Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Underwater Maze (3)
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A lengthy donation arrived.
[Thank you for the 1000 won donation]
It's not like the underwater maze is cleared yet—there's one more gimmick.
That key is what's needed for it.
A few more donations arrived, explaining the situation in detail.
"...I see?"
Cheisi pieced together what was going on.
There was a locked door on the path to the new area, and opening it required the Lotus Vine Key.
'...Way more valuable than I thought.'
She had figured since gathering ten lotus vines destroyed the weapon and turned it into a key, it was just something for claiming a reward somewhere.
Who knew it was an item needed to access the new area?
"Eh, looks like they're watching Cheisi turn into a key player in real-time again."
Yorong confirmed the situation through the donations.
Gazing enviously at Cheisi's vine-wrapped dagger, Yorong grumbled.
"No one but Cheisi can enter the underwater lava. That basically means she's already found the new area... Yorong's totally sidelined again..."
She muttered while folding her golden dragon wings glumly.
"...Still, since we're here, I'll at least spectate from the sidelines."
Yorong cautiously asked if it was okay to broadcast the process of crafting the Lotus Vine Key, and Cheisi said she didn't mind.
Relaying another streamer's broadcast on your own was a touchy etiquette issue among streamers—not to mention the argument that it stole revenue from the original streamer. Abyss streamers handled it delicately.
But Cheisi wasn't the type to fuss over revenue, so she happily obliged Yorong's request.
She had briefly worried about it while modding her capsule, but once Lowon provided a dedicated one, revenue dropped off her radar again.
"Alright, let's go make that key."
"We're off!"
Cheisi borrowed the underwater maze map for a moment.
The spot marked as blocked—that was the underwater lava zone.
She headed to the nearest one and slipped inside.
Just like before, colorful seaweeds sprouted across the floor and walls everywhere.
The lotus vines Cheisi needed hung from the ceiling.
She raised her dagger toward them, and they coiled around it like they'd been waiting.
One strand stayed wrapped while the rest drifted lazily to the floor.
The lotus vine has wrapped around the dagger.
Weapon attack power has increased by 1.
Apparently, only one vine per underwater lava chamber.
That meant eight more spots to hit.
"No other way to get lava immunity elsewhere right now, right?"
Yeah, we're the only ones.
Buff time enough?
"Plenty of time."
Checking the buff timer, she still had a little over three hours.
Blue lavaweed could produce a similar effect, but its spots were also confined to the depths of underwater lava.
Which meant, at this point, she was the only player who could craft the Lotus Vine Key. No competition.
Cheisi roamed the underwater maze, steadily gathering the lotus vines.
In Azelchen's quiet cathedral, five players huddled in a dim corner.
Their eyes were glued to the Abyss broadcast screen hovering in midair.
They stared holes into the golden-eyed cat as she explored the underwater lava depths, vines coiling around her dagger.
"Once that key's done, we PK and snag it."
"But it's a streamer. Screw up the PK and we're toast. Viewership's at 70k now..."
"...Yeah, that's a crowd."
"Mess with the wrong one, big trouble."
"But 10 billion."
Kellion—an unofficial guild of like-minded griefers who PK'd innocent players to kill time.
They'd grown slowly by exploiting the exp and item drops from player kills.
But after Kang Yoo-hyun boldly declared the 10 billion prize, they'd steeled their resolve.
Gathering ten area-discovery titles netted a whopping 10 billion.
They buckled down on Ariant World, cut back on PKs, grinded hard—and now averaged level 8.
They were about to hunt titles through legit adventures when this golden PK opportunity dropped: a shot at one title.
"...Streamer's level 15. We good?"
"Stats ain't stacked—no subquest grinding. 5v1's fine. And we'll fight with the stream feed."
"True, but..."
The chimp-like avatar player cut in on the hesitant Kellion member's doubt.
"Yeah. Swap avatars and nicks after. That thing's worth 10 billion solo. Five-way split's 2 billion each."
"Gotta collect ten for the prize, though... Can't sell titles separate."
"That's why we're collecting."
"What if our nicks get doxxed and her viewers mass-PK us?"
"Swap 'em."
Nickname can be changed again after 25th 07:39:01.
Their nick-change attempts failed. Once set, you had to wait a month.
"...Acquaintances know my nick."
"Suck it up. 10 billion. 10 billion."
Hesitant but decided, they chatted on with their current nicks for the PK.
"Pre-empt and kill now?"
"Idiot. Can't enter lava."
"She has that blue lavaweed item in her inv."
"PK for two items just drags it out. Cleaner to snag one."
"Roger."
They settled on killing Cheisi post-key completion and stealing it.
"Post-PK and key grab, hole up leveling for 30 days."
"Agreed."
"Wish we could full customize."
"Fine. Hide faces, we're good."
The five warped to Azelchen, donned pitch-black gear to mask their identities, and set out.
The lotus leaf has wrapped around the dagger.
Weapon attack power has increased by 1.
With all ten lotus vines wrapped around the dagger, its form warped—morphing into a key entwined with the vines.
The cat's eyes gleamed at the mesmerizing sight as she turned the finished key this way and that.
✦ Lotus Vine Key ✦
A key crafted from lotus vines that root in underwater lava.
Grade: Very Rare
Type: Consumable
No special usage guide in the info. But she already knew how.
"This goes on the locked door in the passage, right?"
Yep
Key finally done!
NEW AREA TIME!!!!!
Glad we see new area b4 bed ㅜ
"Congrats on your third key role. Wonder when Yorong breaks free from irrelevance..."
Yorong's voice dripped with envy.
Cheisi was about to say something uplifting when she spotted black silhouette players closing in.
'...Players?'
The underwater maze had plenty of casuals. But these five felt off—totally different vibe.
And they kept narrowing the gap.
Something felt wrong. Then one player surged forward, yanking a spear from their inventory.
Cheisi's eyes instinctively traced its arc.
But she was underwater.
Movement sluggish with restrictions—evasion was a stretch.
She reached for her dagger to block...
And realized.
No dagger.
It'd been destroyed making the key.
The spear slammed into defenseless Cheisi.
-30% HP
'...Ugh.'
HP vanished in a flash—down 30%.
But it wasn't over.
Another swung a sword.
"Ambush...!"
She Ambushed behind them, dodging. But unarmed—no counter.
The remaining three drew weapons, eyes murderous.
'PK...?'
Player Killing. User vs. user.
Instinct screamed it as another hit landed, carving off a huge chunk of HP.
Down to 35%. Precarious.
Inventory check: two potions.
Low-level ones from Runein Adventurer's Guild back at level 4.
Never needed to stockpile.
No time now anyway.
"Scram!"
Yorong popped between them, blocking.
She wildly flailed the Siurug-engraved cross necklace from her neck.
Unknown damage, but the momentum made the PKers hesitate and back off.
In the breather, Cheisi steadied herself to grab a potion—when Yorong shoved an item her way.
"Drink this."
✦ Azelchen Special Potion ✦
Blue liquid sloshed inside. Superior recovery to hers.
"On the house. Payment for the blue lavaweed."
Cheisi chugged it. Weird gulping potion underwater, but at least it worked.
HP full.
Situation still sucked.
She was barehanded.
"Yorong's got this!"
Her only backup: a shaky level 8 golden dragon.
Yorong whispered amid the standoff.
"High-end gear. Level 10+ equip."
Cheisi eyed the gear one held.
Definitely superior form. Probably top level among them, smirking down at her.
"Just a cross. End 'em quick."
As the PKers grimaced and closed in...
A new player crashed the fight.
"What? These punks?"
Death Knight Za'an Fangirl.
Yu Wol.