Floor 2 Joint Trial (3): Cheat Mode Unleashed
I'd predicted it to some extent. Any guy who loves games knows that if there's a skill, stat, or piece of gear, there's a build that synergizes with it. I hadn't had time to test it properly, but sure enough, while my main body meditated, the clone could harness residual energy to massively enhance its physical abilities without meditating itself.
A total shut-in NEET like me unlocking sage mode...?
I wonder if it works the other way around too. If I make the clone meditate, does the main body get the boost? Curiosity bubbled up.
"Y-you... why are you grinning like that with such flushed cheeks? Khh... even with eyes like that... I-I'm already married! Damn it, still... you're kinda cute...!"
"N-no, sir, it's nothing. Keep working."
I hurried away, leaving behind the quarry uncle who was blushing, head bowed, peeking up at me with just his eyes. Giggling to myself over knowledge only I knew must've made me look like a lunatic to everyone else.
In this spire with no forklifts or even wheelbarrows, everything had to be moved by hand. Preparing temporary shelters for over a thousand people was no joke. Everyone else was trembling on wobbly legs, backs creaking like they might snap, hauling materials one by one. Meanwhile, I was casually shifting styrofoam weights alone. Working alongside others felt like I was just scanning barcodes while they loaded and unloaded.
Of course, standing out too much would mean getting piled with more work or nosy questions about corporate sponsorship, so I faked some sweat and kept it moderate.
Can't keep this up forever.
I'd joined the group hoping for extra intel, not to stand watch protecting climbers or do idle manual labor.
With difficulty perks and meditation's explosive physical boosts...
"A nuclear physicist digging potatoes is a waste."
I'd learned that bitterly in Floor 1's Joint Trial. Clinging to save one or two people? Better to smash elite monster skulls like before—do what only I can, and more lives get saved.
Time to bail when the moment's right.
This place seemed fine on its own anyway.
Time passed into evening. The first night of Floor 2's Joint Trial was upon us. No hostile creature attacks like people feared—just a full half-day spent establishing the Base Camp.
"This looks great. Yes~! You all did so well~."
Yoon Hye-yeon's clapping brought smiles to tense faces. It was only natural—they could see the shelters were solid.
Survival in the wild. Floor 1 had been ancient ecosystem survival, so government manuals included survival guides. Plus, this wasn't bare wasteland; resources were plentiful, complete with ruins for a village base. Just reinforce what was there.
"Alright! Enjoy your meal~. I'll head to the boss for a bit~."
Hye-yeon slipped out, drawling her words. Off to Grace, probably? Her departure as de facto leader brought a brief awkward silence, but folks who'd bonded over spire-climbing hardships and hard labor resumed chatting easily.
"But... is this stuff really edible?"
The woman at my "table"—a broad wooden plank—asked. Grotesque fish with bulging eyes, small birds, roasted rodents, colorful fruits: anything vaguely edible, piled up. Hesitation gripped everyone; poison fears kept hands off.
I had poison resistance and extreme adaptation physiology, but they didn't.
"Can't stand watching this. Watch me!"
A tough-looking uncle shoved a whole fish in his mouth. "Ooh~!" came the crowd's awe; he looked smug... until,
"G-g-go ahead... eat... everyone..."
Tears glistened at his eyes. Taste was hellish.
I sighed inwardly, grabbing a small fish. Gotta eat to live... The meal was horrific yet oddly romantic. Building base camp with others, lighting fires in ruins, sharing food... like a deadly survival show no modern could experience.
Same vibe for everyone—awed expressions, glancing around.
"Night watch: four per shift."
Yoon Hye-yeon's announcement post-meal sent nameless folks rising. No idiots suggested dousing lights for bed; tower rules, even in peace.
Bright space, eyes shut. An hour lying down, snores echoed everywhere. Exhaustion hit hard.
Out tomorrow.
Today's hauling plan. But I rolled over, canceling it.
[Arcana Catacombs]
"Let's go..."
Watchmen faced outward, lax army vibe—no issue sneaking at dawn, claim bathroom break. No one grilled leavers.
Slipped to empty spot, dismissed clone.
Crack!
"Guh...!"
Aorum Bidan stared down, goldfish eyes rolling. Panicked after my blank daze suddenly ended?
"Hungry..."
Bathroom too. Clone worked; main body idled. No fatigue despite near-collapse feel—clone labored, not me. Mind sharp like post-deep-sleep.
But stiff as hell... Half-day statue pose. Muscles knotted like sleeping on stone, aches everywhere. Shaking head took effort. Stretches cracked bones, body screaming.
Too immersed in base camp vibe—forgot main body too long.
Gurgle~
"...Just go."
Poof!
"Wha—?!"
Just lamenting, calves tensed—and boom! Body catapulted forward like siege boulder.
Wha? Huh? No time to speak. Blinking views: approaching base, whipping rocks/trees inches away.
Stop... stooop!
Ears roared with wind; mouth or mind screaming? Flying whoosh! Knew that much. But why? No control. Splatter on wall = death?
Tears welled in injustice as massive tree root loomed ahead.
Ah. Dead.
Splat!
Braced, eyes shut—no agony, just soft water balloon give. No pain.
"...?"
Looked up: Aorum Bidan's faintly glowing fin. Caught my death-dive.
"Bidan, I love you."
Coos~ Coos~
Pigeon-like reply. Saved my life once. Near-death, now alive. But couldn't stand.
Why'd I fly?
"Wait—"
Flash of insight; opened status.
Main body meditated, so clone always held 100%. Now 9% drained instantly.
Meditation skill cause?
-On immobility release, energy drains continuously, explosively boosting overall physical abilities during drain.
Test: gripped protruding rock hard.
Pain first. Then activated meditation—
Crunch!!
Cracks spiderwebbed like drill-bit; pebbles rained, palm-shaped crater.
1% for crushing rock. Past rewards felt stingy; this erased complaints.
No, I deserved this all along.
Tower rewards had been trash.
"So how to get there?"
Stopped chewing spire mentally; eyed base camp depths' message.
Arcana Catacombs. Catacombs: medieval religious hideouts? Entrance likely inside base.
Where's our watch post?
Approach from outside now = suspicious. Skirt around, scout interior.
Coos~ Squeeze~
Bidan cooed.
"What's up?"
Eye contact, approached. Squelch—translucent body jiggled jelly-like, enveloping me.
Whoosh—inside fully. But breathable, comfy contrary to expectation.
Float up as it detached from ground, cradling me—
"Hey, this is safe, right?!"
Dove like sub-surface fish into bare earth.
...?
No impact; just Bidan's warm squish. Eyes open: innards and pitch black. Underground message neared.
5 minutes. Long or short. Wobble like jiggling pudding, vast cavern appeared.
Glowing moss dotted walls; stale air, rust, dust—untouched eons.
"Bidan, you're amazing. Best ever...!"
Carried through walls. Game? Cheater screams justified. Near-invincibility.
Forgot hunger, aches. Arcana builders' catacombs. Treasures? All mine?
Rattle!!
"...!!!"
Boom!
Noise—activated meditation, leaped, head thunked ceiling. Dove into Bidan frantic.
"Wh-who's there...!!"
Far dark tunnel: ...
"Chinese flag...?"
Crude local-made flag from before, on young man's back. Eyes met.
"Bbang-ji...?"
"Bbang-ji...? Chink...? Wait—."
Panicked gaze lock. But... familiar. Seen face before.
Roll—eyes caught his hand's item.
◈ Book containing all Arcana script and meanings.
◈ Tear page, attach to stele for instant translation.
However, forced translation permanently loses that page and records worldwide.
Worn book right hand. Two torn sheets left.
Memory clicked: Floor 1, Cycle Tower clear, waving flag maniac.
"You fucking come here."