The Prodigy's Price

"What a shame."

I meant it with all my heart.

I wasn't afraid of dirtying my hands. During the era of destruction, I'd done far worse things than this.

It was simply the knowledge that some fates could never be changed that left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"Team Leader, I still have more to tell you."

Ping Lei spoke with crisp precision, his face remaining rigidly set. His uncharacteristically serious demeanor made me listen with genuine interest.

"As you may or may not know, the Guryong-bang invested one hundred million dollars in my training."

In Korean currency, that was slightly over one hundred billion won. An excessive sum for nurturing a single prospect.

They truly were China's premier guild. Their scale was in a league of its own.

"So you're saying I'd need to pay you that much to bring you over to my side?"

"No. To transfer to the guild you will establish, Team Leader, I must repay that exact amount to the Guryong-bang."

"Oh? So you're the one making a counter-offer."

"There is also the possibility that I will become a target for Zhang Wufei."

Zhang Wufei.

The supreme leader of the Guryong-bang and a Monarch-rank player who had once formed a reluctant united front with us during the era of destruction.

However, I had never considered him a true ally. He was the type of man who only cooperated when the survival of humanity hung in the balance. Since he was already a major figure by the time of my regression, intervening in his fate like I had with Brother Youngsu was impossible.

"That's perfect."

"Pardon?"

"To recruit you, I'll have to pay a fortune and make an enemy of the Guryong-bang. That's what you're telling me."

"Correct."

"And it looks like you've prepared your own resolve."

"The boss shows no mercy to traitors."

A bitter smile tugged at the corners of Ping Lei's mouth. Simply revealing the transfer conditions to me was already a half-betrayal. If word got out, he wouldn't escape unscathed.

"I like it."

"I feel like complete garbage, though."

Though he hadn't fully dropped the honorifics, Ping Lei's voice had grown noticeably rough. His face burned crimson, his turbulent emotions laid bare.

"Yet you still chose to make this deal with me?"

"Because, damn it, I believe I can rise far higher if I stay with you, Team Leader!"

Ping Lei was practically panting. I listened in silence, giving him time to settle his emotions.

After exhaling a long, heated sigh, the now-composed Ping Lei fixed me with steady eyes.

"That is my position. The decision rests with you, Team Leader."

"I've heard your resolve clearly."

How much of what he'd said was genuine? I still didn't trust Ping Lei completely.

However, I was certain Zhang Wufei would never resort to such convoluted methods. The man who constantly preached about Chinese pride wouldn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠employ such complicated tactics merely to recruit one person.

I simply left open the possibility that this entire transaction might be part of Ping Lei's own scheme.

"One hundred million dollars, plus arranging a contract with the Monkey King. These are your conditions?"

"Yes."

His price was no joke. A contract with a Constellation and one hundred million dollars, on top of earning the enmity of the Guryong-bang. An enormous price for a single player.

But.

"It will take time to prepare. Until then, keep thinking it over."

"Thinking?"

"Your heart might change."

"Kuk kuk. This Ping Lei has already spoken these words to you, Team Leader. Do you truly believe I would take them back?"

He thumped his chest with solid thumps. Yes. I hope your words are sincere, and that your heart does not waver.

The next day, I contacted the Player Association for gate-related information, but nothing unusual turned up.

Today, I would focus entirely on climbing the Tower.

I was about to press Y when a voice spoke.

"Are you not proceeding with your teammates?"

Nyx sounded puzzled.

"The rewards are bigger when I go alone."

When done as a team, contribution is split. Not all team missions work this way, but on the 25th floor the highest record is determined by contribution. Clearing it solo would benefit my teammates as well.

Nyx wore a mysterious smile.

The mission format involved first forming teams within the Korean server, then competing against teams from around the world. As the timer reached zero, the usual blinding light struck my retinas.

The Orosol Mountain Range is a treacherous region no one can approach. While various explorers were investigating every possible route in search of the ancient ruins said to slumber within the mountains, they discovered this underground passage.

Reach the ancient ruins located at the end of the underground passage.

A tunnel without a single ray of light. I used ultrasound to map the surrounding terrain. Thanks to the synergy effect, I could perceive everything as clearly as if I were seeing it with my eyes, without needing to convert auditory input into visual.

The abundant darkness filled me with power. The recovery effect was even stronger than the Earth Mother Goddess's blessing. Although it was limited to places without light, it was still an incredibly reliable protection.

"Goddess, remain in your spirit form."

"Indeed. You intend to increase your speed."

Nyx, now in spirit form, settled onto my shoulder.

"Who are you calling a pocket monster?"

I activated Full Power Sprint and raced down the tunnel. The theme of this mission was competition. First, form teams with domestic players, then compete against teams from other countries that had been matched in the second round.

Who would discover the ruins first? Only the top five teams received rewards, so bloody clashes frequently broke out whenever opposing teams encountered each other in the passages.

While sprinting down the long straight tunnel, my ultrasound detected another living creature.

"Kyuririck?"

An Iron Slug. A four-meter snail whose shell, true to its name, was made of iron. The creature that sensed my presence blinked its eyes and slowly turned its head. Its movements were so sluggish it nearly made me yawn.

"Still, it's quite a dangerous opponent."

The moment I finished speaking, the Iron Slug opened its mouth. A waterfall of yellow liquid erupted from its round maw.

I used the footwork of Cloud Flow Steps to slip out of the saliva's trajectory.

Hsssss!

The rock touched by the yellow liquid melted like snow, losing its shape completely. Smoke curled upward from the spot.

"Strong acid. Anything metallic that touches it will melt."

The Iron Slug was the main culprit behind the increased difficulty of the 25th floor. Getting doused in that yellow liquid would shred equipment durability at a terrifying rate. The standard strategy was to maintain distance while hunting to manage durability loss, but—

"That's exactly why traversing the passage takes so much time."

"Not at all."

Frontal breakthrough. I pushed Cloud Flow Steps to its limit and zigzagged forward.

"Kyuririck!"

When the Iron Slug whipped its head around, yellow saliva flew in a wide arc, filling the entire passage ahead.

"Its density has thinned. It's fine."

Wrapped in Thorn Armor from head to toe, I charged straight through the saliva.

Even though it had been sprayed in a dispersed form, my armor's durability was dropping rapidly. Vicious indeed.

"Kyuririck?"

"Who told you to spit such filth?"

I thrust my extended finger straight into the Iron Slug's head. The Fifth Form of the Hundred Beasts Emperor Martial Arts, Light Western Strike, pierced its skull without the slightest resistance.

The Iron Slug's body rapidly shriveled. Its essence would prove useful as well. After completing the predation, I resumed my sprint through the tunnel.

"It's fine. Even going roughly will get me there."

This wasn't a complex labyrinth like the eighth floor. The ancient ruins lay to the north. As long as I kept my bearings, running in that general direction would eventually lead me there. With the effect of Ultrasound, there was no chance of losing my way, so I could sprint without worry.

Since the distance to the ruins was considerable, I conserved my internal energy by using only Full Power Sprint during movement.

"Kyuriririck!"

"Kyuririck!"

The number of Iron Slugs stationed along the passage increased. Their frequency rose the closer I got to the ruins, so it seemed I was on the right track.

I expanded the power of Polar Night into a wide barrier. It easily blocked the yellow saliva. Surprisingly, the wall created from Polar Night did not melt under the acidic liquid and held its form perfectly.

"So it had this advantage as well."

The energy consumed while blocking the saliva was quickly replenished. Since this was a place without light, Polar Night's recovery speed was far faster. There was no longer any need to push Cloud Flow Steps to the limit and run in zigzags.

One strike, one kill. Each time my finger tore through an Iron Slug's head, its entire body went limp. Unless it retreated into its steel shell, the creature's body was not particularly tough.

"Metal is their primary food source."

The powerful acid that could even melt steel. Iron Slugs used that saliva to liquefy and absorb the minerals buried underground. The shell they carried on their backs was also made from absorbed iron.

The metal absorption ability was useful in its own right. Later, if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I obtained the King Slime essence, the ability's limits would disappear entirely. In other words, I would be able to increase my stats even further. Although it couldn't compare to my unique ability Devour, any increase in stats was always welcome.

While I was smiling with satisfaction, an unexpected message appeared.

Oh?

An unexpected resonance had occurred. The Cyborg Zombie essence I had never obtained before my regression was resonating with the Iron Slug essence.

Wait. Instead of fusing them immediately, perhaps I should mix in a few more?

"Goddess, guard me for a moment."

After entrusting Nyx with protection, I turned my awareness inward. Countless shining essences floated there. Among them, I grasped the essences of the Iron Armored Armadillo, Thorn Wild Boar, and Cyborg Zombie.

If the Cyborg Zombie essence reacted to the Iron Slug, perhaps I could fuse four instead of two. I wove the four essences together. A fusion attempted without system assistance. My body trembled.

When performing voluntary fusion, if the essences' properties clashed, they would repel each other. The aftereffects would strike my own body, so I needed to be cautious. But this time, I had a good feeling.

In an instant the repulsion vanished, and the light created by the four perfectly intertwined essences shone brilliantly.