Echoes of the Red Cave
The flapping of wings echoed loudly through the cave.
It was the Big Bat, resident of the Red Cave.
Only the sound reaches me.
The wingbeats grew steadily closer. No light sources existed in the cave. Even if hardy moss were present, piercing the darkness would be impossible.
No, light would only create more problems.
Big Bats possessed a disorienting ability. To hunt them, the power of Thorn Carapace was absolutely essential.
I crossed my arms into an X and advanced blindly.
“Kiiit! Kiiiiiit!”
The Big Bat’s shriek rattled my eardrums.
Exposed to ultrasound.
Difficulty maintaining balance. Loss of directional sense.
I staggered as though drunk. I planted my feet and halted. As long as I didn’t fall, I would be fine.
Clenching my teeth, I stood my ground. Moments later, a heavy impact struck my thigh—thud.
A Big Bat had charged.
They knock prey down first, then tear into it.
They used Ultrasound to disrupt the senses, rammed the disoriented prey to the ground, and finished it off as a pack. Far more troublesome than the Thorn Boar that charged head-on!
Still, I was strong. If I kept my center of gravity, no Big Bat could topple me.
And that wasn’t all.
Splat!
A sickening sound of flesh tearing and blood spraying rang out. The source was the Big Bat itself. The monster convulsed, having slammed full-force into my densely spiked carapace.
“Kiiit… kiiit…”
The Big Bat gasped in agony. Don’t worry. Your friends will join you soon.
Thud! Thud! More Big Bats crashed into me in succession—shoulder, leg, abdomen, chest. Anywhere that might break my stance, they struck.
“Kiiiiiit!”
“Kiiit!”
They impaled themselves on the thorns and screamed. This was what people meant by jumping into a fire pit covered in oil.
Good thing I studied the guide.
Before regressing, I had never entered the Red Cave. More accurately, I couldn’t. I lacked the strength. So I had compiled all known information on Big Bats and prepared my own method.
“Works like a charm.”
By making noise to draw aggro, the entire pack had charged straight into the thorns. Several were skewered and twitching. The rest lay on the ground, gasping.
“No need to suffer.”
The merciful thing was to end the pain quickly. My nails extended over twenty centimeters. With a compassionate heart, I slit the Big Bats’ throats.
Where else would you find someone this kind?
Devouring Big Bat essence.
Grade: Common
Essence devoured: 1.5% → 3.2% → 6.1%……
Kya, that essence is sweet.
Just standing still had wiped out an entire pack of Big Bats—thanks to entering the Red Cave after obtaining Thorn Carapace. A satisfied smile spread across my face.
I roamed the Red Cave without hesitation. Whenever I put strength into my steps, wingbeats answered soon after.
Whoosh—!
The ultrasound the Big Bats emitted arrived a split second later.
“This ultrasound is annoying.”
I furrowed my brow and braced my legs. I appreciated that they came to die on their own, but the disorientation wasn’t pleasant.
After several repeated battles, a faint green glow illuminated the passage.
Hardy Moss
Grade: Magic
Classification: Miscellaneous
A moss found only in certain caves. Possesses tenacious vitality. When used as a catalyst for potions or recovery skills, it enhances their effects.
Hardy Moss—an ingredient required for crafting high-grade potions. My main goal was Big Bat essence, but earning some extra income on the side wouldn’t hurt.
I scraped off the Hardy Moss.
“This stuff is worth a fortune.”
Heh heh heh. Laughter escaped my lips. As long as society’s systems remained intact, money was also a form of power. Right after regressing, I’d had no money and had to mine Tyrannosaurus fossils with a pickaxe myself. With a thick wallet, I could simply buy high-quality fossils instead of searching on foot. So I needed to gather as much money as possible while I could.
Killing two birds with one stone.
The Red Cave’s layout was a straight line. Being unable to see didn’t mean getting lost. I advanced while simultaneously collecting Hardy Moss and hunting Big Bats.
Devouring Big Bat essence.
Essence devoured: 100%
Perfect absorption of one species’ essence achieved.
Agility + 2
Mana + 2
Skill — Ultrasound acquired.
Ultrasound
Grade: ★
Classification: Active
Emits ultrasound to map surrounding terrain. Consumes a small amount of mana.
Range: 100 meters
Finally! I had achieved the purpose of visiting the Red Cave.
With Ultrasound, I can greatly improve my spatial awareness.
Humans relied most on sight for information. Adding ultrasound meant I could also use hearing to read space. Even in a place filled with darkness like the Red Cave……
Ultrasound activated.
Mapping terrain structure within 100-meter radius.
Just like that. The ultrasound spread outward, revealing the shape of the surroundings. It was like visualizing sound waves. Though nothing was visible in the pitch blackness, the terrain mapped by ultrasound unfolded before my eyes like a monochrome screen.
No more worrying about darkness.
Truly, the Devour ability was the best. I turned and headed for the entrance. My business in the Red Cave was finished.
The return trip required no groping. With Ultrasound, I could see through the dark as if wearing night-vision goggles. After walking some distance, light seeped through a crack in the cave wall.
Closer than I thought.
It had felt like hours of advancing, yet reaching the entrance took only twenty minutes. As I squeezed through the gap to exit—
What’s this?
Murmurs. Human presences could be felt outside the cave. I paused and pressed my ear to the rock.
The tutorial had barely begun, yet someone was targeting the Red Cave……?
Probably a promising rookie from a top guild.
Thorn Boars weren’t easy enough to face on the tutorial’s first day. Caution was wise. I activated Ultrasound in tandem, focusing on the situation outside.
“There are traces of someone passing through here.”
“It must be Yu Jinho.”
“What’s your basis for that certainty?”
“He hunted the Wolf King Seorin. The next place he’d target is obviously here.”
“If Player Park Jongwon says so……”
“I must take first place in this tutorial. You know that, right?”
“As the rising star of Hwarang, that’s only natural.”
Oh ho. Listening to the conversation, the situation became clearer. I checked the stage status panel.
You are currently on Floor 0, Rainbow Island.
* Field Bosses
Giant Serpent Ness — Alive
Wolf King Seorin — Deceased (Hunted by: Yu Jinho)
Respawn in 159:44:21
Deep Slime — Deceased (Hunted by: Yu Jinho)
Respawn in 151:32:09
Raging Ape — Deceased (Hunted by: Park Jongwon)
Respawn in 155:39:21
……
* Points
1st — Park Jongwon (207 points)
2nd — Oh Jiwon (152 points)
3rd — Jeong Sinho (137 points)
4th — Lee Doyoung (108 points)
5th — Jang Miji (96 points)
The guy named Park Jongwon had predicted I would target the Red Cave after seeing me hunt Wolf King Seorin. He’d racked up quite a few points in just one day, too. I stroked my chin, mulling over the names that lingered in my ears.
Don’t recognize him.
In my previous life, I had competed against famous rankers who dominated the entire world. Park Jongwon—if he had stood out in the future, I wouldn’t have forgotten him. He didn’t seem to be at that level.
Well then, shall I go take a look at these uninvited guests’ faces? I squeezed through the rock gap and stepped outside.
Shadows of people fell across the Red Cave entrance. Park Jongwon’s eyes narrowed deeply. Instinctively, he realized the player emerging from the cave was Yu Jinho.
I have to be number one. I can’t lose to some nobody!
Clench!
Strength filled the hand gripping his dagger. The players who had followed him also tensed, weapons at the ready.
“Player Park Jongwon, what do you intend to do?”
“I’ll persuade him.”
“And if talking doesn’t work?”
“I’ll make him rest for a while. If that doesn’t work either, I’ll have to eliminate him.”
Park Jongwon wasn’t satisfied with ordinary rewards.
I will become the greatest player in Hwarang—no, in this entire country!
Selected as the next-generation prospect of Hwarang, the undisputed top guild in Korea. It wasn’t an impossible dream. Park Jongwon wanted to achieve that goal no matter what. First place in the tutorial stage was the first step toward that grand dream.
If words don’t work, I’ll just have to break an arm or a leg.
Park Jongwon’s gaze sank deeply. Finally, Jinho emerged from the red rocks and let out a long breath—hoo. Park Jongwon’s eyes quickly scanned Jinho’s entire body. His clothes were so damaged they were unrecognizable. And he was empty-handed. Was this guy really the number one ranker?
Doubt surged at the sight of Jinho, but Park Jongwon suppressed it and spoke.
“Are you Yu Jinho?”
“You already knew, so why ask?”
Heh. Jinho let out a short laugh. Park Jongwon forced his boiling emotions beneath the surface.
“Then this should be quick. I have a proposal for you.”
“Give up first place. That’s it, right?”
“Correct. In exchange, I’ll give you a Rare-grade item.”
“Player Park Jongwon, even so, a Rare item is……”
A player beside him tried to stop Park Jongwon. Rare-grade items traded for at least hundreds of millions, sometimes billions of won. It was an excessive offer just to make someone give up first place. But Park Jongwon was that serious.
“Come on, one Rare is too cheap.”
“Then you intend to refuse the offer?”
“Yeah. So what are you going to do about it?”
“We’ll have to have a conversation with our bodies.”
Shing— The blade in Park Jongwon’s hand let out a cold sound. It was the Unique-grade item Soundless Short Sword, supplied by Hwarang.
“Perfect.”
Jinho smiled at the sight of the sword.
“What do you mean?”
“A conversation with our bodies. I like that too.”
Park Jongwon understood Jinho’s words a beat too late. In that instant—
Agile Hind Legs
Jinho kicked off the ground and charged straight toward Park Jongwon.