong.
My eyes widened to the limit. A whopping 5 million gold.
5 mil advance. +10 mil if I win. Absurd amounts exploded the comments.
I accepted the gift, got the gold, and flipped my words.
Then hooks and backlash poured in.
If my guess was right, amount didn't matter to him.
Even mom insults mid-chaos.
"This broke-ass pad-lipping."
First impressions matter. Can't get played.
I pushed hard.
I drove the wedge.
The guy tucked tail immediately.
First day biz, let it slide generously. That hardtack might seed a whale.