Chapter 5
Thunk! Thunk!
“Finish it.”
Jinhyuk tapped Horang’s back twice.
At that moment,
“Roarrrr!”
A beast of massive stature pounded the ground.
In an instant, the distance closed.
Thump! Thwack!
The bodies of the jackals were torn apart like sheets of paper.
It was an overwhelming display of force.
“Squeak!”
“Screech!”
Like ants attacking a dinosaur, the five incarnations guarding Egypt were effortlessly dispatched, their lives snuffed out without even a hint of resistance.
Shivering uncontrollably, Yuri Lee was in disbelief.
“This can’t be happening. My summons… defeated so easily…”
It made no sense.
She was certain they were unbeatable.
Securing the map of the Great Exploration from the museum was supposed to be a simple task…
Why did it turn out this way?
All she knew was that the man before her was unimaginably strong.
“How high did you climb in the tower?”
“Who knows. How far did I go?”
“Don’t tell me you surpassed the 20th floor?”
Jinhyuk remained silent.
“21st floor? 22nd? Not even the 23rd?”
Yuri persisted.
It’s almost cute, thinking only in the 20s.
Just mentioning the 20s seems to take her breath away.
What if I said I reached the 50th floor?
‘Would she faint from shock?’
Curiosity aside, now wasn’t the time for such revelations.
“Isn’t this the wrong time to ask how high I’ve climbed?”
Jinhyuk approached Yuri, causing her to flinch.
“Are you going to kill me?”
“I don’t have a hobby of killing scared newbies.”
The days of toying with the weak were long behind him.
“Who are you calling a newbie! I’m also quite…”
“Alright, alright. I got it. Now, hand over the ‘Mask of Tutankhamun’ you got from the Egyptian exhibit.”
At Jinhyuk’s demand, Yuri’s eyes widened.
“Why would you need that? It’s practically useless in Korea.”
“That’s none of your business. Unless you fancy spending the night inside a tiger, I suggest you hand it over.”
Jinhyuk glanced at the tiger beside him.
“Grrrr…”
Having already devoured the jackals, its mouth was stained with blood, a sight terrifying enough to haunt dreams.
“Just take it, then!”
Reluctantly, Yuri pulled out the mask from her bag.
A golden mask of the pharaoh.
[You have acquired the relic (replica) ‘Mask of Tutankhamun.’]
‘Good.’
Following the first relic obtained on the first floor, this was the second relic secured.
“Are you also after the map of the Great Exploration?”
“The map?”
Right, there was such a thing.
It had slipped his mind, having paid it no attention.
“Well, let’s say that’s the case.”
Smirking, Jinhyuk finally petted the tiger’s back.
“Stay here. Make sure no one follows.”
“Roar!”
The tiger guarded the entrance to the next floor.
Then,
‘Let’s move on.’
Jinhyuk ascended the stairs to the next level.
“This is really… unexpected.”
Minjeong Woo was waiting upstairs, looking quite surprised.
He hadn’t imagined Yuri would break through.
But the surprise was mutual.
“Why aren’t you inside?”
His goal was surely the map of the Great Exploration, yet his lingering here was puzzling.
“Would have loved to, but someone has placed a barrier in front.”
Minjeong Woo stretched his hand towards thin air.
Thud!
His hand was repelled.
“Neither physical attacks nor magic work. I’ve never seen a barrier like this before.”
Of course.
“It’s a first-grade barrier.”
“Oh? You know about this?”
“Somewhat…”
Unlike the barriers around the museum, this was a ‘real’ barrier, created through skill.
Jinhyuk’s gaze sharpened.
‘As expected, he’s here.’
He knew of a player who frequently used this ability.
In the game world, a common annoyance.
After a moment’s reflection, Jinhyuk spoke.
“I know how to dismantle it. But.”
“But?”
“You’ll need to keep using fire magic. It weakens the barrier.”
“For how long?”
“Until I’ve collected all the necessary relics and return.”
“Ho. So while you’re inside, I should just keep casting spells outside?”
Exactly. Praise-worthy comprehension.
“I understand your skepticism, but this is the only way. Dawn is approaching, and we can’t leave empty-handed.”
To work so hard for nothing would be the worst outcome.
“Of course, I’ll give you the map. I need something else more.”
Minjeong Woo clenched his mouth.
Which choice was more profitable? What must he choose?
After a quick mental calculation, the conclusion was inevitable.
Trust was the only option.
Despite the discomfort, what other choice was there?
“Will you really hand over the map?”
“Of course. I have no interest in being adversaries with a master of magic.”
“Alright… I’ll trust you.”
Minjeong Woo made his decision.
“Don’t stop casting. Otherwise, I’ll be trapped inside.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Jinhyuk stood before the barrier, finding its weakest point where the flow of magic was disrupted.
‘Here.’
…carpo.
The Latin word written in blood shone brightly.
“Now!”
Flames erupted at Jinhyuk’s signal, and Minjeong Woo unleashed a torrent of fire.
The intense heat rapidly melted the barrier’s surface.
At that moment,
Crack!
A fissure began to form in the center of the barrier.
‘Done.’
Jinhyuk quickly entered the barrier.
“Hurry.”
Minjeong Woo was sweating profusely.
“I’ll try.”
But only as much as necessary.
This floor’s exhibit showed no signs of tampering, except for one thing.
‘Someone’s already taken what they wanted and left.’
Jinhyuk noticed an empty display case.
While others fought, someone had taken their desired item and departed.
‘Still unwilling to take even the slightest risk.’
Cherry-picking the best, yet unaware that what they took from the museum was only second best.
‘I remember it being around here…’
Jinhyuk browsed the exhibits until he stopped at one.
A round coin made of rusted iron.
Sangpyeong Tongbo, a currency used from the reign of King Injo of Joseon until later periods.
Though merely currency then, it now held much greater value.
‘Finally found it.’
His unique ability, and the last piece of the puzzle needed for it, were now in hand.
Then,
“What are you doing!?”
Minjeong Woo shouted from outside the barrier.
“What do you mean?”
“Why aren’t you securing the map of the Great Exploration first? Why are you distracted by something else?”
“Just wait. The map isn’t going anywhere. I’ll get to it after I take care of my own needs.”
Jinhyuk sat down leisurely, laying out the relics he had gathered.
‘The Mask of Tutankhamun (B).’
He needed the ‘right eye’ part.
With a knife, he carved out the eye from the mask and placed it in ‘The Mold of Persian Rituals (E).’
[Two relics react.]
A short message appeared, indicating the correct relics had met.
Also, it meant a payment was due for further progress.
Jinhyuk dropped 15 Sangpyeong Tongbo coins into the mold.
Immediately,
Whoosh!
An indescribable energy began to emanate from the mold.
[Three relics react!] [Fusion successful!] [You have acquired ‘The Eye of Truth (SS)’] [The Eye of Truth]
Difficulty: SS
Function: Allows you to view someone’s status and discern the truth of their words (3 times per day).
‘Success!’
Jinhyuk’s heart raced with excitement.
Among the five ‘Eyes’ in this world, ‘The Eye of Truth’ was considered the best for its ability to discern the truth of someone’s words three times a day.
An incredibly powerful effect.
But the thrill wasn’t just from acquiring ‘The Eye of Truth.’
He knew an even greater reward was imminent.
[You’ve beaten the odds and succeeded in fusion.] [You’ve achieved a unique feat.] [You have obtained the unique ability ‘Fusion (Overrank)’.]
The condition to acquire ‘Fusion’ was to combine three B-grade or lower replicas into an S-grade item or higher.
And,
Among countless relics and items, this combination was the only one possible.
[Unique Ability ‘Fusion’]
Difficulty: Unmeasurable (Overrank)
Function: Completes certain quests to copy others’ unique abilities and skills into ‘The Memory of the World,’ and fuse stored skills to create higher-dimensional abilities.
However, if the difficulty of copying increases sharply, the conditions may be partially modified.
To copy and store numerous abilities in the world and fuse them into more powerful skills was his purpose here.
“Phew.”
Jinhyuk released a held breath, his preparations finally paying off.
Then,
“Hurry up! Whatever you’re doing, if it’s done, move… I can’t go on!”
Minjeong Woo, now pale, shouted. He was suffering from mana depletion.
‘Let’s see. What do I need to do to copy that old man’s ability?’
[Copying Condition: Minjeong Woo always hid his emotions behind a mask. Reveal his true feelings.]
‘So, make him angry?’
Easy, especially now.
Jinhyuk approached Minjeong Woo with the map.
“You can stop using that skill now.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“There’s no need to keep using it.”
Saying one must continuously cast attack magic to weaken a barrier?
Absurd. They operate on entirely different principles.
A simple Latin spell on the disrupted mana flow was enough, especially against a level 1 barrier.
“Then why did you have me use the skill…?”
Why?
“To deplete all your mana.”
That was the point.
Enjoying the sight of him desperately casting spells, now without the strength to lift a finger.
Even if,
He burned the map right in front of him.
Whoosh!
Jinhyuk lit the map with a lighter, quickly engulfing it in flames.
“What are you doing! Why burn it? Why…?”
“I told you, I don’t need it.”
He already knew everything about the tower. The map was meaningless.
‘But too valuable to give to someone else.’
Having the map would allow someone to learn about the 10th floor, eliminating his advantage.
The most reliable method was to remove that possibility.
“Just you wait! I’ll kill you! Grind you to dust. You son of a…!”
Minjeong Woo lost all restraint.
‘Wow. Even he has quite the colorful language when angry.’
Never judge a book by its cover.
Just then,
[Conditions met.] [Successful in copying the skill ‘Fire Element (B)’.] [The copied skill is stored in ‘The Memory of the World’.] [Fire Element]
Difficulty: B
Function: Allows control over flames and increases affinity with fire.
The status window confirmed the copying condition was fulfilled.
‘Fire Element,’ not a bad start for the first copy.