Novel Bin Chapter 36
Chapter 36 5th Floor b 2}
‘That’s why the achievement tab wasn’t open up until this point.’
Growth was possible in other ways than using AP. Above all, it was possible to reset all growth by using LP. This would most likely be in consideration of bad compatibility between the subjects of the test and challengers. Well, no consideration would be given if you didn’t have sufficient LP.
Yoon-seok called Ragna in the chat room, but there was no reply.
‘I guess she already used the return ticket.’
It was only natural since she did say she would go back as soon as she’d gathered enough AP. Yoon-seok kept checking the chat room before using his AP or LP. Since the match’s opponent was fixed, he planned to get information about them and then set a direction for his growth accordingly.
-Warrior A: As you all know, one out of three large animals comes out randomly. The fight I had this time was the Twin-head Black Ogre, so I’ll tell you about it. Unlike the fourth floor, many people shared information about the test, perhaps because they weren’t competing against each other.
‘One of the three, that’s stressful…’
Even the characteristics were vastly different. Arc Drake would be a big failure if no ranged attackers were present since it could fly, and Giant Hydra would put out wide-area silence passively to prevent any skills from being used. In addition to its ability and brutality, the Twin-Head Black Ogre was the most intimidating out of all the large creatures.
「23:07:45 until the next duel.」
Yoon-seok had been training after using all his AP once he returned, but it wasn’t as simple this time. Seeing how the challengers were whining about it meant that it was likely the opponents would be extremely tough.
‘But why aren’t they returning and staying here?’
Yoon-seok suddenly had a question but quickly shrugged it off after seeing how fast the chats were flooding in. They didn’t stay because they had a goal like Yoon-seok, but because they couldn’t go back.
-Madness is genocide: Is Moorim worth living in? I think I’ll immigrate next time if I do this again.
-Spider Husband: Oh, it’s a real chaser, and the difficulty makes you want to go back.
Most of those who reached this floor was known to be strong in their original world. So, many of them carried a grudge, but unlike Yoon-seok, after arriving at the Tower, their battle capabilities plummeted to the level of ordinary people. That’s why they couldn’t return yet. Other than losing the power to protect themselves, more horrifying things awaited them back home.
-Warrior A: This is a tip for those who can’t initialize because they lack 15LP. If you do 10,000 push-ups in the waiting room, you can achieve something called Meaningless Grit.
-Admiral: Oh, such an easy feat? You saved my life. Are you an official soldier of Samshinkyo? I’ll donate some money when I get back.
Looking at the chat, there was a tendency to lean towards the initialization ticket in general. Indeed, it wasn’t like he couldn’t understand why they were an advantage. There must have been some parts of ambiguity as skills were honed, and there must have been some equipment that wasn’t useful anymore. If the initialization ticket were used, you could have all the AP spent on the combat supplies refunded after coming all the way here.
‘It’s no use to me, but…’
He wasn’t sure, but if he used the initialization ticket, there was a high possibility that everything he obtained through b Predation} would disappear. Yoon-seok didn’t want to take such risks.
Yoon-seok started to do push-ups while looking at the chat room. The movement felt natural as he thought. However, it didn’t seem to just be him since the chat update speed had slowed significantly.
‘It’s funny to imagine that we’re doing push-ups as a group.’
Smiling, he counted down the number of push-ups.
10,000 push-ups. In the past, it wouldn’t have been possible even if a few days were given to him, but now he could finish two hundred in a minute so that it would take less than an hour.
「Meaningless Grit is achieved.」
It worked. Maybe because the achievement category was unlocked, the announcement appeared. But did Warrior A not know and achieve this? Still, it wasn’t something common as it was recognized as an achievement. Many comments were saying that they had all completed the achievement and received LP around the same time.
-Archery and Spirit: I also had information to share. If the duel starts and the enemy is killed in one shot, you’ll achieve One-Strike. I received 30LP from that.
-Fast-sword Moon-joo: Unlike Mr. Warrior’s, it’s not possible in the waiting room, but if you avoid a hundred attacks without fighting back, you’ll achieve the One Step Ahead achievement.
The warrior’s sharing of information seemed to have changed their minds. There were quite a few people who gave information about their achievements, instead of just simple thanks. Allocated points weren’t very high, but it wasn’t too difficult to accomplish. Accumulating the points one by one would eventually snowball into a large number. Noting the achievements he read about, he eventually turned off the chat.
It was time to use his AP.
‘Let’s buy Steel Sheath first.’
*Steel Sheath b Rank E} – It can increase the endurance stat by absorbing equipment. Growth is fixed at 50% of the AP of equipment. Price: 6,000AP
He had put off buying Steel Sheath since it was worth 6,000 AP, but now Yoon-seok bought it without hesitation. The newly acquired Great Warrior’s Bracer at Rank D alone could achieve as much as 10,000 AP of growth, and he also planned to change weapons eventually, so this could reclaim some of that value.
「A new skill has been acquired.」
The shield he’d bought at the very beginning, the Alchemist’s Lab Coat b Rank F} from Ragna, and the not-so-useful Great Warrior’s Bracer were all absorbed. In addition, he also absorbed the two swords he had found so useful up until now. Yoon-seok offered all of his equipment to the Steel Sheath skill.
「By the effect of Steel Sheath, the endurance rate E has increased.」
「By the effect of Steel Sheath, the endurance rate E+ has increased.」
His E-rank endurance reached D-.
「Endurance 5,000/24,000.」
「Steel Sheath Remaining AP 2,250/24,000.」
Whether it was b Predation} absorbing abilities or Steel Sheath, the remaining stats were to be filled to increase his rank. But Yoon-seok didn’t care.
‘I should’ve boosted my endurance sooner.’
Since he had healing powers from b Blood Pact}, he thought it was unnecessary to upgrade. But, it was necessary to meet the minimums limit considering how powerful his opponents were as they arrived on a new floor. Even during the fight with Ragna and Kerixis, he could’ve died instantly if it wasn’t for him regenerating at a critical moment. He decided to prepare in advance if he was defeated and b Blood Pact} was lost in the process.
‘Anyway, that’s enough for the inner powers….’
There were still 250,000 APs left even after buying Steel Sheath. He continued to spend his AP as he did push-ups. He used up 162,000 AP to boost his strength and agility up to C-rank. This time, durability had grown significantly, and now the lowest capability he had was the E-rank physical strength figure. However, Yoon-seok didn’t even look at it. It was meaningless to level up anyway.
If he had both the effects of b Heavenly Body} and {Blood Pact}, his chances of survival were functionally infinite.
‘Then now….’
It was time to buy a new weapon to replace his two swords. Yoon-seok’s eyes glinted like a child on Children’s Day. He could finally buy the sword he had his eyes on.
AA 36 4
-Moonlight Sword b Rank C} – A melancholy sword with the blacksmith’s spirit possessed by moonlight.
-Grow together by winning duels.
-Ignores magic resistance and exacerbates wounds by 30%.
-1.5x increased efficiency when using sword-related skills.
-Price: 88,000 AP
The blade is only on one side, so it was like a Do, but it didn’t matter. The weapon description also stated when using the sword-related skills, to have no issue using it with his skills.
「Purchased item has arrived.」
「Please check the lower part of the statue for your new item.」
Yoon-seok carefully held the moonlight sword in his hands. It was hard to say that he had a good eye for swords, but even before he gave it a swing, it felt like a designer product.
“So nice…”
A silver sword blade that shone like moonlight. Strangely, the handle was wrapped in leather. He couldn’t tell what animal it was from, but it was soft yet didn’t slip easily. After cutting through the air with it several times, Yoon-seok nodded with satisfaction.
It didn’t increase his stats like the King of Conquest’s Left-Hand Sword, but he liked it. Above all, he was attracted to the phrase that it developed while winning. Wasn’t a growing weapon every sword master’s dream?
‘It feels empty just holding one.’
He wondered if he had grown accustomed to using two swords. Yoon-seok felt without the heft of a blade in both hands. Now it was time to fill up this emotion. He used up nearly all his AP after purchasing the Moonlight Sword, but it was fine. Yoon-seok still had 2,290 LP, after all. There was an item that had caught his eye while browsing the achievements category earlier.
*Sun Monarch’s Judgment Sword – An execution sword used by the emperor of the ancient empire. Users can define their evil.
-When dealing with an evil enemy, all abilities increase by one, and the higher the judgment of evil, the greater the increase.
-A Light of Purification can be used to expel all negative energy. Re-use after 72 hours.
-Ignore all magic below the user’s magic stats.
-The sword can never be destroyed.
-3x increased efficiency when using fire attributed skills.
-Price: 1,300LP
The sun sword. Fortunately, there was only one side to the blade on this sword too. Perhaps because it didn’t take two blades to cut the throat of a sinner? Yoon-seok guessed so as he pressed the purchase button. Although there were quite a few options as the items were expensive, the reason for choosing this sword was simple.
It could never be destroyed. And, well, this was the only sword available as an option.
‘I can hold this with my left hand and use it defensively.’
Yoon-seok gripped the Sun Sword into his left hand, planning how he would use it. Then a notification message popped up.
「Please set the rules.」
Able to determine evil, so this was what it meant. Yoon-seok came up with a good rule.
“Everyone who fights in a match with me.”
Seems like his trick wouldn’t work.
「It does not meet the criteria of the target. 」
Just say it wasn’t allowed. Why would they bother pointing it out and say it didn’t meet the criteria? Yoon-seok tried again.
“A person who has killed at least one other.”
「It does not meet the criteria of the target.」
It didn’t work this time either. What was it going to do by asking him to set the rules? Feeling like he was scammed, Yoon-seok soon changed his mind. He never expected much since the explanations were all vague anyway. He tried to create one rule after another, but none were justified.
In the meantime, instead of thinking about efficiency, he thought about his definition of evil. This time, the answer came quickly.
“Those who enjoy hurting others.”
When he saw Lee Chang-hoon and Kang Hyung-woo, he thought of this a lot. How could they push someone into despair for absolutely no reason and laugh like that? At the same time, it was disgusting to see how they took care of and worried about those who were close to them.
They were the evil of this society.
「Matches the criteria of the target.」
「Choi Yoon-seok’s evil is defined as those who enjoy hurting others.」
The Sun Sword in the left hand made a solemn whirring sound.
「Please punish them.」
Was it an illusion that the sword, not the system, sounded like it was saying that?