Telekinesis Level 40
Telekinesis Level 40
The bug extermination magic doesn't work?
〈Survivor★(2ch): How did they evolve so that the bug extermination magic doesn't work?〉
〈Know-It-All☆*(4ch): The Scavenger took a picture, so I'll show you that.〉
Shortly after, Know-It-All uploaded two photos.
One photo was of the thread-thin bugs I was already well-acquainted with.
'The second photo is.......'
It was a photo of a bug that had plumped up, looking just like a caterpillar.
Looking at it, it seemed the bugs had evolved from their thin, thread-like form into the caterpillar form I saw now.
〈Survivor★(2ch): So you're saying the bugs evolved like this?〉
〈Know-It-All☆*(4ch): Correct. For your information, the evolved bugs can make their bodies thin like before to infiltrate machines.〉
〈Survivor★(2ch): So it hasn't changed that they infect machines.〉
〈Know-It-All☆*(4ch): What changed is the bug's appearance and the fact that bug extermination magic doesn't work on them.〉
I thought about the bug extermination magic while listening to Know-It-All.
In fact, strictly speaking, bug extermination magic wasn't a spell for catching bugs.
'Rubyel definitely said it was a spell that kills tiny lifeforms like bugs, right?'
Based on that, I thought the reason might be that the bodies of the bugs in Channel 4 had grown larger.
'Did they withstand the bug extermination magic because they got bigger?'
If they didn't withstand it, maybe they just weren't affected by the magic.
'I'll have to ask Rubyel about this.'
〈Survivor★(2ch): I'll ask and get back to you.〉
〈Know-It-All☆*(4ch): Anyway, killing the bugs bit by bit like now won't work. We need a way to deal with them all at once.〉
〈Survivor★(2ch): It feels like the difficulty suddenly spiked.〉
〈Know-It-All☆*(4ch): The positive thing is that our combat power has increased thanks to the Awakening Stones.〉
Even if combat power increased, it just meant we could hold out against the bugs a bit longer.
Since it wasn't a fundamental solution, I let the comment about increased combat power go in one ear and out the other.
'Seriously, how am I supposed to deal with these damn bugs?'
As I finished the 1:1 conversation with Know-It-All while thinking that, Yoo Hyun-min, who had been waiting, asked.
"Why? Did something happen?"
"Ah. I cast bug extermination magic in Channel 4. But because the bugs evolved, it became useless."
"Channel 4 was the world that was destroyed because of bugs, right? Channel 4 has good technology, can't they make something like insecticide?"
"Even if they make it, they evolve every time."
Naturally, Channel 4 had also tried to respond by making insecticides, but they gave up because the bugs evolved every time.
"Since it's enough to destroy a world, there can't be just one or two bugs. And they evolve every time they come up with a method. That's trickier than I thought."
"Isn't that why they're losing to the bugs despite that technology?"
Yoo Hyun-min nodded as well.
"I suppose so. But if the bug extermination magic doesn't work either, is there any other way?"
"I'll have to think about it."
"You're having a hard time too."
While Yoo Hyun-min and I were talking like that.
Click―
Along with the sound of the door opening behind me, Rubyel walked out in her pajamas, yawning.
It was impressive how she didn't care at all that she was in thin pajamas and that Yoo Hyun-min was there.
'Come to think of it, she didn't care about that from the beginning, though.'
What was unexpected was that Yoo Hyun-min just shook his head and didn't show much interest in Rubyel.
'It seemed like he was watching her closely at the drinking party yesterday.'
Aside from that thought, since Rubyel had come out, I decided to ask her about the bug extermination magic.
"Rubyel-ssi. In what cases does the bug extermination magic not work?"
"It's the size. The smaller the size, the smaller the life force. Bug extermination magic is a spell that snuffs out that small life force."
"Conversely, that means the magic doesn't work on bugs that are large."
"Still, it should work up to the size of two finger joints, though? Just how big are these bugs?"
I didn't know how big the evolved bugs were in response to that question.
So I contacted Know-It-All again to ask how big they were, and he soon sent me a photo.
'Was it this big?'
The bug that had evolved into a caterpillar form was almost the size of a palm.
"It's about this big."
I showed the photo to Rubyel via gallery sharing.
Rubyel looked at the photo and nodded calmly, with an expression that suggested she had expected it.
"That's big. It's understandable that the bug extermination magic wouldn't work on something this size."
"How about improving the bug extermination magic?"
"I could improve it, but then it could be fatal to people too."
"To people too?"
Then Rubyel nodded and explained.
"You wouldn't die instantly like a bug, but the source of your life force could be shaken. You'd be feeling sickly for a few days, you know?"
I fell into thought for a moment while listening to Rubyel.
'Then it'll be hard to use the bug extermination magic.'
Furthermore, continuously improving and using the bug extermination magic was also a problem.
Seeing that the bugs evolved this time, if I improved and used it, they would evolve again.
'Will they also keep getting bigger the more I use the bug extermination magic?'
I had secretly thought that the bug extermination magic was the key to saving Channel 4, but it seemed it wouldn't be that easy after all.
"Anyway, it's nice to welcome such a peaceful morning."
Meanwhile, Yoo Hyun-min calmly said that he liked the mornings here.
"If it's mornings, you can keep welcoming them from now on."
"Everything is special the first time. Anyway, you're going to proceed with the labyrinth today too, right?"
"Yes."
Aside from the problem with the bugs, I intended to continue with the labyrinth.
"Because I can think about the problem regarding Channel 4 while proceeding with the labyrinth."
After answering, I immediately thought of Channel 7, where Yoo Hyun-min was.
"Hyung, when do you plan to catch the Transcendent-class Monster?"
"Me? I'm thinking of catching it after gathering points and increasing the effects here a bit more."
"Certainly, 100% is a bit disappointing."
Even if you say 100% increase in recovery speed, in reality, it's just double the existing recovery power.
Simply put, since something that would recover in 1 hour recovers in 30 minutes, it was a bit disappointing to use in battle.
"But are you really going to raise it to 1,000% like that?"
"Even if not that much, maybe about 500%? Because if I catch one, at least two will attack me."
Before, Yoo Hyun-min said he could catch a Transcendent-class Monster 1:1.
But it seemed 1:2 was a different story, as I could see him paying attention.
'Actually, Yoo Hyun-min isn't in a rush.'
Even if he caught all the Transcendent-class Monsters, it didn't mean dimensional travel was possible.
'Besides, there's no reason he absolutely has to catch the Transcendent-class Monsters.'
Anyway, if Yoo Hyun-min gathered points and increased the special effects of the Meeting Shelter, it was a good thing for me.
"Ah, Hyung. Should I give you an Ability Orb?"
"Ability Orb?"
"Yes. It's an orb that allows you to use Channel 3 abilities."
I brought up the Ability Orb in preparation for when he might fight a Transcendent-class Monster later.
It might be obvious, but after unlocking the Meeting Shelter, progressing through the labyrinth became more comfortable.
Kwa-kwa-kwang!!―
The reason was that Rubyel was now using magic without hesitation, without calculating mana.
Because mana filled up rapidly when entering the Meeting Shelter, she fired off magic as if there was nothing left to save.
"Ah~ refreshing."
Perhaps it was stressful to calculate and save mana one by one until now, Rubyel had a relieved expression.
'Also, since it's the 20th floor, I'm earning quite a lot of points.'
Since dozens of monsters appeared, if I put them all into [Point Acquisition], I earned almost 6,000 to 7,000 points each time.
On top of this, since monsters appeared almost once every 30 to 40 minutes, points piled up more than I had thought.
"......."
At that moment, Elisicia showed a thoughtful appearance without saying anything.
"Hero-nim? Is there a problem?"
"It seems the frequency of monsters appearing on the 20th floor is higher than before."
"You mean monsters are appearing more often?"
"Yes. Perhaps the Evil God has noticed that we've intruded."
Evil God?
Of course, I know what the Evil God is.
'A god sealed at the lowest floor of the labyrinth, pierced by the Holy Sword.'
And I also knew that this labyrinth was a special space created by the Evil God.
"What do you mean the Evil God noticed?"
"It means there's a possibility that the Evil God sent monsters to prevent us from reaching the lowest floor."
As Elisicia spoke, Rubyel and Aila also added a word each.
"Like Ellie said, monsters are indeed appearing more often than before."
"Or it could be because the number of people has increased."
Either way, it meant the labyrinth difficulty had increased.
'Channel 4 was a problem too.'
It seemed problems had arisen in Channel 2, following Channel 4.
However, if it was just the level of monsters increasing, it was still a manageable level.
'Still, our combat power has increased here too, so there shouldn't be a problem.'
Thinking that, I decided to increase our combat power even more, just in case.
"Everyone, I'll give you Bloodstones, so eat them."
"Bloodstones?"
"I think it would be good to raise your levels by at least 30."
For reference, the fox-tribe beastkin Sirien had achieved level 30 like me, so I didn't give her Bloodstones.
Raising from level 30 to 40 requires not just Bloodstones, but also quite a lot of Awakening Stones.
'First, after I raise myself to level 40.'
I felt I needed to check how many points it would cost first.
Like that, I gave Bloodstones to Elisicia, Aila, and Sirien, and I also swallowed Bloodstones.
'I expected it, but it really takes a lot.'
When I reached level 39 by eating 3,150 of them, I used almost 80,000 points.
Up to this point, it was points I could more than afford, but the problem was after this.
[The probability of reaching level 40 increases.]
[Current probability: 0.001% → 0.021%]
"......."
For reference, the current probability was the probability that went up after eating 30 Low-grade Awakening Stones.
Low-grade Awakening Stones are 5,000 points each, so calculating that means 150,000 points, which was indeed not easy.
'0.021%. This probability is too low.'
So this time, let's try eating Mid-grade Awakening Stones.
[Current probability: 0.021% → 0.028%]
'0.007%? Does this mean the Mid-grade Awakening Stone efficiency is good?'
Low-grade Awakening Stone is 5,000 points. Mid-grade Awakening Stone is 25,000 points.
To figure this out properly, I tried eating Low-grade Awakening Stones one by one and realized that the Mid-grade Awakening Stone was more profitable.
'It's almost 10 times the efficiency.'
If the Low-grade Awakening Stone increases the existing probability by 50~100%.
The Mid-grade Awakening Stone increases that probability by 10 times, 500~1,000%.
'But the price is only five times different.'
Therefore, having figured out that the Mid-grade Awakening Stone was profitable, I immediately purchased and swallowed 10 Mid-grade Awakening Stones.
[Current probability: 0.033% → 0.114%]
'0.1%.......'
Wouldn't it be better to just swallow Bloodstones to raise it at this point?
'Even if I buy and swallow 5,000 of them, it's 125,000 points.'
With about 5,000, I should be able to break through the 0.1% probability sufficiently.
With that belief, I stopped purchasing Awakening Stones and purchased and swallowed Bloodstones again.
'Anyway, I think I spent nearly 500,000 points just on Awakening Stones.'
If I include Bloodstones here, I thought it might be 600,000 to 700,000 points.
'In fact, isn't level 50 almost impossible?'
Anyway, as I swallowed about 1,500 Bloodstones.
[A-Grade ability, 'Telekinesis' has reached level 40.]
[You are given the opportunity to select an ability specialization as a level 40 effect.]
[Please select one from the following list.]
I was finally able to reach Telekinesis level 40.
If I set my mind to it, level 50 is possible, but I felt I would have to be prepared to break a few million points.
'Or I could just raise it to level 49.'
Raising it to level 49 wasn't difficult since I only needed to swallow Bloodstones.
Anyway, while I was thinking that, the level 40 ability specialization list appeared before my eyes.