5th Floor (3)
After purchasing the Sun Sword, he had 1,090 LP left. Considering how challengers were scrambling everywhere because they lacked even 100 LP to buy a reset ticket, this was extravagantly luxurious spending. But his shopping wasn't over yet. He'd achieved dazzling growth in equipment and stats in a short time, but the most important part remained: preparation for the next duel.
◈ +1 Agility vs. non-human, non-beastkin foes
◈ +3 Strength vs. large-class monsters
◈ Protects user once from undetected danger (Cooldown: 168 hours)
No one seemed able to afford it due to the LP shortage, but it was the gear 'Hero A' had most recommended for this trial. Wearing them would boost Yun-seok's Agility by +1 and Strength by +3 just for this match. Factoring in his current C- ranks plus the Heavenly Demon Body's +2 effect, his effective Strength would reach B+...
Considering B-rank stat elixirs cost 400,000 AP, these gloves alone equated to about a million AP in growth. Of course, they were useless against humans or beastkin—a huge drawback.
Well, they're not completely worthless.
The Tower of Heaven had orcs and other demonkin, plus fairy races he hadn't encountered yet. They'd at least trigger the +1 Agility. And given Earth's beasts and his hunch that monster fights would ramp up, Yun-seok bought them without hesitation.
This should handle the duel no problem.
A normally grown challenger couldn't hit B+ Strength even investing every AP there. With absolute evaluation and high difficulty, this might let him crush large monsters with raw power.
Save the remaining LP just in case.
Achievement shop items were wildly varied. Unlike AP, best for immediate growth, LP's endless uses meant saving for emergencies.
All prep done.
Yun-seok swung his sword through the air. He couldn't adapt to new weapons via meditation alone. He kept the chat open for tips but soon tuned it out, itching to fight as he swung relentlessly to calm his restless body.
As always, time flew.
Prepare yourselves. The duel will begin shortly.
3.
2.
1.
START!
A vast swamp thick with jungle-like foliage. Lotus-like plants floating on the muck opened and closed petals, emitting eerie melodies.
Even knowing beforehand, the unfamiliarity from the usual circular arena felt odd. Yun-seok calmly scanned terrain and sought his foe.
Appears after start?
No sign of the monster—hidden somewhere—but he didn't dwell. He already knew which of the three large types it was. The swamp backdrop and one monster's key trait screamed it intuitively.
Song of the Deadbearer inflicts Silence status.
All active skills are sealed.
Yun-seok grinned. Giant Hydra. Lucky—the best matchup of the three.
Restraints vanished post-countdown, but the hydra still lurked. Maybe consideration for setup time.
He tested Silence range first.
Blood Pact works.
Blood Pact bypassed as non-command skill. But Weapon Enhancement, One Flash, all commands sealed. No issue—stats intact. Sword Mastery, Heavenly Demon Body persisted through Silence.
And sword aura too.
He infused aura into both swords. Ready.
Scanning quietly, bubbles soon boiled from the central swamp. The Giant Hydra emerged.
"GRRAAAAAHHH!"
Six serpentine heads atop a massive body and four legs—straight out of myth. It roared hugely, stomping forward. Muddy ground sank underfoot like quicksand, but it ignored it.
Yun-seok swallowed. No joke... Heads not even raised, yet over 6m tall. Height alone isn't much, but that bulk feels like a building walking. Ironically, not scary. Must be this overflowing power.
Locking eyes triggered Ark Hunter's Hunting Gloves. Boosts didn't stop:
You have encountered evil.
All stats +1 until Judgment ends.
Holy aura flowed from the Sun Sword's red blade. Unexpected—Yun-seok defined 'evil' as 'those enjoying harming others.' Rare trigger, yet here on a monster in his first post-purchase duel.
As long as the tendency fits, monster or not?
If so, huge for future beast fights. Earth predators toyed with prey; vicious monsters doubly so.
Thoughts brief. BOOM! BOOM! Hydra advanced, shaking earth. Saliva hit ground—sizzle!—smoking acidic.
True large monster vibe. Yun-seok didn't retreat—boldly closed distance.
One head lunged like snatching easy prey. He didn't dodge. Reverse-gripped indestructible Sun Sword, waited.
KABOOOM!
Fangs clashed sword. Thunderous roar echoed swamp-wide—deaf could gauge impact from sound alone.
At center, Yun-seok wryly smiled amid bone-rattling shock. Shoulder dislocated gripping sword. Without skilled Blood Pact healing, arm might've torn off.
Yet unmoved. Feet sank deep in soft ground, but he stood firm.
A-rank Strength...
Stat growth exponential per letter. Sun Sword's +1 all stats shifted his B+ Strength to A-. Massive leap.
"Consider yourself unlucky."
No active reliance—Yun-seok favored passives, stats, technique. Already best matchup; new Moonlight Sword worsened wounds.
Slash!
He shoved fang-locked sword, flung head up. Aura-clad Moonlight Sword savaged exposed neck.
Crimson-black blood fountained; Yun-seok calmly sidestepped staining clothes.
Heads regen in 5 mins?
To kill hydra: sever all six before regen. Thus, wound-worsening gear advised.
30% slower... extra 90 seconds.
6:30. Short to some, long to Yun-seok. Wouldn't be overpowered? Just crush with strength.
"KREEEEEE!"
Two heads simultaneous. Yun-seok parried each with dual swords, flung up with Strength. Then same: slash! Blood rained.
Three heads left—still vigorous.
Phase 2 already?
Amusingly game-like: distinct behavior phases. Hydra ranged after three heads severed—like now.
"KUOOOOOH!"
Central head spewed green venom. Known potency from chat, but test one more.
"Light of Purification."
No Shadowless Chant, so verbal—weapon-embedded, ignored Silence. Sun Sword blazed brighter, purifying flash swept swamp.
Banished impurities indeed—potent. Venom vaporized; light cleansed all. Eerie lotus tunes silenced.
Silence status removed.
Skills usable again. Already easy—easier now. Yun-seok grinned, slashing air.
One Flash.
Ideally sword aura too, but no. Transparent force—pure skill power—shot at necks. Neither one-shot.
Mana too low?
High Strength made direct swings more efficient. Or lack of aura.
Anyway, One Flash again to finish half-severed—
"Grrrrrr..."
Hydra retreated into swamp. Defensive swamp phase—third phase.
Fifth, supposedly...
Three heads left (dangling), yet early? Yun-seok leaped, fired two more One Flashes.
Slash! Splash!
Half-neck fully severed. Body vanished under murky swamp—viscous, opaque; invisible from air.
Dive in?
Then: forgotten skill.
Detection.
Bought for Lee Chang-hoon. Effect: all objects in 25m radius (up/down/left/right) mapped in mind.
He barraged necks with One Flashes.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Each like grenade—water erupted. Power dampened by water; fifth shredded rag-like neck.
Done?
Thud.
Landing, text appeared.
512,000 AP granted.
Predation
Victory. AP rewarded. Then Yun-seok realized: Predation activates on large monsters too? What would he get?